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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ____)/*/
California Culinary Academy, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, No Par Value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
129905105
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(CUSIP Number)
John M. Larson
Career Education Corporation
2800 West Higgins Road, Suite 790
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60195
847-731-3600
with a copy to:
David J. Kaufman, Esq.
Katten Muchin Zavis
525 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, Illinois 60661
312-902-5200
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications)
December 6, 1999
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this schedule because of (S)(S)240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or
240.13d-1(g), check the following box. [_]
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and
five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See (S)240.13d-7 for
other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the
Act (however, see the Notes).
Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information
contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
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CUSIP NO. 129905105
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1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
Career Education Corporation 39-3932190
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2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a)
(b) [X]
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3. SEC Use Only
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4. Source of Funds (See Instructions) BK
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5. Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to
Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware
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Number of
Shares Bene- 7. Sole Voting Power 0
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ficially by
Owned by 8. Shared Voted Power 1,527,410
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Each 9. Sole Dispositive Power 1,527,410
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Reporting
Person With 10. Shared Dispositive Power 0
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11. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,527,410
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12. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions) [ ]
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13. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 40%
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14. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
CO
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This Schedule 13D is filed by Career Education Corporation ("CECO") with
respect to the common stock, no par value per share (the "Common Stock") of
California Culinary Academy, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company").
Item 1: Security and Issuer
-------------------
Class of equity securities: Common Stock, no par value.
The Company's principal place of business:
California Culinary Academy, Inc.
625 Polk Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Item 2: Identity and Background
-----------------------
(a) - (c), (f) CECO is a Delaware corporation whose principal business is
providing private, for-profit postsecondary education in North America. Its
principal executive offices are located at 2800 West Higgins Road, Suite 790,
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60195.
(d) - (e) During the last five years, neither CECO nor, to the best of
its knowledge, any of the persons listed in Appendix I (named officers and
directors of CECO) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding. During the last
five years, neither CECO nor, to the best of its knowledge, any of the persons
listed in Appendix I has been a party to any civil proceeding of a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction which resulted in a judgment,
decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or
mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation with respect to such laws, and CECO is not currently subject to any
such judgment, decree or final order. To the best knowledge of CECO, each of the
persons listed in Appendix I is a citizen of the United States of America.
Item 3: Source and Amount of Funds or Consideration
-------------------------------------------
No monetary consideration was paid by CECO to the Company or the
Shareholders (as defined below) for the Option Agreements (as defined below).
CECO plans to pay the cash consideration necessary in the Merger pursuant
to cash availability under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of October 26, 1998 (as amended and in effect on the date hereof and
attached hereto, with such amendments, as Exhibit 1(a) - (c)) by and among CECO,
the Co-Borrowers named therein, LaSalle National Bank, as administrative agent
and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as foreign currency agent (the "Credit Agreement").
Item 4: Purpose of Transaction
----------------------
(a)-(b) Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 6,
1999, (the "Merger Agreement"), among CECO, CCA Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability Company and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CECO
("Merger Sub") and the Company, and subject to the conditions set forth therein
(including regulatory and Company Shareholders approvals), Merger Sub will merge
with and into the Company and the Company will become an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of CECO (such events constituting the "Merger"). Once the Merger is
consummated, Merger Sub will cease to exist as a limited liability company and
all of the business, assets, liabilities and obligations of Merger
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Sub will be merged into the Company, with the Company remaining as the surviving
corporation. As a result of the Merger, each outstanding share of the Company
Capital Stock, other than shares owned by Merger Sub, CECO or any directly or
indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of CECO, or shareholders dissenting from the
Merger, will be converted into the right to receive $5.25 in cash, without
interest (the "Merger Consideration"). At the Effective Time, each outstanding
option to purchase Company Capital Stock that is not then vested and exercisable
shall become vested and exercisable. Immediately prior to the Closing, the
Company shall exchange each Existing Option for, and the holder of each such
Existing Option will be entitled to receive, immediately prior to the Closing
upon surrender of such existing option for cancellation, cash equal to the
product of (i) the positive difference, if any, between the Merger Consideration
less the exercise price of each such existing option, and (ii) the number of
shares of Company Capital Stock covered by such existing option.
The foregoing summary of the Merger is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the copy of the Merger Agreement included as Exhibit 2 (a) to this
Schedule 13D and incorporated herein by reference.
As a condition to CECO's negotiating and entering into the Merger
Agreement, CECO required each shareholder to sign the Option Agreement (the
"Shareholders"), dated as of December 6, 1999 (collectively, the "Option
Agreements"). The Shareholders, have, by executing the Option Agreements,
irrevocably appointed CECO as his, her or its lawful attorney and proxy with
respect to the shares of the Company, owned by such Shareholders and listed on a
schedule to the Option Agreements, on certain limited matters as described
below. Such proxies, collectively, give CECO the limited right to vote each of
the 1,527,410 shares of the Company Capital Stock beneficially and collectively
owned by the Shareholders in favor of approval of the Merger and the Merger
Agreement and against (a) any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) or (b) any other action which is intended, or could reasonably be
expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or materially adversely
affect the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreements and the Merger
Agreement. The Shareholders may vote these shares on all other matters. The
Option Agreements terminate if the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance
with its terms.
The foregoing summary of the Option Agreements is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the copy of the Option Agreement included as Exhibit 2 (b) to
this Schedule 13D and incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Not applicable
(d) The Manager of Merger Sub, CECO, shall be the director of the
Surviving Corporation, until its respective successor or successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified. The officers of Merger Sub shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation, until their repective successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified.
(e) Other than as a result of the Merger described above, not applicable.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Not applicable.
(h)-(i) If the Merger is consummated as planned, the Company Capital Stock
will be deregistered under the Act and delisted from The Nasdaq National Market.
(j) Other than described above, CECO currently has no plan or proposals
which relate to, or
4
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may result in, any of the matters listed in 4(a) - (i) of Schedule 13D (although
CECO reserves the rights to develop such plans).
Item 5: Interest in Securities of the Issuer
------------------------------------
(a)-(b) As of December 6, 1999, as a result of the Option Agreements, CECO
may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 1,527,410 shares of the Company
Capital Stock. The aggregate number of shares for which CECO may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner as a result of the Option Agreements represents
approximately 40% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock.
CECO has shared voting power of all 1,527,410 shares subject to the Option
Agreements for the limited purposes described above. CECO has the sole
dispositive power of all 1,527,410 of the shares subject to the Option
Agreements.
(c) None.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6: Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect
---------------------------------------------------------------------
to Securities of the Issuer
----------------------------
Other than the Merger Agreement, the Option Agreements or described above,
to the best knowledge of CECO, there are no contracts, arrangements,
understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the persons named in
Item 2 and between such persons and any person with respect to any securities of
the Company, including but not limited to transfer or voting of any of the
securities, finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangement, puts or
calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or
withholding of proxies.
Item 7: Material to be Filed as Exhibits
--------------------------------
The following are filed herewith as exhibits to this Schedule 13D:
1 (a) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 26, 1998,
by and among CECO, as borrower, the Co-Borrowers named therein,
LaSalle National Bank, as administrative agent and The Bank of Nova
Scotia, as foreign currency agent (the "Credit Agreement").
(Incorporated herein by reference to CECO's Registration Statement
on Form S-1, Registration No. 333-70747, effective as of March 17,
1999).
1 (b) Amendment No. 1 and Consent to the Credit Agreement dated as of
February 24, 1999. (Incorporated herein by reference to CECO's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999).
1 (c) Amendment No. 2 and Consent to the Credit Agreement dated as of
March 31, 1999. (Incorporated herein by reference to CECO's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999).
2 (a) Merger Agreement dated December 6, 1999, by and among CECO, Merger
Sub and the Company.
5
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2 (b) Option Agreements dated December 6 between CECO and Theodore G.
Crocker, William G. De Mar and Thomas C. Green.
2 (c) Press Release by the Company and CECO announcing definitive Merger
Agreement.
6
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Signature
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.
December 15, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date
/s/ John M. Larson
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature
John M. Larson President/Chief Executive Officer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name/Title
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative (other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person), evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement: provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.
Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)
7
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Appendix I
----------
Directors and Executive Officers of Career Education Corporation
Name Title; Principal Occupation or Employment
- ---- -----------------------------------------
John M. Larson President, CEO, and Director
Patrick K. Pesch Senior Vice President, CFO, Secretary and Treasurer
Nick Fluge Senior Vice President
Jacob P. Gruver Senior Vice President
Robert E. Dowdell Director
Thomas B. Lally Director
Wallace O. Laub Director
Keith K. Ogata Director
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EXHIBIT 2(a)
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION,
CCA ACQUISITION, LLC
and
CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY, INC.
Dated as of December 6, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1. THE MERGER ............................................................ 1
1.1 The Merger ...................................................... 1
1.2 Effective Time .................................................. 1
1.3 Effect of the Merger ............................................ 2
1.4 Name; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws ...................... 2
1.5 Directors and Officers .......................................... 2
1.6 Effect on Capital Stock ......................................... 2
1.7 Dissenters' Rights .............................................. 3
1.8 Surrender of Certificates ....................................... 3
1.9 Existing Options ................................................ 5
1.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock ............ 5
1.11 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .......................... 5
1.12 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action ...................... 5
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY ......................... 6
2.1 Organization of the Company ..................................... 6
2.2 Company Capital Structure ....................................... 7
2.3 Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock ....................... 7
2.4 Voting Debt ..................................................... 7
2.5 Listing ......................................................... 8
2.6 Authority; No Conflicts ......................................... 8
2.7 SEC Filings; Company Financial Statements ....................... 9
2.8 Accounting Record ............................................... 10
2.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events ............................ 10
2.10 Liabilities ..................................................... 11
2.11 Taxes ........................................................... 11
2.12 Restrictions on Business Activities ............................. 13
2.13 Absence of Liens and Encumbrances ............................... 13
2.14 Real Estate ..................................................... 14
2.15 Intellectual Property and Curricula.............................. 15
2.16 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments ........................... 16
2.17 No Default ...................................................... 17
2.18 Compliance with Laws; Licenses .................................. 18
2.19 Recruitment; Admissions Procedures; Attendance Reports .......... 19
2.20 Cohort Default Rate ............................................. 20
2.21 Delivery of Documents ........................................... 20
2.22 Student Recruiting .............................................. 21
2.23 Control Matters ................................................. 21
</TABLE>
(i)
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<TABLE>
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2.24 Financial Assistance Programs ................................. 22
2.25 Litigation .................................................... 22
2.26 Insurance ..................................................... 23
2.27 Labor Matters ................................................. 23
2.28 Employee Benefits ............................................. 23
2.29 Accreditation and State Licensure/Approval .................... 25
2.30 Computer Rollout .............................................. 25
2.31 Relationships with Related Persons ............................ 25
2.32 State "Anti-Takeover"Statutes ................................. 26
2.33 Change of Control Payments .................................... 26
2.34 Environmental Protection ...................................... 26
2.35 Vote Required ................................................. 27
2.36 No Pending Transactions ....................................... 27
2.37 Year 2000 ..................................................... 28
2.38 Proxy Statement ............................................... 28
2.39 Board Approval ................................................ 28
2.40 Fairness Opinion .............................................. 28
2.41 Brokers' and Finders' Fees .................................... 29
2.42 ACCSCT and DOE Matters ........................................ 29
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB ............. 29
3.1 Organization of Parent/Merger Sub ............................. 29
3.2 Authority; No Conflict ........................................ 30
3.3 Litigation .................................................... 31
3.4 Sufficient Funds .............................................. 31
3.5 Board Approval ................................................ 31
3.6 Brokers' and Finders' Fees .................................... 31
3.7 Operations of Merger Sub ...................................... 31
3.8 Information Supplied .......................................... 31
3.9 Agreements with Shareholders .................................. 31
4 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME ...... 32
5. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS ............................................... 35
5.1 Company Disclosure Letter ..................................... 35
5.2 Proxy Statement ............................................... 35
5.3 Meeting of Shareholders ....................................... 35
5.4 Access to Information ......................................... 36
5.5 No Solicitation ............................................... 36
5.6 Expenses ...................................................... 38
5.7 Break-Up Fee .................................................. 38
</TABLE>
(ii)
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
5.8 Public Disclosure ............................................... 39
5.9 Auditors' Letters ............................................... 39
5.10 Regulatory Requirements ......................................... 40
5.11 Legal Requirements .............................................. 40
5.12 Reasonable Commercial Efforts and Further Assurances ............ 41
5.13 Indemnification ................................................. 41
5.14 Notification .................................................... 42
5.15 Cooperation Regarding Post-Signing Operations ................... 42
5.16 New Orleans Project ............................................. 42
5.17 Termination of 401(k) Plan ...................................... 42
5.18 Option Agreement ................................................ 43
5.19 Employee Matters ................................................ 43
5.20 Real Estate Deliveries .......................................... 43
5.21 Marketing Matters ............................................... 43
5.22 Admissions Training ............................................. 43
5.23 ACCSCT and DOE Matters .......................................... 44
5.24 Severance Agreements ............................................ 44
6. CONDITIONS ............................................................ 44
6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger .... 44
6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of The Company ............. 45
6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub ... 46
7. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER ..................................... 47
7.1 Termination ..................................................... 47
7.2 Effect of Termination ........................................... 49
7.3 Notice of Termination ........................................... 49
7.4 Amendment ....................................................... 49
7.5 Extension; Waiver ............................................... 49
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS .................................................... 50
8.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties .................. 50
8.2 Notices ......................................................... 50
8.3 Interpretation .................................................. 51
8.4 Counterparts .................................................... 51
8.5 Entire Agreement ................................................ 51
8.6 Severability .................................................... 51
8.7 Other Remedies .................................................. 52
8.8 Governing Law ................................................... 52
8.9 Rules of Construction ........................................... 52
8.10 Assignment ...................................................... 52
8.11 Company Disclosure Letter ....................................... 52
</TABLE>
(iii)
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY OF DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
"1992 Plan" ....................................................... 7
"1997 Plan" ....................................................... 7
"1998 Plan" ....................................................... 7
"Accrediting Body" ................................................ 8
"ACCSCT" .......................................................... 19
"ACFEI" ........................................................... 19
"Acquisition Proposal" ........................................... 36, 37
"Affiliate" ....................................................... 37
"Agreement of Merger" ............................................. 1
"Agreement" ....................................................... 1
"California Law" .................................................. 1
"Certificate of Merger" ........................................... 1
"Certificates" .................................................... 4
"Closing Date" .................................................... 2
"Closing" ......................................................... 2
"COBRA" ........................................................... 25
"Code" ............................................................ 12
"Company Articles" ................................................ 2
"Company Balance Sheet." .......................................... 10
"Company Bylaws" .................................................. 2
"Company Capital Stock" ........................................... 2
"Company Disclosure Letter" ....................................... 6
"Company Employees" ............................................... 43
"Company Financials" .............................................. 9
"Company June 30th Financials" .................................... 10
"Company Option Plans." ........................................... 7
"Company Plan" .................................................... 24
"Company Preferred Stock" ......................................... 7
"Company SEC Reports." ............................................ 9
"Company Shareholders' Meeting" ................................... 28
"Company" ......................................................... 1
"Computer Rollout" ................................................ 25
"Curricula" ....................................................... 16
"Delaware Law" .................................................... 1
"DOE" ............................................................. 19
"Effective Time" .................................................. 2
"Engagement Letter" ............................................... 29
"Environmental Claim" ............................................. 26
"Environmental Laws" .............................................. 27
"Environmental Release" ........................................... 27
"ERISA Affiliate" ................................................. 24
"ERISA" ........................................................... 24
</TABLE>
(iv)
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
"Exchange Act" .................................................... 9
"Existing Option" ................................................. 5
"Expenses" ........................................................ 39
"Family" .......................................................... 25
"Financial Assistance" ............................................ 22
"Governmental/Regulatory Entity" .................................. 9
"Hazardous Materials" ............................................. 27
"HIPAA" ........................................................... 25
"HSR Act" ......................................................... 9
"Intellectual Property" ........................................... 16
"Leases" .......................................................... 14
"Licenses" ........................................................ 18
"Material Adverse Effect" ......................................... 6, 29
"Material Contract" ............................................... 16
"Maximum Amount" .................................................. 41
"Merger Consideration" ............................................ 3
"Merger Sub" ...................................................... 1
"Merger" .......................................................... 1
"multiemployer plan" .............................................. 24
"New Orleans Property" ............................................ 42
"Notice of Superior Proposal" ..................................... 37
"Owned Real Estate" ............................................... 14
"Parent" .......................................................... 1
"Paying Agent" .................................................... 3
"Payment Fund" .................................................... 3
"pension plan" .................................................... 24
"Permitted Liens" ................................................. 14
"Policy Guidelines" ............................................... 19
"Proxy Statement" ................................................. 28
"Qualifying Section 7.1(b)(i) Termination" ........................ 38
"Real Estate" ..................................................... 15
"Related Persons" ................................................. 25
"Rental Real Estate" .............................................. 14
"Returns" ......................................................... 11
"School" .......................................................... 6
"Securities Act" .................................................. 9
"Severance Agreements" ............................................ 44
"Superior Proposal" ............................................... 37
"Surviving Company." .............................................. 1
"Systems" ......................................................... 28
"Tax Agreement" ................................................... 11
"Tax"or "Taxes" ................................................... 11
</TABLE>
(v)
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
"Third Party" ..................................................... 37
"Title IV Program" ................................................ 18
"Title IV" ........................................................ 18
"United States Real Property Holding Corporation" ................. 13
</TABLE>
(vi)
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EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of December 6, 1999 among Career Education Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), CCA Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and
California Culinary Academy, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company").
RECITALS
A. The Board of Directors of each of the Company and Parent and the
Manager of Merger Sub each believes that it is in the best interests of each
company and their respective stockholders or member, as the case may be, that
the Company and Merger Sub combine into a single company through the merger of
Merger Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger") and, in furtherance
thereof, has approved the Merger.
B. Pursuant to the Merger, among other things, each outstanding share of
common stock, no par value, of the Company shall be converted into the right to
receive cash, as set forth herein.
C. The Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain
representations and warranties and other agreements in connection with the
Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and
representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows:
1. THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2) and
subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of the Corporations Code of the State of California
("California Law") and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act ("Delaware
Law"), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, the separate
corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as
the surviving corporation. The Company as the surviving corporation after the
Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation."
1.2 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the
parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing the agreement
of merger of Merger Sub and the Company (the "Agreement of Merger") with the
Secretary of State of the State of California, in accordance with the relevant
provisions of California Law and a certificate of merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware (the "Certificate of Merger"), (the time of
such filings
<PAGE>
being the "Effective Time") and make all other recordings or filings required by
law in connection with the Merger, including any filings with the California
Franchise Tax Board, as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date (as
herein defined). The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at
the offices of Parent at a time and date to be specified by the parties, which
shall be no later than the fifth business day after the satisfaction or waiver
(if permissible) of the conditions set forth in Article 6 (other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions), or at such other time, date
and location as the parties hereto agree (the "Closing Date").
1.3 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger
shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of
California Law and Delaware Law. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, without other transfer,
all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and
Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities
and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and
duties of the Surviving Corporation.
1.4 Name; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
(a) The name of the Surviving Corporation will be the Company's name.
(b) The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (the
"Company Articles") shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation at the Effective Time until thereafter amended.
(c) The Bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, (the "Company Bylaws") shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended.
1.5 Directors and Officers. The Manager of Merger Sub shall be the
director of the Surviving Corporation, until its respective successor or
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified. The officers of Merger
Sub shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.
1.6 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Sub, the Company or the
holders of any of Company Capital Stock (as defined below):
(a) Conversion of Company Capital Stock. Each share of Common Stock,
no par value, of the Company (the "Company Capital Stock") issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares
of Company Capital Stock to be canceled pursuant to Section 1.6(b)) will be
converted into the right to receive $5.25
2
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in cash, without interest (the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender of
the certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented such Company Capital Stock. All shares of Company Capital
Stock, when converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and each holder of a certificate
representing any such shares shall cease to have any rights with respect
thereto, except the right to receive such Merger Consideration.
(b) Cancellation of Parent-Owned Stock. Each share of Company Capital
Stock owned by the Company, Merger Sub, Parent, or any direct or indirect
subsidiary of Parent or the Company, including without limitation, any
shares of Company Capital Stock held as treasury stock of the Company or
any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company, shall, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof.
1.7 Dissenters' Rights. Subject to (S)1300 of California Law and
notwithstanding Section 1.6 of this Agreement, shares of Company Capital Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has
not voted in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has
demanded appraisal for such shares of Company Capital Stock in accordance with
California Law shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger
Consideration, unless such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise
loses his, her or its right to appraisal. If, after the Effective Time, such
holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses his right to appraisal, such
shares of Company Capital Stock shall be treated as if it had been converted as
of the Effective Time into a right to receive the Merger Consideration. The
Company shall give Parent prompt written notice of any demands received by the
Company for appraisal of shares of Company Capital Stock, and Parent shall have
the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
such demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of
Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such
demands.
1.8 Surrender of Certificates.
(a) Paying Agent. The Harris Trust and Savings Bank, or another
similar institution selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the
Company, shall act as the paying agent (the "Paying Agent") in the
Merger.
(b) Parent to Provide Merger Consideration. Promptly after the
Effective Time, Parent shall deposit immediately available funds with the
Paying Agent in a separate fund established for the benefit of the holders
of shares of Company Capital Stock at the Effective Time for payment of the
Merger Consideration in accordance with this Article 1 through the Paying
Agent (the "Payment Fund"). For purposes of determining the Merger
Consideration to be deposited, Parent shall assume that no holder of
Company Capital Stock will perfect his, her or its right to appraisal of
shares of Company Capital
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Stock. The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instruction, pay the
Merger Consideration out of the Payment Fund.
(c) Payment Procedures. Promptly after the Effective Time, the Paying
Agent shall cause to be mailed to each holder of record of a certificate or
certificates (the "Certificates") which immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock whose shares
were converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Section 1.6, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall
be in such customary form and have such other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the
surrender of Certificates in exchange for Merger Consideration. Upon
surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together
with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in
accordance with the instructions thereto, the holder of such Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration
into which the shares represented by the surrendered Certificate shall have
been converted at the Effective Time pursuant to this Article 1, and the
Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. Until so
surrendered, each outstanding Certificate will be deemed from and after the
Effective Time, for all corporate purposes, to evidence the right to
receive Merger Consideration. From and after the date which is one year
following the Closing Date, any portion of the Payment Fund that remains
undistributed to the holders of Certificates shall be promptly delivered to
Parent upon demand, and any holder of Certificates who has not theretofore
complied with this Section 1.8 shall thereafter look only to the Surviving
Corporation for delivery of the Merger Consideration, subject in all events
to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.
(d) Transfers of Ownership. If any portion of the Merger
Consideration is to be paid to a person other than the person in whose name
the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be
a condition of the payment therefor that the Certificate so surrendered
will be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and
that the person requesting such exchange will have (i) paid to Parent or
any agent designated by it any transfer or other taxes required by reason
of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered or (ii) established to the reasonable satisfaction
of Parent or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is
not payable.
(e) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 1.8, none of the Paying Agent, the Surviving Corporation or any
party hereto shall be liable to a holder of Company Capital Stock or a
payee of Merger Consideration for any amount properly paid to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
law.
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1.9 Existing Options.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall take all action
necessary, including, without limitation, satisfying any applicable notice
requirements, so that each existing option to purchase Company Capital
Stock which is outstanding at the Effective Time (each an "Existing
Option") that is not then vested and exercisable shall become vested and
exercisable. Immediately prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall
exchange each Existing Option for, and the holder of each such Existing
Option will be entitled to receive, immediately prior to the Closing upon
surrender of such Existing Option for cancellation, cash equal to the
product of (i) the positive difference, if any, between the Merger
Consideration less the exercise price of each such Existing Option, and
(ii) the number of shares of Company Capital Stock covered by such Existing
Option.
(b) The Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to
ensure that from and after the Effective Time the Surviving Corporation
will not be bound by any options, warrants, rights or agreements which
would entitle any person, other than Parent or Merger Sub, to beneficially
own shares of Surviving Corporation or Parent or receive any payments
(other than as set forth in this Section 1.9(a)) in respect of such
options, warrants, rights or agreements. The Company shall take all actions
necessary to terminate each plan with respect to Existing Options as of the
Effective Time.
1.10 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock. All Merger
Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of shares of Company Capital
Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in
full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Capital
Stock, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the records of
the Surviving Corporation of shares of Company Capital Stock which were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective
Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason,
they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article 1.
1.11 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificates
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Paying Agent shall pay in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the Merger Consideration payable
in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates; provided, however,
that Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the payment
thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to
deliver a customary bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or
the Paying Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed.
1.12 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the
Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this
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Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and
possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Surviving
Corporation are fully authorized in the name of and on behalf of the Company and
Merger Sub to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long
as such action is consistent with this Agreement.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub, subject to
the exceptions disclosed in writing in the disclosure letter supplied by the
Company to Parent (the "Company Disclosure Letter") which identifies the
Section and Subsection numbers hereof to which the disclosures pertain and which
is dated as of the date hereof, as follows:
2.1 Organization of the Company. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
California, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
property and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly
qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by virtue of the nature of
the activities conducted by it, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company (as
hereinafter defined). The Company has no subsidiaries as of the date hereof.
Except as set forth in Section 2.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company
does not, directly or indirectly, own any equity or similar interest in, or any
interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any interest in,
any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business association or
entity. The Company is not, and for the past five (5) years has not been,
engaged in any business other than the operation of the California Culinary
Academy located in San Francisco, California (the "School"), the development
of a campus in New Orleans, Louisiana and the operation and development of
various Colleges of Food in San Francisco, San Diego, Garden Grove and Salinas,
California and activities directly related thereto. The Company has delivered
or made available to Parent a true, complete and correct copy of the Company
Articles and Company Bylaws, each as amended to the date hereof. In this
Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" used in reference to the Company
means any event, change, circumstance, condition or effect which, when
considered with all other events, changes, circumstances, conditions and
effects, has, or any development that could be reasonably expected to have, a
material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial condition,
assets, liabilities, business or prospects of the Company, other than general
changes in economic conditions or the educational services industry, each
considered alone without regard to any other effects, changes, events,
circumstances or conditions, and other than any adverse change, event or effect
that is demonstrated by the Company to be primarily caused by the pendency of
the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby.
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2.2 Company Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value, of which
there were 3,815,431 shares issued and outstanding as of December 2, 1999, and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Company Preferred
Stock"). No shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding as of
the date hereof and there will be no such shares outstanding as of the Effective
Time. All outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive
rights created by statute, the Company Articles or Company Bylaws or any
agreement or document to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
As of the date hereof, the Company had reserved (i) 835,595 shares of Company
Capital Stock for issuance to employees pursuant to the Company's 1992 Stock
Option Plan (the "1992 Plan"), under which options are outstanding for 237,080
shares of Company Capital Stock minus any options exercised on the date hereof,
(ii) 240,000 shares of Company Capital Stock for issuances to directors pursuant
to the Company's 1997 Directors' Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (the "1997
Plan"), under which options are outstanding for 240,000 shares of Company
Capital Stock minus any option of exercised on the date hereof and (iii) 300,000
shares of Company Capital Stock for issuances to employees pursuant to the
Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "1998 Plan"), under which options are
outstanding for 156,000 shares of Company Capital Stock minus options exercised
on the date hereof. The 1992 Plan, 1997 Plan and 1998 Plan are collectively
referred to herein as the "Company Option Plans." All shares of Company
Capital Stock subject to issuance pursuant to the Company Option Plans, upon
issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to
which they are issuable, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable. Section 2.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter includes a list
for each outstanding option as of the date hereof, of the following: (i) the
name of the holder of such option (ii) the number of shares subject to such
option, and (iii) the exercise price of such option.
2.3 Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock. Except as set forth in
Section 2.2 hereof, as of the date hereof, there are no equity securities of any
class of the Company, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such
equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Except as set
forth in Section 2.2 hereof and Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as
of the date hereof, there are no options, warrants, equity securities, calls,
rights, commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company is a
party or by which it is bound obligating the Company to issue, deliver or sell,
or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of
the Company or obligating the Company to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting
of or enter into any such option, warrant, equity security, call, right,
commitment or agreement. Except as set forth in Section 2.3 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no voting trusts,
proxies or other agreements or understandings with respect to the shares of
capital stock of the Company.
2.4 Voting Debt. As of the date of this Agreement, (i) no bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote
under ordinary circumstances are
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issued or outstanding and (ii) there are no outstanding contractual obligations
of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital
stock of the Company.
2.5 Listing. As of the date hereof, the Company Capital Stock is listed
for trading on the Nasdaq National Market. As of the date hereof, no other
securities of the Company are listed or quoted for trading on any U.S. or
foreign securities exchange.
2.6 Authority; No Conflicts.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to obtaining requisite shareholder
approval, to consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation
of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company,
subject only to the approval of the principal terms of this Agreement and
the Merger by the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Company
Capital Stock. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by
Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy and other similar laws and general principles
of equity.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.6(b) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does
not, and the consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default
under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or
loss of any benefit under (i) any provision of the Company Articles or
Company Bylaws, (ii) any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or the
assets of the Company is bound, except for any such conflict, violation,
default, right or loss which would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) any
permit, concession, franchise, license (including, without limitation, any
liquor license), judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company, or its properties or assets, or any
standard or requirement of any Accrediting Body (as defined below), except
for any such conflict, violation, default, right or loss which could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Accrediting Body" means any entity
or organization, whether governmental, government-chartered, private or
quasi-private, which engages in the granting or withholding of
accreditation of private post secondary
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schools in accordance with standards and requirements relating to the
performance, operations, financial condition and/or academic standards of
such schools including, without limitation, ACCSCT and ACFEI (as defined in
Section 2.18(d)).
(c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any court, arbitrator, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality of the United
States or any domestic or foreign state, county, city or other political
subdivision ("Governmental/Regulatory Entity") or Accrediting Body, is
required by or with respect to the Company or the School in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except (i) in
connection, or in compliance, with the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, as amended ("HSR Act"), the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including without
limitation the filing of the Proxy Statement (as herein defined) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) the filing of the Agreement of
Merger with the California Secretary of State, the Certificate of Merger
with the Delaware Secretary of State, and appropriate documents with the
relevant authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to
do business, (iii) those consents and approvals set forth in Section 2.6 of
the Company Disclosure Letter and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings, the
failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
2.7 SEC Filings; Company Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed all forms, reports and documents required
to be filed with the SEC since June 30, 1997. All such required forms,
reports and documents are referred to herein as the "Company SEC Reports."
Except as set forth in Section 2.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as
of their respective dates, or if amended, as of the date of such last
amendment, the Company SEC Reports (i) complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the
case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable
to such Company SEC Reports, and (ii) did not at the time they were filed
(or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this
Agreement, then on the date of the last of such filings) contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any
related notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Reports (the "Company
Financials"), including any Company SEC Reports filed after the date hereof
until the Closing, and the audited
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balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 1999 and the audited statements
of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, true and
correct copies of which were delivered to the Parent prior to the date
hereof (the "Company June 30/th/ Financials"), and the unaudited balance
sheet and unaudited statements of operations and cash flows for the Company
as of September 30, 1999, (x) complies or complied, as the case may be, as
to form in all respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto, (y) was prepared (or will be prepared, as the case
may be) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and (z) fairly presented (or
will fairly present, as the case may be) in all material respects the
financial position of the Company as at the respective dates thereof and
the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated,
except that the unaudited financial statements do not include footnote
disclosure of the type associated with audited financial statements and
were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments and to any
other adjustments described therein. The audited balance sheet of the
Company included in the Company June 30th Financials is hereinafter
referred to as the "Company Balance Sheet."
(c) As of the date hereof, except as set forth in Section 2.7(c) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no amendments or modifications to
agreements, documents or other instruments which previously had been filed
by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act or any other agreements, documents or other instruments, which have not
yet been filed with the SEC but which are or will be required to be filed
by the Company.
2.8 Accounting Record. The accounting books and records of the Company:
(i) are correct and complete in all material respects, (ii) are current in a
manner consistent with past practice; and (iii) have recorded therein all the
material properties, assets and liabilities of the Company.
2.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since September 30, 1999,
except with respect to the actions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company
has conducted its business only in the ordinary course and in a manner
consistent with past practice and, since such date, except as set forth in
Section 2.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there has not been (i) any
Material Adverse Effect on the Company; (ii) any property damage, destruction or
loss (whether or not covered by insurance) on the Company that has had or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company; (iii) any change by the Company in its accounting
methods, principles or practices; (iv) any revaluation by the Company of any of
its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of deferred
tax assets or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the
ordinary course of business; (v) to the Company's knowledge, any labor dispute
or charge of unfair labor practice, which would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material
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Adverse Effect on the Company, or any activity or proceeding by a labor union or
representative thereof to organize any employee of the Company or any campaign
being conducted to solicit authorization from employees to be represented by
such labor union; (vi) any waiver by the Company of any rights of material
value; (vii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or any
distribution in respect of the Company Capital Stock or any direct or indirect
redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any such stock by the Company; or
(viii) any other action or event that would have required the consent of the
Parent pursuant to Section 4 had such action or event occurred after the date of
this Agreement.
2.10 Liabilities. Except (a) for normal or ordinary recurring liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b)
for transaction expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, (c) for
liabilities set forth on the Company Balance Sheet, or (d) as set forth in
Section 2.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since September 30, 1999, the
Company has not incurred any liabilities that either (i) would be required to be
reflected or reserved against in a balance sheet of the Company prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in preparing
the Company Balance Sheet, or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.11 Taxes.
(a) Definition of Taxes. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" or
"Taxes" refers to any and all Federal, state, local and foreign, taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and
liabilities relating to taxes, including taxes based upon or measured by
gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use and occupation, and value
added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture,
employment, excise and property taxes, together with all interest,
penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and including
any liability for taxes of a predecessor entity. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Tax Agreement" is any agreement to which the Company is a
party under which the Company could reasonably be expected to be liable to
another party under such agreement in respect of Taxes payable by such
other party to any taxing authority.
(b) Tax Returns and Audits. Except as set forth in Section 2.11 of
the Company Disclosure Letter:
(i) The Company has timely filed all Federal, state, local and
foreign returns, information statements and reports relating to Taxes
("Returns") required by applicable Tax law to be filed by the
Company, except for any such failures to file that could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. All Taxes owed by the Company
to a taxing authority, or for which the Company is liable, whether to
a taxing authority or to other persons or entities under a Tax
Agreement, as of the date
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hereof, have been paid and, as of the Effective Time, will have been
paid, except for any such failure to pay that could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has made (A) accruals for
Taxes on the Company Balance Sheet and (B) with respect to periods
after the date of the Company Balance Sheet, provisions on a periodic
basis consistent with past practice on the Company's books and
records or financial statements, in each case which are adequate to
cover any Tax liability of the Company determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles through the date of the
Company Balance Sheet or the date of the provision, as the case may
be, except where failures to make such accruals or provisions could
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(ii) Except to the extent that any such failure to withhold
could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company has
withheld with respect to its employees all Federal and state income
taxes, FICA, FUTA and other Taxes required to be withheld.
(iii) There is no Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed or
assessed against the Company, except any such deficiency that, if
paid, could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company
has not executed or requested any waiver of any statute of
limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or
collection of any Federal or material state Tax.
(iv) No Federal or state Tax audit or other examination of the
Company is presently in progress, and the Company has not been
notified in writing of any request for such Federal or material state
Tax audit or other examination, except in all cases for Tax audits
and other examinations which could not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.
(v) The Company has not filed any consent agreement under
Section 341(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any
disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as defined in Section
341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company.
(vi) The Company is not a party to (A) any agreement with a
party other than the Company providing for the allocation or payment
of Tax liabilities or payment for Tax benefits with respect to a
consolidated, combined or unitary
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Return which Return includes or included the Company or any
subsidiary or (B) any Tax Agreement other than any Tax Agreement
described in (A).
(vii) The Company has not ever been a member of an affiliated
group of corporations within the meaning of Sections 1504 of the Code
other than an affiliated group of which it was the common parent.
(viii) The Company has not agreed to make, and it is not required
to make, any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of
a change in accounting method or otherwise.
(ix) The Company is not, and has not at any time within the
last five years been, a "United States Real Property Holding
Corporation" within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(x) The Company has not made any payments, is obligated to
make any payments, or is a party to any agreement that under certain
circumstances could obligate it to make any payments, that will not
be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
(xi) The Company has federal and California net operating loss
carryforwards, for tax return purposes, of $3,800,000 and $1,350,000,
respectively, as of September 30, 1999.
(xii) The Company does not have any deferred intercompany gains
as defined in the federal consolidated tax return regulations which,
as a result of the transactions contemplated herein, will result in
the recognition of taxable income.
2.12 Restrictions on Business Activities. Except as set forth in Section
2.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no agreement, judgment,
injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or its properties
(including, without limitation, its Intellectual Property and Curricula (each as
defined below)) which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or impairing the conduct of any business by the Company in a manner
which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
2.13 Absence of Liens and Encumbrances. The Company has good, valid, and
marketable title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid
leasehold interests in, all of its properties and assets (whether real, personal
or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible), necessary for the conduct of its
business, free and clear of any liens and encumbrances, except (i) as reflected
in the Company balance sheet as of September 30, 1999, (ii) liens for Taxes not
yet due and payable, (iii) such liens and encumbrances listed on Section 2.13 of
the Company
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Disclosure Letter, and (iv) such liens and encumbrances as do not materially
impair the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby
(collectively, "Permitted Liens").
2.14 Real Estate
(a) Owned Real Property. Section 2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure
-------------------
Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of each parcel of real
property owned by the Company (the "Owned Real Estate"), including a
street address. The Company is the sole and exclusive legal and equitable
owner of all right, title and interest in and has good, marketable and
insurable title in fee simple absolute to, and is in possession of, all
Owned Real Estate, including the buildings, structures and improvements
situated thereon and appurtenances thereto, in each case free and clear of
all liens other than Permitted Liens. Except as set forth in Section
2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Owned Real Estate is in
compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable zoning ordinances
and amendments thereto, including, without limitation, any ordinances with
respect to permitted or prohibited uses. The purposes for which the Owned
Real Estate is currently used, including without limitation, dormitory,
restaurant and school and office use, are allowed under the zoning
classification applicable to the Owned Real Estate.
(b) Leased Properties. Section 2.14(b) of the Company Disclosure
-----------------
Letter lists all real property that is used or occupied by the Company in
connection with its business but not owned by the Company (the "Rental
Real Estate") and the leases, subleases and agreements by which such Rental
Real Estate is used and occupied (the "Leases"), correct and complete
copies of which have been delivered to the Parent. Except as otherwise
specifically set forth in Section 2.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
(i) assuming that the Leases have been duly and validly executed and
delivered by or on behalf of the respective other party thereto, which
party has the power to enter into and perform its obligations thereunder,
the Leases are legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect; (ii) to the Company's knowledge, all building, improvements and
other property on the Rental Real Estate have received all approvals of
governmental authorities (including certificates of occupancy, permits and
licenses) required in connection with the operation thereof and have been
operated and maintained in accordance with all applicable legal
requirements and are not in violation of any applicable zoning, building
code or subdivision ordinance, regulations, order or law or restrictions or
covenants of record (iii) all buildings, improvements and other property
thereon are supplied with utilities and other services necessary for the
operation thereof (including gas, electricity, water, telephone, sanitary
and storm sewers and access to public roads); (iv) to the Company's
knowledge, the land of the Rental Real Estate does not serve any adjoining
property for any purpose inconsistent with the use of the land, and the
Rental Real Estate is not located within any flood plain or subject to any
similar type restriction for which any permits or licenses necessary to the
use thereof have not been obtained; (v) there are not leases, subleases,
licenses, concessions, or other agreements to which the Company is a party,
whether
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written or oral, granting to any Person the right of use or occupancy of
any portion of the Rental Real Estate; and (vi) no Person (other than the
Company) is in possession of such the Rental Real Estate.
(c) The buildings, structures and improvements situated on the Real
Estate (as defined below) and appurtenances thereto are in good condition
(subject to normal wear and tear), and as such are adequate to conduct the
business as present conducted. "Real Estate" shall mean the Owned Real
Estate and the portions of the Rental Real Estate leased or otherwise
possessed or used by the Company. Neither the whole nor any portion of any
Real Estate has been, or, to the Company's knowledge, is threatened to be,
condemned, requisitioned or otherwise taken by any public authority, and no
notice of any such condemnation, requisition or taking has been received.
There are no public improvements pending or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened which may result in special assessments against or otherwise
affect the Real Estate.
(d) The Owned Real Estate and the portions of the Rental Real Estate
leased or otherwise possessed or used by the Company are in material
compliance with, include all rights necessary to assure compliance with,
and all buildings, structures, other improvements and fixtures on such Real
Estate and the operations of the Company in or about any Real Estate
therein conducted, conform in all material respects to, all applicable
health, fire, safety, zoning and building rules. The Company has all
easements and rights necessary or appropriate to conduct its operations as
they are currently being conducted.
2.15 Intellectual Property and Curricula.
(a) There are no claims, demands or proceedings instituted, pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by any person contesting or
challenging the right of the Company to use any of the Intellectual
Property or Curricula (each as defined below) currently used by it in the
operation of its business, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no person
is infringing upon the Company's Intellectual Property or Curricula;
(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.15 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, each trademark registration, service mark registration, copyright
registration and patent which is owned by or licensed to the Company and,
with respect to those owned by the Company, has been maintained in good
standing and, with respect to those licensed to the Company, to the
Company's knowledge, has been maintained in good standing, except where the
failure to so maintain would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company;
(c) There are no Intellectual Property or Curricula owned by a person
which the Company is using without license to do so, other than which use
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company;
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(d) The Company owns or possesses adequate licenses or other rights
to use all Intellectual Property and Curricula the Company reasonably
believes are necessary to conduct its business as now conducted;
(e) The consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not impair the validity, enforceability, ownership
or right of the Company or the Surviving Corporation to use its
Intellectual Property or Curricula.
(f) For purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property" means
patents and patent rights, trademarks and trademark rights, trade names and
trade name rights, service marks and service mark rights, service names and
service name rights, brand names, inventions, processes, copyrights and
copyright rights, trade dress, business and product names, logos, trade
secrets, know-how and all pending applications for and registrations of
patents, trademarks, service marks and copyrights. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Curricula" means curricula, course materials, instructional
video tapes, tape recordings and visual aids.
2.16 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments. Except as set forth in Section
2.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Exhibits to the Company SEC
Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, as of the date of this
Agreement, the Company is not a party to, nor is it or its assets bound by, any
Material Contract. For purposes of this Agreement, "Material Contract" means:
(a) any collective bargaining agreements;
(b) any employment or consulting agreement, contract or binding
commitment providing for compensation or payments in excess of $50,000 in
any year not terminable by the Company on thirty days notice without
liability, except to the extent general principles of wrongful termination
or other employment law may limit the Company's ability to terminate
employees at will;
(c) any Company Plan (as defined in Section 2.28(c)), any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which
will be accelerated or the right to benefits will be created, by the
occurrence of the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(d) any agreement of indemnification or guaranty not entered into in
the ordinary course of business with any party in excess of $50,000
individually or in the aggregate, and any agreement of indemnification or
guaranty between the Company and any of its officers or directors,
irrespective of the amount of such agreement or guaranty;
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(e) Any agreement, contract or binding commitment containing any
covenant directly or indirectly limiting the freedom of the Company to
engage in any line of business, compete with any person, or sell any
product, or which, following the consummation of the Merger, would so limit
Parent or the Surviving Corporation;
(f) any agreement, contract or binding commitment relating to capital
expenditures and involving future obligations in excess of $50,000;
(g) any agreement, contract or binding commitment relating to the
disposition or acquisition of material assets not in the ordinary course of
business (since June 30, 1999) or any ownership interest in any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business enterprise;
(h) any mortgages, indentures, loans or credit agreements, security
agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing of
money or extension of credit (other than extensions of credit in the
ordinary course of business from vendors);
(i) any Leases;
(j) other than in connection with the Merger and other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, any other agreement, contract or binding
commitment (excluding real and personal property leases) which involves
payment by the Company of $50,000 or more in any twelve (12) month period
or $50,000 in the aggregate and which cannot be terminated on 30 days
notice without cost or expense to the Company or its subsidiaries;
(k) any agreements to register the Company's securities; or
(l) any other material agreements, contracts or binding commitments.
The numerical thresholds set forth in this Section 2.16 shall not be deemed in
any respects to define materiality for other purposes of this Agreement. The
Company has provided or made available to Parent true and complete copies of all
Material Contracts as amended to date.
2.17 No Default. Except as set forth in Section 2.17 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, the Company has not breached, or received in writing any
claim or threat that it has breached, in any material respect, any Material
Contract, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred or state
of circumstances or facts exists which, with the passage of time or the giving
of notice or both, could reasonably be expected to constitute such a breach.
Each Material Contract that has not expired or been terminated in accordance
with its terms is in full force and effect, except for such Material Contracts
for which the failure to be in full force and effect could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
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Adverse Effect on the Company and constitutes the legal and binding obligation
of the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, constitutes the legal and
binding obligation of the other parties thereto.
2.18 Compliance with Laws; Licenses.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.18(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, neither the Company nor the School is in violation of any legal
requirement (including, without limitation, any liquor control or similar
laws) or Accrediting Body standard or requirement which violation could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
the School, and neither the Company nor the School has received notice of
any such violation. The Company and the School have filed all material
reports, documents, information, applications and returns required to be
filed by them on or prior to the date hereof with Governmental/Regulatory
Entities and Accrediting Bodies.
(b) The Company currently maintains all licenses, accreditations,
certificates, permits, consents, authorizations, and other governmental or
regulatory approvals (the "Licenses") necessary to conduct the business and
operations of the Company and the School as presently being conducted,
except where the failure to maintain any such Licenses would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Section 2.18(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter contains a true, correct and complete list of all
Licenses of the Company and the School. No application made by the Company
or the School for any License during the last five (5) years has been
denied. The Licenses are in full force and effect, and no proceedings for
the suspension or cancellation of any of them is pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened. The Company has delivered to Purchaser
copies of all such Licenses. Neither the Company nor the School has
received notice that any of the Licenses will not be renewed and, to the
Company's knowledge, there is no basis for nonrenewal of any License.
(c) For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 and as of the date of
this Agreement, the School has no more than ninety percent (90%) of its
revenues derived from the Title IV Programs or pursuant to the Title IV
Programs as determined in accordance with 34 C.F.R. (S) 600.5(d). The
School has not had more than eighty-five percent (85%) of its revenues so
derived for any of the last four (4) fiscal years prior to the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999. For purposes of this Section 2.18, "revenues" does not
include any loans or scholarships issued by the Company, the School or any
of their affiliates. "Title IV Program" means any program of student
financial assistance administered pursuant to Subchapter IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C.A. (S)1070 et seq. ("Title
IV"), and any amendments or successor statutes thereto.
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(d) The School has all accreditations required to conduct the
business of the School as presently conducted, is certified by the
Department of Education ("DOE") as an eligible institution under Title IV
and is a party to, and in compliance with, a valid program participation
agreement with the DOE with respect to the operations of the School, except
where any failure to comply with a valid program participation agreement
could not reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Company has all
accreditations required to be issued by the Accrediting Commission of
Career Schools and Colleges of Technology ("ACCSCT"), and the California
Department of Consumer Affairs necessary to operate the School as presently
operated in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Additionally,
the School is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Educational
Institute ("ACFEI"). Except as set forth in Section 2.18(d) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor the School has received any
notice with respect to any alleged violation of a legal requirement, rule,
regulation or standards of the DOE or other Governmental/Regulatory Entity,
or any applicable Accrediting Body in respect of the School, including with
respect to recruitment, sales and marketing activities, or the terms of any
program participation agreement to which the School or the Company is or
was a party. Section 2.18(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a
list of any such notice received by the Company and a description of the
dispositions of such notice. Except as set forth in Section 2.18(d) to the
Company Disclosure Letter, the Company is not aware of any investigation,
audit or review of the Company's or the School's student financial aid
programs or any review of accreditation of the School by any
Governmental/Regulatory Entity or Accrediting Body.
2.19 Recruitment; Admissions Procedures; Attendance Reports.
(a) Section 2.19 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete
list of all policy manuals and other statements of procedures or
instructions relating to (a) recruitment of students for the School,
including procedures for assisting in the application by prospective
students for direct or indirect student financial assistance; (b)
admissions procedures, including any descriptions of procedures for
insuring compliance with legal requirements or Accrediting Body
requirements and standards applicable to such procedures; (c) procedures
for encouraging and verifying attendance, minimum required attendance
policies, and other relevant criteria relating to course performance
requirements and completion and (d) procedures for processing, disbursing
and refunding student financial assistance funds (collectively, the "Policy
Guidelines"). The Company has delivered to Parent true, correct and
complete copies of all Policy Guidelines.
(b) The operations of the Company and the School have been conducted
in all material respects in accordance with the Policy Guidelines and all
relevant standards and requirements imposed by applicable Accrediting
Bodies, and other agencies administering
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any student financial assistance programs in which the Company or the
School participates, and other applicable legal requirements.
(c) The Company has submitted all reports, audits, and other
information, whether periodic in nature or pursuant to specific requests,
for the Company and the School to all agencies, Governmental/Regulatory
Entities or other entities with which such filings are required in order to
be in compliance with (i) applicable accreditation standards and
requirements, (ii) legal requirements governing programs pursuant to which
the School or its students receive student financial assistance funding,
and (iii) all articulation agreements between the Company or School and
degree granting colleges and universities in effect as of the date hereof,
except where failure to submit such reports, audits and other information
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(d) All student financial assistance grants and loans have been
calculated and made and all disbursements and record keeping relating
thereto have been completed, in compliance with legal requirements, and
there are no material deficiencies in respect thereto. To the knowledge of
the Company or the School, and except as previously disclosed in prior
audits or reviews by DOE or any Accrediting Body, no student at the School
has been funded prior to the date for which such student was eligible for
such funding or in any amount other than an amount such student was
eligible to receive, and such student records conform in form and substance
to all legal requirements.
2.20 Cohort Default Rate. Section 2.20 of the Company Disclosure Letter
sets forth the published and draft cohort default rate for the School,
calculated by the DOE and issued to the School pursuant to 30 C.F.R. (S) 668.17
or a predecessor regulation, for the federal fiscal years September 30, 1994
through and including September 30, 1997. Such schedule is materially accurate
in all respects. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor the
School has received any notice from DOE or any guaranty agency as to the
calculation or issuance of a published or draft cohort default rate for the
School for the year ended September 30, 1998. The School has official cohort
default rates of 25.0%, 15.6%, 2.8%, 12.5% and 28.57% on Federal Perkins Loans
for award years, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.
2.21 Delivery of Documents. The Company has delivered to Parent true and
complete copies of all correspondence (excluding general correspondence
routinely sent to or received from the DOE or any Accrediting Body) received
from or sent by or on behalf of the Company or the School to the DOE or any
Accrediting Body to the extent such correspondence (i) was sent or received
within the past five (5) years or relates to any issue which remains pending,
and (ii) relates to (a) any notice that any accreditation or License is not in
full force and effect or that an event has occurred which constitutes or, with
the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a breach
or violation thereunder; (b) any written notice that the Company or the School
have violated or are violating any legal requirement, regulation, rule, standard
or requirement related to the Title IV Programs, or any standard or requirement
of any
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applicable Accrediting Body, or any legal requirement, regulation, rule,
standard or requirement related to the maintaining and retaining in full force
and effect any accreditations; (c) any audits, program reviews, investigations
or site visits conducted by the DOE, any Accrediting Body, any guaranty agency,
any other Governmental/Regulatory Entity or any independent auditor reviewing
compliance by the Company or the School with the statutory, regulatory or other
requirements of the Title IV Programs; (d) any written notice of an intent to
limit, suspend, terminate, revoke, cancel, not renew or condition the
accreditation of the Company or the School; (e) any written notice of an intent
or threatened intent to condition the provision of Title IV Program funds to the
Company or the School on the posting of a letter of credit or other surety in
favor of the DOE; (f) any written notice of an intent to provisionally certify
the eligibility of the School to participate in the Title IV Programs; and (g)
the placement or removal of the School on or from the reimbursement or cash
monitoring method of payment under Title IV Programs.
2.22 Student Recruiting. Since January 31, 1994, no admissions
representative, agent or any other person or entity engaged, directly or
indirectly, in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making
decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds for or on behalf of
the Company or the School has been paid, provided or contracted for any
commission, bonus or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on
success in securing enrollments or financial aid.
2.23 Control Matters. Except as set forth in Section 2.23 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, to the Company's knowledge, since July 31, 1994, no person
who exercises substantial control over the Company or the School (as the term
"substantial control" is defined at 34 C.F.R. (S)600.30) is or has been a
principal, affiliate, shareholders or trustee or has held an ownership interest,
whether legal or equitable, in any other institution (whether or not
participating in the Title IV Programs) or any third party servicer (as that
term is defined at 34 C.F.R. (S)668.2). Except as set forth in Section 2.23 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, no person who exercises substantial control over
the Company or the School (as the term "substantial control" is defined at 34
C.F.R. (S)600.30) or any member or members of that person's family, alone or
together, exercises, or since July 1, 1994, exercised substantial control over
another institution or a third-party servicer (prior to or during the period
such person exercised substantial control over the Company or the School) that
owes a liability for a violation of any requirement of the Title IV Programs. To
the Company's knowledge, since July 1, 1994, no person who exercises substantial
control over the Company or the School (as the term "substantial control" is
defined at 34 C.F.R. (S)600.30) has pled guilty to, has pled nolo contendre to,
or has been found guilty of, a crime involving the acquisition, use or
expenditure of funds under the Title IV Programs or has been judicially
determined to have committed fraud involving funds under the Title IV Programs.
Since July 1, 1994, neither the Company nor the School nor any affiliate of the
Company or the School that has the power, by contract or ownership interest, to
direct or cause the direction of the management of policies of the School, has
filed for relief in bankruptcy or has entered against it an order for relief in
bankruptcy. Neither the Company nor the School employs, and, since July 1, 1994
has employed, any individual or entity in a capacity that involves
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the administration or receipt of funds under the Title IV Programs, or
contracted with any institution or third-party servicer, which has been
terminated under the Higher Education Act for a reason involving the
acquisition, use or expenditure of federal, state or local government funds, or
has been convicted of, or has pled nolo contendre or guilty to, a crime
involving the acquisition, use or expenditure of federal, state or local
government funds, or has been administratively or judicially determined to have
committed fraud or any other material violation of law involving federal, state
or local government funds. No institution (whether or not participating in the
Title IV Programs) or any third-party servicer (as that term is defined at 34
C.F.R. 668.2) is, or since July 1, 1994 has been, administered commonly, jointly
or in conjunction with the Company or the School, and no other institution or
organization of any sort has provided educational services on behalf of the
Company or the School.
2.24 Financial Assistance Programs.
(a) Section 2.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each program,
including institutional or private programs, pursuant to which student
financial assistance, grants or loans ("Financial Assistance") are
provided to or on behalf of the School's students.
(b) Section 2.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all
agreements between the Company or the School and the DOE or any guaranty
agency relating to Financial Assistance. Each such agreement is in full
force and effect, is a valid and binding and enforceable obligation by or
against the Company or the School and the other party or parties thereto
and no event has occurred which constitutes or, with the giving of notice
or the passage of time or both would constitute, a default or breach
thereunder. The Company has delivered to the Parent true, correct and
complete copies of each contract or agreement listed.
2.25 Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 2.25 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, there is no suit, action, arbitration, demand, claim or
proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the
Company, except for suits, actions, arbitrations, demands, claims and
proceedings which would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; there are no such
suits, actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, against the Company which question the legality or validity of the
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, award, rule or order of any
Governmental/Regulatory Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Company.
The Company has made available to Parent or its counsel correct and complete
copies of all correspondence prepared by Company's counsel for the Company's
auditors in connection with the last three completed audits of the Company's
financial statements and any such correspondence since the date of the last such
audit.
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2.26 Insurance. Section 2.26 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all of
the existing insurance policies of the Company and all outstanding claims
against each insurance policy. The Company has not received notice of
cancellation, termination or premium increase with respect to such insurance
policies. The Company maintains in full force and effect insurance on its assets
and its business and operations against loss or damage, risks, hazards, and
liabilities of any kinds on and in the amounts customarily insured against by
corporations engaged in the same or similar businesses.
2.27 Labor Matters. The Company has complied in all material respects with
all applicable laws, and there is no allegation, charge or complaint or
proceeding pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the
Company or any of its officers, directors or employees, relating to the
employment of labor, including with respect to employment, equal employment
opportunity, discrimination, harassment, immigration, wages, hours, benefits,
collective bargaining, the payment of social security and other taxes, workers
compensation or long term disability. Except as set forth in Section 2.27 of the
Company Disclosure Letter, there has never been, there is not presently pending
or existing, and to the Company's knowledge there is not threatened, any labor
arbitration, or proceeding in respect of the grievance of any employee, or other
labor dispute against or affecting the Company, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any strike, slowdown, picketing, work stoppage, organizational activity
or application or complaint filed by an employee or union with the National
Labor Relations Board or any comparable governmental authority. The Company is
not party to any collective bargaining agreement, and no application for
certification of a collective bargaining agent is pending or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened. There is no lockout of any employees by the Company, and
no such action is contemplated by the Company. Except as set forth in Section
2.27 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, the Company has
not given to or received from any current officer, key employee or director of
the Company written notice of termination of employment or has the knowledge
that any such officer, manager, key employee or director intends to terminate
such employment.
2.28 Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 2.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of
each Company Plan (as hereinafter defined) maintained by the Company. With
respect to each Company Plan, the Company has delivered to Parent prior to
the date hereof, to the extent applicable, a true and correct copy of (i)
such Company Plan and all amendments thereto, (ii) each trust agreement,
insurance contract or administration agreement relating to such Company
Plan, (iii) the most recent summary plan description for each Company Plan
for which a summary plan description is required, (iv) the most recent
annual report (Form 5500) filed with the IRS, (v) the most recent
determination letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Company
Plan intended to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Code, (vi) any
request for a determination currently pending before the IRS and (vii) all
correspondence with the IRS, the Department of Labor or the Pension Benefit
Guaranty
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Corporation relating to any outstanding controversy. Except as could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company, each Company Plan complies with the
Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),
the Code and all other applicable statutes and governmental rules and
regulations. At no time has the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates (as
hereinafter defined) been required to contribute to, or otherwise had any
liability with respect to, a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or a
"multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA). All IRS
Forms 5500 with respect to the Company Plans have been (and for 1998 and
1999, will be) timely filed.
(b) There are no actions, suits or claims pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened (other than routine claims for
benefits) with respect to any Company Plan which could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. No prohibited transactions described in Section 406
of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code have occurred which could reasonably
be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its
subsidiaries. All Company Plans that are intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code have been determined by the IRS to be so
qualified, and there is no reason why, to the Company's knowledge, any
Company Plan is not so qualified in operation. Neither the Company nor any
of its ERISA Affiliates has any liability or obligation under any welfare
plan to provide life insurance or medical benefits after termination of
employment to any employee or dependent other than as required by Part 6 of
Title I of ERISA or as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter.
(c) As used herein, (i) "Company Plan" means a "pension plan" (as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), a "welfare plan" (as defined in Section
3(1) of ERISA), or any bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation,
incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option,
phantom stock, vacation, severance, death benefit, insurance or other plan,
arrangement or understanding, in each case established, maintained or
contributed to by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or as to which
the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or otherwise may have any
liability and (ii) with respect to any person, "ERISA Affiliate" means
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is or within the
last six years was under common control or would be or have been considered
a single employer with such person pursuant to Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant to
Section 4001(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder.
(d) Section 2.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of
all (i) severance and employment agreements with officers and employees of
the Company and each ERISA Affiliate, (ii) severance plans, programs and
policies of the Company with or relating to its employees and (iii) plans,
programs, agreements and other arrangements of the Company with or relating
to its employees which contain change of
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control or similar provisions. The Company has provided to Parent a true
and complete copy of each of the foregoing. Except as set forth in Section
2.28(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no such plan, program, agreement
or arrangement will trigger Section 280G of the Code.
(e) The Company has complied with all of its obligations under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") and the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"),
and will not incur any liability in connection with benefit continuation
rights under COBRA with respect to its employees or former employees or any
other employees. No Plan is funded through a "welfare benefit fund" as
described in Section 419(e) of the Code.
2.29 Accreditation and State Licensure/Approval. Except as set forth in
Section 2.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the Company's knowledge,
there exists no fact or circumstance attributable to the Company or the School
which would prevent Parent from obtaining any authorization, consent or similar
approval from the DOE or any other Governmental/Regulatory Agency or Accrediting
Body whose authorization, consent or similar approval is contemplated in
connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
authorization, consent or similar approval which must be obtained prior to or
following the Closing from the DOE, the State of California or ACCSCT in order
to continue the operations of the School as presently conducted. The Company has
notified ACCSCT that the School offers unaccredited programs through its College
of Food locations.
2.30 Computer Rollout. The Company has taken no action with respect to its
planned distribution/sale of laptop computers to students at the School whether
related to the School's programs or otherwise (the "Computer Rollout"),
including, without limitation, entering into any agreement or otherwise making
any purchasing commitments.
2.31 Relationships with Related Persons. Except as set forth in Section
2.31 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no, and since January 1, 1997
have not been any, undischarged contracts or agreements or other material
transactions between the Company, on the one hand, and any director or executive
officer of the Company or any of their respective Related Persons (as defined
below), on the other hand, and no director or executive officer of the Company
or any of their respective Related Persons have any interest in any of the
assets of the Company, other than as a shareholder. For purposes hereof, the
term "Related Persons" shall mean: (a) each other member of such individual's
Family and (b) any person or entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by
any one or more members of such individual's Family. For purposes of this
definition, the "Family" of an individual includes (i) such individual, (ii) the
individual's spouse, siblings, or ancestors (iii) any lineal descendant of such
individual, or their siblings, or ancestors or (iv) a trust for the benefit of
the foregoing.
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2.32 State "Anti-Takeover" Statutes. The Board of Directors of the Company
has taken all necessary action so that neither Section 1203 of California Law
nor any other "fair price," "control share acquisition" statute or anti-takeover
laws or other similar statute or regulation will apply to the Merger, this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
2.33 Change of Control Payments. Except as set forth in Section 2.33 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, and except as contemplated by this Agreement,
neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment
(including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden
parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or employee
of the Company from the Company, under any Company Plan or otherwise, (ii)
materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Company Plan, (iii)
result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such
benefits, (iv) create a right to receive payments upon a subsequent termination
of employment or (v) result in the acceleration of the time of payment of any of
the Company's accounts payable.
2.34 Environmental Protection.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 2.34 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the Company: (i) is in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company; (ii) has not received any
Environmental Claim or any communication (written or oral), from a
governmental authority or third party that alleges that the Company or any
current or former affiliate of the Company is not in compliance with
applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) has not owned or operated any property
that, to the Company's knowledge, is contaminated with any Hazardous
Material which may reasonably be expected to require remediation under any
Environmental Law; (iv) to the Company's knowledge, is not subject to
liability for any off-site disposal or contamination; and (v) to the
Company's knowledge, is not subject to any other circumstance in connection
with any Environmental Law that could reasonably be expected to result in
any claims, liabilities, costs or restrictions on the business or the
ownership, use or transfer of any property.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below:
(i) "Environmental Claim" shall mean any and all
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands,
demand letters, directives, claims, liens, investigations,
proceedings or notices of noncompliance or violation (written or
oral) by any person alleging liability (including, without
limitation, liability for enforcement, investigatory costs, cleanup
costs, governmental response costs, removal costs, remedial costs,
natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, or
penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (A) the
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presence or Environmental Release of any Hazardous Materials at any
parcel of real property; or (B) circumstances forming the basis of
any violation or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law; or (C)
any and all claims by any person seeking damages, contribution,
indemnification, cost, recovery, compensation or injunctive relief
resulting from the presence or Environmental Release of any Hazardous
Materials;
(ii) "Environmental Laws" shall mean any federal, state or local
statute, law, rule, ordinance, code, policy, rule of common law and
regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, relating to pollution
or protection of human health (including those parts of OSHA relating
to Hazardous Materials) or the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or
subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws and
regulations relating to Environmental Releases or threatened
Environmental Releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating
to the manufacture, processing, distribution, presence, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous
Materials;
(iii) "Environmental Release" shall mean any release, spill,
emission, leaking, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge,
dispersal, leaching or migration into the atmosphere, soil, surface
water or groundwater; and
(iv) "Hazardous Materials" shall mean: (A) any petroleum or
petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that
is or could become friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and
transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid
containing polychlorinated biphenyls above regulated levels and radon
gas; and (B) any chemicals, materials or substances which as of the
date hereof are defined as or included in the definition of
"hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials,"
"extremely hazardous wastes," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants," or words of similar import, under
any Environmental Law; and (C) any other chemical, material,
substance or waste, exposure to which as of the date hereof is
prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental authority.
2.35 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock entitled to vote
with respect to the Merger is the only vote of the holders of any class or
series of the Company's stock necessary to approve the Merger and this
Agreement.
2.36 No Pending Transactions. Except for the Merger and other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company is not a party to or bound by or the
subject of any agreement, undertaking or commitment with any person that could
result in (i) the sale, merger,
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consolidation or recapitalization of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (iii) a change of control of
more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.
2.37 Year 2000. Except as set forth in Section 2.37 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, (i) all functions including, without limitation, date-reliant
(which includes year-reliant) functions of the information and business systems
of the Company (collectively, the "Systems") are capable of continuing to
operate up to, during and after the Year 2000, (ii) neither the performance nor
functionality of the Systems will be affected by any changes to the field
configuration which contains the date information within any part of the System
caused by the advent of the year 2000, and (iii) the Systems will perform
consistent with past performance and there shall be no faults in the processing
of dates and date-dependent information or data including, without limitation,
in calculations, comparisons and sequencing of information or data, except, in
each case, such failures to operate or perform that could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Section 2.37 of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth, with respect to any exception, the nature of such
exception in detail, including the nature of the problem, the nature of the
steps undertaken and planned, and the Company's good faith estimate of the cost
to correct such problem and its projection of a date for project completion.
2.38 Proxy Statement. The proxy statement to be sent to the shareholders
of the Company in connection with the meeting of the Company's shareholders to
consider the Merger (the "Company Shareholders' Meeting") (such proxy
statement as amended or supplemented is referred to herein as the "Proxy
Statement") shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the
Company's shareholders, at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting and at
the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not false or misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event relating to
the Company or any of its affiliates, officers or directors should be discovered
by the Company which should be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement,
the Company shall promptly supplement the Proxy Statement and send such
supplement to the Company's shareholders and Parent. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any
information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub in writing specifically for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
2.39 Board Approval. The Board of Directors of the Company, has, on or
prior to the date hereof, approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby.
2.40 Fairness Opinion. The Board of Directors of the Company has received
a written opinion from Sutter Securities Incorporated, dated no later than the
date hereof, that, as of the
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date of this Agreement, the Merger Consideration is fair to the Company's
shareholders from a financial point of view and has delivered to Parent a copy
of such opinion.
2.41 Brokers' and Finders' Fees. The Company has not incurred, nor will it
incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents' commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement,
the Merger or any transaction contemplated hereby, except for a fee due to Legg
Mason Wood Walker Incorporated pursuant to an agreement, a true, complete and
correct copy of which has been provided to Parent (the "Engagement Letter") and
for a fee due to Sutter Securities Incorporated in connection with the delivery
of a fairness opinion pursuant to Section 2.40.
2.42 ACCSCT and DOE Matters. Set forth in Section 2.42 of the Company
Disclosure Letter is a true and correct copy of the Company's calculation of the
cash, cash equivalents and the financial responsibility composite ratio.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
3.1 Organization of Parent/Merger Sub. Parent is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, has the corporate power to carry on its business as now being
conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required
by virtue of the nature of activities conducted by it, except to the extent that
the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent. In this Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" used in
reference to the Parent means any event, change, circumstance, condition or
effect which, when considered with all other events, changes, circumstances,
conditions or effects, has, or any development that would reasonably be expected
to have, a material adverse effect on the results of operations, financial
condition, assets, liabilities, business or prospects of Parent and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than general changes in economic
conditions or the educational services industry, each considered alone without
regard to any other effects, changes, events, circumstances or conditions, and
other than any adverse change, event or effect that is demonstrated by Parent to
be primarily caused by the pendency of the Merger or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
and has the company power to carry on its business as now being conducted.
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3.2 Authority; No Conflict.
(a) Parent and Merger Sub have all requisite corporate and company
power and authority, respectively, to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the
consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and company action on the
part of Parent and Merger Sub, respectively. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes the valid
and binding obligations of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and
other similar laws and general principles of equity.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger
Sub does not, and the consummation of the Merger and other transactions
contemplated hereby will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of,
or default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or loss of a benefit under any (i) provision of the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent or the Articles of Organization or
Operating Agreement of Merger Sub, (ii) any mortgage, indenture, lease,
contract or other agreement to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by
which Parent or Merger Sub or the assets of Parent or Merger Sub is bound,
except for any such conflict, violation, default, right or loss which would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) any permit, concession, franchise,
license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to Parent or Merger Sub, or their respective assets,
except for any such conflict, violation, default, right or loss which could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or
Merger Sub.
(c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Governmental/Regulatory Entity is required
by or with respect to Parent and Merger Sub in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub or the
consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and other transactions
contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing of a pre-merger notification
report under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing of the Agreement of Merger with
the California Secretary of State and the Certificate of Merger with the
Delaware Secretary of State, (iii) the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC,
(iv) approval by California Department of Consumer Affairs and the DOE and
(v) such other consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and
registrations which if not obtained or made could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub
to consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby.
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3.3 Litigation. As of the date hereof, there are no actions, suits,
claims, litigation or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Parent or
Merger Sub, threatened, against Parent or its Subsidiaries by any person which
question the legality, validity or consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or materially impair the ability of
Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby.
3.4 Sufficient Funds. Parent has, and will have at the Effective Time,
possession of, or has, and will have at the Effective Time, available to it
under existing lines of credit, sufficient funds to consummate the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including payment of the
Merger Consideration and all related costs and expenses and will cause Merger
Sub to have sufficient funds available to consummate the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
3.5 Board Approval. The Board of Directors of Parent and the Manager of
Merger Sub have, as of the date hereof, approved this Agreement and the Merger.
3.6 Brokers' and Finders' Fees. Parent has not incurred, and will not
incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents' commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement,
the Merger or any transaction contemplated hereby.
3.7 Operations of Merger Sub. Merger Sub is an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent, was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, has engaged in no other
business activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated
hereby.
3.8 Information Supplied. The information with respect to Parent or
Merger Sub that Parent furnishes to the Company in writing for use in the Proxy
Statement will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event relating to the Parent or
Merger Sub or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors should
be discovered by Parent or Merger Sub which should be set forth in a supplement
to the Proxy Statement, the Parent shall promptly notify the Company and send
all relevant information to the Company.
3.9 Agreements with Shareholders. Parent has provided the Company with
true and complete copies, or otherwise informed the Company with written
summaries, of all agreements, arrangements, contracts, binding commitments or
oral understandings between Parent or Merger Sub and any shareholder of the
Company, as amended to date.
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4. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME. During
the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of
the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Effective Time,
the Company agrees, except as set forth in Section 4 of the Company Disclosure
Letter or to the extent that Parent shall otherwise consent in writing, to carry
on its business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the
same manner as heretofore conducted, to pay timely its debts and Taxes, subject
to good faith disputes over such debts or taxes, and on the same payment terms
such debts and taxes have historically been paid, to collect its receivables in
the same manner and on the same terms such receivables have historically been
collected, to timely pay or perform other material obligations when due, and to
use all commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices and
policies to preserve intact the Company's present business organizations, keep
available the services of its present officers and employees and preserve its
relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and
others having business dealings with the Company, to the end that the Company's
goodwill and ongoing businesses be unimpaired at the Effective Time. The Company
shall promptly notify Parent of any material event or occurrence not in the
ordinary course of business of the Company. Except as expressly provided for by
this Agreement or as set forth on the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company
shall not, prior to the Effective Time or earlier termination of this Agreement
pursuant to its terms, without the prior written consent of Parent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
(a) Except as required by the Company Plans, accelerate, amend or
change the period of exercisability of options or restricted stock, or
reprice options granted under the Company Plans or authorize cash payments
in exchange for any options granted under any of such plans, except as
contemplated by Section 1.9 of this Agreement;
(b) Enter into any partnership agreements, joint development
agreements or strategic alliance agreements;
(c) Increase the pay or other compensation or grant any severance or
termination pay (i) to any executive officer or director or (ii) to any
other employee except payments made in connection with the termination of
employees who are not executive officers in amounts consistent with
Company's policies and past practices or pursuant to written agreements in
effect, or policies existing, on the date hereof and as disclosed in
Section 2.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(d) Except as set forth in Section 4(d) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise extend,
amend or modify any rights to the Company Intellectual Property or
Curricula;
(e) Commence any litigation other than (i) for the routine collection
of bills, or (ii) in such cases where the Company in good faith determines
that failure to commence
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suit would result in the material impairment of a valuable aspect of the
Company's business, provided that the Company consults with the Parent
prior to the filing of such a suit (except that the Company shall not
require the approval of, and shall not be required to consult with, Parent
with respect to any claim, suit or proceeding by the Company against Parent
or any of its affiliates);
(f) Declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its capital
stock, or 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 capital stock of the Company;
(g) Redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly,
recapitalize or reclassify any shares of its capital stock;
(h) Issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock of any class or
securities convertible into, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options
to acquire, or enter into other agreements or commitments of any character
obligating it to issue any such shares or other convertible securities,
other than the issuance of shares of Company Capital Stock pursuant to the
exercise of Company stock options outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement;
(i) Cause, permit or propose any amendments to the Company's Articles
or Company Bylaws, or amend any Material Contract;
(j) Except as permitted under Section 5.16 of this Agreement, sell,
lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the Company's
properties or assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate,
to the business of the Company, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or liquidate, in whole or in part;
(k) Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $250,000
(in the aggregate) (other than ordinary course trade payables or pursuant
to existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business) or
guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or
warrants or rights to acquire debt securities of the Company or guarantee
any debt securities of others;
(l) Adopt or amend any Company Plan or increase the salaries or wage
rates of any of its employees (except for wage increases in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practices), including but not
limited to (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing), the
adoption or amendment of any stock purchase or option plan, the entering
into of any employment contract not in the ordinary course of business
which would be a Material Contract pursuant to Section 2.16 (b) of this
Agreement or the
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payment of any special bonus or special remuneration to any director or
employee, other than bonuses reflected on the Company Balance Sheet;
(m) Revalue any of the Company's assets, including without limitation
writing down the value of inventory, writing off notes or accounts
receivable other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or waiving any right of material value;
(n) Commence any operations in connection with the Company's
properties in New Orleans, Louisiana;
(o) Pay, discharge or satisfy in an amount in excess of $50,000 (in
any one case) or $150,000 (in the aggregate), any claim, liability or
obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), including, without limitation, under any employment contract or
with respect to any bonus or special remuneration, other than the payment,
discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business of liabilities
of the type reflected or reserved against in the Company June 30th
Financials (or the notes thereto);
(p) Make or change any material election in respect of Taxes, adopt
or change in any material respect any accounting method in respect of
Taxes, file any amendment to a material Return, enter into any closing
agreement, settle any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes (except
settlements effected solely through payment of immaterial sums of money),
or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable
to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes;
(q) Except as permitted under Section 5.16 of this Agreement, enter
into any Material Contract other than in the usual, regular and ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices and policies;
(r) Amend or terminate any of the Company's insurance policies;
(s) Except as set forth in Section 4(s) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, make any changes with respect to the tuition, fees, program
duration or Curricula of any of the programs offered by the School,
including, without limitation, implementing any foreign exchange student
programs;
(t) Take any action with respect to the establishment or development
of additional locations offering the School's College of Food programs,
except with respect to the Garden Grove campus;
(u) Take any action with respect to the Computer Rollout;
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(v) Hire, fire (other than for cause) or change the responsibilities
or work location of any employee or prospective employee whose annual
compensation is greater than $75,000 and whose employment cannot be
terminated by the Company on thirty days notice without liability; or
(w) Enter into an agreement, agree to pay or cause to be paid any
fees for expenses of, discharge any debts to the Company owing from or
release or discharge any claims of the Company against any of the
individuals listed in Section 4(w) of the Company Disclosure Letter or such
individuals' affiliates, in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(x) Take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in clauses (a) through (w) above, or any other action
which would cause or would be reasonably likely to cause any of the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Sections 6.1 or 6.3, not to be
satisfied.
5. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 Company Disclosure Letter. The Company has delivered to Parent the
Company Disclosure Letter as provided in Article 2. The Company Disclosure
Letter shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary of the Company and shall state that such Company
Disclosure Letter is the Company Disclosure Letter referred to in this
Agreement. The Company Disclosure Letter is deemed to constitute an integral
part of this Agreement and to modify, as specified, the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement.
5.2 Proxy Statement. As promptly as practicable after the execution of
this Agreement, the Company shall prepare, and file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement shall include the
fairness opinion of Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated, referred to in Section
2.41 and shall conform to the requirements of Section 2.39.
5.3 Meeting of Shareholders. Promptly after the date hereof, the Company
shall take all action necessary in accordance with the California Law and the
Company Articles and Company Bylaws to convene the Company Shareholders' Meeting
to be held as promptly as practicable for the purpose of voting upon approval of
the principal terms of this Agreement and the Merger. The Board of Directors of
the Company shall recommend and declare advisable such approval and the Company
shall take all lawful action to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor
of the approval of the principal terms of this Agreement and the Merger, and use
its best efforts to obtain, such approval, subject to the fiduciary duties of
the Company's directors under California Law.
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5.4 Access to Information. The Company shall afford the Parent and its
employees, accountants, legal counsel and other representatives reasonable
access during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective
Time to all information concerning the business to inspect, investigate and
audit the contracts, operations and business of the Company including, without
limitation, providing financial aid/regulatory information, providing access to
regulatory compliance materials, conducting a management information
systems/Year 2000 audit and providing access to accounting systems and audit
controls. Parent and its representatives will conduct the inspection and
investigation in a reasonable manner during normal business hours. The Company
agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly and completely
provide all disclosures requested by Parent or its representatives. No
information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this Section
5.4 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained
herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the
Merger.
5.5 No Solicitation.
(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its
terms, the Company will not, and will not permit its officers, directors,
employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other
representatives, agents or Affiliates to, directly or indirectly, (i)
solicit, initiate or encourage any inquiries or proposals that constitute,
or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal (as
defined below), (ii) engage in negotiations or discussions concerning, or
provide any non-public information to any person or entity in connection
with, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) agree to, approve, recommend or
otherwise endorse or support any Acquisition Proposal. As used herein, the
term "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any proposal relating to a
possible (i) merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the
Company or any subsidiary of Company, (ii) sale, lease or other
disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, share
exchange or otherwise, of any assets of Company or any subsidiary of the
Company representing, in the aggregate, 20% or more of the assets of
Company on a consolidated basis, (iii) issuance, sale or other disposition
by the Company of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share
exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or
warrants to purchase or securities convertible into, such securities)
representing 20% or more of the votes attached to the outstanding
securities of Company, (iv) transaction with the Company in which any
person shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership, or any "group" (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act)
shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company
Capital Stock, (v) liquidation, dissolution, or other similar type of
transaction with respect to Company or any subsidiary of Company or (vi)
transaction with the Company which is similar in form, substance or purpose
to any of the foregoing transactions, provided, however, that the
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term Acquisition Proposal shall not include the Merger and the transactions
contemplated thereby. The Company will and will cause all its Affiliates to
immediately cease any and all existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of
the foregoing. For purposes of this Section 5.5, the term "Affiliate"
shall mean, in relation to the Company, any entity directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company;
provided, however, that the term Affiliate shall exclude any of Theodore G.
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Crocker, Thomas C. Green or William Demar, or any entity directly or
indirectly controlled by any of the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.5(a) above, if a
corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership,
partnership, person or other entity or group (a "Third Party") after the
date of this Agreement submits to the Company's Board of Directors an
unsolicited, bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal, and the Company's
Board of Directors reasonably determines in good faith, after receipt of
written advice from outside legal counsel that the failure to engage in
discussions with the Third Party concerning such Acquisition Proposal would
cause the Company's Board of Directors to breach its fiduciary duties to
the Company and its shareholders, and after consultation with Sutter
Securities Incorporated, or any other nationally recognized investment
bank, then, in such case, (i) the Company may (x) furnish information about
its business, properties and assets to the Third Party under protection of
an appropriate confidentiality agreement and (y) negotiate and participate
in discussions and negotiations with such Third Party and (ii) if the
Company's Board of Directors determines that such an Acquisition Proposal
is a Superior Proposal (as defined below), the Company's Board of Directors
may (subject to the provisions of this Section 5.5(c)) (x) withdraw or
adversely modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger and recommend
such Superior Proposal or (y) terminate this Agreement, in each case, at
any time after the fifth business day following delivery of written notice
to Parent (a "Notice of Superior Proposal") advising Parent that the
Company's Board of Directors has received a Superior Proposal and
specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal.
The Company may take any of the foregoing actions pursuant to the preceding
sentence if, and only if, an Acquisition Proposal that was a Superior
Proposal continues to be a Superior Proposal in light of any improved
proposal submitted by Parent, considered in good faith by the Company,
prior to the expiration of the five business day period specified in the
preceding sentence. The Company shall provide Parent with a final written
notice, at least twenty-four (24) hours, before accepting any Superior
Proposal. For purposes of this Agreement, "Superior Proposal" means any
unsolicited, bona fide, written Acquisition Proposal for consideration
consisting of cash and/or securities, and otherwise on terms which the
Company's Board of Directors determines (based on the written advice of a
financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, including, without
limitation, Sutter Securities Incorporated) are more favorable to the
Company's shareholders from a financial point of view than the Merger (or
other proposal submitted by Parent as
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contemplated above), after consultation with its outside legal counsel.
Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Company from taking, and
disclosing to its shareholders, a position required by Rule 14d-9(e) under
the Exchange Act prior to the fifth business day following Parent's receipt
of a Notice of Superior Proposal, provided that the Company does not
withdraw or modify its position with respect to the Merger or approve or
recommend an Acquisition Proposal.
(c) The Company will notify Parent within 24 hours if (i) a bona fide
Acquisition Proposal is made or is modified in any respect (including the
principal terms and conditions of any such Acquisition Proposal or
modification thereto and the identity of the offeror) or (ii) the Company
furnishes non-public information to, or enters into discussions or
negotiations with respect to an Acquisition Proposal with, any Third Party.
(d) It is understood and agreed that, without limitation of the
Company's obligations hereunder, any violation of this Section 5.5 by any
director, officer, Affiliate, investment bank, financial advisor,
accountant, attorney or other advisor or representative of the Company,
whether or not such person or entity is purporting to act on behalf of the
Company, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.5 by the Company.
The Company agrees that, as of the date hereof, it, its Affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and
representatives, shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any
existing activities, discussions and negotiations with any Third Party
(other than Parent and its representatives) conducted heretofore with
respect to any Acquisition Proposal.
5.6 Expenses.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 5.6(b) and Section 5.7, all fees
and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and any
other transaction contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.
(b) In connection with any claim, dispute, disagreement or other
conflict involving the enforcement of this Article 5, the parties agree
that the prevailing party shall be reimbursed by the other party for all
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs and expenses associated with such
conflict.
5.7 Break-Up Fee.
(a) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii),
7.1(b)(iii) or 7.1(b)(iv), 7.1(b)(i) as a result of any willful breach by
the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
Company set forth in this Agreement (a "Qualifying Section 7.1(b)(i)
Termination"), Section 7.1(c)(ii) or Section
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7.1(d)(iii) and Parent is not then in breach of this Agreement (taking into
account any cure periods), then the Company shall (i) on the date specified
in the proviso to this sentence in the case of a termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(d)(iii) or (ii) simultaneously with a
termination of this Agreement in the case of a termination of this
Agreement as a result of a Qualifying Section 7.1(b)(i) Termination or
pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii), 7.1(b)(iii) or 7.1(b)(iv) or 7.1(c)(ii),
pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account designated by Parent) a break-up fee of (x) $500,000 plus the
reimbursement of all of Parent's Expenses, in the event of a Qualifying
Section 7.1(b)(i) Termination, or (y) $1,250,000 plus all of Parent's
Expenses, in the event of a termination pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii),
7.1(b)(iii), 7.1(b)(iv), 7.1(c)(ii) or 7.1(d)(iii); provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obligated to pay such fee to the Parent if this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(d)(iii) unless and until
(I) at the time of the Company Shareholders' Meeting the Company has
received a bona fide Acquisition Proposal or a Third Party has made or has
publicly announced its intention to make a bona fide Acquisition Proposal
and (II) within twelve months after the termination of this Agreement an
Acquisition Proposal is consummated by the Company with any Third Party.
(b) "Expenses" shall mean all of the reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses of Parent, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees,
accounting fees, filing fees and fees and expenses of financial advisors,
in each case incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Merger,
provided, however, that Parent shall have provided reasonable supporting
documentation (such as invoices and receipts) to the Company for such
Expenses; and provided further, that in no event shall the aggregate amount
of Expenses payable by the Company pursuant to this Section 5.7 exceed
$250,000.
5.8 Public Disclosure. Parent and the Company shall consult with each
other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement
with respect to the Merger or this Agreement and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as
may be required by law or any listing agreement with a national securities
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market (but such party shall use its reasonable
best efforts to consult with the other party as to all such public
announcements).
5.9 Auditors' Letters. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
cause to be delivered to the Company (with a copy to Parent) a letter of Rooney
Ida Nolt & Ahern, independent auditors to the Company, dated a date within two
business days before the date on which the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
the Company stockholders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Parent and customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by independent
public accountants in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission filings
similar to the Proxy Statement.
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5.10 Regulatory Requirements. The Company will (a) cooperate with Parent
to take all commercially reasonable steps necessary or desirable, and proceed
diligently and in good faith and use all commercially reasonable efforts, as
promptly as practicable to solicit input from Governmental/Regulatory Entities
regarding the process of obtaining regulatory, Accrediting Body approvals and
DOE approvals, obtain all regulatory, Accrediting Body approvals and DOE
approvals, make all filings with and give all notices to Governmental/Regulatory
Entities, and obtain all licenses required of the Company to consummate the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation
those described in the Company Disclosure Letter, (b) provide such other
information and communications to such Governmental/Regulatory Entities or other
persons as Parent or such Governmental/Regulatory Entities may request and (c)
cooperate with Parent as promptly as practicable in obtaining all regulatory,
Accrediting Body approvals and DOE approvals, making all filings with and giving
all notices to Governmental/Regulatory Entities and obtaining all licenses
required of Parent to consummate the Merger and other transactions contemplated
hereby. The Company will provide prompt notification to Parent when any such
regulatory, Accrediting Body or DOE approval or license referred to in clause
(a) above is obtained, taken, made or given, as applicable, and will promptly
advise Parent of any communications (and promptly provide copies of any such
communications that are in writing or filings) with any Governmental/Regulatory
Entity regarding the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Company and Parent will (i) take all reasonable actions
necessary to file as soon as practicable, notifications under the HSR Act, (ii)
comply at the earliest practicable date with any request for additional
information received from the Federal Trade Commission or Antitrust Division of
the Department of Justice pursuant to the HSR Act, and (iii) request early
termination of the applicable waiting period.
5.11 Legal Requirements. Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company will
take all reasonable actions necessary or desirable to comply promptly with all
legal requirements which may be imposed on them with respect to the consummation
of the Merger and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including
furnishing all information required under the HSR Act and in connection with
approvals of or filings with any Governmental/Regulatory Entity, and prompt
resolution of any litigation prompted hereby) and will promptly cooperate with
and furnish information to any party hereto necessary in connection with any
such requirements imposed upon any of them or their respective subsidiaries in
connection with the consummation of the Merger and other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and will take all reasonable actions necessary
to obtain (and will cooperate with the other parties hereto in obtaining) any
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or any registration, declaration
or filing with, any Governmental/Regulatory Entity or other public or private
third party required to be obtained or made in connection with the Merger or
taking of any action contemplated by this Agreement. The obligations of Parent
under this Section 5.11 with respect to the HSR Act shall not require Parent to
obtain or attempt to obtain any such waiver, permit, consent, approval or
authorization if obtaining such waiver, permit, consent, approval or
authorization would require disposition of any assets of Parent.
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5.12 Reasonable Commercial Efforts and Further Assurances. Each of the
parties to this Agreement shall each use its reasonable commercial efforts to
effectuate the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby as
expeditiously as reasonably practicable and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled
the conditions to closing under this Agreement (including promptly making their
respective filings required and the resolution of any litigation prompted
hereby). Each party hereto, at the reasonable request of another party hereto,
shall execute and deliver such other instruments and do and perform such other
acts and things as may be necessary or desirable for effecting completely the
consummation of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby.
5.13 Indemnification.
(a) For six years from and after the Effective Time, Parent shall,
and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless (and advance expenses to) all past and present officers, directors
and employees of the Company to the same extent such persons are
indemnified as of the date of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to any
agreements between the Company and any such person and the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, for any expenses, liabilities and
losses (including reasonable attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA
excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) incurred in
connection with any claims, action, suit, proceeding or investigation,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or
pertaining to acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time
(other than any acts or omission related to violations of Section 4(w)),
and shall obtain, or continue the existing, Director and Officer Insurance
for a period of six years after the Effective Date with substantially the
same coverage as provided on the Effective Time provided, however, that the
Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall not be required to pay an annual
premium in excess of 150% of the aggregate annualized premiums paid by the
Company in 1999 (the "Maximum Amount"); provided, further, that if the
Surviving Corporation is unable to obtain the insurance required by this
Section 5.13 (a) it shall obtain as much comparable insurance as possible
for an annual premium equal to the Maximum Amount. In the event of any
dispute regarding whether a director, officer or employee has met the
standards of conduct set forth therein, such question shall be conclusively
determined by the opinion of reputable disinterested legal counsel selected
by the Company's Board of Directors. Any heirs or legal representatives
entitled to the benefits of such indemnification shall be deemed express
third party beneficiaries of this Section 5.13.
(b) If Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person
and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially
all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such
case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the
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successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case
may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.13.
(c) The rights of each indemnified person under this Section 5.13
shall be in addition to any rights such person may have under any
indemnification contract between such indemnified person and the Company,
the Company Articles or Company Bylaws, or under California Law or any
other applicable laws. These rights shall survive consummation of the
Merger and are intended to benefit, and shall be enforceable by, each
indemnified person (and such person's heirs and legal representatives) as
intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 5.13.
5.14 Notification. Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, each party will promptly notify the other party in writing if such party
becomes aware of any development, fact or condition that causes or constitutes a
breach of any agreement or covenant under this Agreement applicable to such
party or of such party's representations and warranties as of the date of this
Agreement, or if such party becomes aware of the occurrence after the date of
this Agreement of any fact or condition that would cause or constitute a breach
of any such representation or warranty had such representation or warranty been
made as of the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or condition.
5.15 Cooperation Regarding Post-Signing Operations. After the execution of
this Agreement, the Company shall cooperate with the Parent in developing
post-Closing transition policies with respect to management information systems,
marketing, admissions, personnel, outsourcing, operations, regulatory matters
and accounting, including, without limitation, meeting regularly (at such times
as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and Parent) with on-site
transition teams of Parent with respect to marketing, management information
systems, regulatory matters and accounting, in accordance with Section 5.15 of
the Company Disclosure Letter.
5.16 New Orleans Project. The Company shall not take any action
whatsoever, including, without limitation, preparations for the commencement of
operations, signing contracts, making capital expenditures and hiring personnel
in connection with the Company's properties in New Orleans, Louisiana (the
"New Orleans Property"), except actions regarding the sale of the New Orleans
Property for not less than $3.1 million, and the Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to complete such sale prior to the Closing Date;
provided any such actions shall be subject to the prior written approval of
Parent, which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld. The Company shall
promptly provide Parent with all material documents relating to the negotiation
and sale of the New Orleans Property.
5.17 Termination of 401(k) Plan. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company's
Board of Directors shall adopt a resolution freezing and terminating each
Company Plan (as defined in Section 2.28(c)) which contains a cash or deferred
arrangement subject to Section 401(k) of the Code. As soon as practical after
the Closing, Parent may cause the terminated Company Plan to
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be filed with the Internal Revenue Service for a favorable determination letter
and shall take such other steps as it deems necessary in its sole discretion
with respect to the terminated Company Plan. Parent agrees that it shall assume
and be solely responsible for any obligations under COBRA (as defined in Section
2.28(e)) associated with applicable Company Plans.)
5.18 Option Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall have
received Option Agreements, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto from each
---------
of Theodore G. Crocker, Thomas C. Green and William DeMar.
5.19 Employee Matters. Following the Effective Time and until the third
anniversary thereof, Parent shall cause employees of the Company immediately
preceding the Effective Time ("Company Employees") to be covered under employee
benefit plans that are substantially comparable, in the aggregate, to the
employee benefit plans provided by Parent to employees of its other schools.
Parent shall cause service with the Company to be recognized as services for
purposes of all employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements applicable
to Company Employees after the Effective Time, to the extent such service is
credited under comparable plans and arrangements of the Parent's other schools.
5.20 Real Estate Deliveries. The Company shall use commercially reasonably
efforts to deliver to Parent at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing, the
following with respect to each of the Leases: (i) an estoppel, consent and
amendment agreement from each of the landlords, joined by the tenant thereof,
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and (ii) a subordination,
nondisturbance and attornment agreement from each mortgagee or trustee under a
deed of trust or underlying or ground lessor in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C. Additionally, the Company shall deliver to Parent within 30 days
after the date hereof, at no cost to Parent, with respect to the Owned Real
Estate (if such Owned Real Estate is still owned by the Company at the Closing
Date) and the Rental Real Estate (i) an ALTA survey dated not earlier than one
year from the date of this Agreement and (ii) a fully paid for title insurance
commitment from Chicago Title Insurance Company insuring the Owned Real Estate
(if such Owned Real Estate is still owned by the Company at the Closing Date)
and in the amount of its current market value, and the leasehold estate for each
Leased Real Estate in the amount of $3,000,000 showing no exceptions to title
reasonably objected to by Parent, and including the following endorsements:
access, zoning 3.1 issuing compliance with land use regulations and the
continued use for the purpose use without authorization requirements, and
coverage over the general policy exceptions.
5.21 Marketing Matters. The Company shall maintain its marketing
expenditures to the extent set forth in the Company's marketing budget attached
hereto as Section 5.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
5.22 Admissions Training. Parent shall provide to the Company, at no cost,
admissions training personnel to train the Company's admission staff in
connection with the Company's admissions policies and procedures, and the
Company agrees that all of its admissions
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personnel shall participate in such training; provided, however, that such
training shall not interrupt the operations of the Company
5.23 ACCSCT and DOE Matters. Parent and Merger Sub shall cooperate with
the Company to provide all reasonably requested information and use all
reasonable efforts to obtain ACCSCT and DOE approvals necessary to consummate
the Merger and the renewal of ACCSCT accreditation including, but not limited
to, providing financial assistance to the Company not to exceed $2,500,000 in
the form of a letter of credit or other financial commitment to be posted after
the Effective Time and all financial information, financial statements or other
documentation reasonably necessary to demonstrate to ACCSCT or the DOE, or
otherwise ensure, the Company's post-Closing compliance with financial stability
and responsibility requirements.
5.24 Severance Agreements. Parent shall honor, or cause the Surviving
Corporation to honor, all severance agreements and employment agreements with
the Company's directors, officers and employees which are listed in Section 2.16
of the Company Disclosure Letter (the "Severance Agreements"). Parent
acknowledges that the consummation of the Merger constitutes a "triggering
event" for the Severance Agreement with Keith Keogh and a "sale of the Company"
under each of the other Severance Agreements. Parent agrees to pay, or cause the
Surviving Corporation to pay, promptly following the Effective Time, the
specified severance amounts to the specified persons as set forth on Section
2.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter if due or payable. Nothing herein is
intended to modify or amend the Severance Agreements other than to specify the
time of, and responsibility for, payment of such severance payments. The Company
agrees that such amounts listed on Section 2.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter
are the only payments due to the specified persons under such Severance
Agreements.
6. CONDITIONS
6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger. The
respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions:
(a) Shareholder Approval. The principal terms of this Agreement and
the Merger shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote under
applicable law of the shareholders of the Company.
(b) Proxy Statement. The Company shall have cleared all of the
Securities and Exchange Commission's comments to the Proxy Statement. No
proceeding preventing distribution of the Proxy Statement or any part
thereof shall have been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC, and
all requests for additional information on the part of the SEC shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the parties hereto.
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(c) No Injunctions. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect.
(d) HSR Act. Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act shall
have expired or been terminated.
(e) Governmental/Regulatory Consents. All consents, approvals, orders
or authorizations of, or registrations, declarations or filings with, any
Governmental/Regulatory Entity required by or with respect to the Company,
Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger
and other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained or
made, except for (i) approval from the DOE and (ii) such consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations or filings
the failure to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
or Material Adverse Effect on the Parent or materially impair the
Company's, Parent's or Merger Sub's ability to consummate the Merger.
6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of The Company. The obligations
of the Company to consummate and effect this Agreement and the Merger and other
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which
may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Company:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties of Parent set forth in
this Agreement that are qualified by materiality shall have been true
and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall
be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though
made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date),
except for changes contemplated or permitted by this Agreement;
(ii) The representations and warranties of Parent that are
not qualified by materiality shall have been true and correct in all
respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made
on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly
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speak as of an earlier date), except for changes contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement; and
(iii) The Company shall have received a certificate to the
foregoing effect signed on behalf of Parent by the President or
Chief Financial Officer of Parent.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have
performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and
covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
them on or prior to the Effective Time, and the Company shall have received
a certificate to the foregoing effect signed by the President or Chief
Financial Officer of Parent.
(c) Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The
obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate and effect this Agreement and
the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Parent:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth
in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality shall have been
true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and
shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as
though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date),
except for changes contemplated or permitted by this Agreement;
(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company that are
not qualified by materiality shall have been true and correct in all
respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made
on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly speak as of an earlier date),
except for changes contemplated or permitted by this Agreement; and
(iii) Parent and Merger Sub shall have received a certificate to
the foregoing effect signed on behalf of the Company by the President
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
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(b) Agreement and Covenants. The Company shall have performed or
complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or
prior to the Effective Time, and the Parent and Merger Sub shall have
received a certificate to the foregoing effect signed by the President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
(c) Third Party Consents. Parent shall have received all written
consents, assignments, waivers, authorizations or other certificates
necessary to provide for the continuation in full force and effect of any
and all Material Contracts of the Company and for the Company to consummate
the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, including, without
limitation, the approval of the California Department of Consumer Affairs
and any other applicable California Governmental/Regulatory Entities,
except (1) approval from the DOE and (2) where the failure to receive such
consents, assignments, waivers, authorizations or certificates would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
(d) Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(e) ACCSCT Accreditation. The School shall have had the renewal of
its accreditation approved by ACCSCT and no "show cause" order shall be
outstanding.
7. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned
at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;
(b) by Parent if:
(i) there has been a breach of any material representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on the
part of the Company and such breach has not been cured within twenty
(20) days after written notice to the Company (provided, that Parent
is not in material breach of the terms of this Agreement; and provided
further, that no cure period shall be required for a breach which by
its nature cannot be cured) such that the conditions set forth in
Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b), as the case may be, will not be
satisfied;
(ii) the Board of Directors of the Company (A) adversely amends,
withholds or withdraws its recommendation of the Merger or (B) shall
have
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resolved or publicly announced its intention to recommend an agreement
with respect to an Acquisition Proposal;
(iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for twenty percent (20%)
or more of the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock shall have
been commenced or a registration statement with respect thereto shall
have been filed (other than by Parent of an affiliate thereof) and the
Board of Directors of Company shall, notwithstanding its obligations
hereunder, have (x) recommended that the shareholders of Company
tender their shares in such tender or exchange offer or (y) publicly
announced its intention to take no position with respect to such
tender offer; or
(iv) the Company is in material breach any of the provisions of
Section 5.5;
(c) by the Company:
(i) if there has been a breach of any material representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on the
part of the Parent or Merger Sub and such breach has not been cured
within twenty (20) days after written notice to the Parent (provided,
that the Company is not in material breach of the terms of this
Agreement; and provided further, that no cure period shall be required
for a breach which by its nature cannot be cured) such that the
conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b), as the case
may be, will not be satisfied; or
(ii) in accordance with Section 5.5(b).
(d) by any party hereto if:
(i) there shall be a final, non-appealable order of a Federal
or state court in effect preventing consummation of the Merger;
(ii) there shall be any final action taken, or any statute,
rule, regulation or order enacted, promulgated or issued and deemed
applicable to the Merger by any Governmental/Regulatory Entity which
would make consummation of the Merger illegal or which would prohibit
Parent's ownership or operation of all or a material portion of the
business of the Company, or compel Parent to dispose of or hold
separately all or a material portion of the business or assets of the
Company or Parent as a result of the Merger; or
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(iii) the Company's Shareholders do not approve the Merger at the
Company Shareholders' Meeting.
(e) by any party hereto if the Merger shall not have been consummated
by April 26, 2000 (the "Termination Date") provided, however, that either
party may extend the Termination Date to any day up to, and including, June
30, 2000 in the event that as of the Termination Date all of the conditions
set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement have been satisfied other than
approval of the Merger by (i) the California Department of Consumer Affairs
or (ii) ACCSCT; provided, further, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 7.1(e) shall not be available (i) to any party
whose willful failure to fulfill any material obligation under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the
Effective Time to occur on or before such date or (ii) to the Company or
Parent during a cure period provided to the Company under Section 7.1(b)(i)
or Parent under Section 7.1(c)(i).
7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement
as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there
shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the
Company or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates,
except to the extent that such termination results from the breach by a party
hereto of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set
forth in this Agreement, and, provided that the provisions of Sections 5.6 and
5.7 and Article 8 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
survive any termination of this Agreement. The exercise by either party of a
termination right pursuant to Section 7.1 shall not be deemed a breach of any
provision of this Agreement.
7.3 Notice of Termination. Any termination of this Agreement under
Section 7.1 above will be effective immediately upon the delivery of written
notice of the terminating party to the other parties hereto upon satisfaction of
the requirements set forth in Section 7.1.
7.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any
time by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.
7.5 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time any party
hereto 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 hereto,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such
party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c)
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of
such party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of such party. Failure of any party to insist on full
compliance with each and every representation, warranty, covenant, condition or
term shall not create an estoppel.
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8. GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered
pursuant to this Agreement shall survive beyond the Effective Time.
8.2 Notices. All communications or notices required or permitted by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given at the
earlier of the date personally delivered or sent by telephonic facsimile
transmission (with a copy via regular mail) or one day after sending via
nationally recognized overnight courier or five days after deposit in the United
States mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, and addressed as follows, unless and until any of such parties
notifies the others in accordance with this Section 8.2 of a change of address :
(a) if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
Career Education Corporation
2800 West Higgins Road
Suite 790
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60195
Attention: John M. Larson
Todd H. Steele
Telecopy No.: (847) 781-3610
with a copy to:
Katten Muchin & Zavis
525 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois
Attention: Lawrence D. Levin, Esq.
David J. Kaufman, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (312) 902-1061
(b) if to the Company, to:
California Culinary Academy
625 Polk Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Telecopy No.: (415) 775-5129
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with a copy to:
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
Post Office Box 7880
San Francisco, California 94120
Attention: Blair W. White
Telecopy No.: (415) 983-1200
8.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Exhibits, such reference shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The words "include", "includes" and "including" when used
herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without
limitation." The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. When reference is made herein to "the business
of" an entity, such reference shall be deemed to include the business of all
direct and indirect subsidiaries of such entity. Reference to the subsidiaries
of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect subsidiaries of
such entity. References in this Agreement to "knowledge" shall mean the
knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company or Parent, as the case
may be.
8.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.
8.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and
other agreements among the parties hereto as contemplated by or referred to
herein, including the Company Disclosure Letter (a) constitute the entire
agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, it being understood that
the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
Closing and shall survive any termination of this Agreement; and (b) are not
intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder,
except with respect to Article 1, Section 5.13 and Section 5.24.
8.6 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or
the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this
Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably
to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace
such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and
enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic,
business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.
51
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8.7 Other Remedies. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all
remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with
and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon
such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the
exercise of any other remedy.
8.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California, regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.
Each of the parties hereto agrees that process may be served upon them in any
manner authorized by the laws of the State of California for such persons and
waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might
otherwise have to such jurisdiction and such process.
8.9 Rules of Construction. The parties hereto agree that they have been
represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement
and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of
construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will
be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.
8.10 Assignment. No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its
rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval
of the parties.
8.11 Company Disclosure Letter. The Company Disclosure Letter is part of
this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to Sections,
subsections, clauses and the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed
references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise
require. The inclusion of any information in the Company Disclosure Letter shall
not be deemed to be an admission or an acknowledgment by the Company that such
information is material to or outside the ordinary course of business activity
of the Company. The specification of any dollar amount in the representations
and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute an
admission by the Company or otherwise imply that any such amount is material for
purposes of this Agreement.
[signature page follows]
52
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by themselves or their duly authorized respective
officers, all as of the date first written above.
CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY, INC.
By: /s/ John M. Larson By: /s/ Keith Keogh
-------------------------- -------------------------------------
Name: John M. Larson Name: Keith Keogh
------------------------ -----------------------------------
Title: CEO Title: President/Chief Executive Officer
----------------------- ----------------------------------
CCA ACQUISITION, LLC
By: /s/ John M. Larson
--------------------------
Name: John M. Larson
------------------------
Title: CEO
-----------------------
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 2(b)
EXECUTION COPY
OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of December 6, 1999 is by
and between Career Education Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Acquiror"), and the other parties signatory hereto (each a "Shareholder").
RECITALS
Acquiror, CCA Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror ("Acquisition Sub"), and California
Culinary Academy, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), are
negotiating an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be executed
and amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger
Agreement), a draft of which has been circulated to the parties, pursuant to
which (and subject to the terms and conditions specified therein) the
Acquisition Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"), whereby
each share of common stock, no par value, of the Company ("Company Common
Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be
converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, other than (i)
shares of Company Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company or by Acquiror and (ii) Dissenting Shares.
As a condition to Acquiror's negotiating and entering into the Merger
Agreement, Acquiror requires that each Shareholder enter into, and each such
Shareholder has agreed to enter into, this Agreement with Acquiror.
AGREEMENT
To implement the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SHAREHOLDERS. Each Shareholder
hereby severally and not jointly represents and warrants to Acquiror as follows:
(a) OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. (i) Such Shareholder is either (a) the
record holder or beneficial owner, either alone or with such Shareholder's
spouse, of the number of or (b) trustee of a trust that is the record
holder or beneficial owner of, and whose beneficiaries are the beneficial
owners (such trustee, a "Trustee") of shares of Company Common Stock as is
set forth opposite such Shareholder's name on Schedule I hereto (such
shares shall constitute the "Existing Shares", and together with any shares
of Company Common Stock acquired of record or beneficially by such
Shareholder in any capacity after the date hereof and prior to the
termination hereof, whether upon exercise of options,
<PAGE>
conversion of convertible securities, purchase, exchange or otherwise,
shall constitute the "Shares").
(ii) On the date hereof, the Existing Shares set forth opposite
such Shareholder's name on Schedule I hereto constitute all of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock owned of record or
beneficially by such Shareholder. Such Shareholder does not have
record or beneficial ownership of any Shares not set forth on Schedule
I hereto.
(iii) Such Shareholder has sole power, or shared power with such
Shareholder's spouse, of disposition with respect to all of the
Existing Shares set forth opposite such Shareholder's name on Schedule
I and sole power, or shared power with such Shareholder's spouse, to
demand dissenter's or appraisal rights, in each case with respect to
all of the Existing Shares set forth opposite such Shareholder's name
on Schedule I, with no restrictions on such rights, subject to
applicable federal securities laws and the terms of this Agreement.
(b) POWER; BINDING AGREEMENT. Such Shareholder has the legal
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of such
Shareholder's obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such Shareholder will not violate any
other agreement to which such Shareholder is a party or by which such
Shareholder is bound including, without limitation, any trust agreement,
voting agreement, Shareholders agreement, voting trust, partnership or
other agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by such Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement
of such Shareholder, enforceable against such Shareholder in accordance
with its terms. There is no beneficiary of or holder of interest in any
trust of which a Shareholder is Trustee whose consent is required for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. If such Shareholder is married and such
Shareholder's Shares constitute community property, this Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of, such Shareholder's spouse, enforceable against such
person in accordance with its terms.
(c) NO CONFLICTS. Except for filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), if
applicable, and the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting
period thereunder, (A) no filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any state or federal public body or authority is
necessary for the execution of this Agreement by such Shareholder and the
consummation by such Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby
and (B) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such
Shareholder nor the consummation by such Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby nor compliance by such Shareholder with any of the
provisions hereof shall (x) conflict with or result in any breach of any
applicable trust, partnership agreement or other agreements or
organizational
2
<PAGE>
documents applicable to such Shareholder, (y) result in a violation or
breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both)
a default (or give rise to any third party right of termination,
cancellation, material modification or acceleration) under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
license, contract, commitment, arrangement, understanding, agreement or
other instrument or obligation of any kind to which such Shareholder is a
party or by which such Shareholder or any of such Shareholder's properties
or assets may be bound or (z) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
judgment, statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Shareholder or any
of such Shareholder's properties or assets.
(d) LIENS. Such Shareholder's Shares and the certificates
representing such Shares are now and at all times during the term hereof
will be held by such Shareholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the
benefit of such Shareholder, free and clear of all liens, claims, security
interests, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or
arrangements or any other encumbrances whatsoever, except for any such
encumbrances or proxies arising hereunder or listed on Schedule 1(d).
-------------
(e) BROKERS. No broker, investment banker, financial adviser or
other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial adviser's or
other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such
Shareholder in his or her capacity as such.
(f) ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Such Shareholder understands and acknowledges
that Acquiror is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such
Shareholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement with Acquiror.
(g) REVIEW OF MERGER AGREEMENT. Such Shareholder (other than Thomas
C. Green) has received and reviewed a copy of the Merger Agreement and the
Company Disclosure Letter delivered therewith and, to the knowledge of such
Shareholder, neither the Merger Agreement or the Company Disclosure Letter
contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any
material fact required to be state therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
2. OPTION GRANTED TO ACQUIROR.
(a) Each Shareholder, severally and not jointly, hereby grants to
Acquiror an irrevocable option to purchase all, but not less than all, of
such Shareholder's Shares at any time prior to the termination of the
Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein (collectively, with respect to all the
Shareholder's Shares, the "Acquiror Option"), which Acquiror Option shall
attach to each Shareholder's Shares and be binding upon any person or
entity to which legal or beneficial ownership of such Shares shall pass,
whether by operation of law or otherwise,
3
<PAGE>
including without limitation such Shareholder's heirs, guardians,
administrators or successors or as a result of any divorce.
(b) If Acquiror wishes to exercise the Acquiror Option, Acquiror
shall send a written notice to each Shareholder of its election to exercise
the Acquiror Option, any time prior to the Closing, which exercise shall be
subject to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Section 2(e)
hereof. The place and date of the closing of the Acquiror Option ("Acquiror
Option Closing") shall be the same as the Closing, and the time of the
Acquiror Option Closing shall be immediately prior to the Closing.
(c) At the Acquiror Option Closing, each Shareholder shall deliver to
Acquiror all of such Shareholder's Shares by delivery of a certificate or
certificates evidencing such Shares, duly endorsed to Acquiror or
accompanied by stock powers duly executed in favor of Acquiror, with all
necessary stock transfer stamps affixed.
(d) At the Acquiror Option Closing, Acquiror shall pay to the
Shareholders, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the
account of such Shareholders specified in writing no more than one business
day prior to the Acquiror Option Closing, an amount equal to the product of
the Merger Consideration and the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the
exercise of the Acquiror Option.
(e) Each of the following conditions must be satisfied at the time
the Acquiror Option is exercised and at the time of the Acquiror Option
Closing:
(i) no court, arbitrator or governmental body, agency or
official shall have issued any order, decree or ruling (which has not
been stayed or suspended pending appeal) and there shall not be any
effective statute, rule or regulation, restraining, enjoining or
prohibiting the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares
pursuant to the exercise of the Acquiror Option;
(ii) any waiting period applicable to the consummation of the
purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to the exercise of the
Acquiror Option under the HSR Act shall have expired or been
terminated; and
(iii) all of the conditions set forth in Article 6 of the Merger
Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived.
3. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF SHAREHOLDERS. Except in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, each Shareholder hereby severally covenants and agrees
as follows:
(a) NO SOLICITATION. Prior to the termination of the Merger Agreement
in accordance with its terms, no Shareholder shall, in its capacity as
such, directly or indirectly (including through advisors, agents or other
intermediaries), solicit (including
4
<PAGE>
by way of furnishing information) or respond to any inquiries or the making
of any proposal by any person or entity (other than Acquiror, Acquisition
Sub or any affiliate thereof) with respect to the Company that constitutes
or could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal (as
defined in the Merger Agreement). If any Shareholder in its capacity as
such receives any such inquiry or proposal, then such Shareholder shall
promptly inform Acquiror in writing of the terms and conditions, if any, of
such inquiry or proposal and the identity of the person making it. Each
Shareholder, in its capacity as such, will immediately cease and cause to
be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any
parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing.
(b) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER, PROXIES AND NONINTERFERENCE; RESTRICTION
ON WITHDRAWAL. Prior to the termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with its terms, no Shareholder shall, directly or indirectly:
(i) except pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and to Acquiror
pursuant to this Agreement, offer for sale, sell, transfer, tender, pledge,
encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, enforce or permit the execution
of the provisions of any redemption agreement with the Company or enter
into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to or consent to the offer for sale, sale, transfer, tender,
pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, or exercise any
discretionary powers to distribute, any or all of such Shareholder's Shares
or any interest therein, including any trust income or principal, except in
each case to a Permitted Transferee who is or agrees in a writing executed
by the Acquiror to become bound by this Agreement; (ii) grant any proxies
or powers of attorney with respect to any Shares, deposit any Shares into a
voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Shares;
or (iii) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of
such Shareholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of
preventing or disabling such Shareholder from performing such Shareholder's
obligations under this Agreement. For purposes of the Agreement,
"Permitted Transferees" means, with respect to a Shareholder, any of the
following persons: (a) the spouse of such Shareholder, provided that at all
relevant times of determination such Shareholder is not separated or
divorced from, or is not involved in separation or divorce proceedings
with, such spouse; (b) the issue of such Shareholder; (c) any charitable
foundation or similar organization founded by such Shareholder; (d) a trust
of which there are no principal beneficiaries other than (i) such
Shareholder, (ii) such Shareholder's spouse (provided that at all relevant
times of determination such Shareholder is not separated or divorced from,
or is not involved in separation or divorce proceedings with, such spouse),
(iii) the issue of such Shareholder, or (iv) any charitable foundation or
similar organization founded by such Shareholder; (e) the legal
representative of such Shareholder in the event such Shareholder becomes
mentally incompetent; and (f) the beneficiaries under (i) the will of such
Shareholder or the will of such Shareholder's spouse, or (ii) a trust
described in clause (d) above.
(c) WAIVER OF APPRAISAL AND DISSENTER'S RIGHTS. Each Shareholder
hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger
that
5
<PAGE>
such Shareholder may have. Each Trustee represents that no beneficiary who
is a beneficial owner of Shares under any trust has any right of appraisal
or right to dissent from the Merger which has not been so waived.
(d) NO TERMINATION OR CLOSURE OF TRUSTS. Unless, in connection
therewith, the Shares held by any trust which are presently subject to the
terms of this Agreement are transferred upon termination to one or more
Shareholders and remain subject in all respects to the terms of this
Agreement, or other Permitted Transferees who upon receipt of such Shares
become signatories to this Agreement, the Shareholders who are Trustees
shall not take any action to terminate, close or liquidate any such trust
and shall take all steps necessary to maintain the existence thereof at
least until the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms.
(e) VOTING OF COMPANY STOCK. Each Shareholder hereby agrees that,
prior to the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms, at any meeting (whether annual or special and whether or not an
adjourned or postponed meeting) of the holders of Company Common Stock,
however called, or in connection with any written consent of the holders of
the Company Common Stock, he will appear at the meeting or otherwise cause
the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a
quorum and vote or consent (or cause to be voted or consented) the Shares,
except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by the Acquiror in its
sole discretion, in favor of any business combination with Acquiror and
against the following actions: (a) any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in
the Merger Agreement) or (b) any other action which is intended, or could
reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or
materially adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or the Merger Agreement. Each Shareholder agrees that he will not enter
into any agreement or understanding with any Person the intended or
reasonably anticipated effect of which would be inconsistent with or
violative of any provision contained in this Section 3(e).
(f) GRANT OF PROXY; APPOINTMENT OF PROXY. Each Shareholder hereby
revokes any and all previous proxies granted with respect to the Shares.
Prior to the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms, each Shareholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints,
Acquiror, or any nominee of Acquiror, such Shareholder's proxy and
attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name,
place and stead of such Shareholder, to vote the Existing Shares at every
annual, special, or adjourned meeting, or grant a consent or approval in
respect of the Shares in favor of any business combination proposed by
Acquiror, and against the following actions (a) any Acquisition Proposal
(as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (b) any other action which is
intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with,
delay, postpone or materially adversely affect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement. Each Shareholder
shall have no claim against such proxy and attorney-in-fact, for any action
taken, decision made or instruction given by such proxy
6
<PAGE>
and attorney-in-fact on accordance with this Agreement or the Merger
Agreement. Such proxy is irrevocable and the appointment is coupled with an
interest in the Shares.
4. FURTHER ASSURANCES. From time to time, at the other party's request
and without further consideration, each party hereto shall execute and deliver
such additional documents and take all such further action as may be necessary
or desirable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5. CERTAIN EVENTS. Each Shareholder agrees that this Agreement and the
obligations hereunder shall attach to such Shareholder's Shares and shall be
binding upon any person or entity to which legal or beneficial ownership of such
Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including without
limitation such Shareholder's heirs, guardians, administrators or successors or
as a result of any divorce.
6. STOP TRANSFER. Each Shareholder agrees with, and covenants to,
Acquiror that such Shareholder shall not request that the Company register the
transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or uncertificated interest
representing any of such Shareholder's Shares, unless such transfer is made in
compliance with this Agreement.
7. TERMINATION. If the Merger Agreement is signed by December 15, 1999,
then in the event the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its
terms, the obligations set forth in this Agreement shall also terminate. If the
Merger Agreement is not signed by December 15, 1999, then the obligations set
forth in this Agreement will terminate upon the later to occur of: (a) December
15, 1999; or (b) December 15, 2000, if an Acquisition Proposal is announced or
consummated before December 15, 2000.
8. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement, together with the
Merger Agreement (and the Exhibits and Schedule thereto) (i) constitute the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and (ii) shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise
without the prior written consent of the other party.
(b) AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered
or supplemented, except upon the execution and delivery of a written
agreement executed by the parties hereto; provided that Schedule I may be
supplemented by Acquiror by adding the name and other relevant information
concerning any Shareholder of the Company who is or agrees to be bound by
the terms of this Agreement without the agreement of any other party
hereto, and thereafter such added Shareholder shall be treated as a
"Shareholder" for all purposes of this Agreement.
7
<PAGE>
(c) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given; as of the date of
delivery, if delivered personally; upon receipt of confirmation, if
telecopied or upon the next business day when delivered during normal
business hours to an overnight courier service, such as Federal Express, in
each case to the parties at the following addresses or at such other
addresses as shall be specified by the parties by like notice; unless the
sending party has knowledge that such notice or other communication
hereunder was not received by the intended recipient:
If to the Shareholders:
Theodore G. Crocker
244 Valhalla Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
William G. DeMar
6 Steuban Bay
Alameda, CA 94502
Thomas C. Green
c/o Thomas Green Securities
601 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 2750
Los Angeles, CA 90017
with a copy to:
William E. Waterman, Jr.
600 West Ninth Street
Suite 1109
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Fax: 213/891-9335
If to Acquiror:
Career Education Corporation
2800 West Higgins Road, Suite 790
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195
Attn: John M. Larson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Fax: 847/781-3610
8
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with a copy to:
Katten Muchin & Zavis
525 West Monroe Street, Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60661-3693
Attn: Lawrence D. Levin
David J. Kaufman
Fax: 312/577-8641
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
(d) GOVERNING LAW. The validity, interpretation and effect of this
Agreement shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the State of
California, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws
thereof.
(e) COSTS. The parties will each be solely responsible for and bear
all of its own respective expenses, including, without limitation, expenses
of legal counsel, accountants, and other advisors, incurred at any time in
connection with pursuing or consummating the Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
(f) ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of
which shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
(h) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings used herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(i) SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any party or set of circumstances shall, in any
jurisdiction and to any extent, be finally held invalid or unenforceable,
such term or provision shall only be ineffective as to such jurisdiction,
and only to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable any other terms or provisions of
this Agreement under any other circumstances, and the parties shall
negotiate in good faith a substitute provision which comes as close as
possible to the invalidated or unenforceable term or provision, and which
puts each party in a position as nearly
9
<PAGE>
comparable as possible to the position it would have been in but for the
finding of invalidity or unenforceability, while remaining valid and
enforceable.
(j) DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect
to any securities shall mean having "beneficial ownership" of such
securities (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, whether or not in writing. Without duplicative counting
of the same securities by the same holder, securities Beneficially
Owned by a Person shall include securities Beneficially Owned by all
other Persons with whom such Person would constitute a "group" as
described in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(ii) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity.
(iii) In the event of a stock dividend or distribution, or any
change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend,
split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the
like, the term "Shares" shall be deemed to refer to and include the
Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any
shares into which or for which any or all of the Shares may be changed
or exchanged. In addition, in the event of any change in the
Company's capital stock by reason of stock dividends, stock splits,
mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, combinations, conversions,
exchanges of shares, extraordinary or liquidating dividends, or other
changes in the corporate or capital structure of the Company which
would have the effect of diluting or changing the Acquiror's rights
hereunder, the number and kind of shares or securities subject to the
Option and the purchase price per Share (but not the total purchase
price) shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted so that the
Acquiror shall receive upon exercise or the Acquiror Option the number
and class of shares or other securities or property that the Acquiror
would have received in respect of the Shares purchasable upon exercise
of the Acquiror Option if the Acquiror Option had been exercised
immediately prior to such event. Each Shareholder shall take such
steps in connection with such consolidation, merger, liquidation or
other such action as may be necessary to assure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter apply as nearly as possible to any securities
or property thereafter deliverable upon exercise of the Acquiror
Option.
(k) SHAREHOLDER CAPACITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, no person executing this Agreement who is, or becomes during the
term hereof, a director of the Company makes any agreement or understanding
herein in his or her capacity as such director, and the agreements set
forth herein shall in no way restrict any
10
<PAGE>
director in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director of
the Company. Each Shareholder has executed this Agreement solely in his or
her capacity as the record or beneficial holder of such Shareholder's
Shares or as the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial
owners of such Shareholder's Shares.
[Signature Page Follows]
11
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquiror and each Shareholder have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ Theodore G. Crocker CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION
- ---------------------------
Theodore G. Crocker
/s/ William G. DeMar By: /s/ John M. Larson
- --------------------------- ---------------------------
William G. DeMar Name: John M. Larson
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
/s/ Thomas C. Green
- ---------------------------
Thomas C. Green
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
Record Holder Number of Shares
------------- ----------------
Theodore G. Crocker 1,199,348
William G. DeMar 150,935
Thomas C. Green 177,127
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 1(d)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record Holder Number of Account Type of Account
Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Theodore G. Crocker 313,550 Wells Fargo Bank Collateral for lines of
(Line of Credit) credit
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
403,538 Mid Peninsula Bank Collateral for lines of
(Line of Credit) credit
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
200,000 First National Bank Collateral for lines of
(Line of Credit) credit
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63,550 Co-America Bank Collateral for lines of
(Line of Credit) credit
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
208,408 Legg Mason General margin account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,702 Piper Jaffray General margin account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,600 Sutro Shares unemcumbered
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 1,199,348
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record Holder Number of Account Type of Account
Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
William DeMar 900 Investec General margin account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100 MDG General margin account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
149,935 Legg Mason General margin account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 150,935
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Record Holder Number of Account Type of Account
Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas C. Green 177,127 Thomas Green General margin account
Securities, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
-----------------
The undersigned, __________, does hereby certify that: I am the spouse of
___________; I have carefully read the foregoing Option Agreement (the
"Agreement") to which this consent is attached relating to the granting of an
option with respect to the stock of California Culinary Academy, Inc. (the "CCA
Stock"). I fully and completely understand its meaning and effect; I fully and
completely consent to and approve the purposes and wisdom of its provisions and
agree to be bound by the terms thereof to the extent that it may affect any
community property that I may have together with my spouse or any separate
property interest that I may have in the CCA Stock; I agree to be bound by the
terms and conditions of said instrument as surviving spouse, heir, devisee or
legatee of my spouse, to the extent that my interest may be affected; and I
acknowledge that the parties to the Agreement to which this consent is attached
are entering into it in reliance on the consent herein given by me. I have been
advised of my right to obtain separate counsel.
Dated: ________________ _____________________________
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 2(c)
CAREER EDUCATION CORPORATION SIGNS A DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE
CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1999--Career Education
Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO - news) and California Culinary Academy,
Inc.(NASDAQ:COOK - news) today announced the signing of a definitive merger
agreement under which Career Education Corporation would acquire all the shares
of California Culinary Academy for $5.25 per share in cash. Holders of
approximately 41% of the outstanding shares of California Culinary Academy have
agreed to vote in favor of the merger. Completion of the acquisition is subject
to a number of conditions, including regulatory and CCA shareholder approvals.
"With the addition of California Culinary Academy, Career Education Corporation
will become one of the largest culinary arts providers in the world," said John
M. Larson, president and chief executive officer of Career Education
Corporation. "Even more important, California Culinary Academy is an excellent
complement to our North American culinary strategy." Career Education
Corporation already operates six culinary arts campuses. With approximately 850
students, California Culinary Academy operates a core campus in San Francisco
and three additional College of Food locations in San Francisco, Salinas and San
Diego, California. "In Career Education Corporation we have found a partner that
is a leader in culinary arts instruction and absolutely committed to providing a
top level education and opportunities for career growth to its students," said
Keith Keogh, president and chief executive officer of the California Culinary
Academy. "The combination with CEC will further enhance our ability to prepare
graduates and professionals for positions in the culinary arts."
CEC's six culinary campuses include: Scottsdale Culinary Institute in
Scottsdale, Arizona; California School of Culinary Arts in South Pasadena,
California; Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown Institute in Mendota
Heights, Minnesota; McIntosh College in Dover, New Hampshire; International
Culinary Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Western Culinary Institute in
Portland, Oregon.
Currently operating out of its Core Campus in San Francisco and three College of
Food campuses in Salinas, San Diego and San Francisco, California, the
California Culinary Academy is an internationally known leader and innovator in
culinary arts education. CCA offers two fully accredited professional programs
as well as programs in continuing education and vocational and consumer
training. CCA also provides contract training and consulting services for
product development and operations in the public and private sectors.
Career Education Corporation is one of the largest providers of private, for-
profit, postsecondary education in North America. CEC currently operates 26
campuses in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. CEC schools enjoy long
operating histories and offer a wide variety of bachelor's degree, associate
degree and diploma programs in career-oriented disciplines within CEC's core
curricula of information technology, visual communication and design
technologies, business studies and culinary arts.
<PAGE>
The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon various
assumptions, and certain risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to
differ materially from those stated. Factors that could cause such differences
include those matters disclosed in Career Education Corporation's and California
Culinary Academy's respective filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). Career Education Corporation and California Culinary Academy
assume no obligation to update those forward-looking statements.
CONTACT:
Career Education Corporation
Patrick K. Pesch, 630/237-3615
