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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): March 29, 2000
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia 0-314 54-0594965
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File No.) I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) (Identification No.)
P.O. Box 1371
1 Pulaski Square
Pulaski, Virginia 24301
(Address of principal executive offices)
(540) 980-7330
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Items.
On March 29, 2000, Pulaski Furniture Corporation (the "Company"), Pine
Holdings, Inc. ("Parent") and Pine Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent ("Purchaser"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as
of March 29, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among the Company, Parent and
Purchaser. Parent is an affiliate of Quad-C Management, Inc., a Virginia based
private equity fund. Upon completion of the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. John
C. Wampler and the Company's senior management team will be minority investors
in Parent. The Merger Agreement provides for Purchaser to commence a cash tender
offer (the "Offer") by April 7, 2000 for all of the shares of common stock of
the Company (the "Common Stock"), together with the associated rights to
purchase Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 15, 1997, between the Company
and First Union National Bank (the "Rights Agreement") (the "Rights," and
together with the Common Stock, the "Shares"), at a price of $22.50 per Share,
net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
contained in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement further provides that,
as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set
forth in the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, the consummation
of the Offer), and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Virginia
Stock Corporation Act, as amended, Purchaser will be merged (the "Merger") with
and into the Company. Following the consummation of the Merger, the Company will
continue as the surviving corporation. In the Merger, the holders of Shares
(other than the Company's senior management team, Parent, Purchaser or any
subsidiary of any of the foregoing) will receive the same per Share
consideration as is paid to holders of Shares in the Offer. The foregoing is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger
Agreement which is filed as Exhibit 2.2 hereto. The schedules to the Merger
Agreement are omitted in accordance with the instructions to Item 601(b)(2) of
Regulation S-K. Such schedules are referenced in the Merger Agreement, and the
Company hereby undertakes to supply the Securities and Exchange Commission
supplementally with a copy of any such schedules upon request.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company executed an
Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2000, between the Company
and First Union National Bank (the "Amendment"). The Amendment provides, among
other things, that (i) certain provisions of the Rights Agreement will not apply
to the transactions undertaken pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (ii) none of
Parent, Purchaser, their affiliates or associates or any Management Shareholder
shall be deemed an "Acquiring Person" (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
and (iii) the Merger Agreement will not cause the occurrence of a Distribution
Date, Stock Acquisition Date or Triggering Event (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement). Filed herewith as Exhibit 4.2, is a copy of the
Amendment.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 3.3 is an amendment to the Company's Bylaws
approved on March 29, 2000 by the Board of Directors to provide that Article
14.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act shall not apply to acquisitions of
shares of capital stock of the Company.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release issued by
the Company on
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March 29, 2000 announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.
The materials filed as exhibits hereto contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), including statements regarding the
operations of the Company during the interim period between the execution of the
Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.
The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations,
there can be no assurance that actual results will not vary materially from its
expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from
expectations include, without limitation, the timing of orders received from
customers, the gain or loss of significant customers, competition from other
manufacturers, changes in the demand for the Company's products, increases in
the cost of the products, changes in the market in general and fluctuations in
currencies. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in the reports
under the Exchange Act of the Company.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 29, 2000, by and
among the Company, Pine Holdings, Inc. and Pine Acquisition Corp.
3.3 Amendment of the Bylaws of Pulaski Furniture Corporation adopted
by the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board held on March
29, 2000.
4.4 Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 29, 2000,
between the Company and First Union National Bank.
99.1 Press Release of Pulaski Furniture Corporation issued on
March 29, 2000.
3
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
.
Date: March 31, 2000 By: /s/ Harry H. Warner
-------------------
Name: Harry H. Warner
Title: Chairman of the Board
4
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EXHIBIT 99.1
[EXECUTION VERSION]
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
PINE HOLDINGS, INC.
PINE ACQUISITION CORP.
AND
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
Dated as of March 29, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I THE OFFER............................................................................................2
Section 1.1 The Offer...................................................................................2
Section 1.2 Company Actions.............................................................................3
Section 1.3 Composition of the Board of Directors.......................................................4
ARTICLE II THE MERGER...........................................................................................5
Section 2.1 The Merger..................................................................................5
Section 2.2 Effective Time..............................................................................5
Section 2.3 Effects of the Merger.......................................................................5
Section 2.4 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and Officers................................5
Section 2.6 Exchange of Certificates....................................................................6
Section 2.7 Closing of Books............................................................................8
Section 2.9 Further Assurances..........................................................................9
Section 2.10 Withholding Rights........................................................................10
Section 2.11 Closing...................................................................................10
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.......................................................10
Section 3.1 Organization, Standing and Power..........................................................10
Section 3.2 Capital Structure..........................................................................11
Section 3.3 Subsidiaries...............................................................................11
Section 3.4 Other Interests............................................................................12
Section 3.5 Authority..................................................................................12
Section 3.6 Non-Contravention........................................................................12
Section 3.7 SEC Documents and Financial Statements.....................................................13
Section 3.8 Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9............................................................14
Section 3.9 Absence of Certain Events..................................................................14
Section 3.10 Title to Properties; Liens................................................................14
Section 3.11 Litigation................................................................................15
Section 3.12 Compliance with Applicable Law............................................................15
Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans....................................................................16
Section 3.14 Employment Relations and Agreement........................................................17
Section 3.15 Contracts.................................................................................18
Section 3.16 Rights Agreement..........................................................................19
Section 3.17 State Takeover Statutes; Charter and By-Law Provisions....................................20
Section 3.18 Taxes.....................................................................................20
Section 3.19 Intellectual Properties...................................................................22
Section 3.20 Environmental Laws and Regulations........................................................22
Section 3.21 Voting Requirements.......................................................................24
Section 3.22 Brokers...................................................................................24
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Section 3.23 Fairness Opinion..........................................................................24
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
AND ACQUIROR ......................................................................................24
Section 4.1 Organization, Standing and Power; Capitalization of Parent and Acquiror....................24
Section 4.2 Authority..................................................................................25
Section 4.3 Non-Contravention..........................................................................25
Section 4.4 Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9 and Proxy Statement........................................25
Section 4.5 Financing..................................................................................26
Section 4.6 Brokers....................................................................................26
Section 4.7 Business of Parent and Acquiror............................................................26
ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..........................................................27
Section 5.1 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records....................................27
Section 5.2 Confidentiality............................................................................27
Section 5.3 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger......................................27
Section 5.4 Acquisition Proposals......................................................................29
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..............................................................................31
Section 6.1 Company Shareholder Approval; Proxy Statement..............................................31
Section 6.2 Fees and Expenses..........................................................................32
Section 6.3 Reasonable Efforts.........................................................................33
Section 6.4 Public Announcements; Certain Notices......................................................33
Section 6.5 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance..........................................33
Section 6.7 Rights Agreement...........................................................................34
Section 6.8. Subsequent Filings........................................................................34
Section 6.9. Severance Plan............................................................................35
Section 6.10 Financing Related Efforts.................................................................35
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT...............................................................................35
Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.................................35
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER..................................................................36
Section 8.1 Termination................................................................................36
Section 8.2. Effect of Termination.....................................................................38
Section 8.3 Amendment..................................................................................39
Section 8.4 Waiver.....................................................................................39
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................................................................39
Section 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.............................................39
Section 9.2 Notices....................................................................................39
Section 9.3 Interpretation.............................................................................40
Section 9.4 Counterparts...............................................................................40
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Section 9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.............................................41
Section 9.6 Governing Law..............................................................................41
Section 9.7 Assignment.................................................................................41
Section 9.8 Severability...............................................................................41
Section 9.9 Enforcement of this Agreement..............................................................41
Section 9.10 Incorporation of Exhibits.................................................................41
Section 9.11 Certain Definitions.......................................................................41
Section 9.12 Additional Definitions....................................................................42
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Annex A - Conditions to Offer
(iii)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
----------------------------
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 29, 2000 (this
"Agreement"), among Pine Holdings, Inc., a Virginia corporation ("Parent"), Pine
Acquisition Corp., a Virginia corporation ("Acquiror"), and Pulaski Furniture
Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the "Company") (Acquiror and the Company
being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Constituent Corporations").
W I T N E S S E T H:
--------------------
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Acquiror and
the Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent pursuant to a
tender offer (the "Offer") by Acquiror for all of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), together with the associated Rights (as
defined below) (the shares of Common Stock and associated Rights are referred to
herein as "Shares"), of the Company at a price of $22.50 per Share (such price
or any higher price per Share as may be paid to any holder of Shares in the
Offer being referred to herein as the "Offer Price"), net to the seller in cash,
followed by a merger (the "Merger") of Acquiror with and into the Company on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously adopted
resolutions approving this Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, determining that
the Offer and the Merger are fair to and in the best interests of the holders of
Shares and unanimously recommending that the Company's shareholders accept the
Offer and approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby;
WHEREAS, certain members of the Company's management (namely, Messrs.
Chrisley, Crawford, Jack Dawson, Jim Dawson, Hoffman, Kelly, Purcell, Stout,
Wampler and Winters) (collectively the "Management Shareholders") are
simultaneously entering into a stock voting and non-tender agreement with Parent
(the "Voting Agreement") pursuant to which the Management Shareholders have
agreed, among other things, with respect to certain questions that may be put to
shareholders of the Company for a vote, to vote shares of Common Stock now owned
or hereafter acquired by such Management Shareholders, in each case, in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Voting Agreement and not to
tender such Shares in the Offer;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, each issued and outstanding
Share not owned directly or indirectly by Parent, Acquiror or the Company or any
Management Shareholder will be converted into the right to receive the per Share
consideration paid pursuant to the Offer; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, each issued and outstanding
Share owned by the Management Shareholders will be converted into the right to
receive shares of common stock of Parent and subordinated notes of Parent.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
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Section 1.1 The Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not
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have been terminated in accordance with Article VIII and so long as none of the
events set forth in Annex A (the "Tender Offer Conditions") shall have occurred
and no fact, occurrence or circumstance shall exist which would result in a
failure to satisfy any of the Tender Offer Conditions, subject to the provisions
of this Agreement, as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later
than seven (7) Business Days following the first public announcement of the
terms of this Agreement, Acquiror shall commence, within the meaning of Rule
14d-2 under the Exchange Act (as hereinafter defined), the Offer at the Offer
Price. The initial expiration date of the Offer shall be the twentieth Business
Day following the date the Offer is commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2
under the Exchange Act (the "Initial Expiration Date"). The obligation of
Acquiror to commence the Offer and accept for payment, and pay for, any Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject to the conditions set forth in
Annex A, any of which, other than the Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex A),
may be waived by Parent or Acquiror in their sole discretion. Parent and
Acquiror expressly reserve the right to modify the terms of the Offer; provided
--------
that, without the prior written consent of the Company, neither Parent nor
Acquiror shall (i) waive the Minimum Condition, (ii) reduce the number of Shares
subject to the Offer, (iii) reduce the price per Share to be paid pursuant to
the Offer, (iv) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (v) amend
any term or add any condition of the Offer (including the conditions set forth
on Annex A), in each case, in any manner that would adversely affect the
shareholders of the Company in any material respect or (vi) extend the Initial
Expiration Date, except as required by law and except that Parent and the
Acquiror shall have the right, in their sole discretion, (A) to extend the
expiration date of the Offer for up to ten (10) Business Days after the Initial
Expiration Date if as of that date there shall not have been tendered a number
of Shares that, when added to the number of Shares subject to the Voting
Agreement, constitute at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis, (B) to elect to provide a subsequent
offering period for the Offer in accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange
Act or (C) to extend the expiration date of the Offer from time to time for
successive periods of up to 20 Business Days each, but in no event later than
the four month anniversary of the date of this Agreement, if the conditions set
forth in Annex A have not been met. If on any scheduled expiration date of the
Offer, the Offer would have expired without any Shares being purchased because
the conditions set forth in Annex A have not been met, Parent and Acquiror
shall, at the request of the Company (subject always to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, including Article VIII), extend the expiration date of the
Offer from time to time for successive periods of up to 20 Business Days each
(but in no event later than the four-month anniversary of the date of this
Agreement) unless Parent
2
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reasonably believes at such time that such conditions are not capable of being
satisfied. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer set forth in Annex
A, Acquiror shall pay for all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant
to the Offer as soon after the expiration of the Offer as it is legally
permitted to do so under applicable law.
(b) On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Acquiror
shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and cause to
be disseminated to holders of the Shares a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO
with respect to the Offer, which shall contain (included as an Exhibit) or
incorporate by reference an offer to purchase and a related letter of
transmittal, a summary advertisement and a Rule 13e-3 Transaction Statement on
Schedule 13E-3 (collectively, together with any supplements or amendments
thereto, the "Offer Documents"). The Company and its counsel shall be given an
opportunity to review and comment upon the Offer Documents prior to the filing
thereof with the SEC. Each of Parent, Acquiror and the Company agrees promptly
to correct any information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and
to the extent that such information shall have become false or misleading in any
material respect, and Parent and Acquiror further agree to take all steps
necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed with the SEC
and to be disseminated to holders of shares of Common Stock, in each case as and
to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Parent and
Acquiror agree to provide the Company and its counsel in writing with copies of
any written comments Parent, Acquiror or their counsel may receive from the SEC
or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents.
Section 1.2 Company Actions. (a) The Company hereby represents that
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the Board of Directors of the Company, by unanimous vote, has (i) duly adopted
resolutions approving this Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, determined that
the Offer and Merger are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company's
shareholders (other than the Management Shareholders) and recommending that the
Company's shareholders accept the Offer and approve and adopt this Agreement and
approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) taken
all other action necessary to render (x) Sections 13.1-725 through 13.1-727.1
and 13.1-728.1 through 13.1-728.9 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the
"Virginia Code") and (y) the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of
December 15, 1997 between the Company and First Union National Bank (as amended
to date, the "Rights Agreement") inapplicable to the Offer and the Merger and
the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the Voting
Agreement). The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in the Offer Documents
of the recommendations of the Company's Board of Directors described above. The
Company has been advised that each of its directors and executive officers other
than the Management Shareholders intends to tender pursuant to the Offer all
Shares owned of record and beneficially by such director and executive officer.
(b) On the date the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC and the
Offer is commenced, the Company shall file with the SEC a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the
Offer (such Schedule 14D-9, as amended from time to time, the "Schedule 14D-9-
"), and shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 to the shareholders of the Company
as required by Rule 14d-9 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended
(including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Exchange
Act"). The Schedule 14D-9 shall contain the recommendation described in
paragraph (a) of this Section 1.2.
3
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Parent and Acquiror and their counsel shall be given an opportunity to review
and comment upon the Schedule 14D-9 prior to the filing thereof with the SEC.
Each of the Company, Parent and Acquiror agrees promptly to correct any
information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9 or the Proxy Statement
(as defined below) if and to the extent that such information shall have become
false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company further agrees to
take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 and Proxy Statement as so
corrected to be filed with the SEC and disseminated to the holders of Shares, in
each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
The Company agrees to provide Parent and Acquiror and their counsel in writing
with any comments the Company or its counsel may receive from the SEC or its
staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 or Proxy Statement promptly after the
receipt of such comments.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall cause its
transfer agent to furnish Parent and Acquiror with mailing labels containing the
names and addresses of the record holders of Shares as of a recent date and of
those persons or entities becoming record holders subsequent to such date,
together with copies of all lists of shareholders, security position listings
and computer files and all other information in the Company's possession or
control regarding the beneficial owners of Shares, and shall furnish to Parent
and Acquiror such information and assistance (including updated lists of
shareholders, security position listings and computer files) as Parent or
Acquiror may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the record and
beneficial owners of the Shares. Subject to the requirements of law, and except
for such steps as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other
documents necessary to consummate the Merger, Parent and Acquiror and each of
their affiliates, agents or representatives shall hold in confidence the
information contained in any of such labels, lists and files, will use such
information only in connection with the Offer and the Merger, and, if this
Agreement is terminated, will promptly deliver to the Company all copies of such
information then in their possession.
Section 1.3 Composition of the Board of Directors. Promptly upon the
-------------------------------------
acceptance for payment of, and payment by Acquiror for, Shares equal to at least
a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, Acquiror shall be entitled
to designate up to such number of directors on the Board of Directors of the
Company, rounded up to the next whole number, as will give Acquiror, subject to
compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated
thereunder, representation on the Board of Directors of the Company equal to at
least that number of directors which equals the product of the total number of
directors on the Board of Directors of the Company (giving effect to the
directors elected pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock directly or
indirectly beneficially owned by Acquiror and Parent and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. Subject
to applicable law, the Company shall take all action requested by Parent which
is reasonably necessary to effect any such election, including mailing to its
shareholders the Information Statement containing the information required by
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder, and the
Company agrees to make such mailing with the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9 so
long as Parent shall have provided to the Company on a timely basis all
information required to be included in the Information Statement with respect to
Parent's designees. Parent and Acquiror shall be solely responsible for any
information with
4
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respect to either of them and their nominees, officers, directors and affiliates
required by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1. In furtherance thereof, the Company
shall increase the size of the Board of Directors of the Company (subject to the
limitations set forth in the Company's Articles of Incorporation or the
Company's Bylaws or imposed by applicable law), or use its reasonable best
efforts to secure the resignation of directors, or both, as is reasonably
necessary to permit Acquiror's designees to be elected to the Board of Directors
of the Company.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
----------
Section 2.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions
----------
hereof, and in accordance with the Virginia Code, Acquiror shall be merged with
and into the Company at the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined). Following
the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Acquiror shall cease and the
Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation"), and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia with all its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises
and shall continue unaffected by the Merger except as set forth in this Article
II or provided by the Virginia Code.
Section 2.2 Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the
--------------
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Merger set forth herein,
Acquiror and the Company shall file articles of merger (the "Articles of
Merger") with the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia
(the "Corporation Commission"). The "Effective Time" shall be the date and time
that the Certificate of Merger is issued by the Corporation Commission in
respect of the Merger (unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties and specified
in the Articles of Merger, in which case, subject to Section 13.1-606 of the
Virginia Code, the Effective Time shall be the date and time so specified).
Section 2.3 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects
---------------------
set forth in Section 13.1-721 of the Virginia Code. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Acquiror
shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and
duties of the Company and Acquiror shall become the debts, liabilities and
duties of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.4 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and
---------------------------------------------------
Officers. (a) The parties shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the
- --------
Articles of Incorporation of Acquiror, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be amended to change the name of Acquiror to "Pulaski
Furniture Corporation" and, as so amended, shall be the Articles of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended
as provided therein or applicable law. The Bylaws of the Company, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be
5
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the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as
provided therein or in the Articles of Incorporation and applicable law.
(b) The directors of Acquiror immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective
Time. The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be the officers of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time.
Section 2.5 Conversion of Securities. As of the Effective Time, by
------------------------
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any shareholder of
the Company:
(a) All Shares that are held by any wholly owned Subsidiary (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company and any Shares owned by Parent or
Acquiror or any of their Subsidiaries shall be canceled and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(b) Each Share owned by a Management Shareholder shall be exchanged
as of the Effective Time for 5.625 shares of common stock of Parent and
$11.25 in principal amount of subordinated notes of Parent. All such
Shares, when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and each holder of a certificate or
certificates representing any such Shares shall cease to have any rights
with respect thereto, except the right to receive the consideration
specified in the preceding sentence.
(c) Each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section
2.5(a) or converted in accordance with Section 2.5(b)) shall be converted
as of the Effective Time into the right to receive from the Surviving
Corporation in cash, without interest, the Offer Price (the "Merger
Consideration"). All such Shares, when so converted, shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and each holder
of a certificate or certificates (the "Certificates") representing any such
Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive the Merger Consideration.
(d) Each issued and outstanding share of the capital stock of
Acquiror shall be converted into and become as of the Effective Time one
fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.6 Exchange of Certificates. (a) Paying Agent. Parent and
------------------------ ------------
Acquiror shall authorize a commercial bank or trust company to act as paying
agent hereunder (the "Paying Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration
upon surrender of Certificates.
(b) Acquiror to Provide Funds. Acquiror shall deposit or cause to be
-------------------------
deposited in trust with the Paying Agent simultaneously with or prior to the
Effective Time cash in an amount
6
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necessary to pay for all of the Shares pursuant to Section 2.5(c) or 2.8. Such
amount shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Exchange Fund."
The Exchange Fund shall be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by
Parent or Acquiror in direct obligations of the United States, obligations for
which the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to provide for
the payment of principal and interest, commercial paper rated of the highest
quality by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
or certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or bankers' acceptances
of a commercial bank having at least $100,000,000 in assets (collectively
"Permitted Investments") or in money market funds which are invested in
Permitted Investments, and any net earnings with respect thereto shall be paid
to Parent as and when requested by Parent. The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to
irrevocable instructions, make the payments referred to in Section 2.5(c) and
2.8 out of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other
purpose except as otherwise agreed to by the Company and Acquiror.
If the amount of cash in the Exchange Fund is insufficient to pay all
of the amounts required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.5(c) and 2.8, Acquiror
from time to time after the Effective Time shall take all steps necessary to
enable and cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit in trust additional cash
with the Paying Agent sufficient to make all such payments.
(c) Exchange Procedures. As soon as practicable after the Effective
-------------------
Time, the Paying Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate,
other than Parent, Acquiror and any Subsidiary of the Parent or Acquiror, (i) a
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon actual delivery
of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall be in a form and have such
other provisions as Parent or Acquiror may reasonably specify) and (ii)
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation
to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by the
Surviving Corporation, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed,
and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, the
holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the
amount of cash into which the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificate
shall have been converted pursuant to Section 2.5, and the Certificates so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. No interest will be paid or will
accrue on the cash payable upon the surrender of any Certificate. If payment is
to be made to a person or entity other than the person or entity in whose name
the Certificate so surrendered is registered, it shall be a condition of payment
that such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for
transfer and that the person or entity requesting such payment shall pay any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of such Certificate or establish to
the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is
not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.6, each
Certificate (other than Certificates representing any Shares owned by Parent,
Acquiror, any of their Subsidiaries or any Management Shareholder) shall be
deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the amount of cash, without interest, into which the
Shares theretofore represented by such Certificate shall have been converted
pursuant to Section 2.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Paying
Agent, Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any party hereto shall be liable to
a former shareholder of the Company for any cash or interest
7
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delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar laws. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed
by the shareholders of the Company for six months after the Effective Time shall
be delivered to the Surviving Corporation (including, without limitation, all
interest and other income received by the Paying Agent in respect of all such
funds). Thereafter, persons or entities who prior to the Merger held Shares
shall look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to the terms of this
Agreement, abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws) as general
creditors thereof with respect to any Merger Consideration that may be payable
upon due surrender of the Certificates held by them, without interest.
(d) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any Certificate shall
--------------------------------------
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed,
the Paying Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof as
determined in accordance with this Article II; provided, that the Person to whom
--------
the Merger Consideration is paid shall, as a condition precedent to the payment
thereof, give the Surviving Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct or
otherwise indemnify the Surviving Corporation in a manner satisfactory to it
against any claim that may be made against the Surviving Corporation with
respect to the Certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 2.7 Closing of Books __. At the Effective Time, the stock
----------------
transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no transfer of Shares shall
thereafter be made. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to
the Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and converted as provided in
this Article II.
Section 2.8 Stock Options. (a) The Company shall (i) terminate the
-------------
Pulaski Furniture Corporation 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Option
Plan"), the Stock Purchase Plan (as hereinafter defined), and any other plan,
program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest
in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(collectively "Stock Incentive Plans"), immediately prior to the Effective Time,
(ii) grant no additional Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), restricted
stock awards, stock appreciation rights or other interests in respect of any
Shares under the Stock Incentive Plans and (iii) amend, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, the provisions of any other Employee Benefit Plan (as
hereinafter defined), program, arrangement or agreement providing for the
issuance, transfer or grant of any Shares, or any interest in respect of any
Shares, to provide no continuing rights to acquire, hold, transfer, or grant any
Shares or any interest in any Shares.
(b) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall have
taken all necessary actions, including obtaining any required consents, such
that all outstanding employee stock options, whether or not then fully
exercisable or vested, to purchase Shares (a "Stock Option") and all outstanding
stock appreciation rights, heretofore granted under the Stock Incentive Plans
whether or not then fully exercisable or vested, shall become fully exercisable
and vested, and the Stock Options and stock appreciation rights shall be
canceled by the Company, and the holders thereof shall receive a cash payment
(the "Cash Payment") from the Company in an amount (if any), equal to the
product of (i) and (ii), where (i) is the number of
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Shares subject to such Stock Option or, in the case of a stock appreciation
right, the number of Shares to which such stock appreciation right relates, and
(ii) is the difference (if positive) between the Merger Consideration and the
exercise price per Share covered by the Stock Option or the stock appreciation
right. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall have taken all actions
necessary, including obtaining all required consents, such that all amounts, if
any, deducted by the Company prior to the Effective Time from the payroll of a
participant under the Stock Purchase Plan shall be paid to such participant
immediately prior to the Effective Time. Further, all company contributions, if
any, attributable to such amounts and accrued under the Stock Purchase Plan
shall also be paid to such participant immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall have
taken all necessary actions, including obtaining all required consents, such
that each restricted stock award under the Stock Incentive Plans (an "Award")
shall become fully and immediately vested and transferable and the restrictions
thereon shall lapse. At the Effective Time, each holder of an Award shall be
paid in full satisfaction of such Award a cash payment in an amount in respect
thereof equal to the product of (i) and (ii), where (i) is the Merger
Consideration and (ii) is the number of Shares subject to such Award. The
number of Shares of restricted stock of the Company to be awarded to certain
officers and employees of the Company pursuant to stock incentive award
agreements for fiscal year 2000, each dated as of December 15, 2000, shall, for
each such officer or employee, be equal to the product of (i) and (ii), where
(i) is the number of shares of restricted stock of the Company that would be
awarded under each such stock incentive award agreement, assuming the Company
has achieved the $3.03 EPS goal set forth in such award and (ii) is a fraction
where the numerator is the actual number of days such participant is employed by
the Company prior to the Effective Time during the Company's fiscal year ending
in 2000 and the denominator is 365, and all restrictions on such restricted
stock shall lapse immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(d) The Company shall deliver to Acquiror within five business days
of the date hereof a true and complete list of Stock Options and stock
appreciation rights under the Stock Incentive Plans which are outstanding as of
the date hereof, together with detailed calculations of the Cash Payments
relating to such Stock Options and stock appreciation rights had the Effective
Time occurred on the date of delivery thereof. The Company shall update such
list and such calculations as of, and deliver such update to Acquiror on, the
date that is two business days prior to the Effective Time, such updated list
and calculations made as if the Effective Time would occur on such date.
(e) The Company shall ensure that neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries is or will be bound by any Stock Options, stock appreciation
rights, other options, warrants rights or agreements which would entitle any
person or entity, other than Acquiror or its Subsidiaries, to own any Shares or
to receive any payment in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Acquiror and any employee of the Company may agree in writing that all or a
portion of the Stock Options held by such employee will, in lieu of being
canceled in consideration for the Cash Payment pursuant to this Section 2.8, be
converted into options to acquire shares of Parent common stock or other
securities of Parent. In such event, the Company shall not make the Cash
Payment in respect of any such converted Stock Options.
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Section 2.9 Further Assurances. If at any time after the Effective
------------------
Time the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds,
bills of sale, assignments or assurances or any other acts or things are
necessary, desirable or proper (a) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or
otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation, its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of
either of the Constituent Corporations, or (b) otherwise to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation and its officers and
directors or their designees shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the
name and on behalf of either of the Constituent Corporations in the Merger, all
such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and do, in the name and on
behalf of such Constituent Corporations, all such other acts and things
necessary, desirable or proper, consistent with the terms of this Agreement (as
in effect immediately prior to the acceptance of Shares in the Offer, or as
thereafter amended in accordance with Section 8.3), to vest, perfect or confirm
its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges,
powers, franchises, properties or assets of such Constituent Corporation and
otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 2.10 Withholding Rights. The Paying Agent, Parent and the
------------------
Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted or
withheld, from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to
any holder of Shares, Stock Options or stock appreciation rights, restricted
stock or other interests in respect of shares, such amounts as are required to
be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the
Code (as defined below), or any provision of applicable state, local or foreign
Tax (as defined below) law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and
withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes
of this Agreement as having been paid to such holders in respect of which such
deduction and withholding was made.
Section 2.11 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated
-------
by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of White &
Case LLP, 1155 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, on the second business day after the day on which the last of the
conditions set forth in Article VII hereof shall have been fulfilled or waived
or at such other time and place as Acquiror and the Company shall agree.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
---------------------------------------------
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Acquiror as follows:
Section 3.1 Organization, Standing and Power. The Company and each
--------------------------------
of its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and
has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company and
each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business, and is in good
standing, in
10
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each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under
lease or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. The Company has delivered to Parent and Acquiror complete and correct
copies of the Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Company and
the comparable governing documents of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as
amended to the date of this Agreement. Other than as set forth in Section 3.1 of
the Company's disclosure letter (the "Company Disclosure Letter") delivered
concurrently with the delivery of this Agreement, the respective certificates of
incorporation and by-laws or other organizational documents of the Subsidiaries
of the Company do not contain any provision limiting or otherwise restricting
the ability of the Company to control such Subsidiaries in any material respect.
Section 3.2 Capital Structure. As of the date hereof, the authorized
-----------------
capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock and
1,000,000 shares of preferred stock ("Preferred Stock"). At the close of
business on the date immediately preceding the date of this Agreement, (i)
2,896,425 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, all of which were
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, (ii)
36,525 shares of Common Stock were reserved for future issuance pursuant to the
Stock Option Plan and (iii) 22,954 shares of Common Stock were reserved for
future sale and issuance pursuant to the Company's 1996 Salaried Employees'
Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan"). No shares of Preferred Stock
are outstanding. A total of 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"), in connection
with the Rights Agreement, have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of the
Rights to purchase Series A Preferred Stock ("Rights") pursuant to the Rights
Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth above, no
shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company were
authorized, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. The Company does not
have any outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders
of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the shareholders of
the Company on any matter ("Voting Debt"). As of the date of this Agreement,
except for not more than 15,000 outstanding Stock Options and not more than
172,725 shares of restricted stock all of which were awarded under the Stock
Option Plan, and except for options to purchase approximately $411,000 of shares
of Common Stock that will be accrued as of May 14, 2000 under the Stock Purchase
Plan, there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, calls, rights or
subscriptions, claims of any character, obligations, convertible or exchangeable
securities or other commitments, contingent or otherwise, to which the Company
is a party or by which it is bound obligating the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, additional shares of capital stock or Voting Debt of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant,
extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right or agreement (each an
"Issuance Obligation"). Except as contemplated by this Agreement or the Rights
Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
Common Stock or the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
11
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Section 3.3 Subsidiaries. Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure
------------
Letter contains a true, accurate and correct list of all of the Subsidiaries of
the Company. All of the outstanding capital stock of, or ownership interests
in, each Subsidiary of the Company is owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly. All of the shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and no Shares of
capital stock of any of the Company's Subsidiaries are reserved for issuance.
No Subsidiary of the Company has outstanding Voting Debt and no Subsidiary of
the Company is bound by, obligated under, or party to an Issuance Obligation
with respect to any security of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
Except as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter, all of such
capital stock or ownership interest is owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly, free and clear of all Liens. Other than as set forth in Section 3.3
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no restrictions of any kind that
prevent the payment of dividends by any of the Company's Subsidiaries.
Section 3.4 Other Interests. Except for the Company's interest in
---------------
its Subsidiaries, or as set forth in Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries owns directly or indirectly any
interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in, nor is the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries subject to any obligation or requirement to provide for or to
make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise)
to or in, any Person.
Section 3.5 Authority. The Company has the corporate power and
---------
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Company and no other corporate action on the part of
the Company is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (other than the approval of this Agreement by the holders of
more than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to
vote). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and
(assuming the valid authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by
each other party hereto) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
that such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights,
generally, and by general equitable principles.
Section 3.6 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth in Section 3.6
-----------------
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution and delivery of this Agreement
does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict with, or result in any
violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties
or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any provision of (i)
the Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any provision
of the comparable charter or organization documents of any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or
other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or
12
<PAGE>
license applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties
or assets, other than, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii), any such conflicts,
violations, defaults, rights, or Liens that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, or prevent or materially delay the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated hereby. No filing or registration with, or
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is required to be
obtained or made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation
by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) in
connection or in compliance with the provisions of the Exchange Act, (ii) the
filing of the Articles of Merger with the Corporation Commission and appropriate
documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company is
qualified to do business, (iii) such filings and approvals as may be required
under the HSR Act and (iv) such other consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under
the corporation, takeover or blue sky laws of various states or the Nasdaq
National Market.
Section 3.7 SEC Documents and Financial Statements. (a) Since
--------------------------------------
October 31, 1996, the Company has filed with the SEC all documents required to
be filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder) (the "Securities Act"), and the Exchange
Act. The Company has, prior to the date of this Agreement, made available to
Parent true and complete copies of all forms, reports, registration statements
and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC between October 31, 1996
and the date hereof (such documents, together with any exhibits, schedules,
amendments or supplements thereto, and any information incorporated by reference
therein, the "Company SEC Documents"). No Subsidiary of the Company is required
to file any form, report, schedule, registration statement, proxy statement or
other document with the SEC. Except to the extent amended or superseded by a
subsequent filing with the SEC made prior to the date hereof, as of their
respective dates (and if so amended or superseded, then on the date of such
filing), the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects (and any
forms, reports, registration statements and other documents, together with any
exhibits, schedules, amendments or supplements thereto and any information
incorporated by reference therein, filed by the Company with the SEC subsequent
to the date hereof (the "Subsequent Filings") will comply in all material
respects) with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as
the case may be, and none of the Company SEC Documents contained (and all
Subsequent Filings will not contain) any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted (and all Subsequent Filings will not omit) to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC
Documents comply in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the
rules applicable to Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during
the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes
thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated
13
<PAGE>
Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their
operations and changes in financial position for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein). The Company has
made available to Parent true and correct copies of any filings or any
amendments or modifications to any Company SEC documents that have not yet been
filed with the SEC but that are required to be filed with the SEC in accordance
with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be.
(b) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents or Section 3.7
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise), except for liabilities and obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since
October 31, 1999 that, individually and in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 3.8 Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9. The Schedule 14D-9 will
-------------------------------
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and,
on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to
the Company's shareholders, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation is made
by the Company with respect to information supplied by Parent or Acquiror in
writing expressly for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. The information supplied
or to be supplied by the Company or its Subsidiaries expressly for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents, if any, together with any
amendment or supplement thereto, will not at the respective times such documents
are filed with the SEC and are first published, sent or given to the Company's
shareholders contain any untrue statement of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made with respect to any
information concerning Parent or Acquiror or their officers, directors and
affiliates provided to the Company by Parent or Acquiror expressly for inclusion
in the Offer Documents.
Section 3.9 Absence of Certain Events. Since October 31, 1999, the
-------------------------
Company and its Subsidiaries have operated their respective businesses only in
the ordinary course consistent with past practices and, except as disclosed in
Section 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there has not occurred (a) any
event, occurrence or conditions that, individually or in the aggregate, would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or could
prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (b) any action specified in Section 5.3 of this Agreement.
Section 3.10 Title to Properties; Liens. (a) The Company and each
--------------------------
of its Subsidiaries has good, and in the case of owned real property, marketable
fee, title to (A) all of its material tangible properties and assets including,
without limitation, all such properties and assets reflected in the Company's
14
<PAGE>
consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 1999 except as indicated in the
notes thereto and except for properties and assets reflected in the Company's
consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 1999 that have been sold or
otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business after such date, and
(B) all the material tangible properties and assets that have been purchased by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since October 31, 1999 except for such
properties and assets that have been sold or otherwise disposed of in the
ordinary course of business, in each case subject to no Lien, except for (1)
Liens reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of October 31,
1999 (including the notes thereto), (2) Liens consisting of zoning or planning
restrictions, easements, permits and other restrictions or limitations on the
use of real property or irregularities in title thereto that do not materially
detract from the value of, or materially impair the use of, such property by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the operation of its respective business,
(3) statutory liens or liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
suppliers, materialmen or repairmen arising in the ordinary course of business
or (4) Liens for current taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on
property not yet due and delinquent (such Liens, "Permitted Liens").
(b) Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of
all of the real property and interests in real property owned by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries and all material leases of real property to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them holds a
leasehold interest (collectively, the "Real Property"). Except as disclosed in
the Company SEC Documents, (1) each material Real Property lease to which the
Company or its Subsidiary is a party is in full force and effect in accordance
with its terms, (2) all rents and additional rents due to date from the Company
or a Subsidiary on each such lease have been paid, (3) neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary has received written notice that it is in default thereunder, and
(4) there exists no default by the Company or any Subsidiary under such lease,
except to the extent that such failure to be in full force and effect, pay such
rents or such defaults has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is obligated under or bound by
any option, right of first refusal, purchase contract, or other agreement or
commitment to sell or otherwise dispose of any Real Property or any other
interest in any Real Property.
Section 3.11 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company SEC
----------
Documents, there are no investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending
against the Company or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries (or any of their respective
properties, rights or franchises), at law or in equity, or before or by any
federal or state commission, board, bureau, agency, regulatory or administrative
instrumentality or other Governmental Entity or any arbitrator or arbitration
tribunal, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 3.12 Compliance with Applicable Law. The Company and its
------------------------------
Subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exceptions, orders and
approvals of all Governmental Entities necessary for the lawful conduct of their
respective businesses (the "Company Permits"), except for failures to hold such
permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and could not prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company and its
Subsidiaries are in
15
<PAGE>
compliance with the terms of the Company Permits, except where the failure so to
comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and would not prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The
businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries are not in violation of any law,
ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity except for violations or
possible violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and could not
prevent or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby. Except as set forth in Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has any Governmental Entity
indicated an intention to conduct the same, other than, in each case, those
which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and could not prevent or
materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Set forth in Section 3.13
----------------------
of the Company Disclosure Letter attached hereto is an accurate and complete
list of all domestic and foreign (i) "employee benefit plans," within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder ("ERISA"), (ii) bonus,
stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, fringe benefit,
"voluntary employees' beneficiary associations" under Section 501(c)(9) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (the "Code"), profit-sharing, pension or retirement, deferred
compensation, medical, life insurance, disability, accident, salary
continuation, severance, accrued leave, vacation, sick pay, sick leave,
supplemental retirement and unemployment benefit plans, programs, arrangements,
commitments and/or practices (whether or not insured), and (iii) employment,
consulting, termination, and severance contracts or agreements, in each case for
active, retired or former employees or directors, whether or not any such plans,
programs, arrangements, commitments, contracts, agreements and/or practices
(referred to in (i), (ii) or (iii) above) are in writing or are otherwise exempt
from the provisions of ERISA, that have been established, maintained or
contributed to (or with respect to which an obligation to contribute has been
undertaken) or with respect to which any potential liability is borne by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including, for this purpose and for the
purpose of all of the representations in this Section 3.13, any predecessors to
the Company or to any of its Subsidiaries and all employers (whether or not
incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code
since January 1, 1993 (an "ERISA Affiliate") (collectively, "Employee Benefit
Plans").
(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure
Letter: (i) each Employee Benefit Plan is in compliance with applicable law and
has been administered and operated in all respects in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected
to result in a material liability, (ii) each Employee Benefit Plan which is
intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code, has
received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and,
to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred and no condition exists
which could
16
<PAGE>
reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of any such determination,
(iii) no Employee Benefit Plan is a "multiemployer plan," within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, covered by Title IV of ERISA (a "Multiemployer
Plan"), (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any
unsatisfied withdrawal liability under Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA
to any Multiemployer Plan, (v) the actuarial present value of the accumulated
plan benefits (whether or not vested) under any Employee Benefit Plan covered by
Title IV of ERISA determined as of the close of its most recent plan year on the
basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the
fair value of the assets allocable thereto, (vi) no Employee Benefit Plan
covered by Title IV of ERISA has been terminated and no proceedings have been
instituted to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any such plan, (vii)
no "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) has occurred or will
occur by virtue of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect
to any Employee Benefit Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA, (viii) no Employee
Benefit Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has
incurred any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of
the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or obtained a waiver of any minimum funding
standard or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the
Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA, (ix) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company's knowledge, any other "disqualified person"
or "party in interest" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code and Section
3(14) of ERISA, respectively) has engaged in any transactions in connection with
any Employee Benefit Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in the
imposition upon the Company of a penalty pursuant to Section 502 of ERISA,
damages pursuant to Section 409 of ERISA or a tax pursuant to Section 4975 of
the Code, which in any case is a material amount, (x) no Employee Benefit Plan
provides for post-employment or retiree welfare benefits, except to the extent
required by Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the
Code and (xi) no liability, claim, action or litigation, has been made,
commenced or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened with respect to any
Employee Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits payable in the
ordinary course, and appeals of denied such claims).
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, do not constitute a triggering event under any Employee
Benefit Plan, policy, arrangement, statement, commitment or agreement, whether
or not legally enforceable, which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any
additional or subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (whether of
severance pay or otherwise), "parachute payment" (as such term is defined in
Section 280G of the Code), acceleration, vesting or increase in benefits to any
employee or former employee or director of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, no Employee Benefit Plan provides for the payment of severance,
termination, change in control or similar-type payments or benefits.
(d) The Company has delivered or caused to be delivered to Parent
true and correct copies of (i) the most recent annual report (Form 5500) filed
with the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") for each applicable Employee
Benefit Plan, (ii) the Employee Benefit Plan document or documents, (iii) each
trust agreement relating to each Employee Benefit Plan, (iv) the most recent
summary plan description for each Employee Benefit Plan for which a summary plan
description is required, (v) the most recent actuarial report or valuation, if
any, relating to an
17
<PAGE>
Employee Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA and (vi) the most recent
determination, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Employee Benefit
Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
Section 3.14 Employment Relations and Agreement. (a) Except as would
----------------------------------
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and could not prevent or materially delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all federal,
state or other applicable laws respecting employment and employment practices,
terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, and is not engaged in
any unfair labor practice, (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no unfair labor
practice complaint against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending
before the National Labor Relations Board, (iii) there is no labor strike,
dispute, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(iv) no arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining
agreement is pending, (v) no collective bargaining agreement is currently being
negotiated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) there has been no
"mass layoff" or "plant closing" by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as
defined in the Federal Workers Adjustment Retraining And Notification Act
("WARN") or any state law equivalent, or any other mass layoff or plant closing
that would trigger notice pursuant to WARN or any state law equivalent, within
(90) days prior to the Effective Time and (vii) there is no union organizing
effort pending, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened with respect to the
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(b) Except for employment agreements and similar agreements, true and
complete executed copies of which, as amended, have been delivered to Parent,
and as set forth in the Company SEC Documents or Section 3.14(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
written, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any oral, collective bargaining,
employment, benefit or severance agreement with any other Person. The executed
copies of the employment agreements and similar agreements previously delivered
to Parent have not since been amended, modified or rescinded except to the
extent disclosed in writing to Acquiror.
Section 3.15 Contracts. Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the
---------
Company Disclosure Letter and except as included as an exhibit to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1999 (the items set
forth in such Section 3.15 and/or filed as such exhibits are referred to as the
"Material Contracts"), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to or is otherwise bound by:
(i) any agreement, contract or commitment that involves the supply of
goods or products or the provision of services by it in an amount or for
payments (as measured by the revenue derived therefrom during fiscal year 1999)
in excess of $150,000 annually, unless terminable by the Company on not more
than 30 days notice,
(ii) any agreement, indenture or other instrument which contains
restrictions with respect to payment of dividends or any other distribution in
respect of its capital stock,
18
<PAGE>
(iii) any agreement, contract or commitment to be performed relating
to capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 in any calendar year, or in the
aggregate require expenditures in excess of $300,000,
(iv) any loan agreement, credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage or
other agreement, indenture or instrument relating to indebtedness for borrowed
money, the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale arrangements,
capital lease obligations, obligations secured by a Lien, or interest rate or
currency hedging activities ("indebtedness") (excluding trade payables in the
ordinary course of business, intercompany indebtedness and leases for
telephones, copy machines, facsimile machines and other office equipment),
(v) any loan or advance to, or investment in (other than investments
in Subsidiaries), any Person, or any agreement, contract or commitment relating
to the making of any such loan, advance or investment or any agreement, contract
or commitment involving a sharing of profits (except for bonus arrangements with
employees entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice),
(vi) any guarantee or other contingent liability in respect of any
indebtedness (as defined in paragraph (iv) above) of any Person (other than with
respect to any indebtedness or obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary),
(vii) any management service, consulting or any other similar type of
contract, involving payments of more than $100,000 annually, unless terminable
by the Company on not more than 30 days notice, or
(viii) any agreement, contract or commitment limiting the ability of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or to
compete with any Person.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.15 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, each Material Contract is in full force and effect, is a
valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto and,
to the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto. Except as otherwise
set forth in Section 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (A) there exists no
default or event of default or event, occurrence, condition or act (including
the consummation of the Merger) on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary
that, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any other
event or condition, would become a default or event of default under any
Material Contract, except for such defaults or events of default which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and (B) no approval or consent of, or
notice to, any Person is needed in order that each Material Contract or
agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms
without penalty, acceleration or rights of early termination by reason of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.16 Rights Agreement. The Company and the Board of
----------------
Directors of the Company have taken all necessary action to amend the Rights
Agreement (subject only to the execution of such amendment by the Rights Agent,
which execution the Company shall cause to take place prior to the commencement
of the Offer) to (a) render the Rights Agreement
19
<PAGE>
inapplicable with respect to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement and (b) ensure that (i)
none of the Parent, Acquiror or any of their affiliates (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) or Associates (as defined in the Rights Agreement) is
considered to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and
(ii) the provisions of the Rights Agreement, including the occurrence of a
Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), are not and shall not be
triggered by reason of the announcement or consummation of the Offer, the Merger
or the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Voting Agreement. The Company has delivered to Acquiror a
complete and correct copy of the Rights Agreement as amended and supplemented to
the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.17 State Takeover Statutes; Charter and By-Law Provisions.
------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors of the Company has, to the extent such statute is
applicable, taken all action necessary to exempt Parent, Acquiror, their
affiliates, the Merger, this Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby from Sections 13.1-725 through
13.1-727.1 and 13.1-728.1 through 13.1-728.9 of the Virginia Code. No other
state takeover statutes and no charter or bylaw provisions are applicable to the
Merger, this Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby.
Section 3.18 Taxes. (a) Tax Returns. Except as set forth in
----- -----------
Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and each Subsidiary
has timely filed or will timely file with the appropriate taxing authorities all
material returns, statements, forms and reports for Taxes (as hereinafter
defined) ("Returns") that are required to have been filed by, or with respect
to, the Company and each Subsidiary on or before the consummation of the Offer.
The Returns accurately reflect all liability for material Taxes of the Company
and each Subsidiary for the periods covered thereby.
(b) Payment of Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the
----------------
Company Disclosure Letter, all material Taxes of the Company and each Subsidiary
for all taxable years or periods that end on or before the consummation of the
Offer and with respect to any taxable year or period beginning before or ending
after the consummation of the Offer, the portion of such taxable year or period
ending on and including the consummation of the Offer, have been or (for the
portion of any such period after the date hereof) will be timely paid in full or
accrued and fully provided for as of the consummation of the Offer. The Company
and each Subsidiary has withheld or collected all material Taxes they were
required to withhold and collect, and have timely paid to the proper authorities
such Taxes withheld or collected to the extent due and payable.
(c) "Tax". For purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" (and, with
_____
correlative meaning, "Taxes" and "Taxable") means all taxes, assessments,
charges, duties, fees, levies or other governmental charges, including, without
limitation, all Federal, state, local, foreign and other income, franchise,
profits, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, sales, use, occupation,
property, excise, severance, windfall profits, stamp, license, payroll,
withholding and other taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other
governmental charges of any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly or by
withholding and whether or not requiring the filing of a Return), all estimated
taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest with
respect to
20
<PAGE>
any of the foregoing and shall include any liability for such amounts as a
result either of being a member of a combined, consolidated, unitary or
affiliated group or of a contractual obligation to indemnify any Person.
(d) Other Tax Matters. Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the
_________________
Company Disclosure Letter:
(i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been the
subject of an audit or other examination of Taxes for any taxable period after
December 31, 1994 by the tax authorities of any nation, state or locality nor
has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries received any written notices from any
taxing authority relating to any issue which could reasonably be expected to
affect materially the Tax liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
after the date thereof.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, as of the
Effective Time, (A) has entered into an outstanding agreement or waiver or been
requested to enter into an agreement or waiver extending any statute of
limitations relating to the payment or collection of material Taxes of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) is presently contesting the Tax
liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, tribunal
or agency or (C) has applied for and/or received a ruling or determination from
a taxing authority regarding a past or prospective transaction of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries which could affect the Tax liability of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof.
(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been
included in any "consolidated," "unitary" or "combined" Return of any other
Person provided for under the law of the United States, any foreign jurisdiction
or any state or locality with respect to material Taxes for any taxable period
for which the statute of limitations has not expired.
(iv) No claim has ever been made by any taxing authority in a
jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file material
Returns that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be subject to
taxation by that jurisdiction;
(v) There are no tax sharing, allocation, indemnification or similar
agreements in effect as between the Company or any predecessor or affiliate
thereof and any other Person under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
could be liable for any material Taxes of any other Person.
(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has applied for,
been granted, or agreed to any accounting method change for which it will be
required to take into account after the date hereof any material adjustment
under Section 481 of the Code or any similar provision of the Code or the
corresponding tax laws of any nation, state or locality.
(vii) No election under Section 341(f) of the Code has been made or
shall be made prior to the Effective Time to treat the Company or any of its
subsidiaries as a consenting corporation, as defined in Section 341 of the Code.
21
<PAGE>
(viii) No material amount of indebtedness of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries consists of "corporate acquisition indebtedness" within the
meaning of Section 279 of the Code.
(ix) The Company is not a "United States real property holding
corporation" within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(x) The Company has delivered to Acquiror correct and complete copies
of all United States federal, state and all foreign income Tax Returns (to the
extent filed as of the date hereof or, if not filed, correct and complete copies
of extensions thereof), examination reports, statements of deficiencies assessed
against or agreed to by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, or any other
similar correspondence from a taxing authority, relating to taxable years 1997,
1998 and 1999.
Section 3.19 Intellectual Properties. (a) The Company exclusively
-----------------------
owns, without restrictions, or is licensed to use, the worldwide rights to all
patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights together with any
registrations and applications therefor, Internet domain names, net lists,
schematics, inventories, technology, trade secrets, proprietary information,
know-how, computer software programs or applications including, without
limitation, all object and source codes and tangible or intangible proprietary
information or material that are used in the business of the Company and any of
its Subsidiaries as currently conducted (the "Company Intellectual Property")
except where the failure to so own or license would not reasonably be expected
to have individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth: (i) all
material patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, registered copyrights,
and any applications therefor in any nation included in the Company Intellectual
Property; and (ii) all material licenses and other agreements to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any Company Intellectual
Property and includes the identities of the parties thereto, a description of
the nature and subject matter thereof, the applicable royalty and the term
thereof. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or as a result of
the execution, delivery or performance of the Company's obligations hereunder
will be, in violation of, or lose any rights pursuant to, any license or
agreement set forth in Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter, except as
would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) No claims have been asserted or, to the knowledge of the Company,
are threatened by any person or entity (i) to the effect that the manufacture,
sale, use, offer for sale, reproduction, distribution or modification, of any
product or process by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries infringes any
copyright, trade secret, trademark, patent or other intellectual property right
of any person or entity, (ii) that, if sustained, would preclude the use by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Company Intellectual Property, or
(iii) challenging the ownership, validity or enforceability of any of the
Company Intellectual Property, except in each case as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. All granted and issued patents and all registered trademarks and
service marks set forth in Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter and all
copyrights
22
<PAGE>
held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are valid, enforceable and
subsisting, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. To the Company's
knowledge, there has not been and there is not any unauthorized use,
infringement or misappropriation of any of the Company Intellectual Property by
any person or entity, including, without limitation, any employee or former
employee.
Section 3.20 Environmental Laws and Regulations. Except as disclosed
----------------------------------
in the Company SEC Documents or in Section 3.20 of the Company Disclosure Letter
and as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (a) Hazardous Materials (as
hereinafter defined) have not at any time been generated, used, treated or
stored on, or transported to or from or released or disposed of on any Company
Property (as hereinafter defined) or, to the knowledge of the Company, any
property adjoining or adjacent to any Company Property, except in material
compliance with Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined) and so as not to
result in or reasonably be the basis for a material Environmental Claim (as
hereinafter defined), (b) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in
compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws and the
requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws with respect to
any Company Property, (c) there are no past, pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened Environmental Claims against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Company Property, (d) there are no facts or circumstances,
conditions or occurrences regarding any Company Property or, to the knowledge of
the Company, any property adjoining or adjacent to any Company Property that
could reasonably be anticipated (A) to form the basis of an Environmental Claim
against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Company Property or (B) to
cause such Company Property to be subject to any restrictions on its ownership,
occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law, (e) there are not
now and to the knowledge of the Company never have been any underground storage
tanks located on any Company Property and (f) no Company Property is listed on
the National Priorities List or the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Information System promulgated pursuant to the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq. or state equivalent lists and laws.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings: (A) "Company Property" means any real property and
improvements at any time owned, leased, used, operated or occupied by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) "Hazardous Materials" means (i) any
petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form
that is friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, dielectric fluid containing
levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas; (ii) any chemicals,
materials or substances defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous
substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous
substances," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic
pollutants," or words of similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law;
and (iii) any other chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is
prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority; (C)
"Environmental Law" means any federal, state or local statute, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law in effect and in each
case as amended as of the date hereof and the Effective Time, and any judicial
or legally binding administrative interpretation thereof as of the date hereof
and
23
<PAGE>
the Effective Time, including any judicial or administrative order, consent
decree or judgment, relating to the environment, health, safety or Hazardous
Materials, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. (S)9601
et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
- -- ----
(S)6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C.
-- ----
(S)1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. (S) 2601 et seq.;
-- ---- -- ----
the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42
-- ----
U.S.C. (S) 3808 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C.
-- ----
(S)(S) 651 - 678 (1999); and the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. (S)(S) 2701 - 2706
(1999); and (D) "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating in
any way to any Environmental Law (for purposes of this subclause (D), "Claims")
or any permit issued under any such Environmental Law, including, without
limitation (i) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory authorities for
enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages
pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (ii) any and all Claims by any
third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery,
compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising
from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment.
Section 3.21 Voting Requirements. The affirmative vote of the
-------------------
holders of more than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(voting as one class, with each share having one vote) is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of the Company's capital stock necessary to
approve the Merger.
Section 3.22 Brokers. Except for the fees and expenses of Scott &
-------
Stringfellow, which will be paid by the Company, no agent, broker, Person or
firm acting on behalf of the Company or its Board of Directors is, or will be,
entitled to any fee, commission or broker's or finder's fees from any of the
parties hereto, or from any Person, controlling, controlled by or under common
control with any of the parties hereto, in connection with this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company has delivered to Parent an
accurate description of the material terms of the Company's engagement letter
with Scott & Stringfellow as in effect on the date hereof, including an estimate
of fees and expenses payable to Scott & Stringfellow.
Section 3.23 Fairness Opinion. The Company's Board of Directors has
----------------
received the written opinion of Scott & Stringfellow that the proposed
consideration to be received by the holders of Shares (other than the Management
Shareholders) pursuant to the Offer and the Merger is fair to such holders from
a financial point of view. A complete and correct signed copy of such opinion
has been delivered to Parent. The Company has been authorized by Scott &
Stringfellow to permit the inclusion of such fairness opinion (or a reference
thereto) in the Offer Documents and in the Schedule 14D-9.
24
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
---------------------------------
PARENT AND ACQUIROR
-------------------
Each of Parent and Acquiror represents and warrants to the Company as
follows:
Section 4.1 Organization, Standing and Power; Capitalization of
---------------------------------------------------
Parent and Acquiror. Each of Parent and Acquiror is a corporation duly
- -------------------
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted.
Section 4.2 Authority. Each of Parent and Acquiror has all
---------
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Parent and Acquiror and the consummation by Parent and
Acquiror of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by
the Boards of Directors of Parent and Acquiror and by Parent as sole shareholder
of Acquiror and no other corporate action on the part of Parent or Acquiror is
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by Parent or Acquiror. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Parent and Acquiror and (assuming the valid authorization, execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the other parties thereto) constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of Parent and Acquiror enforceable against Parent and
Acquiror in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws affecting creditor's rights generally and by general
equitable principles.
Section 4.3 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this
-----------------
Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict with, or result in
any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under, or result in the
creation of Liens (as hereinafter defined) upon any of the properties or assets
of Parent or Acquiror under, any provision of (i) the Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws of Parent or Acquiror, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession,
franchise or license applicable to Parent or Acquiror or any of their properties
or assets or (iii) any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to Parent or Acquiror or any of their properties or
assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), any such conflicts,
violations, defaults, rights, or Liens that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as
hereinafter defined) on Parent or Acquiror or prevent or materially delay the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No
filing or registration with, or authorization, consent or approval of, any
domestic (federal, state or local), foreign or supranational court, commission,
governmental body, regulatory or administrative agency, authority or tribunal (a
"Governmental
25
<PAGE>
Entity") is required to be made or obtained by Parent or Acquiror in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Acquiror or the
consummation by Acquiror or Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby,
except for (i) in connection or in compliance with the Exchange Act, (ii) the
filing of the Articles of Merger with the Corporation Commission and appropriate
documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company is
qualified to do business, (iii) such filings and approvals as may be required
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
Act"), (iv) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under the
corporation, takeover or blue sky laws of various states or the Nasdaq National
Market, and (v) such other consents, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Acquiror.
Section 4.4 Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9 and Proxy Statement. The
---------------------------------------------------
Offer Documents comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act, and on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first
published, sent or given to the Company's shareholders, the Offer Documents will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, except that no representation is made by Parent or Acquiror with
respect to information supplied by the Company in writing expressly for
inclusion in the Offer Documents. The written information supplied or to be
supplied by Parent or Acquiror expressly for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement, if any, and the Schedule 14D-9, together with
any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing will, at the time filed
with the SEC and at the date first published, sent or given to the Company's
shareholders, and in addition, in the case of the Proxy Statement, at the date
mailed to shareholders, at the time of any Shareholder Meeting (as defined
below) and at the Effective Time not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
representation or warranty is made with respect to any information concerning
the Company or its officers, directors and affiliates provided to Parent or
Acquiror by the Company specifically for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9, Proxy
Statements or amendments or supplements thereto.
Section 4.5 Financing. Parent has obtained a commitment letter (the
---------
"Commitment Letter") from Bankers Trust Company addressed to Quad-C Management,
Inc. which, on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, provides for a
$120 million Senior Secured and Revolving Credit Facility. A true, complete and
correct copy of the Commitment Letter has been furnished to the Company. The
aggregate proceeds covered by the Commitment Letter, together with equity
available to Parent or Acquiror, are sufficient to acquire all of the Shares in
the Offer and the Merger and to pay anticipated expenses in connection
therewith. As of the date hereof, the Commitment Letter has not been
terminated. Parent has cash and cash equivalents of not less than $1,000,000.
Section 4.6 Brokers. Except for the fees and expenses of Quad-C or
-------
its affiliate, which will be paid by Parent and Acquiror, no agent, broker,
Person or firm acting on behalf of
26
<PAGE>
Parent or Acquiror is, or will be, entitled to any fee, commission or broker's
or finder's fees from any of the parties hereto, or from any Person,
controlling, controlled by or under common control with any of the parties
hereto, in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 4.7 Business of Parent and Acquiror. Parent and Acquiror
-------------------------------
were organized solely for the purpose of acquiring the Company and engaging in
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and have not engaged in any
business since they were incorporated which is not in connection with the
acquisition of the Company and this Agreement. During the period from the date
of this Agreement through the date on which Shares are purchased in accordance
with the Offer, Parent and Acquiror shall not engage in any activities of any
nature except as provided in or contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
-----------------------------------------
Section 5.1 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records.
-------------------------------------------------------
During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Effective
Date, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, upon
reasonable notice, afford Parent and Acquiror, and their respective counsel,
accountants, financing sources, consultants and other authorized
representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours to the
employees, properties, books and records and accountants of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in order that they may have the opportunity to make such
investigations as they shall desire of the affairs of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. The Company shall furnish promptly to Parent and Acquiror (a) a
copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed
by it or its Subsidiaries during such period pursuant to the requirements of
Federal or state securities laws and (b) all other information concerning its or
its Subsidiaries' business, properties and personnel as Parent and Acquiror
shall from time to time reasonably request. The Company shall cause its title
insurers to provide to Parent title insurance reports with respect to each of
the material real properties owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on
or prior to the tenth Business Day after the date hereof.
Section 5.2 Confidentiality. Information obtained by Parent and
---------------
Acquiror and their respective counsel, accountants, consultants and other
authorized representatives pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof shall be subject to
the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement between the Company and Quad-C,
Inc. dated January 4, 2000 (the "Confidentiality Agreement").
Section 5.3 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger.
-------------------------------------------------------
Except as otherwise expressly permitted or required by this Agreement or as
described in the Company Disclosure Letter, during the period from the date of
this Agreement through the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause
its Subsidiaries to, in all material respects carry on their respective
businesses in, and not enter into any material transaction other than in
accordance with, the regular and ordinary course and, to the extent consistent
therewith, use its reasonable
27
<PAGE>
best efforts to preserve intact their current business organizations, keep
available the services of their current officers and employees and preserve
their relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business
dealings with them. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and,
except as otherwise expressly permitted or required by this Agreement or as
described in the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Parent:
(a) (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other
actual, constructive or deemed distributions in respect of, any of its capital
stock, or otherwise make any payments to shareholders of the Company in their
capacity as such, other than dividends payable to the Company declared by any of
the Company's Subsidiaries and regular quarterly cash dividends consistent with
past practice in an amount not to exceed $0.17 per share of Common Stock, (ii)
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such
shares or other securities;
(b) issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of or otherwise encumber
any shares of its capital stock, any Voting Debt or other voting securities or
equity equivalent or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares,
Voting Debt or voting securities or convertible securities or equity equivalent
or any phantom stock or stock appreciation rights (other than, in the case of
the Company, the issuance of Shares during the period from the date of this
Agreement through the Effective Time upon the exercise of Stock Options
outstanding (as set forth in Section 3.2) on the date of this Agreement in
accordance with their current terms or enter into any agreement or contract with
respect to the sale or issuance of any of its securities;
(c) amend its charter or bylaws or the Rights Agreement or equivalent
governing documents;
(d) acquire or agree to acquire by merging with, or by purchasing a
material amount of assets of or equity in, or by any other manner, any business
or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or
division thereof or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any material assets
other than inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(e) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of or agree to sell, lease or
otherwise dispose of, any of its assets that are material, individually or in
the aggregate, to the Company, other than sales of inventory and excess or
obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or allow any properties or assets to become subject to any Lien other
than Permitted Liens;
(f) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or guarantee any debt
securities of others, or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to,
or investments in, any other Person other than a wholly owned subsidiary, enter
into any "keep-well" or other agreement to maintain any
28
<PAGE>
financial state and condition of another Person or enter into any arrangement
having the economic effect of any of the foregoing;
(g) grant any severance or termination pay not currently required to
be paid under existing severance plans or enter into or adopt, or amend any
existing, severance plan, agreement or arrangement or, enter into or amend any
employee benefit plan (including without limitation, the Stock Option Plan and
any change or modification under the Proposed Program for the Assurance of
Continued Employment and Severance Benefit other than as set forth in Sections
3.13(a)(ii)(2) and 3.13(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter) except as required
by applicable law, or enter into or amend any employment or consulting
agreement;
(h) enter into any contract or commitment with respect to capital
expenditures with a value in excess of, or requiring expenditures by the Company
and its Subsidiaries in excess of, $250,000, individually, or enter into
contracts or commitments with respect to capital expenditures with a value in
excess of, or requiring expenditures by the Company and its Subsidiaries in
excess of, $300,000, in the aggregate;
(i) except to the extent required under existing employee and
director benefit plans, agreements or arrangements as in effect on the date of
this Agreement, materially increase the compensation or fringe benefits of any
of its directors, officers or employees;
(j) agree to the settlement of any material claim or litigation;
(k) make or rescind any material tax election or settle or compromise
any material tax liability;
(l) except as required by applicable law or GAAP, make any change in
its method of accounting or accounting policies or procedures;
(m) except as required under the Stock Option Plan and as otherwise
permitted or required by this Agreement, accelerate the payment, right to
payment or vesting of any bonus, severance, profit sharing, retirement, deferred
compensation, stock option, insurance or other compensation or benefits;
(n) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations
(absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than
the payment, discharge or satisfaction (1) of any such claims, liabilities or
obligations in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice
or (2) of claims, liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in,
or contemplated by, the consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto)
contained in the Company SEC Documents, in each case, that are not in excess of
$100,000;
(o) enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment that
restrains, limits or impedes the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' ability
to compete with or conduct any business or line of business, including, but not
limited to, geographic limitations on the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
activities;
29
<PAGE>
(p) materially modify, amend or terminate any Material Contract or
waive any of its rights or claims thereunder or enter into any contract,
agreement, commitment or arrangement that, if in existence on the date hereof,
would be a Material Contract;
(q) establish, adopt enter into or amend or terminate any collective
bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option,
restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment,
termination, severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or
arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or employees; or
(r) agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing
actions.
Section 5.4 Acquisition Proposals. (a) The Company shall and shall
---------------------
cause its Subsidiaries and affiliates and each of their directors, officers,
employees, agents, advisors and representatives to immediately cease any
discussions or negotiations with third parties with respect to any Acquisition
Transaction (as hereinafter defined). Prior to the Effective Time, the Company
agrees that it shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its
Subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their directors, officers, employees,
agents, advisors or representatives to, directly or indirectly:
(i) solicit, initiate, facilitate or encourage (including without
limitation by furnishing information to a third party or by taking any
action which would make the Rights Agreement or Sections 13.1-725 through
13.1-727.1 and 13.1-728.1 through 13.1-728.9 of the Virginia Code
inapplicable to any Acquisition Transaction (other than the Offer or the
Merger) any inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to any
tender offer or exchange offer involving the Company or any proposal with
respect to any merger, consolidation or other business combination
involving the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, the acquisition of
all or any significant part of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company or more than 10% of the capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company (each, an "Acquisition Transaction");
(ii) except for agreements with respect to a Superior Proposal entered
into in accordance with Section 8.1(d) and except for a confidentiality
agreement entered into in connection with actions permitted in accordance
with Section 5.4(a)(iii), enter into any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or enter into any
agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate
or fail to consummate the Offer, the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement; or
(iii) negotiate, explore or otherwise engage in discussions with any
Person (other than Parent and its representatives) with respect to any
Acquisition Transaction, or any inquiry that may reasonably be expected to
lead to a proposal for an Acquisition Transaction; provided, however, that
-------- -------
the Company may (A) participate in discussions with or request
clarifications from or furnish information (pursuant to a confidentiality
agreement with terms not more favorable to such third party than the terms
of the Confidentiality Agreement) to any third party which makes an
unsolicited written proposal to effect an Acquisition Transaction that did
not result from the breach of this
30
<PAGE>
Section 5.4 and subject to compliance with its obligations under Section
5.4(b), in each case solely for the purpose of obtaining information
reasonably necessary to ascertain whether such Acquisition Transaction is,
or could reasonably likely lead to, a Superior Proposal (as hereinafter
defined) and (B) in response to an unsolicited written proposal from a
third party making a Superior Proposal that did not result from the breach
of this Section 5.4 and subject to compliance with its obligations under
Section 5.4(b), furnish information (pursuant to a confidentiality
agreement with terms not more favorable to such third party than the terms
of the Confidentiality Agreement) to and engage in discussions and
negotiations with such third party, but only, in the case of each of clause
(A) and clause (B), if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
good faith (after receiving written advice from its financial advisors and
after receiving advice from outside independent counsel) that taking such
action is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and
such action is required by its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that any violation of the
restrictions set forth in this Section 5.4(a) by any director, officer,
employee, agent, advisor or representative of the Company, whether or not such
Person is purporting to act on behalf of the Company, shall constitute a breach
of this Section 5.4(a) by the Company.
(b) The Company agrees to advise Parent in writing within 24 hours of
the receipt thereof of the existence of:
(i) any inquiries or proposals (or desire to make a proposal) received
by (or indicated to), any such information requested from, or any
negotiations or discussions sought to be initiated with, the Company, its
Affiliates, or any of the respective directors, offices, employees, agents
or representatives of the foregoing, in each case from a Person (other than
Parent and its representatives) with respect to an Acquisition Transaction;
and
(ii) the terms thereof, including the identity of such third party and
the terms of any financing arrangement or commitment in connection with
such Acquisition Transaction, and update on an ongoing basis or upon
Parent's reasonable request, the status thereof.
The Company shall simultaneously provide to Parent any non-public
information concerning the Company provided to any other Person or group in
connection with any Acquisition Transaction which was not previously provided to
Parent.
(c) As used herein "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide written and
unsolicited proposal or offer made by any Person (or group) (other than Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries) to acquire all or substantially all of the capital
stock of the Company pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other
business combination or to purchase all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (i) on terms that, as determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company in good faith (based on written advice of its independent financial
advisors), are more favorable from a financial point of view to the Company and
its shareholders than the transactions contemplated hereby and any alternative
proposed by Parent or Acquiror
31
<PAGE>
and (ii) that is not conditioned upon obtaining additional financing the
likelihood of closing of which is less certain than the satisfaction of the
condition set forth in paragraph (i) of Annex A.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
---------------------
Section 6.1 Company Shareholder Approval; Proxy Statement. (a)
---------------------------------------------
Promptly following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer if approval of
the Merger by the shareholders of the Company is required by applicable law, the
Company shall call a meeting of its shareholders (the "Shareholder Meeting") for
the purpose of voting on the Merger and shall take all action necessary or
advisable to obtain shareholder approval of the Merger and the Company agrees
that this Agreement and the Merger shall be submitted at such meeting. The
Shareholder Meeting shall be held as soon as practicable following the purchase
of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Company will, through its Board of
Directors, subject to this Agreement, recommend to its shareholders the approval
of the Merger. Subject to Section 5.4, the Company agrees that it shall include
in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its Board of Directors to the
shareholders of the Company to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the
Merger. The record date for the Shareholder Meeting shall be a date subsequent
to the date Acquiror becomes a record holder of Shares purchased pursuant to the
Offer.
(b) If shareholder approval of the Merger is required by applicable
law, the Company will, as soon as practicable following the expiration of the
Offer, prepare and file a preliminary Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement")
with the SEC and will use its reasonable best efforts to respond to any comments
of the SEC or its staff and to cause the Proxy Statement to be cleared by the
SEC. The Company will notify Parent of the receipt of any comments from the SEC
or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or
supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional information and will supply
Parent with copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its
representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand,
with respect to the Proxy Statement or the Merger. The Company shall give
Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review the Proxy Statement prior to
its being filed with the SEC and shall give Parent and its counsel the
opportunity to review all amendments and supplements to the Proxy Statement and
all responses to requests for additional information and replies to comments
prior to their being filed with, or sent to, the SEC. Each of the Company and
Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts, after consultation with the
other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all such comments of and requests
by the SEC. As promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been
cleared by the SEC, the Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to the
shareholders of the Company. If at any time prior to the approval of this
Agreement by the Company's shareholders there shall occur any event that should
be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company
will prepare and mail to its shareholders such an amendment or supplement. The
Company shall not use any proxy material in connection with the meeting of its
shareholders without Parent's prior approval.
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<PAGE>
(c) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain the necessary approvals by its shareholders of the Merger, this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Acquiror agrees to cause all Shares purchased pursuant to the
Offer and all other Shares owned by Acquiror to be voted in favor of the
approval of the Merger.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Acquiror shall
acquire at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, the parties hereto agree to take
all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as
soon as practicable after the expiration of the Offer without a meeting of
shareholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 13.1-719 of the Virginia
Code.
Section 6.2 Fees and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is
-----------------
consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring
such costs and expenses, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
Section 6.3 Reasonable Efforts. On the terms and subject to the
------------------
conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and
to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties
in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger, and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (a) obtaining all
necessary actions or non-actions, waivers, consents and approvals from
Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings
(including filings with Governmental Entities, including without limitation, all
filings under the HSR Act) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be
necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from or to avoid an action or
proceeding by any Governmental Entity, (b) obtaining all necessary consents,
approvals or waivers from third parties, (c) defending any lawsuits or other
legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including
seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or
other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed, and (d) executing and delivering
any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no loan agreement or contract
for borrowed money shall be repaid except as currently required by its terms, in
whole or in part, and no contract shall be amended to increase the amount
payable thereunder or otherwise to be more burdensome to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries in order to attain any such consent, approval or authorization
without the prior written consent of Parent.
Section 6.4 Public Announcements; Certain Notices. (a) Parent and
-------------------------------------
the Company will consult with each other before issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statements with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and shall not issue any such press release or
make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be
required by applicable law or regulation or by obligations pursuant to any
listing agreement with any national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market so long as it has
33
<PAGE>
used reasonable best efforts to consult with the other
party prior to issuing such press release or making such public disclosure.
(b) The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall
give prompt notice to the Company, of the occurrence, or failure to occur, of
any event, which occurrence or failure to occur would likely cause any
representation or warranty made by it contained in the Agreement to be untrue in
any material respect at any time from the date of this Agreement to the Closing
Date. Each of the Company and Parent shall give prompt notice to the other
party of any notice or other communication from any third party alleging that
the consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.5 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance. (a)
-------------------------------------------------
The articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall
contain the provisions with respect to indemnification and exculpation from
liability set forth in the Company's Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws on the
date of this Agreement, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or
otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective Time in any
manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who on
or prior to the Effective Time were directors, officers, employees or agents of
the Company (the "Indemnified Parties"), unless such modification is required by
law.
(b) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall either (x) maintain in effect the Company's current directors'
and officers' liability insurance covering the Indemnified Parties; provided,
--------
that in no event shall Surviving Corporation be required to expend in any one
year an amount in excess of 125% of the annual premiums currently paid by the
Company for such insurance which the Company represents to be approximately
$52,000 for the twelve month period ending on November 4, 2000; provided,
--------
further that if the annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such
- -------
amount, the Surviving Corporation shall be obligated to obtain a policy with the
greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding such amount; provided,
--------
further that the Surviving Corporation may substitute for such Company policies,
- -------
policies providing at least the same coverage and containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous provided that said substitution does
not result in any gaps or lapses in coverage with respect to matters occurring
prior to the Effective Time or (y) cause the Parent's directors' and officers'
liability insurance then in effect to cover the Indemnified Parties with respect
to those matters covered by the Company's directors' and officers' liability
policy.
Section 6.6 State Takeover Laws. If any "fair price," "business
-------------------
combination" or "control share acquisition" statute or other similar statute or
regulation shall become applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby,
Parent, the Company and its Board of Directors shall take all such action as may
be necessary or advisable to obtain such approvals and take such actions as are
necessary or advisable so that the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Voting Agreements may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated hereby and thereby and otherwise act to minimize the effects of any
such statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
34
<PAGE>
Section 6.7 Rights Agreement. The Company shall not, unless required
----------------
to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, (i) redeem the Rights (ii) amend
(other than to delay the Distribution Date (as defined therein) or to render the
Rights inapplicable to the Offer and the Merger) or terminate the Rights
Agreement prior to the Effective Time without the consent of Acquiror, or (iii)
take any action which would allow any Person (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) other than Acquiror and the Management Shareholders to be the
Beneficial Owner (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of 15% or
more of the Common Stock without causing a Distribution Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) or a Triggering Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement) to occur.
Section 6.8. Subsequent Filings. Until the Effective Time, the
------------------
Company will timely file with the SEC each Subsequent Filing required to be
filed by the Company and will promptly deliver to Parent and Acquiror copies of
each such Subsequent Filing filed with the SEC. As of their respective dates,
none of such Subsequent Filings shall contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The audited consolidated financial statements and
unaudited interim financial statements of the Company included in such
Subsequent Filings shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except the notes thereto)
and shall fairly present the financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of their
operations and changes in financial position for the periods then ended, except
that the unaudited interim financial statements are subject to normal and
recurring year-end adjustments.
Section 6.9. Severance Plan. The Company agrees that neither it nor
--------------
any of its Subsidiaries has entered into or will enter into any severance,
retention, compensation or employee benefit plan, policy, program, arrangement
or agreement under the Proposed Program for the Assurance of Continued
Employment and Severance Benefits pursuant to which the execution of this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
constitutes or would constitute a "change in control" of the Company within the
meaning of such proposed program.
Section 6.10 Financing Related Efforts. (a) Parent shall use all
-------------------------
commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the financing provided in the
Commitment Letter and Parent shall provide funds to Acquiror to permit it to
perform its obligations hereunder and in the Offer.
(b) Parent will provide the Company with true, correct and complete
copies of all amendments and supplements to the Commitment Letter as well as
true, correct and complete copies of all other commitments and agreements (and
any amendments or supplements thereto) with respect to the financing by third
parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
35
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
--------------------
Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
---------------------------------------------------
Merger. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be
- ------
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a) Shareholder Approval. If approval of the Merger by the holders
--------------------
of the Common Stock is required by applicable law, the Merger shall have been
approved by the requisite vote of such holders.
(b) No Order. No Governmental Entity or court of competent
--------
jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any
law, rule, regulation, executive order, decree or injunction which prohibits or
has the effect of prohibiting the consummation of the Merger; provided, however,
-------- -------
that the party asserting this condition shall have used its reasonable best
efforts to have any such order, decree or injunction vacated.
(c) Purchase of Shares. Acquiror shall have accepted for payment and
------------------
paid for all Shares properly tendered pursuant to the Offer in an amount
sufficient to satisfy the Minimum Condition; provided, that this condition will
--------
be deemed to have been satisfied with respect to the obligations of Acquiror to
effect the Merger if Acquiror fails to accept for payment and pay for any Shares
validly tendered pursuant to the Offer in violation of the terms of this
Agreement or the Offer.
(d) HSR Act Waiting Period. The applicable waiting period (and any
----------------------
extension thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
---------------------------------
Section 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
-----------
transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior
to the Closing (whether before or after the approval of this Agreement by the
shareholders of the Company) as follows;
(a) by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company; or
(b) (i) By either the Company or Parent if the Offer shall have
expired without any Shares being accepted for purchase hereunder by the
Acquiror and without the Acquiror having had an obligation under Section
1.1 to extend the Offer; provided, however, that none of the parties shall
-------- -------
be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(i)
if, at the time of such proposed termination, it is in material breach
36
<PAGE>
of its representations and warranties, covenants or other agreements under
this Agreement; or
(ii) by the Company;
(A) if the Offer has not commenced within seven Business Days of
the execution of this Agreement; or
(B) if prior to the acceptance for purchase of Shares pursuant to
the Offer, there has been a material breach by either Parent or the
Acquiror of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set
forth herein (and such breach is not reasonably capable of being cured
within thirty (30) days of notice thereof); provided, however, that
-------- -------
the Company shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 8.1(b)(ii)(B) if it is in material breach of its
representations and warranties, covenants or other agreements under
this Agreement; or
(c) (i) By either Parent or the Company if a court of competent
jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree or filing or taken any other action, in each case permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(ii) by Parent, if prior to the acceptance for purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, there has been a material breach by the Company of
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this
Agreement, which breach shall result in any condition set forth in Annex A
not being satisfied (and such breach is not reasonably capable of being
cured and such condition satisfied within thirty (30) days after the
receipt of notice thereof); provided, however, that Parent shall not be
-------- -------
entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c)(ii) if
it or the Acquiror is in material breach of its representations and
warranties, covenants or other agreements under this Agreement; or
(iii) By either Parent or the Company if by the four month
anniversary of the date hereof, the Acquiror has not purchased any Shares
pursuant to the Offer; provided, however, that the right to terminate this
-------- -------
Agreement pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not be available to any party
whose failure to fulfill any material obligation under this Agreement has
been the cause of, or resulted in, the Acquiror's failure to make such
purchases; or
(d) By the Company to allow the Company to enter into one or more
related agreements in accordance with Section 5.4(a) with respect to a
Superior Proposal if the Company's Board of Directors has determined in
good faith (after receiving advice from independent outside counsel) that a
failure to terminate this Agreement and enter into an agreement to effect
the Superior Proposal would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties;
provided, however, that:
-------- -------
37
<PAGE>
(i) the Company has complied with all provisions of Section 5.4;
and
(ii) Parent does not make, within five Business Days of receipt
of the Company's written notification of its intention to enter into a
binding agreement for a Superior Proposal, an offer to enter into an
amendment to this Agreement containing terms such that the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after receiving
advice from its financial advisors, that this Agreement as so amended
is at least as favorable, from a financial point of view, to the
shareholders of the Company as the Superior Proposal; and
(iii) The Company makes simultaneous payment of the Termination
Fee, plus any amounts then due as a reimbursement of Expenses; and
(iv) Substantially contemporaneously with such termination, the
Company enters into a definitive agreement to effect the Superior
Proposal.
(e) By Parent, at any time prior to the acceptance for purchase of the
Shares pursuant to the Offer, if:
(i) the Company's Board of Directors, or any committee thereof,
shall have withdrawn, modified, or changed its recommendation in
respect of this Agreement or the Offer in a manner adverse to the
Acquiror or Parent or resolved to do so;
(ii) the Company's Board of Directors, or any committee shall
have recommended any proposal other than by Parent or the Acquiror in
respect of an Acquisition Transaction or resolved to do so;
(iii) the Company has received a proposal regarding an
Acquisition Transaction and the Company shall not have rejected such
proposal within ten Business Days of its receipt or, if sooner, the
date its existence first becomes publicly disclosed.
Section 8.2. Effect of Termination. (a) In the event of the
---------------------
termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1 hereof, written notice
thereof shall forthwith be given to the other party or parties specifying the
provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement
shall forthwith become null and void and there shall be no liability on the part
of Parent, the Acquiror or the Company, except as set forth in Section 8.2(b)
hereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party from
-------- -------
liability for any willful breach of this Agreement.
(b) If:
(i) Parent shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(e);
(ii) (x) Parent shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1(c)(ii) and (y) following the date hereof and either prior to
such termination or
38
<PAGE>
within two months after such termination, (A) the Company shall have
received a proposal with respect to an Acquisition Transaction that the
Company has not rejected prior to such termination and (B) within twelve
(12) months of the date of such termination, the Company shall enter into a
definitive agreement with respect to such Acquisition Transaction; or
(iii) the Company shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1(d),
then the Company shall pay:
(A) simultaneously with such termination if pursuant to Section
8.1(d);
(B) on the Business Day next succeeding the execution of a
definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition Transaction under
the circumstances described in Section 8.2(b)(ii); or
(C) promptly, but in no event later than two business days after
the date of such termination if pursuant to Section 8.1(e);
to Parent a termination fee (the "Termination Fee") of $2,900,000,
plus an amount, not in excess of $1,200,000, equal to Parent's actual
and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred or paid by Parent and
the Acquiror in connection with the Offer, the Merger, this agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby
("Expenses"), which amount shall be payable by wire transfer to such
account as Parent may designate in writing to the Company.
Section 8.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
---------
hereto, by or pursuant to action taken by their respective Boards of Directors,
at any time before or after any approval of the Merger by the shareholders of
the Company but, after the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, no
amendment shall be made which decreases the Merger Consideration or which in any
way materially adversely affects the rights of such shareholders, without the
further approval of such shareholders. This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
Section 8.4 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
------
parties hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the
agreements or conditions contained herein which may legally be waived. Any
agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
39
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------
Section 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None
----------------------------------------------
of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time; provided
--------
however, this Section 9.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the
- -------
parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
Section 9.2 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
-------
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, mailed,
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid sent by overnight courier or
telecopied to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Parent or Acquiror, to
c/o Quad-C Management, Inc.
230 East High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Attention: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Facsimile No.: (804) 979-1145
with copies to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: John M. Reiss, Esq.
Gregory Pryor, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (212) 354-8113
(b) if to the Company, to
Pulaski Furniture Corporation
One Pulaski Square
Pulaski, VA 24301
Attention: Chairman of the Board
Facsimile No.: (540) 994-5756
with a copy to (prior to the Effective Time):
Hunton & Williams
Riverfront Plaza
40
<PAGE>
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Attention: C. Porter Vaughan, III, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (804) 788-8218
and with a copy to (after the Effective Time):
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: John M. Reiss, Esq.
Gregory Pryor, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (212) 354-8113
Section 9.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this
--------------
Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in
this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation." When the phrase "knowledge of the
Company" is used herein, it shall refer to the actual knowledge of the
individuals set forth in Section 9.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
Section 9.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
------------
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties.
Section 9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This
----------------------------------------------
Agreement, including the documents and instruments referred to herein, together
with the Confidentiality Agreement, (a) constitutes the entire agreement and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to
confer upon any person or entity other than the parties any rights or remedies
hereunder.
Section 9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
-------------
construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without
regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof.
Section 9.7 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
----------
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the
parties without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that
Parent and Acquiror may assign, in their sole discretion, any of or all their
rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (but without relieving any party hereto of any
obligation hereunder). Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall
be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and
their respective successors and assigns.
41
<PAGE>
Section 9.8 Severability. If any term or other provision of this
------------
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law,
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the
fullest extent possible.
Section 9.9 Enforcement of this Agreement. The parties agree that
-----------------------------
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to
any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 9.10 Incorporation of Exhibits. The Company Disclosure
-------------------------
Letter and all Exhibits and annexes attached hereto and referred to herein are
hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes as if fully
set forth herein.
Section 9.11 Certain Definitions. As used herein, the following
-------------------
terms have the following meanings:
"Business Day" shall mean any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banks located in New York, New York shall be authorized or required
by law to close.
"Lien" shall mean, with respect to any property or asset, any
mortgage, security interest, lien, claim, pledge, option, right of first
refusal, charge or other encumbrance of any nature.
"Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, (i)
when used with respect to the Company, any materially adverse change in or
effect on the business, assets, liabilities, properties, condition (financial or
otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole, other than (A) changes or effects that are or result from occurrences
relating to the economy in general or the furniture industry in general and not
specifically relating to the Company, (B) changes or effects set forth or
described in the Company's SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, (C)
changes or effects that result from the loss of customers or delay or
cancellation or cessation of orders for the Company's products directly
attributable to the announcement of this Agreement or (D) changes or effects
arising solely as a result of any decline in the market price of the Shares or
(ii) when used with respect to Parent, Acquiror or the Company, as the case may
be, any materially adverse change in or effect on the ability of Parent,
Acquiror or the Company, as the case may be, to perform their respective
obligations hereunder and/or under the Voting Agreement.
42
<PAGE>
"Person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, a limited liability company, an unincorporated
organization and a government or other department or agency thereof.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other legal entity of which (i) such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries, is a general partner or (ii) such Person (either alone or through
or together with any other Subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or
more of the stock or other equity interests the holders of which are generally
entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing
body of such corporation or other legal entity.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section 9.12 Additional Definitions:
Defined in
Term Section
- --------------------------------------- ------------
<S> <C>
Acquiror............................... Preamble
Acquisition Transaction................ 5.4(a)(i)
Agreement.............................. Preamble
Articles of Merger..................... 2.2
Award.................................. 2.8(c)
Cash Payment........................... 2.8(b)
Certificates........................... 2.5(b)
Closing................................ 2.11
Code................................... 3.13(a)
Commitment Letter...................... 4.5
Common Stock........................... Recitals
Company................................ Preamble
Company Disclosure Letter.............. 3.1
Company Intellectual Property.......... 3.19(a)
Company Permits........................ 3.12
Company Property....................... 3.20
Company SEC Documents.................. 3.7
Confidentiality Agreement.............. 5.2
Constituent Corporations............... Preamble
Corporation Commission................. 2.2
Effective Time......................... 2.2
Employee Benefit Plans................. 3.13(a)
Environmental Claims................... 3.20
Environmental Law...................... 3.20
ERISA.................................. 3.13(a)
ERISA Affiliate........................ 3.13(a)
Exchange Act........................... 1.2(b)
Exchange Fund.......................... 2.6(b)
Expenses............................... 6.2(b)
Governmental Entity.................... 4.3
</TABLE>
43
<PAGE>
Hazardous Materials.................... 3.20
HSR Act................................ 4.3
Indemnified Parties.................... 6.5(a)
IRS.................................... 3.13(d)
Issuance Obligation.................... 3.2
Management Shareholders................ Recitals
Material Contracts..................... 3.15
Merger................................. Recitals
Merger Consideration................... 2.5(b)
Minimum Condition...................... Annex A
Multiemployer Plan..................... 3.13(b)
Offer.................................. Recitals
Offer Documents........................ 1.1(b)
Parent................................. Preamble
Paying Agent........................... 2.6(a)
Permitted Investments.................. 2.6(b)
Permitted Liens........................ 3.10(a)
Preferred Stock........................ 3.2
Proxy Statement........................ 6.1(b)
Real Property.......................... 3.10(b)
Returns................................ 3.18(a)
Rights................................. 3.2
Rights Agreement....................... 1.2(a)
Schedule 14D-9......................... 1.2(b)
SEC.................................... 1.1(b)
Securities Act......................... 3.7
Series A Preferred Stock............... 3.2
Shareholder Meeting.................... 6.1(a)
Shares................................. Recitals
Stock Incentive Plans.................. 2.8
Stock Option........................... 2.8(b)
Stock Option Plan...................... 2.8(a)
Stock Purchase Plan.................... 3.2
Subsequent Filings..................... 3.7
Superior Proposal...................... 5.4(a)
Surviving Corporation.................. 2.1
Tax, Taxes and Taxable................. 3.18(c)
Tender Offer Conditions................ 1.1(a)
Virginia Code.......................... 1.2(a)
Voting Agreement....................... Recitals
Voting Debt............................ 3.2
WARN................................... 3.14(a)
44
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquiror and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized
all as of the date first written above.
PINE HOLDINGS, INC.
AMERICA
By: /s/ Anthony R. Ignaczak
_________________________
Name: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Title: President
PINE ACQUISITION CORP.
OF AMERICA
By: /s/ Anthony R. Ignaczak
________________________
Name: Anthony R. Ignaczak
Title: President
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Harry H. Warner
____________________
Name: Harry H. Warner
Title: Chairman
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
-------
The capitalized terms used in this Annex A shall have the meanings set
forth in the Agreement to which it is attached.
Tender Offer Conditions. Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer
-----------------------
or this Agreement, Acquiror shall not be required to accept for payment,
purchase or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC,
including Rule 14e-1(c) of the Exchange Act, pay for, any tendered Shares and
may postpone the acceptance for payment or, subject to the restrictions referred
to above, the payment for, any tendered Shares, if (i) any applicable waiting
period under the HSR Act has not expired or been terminated prior to the
expiration of the Offer or (ii) there shall not have been validly tendered and
not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, a number of Shares which, when
added to the Shares, if any, previously acquired by Acquiror (but excluding
Shares subject to the Voting Agreement), constitute more than two-thirds of the
outstanding Shares calculated on a fully diluted (excluding the effect of the
Rights) basis (the "Minimum Condition"). In addition to and not limiting the
foregoing, notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, the Acquiror shall
not be required to accept for payment or, subject to the applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, pay for
any tendered Shares and may elect not to commence the Offer, may terminate,
subject to the terms of this Agreement, or amend the Offer and may postpone the
acceptance of and payment for, tendered Shares at any time on or after this date
and at or before the time of acceptance of tendered Shares for payment pursuant
to the Offer or payment therefor (whether or not any tendered Shares have been
accepted for payment or paid for) if any of the following events shall occur:
(a) there shall be threatened, instituted or pending any action or
proceeding by any Governmental Entity, or by any other Person, domestic or
foreign, before any court of competent jurisdiction or Governmental Entity,
which could reasonably be expected to: (i) make, illegal, impede or otherwise
directly or indirectly restrain or prohibit the Offer or the Merger or seeking
to obtain material damages in connection therewith, (ii) prohibit or materially
limit the ownership or operation by Parent or Acquiror of all or any material
portion of the business or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or compel Parent or Acquiror or their affiliates to dispose of or hold
separately all or any material portion of the business or assets of Parent,
Acquiror or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or seeking to
impose any limitation on the ability of Parent or Acquiror or their affiliates
to conduct their business or own such assets, (iii) impose limitations on the
ability of Parent or Acquiror effectively to exercise full rights of ownership
of the Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any Shares
acquired or owned by Parent or Acquiror on all matters properly presented to the
Company's shareholders, (iv) require divestiture by Parent or Acquiror of any
Shares or (v) otherwise directly or indirectly relating to the Offer or the
Merger and which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, Parent or Acquiror;
(b) there shall be any statute, rule, regulation, legislation,
interpretation, judgment, order or injunction, enacted, enforced, promulgated,
amended or issued and applicable to (i) Parent, Acquiror, the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Offer or the Merger, by any legislative body or
other Governmental Entity other than the routine application of the waiting
period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer or to the Merger, which could
reasonably
<PAGE>
Annex A
Page 2
be expected to directly or indirectly, result in any of the consequences
referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (a) above;
(c) there shall have occurred any event, change, circumstance or
occurrence that has had or that would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company;
(d) any of the representations or warranties made by the Company in
the Merger Agreement shall be untrue or incorrect in any respect (without giving
effect to materiality or similar qualifications contained therein) that when
taken together with all such other representations and warranties that are not
true and correct would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement or the date of consummation
of the Offer, except that those representations and warranties which address
matters only as of a particular date shall remain true and correct as of such
date;
(e) the Company shall have failed to perform in any material respect
any obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement or
covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with by it under this
Agreement on or prior to the date of consummation of the Offer;
(f) the Company's Board of Directors or any committee thereof shall
have withdrawn, or shall have modified or amended in a manner adverse to Parent
or Acquiror, the approval, adoption or recommendation, as the case may be, of
the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement, or approved or recommended any
Acquisition Transaction other than the Offer and the Merger or shall have
announced a neutral position with respect to any Acquisition Transaction and not
rejected such Acquisition Transaction within ten (10) Business Days after the
announcement of such neutral position or after request by Parent, shall fail to
reaffirm its approval and recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the Merger
Agreement within three (3) Business Days after Parent's request for such
reaffirmation or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing;
(g) it shall have been publicly disclosed, or Parent or Acquiror
shall have otherwise learned, that beneficial ownership (determined for the
purposes of this paragraph (g) as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 15% or more of the Shares has been acquired other than pursuant
to this Agreement;
(h) there shall have occurred, and be continuing, (i) any general
suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on The New
York Stock Exchange or through the Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) a declaration of a
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the
United States, (iii) a commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other
national or international crisis directly or indirectly involving the United
States or (iv) in the case of any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
existing at the time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration
or worsening thereof;
(i) Parent and Acquiror shall not have obtained the financing set
forth in the Commitment Letter; or
<PAGE>
Annex A
Page 3
(j) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance
with its terms.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and
Acquiror and may be asserted by Parent or Acquiror or may be waived by Parent or
Acquiror, in whole or part, at any time and from time to time, in the sole
discretion of Parent or Acquiror (subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement).
The failure by Parent or Acquiror at any time to exercise any of the foregoing
rights will not be deemed a waiver of any right and each right will be deemed an
ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.3
AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS OF PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
ADOPTED AT A MEETING HELD ON MARCH 29, 2000
Article V of the Bylaws of the Corporation has been amended to add a
new Section 5 as follows:
Section 5 - Control Share Acquisition Statute:
Article 14.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act shall not apply to
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.4
AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made as of March 29, 2000, by and
between PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),
and FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, a national banking corporation (the "Rights
Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H :
--------------------
WHEREAS, that certain Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as
of December 15, 1997, was entered into between the Company and the Rights Agent
(the "Original Rights Agreement") relating to the distribution of a dividend of
certain rights to the holders of shares of common stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, Section 27 of the Original Rights Agreement permits the
Company (and, upon the direction of the Company, requires the Rights Agent), at
any time before the Distribution Date (as defined in the Original Rights
Agreement) to supplement or amend the Original Rights Agreement in certain
respects, and, in accordance with such Section, the Company desires to amend the
Rights Agreement as set forth herein and hereby directs the Rights Agent to join
in the execution hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual promises
and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledges, the parties hereby agree
as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Original
Rights Agreement.
Section 2. Amendments. The following new Section 35 shall be added:
"35. Exemption of Pine Holdings, Inc. and Pine Acquisition
Corp. Offer and Merger: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Agreement: (i) the provisions of Section 3(a), 7(a), 11(a) (ii) and 13(a)
shall not apply with respect to any transaction undertaken by Pine Holdings,
Inc. ("Parent"), Pine Acquisition Corp. ("Acquiror") or any of their Affiliates
or Associates pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 29,
2000, by and among Parent, Acquiror and the Company (the "Merger Agreement"), or
any action taken by any Management Shareholder pursuant to the Voting Agreement
(as those terms are defined in the Merger Agreement); (ii) none of Parent,
Acquiror or any of their Affiliates or Associates or any Management Shareholder
shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person as a result of any such transactions
or actions;
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and (iii) no Distribution Date, Stock Acquisition Date or Triggering Event shall
be deemed to have occurred as a result of any such transactions or actions."
Section 3. Confirmation. Except as expressly amended hereby, the
Original Rights Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance
with the provisions thereof.
Section 4. Governing Law. This amendment shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Section 5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number
of counterparts and, if so executed, each of such counterparts shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Harry H. Warner
--------------------------------
Its: Chairman of the Board
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By: /s/ Frances Beam
-------------------------------
Its:
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EXHIBIT 99.1
PULASKI FURNITURE CORPORATION AGREES TO MANAGEMENT ACQUISITION
PULASKI, VIRGINIA - March 29, 2000 - Pulaski Furniture Corporation
(NASDAQ: PLFC), a leading manufacturer and importer of medium-priced residential
furniture, announced today that it has entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger under which an investment group formed by Pulaski's President and Chief
Executive Officer, John G. Wampler, and the Company's senior management team,
with support from an affiliate of Quad-C Management, Inc., a Virginia based
private equity fund, will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of the
Company for a cash price of $22.50 per share. The total consideration for the
transaction, including assumption of debt, is approximately $125 million. Under
the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Company's Board of
Directors, the group will commence a tender offer for the outstanding shares of
the Company's common stock within seven business days. The group's obligation to
purchase shares under the agreement will be subject to the group's receiving
more than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock in
the tender offer, as well as other customary conditions. Upon consummation of
the tender offer, the group would acquire any remaining outstanding shares in a
merger at $22.50 per share in cash.
The Board of Directors of the Company concluded that the agreement
price, which represents a 34% premium over today's closing price, is in the best
interests of the Company
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shareholders. Harry H. Warner, Chairman of the Board, said "In the Board's view,
this transaction is an excellent way to bring significant value to our
shareholders."
Speaking for the acquiring group, Wampler said "a transaction led by
management, and supported by a financial partner with the capital to fund future
growth and expansion, is the best way to assure our employees and customers that
Pulaski Furniture Corporation will continue to be an industry leader poised for
the future and a solid corporate citizen in our communities."
The transaction is subject to typical regulatory approvals and is
expected to close in the second quarter of 2000. The management group's
financial advisor is Mann, Armistead & Epperson, Ltd. The Company's financial
advisor is BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the consummation of future transactions. The consummation of these transactions
is subject to a number of significant conditions.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO SELL SHARES OF THE COMPANY. AT THE TIME THE OFFER IS COMMENCED, THE
ACQUIRING ENTITY WILL FILE A TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND THE COMPANY WILL FILE A
SOLICITATION/ RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING AN
OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS)
AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
WHICH SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY
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BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. THE OFFER TO PURCHASE,
THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS
THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY, AT NO EXPENSE TO THEM. THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
(INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE COMMISSION) AND THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE
COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.
