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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-9
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(d)(4) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
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(NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY)
ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
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(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE
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(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
001920 10 7
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(CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
ROBERT J. MILLSTONE, ESQ.
VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
3801 WEST CHESTER PIKE
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA
(610) 359-2000
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(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO
RECEIVE NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)
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ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY
The name of the subject company is ARCO Chemical Company, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"). The address
of the principal executive offices of the Company is 3801 West Chester Pike,
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073. This Solicitation/Recommendation Statement
on Schedule 14D-9 (this "Statement") relates to the Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock" or the "Shares").
ITEM 2. TENDER OFFER OF BIDDER
This Statement relates to the tender offer by Lyondell Acquisition
Corporation ("Purchaser"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lyondell Petrochemical Company ("Lyondell"), a Delaware
corporation, to purchase all outstanding Shares at a purchase price of $57.75
per share (the "Offer Price"), net to the seller in cash, without interest
thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
to Purchase, dated June 24, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Offer to Purchase and any
amendments or supplements thereto constitute the "Offer"). The Offer is
described in the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1, dated June 24, 1998
(the "Schedule 14D-1"), as filed by Lyondell and Purchaser, as bidders, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission"). The
Schedule 14D-1 states that the address of the principal executive offices of
each of Lyondell and Purchaser is 1221 McKinney, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas
77010.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of June 18, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Lyondell,
Purchaser and the Company. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things,
(a) there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of
the Offer such number of Shares that, together with any Shares owned by
Purchaser, Lyondell and their affiliates, would constitute a majority of all
outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis (the "Minimum Condition") and (b)
any waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), applicable to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer having expired or been terminated (the "HSR Condition").
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, upon the terms and subject to conditions
of the Merger Agreement and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"),
Purchaser will be merged (the "Merger" and together with the Offer, the
"Transaction") with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the
Merger (as such, the "Surviving Corporation") as a wholly owned subsidiary of
Lyondell. In the Merger, each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the effective time (the "Effective Time") of the Merger (other than Shares
owned by Lyondell, Purchaser or the Company or by stockholders, if any, who
are entitled to and who properly exercise appraisal rights under the DGCL with
respect to their Shares) will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
by the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive from the
Surviving Corporation an amount of cash equal to the Offer Price net to the
holder thereof, in cash, without interest thereon (the "Merger
Consideration"), upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such
Share.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, Atlantic Richfield Company
("ARCO"), a Delaware corporation and the majority stockholder of the Company,
has entered into a Tender and Voting Agreement, dated June 18, 1998, with
Purchaser and Lyondell (the "Tender and Voting Agreement") pursuant to which
ARCO has agreed, among other things, (a) to tender all of its Shares pursuant
to the Offer and not to withdraw such Shares as long as the Tender and Voting
Agreement remains in effect and, (b) so long as the Tender and Voting
Agreement remains in effect, at any meeting of stockholders of the Company
called to vote upon the Merger (or in connection with any action by written
consent relating to the Merger), to vote all Shares held by it in favor of the
Merger. At the close of business on June 18, 1998, ARCO owned 80,000,001
Shares, representing approximately 80.1% of the outstanding Shares on a fully
diluted basis. Accordingly, it is expected that the Minimum Condition will be
satisfied and any required stockholder approval will be obtained.
The Merger Agreement and the Tender and Voting Agreement are more fully
described below in Item 3. Copies of the Merger Agreement and the Tender and
Voting Agreement are Exhibits hereto and are incorporated herein by references
in their entirety. Copies of the press releases issued by the Company on
June 18, 1998 are Exhibits hereto and are also incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
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ITEM 3. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND
(a) The name and business address of the Company, which is the person filing
this Statement, are set forth in Item 1 above.
(b) Certain contracts, agreements, arrangements or understandings between
the Company or its affiliates and certain of its executive officers, directors
or affiliates are described in the Company's Information Statement as set
forth on Annex A hereto, information which is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety. Certain information set forth on Annex A was included in the
Company's Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 21, 1998.
Except for matters set forth in this Item 3 or incorporated by reference
herein, there are no material contracts, agreements, arrangements or
understandings or actual or potential conflicts of interest between the
Company and its affiliates and (i) its executive officers, directors or
affiliates or (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, the bidders, their
executive officers, directors or affiliates.
MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger
Agreement, which is an Exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
The Merger Agreement provides that, following the satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions described below under "Conditions to the Merger", Purchaser
will be merged with and into the Company, and each issued Share (other than
Shares owned by Lyondell, Purchaser or the Company or any other subsidiary of
Lyondell, or by stockholders, if any, who are entitled to and who properly
exercise appraisal rights under the DGCL) will be converted into the right to
receive from the Surviving Corporation an amount in cash equal to the Offer
Price without interest thereon. The "Surviving Corporation" of the Merger will
be the Company.
Vote Required To Approve Merger. The DGCL requires, among other things, that
the adoption of any plan of merger or consolidation of the Company must be
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and, if the "short-form"
merger procedure described below is not available, approved by the holders of
a majority of the Company's outstanding Shares. The Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board of Directors" or the "Board") has approved the Offer, the
Merger and the Merger Agreement; consequently, the only additional action of
the Company that may be necessary to effect the Merger is adoption of the
Merger Agreement by the Company's stockholders if such "short-form" merger
procedure is not available. Under the DGCL, if stockholder adoption of the
Merger Agreement is required in order to consummate the Merger, the vote
required is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Shares (including any Shares owned by Purchaser). If Purchaser
acquires, through the Offer or otherwise, voting power with respect to at
least a majority of the outstanding Shares (which would be the case if the
Minimum Condition were satisfied and Purchaser were to accept for payment
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer), it would have sufficient voting power
to effect the Merger without the affirmative vote of any other stockholder of
the Company.
The DGCL provides that if a parent company owns at least 90% of the
outstanding shares of each class of stock of a subsidiary, the parent company
may merge that subsidiary into the parent company, or the parent company may
merge itself into that subsidiary, pursuant to the DGCL's "short-form" merger
procedures without prior notice to, or the approval of, the other stockholders
of the subsidiary. In order to consummate the Merger pursuant to these
provisions of the DGCL, Purchaser would have to own at least 90% of the
outstanding Shares.
Conditions of the Offer. Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer but
subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will
not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-l(c) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (relating to Purchaser's
obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares after the termination or
withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer
if (i) the Minimum
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Condition shall not have been satisfied or (ii) the HSR Condition shall not
have been satisfied. Furthermore, Purchaser will not be required to accept for
payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for any Shares not theretofore
accepted for payment or paid for, and may terminate the Offer if, after the
date of the Merger Agreement and before acceptance of such Shares for payment
or the payment therefor pursuant to the Offer, any of the following conditions
has occurred and continues to exist as of a scheduled expiration date of the
Offer (as extended, if required, pursuant to the Merger Agreement), other than
as a result of a breach by Lyondell or Purchaser of any of their obligations
under the Merger Agreement:
(a) there shall have been entered and then in effect any order,
preliminary or permanent injunction, decree, judgment or ruling in any
action or proceeding before any court or governmental, administrative or
regulatory authority or agency, or any statute, rule or regulation enacted,
entered, enforced, promulgated, amended or issued that is applicable to
Lyondell, Purchaser, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of
Purchaser or the Company or the Offer or the Merger, by any legislative
body, court, government or governmental, administrative or regulatory
authority or agency that: (i) makes illegal or otherwise restrains or
prohibits the consummation of the Offer in accordance with the terms of the
Merger Agreement, the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, the Shares
by Purchaser or any of its affiliates, or the consummation of the Merger;
(ii) prohibits the ownership or operation by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or Lyondell or any of its subsidiaries, of all or any
material portion of the business or assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Lyondell and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or materially limits the ownership or operation by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or Lyondell or any of its subsidiaries, of all or
any material portion of the business or assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Lyondell and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or compels Lyondell or any of its subsidiaries to dispose of or
hold separate all or any material portion of the businesses or assets of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Lyondell and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in any such case as a result of the
transactions contemplated by the Offer or the Merger Agreement; (iii)
imposes substantial limitations on the ability of Lyondell, Purchaser or
any of Lyondell's affiliates effectively to acquire or hold or to exercise
full rights of ownership of the Shares; or (iv) requires divestiture by
Lyondell or Purchaser or any of their affiliates of any material portion of
the Shares; provided, however, that the condition in this paragraph (a)
will not apply to or include any consent decree or agreement entered into
by Lyondell, or any other action taken by Lyondell, in connection with
satisfying its obligations under the Merger Agreement that are summarized
below under "--Reasonable Efforts; Notification";
(b) there shall have occurred any material adverse change (as defined in
the Merger Agreement) in the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole;
(c) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
the Merger Agreement that are qualified by reference to a material adverse
effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall not be true and correct,
or any such representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall
not be true and correct in any respect that would have a material adverse
effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case as if such representations and
warranties were made at the time of such determination;
(d) the Company shall not have performed and complied with in all
material respects any material agreement or covenant of the Company to be
performed or complied with by it under this Agreement and shall not have
cured such default after having been given five business days written
notice of such default by Lyondell;
(e) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms;
(f) (i) the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof
shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Lyondell or
Purchaser its approval or recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the
Merger Agreement or (ii) the Company shall have entered into any agreement
with respect to any Superior Proposal (as defined below) or (iii) the Board
of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall have resolved to
take any of the foregoing actions; provided, however, that clauses (i) and
(iii) of this paragraph (f) shall not apply to or include (x) a
determination that a Takeover Proposal (as defined
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below) is a Superior Proposal or (y) giving notice of a Superior Proposal
to Purchaser as contemplated by the Merger Agreement; or
(g) there shall have occurred and continued to exist for at least three
business days (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on
prices for, securities on a national securities exchange in the U.S.
(excluding any coordinated trading halt triggered solely as a result of a
specified decrease in a market index), (ii) a declaration of a banking
moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United
States, (iii) a mandatory limitation by a U.S. federal Governmental Entity
(as defined below) or a change in the general financial, banking or capital
markets which results in a general inability of major financial
institutions in the United States to fulfill their obligations under
commitments to extend credit, or (iv) in case of any of the foregoing
existing on the date of the Merger Agreement, material acceleration or
worsening thereof;
which, in the sole judgment of Purchaser in any such case, and regardless of
the circumstances (including any action or omission by Purchaser) giving rise
to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with such acceptance
for payment or payments.
The foregoing conditions in paragraphs (a) through (g) are for the sole
benefit of Purchaser and Lyondell and, subject to the terms of the Merger
Agreement, may be waived by Purchaser and Lyondell in whole or in part at any
time and from time to time in their sole discretion. The failure by Lyondell
or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be
deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of any such right with respect
to particular facts and circumstances will not be deemed a waiver with respect
to any other facts and circumstances and each such right will be deemed an
ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
Conditions to the Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that the respective
obligations of each of Purchaser, Lyondell and the Company to effect the
Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions,
including the following: (a) if required by the DGCL, the Merger Agreement
having been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Shares; provided, however, that neither
Lyondell nor Purchaser shall be entitled to assert the failure of this
condition if Lyondell breaches its agreement to cause all Shares purchased in
the Offer to be voted in favor of, or to consent to, the Merger; (b) no
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court
of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity or other legal
restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger being in
effect; and (c) the Purchaser having previously accepted for payment and paid
for Shares pursuant to the Offer; provided, however, that neither Lyondell nor
Purchaser will be entitled to assert the failure of this condition if
Purchaser breaches certain of its obligations in connection with the Offer as
set forth in the Merger Agreement or fails to purchase Shares pursuant to the
Offer in breach of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.
Termination of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement may be terminated
at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether before or after
approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the Shares:
(1) by mutual written consent of Lyondell and the Company;
(2) by either Lyondell or the Company if: (a) any federal, state or local
government or any court, tribunal, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental or other regulatory authority or agency, domestic,
foreign or supranational (a "Governmental Entity") shall have issued an
order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting the acceptance for payment of, or
payment for, the Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger and such order,
decree or ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable;
or (b) the Merger shall not have been consummated by June 30, 1999;
(3) by Lyondell if as the result of a failure of any of the conditions to
the Offer set forth above under "--Conditions of the Offer", Purchaser
shall not have accepted for payment any Shares pursuant to the
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Offer on or prior to the Outside Date (as defined herein); provided,
however, that such right to terminate the Merger Agreement shall not be
available to Lyondell if (a) Purchaser shall have breached its obligation
to extend the Offer under certain circumstances when an Offer condition has
not been met or (b) such failure of such Offer condition is caused by or
results from the failure of Lyondell or Purchaser to perform in any
material respect any of its covenants or agreements contained in the Merger
Agreement or the failure of any representation or warranty of Lyondell or
Purchaser contained therein to be true and correct in any material respect;
or
(4) by the Company if:
(a) Purchaser shall not have accepted for payment any Shares pursuant
to the Offer on or prior to the Outside Date, provided, however, that
the failure to accept Shares for payment is not caused by or result
from the failure of the Company to satisfy the conditions set forth in
paragraphs (c) or (d) above under "--Conditions of the Offer"; or
(b) prior to the acceptance by Purchaser of Shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer, the Board of Directors of the Company determines
that a Takeover Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; provided,
however, that at least two business days prior to such termination the
Company shall have given Lyondell written notice advising Lyondell that
the Board of Directors of the Company has received a Takeover Proposal
that it has determined to be a Superior Proposal, specifying the
material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal and identifying
the person making such Superior Proposal; and provided, further,
however, that (i) prior to such termination, the Board of Directors of
the Company has reaffirmed its determination that such Takeover
Proposal, taking into account any amendment by Lyondell of the terms of
the Offer and Merger or any offer by Lyondell to amend the terms of the
Merger Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, together with any subsequent
amendments or modifications of such Takeover Proposal, is a Superior
Proposal and (ii) no such termination shall be effective unless
concurrently with such termination a termination fee equal to
$140,000,000 is paid in cash by the Company to Lyondell.
The term "Outside Date" is defined as the later of (a) the 30th day after
the initial expiration of the Offer (i.e., August 21, 1998) or (b) the date
that the HSR Condition has been satisfied for a period of two business days,
but in no event later than the 60th day after the initial expiration of the
Offer (i.e., September 20, 1998).
Takeover Proposals. For purposes of the Merger Agreement, a "Takeover
Proposal" means any bona fide proposal made by a third party to acquire,
directly or indirectly, more than 30% of the voting power of the Shares or of
the assets of the Company; provided, however, that a change in the terms of a
proposal submitted prior to the date of the Merger Agreement will be deemed a
new "Takeover Proposal." For purposes of the Merger Agreement, a "Superior
Proposal" means any Takeover Proposal having terms which the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment (based, with
respect to the consideration payable, on the opinion of a financial advisor of
nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to the Company's
stockholders than the Offer and the Merger and to be reasonably capable of
being completed (and for which financing has been committed on customary
terms).
The Merger Agreement provides that the Company will, and will direct and use
reasonable efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents to, immediately cease any discussions or
negotiations with any parties other than Lyondell and Purchaser that may be
ongoing with respect to a Takeover Proposal. The Merger Agreement provides
that the Company will not, and will not authorize or permit any of its
officers, directors or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney, accountant or other representative retained by it to, directly or
indirectly, (1) solicit, initiate or encourage any inquiries or the making of
any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Takeover Proposal or (2) participate in any discussions or negotiations
regarding any Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that if, at any time prior
to the acceptance for payment of the Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Board
of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with
its financial advisers, that a Takeover Proposal that has not been solicited,
initiated or encouraged after the date of the Merger Agreement in violation of
either clause
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(1) above or similar provisions of the Tender and Voting Agreement,
constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Company may (a) furnish information with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries to the third party that has made
such Takeover Proposal (and to any investment banker, financial advisor,
attorney, accountant or other
representative retained by such party) pursuant to a customary and reasonable
confidentiality agreement and (b) participate in negotiations regarding such
Takeover Proposal. In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
this paragraph, the Merger Agreement provides that the Company shall
immediately advise Lyondell orally and in writing of any request for
information or of any Takeover Proposal or any inquiry regarding the making of
a Takeover Proposal.
The Merger Agreement provides further that nothing contained in the
provisions summarized above under "--Takeover Proposals", will prohibit the
Company from at any time taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position
(including the withdrawal or modification of any recommendation with respect
to the Offer and the Merger) contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under
the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the Company's stockholders
if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, after
consultation with outside counsel, failure so to disclose would create a risk
of liability for breach of its fiduciary duties to its stockholders under
applicable law; provided, however, that neither the Company nor its Board of
Directors nor any committee thereof will, except as permitted in accordance
with this paragraph or paragraph 4(b) above under "--Termination of the Merger
Agreement", withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, its position
with respect to the Offer or the Merger or approve or recommend, or propose to
approve or recommend, a Takeover Proposal.
Fees and Expenses. The Merger Agreement provides that all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be paid by the
party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Offer or the Merger
is consummated.
Conduct of Business. The Merger Agreement provides that, from the date
thereof until such time as Purchaser's designees shall constitute a majority
of the Board of Directors of the Company, except as otherwise contemplated in
the Merger Agreement or to the extent that Lyondell shall otherwise consent in
writing, the Company will, and will cause its subsidiaries to, carry on their
respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with the manner as
theretofore conducted and, to the extent consistent therewith, use
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact their current business
organization, keep available the services of their current officers and
employees and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers,
licensors, licensees, distributors and others having significant business
dealings with them.
The Merger Agreement further provides that, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, from the date thereof until such time as Purchaser's
designees shall constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by the Merger Agreement
or the Disclosure Letter delivered by the Company to Lyondell and Purchaser
concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, or to
the extent that Lyondell shall otherwise consent in writing, the Company will
(a) use its commercially reasonable efforts to operate and maintain its
business in all material respects only in the usual, regular and ordinary
manner consistent with past practice (including undertaking scheduled or
necessary "turnarounds" or other maintenance work and including offsite
storage, treatment and disposal of chemical substances generated prior to such
time as Purchaser's designees shall constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company) and, to the extent consistent with such operation
and maintenance, use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the present
business organization of its business intact, keep available the services of,
and good relations with, the present employees and preserve present
relationships with all persons having business dealings with its business,
except in each case for such matters that, individually and in the aggregate,
do not and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (b) except to the extent
required by clause (a) above, the Company will not, and will not permit any of
its subsidiaries to: (i) (x) other than dividends and distributions by a
direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company to its parent and
other than the regular quarterly dividend in respect of the Shares in the
amount of $.70 per Share, declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock, (y) 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 (z)
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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 (other than
in connection with the exercise of currently outstanding Company Stock Options
(as defined herein)); (ii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber
any shares of its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities
convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such
shares, voting securities or convertible securities (other than the issuance of
Shares upon the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with their present terms) or as provided for in
the Merger Agreement; (iii) amend its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or
other comparable organizational documents; (iv) acquire or agree to acquire (y)
by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation (other than
any subsidiary of the Company), partnership, joint venture, association or other
business organization or division therefor or (z) any assets that are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, except acquisitions in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice and acquisitions described in clause (vii) below; (v) sell, lease,
license, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets, that are material, in the aggregate,
to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except (x) sales, leases
or other dispositions of inventory, or (y) sales or licenses in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice and which, individually, are
not in excess of $5 million and, in the aggregate, are not in excess of $25
million; (vi) (x) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money other than (1) the
issuance or roll-over of commercial paper in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice and (2) indebtedness to or from ARCO that will be
repaid in full prior to the expiration of the Offer, or guarantee any such
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
guarantee any debt securities of others, or (y) make any loans, advances (other
than to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business) or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person
(other than any subsidiary of the Company); (vii) make or agree to make any
capital expenditures regarding its BDO-II or PO-11 projects, other than those
reasonably necessary to avoid payment of penalties or cancellation fees, or make
or agree to make any other capital expenditure or expenditures with respect to
property, plant or equipment which, individually, is in excess of $10 million
or, in the aggregate, are in excess of $25 million, other than caretaker,
maintenance and turnaround capital expenditures in the ordinary course of
business; (viii) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any material claims,
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in accordance
with their terms, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in, or
contemplated by, the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes
thereto) of the Company included in the Filed SEC Documents (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) or incurred thereafter in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or waive any material benefits of, or agree to
modify in any material respect, any confidentiality, standstill or similar
agreements to which the Company is a party; (ix) (a) adopt, enter into or amend
any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, stock option, warrant, pension,
retirement, deferred compensation, employment, consulting, indemnification,
severance, termination or other employee benefit plan, agreement, trust fund or
arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any officer, director or employee, (b)
except as reasonably called for pursuant to formulas contained in existing
employee benefit plans or arrangements and except for salary increases in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, agree to any
increase in the compensation (including bonuses) payable or to become payable to
any officer, director or employee or (c) change the performance objective or
performance period under any employee benefit plans; (x) make any tax election
that would have a material adverse effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement)
on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (and the Company shall,
before filing or causing to be filed any material tax return of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, consult with Lyondell and its advisers as to the
positions and elections that may be taken or made with respect to such return
and to the extent practical the Company shall defer settlement or compromise of
any income tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, until such time as Purchaser's designees shall constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the Company); (xi) waive any material rights or claims
relating to the Company's business; (xii) accelerate vesting or conversion or
approve the acceleration or conversion of any shares of restricted stock, except
as provided in the Merger
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Agreement, or grant or approve the grant of any additional shares of
restricted stock, phantom stock units, or stock options under any existing
plan, except as provided in the Merger Agreement, or modify the term of any
performance period or the performance objective to be attained for that
performance period under any existing plan; or (xiii) authorize any of, or
commit or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions.
Board of Directors. The Merger Agreement provides that, promptly upon the
acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares by Purchaser pursuant
to the Offer and from time to time thereafter, Purchaser will be entitled to
designate such number of directors on the Board of Directors of the Company as
will give Purchaser, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange
Act and subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, representation on the
Board equal to at least that number of directors (rounded up to the next whole
number) equal to the product of (i) the total number of directors on the Board
and (ii) the percentage that the number of Shares owned by Purchaser bears to
the number of Shares outstanding, and the Company shall, at such time, cause
Purchaser's designees to be so elected or appointed to the Board of Directors
of the Company. Subject to applicable law, the Company has agreed to take all
action requested by Lyondell necessary to effect any such election, including
mailing to its stockholders the information statement (as amended from time to
time, the "Information Statement") containing the information required by
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder, which
Information Statement is attached as Annex A hereto. In connection with the
foregoing, the Company has agreed to promptly, at the option of Lyondell,
either increase the size of the Company's Board of Directors and/or use its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the resignation of such number of
its current directors as is necessary to enable Purchaser's designees to be
elected or appointed to the Company's Board of Directors as provided above. In
addition, the Merger Agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, at
such time as Purchaser is entitled to designate a number of directors as
provided by the Merger Agreement, at the request of Lyondell, the Company will
use its best efforts to cause individuals designated by Purchaser to
constitute the same percentage as such individuals represent on the Board of
Directors of (x) each committee of the Board of Directors, (y) each board of
directors of each subsidiary of the Company and (z) each committee of each
such board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the effective time of the
Merger, there shall be at least two directors who are directors on the date of
the Merger Agreement and who are neither designees nor officers, directors,
employees or affiliates of Lyondell or Purchaser nor officers or employees of
the Company or ARCO ("Independent Directors"), provided that if the number of
Independent Directors shall be reduced below two for any reason, the Board of
Directors shall, subject to the approval of the remaining Independent
Directors (or Independent Director, if there be only one remaining), if any,
designate a person or persons to fill the vacancy or vacancies who are neither
designees nor officers, directors, employees or affiliates of Lyondell or
Purchaser nor officers or employees of the Company, and such persons shall be
deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of the Merger Agreement.
Stock Options. The Merger Agreement provides that upon the consummation of
the Offer, as and to the extent provided in the Company's Change of Control
Plan adopted effective on February 19, 1998 (the "Change of Control Plan"),
(a) each outstanding option to purchase Shares (a "Company Stock Option")
heretofore granted under any stock option, stock appreciation rights or stock
purchase plan, program or arrangement of the Company (collectively, the "Stock
Incentive Plans") outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the
Offer, whether or not then exercisable, will be canceled by the Company in
exchange for an amount in cash, payable at the time of such cancellation,
equal to the product of (i) the number of Shares subject to such Company Stock
Option immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer and (ii) the excess
of the price per Share to be paid in the Offer over the per Share exercise
price of such Company Stock Option (the "Net Amount"); (b) each phantom stock
unit granted under the Company's Value Incentive Plan outstanding immediately
prior to the consummation of the Offer will, whether or not exercisable, be
canceled in exchange for an amount in cash, payable at the time of such
cancellation, equal to (i) the excess of (x) the price per Share paid in the
Offer over (y) the award price assigned to the phantom stock unit, multiplied
by (ii) the number of Shares subject to such unit (the "SAR Amount"); (c) each
dividend share credit ("DSC") accrued, credited or issued immediately prior to
the consummation of the Offer in connection with a Company Stock Option or
phantom stock unit, and each DSC that would have been accrued, credited or
issued (as determined in accordance with the Company's Change of Control Plan)
through the remainder of the term of each such Company Stock
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Option or phantom stock unit, will, whether or not vested, be canceled in
exchange for an amount in cash, payable at the time of such cancellation,
equal to the price per Share paid in the Offer (the "DSC Amount"); (d) each
share of contingent restricted stock issued under the Company's 1998 Long Term
Incentive Plan (the "1998 LTIP") that is eligible for conversion upon
achievement of the current Return on Capital Managed target (the "RCM")
performance level established under the 1998 LTIP will, immediately prior to
the consummation of
the Offer, be converted to performance-based restricted stock on a pro-rated
basis based on a calculation of the percentage of the current RCM performance
objective achieved as of the consummation of the Offer (but not to exceed 25%
of the outstanding shares of contingent restricted stock issued under the 1998
LTIP); (e) the performance supplement related to the contingent restricted
stock referred to in clause (d) above will be calculated immediately prior to
the consummation of the Offer using the price per Share to be paid in the
Offer, and the resulting number of shares of performance-based restricted
stock will be issued to the Company's employees in accordance with the 1998
LTIP; and (f) each share of performance-based restricted stock outstanding
immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer (including amounts issued
under clauses (d) and (e) above) will, whether or not vested, be canceled in
exchange for an amount in cash, payable at the time of such cancellation,
equal to the price per Share paid in the Offer (the "Restricted Stock
Amount").
The Merger Agreement further provides that, subject to the foregoing
paragraph, all Stock Incentive Plans will terminate as of the effective time
of the Merger, but, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Surviving Corporation
will continue to be obligated to pay the Net Amount, the SAR Amount, the DSC
Amount and the Restricted Stock Amount. The Merger Agreement provides that all
calculations required to be made pursuant to the foregoing paragraph will be
made in accordance with Article IV of the Company's Change of Control Plan and
the terms of the relevant Stock Incentive Plan. In the Merger Agreement the
Company represents that ARCO has taken all such actions as are necessary so
that options to acquire ARCO shares and DSCs with respect to ARCO shares held
by or credited to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are not
forfeited upon consummation of the Offer and remain outstanding for the
duration of their terms.
Employee Benefits Matters. The Merger Agreement provides that, at and after
the consummation of the Offer, Lyondell will cause the Company and its
subsidiaries to promptly pay or provide when due all compensation and benefits
provided for pursuant to the terms of any compensation arrangements,
employment agreements and employee or director benefit plans (including,
without limitation, deferred compensation and change of control plans),
programs and policies in existence as of the consummation of the Offer for any
employee (and/or former employee) and director (and/or former director) of the
Company and its subsidiaries; provided, however, that Lyondell will not be
precluded by the provisions described in this paragraph from amending or
terminating any such plans, arrangements, programs or policies after the
consummation of the Offer. Lyondell and the Company have agreed that the
Company and its subsidiaries will pay promptly or provide when due all
compensation and benefits required to be paid pursuant to the terms of any
individual agreement with any employee, former employee, director or former
director in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement provides that Lyondell will cause the Company, for the
period commencing upon the consummation of the Offer and ending on the end of
the calendar year following the year in which the consummation of the Offer
occurs (the "Continuation Period"), to provide employee benefits under plans,
programs and arrangements which, in the aggregate for all current employees of
the Company and its subsidiaries as a group (other than employees covered by a
collective bargaining agreement), will provide benefits to such employees
which are not materially less favorable than those provided pursuant to the
plans, programs and arrangements of the Company and its subsidiaries in effect
on the date of the Merger Agreement and employees covered by collective
bargaining agreements will be provided with such benefits as shall be required
under the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement; provided,
however, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Lyondell
shall not be required to provide compensation which is based upon the equity
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and provided, however, that,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Merger
Agreement will prevent the amendment or termination of any specific plan,
program or arrangement, require that the Surviving Corporation provide or
permit investment in the securities of Lyondell, the Company or the Surviving
Corporation or interfere with the Surviving Corporation's right or obligation
to
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make such changes as are necessary to conform with applicable law. The Merger
Agreement further provides that, during the Continuation Period, Lyondell will
provide, or cause the Surviving Corporation to provide, post-retirement
health, dental, life insurance and other welfare benefits that are not
materially less favorable than those that are provided by the Company
immediately prior to the consummation of the Offer to those employees or
directors or former employees or directors of the Company and any of its
subsidiaries who at such time (x) were
receiving any such benefits, (y) would have been eligible to receive any of
such benefits upon his or her termination at such time or (z) would have
become eligible within one year of such time to receive any of such benefits
upon his or her termination within such one-year period. The Merger Agreement
further provides that employees of the Company and its subsidiaries will be
given credit for all service with ARCO and its affiliates and with the Company
and its subsidiaries, under each employee benefit plan, program, or
arrangement of Lyondell or its affiliates in which such employees are eligible
to participate for purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit accrual;
provided, however, that in no event will such employees be entitled to any
credit to the extent that it would result in any duplication of benefits with
respect to the same period of service under any plans of ARCO and its
affiliates, the Company and Lyondell. The Merger Agreement provides that if
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries become eligible to participate
in a medical, dental, disability, life insurance or other welfare plan of
Lyondell or its subsidiaries, Lyondell will cause such plan to (i) waive any
preexisting condition limitations for conditions covered under the applicable
plan of ARCO or the Company and its or their subsidiaries and (ii) give credit
for any deductible and out of pocket expenses incurred by the employees and
their beneficiaries under such plans prior to such participation.
The Merger Agreement provides that nothing in the provisions summarized
under "--Employee Benefits Matters" requires the continued employment of any
person or, subject to the preceding paragraph, prevents the Company and/or the
Surviving Corporation and their subsidiaries from taking any action or
refraining from taking any action which the Company and its subsidiaries prior
to the consummation of the Offer, could have taken or refrained from taking.
The Merger Agreement and the Tender and Voting Agreement provide that promptly
following the execution thereof, the Company and ARCO will enter into an
agreement providing that, effective upon the purchase of the Shares pursuant
to the Offer, all administrative service agreements and arrangements between
ARCO and the Company relating to the Company's employee benefit plans and
payroll services shall continue for a period no less than the Continuation
Period; provided, however, that ARCO shall have the right to (i) terminate
such agreement if there are any change or changes in such benefit plans or
payroll services that result in any additional costs or burdens to ARCO in
performing its obligations under such agreement and (ii) to remove AIMCO as
designated fiduciary with respect to employee benefit plans within 90 days
after the consummation of the Offer.
Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance. The Merger Agreement provides
that Lyondell agrees that all rights to indemnification and exculpation
(including the advancement of expenses) from liabilities for acts or omissions
occurring at or prior to the effective time of the Merger (including with
respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) existing as
of the date of the Merger Agreement or at the effective time of the Merger in
favor of the current or former directors or officers of the Company as
provided in its Certificate of Incorporation, its By-Laws (each as in effect
on the date of the Merger Agreement) and indemnification agreements will be
assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, as
of the effective time of the Merger and will survive the Merger and will
continue in full force and effect without amendment, modification or repeal in
accordance with their terms for a period of not less than six years after the
effective time of the Merger; provided, however, that if any claims are
asserted or made within such six-year period, all rights to indemnification
(and to advancement of expenses) under the Merger Agreement in respect of any
such claims will continue, without diminution, until disposition of any and
all such claims.
In the Merger Agreement, Lyondell agrees that, for six years after the
effective time of the Merger, it will cause the Surviving Corporation to
indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer of
the Company, determined as of the effective time of the Merger (the
"Indemnified Parties"), against any costs or expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(collectively, "Costs") (but only to the extent such Costs are not otherwise
covered by insurance and paid) incurred in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal,
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administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters
existing or occurring at or prior to the effective time of the Merger,
including in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the
effective time of the Merger, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable
law (and Lyondell will, or will cause the Surviving Corporation to, also
advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable
law); provided, however, that, with respect to any Indemnified Person that is
an officer or employee of ARCO as of the date of the Merger Agreement, such
Indemnified Person shall first have pursued all available rights to
indemnification (and advancement of expenses) from ARCO. Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement and the Tender and Voting Agreement, ARCO has agreed to
indemnify and hold harmless any such Indemnified Person that is at the date of
the Merger Agreement an officer or employee of ARCO against any such Costs
(not covered by insurance and paid) to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law (and ARCO shall also advance expenses as incurred to the
fullest extent permitted under applicable law).
The Merger Agreement provides that, in the event that Lyondell, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their successors or assigns (a) consolidates
with or merges into any other person and is not the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (b) transfers or
conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person,
then, and in each such case, proper provision will be made so that the
successors and assigns of Lyondell or the Surviving Corporation, as the case
may be, shall assume the obligations described in the two foregoing
paragraphs. In the event the Surviving Corporation transfers any material
portion of its assets, in a single transaction or in a series of transactions,
Lyondell will either guarantee the indemnification obligations referred to in
the two foregoing paragraphs or take such other action to insure that the
ability of the Surviving Corporation, legal and financial, to satisfy such
indemnification obligations will not be diminished in any material respect.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Tender and Voting Agreement, ARCO
has agreed, for a period of six years after the effective time of the Merger,
to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors' and officers'
liability insurance substantially in the amounts currently maintained by ARCO
and covering the officers, directors and employees of the Company currently
covered by ARCO's directors' and officers' liability insurance with similar
terms and conditions with respect to claims arising from or related to facts
or events which occurred at or before the effective time of the Merger;
provided, however, that ARCO shall not be obligated to make annual premium
payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 200% of the
annual premiums paid as of the date of the Merger Agreement by ARCO for such
insurance (such 200% amount, the "Maximum Premium"). If such insurance
coverage cannot be obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an annual
premium in excess of the Maximum Premium, ARCO shall maintain the most
advantageous policies of directors' and officers' insurance obtainable for an
annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium; provided further, if such
insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all, ARCO shall purchase extended
reporting periods with respect to such insurance for an amount which, together
with all other insurance purchased pursuant to this paragraph, does not exceed
the Maximum Premium. It is understood that ARCO will not take any action that
would have the effect of limiting the aggregate amount of insurance coverage
required to be maintained for the individuals referred to in this paragraph.
The Merger Agreement provides that the provisions described in the four
previous paragraphs (x) are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be
enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her heirs and his or her
representatives and (y) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any
other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may have
by contract or otherwise.
Reasonable Efforts; Notification. The Merger Agreement provides that, (a)
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, each of the
parties to the Merger Agreement will use its commercially reasonable efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and to do or cause to
be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement as soon as practicable, including but not limited to: (i)
cooperation in the preparation and filing of the Offer documents, this
Schedule 14D-9, the Information Statement, the Proxy Statement, any required
filings under the HSR Act or other foreign filings and any amendments or
supplements
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to any thereof and (ii) using its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly
make all required regulatory filings and applications including, without
limitation, responding promptly to requests for further information and to
obtain all licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations,
qualifications and orders of Governmental Entities as are necessary for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and to
fulfill the conditions to the Offer and the Merger, (b) in case at any time
after the effective time of the Merger any further action is necessary or
desirable to carry out the purposes of the Merger Agreement, the proper
officers and directors of each party to the Merger Agreement will use their
commercially reasonable efforts to take all
such necessary action, (c) the Company and Lyondell each will keep the other
apprised of the status of matters relating to completion of the transactions
contemplated in the Merger Agreement, including promptly furnishing the other
with copies of notices or other communications received by Lyondell or the
Company, as the case may be, or any of their subsidiaries, from any
Governmental Entity with respect to the Offer, the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (d) the parties to the
Merger Agreement will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in
good faith the views of one another in connection with, and will provide each
other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any analyses, appearances,
presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or
submitted by or on behalf of any party to the Merger Agreement in connection
with proceedings under or relating to the HSR Act or any other antitrust law.
The Merger Agreement further provides that, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing undertakings, (i) Lyondell agrees that, if necessary to prevent
any Governmental Entity from taking steps to obtain, or from issuing, any
order, injunction, decree, judgment or ruling or the taking of any other
action that would (x) restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit the Offer, the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (y)
cause any Offer condition not to be satisfied, Lyondell shall (A) offer to
accept an order to divest (and to enter into a consent decree or other
agreement giving effect thereto) such of the Company's or Lyondell's assets
and business, and agree to hold separate such assets and business pending such
divestiture, and (B) enter into any supply, license, tolling, joint venture or
other agreement or take any other action, as may be necessary to forestall
such order, decree, ruling or action; provided, however, that notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions described in this clause (i), Lyondell shall not be
required to take any such action that would have a material adverse effect on
the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to waive any material
rights, or to take any action that would result in any of the consequences
referred to in paragraph (a) of the section above under "--Conditions of the
Offer"; and (ii) without limitation of the foregoing clause (i), the Company
and Lyondell each agree to contest and resist any action seeking to have
imposed any order, decree, judgment, injunction, ruling or other order
(whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) (an "Order") that (x) would
delay, restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit consummation of the Offer, the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
or (y) cause any conditions to the Offer set forth above under "--Conditions
of the Offer" not to be satisfied and, in the event that any such temporary or
preliminary Order is entered in any proceeding, to take the steps contemplated
by the foregoing clause (i) and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to
take promptly any and all other steps (including, the appeal thereof and the
posting of a bond) necessary to vacate, modify or suspend such Order so as to
permit such consummation as promptly as practicable after the date of the
Merger Agreement.
Representations and Warranties. The Merger Agreement contains various
customary representations and warranties.
Amendment; Extension; Waiver. The Merger Agreement provides that: (a) it may
be amended by the parties thereto, by action taken or authorized by their
respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after obtaining the
approval of the Company's stockholders (if required by the DGCL), but, after
any such approval, no amendment will be made which by law requires further
approval by such stockholders without obtaining such further approval; and (b)
it may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
each of the parties thereto. The Merger Agreement provides further that, at
any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, the parties thereto, by
action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, may, to
the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of
the obligations or other acts of the other parties thereto, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained therein or in any
document delivered pursuant thereto or (c) subject to the provision described
in the first sentence of this
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paragraph, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained
therein. The Merger Agreement provides that any agreement on the part of a
party thereto to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth
in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party and that the failure of
any party to the Merger Agreement to assert any of its rights thereunder or
otherwise will not constitute a waiver of those rights.
Other. In the Merger Agreement, the terms "material adverse change" or
"material adverse effect" are defined generally to mean any change or effect
that, individually or in the aggregate, with such other changes or effects, is
materially adverse to the business, assets, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for
changes or effects relating to the economy in general or resulting from
actions expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
TENDER AND VOTING AGREEMENT
As an inducement to Lyondell and Purchaser to enter into the Merger
Agreement, ARCO, the record and beneficial owner of 80,000,001 Shares,
representing approximately 80.1% of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted
basis, has entered into the Tender and Voting Agreement with Lyondell and
Purchaser, pursuant to which ARCO has agreed, among other things, to tender
its Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Tender and Voting
Agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Tender and Voting Agreement, which is an Exhibit hereto and incorporated
herein by reference.
Pursuant to the Tender and Voting Agreement, ARCO has agreed that, if
Purchaser commences the Offer, it will tender, or cause to be tendered prior
to the expiration of the Offer, to Purchaser, and not withdraw as long as the
Tender and Voting Agreement remains in effect, the 80,000,001 Shares over
which it has sole voting and dispositive power.
ARCO has further agreed in the Tender and Voting Agreement that while such
agreement is in effect, and except as contemplated thereby, ARCO will not (a)
sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter
into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect
to the sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition
of, any of the Shares owned by ARCO, (b) grant any proxies, powers of attorney
or other authorization or consent, deposit any shares of capital stock of the
Company into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to
any such Shares or (c) take any action that would make any representation or
warranty of ARCO contained in the Tender and Voting Agreement untrue or
incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling ARCO from performing
its obligations under the Tender and Voting Agreement. ARCO also agreed that,
while the Tender and Voting Agreement is in effect, it will promptly notify
Lyondell and Purchaser of the number of new shares of Common Stock acquired by
ARCO, if any, after the date thereof. Under the terms of the Tender and Voting
Agreement, ARCO will, and will direct and use reasonable efforts to cause its
officers, directors, employees, representatives, subsidiaries and agents to,
immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any parties other than
Lyondell and Purchaser that may be ongoing with respect to a Takeover
Proposal. While the Tender and Voting Agreement is in effect, ARCO has agreed
that it will not, and will not authorize or permit any of its officers,
directors, subsidiaries or employees or any investment banker, financial
adviser, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by it or any of
them to, directly or indirectly, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage any
inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be
expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal, or (b) participate in any
discussions or negotiations regarding any Takeover Proposal; provided,
however, that if, at any time prior to the acceptance for payment of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, ARCO determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial advisers, that a Takeover Proposal that has
not been solicited, initiated or encouraged after the date thereof in
violation of clause (a) above or of similar provisions in the Merger Agreement
constitutes a Superior Proposal, ARCO and the Company may (i) furnish
information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the third
party that has made such Takeover Proposal (and to any investment banker,
financial adviser, attorney, accountant or other representative retained by
such party) pursuant to a customary and reasonable confidentiality agreement
and (ii) participate in negotiations regarding such Takeover Proposal.
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In the Tender and Voting Agreement, ARCO agrees that, during the time the
Tender and Voting Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of the stockholders
of the Company, however called, and at every adjournment or postponement
thereof, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the
Company, it shall (a) appear at the meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to
be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum; (b) vote
its Shares in favor of the Merger and approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement, and any action required in furtherance thereof; (c) vote its Shares
against any action or agreement that would result in a breach in any material
respect of any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company in the
Merger Agreement; and (d) vote its Shares against any action or agreement
(other than the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby)
that would impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or attempt to discourage
the Merger or the Offer, including any other extraordinary corporate
transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation involving the
Company and a third party or any other proposal of a third party to acquire
the Company. In furtherance of the foregoing, under the Tender and Voting
Agreement, ARCO irrevocably constitutes and appoints Lyondell as its attorney
and proxy pursuant to the provisions of Section 212(c) of the DGCL, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote the Shares at any meeting of
stockholders of the Company, however called, or in connection with any action
by written consent by the stockholders of the Company, in each case only as
and to the extent provided in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of the preceding
sentence, provided, however, that, without limiting the foregoing, in any such
vote or other action pursuant to such proxy,
Lyondell will not in any event have the right (and such proxy will not confer
the right) to vote against the Merger, to vote to reduce the Offer Price or
the Merger consideration or otherwise modify or amend the Merger Agreement to
reduce the rights or benefits of the Company or any stockholders of the
Company (including ARCO) under the Offer or the Merger Agreement or to reduce
the obligations of Lyondell thereunder; and provided, further, that the proxy
granted pursuant to this paragraph will irrevocably cease and will be of no
further force or effect upon (x) any breach by Lyondell of any of its
obligations under Section 1.1(a) of the Merger Agreement, (y) any violation by
Lyondell of any of the terms of the Tender and Voting Agreement or (z) the
termination of the Merger Agreement or the Tender and Voting Agreement in
accordance with its terms.
The Tender and Voting Agreement provides that the Tender and Voting
Agreement will terminate on the earliest of (i) payment to ARCO of the full
purchase price for the Shares, (ii) the consummation of the Merger, and (iii)
the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. The
Tender and Voting Agreement also provides that it may be terminated by ARCO if
Lyondell fails to comply with certain of its obligations in connection with
the making of the Offer pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The Tender and
Voting Agreement provides that, in the event of a termination thereof, the
Tender and Voting Agreement will forthwith become void and there will be no
liability or obligation on the part of Lyondell, Purchaser or ARCO or their
respective officers or directors under the Tender and Voting Agreement
thereafter, except as specifically provided in the Tender and Voting
Agreement.
TAX AGREEMENT
In connection with the negotiation of the Merger Agreement and the Tender
and Voting Agreement, ARCO, the Company and Lyondell also entered into a Tax
Agreement, dated as of June 18, 1998 (the "Tax Agreement"), and ARCO and
Lyondell entered into a related Guaranty, dated as of June 18, 1998, pursuant
to which Lyondell, as of the date of the consummation of the Offer, will
guarantee the obligations of the Company under the Tax Agreement and previous
tax agreements between the Company and ARCO.
The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Tax Agreement. This
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Tax Agreement, which
is an Exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
The Tax Agreement provides that the parties will make a Section 338(h)(10)
election under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "IRC"), for
federal income tax purposes and a similar election for certain state income
tax purposes to treat the disposition of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and
the Merger as, in effect, a sale of assets by the Company and its subsidiaries
("Company Group"). As a result, Lyondell will have a basis in the assets of
the Company Group for such federal and state income tax purposes equal to the
15
<PAGE>
amount paid by Lyondell for the Shares plus the amount of Company Group
liabilities ("Gross Purchase Price"), and the Company Group will recognize
taxable gain equal to the excess of the Gross Purchase Price over its adjusted
tax basis in the assets ("Sale Gain"). Because ARCO owns more than 80% of the
outstanding Shares, the Company Group is currently a part of the affiliated
group of corporations headed by ARCO that file a consolidated return ("ARCO
Group"). Accordingly, the entire Sale Gain will be included in the
consolidated tax return filed by the ARCO Group, and ARCO will be liable for
the tax attributable thereto, even though ARCO owns less than 100% of the
outstanding Shares.
The Tax Agreement also provides that, other than taxes attributable to the
Sale Gain, the Company and Lyondell will be responsible for the tax
liabilities of the ARCO Group that are attributable to the Company Group. The
Company and Lyondell will also indemnify ARCO against any taxes attributable
to the recapture of dual consolidated losses incurred by the Company Group and
reflected on an ARCO Group consolidated return. See "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS--Tax
Sharing Arrangements" in the Information Statement attached as Annex A hereto.
CHANGE OF CONTROL PLAN
Pursuant to the terms of the Change of Control Plan, a description of which
is set forth in the Company's Information Statement attached as Annex A and
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, upon consummation of the
Offer, all stock options and phantom stock units ("VIP units"), as well as the
accrued DSCs allocated to such options or VIP units, not fully exercisable and
vested will become fully exercisable and vested. In addition, any DSCs that
would be earned through the remainder of the term of the associated options or
VIP units will be computed and become vested. Upon consummation of the Offer,
(1) each such stock option or VIP unit will entitle the holder thereof to an
amount of cash equal to the product of (A) the excess of $57.75 over the
exercise price per share of such stock option or VIP unit and (B) the number
of shares for which such stock option is exercisable, (2) each holder of DSCs
allocated to stock options or VIP units will be entitled to an amount of cash
equal to $57.75 in respect of each such DSC and (3) each holder of shares of
restricted Common Stock will be entitled to an amount of cash equal to the
product of $57.75 and the number of shares of restricted Common Stock held by
such holder.
Presented below is a table setting forth, with respect to each executive
officer and outside director of the Company, the number of stock options, VIP
units, DSCs and shares of restricted Common Stock that will become exercisable
and vested as a result of the consummation of the Offer and the amounts
payable in respect thereof. Other than as presented below, no director holds
any stock options, VIP units, DSCs or shares of restricted Common Stock that
will become exercisable and vested as a result of the consummation of the
Offer.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF VIP DSCS
OPTIONS/ AMOUNTS DSCS AMOUNTS UNITS/EXERCISE AMOUNTS FROM VIP AMOUNTS
EXERCISE PRICE PAYABLE FROM OPTIONS PAYABLE PRICE PAYABLE UNITS PAYABLE
--------------- ---------- ------------ ----------- -------------- ------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Marvin O. Schlanger..... 30,800/$50.6250 $ 219,450 129,344.3861 $ 7,469,638
30,100/$47.1875 $ 317,931
52,800/$46.7188 $ 582,447
12,000/$57.5625 $ 2,250
Van Billet.............. 2,300/$47.1875 $ 24,294 3,680.2114 $ 212,532 700/$50.6250 $4,988 505.0036 $29,164
8,300/$46.7188 $ 91,559
Alan R. Hirsig.......... 55,900/$50.6250 $ 398,288 216,850.4780 $12,523,115
50,200/$47.1875 $ 530,238
99,900/$46,7188 $1,102,017
Morris Gelb............. 14,500/$50.6250 $ 103,313 66,313.2786 $ 3,829,592
13,700/$47.1875 $ 144,706
29,400/$46.7188 $ 324,317
Robert J. Millstone..... 12,600/$50.6250 $ 89,775 34,613.6941 $ 1,998,941
13,200/$47.1875 $ 139,425
20,600/$46.7188 $ 227,243
Walter J. Tusinski...... 18,200/$50.6250 $ 129,675 64,497.1337 $ 3,724,709
16,900/$47.1875 $ 178,506
29,400/$46.7188 $ 324,317
Francis W. Welsh........ 7,500/$50.6250 $ 53,438 27,955.2485 $ 1,614,416
7,800/$47.1875 $ 82,388
15,000/$46.7188 $ 165,468
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES OF
RESTRICTED AMOUNTS
COMMON STOCK PAYABLE
------------ --------
<S> <C> <C>
OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
Walter F. Beran........................................... 7,519.7923 $434,268
James A. Middleton........................................ 2,221.5010 $128,292
Frank Savage.............................................. 9,767.8703 $564,095
</TABLE>
In addition, subject to certain conditions, a pro rata portion of the shares
of contingent restricted Common Stock awarded to executive officers of the
Company under the Long-Term Incentive Plan Administration Subcommittee of the
1998 LTIP may be deemed to be earned by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company at a meeting to be held prior to the
consummation of the Offer. Any such earned restricted stock will become fully
vested upon consummation of the Offer. A supplemental grant of restricted
Common Stock, based on the Company's performance and calculated under the 1998
LTIP, may also be awarded and become vested.
Furthermore, pursuant to the Change of Control Plan, each employee of the
Company will be entitled to a severance payment and certain other benefits if,
after the consummation of the Offer, such employee's employment is terminated
without cause or by the employee for good reason.
Presented below is a table setting forth, with respect to each executive
officer, (1) the maximum number of shares of restricted stock under the 1998
LTIP (not including any shares of restricted stock subject to supplemental
grants, if any, under the 1998 LTIP) which may become fully vested as a result
of the Offer, (2) the amounts payable in respect thereof and (3) the
approximate value of the severance payment and other benefits to which each
executive officer of the Company would be entitled if, after the consummation
of the Offer, he is terminated by Lyondell without cause or if he terminates
his employment for good reason.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES OF SEVERANCE
RESTRICTED AMOUNTS PAYMENT AND
COMMON STOCK PAYABLE OTHER BENEFITS
------------ ---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Marvin O. Schlanger................... 18,413 $1,063,322 $2,773,282
Van Billet............................ 2,100 $ 121,275 $ 400,869
Alan R. Hirsig........................ 25,463 $1,470,459 $3,502,948
Morris Gelb........................... 7,500 $ 433,125 $1,448,665
Robert J. Millstone................... 5,250 $ 303,188 $1,265,360
Walter J. Tusinski.................... 7,500 $ 433,125 $1,631,399
Francis W. Welsh...................... 3,825 $ 220,894 $1,093,144
</TABLE>
In addition, under the terms of the Annual Incentive Plan for executives and
other key employees, a pro rata portion of the Annual Incentive Plan award for
the current plan year, if any, may be deemed to be earned by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors at a meeting to be held prior to the
consummation of the Offer.
TRANSACTIONS WITH LYONDELL
Lyondell is a former subsidiary of ARCO. Certain of the manufacturing
facilities of Lyondell and the Company were once operated as part of the same
division of ARCO. The Company's manufacturing facilities in Channelview and
Pasadena, Texas are adjacent to facilities held by Lyondell's 41% owned joint
venture, Equistar Chemicals, LP ("Equistar").
Lyondell (including Equistar) and the Company are parties to various
commercial contracts pursuant to which Lyondell provides to the Company a
portion of the feedstocks purchased by the Company for its manufacturing
facilities located at Bayport and Channelview, Texas. Lyondell also provides
processing services
17
<PAGE>
and products to the Company, as well as certain plant services at Channelview,
Texas. The Company in turn provides certain products and services to Lyondell.
The Company granted Lyondell royalty-free, non-exclusive licenses for the
technology necessary to produce methyl tertiary butyl ether and isopropyl
alcohol at Lyondell's petrochemical complex in Channelview, Texas. For 1997,
the Company purchased from Lyondell approximately $271 million of feedstocks,
products and plant services. The Company sold Lyondell certain products and
services at market based prices during the same period.
Lyondell, the Company and ARCO are also parties to a Dispute Resolution
Agreement which specifies a procedure for negotiation and binding arbitration
of significant commercial disputes among any two or more of the parties.
ITEM 4. THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company has unanimously approved the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and determined that the
Offer and the Merger as set forth in the Merger Agreement are fair to, and in
the best interests of, the Company's stockholders. The Board of Directors
unanimously recommends that the Company's stockholders accept the Offer and
tender their shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Offer. This recommendation
is based in part upon an opinion the Board of Directors received from Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"), dated June 18,
1998, to the effect that, as of such date thereof, the consideration to be
received by the Company's stockholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair to
the Company's stockholders (other than ARCO) from a financial point of view
(the "Fairness Opinion"). The full text of the Fairness Opinion is attached
hereto as Annex B. Stockholders are urged to read the Fairness Opinion in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
In January 1998, as part of a strategy to focus on growth in its core oil
and gas businesses, ARCO determined to explore alternatives for disposing of
some or all of its interest in the Company.
In late January 1998, ARCO informed the Company that ARCO intended to make a
proposal pursuant to which it would reduce its ownership interest in the
Company from 82% to 50% through a secondary offering of Common Stock and a
simultaneous share repurchase by the Company from ARCO of additional Common
Stock (the "Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction").
On January 29, 1998, the Board of Directors established a special committee
(the "Special Committee"), consisting of two independent directors, to
evaluate the transaction proposed by ARCO, to negotiate with ARCO regarding
the terms thereof and to determine whether the Company should enter into a
transaction with ARCO and the terms thereof.
On February 3, 1998, ARCO sent a letter to the Special Committee outlining
proposed terms of the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction. Negotiations
between ARCO, the Special Committee, and their respective legal and financial
advisors, commenced shortly thereafter.
On February 17, 1998, Mike R. Bowlin, Chief Executive Officer of ARCO,
received an unsolicited call from Dan F. Smith, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Lyondell, in which Mr. Smith expressed an interest in acquiring the
Company. On February 20, 1998, ARCO and Lyondell entered into a
confidentiality agreement regarding any discussions relating to a possible
transaction.
On March 4, 1998, at the initiation of Mr. Smith, a meeting took place
between Mr. Smith and Mr. Bowlin in which Mr. Smith reiterated Lyondell's
interest in acquiring the Company and in which potential value ranges were
discussed. Other attendees included Terry G. Dallas, Senior Vice President and
Treasurer of ARCO,
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<PAGE>
Edward Rich, Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Lyondell, and
representatives from J.P. Morgan, financial advisor to Lyondell. On March 13,
1998, ARCO and Lyondell entered into a supplemental confidentiality agreement
covering evaluation information.
On March 13, 1998, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company,
ARCO informed the Board of Directors that it had received indications of
interest for an acquisition of all the outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
The Board of Directors authorized ARCO to explore the sale of the entire
Company.
At the invitation of ARCO, on March 17, 1998, Mr. Smith sent a letter to
ARCO containing an indication of interest for an acquisition by Lyondell or an
affiliate of all the Common Stock for an aggregate cash consideration of $6.5
billion, including $913 million of assumed debt, subject to a satisfactory due
diligence review and approval by the Boards of Directors of Lyondell and the
Company. The purchase price was based on the assumption that Purchaser would
receive a tax basis in the assets equal to the purchase price for the Company
and that any tax liabilities resulting from the transaction would remain with
stockholders of the Company. The letter indicated that financing for the
acquisition would be provided by a group led by J.P. Morgan.
On April 22, 1998, Lyondell entered into a confidentiality agreement with
the Company and ARCO (which superseded the earlier such agreements between
ARCO and Lyondell). On April 27-28, 1998, representatives of Equistar and
Lyondell and their financial and legal advisors met with Company management
and representatives of ARCO for a series of due diligence sessions, and
representatives of Lyondell reviewed certain due diligence information in a
data room.
On May 6, 1998, Lyondell was invited by ARCO, acting through its financial
advisor, to submit by May 15, 1998 a firm offer for the possible acquisition
of the Company. As part of the process, Lyondell was asked to review and
submit proposed revisions to drafts of a Merger Agreement, a Tender and Voting
Agreement and a Tax Agreement, which were delivered to Lyondell on May 8,
1998.
During the months of February-June 1998, ARCO and Salomon Smith Barney,
financial advisor to ARCO, contacted a number of other companies to assess
their interest in participating in the bid process. They also received several
unsolicited indications of interest. One of such other companies submitted a
written preliminary indication of interest at a cash price of $55 per share,
subject to a data review. Such company entered into a confidentiality
agreement and conducted a due diligence review similar to that conducted by
Lyondell, but did not submit a firm offer.
On May 15, 1998, Lyondell submitted to ARCO an offer to purchase all
outstanding Common Stock pursuant to (i) a cash tender offer at a price of $51
per share with ARCO being required to tender all its Common Stock in the offer
and (ii) a second step merger in which each stockholder (other than ARCO)
could elect to receive per share either $51 in cash or Lyondell common stock
with a market value of $56 per share, subject to a maximum of 15.5 million
shares of Lyondell common stock being issued. Lyondell also proposed that ARCO
be responsible for all liabilities arising out of a Section 338(h)(10)
election under the IRC (a "338(h)(10) Election") and for certain other
potential tax liabilities of the Company. Lyondell also proposed that it be
given an option to purchase the shares of Common Stock owned by ARCO. The
proposal was subject to approval by the boards of directors of Lyondell and
the Company and to additional due diligence. The offer was accompanied by
commitment letters for $5 billion and highly confident letters for an
additional $1.5 billion in financing from J.P. Morgan and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation.
On May 18, 1998, Mr. Bowlin called Mr. Smith and stated that Lyondell's
offer was unacceptable to ARCO and too far below ARCO's price requirements to
justify continuing negotiations. In late May, Mr. Dallas informed Mr. Smith
that ARCO was proceeding with the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction.
On June 2, 1998, ARCO and the Special Committee reached final agreement on
the terms of the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction, and the Board of
Directors of the Company approved the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction.
19
<PAGE>
On June 3, 1998, ARCO and the Company publicly announced that agreement had
been reached on the terms of a Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction
involving a secondary offering by ARCO of approximately 24 million shares of
Common Stock with a 10% over-allotment option and a simultaneous repurchase by
the Company from ARCO at the public offering price of additional Common Stock
required to reduce ARCO's ownership of Common Stock to 50%, provided that the
aggregate consideration in the stock repurchase could not exceed $850 million.
On June 4, 1998, Lyondell sent a letter to ARCO containing a revised offer
for a cash purchase of all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price of
$56.50 per share with no change to the previous proposal with respect to
responsibility for tax liabilities. The Lyondell proposal was subject to
approval by the boards of directors of Lyondell and the Company. Between June
4 and June 10, 1998, ARCO and its financial advisors engaged in discussions
with Lyondell and its financial advisors regarding the proposed purchase
price, the potential responsibility for certain tax liabilities, and other
terms. On June 10, 1998, these discussions terminated due to inability to
reach agreement on financial terms. Thereafter, ARCO informed the management
of the Company of the revised offer and its rejection.
On June 13, 1998, a Lyondell financial advisor called an ARCO financial
advisor to indicate that Lyondell would consider a revised proposal to
purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price of $57.75 per share
in cash, subject to approval by the boards of directors of Lyondell and the
Company, and stated that Lyondell would have fully committed financing for the
entire purchase price. Under the revised proposal, ARCO would be responsible
for all liabilities arising out of a 338(h)(10) Election but would not be, as
originally proposed by Lyondell, responsible for the other potential tax
liabilities of the Company (including tax liabilities assumed by the Company
pursuant to tax agreements with ARCO entered into in 1987 and 1995). The
revised proposal included a provision for an option to purchase the Common
Stock owned by ARCO, as was previously proposed.
On June 14, 1998, Mr. Bowlin called Mr. Smith to communicate an interest in
pursuing discussions of the revised Lyondell offer, and on June 15, 1998, at a
special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company, ARCO informed the
Board of Directors of Lyondell's revised offer.
During the period from June 15 to June 18, 1998, ARCO, Lyondell and their
respective representatives met in New York to conduct further negotiations of
the price and other terms of the transaction. Representatives of the Company
participated in certain of such negotiations with respect to the other terms
of the transaction.
On June 16, 1998, ARCO's board of directors met and passed a resolution
delegating authority to selected officers of ARCO to enter into a transaction
whereby ARCO's interest in the Company would be sold to Lyondell if the final
price and terms were acceptable. Otherwise, the officers were authorized to
proceed with the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction.
On June 17, 1998, Lyondell's board of directors met and authorized the
execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and related agreements in
substantially the form reviewed at the meeting. On June 17-18, 1998, final
agreement was reached on the price and other terms of the transaction, which
did not include an option by Lyondell to purchase ARCO's shares of Common
Stock.
In the morning of June 18, 1998, the Company, ARCO and Lyondell issued press
releases announcing that the parties were conducting negotiations regarding a
sale of the Company and that the Board of Directors was meeting that day to
consider a proposed transaction. At a special meeting of the Board of
Directors that day, representatives of ARCO and Salomon Smith Barney made
presentations regarding the terms of Lyondell's proposal and the sale process
conducted by ARCO and Salomon Smith Barney. Merrill Lynch made a presentation
regarding the value of the Company, and orally expressed to the Board of
Directors its opinion (subsequently confirmed in writing) that, as of the date
of the meeting, the consideration to be received by the stockholders in the
Transaction was fair to the stockholders (other than ARCO) from a financial
point of view. The Board of Directors thereafter unanimously approved the
Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, the
20
<PAGE>
Tax Agreement and, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL, the Tender and
Voting Agreement. The Board of Directors unanimously determined that the Offer
and the Merger as set forth in the Merger Agreement are fair to, and in the
best interests of, the Company's stockholders.
On June 18, 1998, following the special meeting of the Board of Directors,
the Company, Lyondell and Purchaser executed the Merger Agreement, ARCO,
Lyondell and Purchaser executed the Tender and Voting Agreement, ARCO, the
Company and Lyondell executed the Tax Agreement, and the parties announced the
Offer and the Merger.
On June 24, 1998, Purchaser commenced the Offer.
REASONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby
and recommending that the Company's stockholders accept the Offer and tender
their shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, the Board of Directors
considered a number of factors including:
(a) the industry in which the Company operates and the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company;
(b) the strategic plans of the Company and the prospects of the Company
as an independent entity;
(c) the historical trading prices for the Shares;
(d) the presentation of Merrill Lynch at the meeting of the Board of
Directors held on June 18, 1998, and the opinion of Merrill Lynch
(expressed orally at the June 18, 1998 meeting and subsequently confirmed
in writing) delivered to the Board of Directors to the effect that, as of
June 18, 1998, the consideration to be received by the Company's
stockholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair to the Company's
stockholders (other than ARCO) from a financial point of view;
(e) possible alternatives to the Offer and the Merger, including, without
limitation, the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction;
(f) the sale process conducted by ARCO and its financial advisor, Salomon
Smith Barney, as reported from time to time by ARCO and Salomon Smith
Barney to the Board of Directors and management of the Company, which
involved, among other things, contacting entities that ARCO and Salomon
Smith Barney reasonably believed would be interested in purchasing the
Company, providing certain entities with information and access to senior
management of the Company and inviting proposals, and the opinion of ARCO
and Salomon Smith Barney that the bid by Purchaser was the best bid
received (considering price, likelihood and timing of consummation and
other relevant factors);
(g) the fact that officers of ARCO made several public statements
regarding ARCO's desire to sell assets and the announcement by ARCO and the
Company of the Public Offering/Repurchase Transaction, putting potential
acquirors of the Company on notice of ARCO's desire to sell its Shares and
giving potential acquirors the opportunity to make a proposal;
(h) the fact that the Merger Agreement permits the Company to furnish
information to, and participate in negotiations with, a third party in
response to a Takeover Proposal that was not solicited, initiated or
encouraged by the Company or any of its representatives or affiliates in
violation of the Merger Agreement or the Tender and Voting Agreement, and
to terminate the Merger Agreement by paying a $140 million termination fee
to Lyondell, if the Board of Directors determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial advisers, that such Takeover Proposal
constitutes a Superior Proposal;
(i) ARCO's determination that a sale of the Company on the proposed terms
is in the best interests of all the Company's stockholders, its expressed
desire and recommendation that the Board of Directors approve the Merger
Agreement and its commitment under the Tender and Voting Agreement to
tender its Shares pursuant to the Offer;
21
<PAGE>
(j) the financial and other terms and conditions of the Offer, the Merger
Agreement and the Tax Agreement and the likelihood and timing of
consummation of the Offer and the Merger; and
(k) Purchaser's plan to finance the Offer and Merger, the fact that the
Offer and the Merger are not subject to a financing condition and the fact
that Lyondell has entered into binding commitment letters for the entire
purchase price.
The Board of Directors' approval and recommendation were based on the
totality of the information considered by it. The Board of Directors did not
assign relative weights to the factors considered by it or determine that any
one factor was of primary importance.
Information contained in this Item 4 regarding discussions, communications
and negotiations between ARCO and Lyondell and the bid process conducted by
ARCO and Salomon Smith Barney was furnished by ARCO, and the Company assumes
no responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such information.
ITEM 5. PERSONS RETAINED, EMPLOYED OR TO BE COMPENSATED
Pursuant to the terms of an engagement letter, dated April 20, 1998 (the
"Merrill Lynch Engagement Letter"), the Company engaged Merrill Lynch to
provide financial advice and assistance to the Company in connection with its
consideration of a possible sale or restructuring transaction. As part of its
role as financial adviser, Merrill Lynch has delivered to the Board of
Directors the Fairness Opinion.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merrill Lynch Engagement Letter, the Company
has paid Merrill Lynch a retainer fee of $500,000 in connection with the
execution of the Merrill Lynch Engagement Letter and $2,000,000 in connection
with the execution of the Merger Agreement. The Company has agreed to pay
Merrill Lynch an additional $7,000,000 upon the consummation of the Offer. The
Company has also agreed to reimburse Merrill Lynch for its reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its
counsel, and to indemnify Merrill Lynch and certain related persons against
certain liabilities in connection with their engagement, including certain
liabilities under the federal securities laws.
ITEM 6. RECENT TRANSACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES
(a) No transactions in the Shares have been effected during the past 60
days by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, by any executive
officer, director, affiliate or subsidiary of the Company.
(b) To the best of the Company's knowledge, all of its executive
officers, directors and affiliates currently intend to tender pursuant to
the Offer all shares of the Common Stock which are held of record or
beneficially owned by such persons.
ITEM 7. CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS BY THE SUBJECT COMPANY
(a) No discussions are underway or are being undertaken by the Company in
response to the Offer that relate to or would result in (i) an
extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger or reorganization,
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) a purchase, sale or
transfer of a material amount of assets by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (iii) a tender offer for, or other acquisition of, securities
by or of the Company; or (iv) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company.
(b) There is no transaction, board resolution, agreement in principle or
signed contract in response to the Offer, other than as disclosed in Item
3(b) of this Statement, that relates to or would result in (i) an
extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger or reorganization,
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) a purchase, sale or
transfer of a material amount of assets by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (iii) a tender offer for, or other acquisition of, securities
by or of the Company; or (iv) any material change in the present
capitalization or dividend policy of the Company.
22
<PAGE>
ITEM 8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED
SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL
Section 203 of the DGCL, in general, prohibits a Delaware corporation such
as the Company from engaging in a "Business Combination" (defined as a variety
of transactions, including mergers) with an "Interested Stockholder" (defined
generally as a person that is the beneficial owner of 15% or more of a
corporation's outstanding voting stock) for a period of three years following
the date that such person became an Interested Stockholder unless (a) prior to
the date such person became an Interested Stockholder, the board of directors
of the corporation approved either the Business Combination or the transaction
that resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, (b) upon
consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the
voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction
commenced, excluding stock held by directors who are also officers of the
corporation and employee stock ownership plans that do not provide employees
with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the
plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer or (c) on or subsequent to
the date such person became an Interested Stockholder, the Business
Combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and
authorized at a meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting
stock of the corporation not owned by the Interested Stockholder.
The provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL are not applicable to any of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Tender and Voting
Agreement because the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby have been approved by the Board of Directors and the Tender and Voting
Agreement has, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL, been approved by the
Board of Directors.
The summary of Section 203 of the DGCL contained herein does not purport to
be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text
of Section 203 of the DGCL.
INFORMATION STATEMENT
The Information Statement attached as Annex A hereto is being furnished in
connection with the possible designation by Lyondell, pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, of certain persons to be appointed to the Board of Directors other
than at a meeting of the Company's stockholders.
ITEM 9. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS
1. Offer to Purchase, dated June 24, 1994, filed as Exhibit (a)(1) to
Lyondell's and Purchaser's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1, dated
June 24, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
2. Letter of Transmittal filed as Exhibit (a)(2) to Lyondell's and
Purchaser's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1, dated June 24, 1998,
and incorporated herein by reference.
3. Letter to the Company's Stockholders, dated June 24, 1998.
4. Text of Press Releases issued by the Company on June 18, 1998 filed as
Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K, dated June 22, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
5. Information Statement of the Company attached as Annex A hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.
6. Opinion of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated attached as
Annex B hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
7. Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 18, 1998, among Purchaser,
Lyondell and the Company, filed as Exhibit (c)(1) to Lyondell's and
Purchaser's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1, dated June 24, 1998,
and incorporated herein by reference.
23
<PAGE>
8. Tender and Voting Agreement, dated as of June 18, 1998, among Purchaser,
Lyondell and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.3 of Lyondell's Current Report on
Form 8-K, dated June 18, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
9. Tax Agreement, dated as of June 18, 1998, among ARCO, Lyondell and the
Company, filed as Exhibit 10.2 of Lyondell's Current Report on Form 8-K,
dated June 18, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
10. Certificate of Amendment and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July 28, 1987 and incorporated herein by
reference.
11. By-Laws of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July 28, 1988 and
incorporated herein by reference.
12. ARCO Chemical Company 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, effective as of
February 19, 1998, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference.
13. ARCO Chemical Company Change of Control Plan, effective as of February 19,
1998, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by
reference.
14. ARCO Chemical Company Annual Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 1988,
filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1993
and incorporated herein by reference.
15. Resolutions relating to Amendment No. 1 to the ARCO Chemical Company
Annual Incentive Plan, as adopted February 15, 1989, filed as Exhibit 10.2
to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1990 and incorporated
herein by reference.
16. Resolutions relating to Amendment No. 2 to the ARCO Chemical Company
Annual Incentive Plan, as adopted July 17, 1990, effective September 1,
1990, filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.
17. Amendment and Restatement of the ARCO Chemical Company Executive
Supplementary Savings Plan, effective January 1, 1995, filed as Exhibit
10.4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1996 and incorporated
herein by reference.
18. ARCO Chemical Company 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan, restated as amended
through July 20, 1995, filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for 1995 and incorporated herein by reference.
19. Amendment No. 5 to the ARCO Chemical Company 1990 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by
reference.
20. Amendment No. 6 to the ARCO Chemical Company 1990 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8 (No. 333-28473), filed on June 4, 1997 and incorporated herein by
reference.
21. Amendment No. 7 to the ARCO Chemical Company 1990 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997 and incorporated herein by
reference.
22. ARCO Chemical Company Supplementary Executive Retirement Plan, effective
October 1, 1990, filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for 1992 and incorporated herein by reference.
23. Amendment No. 1 to the ARCO Chemical Company Supplementary Executive
Retirement Plan, effective as of May 13, 1993, filed as Exhibit 10.10 to
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1997 and incorporated herein
by reference.
24
<PAGE>
24. ARCO Chemical Company Executive Medical Insurance Plan (Summary Plan
Description), effective January 1, 1988, filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1993 and incorporated herein by
reference.
25. ARCO Chemical Company Key Management Deferral Plan, effective October 1,
1990, filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.
26. Amendment No. 1 to the ARCO Chemical Company Key Management Deferral Plan,
effective as of October 22, 1992, filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1995 and incorporated herein by reference.
27. Amendment No. 2 to the ARCO Chemical Company Key Management Deferral Plan,
effective as of January 1, 1997, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31,
1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
28. ARCO Chemical Company Key Management Long-Term Disability Plan, effective
October 1, 1990, filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for 1992 and incorporated herein by reference.
29. Resolutions relating to the ARCO Chemical Company Key Management Life
Insurance Plan, as adopted July 17, 1990, effective August 1, 1990, filed
as Exhibit 10.21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1990 and
incorporated herein by reference.
30. ARCO Chemical Company Retirement Plan for Outside Directors, as amended
and restated effective October 1, 1990, filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1992 and incorporated herein by
reference.
31. Amendment No. 1 to the ARCO Chemical Company Retirement Plan for Outside
Directors, effective as of May 13, 1993, filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1997 and incorporated herein by
reference.
32. ARCO Chemical Company Restricted Stock Plan for Outside Directors, filed
as Exhibit 4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-
36239), filed on September 24, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
33. ARCO Chemical Company Deferral Plan for Outside Directors, effective
October 1, 1990, filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for 1992 and incorporated herein by reference.
34. Amendment No. 1 to the ARCO Chemical Company Deferral Plan for Outside
Directors, effective as of October 22, 1992, filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1997 and incorporated herein by
reference.
35. Amendment No. 2 to the ARCO Chemical Company Deferral Plan for Outside
Directors, effective as of January 1, 1997, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
March 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.
36. Cross-Indemnification Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1987, between the
Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.2(a) to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July 28, 1987 and
incorporated herein by reference.
37. Amendment No. 1 to the Cross-Indemnification Agreement, dated as of June
30, 1987, between the Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.2(b) to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July
28, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference.
38. Amendment No. 2 to the Cross-Indemnification Agreement, dated as of July
1, 1987, between the Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.2(c) to
Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
33-15930), filed on August 21, 1987 and incorporated herein by reference.
25
<PAGE>
39. Amended and Restated Tax Sharing Agreement, effective as of January 1,
1995, between the Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1995
and incorporated herein by reference.
40. LPC/ACC Services Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1987, between the Company
and Lyondell, filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July 28, 1987 and
incorporated herein by reference.
41. Services Agreement, dated as of July 18, 1987, between the Company and
ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 33-15930), filed on July 28, 1987 and incorporated herein by
reference.
42. Amendment No. 1 to the Services Agreement, dated as of March 30, 1990,
between the Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 10.29 to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.
43. Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, between the
Company and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-55883), filed on June 3, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference.
44. Stockholder Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, between the Company and
ARCO, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (No. 333-55883), filed on June 3, 1998 and incorporated herein by
reference.
45. Stock Repurchase Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, between the Company
and ARCO, filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (No. 333-55883), filed on June 3, 1998 and incorporated herein by
reference.
46. Guaranty by Lyondell, dated as of June 18, 1998, filed as Exhibit (c)(4)
to Lyondell's and Purchaser's Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1,
dated June 24, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
26
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Dated: June 24, 1998
ARCO Chemical Company
/s/ Walter J. Tusinski
By: _________________________________
NAME: WALTER J. TUSINSKI
TITLE:SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
27
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY
3801 WEST CHESTER PIKE
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA 19073
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(F) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND RULE 14F-1 THEREUNDER
This Information Statement is being mailed on or about June 24, 1998 to the
holders of shares of the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Stock" or the "Shares"), of ARCO Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), as part of the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9, dated as of such date (the "Schedule 14D-9"). The Schedule
14D-9 relates to a tender offer (the "Offer") by Lyondell Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser") and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lyondell Petrochemical Company ("Lyondell"), to purchase all
outstanding Shares, at a price of $57.75 per Share, being made pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 18, 1998 (the "Merger
Agreement"), among the Company, Purchaser and Lyondell. This Information
Statement is being distributed in connection with the contemplated election to
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors" or the
"Board") of persons designated by Lyondell as provided for in the Merger
Agreement. Certain terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, and a Tender
and Voting Agreement, dated June 18, 1998, between Lyondell, Purchaser and
Atlantic Richfield Company ("ARCO"), the record and beneficial owner of
80,000,001 Shares representing approximately 80.1% of the outstanding Shares
on a fully diluted basis, and a Tax Agreement, dated June 18, 1998, between
ARCO, Lyondell and the Company (the "Tax Agreement"), each entered into in
connection with the Merger Agreement, are summarized in Item 3 of the Schedule
14D-9. The summaries of those agreements are incorporated herein by reference.
This Information Statement is required to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") and transmitted to all
stockholders of the Company by Section 14(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder.
Holders of Shares are urged to read this Information Statement carefully, but
are not required to take any action.
The information contained in this Information Statement concerning Purchaser
and Lyondell has been furnished to the Company by such persons, and the
Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such
information. The principal executive offices of Purchaser and Lyondell are
located at 1221 McKinney, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77010.
VOTING SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY
As of June 16, 1998, there were issued and outstanding 97,393,822 shares of
Common Stock, each of which entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all
matters submitted for a vote of the stockholders of the Company.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth persons who were known to the Company to be
beneficial owners, as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder, of more than five percent (5%) of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock as of June 8, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT OF PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP CLASS
------------------- ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
Atlantic Richfield Company....................... 80,000,001(a) 82.1
515 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, California 90071
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company................... 5,783,500(a)(b) 5.9
4666 Faries Parkway
Decatur, Illinois 62526
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Sole voting power, sole dispositive power.
(b) Based upon information provided by Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the number of Shares of the Company and
shares of Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share of ARCO ("ARCO Common
Stock"), beneficially owned (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder) by each director, each executive
officer named in the Summary Compensation Table set forth below in
"COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS", and all directors and executive officers
as a group. As of June 15, 1998, the percentage of Shares of the Company and
the percentage of shares of ARCO Common Stock beneficially owned by any
director or any named executive officer, or by all directors and all executive
officers as a group, did not exceed 1% of the Shares of the Company or the
shares of ARCO Common Stock, as applicable. Unless otherwise noted, each
individual has sole voting and investment power. Fractional shares are rounded
to the nearest whole number.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
SHARES OF SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK ARCO COMMON
BENEFICIALLY STOCK BENEFICIALLY
NAMES OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS OWNED(A)(B) OWNED(C)(D)
-------------------------- ------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Walter F. Beran.......................... 9,226 0
Anthony G. Fernandes..................... 1,000 262,935
Morris Gelb.............................. 59,823 6,536
Mark L. Hazelwood........................ 0 63,801
Alan R. Hirsig........................... 224,026 2,360
John H. Kelly............................ 0 42,389
Marie L. Knowles......................... 100 105,270
James A. Middleton....................... 2,997 219,373
Robert J. Millstone...................... 25,147 242
Stephen R. Mut........................... 1,000 97,033
Frank Savage............................. 9,633(e) 0
Marvin O. Schlanger...................... 126,281 1,164
Walter J. Tusinski....................... 60,316(f) 26,508(g)
Donald R. Voelte, Jr..................... 0 42,089
All directors and executive officers as a
group, including those named above...... 549,526(h) 869,700(i)
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) The amounts shown include shares of Common Stock held by the trustees of
the ARCO Chemical Company Capital Accumulation Plan (the "Capital
Accumulation Plan") and the ARCO Chemical Company Savings Plan (the "Savings
Plan") for the accounts of participants. The amounts shown include shares of
restricted Common Stock held under the ARCO Chemical Company Restricted
Stock Plan for Outside Directors as follows: Mr. Beran, 7,226; Mr.
Middleton, 1,997; and Mr. Savage, 9,533. Shares of restricted Common Stock
include the right to vote and receive dividends.
(b) The amounts shown include shares that may be acquired within the 60-day
period following June 15, 1998 through the exercise of stock options
covering Common Stock (calculated without regard to any stock options that
may become vested as a result of the Offer or the Merger) as follows: Mr.
Gelb, 57,200; Mr. Hirsig, 200,200; Mr. Millstone, 22,500; Mr. Schlanger,
117,100; Mr. Tusinski, 45,300; and all directors and all executive officers
as a group (including those just named), 468,800.
(c) The amounts shown include shares of ARCO Common Stock held by the trustees
of the Capital Accumulation Plan, the Savings Plan, and ARCO's Capital
Accumulation and Savings Plan for the accounts of participants. The amounts
shown include shares of restricted ARCO Common Stock granted under ARCO's
1985 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan as follows: Mr. Fernandes, 9,667;
Mr. Hazelwood, 2,513; Mr. Kelly, 2,887; Mrs. Knowles, 7,251; and Mr. Mut
3,586; Mr. Voelte, 2,761; and all directors and executive officers as a
group, 28,665. Shares of restricted ARCO Common Stock include voting rights
and the right to receive dividends.
(d) The amounts shown include shares of ARCO Common Stock that may be acquired
within the 60-day period following June 15, 1998 through the exercise of
stock options as follows: Mr. Fernandes, 205,902; Mr.
2
<PAGE>
Hazelwood, 48,249; Mr. Kelly, 33,334; Mrs. Knowles, 81,792; Mr. Middleton,
168,000; Mr. Mut, 73,634; Mr. Tusinski, 16,718; Mr. Voelte, 39,270; and all
directors and executive officers as a group (including those just named),
817,920. The amounts also include the following number of shares of ARCO
Common Stock issuable in respect of the conversion of dividend share credits
allocated to such options: Mr. Fernandes, 42,850; Mr. Hazelwood, 11,711; Mr.
Kelly, 5,253; Mrs. Knowles, 15,146; Mr. Middleton, 51,373; Mr. Mut, 17,654;
Mr. Tusinski, 7,034; and all directors and executive officers as a group,
151,021.
(e) The amount shown includes 100 shares subject to shared voting and
investment power with spouse.
(f) The amount does not include 3,600 shares held by Mr. Tusinski's children,
as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(g) The amount shown includes 354 shares subject to shared voting and
investment power with spouse.
(h) The amount shown includes 100 shares subject to shared voting and
investment power. The amount does not include 4,972 shares held for or by
family members, as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
(i) The amount shown includes 354 shares of ARCO Common Stock subject to
shared voting and investment power. The amount does not include 10,542
shares held by spouses (two of whom are present and former employees of
ARCO) or adult children, as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed.
RIGHT TO DESIGNATE DIRECTORS
The Merger Agreement provides that, promptly upon the acceptance for payment
of, and payment for, the Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, and from
time to time thereafter, Purchaser will be entitled to designate such number
of directors to the Board of Directors (the "Designees") as will give
Purchaser, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and
subject to the remainder of this paragraph, representation on the Board equal
to Purchaser's percentage ownership of the then-outstanding Shares, and the
Company is obligated to cause the Designees to be so elected or appointed by
the then-existing Board. The Merger Agreement also provides that, if the
Designees are elected to the Board, until the effective time (the "Effective
Time") of the merger contemplated thereby (the "Merger," and together with the
Offer, the "Transaction"), the Board of Directors must have at least two
directors who are directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement and who are
not officers, directors, employees or affiliates of Lyondell or Purchaser and
are not officers or employees of the Company or ARCO (the "Independent
Directors"); provided that, in such event, if the number of Independent
Directors is reduced below two for any reason whatsoever, the Board of
Directors will be required, subject to the approval of the remaining
Independent Director, to designate a person who is neither an officer,
director, employee or affiliate of Lyondell or Purchaser nor an officer or
employee of the Company or ARCO to fill such vacancy. Such person will be
deemed to be an Independent Director for purposes of the Merger Agreement.
Subject to applicable law, the Company is obligated to take all action
requested by Lyondell necessary to effect any election or appointment
described above. In connection with the foregoing, the Company has agreed that
it will promptly, at the option of Lyondell, either increase the size of the
Board of Directors and/or use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
resignation of such number of its current directors as is necessary to enable
the Designees to be elected or appointed to the Board. In addition, subject to
applicable law, at all times during which Purchaser has the right to designate
Designees, the Company is obligated, if requested by Lyondell, to cause to be
elected or appointed to each committee of the Board, the board of directors of
each subsidiary of the Company and each committee of each such board of
directors such number of designees of Purchaser that is equal to Purchaser's
percentage ownership of the then-outstanding Shares.
Following the election or appointment of the Designees pursuant to the terms
of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, the affirmative vote
of a majority of the Independent Directors then in office will be required for
the Company to take any action relating to the Merger Agreement, the Offer or
any of the transactions contemplated thereby, including (i) amending or
terminating the Merger Agreement, (ii) exercising or waiving any of its or the
Company's stockholders' or employees' rights or remedies under the Merger
Agreement, (iii) extending the time for performance of Lyondell's and
Purchaser's respective obligations under the Merger Agreement, (iv) approving
any other action by the Board of Directors with respect to the Merger
Agreement, and (v) amending or otherwise modifying the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws.
3
<PAGE>
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO LYONDELL DESIGNEES
Set forth below is the name, age, business address and principal occupation
or employment of, and the material positions held during the past five years
by, persons who may be designated by Purchaser to be appointed or elected to
the Board. Such information was furnished by Lyondell and Purchaser. The
business address of all persons listed below is Lyondell Petrochemical
Company, 1221 McKinney, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77010.
None of the persons listed below or their associates is a director of, or
holds any position with, the Company. To the best of the Company's knowledge,
none of the persons listed below or their associates beneficially owns any
equity securities, or rights to acquire any equity securities, of the Company
or has been involved in any transaction with the Company or any of its
directors or executive officers that is required to be disclosed pursuant to
the rules and regulations of the SEC. Purchaser has informed the Company that
each of the persons listed below has consented to act as a director of the
Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT;
NAME AND AGE MATERIAL POSITIONS HELD DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------ --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Dan F. Smith, 51............ Chief Executive Officer of Lyondell since December 1996,
President of Lyondell since August 1994 and director of
Lyondell since October 1988. Chief Executive Officer of
Equistar Chemicals, LP ("Equistar"), a petrochemicals and
polymers joint venture owned 57 percent by Lyondell, since
December 1, 1997. Chief Operating Officer of Lyondell from
May 1993 to December 1996.
T. Kevin DeNicola, 44....... Vice President, Corporate Development of Lyondell since May
1998. Director Investor Relations of Lyondell from March
1996 until May 1998. Product Manager of Lyondell from March
1993 until March 1996.
Kerry A. Galvin, 37......... Chief Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Lyondell
since December 1997. Finance and Securities Counsel and
Assistant Secretary of Lyondell prior thereto.
Allen C. Holmes, 50......... Vice President, Tax and Business Systems of Lyondell since
May 1998. Vice President and General Tax Officer of ARCO
from March 1991 through December 1997.
Jeffrey R. Pendergraft, 50.. Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of
Lyondell since December 1997. Senior Vice President of
Lyondell since May 1993. Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of Lyondell since 1988.
Edward W. Rich, 48.......... Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Lyondell since
February 1998. Treasurer of Dow Corning Corporation from
February 1993 to January 1998.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following sets forth certain information regarding the members of the
Board of Directors and the Company's executive officers as of June 24, 1998.
The By-Laws of the Company provide that each officer shall hold office until
his successor is elected or appointed and qualified, or until his death or
resignation, or his removal by the Board of Directors.
Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and its By-Laws, the
members of the Board of Directors serve for one-year terms. The Board of
Directors has fixed the number of directors constituting the whole Board at
twelve.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND AGE POSITION
------------ --------
<C> <S>
Walter F. Beran, 72......... Director
Van Billet, 43.............. Vice President and Controller
Anthony G. Fernandes, 52.... Chairman of the Board and Director
Morris Gelb, 51............. Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Research,
Engineering, and Environmental, Health and
Safety
Mark L. Hazelwood, 48....... Director
Alan R. Hirsig, 58.......... Vice Chairman of the Board and Director
John H. Kelly, 43........... Director
Marie L. Knowles, 51........ Director
James A. Middleton, 62...... Director
Robert J. Millstone, 54..... Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Stephen R. Mut, 47.......... Director
Frank Savage, 59............ Director
Marvin O. Schlanger, 50..... President and Chief Executive Officer and
Director
Walter J. Tusinski, 51...... Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Director
Francis W. Welsh, 54........ Vice President, Human Resources
Donald R. Voelte, Jr., 45... Director
</TABLE>
WALTER F. BERAN has been a director of the Company since September 1, 1987.
Mr. Beran is Chairman of Pacific Alliance Group (a financial services firm).
Previously, he served as Vice Chairman and Western Region Managing Partner of
Ernst & Whinney (accountants), a predecessor to Ernst & Young. Mr. Beran is
also a director of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., Pacific Scientific Company and
Vencor, Inc.
VAN BILLET was elected Vice President and Controller of the Company
effective as of March 1, 1997. He was Manager of Planning and Analysis for
Performance Chemicals and Business Development from January 1995 to March
1997, Corporate Controller from July 1993 to January 1995, Associate General
Tax Officer from May 1991 to July 1993, and Manager, European Tax Operations
from February 1988 to May 1991.
ANTHONY G. FERNANDES has been a director of the Company since May 10, 1996
and was elected Chairman of the Board on July 17, 1997. Mr. Fernandes has been
an Executive Vice President of ARCO since September 1994 and served as a
director of the Company from September 1994 to May 1998. He was Senior Vice
President of ARCO and President of ARCO Coal Company from July 1990 to
September 1994 and Vice President and Controller of ARCO from July 1987 to
July 1990.
MORRIS GELB has been an officer of the Company since June 22, 1987. He
assumed his current position as Senior Vice President, Manufacturing,
Research, Engineering and Environmental Health and Safety in August 1997. He
was Vice President, Environmental, Engineering and Manufacturing Programs from
October 1991 to August 1997 and Vice President, Research and Engineering from
September 1986 to September 1991.
MARK L. HAZELWOOD was elected as a director of the Company on May 14, 1998
and has been a Senior Vice President of External Affairs of ARCO since July
1997. He served as President of ARCO Alaska Transportation, Inc. (September
1996--July 1997), Senior Vice President of NGC Corp. (April 1996 to August
1996), President of ARCO Pipe Line Company (January 1994--April 1996), Senior
Vice President of Marketing ARCO Oil and Gas Company (April 1991--January
1994), and Vice President and General Tax Officer of ARCO (August 1988--March
1991).
5
<PAGE>
ALAN R. HIRSIG has been a director of the Company since November 14, 1989
and was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors on May 14, 1998. Mr.
Hirsig was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from January
1, 1991 to May 31, 1998 and was elected as an officer of the Company on June
22, 1987. Mr. Hirsig was President of the Company's European operations from
July 1984 to December 1990 and a Senior Vice President of the Company from
July 1988 to December 1990. Mr. Hirsig is also a director of BetzDearborn,
Inc. and Philadelphia Suburban Corporation.
JOHN H. KELLY was elected to the Board of Directors on May 14, 1998 and has
been a Senior Vice President, Human Resources of ARCO since January 1997. He
was Vice President, Corporate Human Resources of ARCO (June 1993-January 1997)
and Vice President, Human Resources of ARCO Oil and Gas Company (July 1991-
June 1993).
MARIE L. KNOWLES has been a director of the Company since September 16, 1996
and had previously served as a director of the Company from July 1991 to May
1996. Mrs. Knowles has been an Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and a director of ARCO since July 1996. She was Senior Vice President
of ARCO and President of ARCO Transportation Company from June 1993 to July
1996, Vice President and Controller of ARCO from July 1990 to May 1993, and
Vice President of Finance, Control, and Planning of ARCO International Oil and
Gas Company from July 1988 to July 1990. Mrs. Knowles is also a director of
Vastar Resources, Inc. and Phelps Dodge Corporation.
JAMES A. MIDDLETON has been a director of the Company since February 15,
1989 and has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Energy Corp.
(oil sand projects and oil and gas operations) since February 1996. He was an
Executive Vice President and a director of ARCO from October 1987 until he
resigned from those positions in September 1994. Mr. Middleton retired as an
employee of ARCO in January 1995. He served as President of ARCO Oil and Gas
Company from January 1985 to September 1990. Mr. Middleton is also a director
of Berry Petroleum Co., Crown Energy Corp., and Texas Utilities Company.
ROBERT J. MILLSTONE has been Vice President and General Counsel of the
Company since January 1, 1995. He was Associate General Counsel from January
1989 to December 1994 and has been Secretary of the Company since October
1990.
STEPHEN R. MUT has been a director of the Company since January 1, 1997 and
has been Senior Vice President of ARCO since September 1994. He was President
of ARCO Global Energy Ventures from August 1996 to March 1998, President of
ARCO Coal Company from September 1994 to August 1996, Senior Vice President of
Operations of ARCO International Oil and Gas Company from December 1991 to
September 1994, and Managing Director of ARCO British, Ltd. from 1989 to
December 1991.
FRANK SAVAGE has been a director of the Company since July 22, 1993. Mr.
Savage is Chairman of Alliance Capital Management International and Chairman
of Alliance Corporate Finance Group, Inc. (financial services). He was Senior
Vice President of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
(financial services) from 1988 to 1996, Chairman of Equitable Capital
Management Corporation (which was merged into Alliance Capital Management
Corporation) from April 1992 to July 1993, and Vice Chairman and Head of
International Operations, Equitable Capital Management Corporation from
November 1986 to April 1992 and from June 1986 to April 1992, respectively.
Mr. Savage is also a director of Alliance Capital Management Corporation,
Lockheed Martin Corporation, QUALCOMM Incorporated, and Southern Africa Fund.
MARVIN O. SCHLANGER has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since May 14, 1998, and has been a director of the Company since
November 14, 1994. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
from November 1994 to May 13, 1998, Senior Vice President of the Company and
President of ARCO Chemical Americas Company from August 1992 to November 1994,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from October 1989 to August
1992 and Vice President of Worldwide Business Management from September 1988
to September 1989. Mr. Schlanger is also a director of UGI Corporation.
6
<PAGE>
WALTER J. TUSINSKI has been a director of the Company and Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer since September 1, 1992. He served as
Vice President, New Business Ventures of ARCO International Oil and Gas
Company from September 1990 to August 1992 and Vice President, Planning and
Control of ARCO Products Company from October 1986 to August 1990.
DONALD R. VOELTE, JR. was elected to the Board of Directors on May 14, 1998
and has been a Senior Vice President of ARCO since April 1997. He previously
worked for the Mobil Corporation for 22 years. His most recent position was
Executive Vice President of Mobil Corporation and President of Mobil's New
Exploration and Producing Ventures and Global Exploration from January 1994 to
April 1997. He served as Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Marketing
and Supply/Logistics of Mobil Corporation from January 1992 to January 1994.
FRANCIS W. WELSH was elected as an officer of the Company on June 22, 1987.
He has held his current position of Vice President, Human Resources since
August 1983. He was Manager of Compensation and Management of Personnel
Resources and Development, Corporate Employee Relations of ARCO from September
1980 to May 1983.
COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the integrity of the
Company's accounting and financial reporting standards and practices,
maintains communications between the Board and external and internal auditors,
and initiates special investigations as deemed necessary. The Audit Committee
also reviews at least once a year all agreements between the Company and ARCO
(including their subsidiaries and affiliates) to assure that such agreements
are fair to the Company and all its stockholders. The Audit Committee reviews
prior to execution any proposed related party agreement that requires payments
by or to the Company in excess of $35 million. The independent accountants and
the internal auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee and
meet with it, with and without management present, to discuss all appropriate
matters. No member of the Audit Committee is an officer or employee of the
Company or ARCO (including any of their subsidiaries and affiliates). The
Audit Committee met three times during 1997.
The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Beran (Chairman) and
Savage.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves
employee compensation plans and such other benefits as it deems advisable,
makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to management succession
plans, and administers the Company's Annual Incentive Plan. No member of the
Compensation Committee is an employee of the Company, no member is eligible to
participate in any benefit plan of the Company that is administered by the
Compensation Committee, and no member is eligible or will be eligible to
participate in any benefit plan of the Company other than, as described below
in "Compensation of Directors", the Company's Restricted Stock Plan for
Outside Directors and the Deferral Plan for Outside Directors. The
Compensation Committee met two times during 1997. A special subcommittee of
the Compensation Committee, the Long-Term Incentive Plan Administration
Subcommittee (the "Subcommittee"), administers the Company's long-term
incentive plans. The Subcommittee consists of those members of the
Compensation Committee who are "outside directors" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Subcommittee met once during
1997.
The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Beran,
Fernandes, Middleton and Savage. The Subcommittee currently consists of
Messrs. Beran and Savage.
CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE
The Contributions Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves
the Company's charitable contributions budget, approves contributions
involving multi-year commitments, and assures accountability for charitable
contributions and activities. The Contributions Committee met once during
1997.
The Contributions Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Hirsig, Savage
(Chairman), and Tusinski.
7
<PAGE>
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Environment, Health, and Safety Committee of the Board of Directors
reviews and assesses the Company's policies, procedures, and practices
relating to (i) the protection of the environment and the health and safety of
employees, customers, contractors, and the public, (ii) compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, (iii) cleanup or remediation of waste sites
or excursions, and (iv) the development of the Company's environmental,
health, and safety goals and objectives, and makes recommendations to the
Board as to such policies, procedures, and practices. The Environment, Health,
and Safety Committee met three times during 1997.
The Environment, Health, and Safety Committee is currently comprised of
Messrs. Hirsig, Middleton, Mut, and Savage (Chairman).
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors has and may exercise all
the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the Company
between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee did not meet during
1997.
The Executive Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Fernandes
(Chairman), Hirsig, and Savage.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and makes
recommendations to the Board regarding proposals for the issuance of
securities to the public, proposed loans, borrowings and credit agreements,
proposed capital projects over $25 million, proposed business acquisitions and
divestitures, mergers and joint ventures, all budgets and long range plans,
dividend policy and the capital structure of the Company. The Finance
Committee met four times during 1997.
The Finance Committee is currently comprised of Ms. Knowles (Chairman) and
Messrs. Hirsig, Mut, and Tusinski.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors considers and makes
recommendations to the Board as to persons who it believes should be
considered for Board membership, and makes recommendations relating to the
selection, tenure, and retirement of directors. The Nominating Committee met
once during 1997. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended
by stockholders. Such recommendations should be submitted to the Secretary of
the Company.
The Nominating Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Fernandes,
Hirsig, and Savage (Chairman).
DIRECTORS' MEETINGS
The Board of Directors met five times during 1997. All of the directors of
the Company in office in 1997 attended 75% or more of the aggregate of all
meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which they served during
1997. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the
President, or a majority of directors in office. The By-Laws permit action to
be taken by the Board without a meeting if all members of the Board consent to
such action in writing.
8
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Mike R. Bowlin and Anthony G. Fernandes served on the Compensation Committee
during 1997. Mr. Bowlin is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of ARCO. Mr. Fernandes replaced Mr. Bowlin as Chairman of the Board and
Chairman of the Compensation Committee on July 17, 1997. The Chairman of the
Board is ex officio an officer of the Company under its By-Laws. The Chairman
of the Board receives no compensation from the Company and is not eligible to
participate in any Company benefit plan.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
TRANSACTIONS WITH ARCO
GENERAL
In June 1987, ARCO transferred substantially all the assets and liabilities
of the oxygenates and polystyrenics businesses of the then ARCO Chemical
Division to the Company in exchange for 80,000,001 shares of Common Stock,
representing all of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company
prior to October 5, 1987 (the date of the initial public offering of the
Common Stock) and approximately 80.1% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock on a fully diluted basis as of June 16, 1998.
In conjunction therewith, the Company and ARCO entered into a number of
agreements for the purpose of defining the ongoing relationship between them.
These agreements were developed in connection with the establishment of the
Company by ARCO and, therefore, were not the result of arms-length
negotiations between independent parties. It was the intention of the Company
and ARCO that the 1987 agreements and the transactions provided for therein,
taken as a whole, should accommodate the parties' interests in a manner that
was fair to both parties, while continuing certain mutually beneficial joint
arrangements.
Subsequent to 1987, additional or modified agreements, arrangements and
transactions have been entered into by the Company, ARCO and their respective
subsidiaries. In addition, certain of the existing agreements will be modified
or terminated in connection with the Transaction.
The following is a summary of the material existing agreements between the
Company and ARCO.
PRODUCT SALES
The Company sold to ARCO and its subsidiaries approximately $263 million of
products during the year ended December 31, 1997. Sales of methyl tertiary
butyl ether ("MTBE") to ARCO accounted for 6.5 percent of the Company's
revenues in 1997. The Company is party to certain contracts with ARCO for the
sale of MTBE (collectively the "ARCO Products Contract") which have an initial
term expiring December 31, 2002, and will continue thereafter from year to
year unless and until terminated by either party in accordance with their
terms. The price of MTBE under the ARCO Products Contract is well above
current spot market levels.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT
The Company and ARCO are parties to an agreement (the "Administrative
Services Agreement") under which ARCO has provided various services to the
Company, and the Company has provided various services to ARCO since October
1, 1987. The services that ARCO currently provides thereunder to the Company
include insurance, telecommunications, payroll and employee benefits
administration, employee assistance program services, certain tax and legal
services, and services relating to the insurance of commercial paper and the
investment of excess cash. The services that the Company currently provides
thereunder to ARCO include environmental technical services, research and
development assistance, information and communication systems support, and
certain legal services. The Administrative Services Agreement continues in
effect from year to year unless terminated by either party upon 12 months
prior notice. Either party may terminate any type of service that it receives
under the Administrative Services Agreement at any time upon 90 days' prior
notice. For the
9
<PAGE>
year ended December 31, 1997, the Company paid ARCO a total of approximately
$27 million under the Administrative Services Agreement and other such
agreements (including the lease described below). ARCO paid the Company a
total of approximately $1 million.
The Merger Agreement provides that the Company and ARCO will, promptly after
the execution of the Merger Agreement, enter into an agreement providing that,
effective upon the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer, all
administrative service agreements and arrangements between ARCO and the
Company relating to the Company's employee benefit plans and payroll services
are to continue in effect until the end of 1999, subject to certain
conditions.
LEASES
The Company leases its facility in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania from ARCO.
In 1997, the Company renewed the lease for an additional term of five years,
ending in 2002, but reduced the portion of the premises it leases. The annual
rent paid by the Company to ARCO during the renewal term for the remainder of
the leased premises was reduced to $5 million. During 1997, the Company made
lease payments to ARCO of $6 million, representing a combination of old and
new rental rates for the Newtown Square, Pennsylvania premises.
CROSS-INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
The Company and ARCO are parties to a cross-indemnification agreement (the
"Cross-Indemnification Agreement") that obligates the Company to indemnify
ARCO against substantially all claims relating to the oxygenates and
polystyrenics businesses transferred to the Company and certain assets
relating thereto, including liabilities under certain laws relating to the
protection of the environment and safety in the workplace and liabilities
arising out of certain litigation. Conversely, the Cross-Indemnification
Agreement obligates ARCO to indemnify the Company against claims not relating
to the assets, subsidiaries, or business operations transferred to the
Company.
TAX SHARING ARRANGEMENTS
The Company and its subsidiaries are members of an affiliated group of
corporations which files a consolidated federal income tax return with ARCO
(the "ARCO Group"). The Company and ARCO are parties to an Amended and
Restated Tax Sharing Agreement, effective as of January 1, 1995 (the "Tax
Sharing Agreement"), which applies to all taxable years in which the Company
and its subsidiaries are included in the ARCO Group's consolidated return and,
for limited computational purposes, the five taxable years thereafter. As a
result of the Transaction, the Company will cease being included in the ARCO
Group's consolidated returns. The Company, ARCO and Lyondell entered into the
Tax Agreement in order to address certain tax matters and liabilities arising
out of the Transaction. The Tax Agreement provides that the Tax Sharing
Agreement generally will continue to apply to matters relating to taxable
years ending on or before the date of the Transaction but will no longer be
applicable, for computational purposes, to the first five taxable years
following the Transaction, and the Tax Sharing Agreement provisions allowing
the Company to utilize certain of ARCO's tax attributes will not be applicable
to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1998. Under the Tax Sharing
Agreement and the Tax Agreement, the Company is liable for tax liabilities
that may be triggered as a result of the Transaction (other than 338(h)(10)
election tax liabilities) or otherwise arising out of any governmental tax
audit of the ARCO Group relating to tax periods ending on or prior to the
Transaction to the extent that such liability is attributable to adjustments
to tax items of the Company.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
ARCO has assigned to the Company various United States and foreign
trademarks, together with the registrations and applications therefor, and has
granted the Company a non-exclusive license to use other trademarks which
contain the word "ARCO" and to use ARCO's spark design as a logo. Under the
Merger Agreement, Lyondell has agreed to cause the Company to cease using
ARCO's name and spark design on any printed or consumable materials that are
distributed to third parties within 180 days of the consummation of the
10
<PAGE>
Merger. Lyondell has also agreed to cause the Company to remove ARCO's name
and spark design from all durable materials such as signage, vehicles and
railcars within two years of the consummation of the Merger.
STOCK REPURCHASE
On June 2, 1998, ARCO and the Company entered into a Stock Repurchase
Agreement (the "Stock Repurchase Agreement") pursuant to which the Company
agreed that, upon the completion by ARCO of a public offering of at least
20,000,000 of its Shares, the Company would repurchase from ARCO up to $850
million of ARCO's Shares. In connection with such agreement, on June 2, 1998,
the Company and ARCO entered into a Stockholder Agreement and a Registration
Rights Agreement pursuant to which the Company granted certain governance,
share ownership and registration rights upon completion of the stock
repurchase pursuant to the Stock Repurchase Agreement. Each of the foregoing
agreements will be terminated in connection with the Transaction.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION PROVISIONS RELATING TO CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
In order to address certain potential conflicts of interests between the
Company and ARCO, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation contains
provisions regulating and defining the conduct of certain affairs of the
Company as they may involve ARCO and its officers and directors, and the
powers, rights, duties, and liabilities of the Company and its officers,
directors, and stockholders in connection therewith. In general, these
provisions recognize that from time to time the Company and ARCO may engage in
the same or similar activities or lines of business and have an interest in
the same areas of corporate opportunity. The Certificate of Incorporation
provides that ARCO shall have no duty to refrain from (1) engaging in business
activities or lines of business the same as or similar to those of the
Company, (2) doing business with any customer of the Company, or (3) employing
any officer or employee of the Company, and neither ARCO nor any officer or
director of ARCO will be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach
of any fiduciary duty by reason of any such activities of ARCO or of such
person's participation therein. The Certificate of Incorporation provides
certain directives as to how a corporate opportunity is to be handled when
presented to an officer or director of either company. It also provides that
ARCO is not under any duty to present any corporate opportunity to the Company
that may be a corporate opportunity for both ARCO and the Company, and ARCO
will not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for a breach of any
fiduciary duty as a stockholder of the Company by reason of the fact that ARCO
pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, directs such
corporate opportunity to another person, or does not present the corporate
opportunity to the Company. It is expected that, after the Merger, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation will be amended to remove these
provisions.
TRANSACTIONS WITH LYONDELL
Lyondell is a former subsidiary of ARCO. Certain of the manufacturing
facilities of Lyondell and the Company were once operated as part of the same
division of ARCO. The Company's manufacturing facilities in Channelview and
Pasadena, Texas are adjacent to facilities held by Lyondell's 41% owned joint
venture, Equistar.
Lyondell (including Equistar) and the Company are parties to various
commercial contracts pursuant to which Lyondell provides to the Company a
portion of the feedstocks purchased by the Company for its manufacturing
facilities located at Bayport and Channelview, Texas. Lyondell also provides
processing services and products to the Company, as well as certain plant
services at Channelview, Texas. The Company in turn provides certain products
and services to Lyondell. The Company granted Lyondell royalty-free, non-
exclusive licenses for the technology necessary to produce MTBE and isopropyl
alcohol at Lyondell's petrochemical complex in Channelview, Texas. For 1997,
the Company purchased from Lyondell approximately $271 million of feedstocks,
products, and plant services. The Company sold Lyondell certain products and
services at market based prices during the same period.
Lyondell, the Company and ARCO are also parties to a Dispute Resolution
Agreement which specifies a procedure for negotiation and binding arbitration
of significant commercial disputes among any two or more of the parties.
11
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR'S FEES
Directors who are employees of the Company or of ARCO are not paid any fees
or additional compensation for service as members of the Board or any
committee thereof. Directors who are not employees of either the Company or
ARCO ("outside directors") receive an annual retainer of $52,000 for serving
on the Board, plus $1,000 for each Board and committee meeting attended.
Meeting fees are paid in cash. Directors are also reimbursed for travel and
other related expenses incurred to attend such meetings. In addition, the
Chairman of the Audit Committee receives $18,000 per year and the Chairman of
the Environment, Health and Safety Committee receives $10,000 per year. The
Chairmen of the Compensation Committee, the Contributions Committee and the
Nominating Committee received $18,000, $5,000, and $5,000 in 1997
respectively. As of May 14, 1997, these committee chair fees were reduced to
$10,000, $3,000, and $3,000 per year, respectively.
In 1997, the Company changed its fee structure for outside directors by
implementing the ARCO Chemical Company Restricted Stock Plan for Outside
Directors described below. With the adoption of the Restricted Stock Plan for
Outside Directors, the annual Board retainer was increased from $40,000 to
$52,000 effective as of October 1, 1997.
Outside directors are not eligible to participate in the Company's stock
option or other benefit plan programs, but may participate in the plans
described below, which, except as otherwise described, are administered by a
committee of three Company officers who are not members of the Board of
Directors.
RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
Under the Restricted Stock Plan for Outside Directors, at least 65% of an
outside directors' annual retainer and committee chair fees are paid in shares
of restricted Common Stock, which are subject to transferability and
forfeiture restrictions. Outside directors may also elect to receive the
remaining 35% of their aggregate Board and committee chair retainer fees in
cash or shares of restricted Common Stock. The shares are deposited in
accounts maintained for the participants by First Chicago Trust Company of New
York. Such shares remain restricted until retirement from the Board in
accordance with the Company's By-Laws, death, disability, a change of control
of the Company, or resignation from the Board with the consent of a majority
of the remaining Board members (which includes the failure to be nominated for
re-election or the failure to be re-elected to the Board). If outside
directors end their service on the Board for any other reason, shares of
restricted Common Stock held in their accounts will be forfeited. Outside
directors may vote their shares of restricted Common Stock and receive
dividends on such shares. Dividends will be reinvested in additional shares of
restricted Common Stock.
When the Restricted Stock Plan for Outside Directors was implemented,
Messrs. Beran, Middleton and Savage also converted the present value of
certain accrued retirement benefits to shares of restricted Common Stock as of
October 1, 1997. Effective as of February 20, 1998, the ARCO Chemical Company
Retirement Plan for Outside Directors ("Retirement Plan") was terminated and
no current or future outside directors will participate in that plan. Benefits
will continue to be paid under the Retirement Plan to former outside directors
who have retired from the Board.
DEFERRAL PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
The ARCO Chemical Company Deferral Plan for Outside Directors permits
outside directors to defer up to 100% of the cash portion of the annual
retainer and meeting fees and any committee chairmanship and meeting fees to
which they are entitled. The deferral accounts of Messrs. Beran, Middleton,
Savage, and Stewart accrued interest that exceeded 120% of a specified IRS
rate in the amounts of $3,722, $747, $998, and $3,333, respectively, in 1997.
12
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSA-
TION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
--------------------------------- --------- ------------
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OTHER ANNUAL STOCK ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION OPTIONS COMPENSATION
------------------ ---- ------- ------- ------------ --------- ------------
($) ($) ($) (#) ($)
(A) (B) (C)(D)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Marvin O. Schlanger.....
President and 1997 457,788 65,000 10,017 30,100 61,030
Chief Executive 1996 421,154 300,000 16,736 30,800 52,793
Officer (e) 1995 400,000 385,000 8,458 24,600 49,954
Alan R. Hirsig.......... 1997 640,385 100,000 35,972 50,200 87,922
Vice Chairman of the
Board (e) 1996 592,308 450,000 71,728 55,900 82,240
1995 542,308 585,000 45,852 44,300 76,571
Morris Gelb............. 1997 283,269 30,000 18,640 13,700 41,807
Senior Vice President 1996 247,846 140,000 29,322 14,500 37,872
1995 234,615 200,000 16,134 12,500 33,554
Robert J. Millstone..... 1997 257,884 25,000 8,241 13,200 41,807
Vice President, 1996 237,692 120,000 10,087 12,600 37,872
General Counsel and
Secretary 1995 224,520 140,000 6,888 8,900 33,554
Walter J. Tusinski...... 1997 332,308 40,000 10,613 16,900 57,020
Senior Vice President 1996 307,692 169,000 13,170 18,200 55,031
and
Chief Financial Officer 1995 292,692 235,000 8,486 17,700 49,256
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Includes amounts related to tax gross-ups in respect of financial
counseling reimbursements and other miscellaneous items, and incremental
interest accrued under the Key Management Deferral Plan that exceeds 120% of
a specified IRS rate.
(b) These options were granted under the Company's 1990 Long-Term Incentive
Plan. Options granted in 1997, 1996 and 1995 accrue dividend share credits.
For a description of dividend share credits under the 1990 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, see footnote (d) of this Summary Compensation Table.
(c) Includes 1997 contributions to the Executive Supplementary Savings Plan,
incremental Executive Medical Insurance Plan (the "Executive Medical Plan")
premiums, financial counseling reimbursements, certain amounts in respect of
the Key Management Life Insurance Plan, employee stock ownership plan
incentive program ("ESOP Incentive") payments, and imputed income in respect
of the Long-Term Disability Plan (the "LTD Plan"), as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MR. MR. MR. MR. MR.
SCHLANGER HIRSIG GELB MILLSTONE TUSINSKI
--------- ------ ------ --------- --------
($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Executive Supplementary Savings
Plan............................ 27,467 38,423 16,996 15,473 19,939
Incremental Executive Medical
Plan premiums................... 4,983 4,983 4,983 4,983 4,983
Financial counseling reimburse-
ments........................... 2,500 2,900 5,000 4,800 7,870
Key Management Life Insurance
Plan............................ 15,099 27,559 9,743 10,294 14,937
ESOP Incentive payments.......... 2,686 3,890 1,661 1,254 229
LTD Plan imputed income.......... 8,295 10,167 3,423 2,652 9,062
</TABLE>
The amounts disclosed in respect of the Key Management Life Insurance Plan
include certain reimbursements of premiums paid by the executive officer as
well as the dollar value of the benefit to the executive officer of the
premium paid by the Company during the fiscal year. The dollar value of the
latter
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<PAGE>
benefit is calculated by (i) treating the annual premium paid by the
Company, less the portion of the premium attributable to death benefits
payable to the Company and certain policy charges, as a demand loan from the
Company to the executive officer and (ii) imputing interest on the demand
loan at the applicable federal rate. The deemed amount of the benefit to the
executive officer is the amount of interest imputed less the executive
officer's contribution to the policy.
(d) Dividend share credits accrue on options granted under the Company's 1990
Long-Term Incentive Plan. Dividend share credits are allocated to an
optionee's account whenever dividends are declared on shares of Common
Stock. The number of dividend share credits to be allocated on each dividend
record date to an optionee's account is computed by multiplying the dividend
rate per share of Common Stock by the sum of (x) the number of shares
subject to outstanding options and (y) the number of dividend share credits
then credited to the optionee's account and dividing the resulting figure by
the fair market value of a share of Common Stock ("FMV") on such dividend
record date. Upon the exercise, expiration or surrender of an option, an
optionee may receive a cash payment in respect of the dividend share credits
attributable to such option provided that certain performance-based
conditions are satisfied. If FMV on the date of exercise, expiration or
surrender is greater than the exercise price of the option, then the
optionee is entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the number of
dividend share credits attributable to such option multiplied by FMV on such
date. If the option exercise price is greater than FMV on such date (i.e.,
the option is out of the money) and the fair market value of the dividend
share credits (equal to FMV on such date multiplied by the number of
dividend share credits) is equal to or less than the amount by which the
aggregate exercise price of the option exceeds the aggregate FMV of the
shares of Common Stock underlying such option (the "Out-of-the-Money
Spread"), then the optionee is not entitled to receive any cash payment in
respect of the dividend share credits. If the option is out of the money but
the fair market value of the dividend share credits is greater than the Out-
of-the-Money Spread, then the optionee is entitled to receive a cash payment
in respect of the dividend share credits equal to the fair market value of
the dividend share credits less the Out-of-the-Money Spread. The dividend
share credit values realized in the table below and the dividend share
credit values in the table set forth at footnote (c) of the Aggregated
Option Exercises in 1997 and Year-End Option Values table set forth below
reflect the application of the foregoing cash payment formula. Dividend
share credits accrued on Company options during 1995, 1996 and 1997 to the
account of the named executive officers, and the value realized on exercise,
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1995 1996 1997
----------------- ----------------- -----------------
DIVIDEND DIVIDEND DIVIDEND
SHARE VALUE SHARE VALUE SHARE VALUE
NAME CREDITS REALIZED CREDITS REALIZED CREDITS REALIZED
---- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
# $ # $ # $
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Mr. Schlanger......... 7,807 0 9,855 0 12,827 0
Mr. Hirsig............ 13,761 0 13,951 106,085 21,849 112,228
Mr. Gelb.............. 4,469 0 4,633 0 6,235 224,372
Mr. Millstone......... 1,582 0 2,238 46,117 3,169 0
Mr. Tusinski.......... 2,753 0 3,894 0 5,306 0
</TABLE>
Dividend share credit totals are rounded to the nearest whole number. FMV of
Common Stock on December 31, 1995 was $48.625. FMV of Common Stock on
December 31, 1996 was $49.375. FMV of Common Stock on December 31, 1997 was
$46.875.
Certain officers and employees of the Company also have options for ARCO
Common Stock granted by ARCO for services rendered to ARCO. Dividend share
credits accrue on options for ARCO Common Stock in the same manner that
dividend share credits accrue on options for Common Stock. Upon an ARCO
employee becoming employed by the Company, the Company assumes ARCO's
contingent future cash payment obligation with respect to all dividend share
credits accrued on ARCO options allocated to such employee. Set forth below
are cash payments received by the named individuals with respect to dividend
share credits in connection with the exercise of ARCO options. During 1997:
Mr. Tusinski, $79,422. During 1996: Mr. Schlanger, $106,229; Mr. Gelb,
$89,664; and Mr. Tusinski, $93,435. During 1995: Mr. Gelb, $11,516; and Mr.
Tusinski, $47,727.
14
<PAGE>
(e) Mr. Hirsig was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company during
1997 and through May 13, 1998. Effective as of May 14, 1998, Mr. Hirsig
resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and was appointed as the
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. As of May 14, 1998, Mr. Schlanger
became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
STOCK OPTION GRANTS IN 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL
REALIZED VALUE
AT ASSUMED
ANNUAL RATES OF
STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (A) FOR OPTION TERM (B)
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
% OF TOTAL
OPTIONS GRANTED
OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES EXERCISE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED IN 1997 PRICE DATE 5% 10%
---- ------- --------------- -------- ---------- ------------- -------------
# ($/SH) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Marvin O. Schlanger(c).. 30,100 10.85 47.1875 2/19/07 893,247 2,263,662
Alan R. Hirsig.......... 50,200 18.10 47.1875 2/19/07 1,489,733 3,775,277
Morris Gelb............. 13,700 4.94 47.1875 2/19/07 406,561 1,030,305
Robert J. Millstone..... 13,200 4.76 47.1875 2/19/07 391,723 992,702
Walter J. Tusinski...... 16,900 6.09 47.1875 2/19/07 501,524 1,270,960
Stock Price (d)......... 76.8635 122.3922
All Stockholders (d).... 2,883,828,096 7,308,186,600
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) These options were granted under the Company's 1990 Long-Term Incentive
Plan at an exercise price equal to the FMV on the date of grant, become
exercisable on February 20, 2001, and earn dividend share credits. The
options and the dividend share credits associated with such options are
canceled upon an optionee's termination of employment under certain
specified circumstances. For a description of dividend share credits under
the 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan, see footnote (d) of the Summary
Compensation Table above.
(b) The potential realizable values presented are exclusive of the value, if
any, that might be realized in the future in respect of dividend share
credits.
(c) On May 14, 1998, in connection with his appointment as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Schlanger was granted, pursuant to the
Company's 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 13,200 contingent restricted shares
and options to purchase 12,000 Shares at $57.5625 per Share.
(d) Based on total number of shares outstanding on December 31, 1997 of
97,177,230 and assumed purchase price of $47.1875 per share.
15
<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1997
AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF IN-THE-MONEY
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT
SHARES OPTIONS AT YEAR-END (A) YEAR-END (B)(C)
ACQUIRED VALUE ------------------------- -------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
(#) ($) (#) (#) ($) ($)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Marvin O. Schlanger..... 0 0 117,100 60,900 698,344 0
Alan R. Hirsig.......... 3,500 54,688 200,200 106,100 1,109,824 0
Morris Gelb............. 7,000 109,250 57,200 28,200 355,907 0
Robert J. Millstone..... 0 0 22,500 25,800 108,394 0
Walter J. Tusinski...... 0 0 45,300 35,100 115,444 0
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Each option carries with it the right to dividend share credits, as
described in footnote (d) of the Summary Compensation Table at set forth
above.
(b) FMV of Common Stock on December 31, 1997 was $46.875.
(c) Set forth below are the values of aggregate dividend share credits accrued
with respect to options held at year-end based on FMV of Common Stock on
December 31, 1997 of $46.875. The dividend share credit values have been
calculated based on the cash payment formula described in footnote (d) of
the Summary Compensation Table set forth above, assuming the exercise of the
corresponding options (even if not exercisable in fact) on December 31,
1997, as follows:
YEAR-END DIVIDEND SHARE
CREDIT VALUES
-------------------------
EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
OPTIONS OPTIONS
----------- -------------
($) ($)
Mr. Schlanger.................................. 1,966,431 244,849
Mr. Hirsig..................................... 3,174,151 434,550
Mr. Gelb....................................... 1,002,847 114,225
Mr. Millstone.................................. 307,286 102,133
Mr. Tusinski................................... 505,196 142,715
16
<PAGE>
PENSION PLAN TABLE
The following table shows estimated annual pension benefits payable to
employees, including executive officers of the Company, upon retirement at age
65 under the provisions of the ARCO Chemical Company Retirement Plan and the
ARCO Chemical Company Supplementary Executive Retirement Plan as in effect on
December 31, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE FINAL EARNINGS
(SALARY PLUS BONUS)
HIGHEST THREE
CONSECUTIVE YEARS
SINCE DECEMBER 31, APPROXIMATE ANNUAL BENEFIT FOR YEARS OF
1978 (A) MEMBERSHIP SERVICE INDICATED (B)(C)
- ---------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS 30 YEARS 35 YEARS 40 YEARS
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 300,000 $ 66,345 $ 89,960 $113,575 $137,190 $160,805 $184,805
400,000 88,845 120,460 152,075 183,690 215,305 347,305
500,000 111,345 150,960 190,575 230,190 269,805 309,805
600,000 133,845 181,460 229,075 276,690 324,305 372,305
700,000 156,345 211,960 267,575 323,190 378,805 434,805
800,000 178,845 242,460 306,075 369,690 433,305 497,305
900,000 201,345 272,960 344,575 416,190 487,805 559,805
1,000,000 223,845 303,460 383,075 462,690 542,305 622,305
1,100,000 146,345 666,960 421,575 509,190 596,805 684,805
1,200,000 268,845 364,460 460,075 555,690 651,305 747,305
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) The Retirement Plan and the Supplementary Executive Retirement Plan cover
the compensation reported as salary and bonus in the Summary Compensation
Table. Retirement benefits are based on years of participation service and
the employee's compensation during the highest three consecutive years of
service since December 31, 1978.
(b) The amounts shown in the above table are necessarily based upon certain
assumptions, including retirement of the employee on December 31, 1997 and
payment of the benefit under the basic form of allowance provided under the
Retirement Plan (payment for the life of the employee only with a guaranteed
minimum payment period of 60 months). The benefits shown are not subject to
deduction for Social Security benefits or other offset amounts.
(c) As of December 31, 1997, the credited years of service under the
Retirement Plan for the five named executive officers were as follows: Mr.
Schlanger, 23 years; Mr. Hirsig, 36 years, 7 months; Mr. Gelb, 28 years, 4
months; Mr. Millstone, 9 years; and Mr. Tusinski, 5 years and 4 months.
17
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMON STOCK
The performance graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return
of the Company with the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Stock Index and
the S&P Chemicals Index for the five-year period ended December 31, 1997. The
performance graph assumes an initial investment of $100 in the Common Stock
and in each of the comparative indices and assumes the reinvestment of all
dividends.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
[GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
12/31/92 12/31/93 12/31/94 12/31/95 12/31/96 12/31/97
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ARCO Chemical $100.00 $104.78 $112.66 $131.44 $139.99 $141.18
S&P 500 Stock Index $100.00 $110.08 $111.53 $153.45 $188.68 $251.63
S&P CHEMICAL INDEX $100.00 $111.83 $129.47 $169.12 $223.42 $274.61
</TABLE>
18
<PAGE>
SECTION 16(a)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors and
executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
the Company's equity securities, to file with the Commission initial reports
of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other
equity securities of the Company. Executive officers, directors and greater
than 10% stockholders are required by Commission regulations to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely upon review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company during the year ended December 31, 1997, no
director, officer or beneficial holder of more than 10% of any class of equity
securities of the Company failed to file on a timely basis reports required by
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the most recent fiscal year.
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors adopted a Change of
Control Plan (the "Change of Control Plan"), effective as of February 19,
1998, that applies generally to employees, including the named executive
officers, and becomes operative upon a change of control of the Company.(/1/)
The Change of Control Plan provides for the acceleration of certain benefits
and the payment of severance and other allowances upon a change of control of
the Company and subsequent termination of employment by the acquiring entity
without cause or by the employee for good reason. The definition of good
reason varies depending on the employee's grade level within the Company. The
consummation of the Offer would constitute a change of control of the Company
under the Change of Control Plan.
Certain benefits accrue upon the occurrence of a change of control. These
benefits include the immediate vesting of stock options and phantom stock
units ("VIP units") as well as the accrued dividend share credits ("DSCs"), if
any, allocated to such options or VIP units. In addition, any DSCs that would
be earned through the remainder of the term of the associated options or VIP
units will be computed and become vested. Shares of unvested restricted Common
Stock, and, subject to certain other conditions, a pro rata portion of
contingent restricted Common Stock awarded under the ARCO Chemical Company
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "1998 LTIP") will immediately vest upon a
change of control. A portion of a supplemental award of restricted Common
Stock, based on the Company's performance and calculated under the 1998 LTIP
as of the date of the change of control event, may also become vested.
If an eligible employee is terminated under specified circumstances within
two years following a change of control, the employee will be entitled to
receive one times to three times pay, depending upon the employee's grade
level. Severance payments are paid based upon length of service for employees
who are not executives or key managers of the Company. The named executive
officers will receive a payment equal to three times the sum of their current
base salary plus the greater of (i) the average of their bonuses for the last
three years or (ii) their target bonus for the year in which the termination
or change of control occurs. The named executive officers may also receive a
payment equal to a pro rata portion of their target bonus for the year in
which the change of control occurs. Employees will receive additional
specified coverage under the Company's sponsored medical, dental and life
insurance plans, depending on the employee's grade level. The named executive
officers will
- --------
(/1/) Under the Change of Control Plan, a change of control means any one of
the following events: (i) the acquisition by any person or group (other than
ARCO) of 25% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) the
merger, consolidation or sale of substantially all of the assets of the
Company, unless after the consummation of such a transaction, the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction own at
least 60% of the outstanding shares of stock of the resulting entity, (iii)
the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (iv) the incumbent directors
of the Company (directors as of February 19, 1998 or individuals recommended
or approved by a majority of the then incumbent directors) cease to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, and (v) a change of
control of ARCO under ARCO's then current change of control plans or
arrangements.
19
<PAGE>
receive 36 months of coverage. These officers will also receive a gross up
payment from the Company for the amount of the excise tax liability, if any,
imposed pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 4999 with respect to any
benefits paid in connection with a change of control.
See Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9 for a description of the impact of the
Merger under the Change of Control Plan on each of the executive officers and
directors of the Company.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board approves the design of, assesses the
effectiveness of, and administers the Company's executive compensation
programs in support of, the Company's compensation philosophy. As of December
31, 1997, the Compensation Committee was composed of the individuals listed
below, all of whom are or were non-employee directors. This report describes
the components of the Company's executive officer compensation program,
explains the basis on which fiscal year 1997 compensation determinations were
made by the Compensation Committee and discusses the changes being implemented
in 1998 with respect to the Company's executives.
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The Company's executive compensation policy is designed to link the elements
of executive pay to company and individual performance. The compensation
program is intended to attract, motivate and retain high caliber executive
talent, and to deliver short- and long-term compensation predicated on the
achievement of financial and strategic objectives and returns to stockholders.
Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews the Company's performance and
executive compensation. The evaluation of company performance historically has
been based on an assessment of financial performance as compared to the S&P
Chemicals group and the achievement of the Company's financial and other
business objectives. Financial performance comparisons to the S&P Chemicals
group included such factors as relative net income, net income growth, return
on sales, return on capital employed, return on stockholders' equity, and
total return to stockholders. The Compensation Committee did not, however,
apply any specific quantitative formulas in arriving at its compensation
decisions.
COMPONENTS OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION FOR 1997
For 1997, the Company's executive compensation program was designed to
emphasize incentive compensation through the use of annual cash bonuses and
equity-based long-term incentives. These incentive opportunities represent a
variable component of pay which, when combined with base pay, provide total
compensation that should closely correlate with both company and individual
performance. Total compensation levels are measured against other chemical
companies whose size and character are similar to the Company. The universe of
companies used for compensation comparisons is broader than those that
comprise the S&P Chemicals Index (used in the performance graph set forth
above) because the Company competes for executive talent beyond the group of
companies included in the S&P Chemicals Index.
The Company's 1997 full-year performance, measured on the relative bases
noted above, did not meet either its financial objectives or attain
satisfactory annual performance relative to the competitor group.
Additionally, the Company's longer-term performance through 1997 was below the
median of the competitor group on several key measures, including total return
to stockholders. Although the Company also established specific internal non-
financial goals and objectives for 1997 and met or made substantial progress
in achieving them, the Compensation Committee determined that, overall, the
Company's performance was less than satisfactory. The Compensation Committee
has, therefore, approved total compensation below the level paid last year and
below the expected competitor average for the current year.
20
<PAGE>
During 1997, the following components of executive compensation each played
a specific role in the achievement of the desired total compensation position.
Base Pay
The Company maintains a target executive base pay structure at approximately
the average of the competitor group. Base pay levels are reviewed regularly,
and individual pay adjustments are considered based on individual performance,
the executive's contribution to corporate results, and relative position to
peers both within and outside the Company. The Compensation Committee
determined that no increases to base pay levels should be granted in 1998, as
prevailing base pay levels are considered to approximate the average of the
competitor group.
Annual Incentive Plan
The Annual Incentive Plan provides for cash payments based on company and
individual performance. Target annual incentive levels as a percent of base
pay are based upon competitive comparisons, and actual payout levels are
determined based on the Company performance criteria described above, which
are the same measures used for the broad-based incentive plan applicable to
the majority of the Company's employees worldwide. Individual awards under the
plan vary based on differences in individual performance. The Compensation
Committee assessed company performance to be below that of the competitor
group. Annual incentive payouts for plan year 1997 will be well below target
levels and are expected to be below competitor payout levels.
1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The ARCO Chemical Company 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "1990 LTIP")
has been a key component in positioning total compensation at levels
reflecting Company performance. The 1990 LTIP provided for grants of non-
qualified stock options, which carry the right to receive dividend share
credits, or DSCs. The DSCs are calculated based on Common Stock dividend
payments. Based on an assessment of annual and longer-term Company
performance, a target level of total compensation as measured against the
competitor group was established for awards under the 1990 LTIP. Stock option
grant guidelines for each executive grade were set at levels which, when
combined with base pay and target annual incentives, resulted in total
compensation approximating the target level. Variations in individual awards
were based on differences in contributions and performance. No additional
awards will be made under the 1990 LTIP after 1997. Long-term incentive awards
granted in 1998 were made under the 1998 LTIP, subject to stockholder
approval.
REVISED EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM
During 1997, the Compensation Committee and senior management initiated a
comprehensive examination of the Company's executive compensation program with
the assistance of an independent consulting firm. As a result, the Company
introduced a redesigned compensation program commencing with plan year 1998.
This program is largely predicated upon economic value-based measures and
provides rewards that are intended to further focus executives' attention upon
sustained business performance and creation of stockholder value. In 1998, the
executive compensation program will be administered as described below.
1998 Base Pay
The Company intends to continue its practice of setting executive base pay
levels at approximately the average of its peer group.
1998 Annual Incentive Plan
Beginning in 1998, the 1998 Annual Incentive Plan will include an economic
value-based approach to measure the financial performance of the Company.
Designated as Return on Capital Managed ("RCM") the measure
21
<PAGE>
calculates after-tax operating profit minus a charge for the use of the
capital employed in the business. This primary financial measure, together
with other strategic performance measures, will form the basis for determining
annual cash incentive compensation for plan years 1998 and beyond. The
Compensation Committee believes the redesigned 1998 Annual Incentive Plan more
closely aligns executive compensation with value creation for stockholders.
1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Beginning in 1998, long-term executive compensation will be delivered in two
components under the 1998 LTIP: (i) through awards of non-qualified stock
options, granted with an exercise price at fair market value on the date of
award (but without DSCs, which have been discontinued for all stock option
grants after 1997); and (ii) through awards of contingent restricted Common
Stock earned by subsequent performance.
Contingent restricted Common Stock is a new element of compensation that
allows executives to earn shares of performance-based restricted Common Stock
by achieving RCM objectives established by the Long-Term Incentive Plan
Administration Subcommittee at the start of the plan period. Contingent
restricted Common Stock is awarded at the beginning of each performance
period. For the performance period beginning in 1998, compensation depends
upon the Company's attainment of four successive, cumulative RCM objectives
(set at levels consistent with stockholder expectations over a four-year time
period). As each of the four RCM performance objectives is achieved, 25% of
the contingent restricted Common Stock awards will be converted to shares of
performance-based restricted Common Stock. Once all four objectives are
achieved or at the end of six years, whichever occurs first, the current plan
cycle ends and a new plan cycle begins. Contingent restricted Common Stock
awards not earned through the attainment of RCM objectives are forfeited at
the end of six years. A supplemental award of additional shares of restricted
Common Stock will be received by participants if the total RCM performance
goal is met within four years or less and the Company's total stockholder
return ("TSR"), relative to the S&P Chemicals group, for the performance
period is above the median. The supplemental performance award is graduated
such that participants may receive up to a maximum of 50% of the number of the
contingent restricted Common Stock awards made at the beginning of the
performance period, if the Company is at the top ranked TSR position.
Performance-based restricted Common Stock granted during the current plan
cycle will vest half on the first anniversary and half on the second
anniversary of its conversion from contingent restricted Common Stock.
The Compensation Committee believes that, in linking executive compensation
directly with RCM and performance, the 1998 LTIP will be effective in focusing
management's attention on the primary factors driving stockholder value
creation and total return to stockholders.
EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
In order to further align the interests of executives with the Company's
stockholders, the Committee has established stock ownership guidelines that
encourage the accumulation and retention of the Company's Common Stock by
executives. The guidelines suggest that, within the next two years, executives
(depending on responsibility level) hold shares of the Common Stock valued at
approximately one to four times base salary (not including unexercised stock
options).
CEO COMPENSATION
The compensation level for the CEO is set based on Company performance and
on competitive pay levels. CEO compensation is measured against the average of
similar positions reported in the proxy statements of competitor companies
whose size and character are similar to the Company.
DEDUCTIBILITY OF COMPENSATION UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(M)
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility of
annual compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid to the Company's CEO or any
one of the four other most highly compensated officers, unless
22
<PAGE>
such compensation qualifies as "performance-based" within the meaning of
Section 162(m). In 1997, no officer of the Company realized qualifying
compensation in excess of $1,000,000. Consistent with Section 162(m), the
Board of Directors is recommending stockholder approval of the 1998 LTIP to
qualify awards under the plan as "performance-based" compensation.
SUMMARY
The Compensation Committee believes that compensation levels of the
Company's executives clearly and appropriately reflect Company and individual
performance. Base pay levels recognize principally competitive pay for
comparable positions in the peer group but are also reflective of sustained
individual performance. Awards under the Annual Incentive Plan have been based
on several measures of company performance relative to its peers (and in
future years will be predicated more strongly upon RCM value creation) and
against internally established strategic performance measures. Grants of stock
options and contingent restricted Common Stock under the 1998 LTIP are
designed to achieve a total compensation target that reflects both annual and
longer-term company performance that is consistent with performance of the
Company's stock and total returns to the stockholders.
By: Walter F. Beran
Anthony G. Fernandes
James A. Middleton
Frank Savage
Robert H. Stewart III, Chairman
23
<PAGE>
ANNEX B
Investment Banking
LOGO
Merrill Lynch Corporate and
Institutional
Client Group
World FinancialCenter
North Tower
New York, New York
10281-1330
212 449 1000
June 18, 1998
Board of Directors
ARCO Chemical Company
3801 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073
Gentlemen:
ARCO Chemical Company (the "Company"), Lyondell Petrochemical Company
("Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser ("Merger Sub")
propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 18,
1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), providing, upon the terms and subject to the
terms and conditions set forth therein, for (i) Merger Sub to make a tender
offer (the "Offer") to purchase all of the outstanding shares of the Company's
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), at a cash
purchase price of $57.75 per share, net to the seller in cash (the
"Consideration"), and (ii) the subsequent merger (the "Merger" and, together
with the Offer, the "Transaction") of Merger Sub with and into the Company
pursuant to which any shares of Common Stock, other than shares owned by the
Company, Purchaser or any subsidiary of Purchaser or any Dissenting Shares (as
defined in the Merger Agreement), shall be converted into the right to receive
the Consideration. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement and
as an inducement to Purchaser to enter into the Merger Agreement, Purchaser,
Merger Sub and Atlantic Richfield Company ("ARCO"), the majority stockholder
of the Company, propose to enter into a Tender and Voting Agreement, dated as
of June 18, 1998 (the "Tender and Voting Agreement"), and Purchaser, the
Company and ARCO propose to enter into a Tax Agreement, dated as of June 18,
1998 (the "Tax Agreement" and, together with the Merger Agreement and the
Tender and Voting Agreement, the "Transaction Agreements"). Certain other
terms and conditions of the Offer and the Merger are set forth in the Merger
Agreement.
You have asked us whether, in our opinion, the Consideration to be received
by the Company's stockholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair to the
Company's stockholders (other than ARCO) from a financial point of view.
In arriving at the opinion set forth below, we have, among other things:
1. Reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information
relating to the Company that we deemed to be relevant;
2. Reviewed certain information, including financial forecasts, relating
to the business, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of
the Company furnished to us by the Company's management;
3. Conducted discussions with members of senior management and
representatives of the Company concerning the businesses and prospects of
the Company;
4. Reviewed the market prices and valuation multiples for the Common
Stock and compared them with those of certain publicly traded companies
that we deemed to be relevant;
5. Reviewed the results of operations of the Company and compared them
with those of certain publicly traded companies that we deemed to be
relevant;
<PAGE>
6. Compared the proposed financial terms of the Transaction with the
financial terms of certain other transactions that we deemed to be
relevant;
7. Participated in certain discussions among representatives of the
Company, ARCO and Purchaser and their financial and legal advisors;
8. Reviewed each of the Transaction Agreements; and
9. Reviewed such other financial studies and analyses and took into
account such other matters as we deemed necessary, including our assessment
of general economic, market and monetary conditions.
In preparing our opinion, we have relied upon and assumed, with your consent
and without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all
information that was publicly available or was supplied or otherwise made
available to us by the Company, or otherwise reviewed by us, and we have not
assumed any responsibility or liability therefor. We have not conducted any
valuation or appraisal of any assets or liabilities of the Company, nor have
any such valuations or appraisals been provided to us. In addition, we have
not made any physical inspections of the properties or assets of the Company
in connection with this engagement. With respect to the financial forecasts
furnished by the Company, we have assumed, with your consent and without
independent verification, that they have been reasonably prepared based on
assumptions reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments by
the Company's management as to the expected future prospects of the Company.
Our opinion is necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions as
they exist and can be evaluated on, and the information made available to us
as of, the date hereof. In rendering our opinion, we have assumed, with your
consent and without independent investigation, that the terms and conditions
of the Offer and the Merger as consummated will be consistent with those
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
In connection with the preparation of this opinion, we have not been
authorized by the Company or the Board of Directors to solicit, nor have we
solicited, third party indications of interest for the acquisition of all or
any part of the Company.
We are acting as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company
in connection with the transaction and will receive a fee from the Company for
our services, a significant portion of which is contingent upon the
consummation of the Transaction. In addition, the Company has agreed to
indemnify us for certain liabilities arising out of our engagement. We have,
in the past, provided financial advisory and financing services to the Company
and ARCO and may continue to do so and have received, and may continue to
receive, fees for the rendering of such services. In addition, in the ordinary
course of our business, we or our affiliates may actively trade the equity and
debt securities of the Company, ARCO and Purchaser for our or our affiliates'
own account and for the account of customers and, accordingly, may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities.
This opinion is for the use and benefit of the Board of Directors of the
Company. Our opinion does not address the merits of the underlying decision by
the Company to engage in the Transaction and does not constitute a
recommendation to any stockholder as to whether such stockholder should tender
any Common Stock pursuant to the Offer or how such stockholder should vote on
the Merger.
On the basis of, and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that,
as of the date hereof, the Consideration to be received by the Company's
stockholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair to the Company's stockholders
(other than ARCO) from a financial point of view.
Very truly yours,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith
INCORPORATED
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3
ARCO Chemical Company
3801 West Chester Pike LOGO
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073-2387
Marvin O. Schlanger
President and
Chief Executive Officer
June 24, 1998
Dear ARCO Chemical Company Stockholder:
I am writing to inform you that on June 18, 1998, ARCO Chemical Company
("ARCO Chemical") entered into a merger agreement with Lyondell Petrochemical
Company ("Lyondell") and Lyondell Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lyondell ("Purchaser"), which provides for the acquisition by
Lyondell of all of the outstanding shares of ARCO Chemical by means of a cash
tender offer and a subsequent merger.
As the first step of this acquisition, Purchaser is making a cash tender
offer for all outstanding shares of ARCO Chemical's common stock at a price of
$57.75 per share, net to the seller in cash. Subject to certain conditions,
Purchaser and ARCO Chemical will be merged subsequent to the completion of the
tender offer, and the remaining outstanding shares will be converted into the
right to receive $57.75 per share.
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS UNANIMOUSLY DETERMINED THAT THE TENDER OFFER AND
THE MERGER ARE FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ARCO CHEMICAL'S
STOCKHOLDERS AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT EACH STOCKHOLDER ACCEPT THE
TENDER OFFER AND TENDER HIS OR HER SHARES.
In arriving at its recommendation, the Board of Directors gave careful
consideration to the factors described in the attached Schedule 14D-9, which
is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
opinion of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the Company's
financial advisor, to the effect that, as of the date of the merger agreement,
the consideration to be received by ARCO Chemical's stockholders pursuant to
the offer and the merger is fair to the minority stockholders (that is,
stockholders other than Atlantic Richfield Company, which holds 80.1% of ARCO
Chemical's outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis) from a financial point
of view.
In addition to the attached Schedule 14D-9, also enclosed with this letter
is Purchaser's Offer to Purchase, dated June 24, 1998, together with related
materials, including a Letter of Transmittal to be used for tendering your
shares. The Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal set forth in
detail the terms and conditions of the tender offer and provide instructions
as to how to tender your shares. I urge you to read the enclosed material
carefully.
If you desire assistance in completing the Letter of Transmittal or
tendering your shares, please call Georgeson & Company Inc., the Information
Agent for the tender offer, collect at (212) 440-9800 or call toll-free at 1-
800-223-2064.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Marvin O. Schlanger
Marvin O. Schlanger
