<PAGE> 1
FORM 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549
----------------
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999
--------------
Commission file number: 01-10920
--------
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter.)
DELAWARE 02-0451017
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Liberty Lane
Hampton, New Hampshire 03842
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (603) 926-5911
--------------
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes [X] No [ ].
The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at May 10, 1999 was 40,048,514.
<PAGE> 2
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1999
INDEX
PAGE NO.
--------
Part I - Financial Information:
Item 1 - Financial Statements:
Introduction to the Financial Statements.................. 3
Statements of Operations -
Three Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998................ 4
Balance Sheets -
March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998...................... 5
Statements of Cash Flows -
Three Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998................ 6
Notes to Financial Statements............................. 7
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of 12
Operations and Financial Condition...............
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualtitative Disclosures about
Market Risk...................................... 17
Part II - Other Information:
Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...................... 18
SIGNATURE........................................................... 19
EXHIBIT INDEX....................................................... 20
2
<PAGE> 3
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by
Fisher Scientific International Inc. ("Fisher" or the "Company"), without audit,
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The
December 31, 1998 balance sheet is the balance sheet included in the audited
financial statements as shown in the Company's 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information
presented not misleading when read in conjunction with the financial statements
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1998.
The financial information presented herein reflects all adjustments
(consisting only of normal-recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of
management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim
periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
3
<PAGE> 4
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
------ ------
<S> <C> <C>
Sales $600.9 $549.1
Cost of sales 427.4 398.0
Selling, general and administrative expense 133.2 123.2
Transaction-related costs -- 71.0
Loss from operations to be disposed of 8.7 2.5
------ ------
Income (loss) from operations 31.6 (45.6)
Interest expense 26.8 24.9
Other income (2.6) (2.4)
------ ------
Income (loss) before income taxes 7.4 (68.1)
Income tax provision (benefit) 3.9 (26.2)
------ ------
Net income (loss) $ 3.5 $(41.9)
====== ======
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic $ 0.09 $(1.05)
====== ======
Diluted $ 0.08 $(1.05)
====== ======
</TABLE>
See the accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
<PAGE> 5
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, December 31,
1999 1998
----------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 32.4 $ 65.6
Receivables, net 173.5 205.6
Inventories 231.1 220.9
Other current assets 70.3 69.0
-------- --------
Total current assets 507.3 561.1
Property, plant and equipment, net 242.8 246.0
Goodwill 409.4 385.9
Other assets 144.1 149.9
Net assets from operations to be
disposed of 20.7 14.7
-------- --------
$1,324.3 $1,357.6
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities
Short-term debt $ 23.5 $ 19.7
Accounts payable 243.9 246.3
Accrued and other current liabilities 166.8 187.2
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 434.2 453.2
Long-term debt 1,023.9 1,022.0
Other liabilities 193.7 207.1
-------- --------
Total liabilities 1,651.8 1,682.3
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock -- --
Common Stock 0.4 0.4
Capital in excess of par value 313.3 313.3
Retained deficit (614.7) (618.2)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (26.0) (19.7)
Treasury stock (0.5) (0.5)
-------- --------
Total stockholders' deficit (327.5) (324.7)
======== ========
$1,324.3 $1,357.6
======== ========
</TABLE>
See the accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
<PAGE> 6
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 3.5 $ (41.9)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
to cash provided (used) by operating
activities:
Transaction-related costs, net of
cash expended -- 70.5
Depreciation and amortization 15.3 13.3
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant
and equipment and write-off of assets 3.2 --
Deferred income taxes (0.8) (15.3)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables, net (11.8) (15.4)
Inventories (7.3) 5.4
Payables, accrued and other
current liabilities (30.7) 37.1
Other working capital changes (1.4) (12.3)
Net cash flow from operations to be
disposed of (2.4) 0.5
Other assets and liabilities (10.3) (2.0)
-------- --------
Cash (used in) provided by operating
activities (42.7) 39.9
-------- --------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (41.9) (0.8)
Capital expenditures (9.0) (12.0)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant
and equipment 3.7 --
-------- --------
Cash used in investing activities (47.2) (12.8)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock repurchased and conversion of
stock to cash -- (955.1)
Proceeds from common stock sold to FSI -- 303.0
Transaction-related fees and expenses -- (67.5)
Proceeds from accounts receivable
securitization, net 49.5 170.0
Proceeds from long-term debt 9.4 694.5
Payments of long-term debt (2.2) (154.3)
-------- --------
Cash provided by (used in)
financing activities 56.7 (9.4)
-------- --------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (33.2) 17.7
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 65.6 18.2
-------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 32.4 $ 35.9
======== ========
</TABLE>
See the accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
<PAGE> 7
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Fisher Scientific International Inc. ("Fisher" or the "Company") was formed
in September 1991. The Company's operations are conducted by wholly owned and
majority-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, equity interests and agents,
located in North and South America, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and
Africa. The Company is managed in four business segments: domestic distribution,
international distribution, laboratory workstations and technology. The domestic
and international distribution segments engage in the supply, marketing, service
and manufacture of scientific, clinical, educational, occupational health and
safety products. The laboratory workstations segment manufactures and sells
laboratory workstations and computer (LAN) furniture. Fisher's technology
segment includes the procurement outsourcing services and supply chain
management technology and the Unikix Technology software business.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to their
current presentation.
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES
In the fourth quarter of 1998, the Company recorded $26.5 million of
restructuring and other charges related to the 1998 Restructuring Plan. The 1998
Restructuring was adopted in December 1998 and affects the Company's domestic
and international distribution segments. The charges included asset impairment
charges internationally attributable to the economic slowdown in the Far East
and write-offs of information systems due to a change in management's global
information system strategy. The charges also included employee separation and
other exit costs due to a restructuring in Europe and a restructuring
domestically of the Company's management team and selected components of its
sales force. The 1998 charges consisted of $13.6 million related to noncash
asset impairments, $12.0 million of accruals for employee separation
arrangements and $0.9 million of exit costs. The 1998 Restructuring Plan
continues to proceed as planned and is expected to be completed and the related
accruals substantially expended by the end of 1999.
Following the consummation of the Transaction (defined below), during the
fourth quarter of 1997 in conjunction with the annual business planning process,
the Company evaluated its business strategy for both its domestic and
international operations, and, as a result, adopted the 1997 Restructuring Plan
and recorded restructuring and other charges of $51.8 million. The charges
included costs associated with the closure of additional logistics and
customer-service centers and related asset write-offs in the United States and
internationally and the impairment of goodwill and property, plant and equipment
related to certain international operations and the impairment of
systems-related assets. The restructuring and other charges consisted of $38.3
million related to noncash asset impairments, $9.1 million of accruals for
employee separation arrangements and $4.4 million of exit costs. The 1997
Restructuring Plan continues to proceed as planned and is expected to be
substantially completed and the related accruals expended by the end of 2000.
NOTE 2 - RECAPITALIZATION AND MERGER
Pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of November 14, 1997, amending an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
August 7, 1997 (as amended, the "Merger Agreement") between the Company and FSI
Merger Corp. ("FSI"), a Delaware corporation formed by Thomas H. Lee Company
("THL"), providing for the merger of FSI with and into Fisher and the
recapitalization of Fisher (collectively, "the Transaction"), which Transaction
was consummated on January 21, 1998, approximately 87% of the fully diluted
shares of common stock of Fisher were converted into the right to receive $9.65
per share in cash (approximately $955 million in the aggregate) pursuant to an
election process that provided stockholders the right to elect, subject to
proration, for each share of Fisher common stock held, either $9.65 in cash or
to retain one share of common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), in the
recapitalized company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, vesting of all
outstanding options accelerated.
In connection with the Transaction in the first quarter of 1998, the
Company recorded $71.0 million of expenses consisting primarily of non-cash
compensation expense relating to the conversion of employee stock options, the
implementation of certain executive employment agreements and the grant of
options to certain executives in accordance with the terms of the Transaction.
On March 9, 1998, Fisher's Board of Directors declared a five-for-one stock
split on the Company's Common Stock. As a result of the stock split, four
additional shares of Common Stock were issued for each share of Common Stock
held by the shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 19,
1998. All references in this report to the number of shares and per-share
amounts have been restated as appropriate to give effect to the stock split.
NOTE 3 - ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activity," which is expected to be effective for the fiscal years
beginning January 1, 2000. Management does not anticipate that the adoption of
this statement will have a material effect on the Company's financial
statements.
During 1998, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the AICPA
(AcSEC) released Statement of Position 98-1 (SOP 98-1), "Accounting for the Cost
of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use," and Statement of
Position 98-5 (SOP 98-5), "Reporting on the Cost of Start-Up Activities." SOP
98-1 requires the capitalization of certain costs related to the development of
software for internal use, and SOP 98-5 requires entities to expense, as
incurred, costs associated with start-up activities. As the Company's prior
practice was generally consistent with these new standards, their adoption
during the first quarter of 1999 did not have a material effect on the Company's
financial statements.
7
<PAGE> 8
NOTE 4 - ACQUISITIONS
In December 1998, Fisher purchased for approximately $138 million in cash
approximately 90% of Bioblock Scientific S.A. ("Bioblock"), a leading
distributor of scientific and laboratory instrumentation in France. In January
1999, the Company acquired the remaining Bioblock shares for an additional $14
million, bringing Fisher's total ownership position to 100%.
In January 1999, the Company acquired Columbia Diagnostics Inc., a
Virginia-based provider of laboratory products and supplies to the healthcare
industry, which is included in the domestic distribution segment, and Structured
Computer Systems ("SCS"), a Connecticut-based provider of procurement and
materials management solutions to businesses acquired by Fisher's ProcureNet
Business (defined below), which is included in the technology segment. Fisher
recorded a $5.2 million write-off for in-process research and development costs
related to the acquisition of SCS. Total cash consideration paid for
acquisitions in the first quarter was approximately $42 million.
The Company's March 31, 1999 balance sheet includes estimates of fair
market value of assets and liabilities acquired in connection with these
acquisitions. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets
acquired reflects certain estimates based upon preliminary studies; final
allocation of the purchase price will be made after appraisals, valuations and
other studies relating to the acquired assets and liabilities are completed. The
excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of all net assets
acquired in these first quarter transactions was approximately $27.9 million.
The 1999 acquisitions are not material to the Company's financial position or
results of operations.
NOTE 5 - OPERATIONS TO BE DISPOSED OF
During the fourth quarter of 1998, management decided to dispose of its
technology segment, which consists of its procurement outsourcing services and
supply chain management technology business (the "ProcureNet Business") and its
UniKix Technology software business. In December 1998, the Company's Board of
Directors approved a plan to (i) spin off the ProcureNet Business to Fisher
stockholders (the "Spinoff") and (ii) sell the UniKix Technology software
business (the "UniKix Sale"). Following the Spinoff, which was consummated on
April 15, 1999, the Company and ProcureNet began to operate as separate,
stand-alone companies. As part of the Spinoff, the Company and ProcureNet
entered into a transitional services agreement pursuant to which Fisher
provides ProcureNet with certain management and other administrative services
and ProcureNet continued to provide Fisher and its customers third party
procurement and electronic commerce support and services. As of March 31, 1999,
ProcureNet has entered into debt obligations to Fisher totaling $19 million.
These obligations are not reflected in the Balance Sheet as all intercompany
activity is eliminated in the Financial Statements. Subsequent to the Spinoff,
these amounts will be reflected as notes receivable on Fisher's Balance Sheet.
These notes bear interest at an annual rate of 9% and are due and payable on
December 31, 2007. It is not expected that the Spinoff will have a material
effect on Fisher's business or operations.
Revenues, costs and expenses, assets and liabilities, and cash flows of the
new company have been excluded from their respective captions in the Statements
of Operations, Balance Sheet, and Statements of Cash Flows. These items have
been reported as "loss from operations to be disposed of," "net assets from
operations to be disposed of" and "net cash flows from operations to be disposed
of."
8
<PAGE> 9
Summarized financial information for the technology segment is set forth
below (in millions, except per share amounts):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, March 31,
1999 1998
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Net sales $16.5 $12.4
Operating loss (8.7) (2.5)
Net loss (5.2) (1.5)
Diluted loss per share (0.12) (0.04)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, December 31,
1999 1998
--------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current Assets $19.6 $12.2
Current Liabilities 15.4 10.1
Total Assets 36.4 24.6
Total Liabilities 15.7 9.9
----- -----
Net assets from
operations to be
disposed of $20.7 $14.7
===== =====
</TABLE>
The operating loss for the period ended March 31, 1999 includes a $5.2
million write-off for in-process research and development costs related to the
acquisition of SCS.
NOTE 6 - INVENTORIES
The following is a summary of inventories by major category (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, December 31,
1999 1998
--------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Raw material $ 19.1 $ 19.5
Work in process 4.5 3.7
Finished products 207.5 197.7
------ ------
Total $231.1 $220.9
====== ======
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE> 10
NOTE 7 - STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
The following is a summary of the changes in stockholders' deficit for the
period ended March 31, 1999. Total comprehensive income components included in
stockholders' deficit include any changes in equity during a period that are not
the result of transactions with the Company's stockholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Accumulated
Capital in Shares To Be Other Subtotal-
Common Excess of Held in Distributed Retained Comprehensive Treasury Comprehensive
Stock Par Value Trust From Trust Deficit Loss Stock Total Loss
-------- ---------- ------- ----------- -------- ------------- -------- ----- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, January 1,
1999 $0.4 $313.3 $(29.8) $29.8 $(618.2) $(19.7) $(0.5) $(324.7)
Comprehensive income
(loss):
Net income -- -- -- -- 3.5 -- -- 3.5 $ 3.5
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments -- -- -- -- -- (6.3) -- (6.3) (6.3)
-----
Subtotal-
comprehensive loss $(2.8)
=====
Shares withdrawn from
Rabbi Trust -- -- 0.1 (0.1) -- -- -- --
---- ------ ------ ----- ------- ------ ----- -------
Balance, March 31, 1999 $0.4 $313.3 $(29.7) $29.7 $(614.7) $(26.0) $(0.5) $(327.5)
==== ====== ====== ===== ======= ====== ===== =======
</TABLE>
Effective March 29, 1999 certain equity investors exchanged 9,000,000
shares of common stock for the same amount of non-voting common stock.
10
<PAGE> 11
NOTE 8 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators for
computing basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months
ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended
March 31,
--------------------
1999 1998
-------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
--------------------------------
Net Income (Loss) $ 3.5 $(41.9)
===== ======
Average Shares of Common Stock
Outstanding 40.0 40.0
===== ======
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share $0.09 $(1.05)
===== ======
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
----------------------------------
Net Income (Loss) $ 3.5 $(41.9)
===== ======
Average Shares of Common Stock
Outstanding 40.0 40.0
Common Stock Equivalents(a) 2.9 --
----- ------
Diluted Potential Common Stock
Outstanding 42.9 40.0
===== ======
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per
Share $0.08 $(1.05)
===== ======
</TABLE>
(a) As of March 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company had options and warrants
outstanding to purchase 2.8 million shares and 6.6 million shares,
respectively, that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share.
These options and warrants were excluded from the diluted earnings
per share computation because to include such shares would have been
antidilutive.
NOTE 9 - SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Selected business segment financial information for the three months ended
March 31, 1999, and 1998 is shown below (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Income (loss) from
Sales Operations
------------------------- -----------------------
1999 1998 1999 1998
--------- -------- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Domestic distribution $474.8 $452.3 $32.6 $ 24.7
International distribution 120.0 95.9 1.2 (1.5)
Laboratory workstations 40.9 34.3 5.9 4.4
Technology -- -- (8.7) (2.5)
Transaction-related costs -- -- -- (71.0)
Eliminations (34.8) (33.4) 0.6 0.3
------ ------ ----- ------
Total $600.9 $549.1 $31.6 $(45.6)
====== ====== ===== ======
</TABLE>
Income (loss) from operations is revenue less related costs and direct and
allocated expenses. Intercompany sales and transfers between segments were not
material for the three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998.
11
<PAGE> 12
ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
FINANCIAL CONDITION
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors that might
cause such a difference include those discussed in the section entitled
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition - Cautionary Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" contained
in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
RECAPITALIZATION AND MERGER
Pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger as
of November 14, 1997, amending an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated August 7,
1997, (as amended, the "Merger Agreement") between the Company and FSI Merger
Corp. ("FSI"), a Delaware corporation formed by Thomas H. Lee Company ("THL"),
providing for the merger of FSI with and into Fisher and the recapitalization of
Fisher (collectively, "the Transaction"), which Transaction was consummated on
January 21, 1998, approximately 87% of the fully diluted shares of common stock
of Fisher were converted into the right to receive $9.65 per share in cash
(approximately $955 million in the aggregate) pursuant to an election process
that provided stockholders the right to elect for each share of Fisher common
stock held, subject to proration, either $9.65 in cash or to retain one share of
common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), in the recapitalized company.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, vesting of all outstanding options
accelerated.
On March 9, 1998, Fisher's Board of Directors declared a five-for-one stock
split on the Company's Common Stock. As a result of the stock split, four
additional shares of Common Stock were issued for each share of Common Stock
held by the shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 19,
1998. All references in this report to the number of shares and per share
amounts have been restated as appropriate to give effect to the stock split.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth the Company's sales and income (loss)
from operations by segment:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Income (loss) from
Sales Operations
------------------------- -----------------------
1999 1998 1999 1998
--------- -------- -------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Domestic distribution $474.8 $452.3 $32.6 $ 24.7
International distribution 120.0 95.9 1.2 (1.5)
Laboratory workstations 40.9 34.3 5.9 4.4
Technology -- -- (8.7) (2.5)
Transaction-related costs -- -- -- (71.0)
Eliminations (34.8) (33.4) 0.6 0.3
------ ------ ----- ------
Total $600.9 $549.1 $31.6 $(45.6)
====== ====== ===== ======
</TABLE>
SALES
Sales for the three months ended March 31, 1999 increased 9.4% to $600.9
million from $549.1 million for the comparable period in 1998. Sales growth in
Fisher's domestic distribution, international distribution and laboratory
workstations segments in 1999 was primarily due to sales of companies acquired
during the second half of 1998 and the first quarter of 1999 as well as internal
growth.
12
<PAGE> 13
GROSS PROFIT
Fisher's gross profit for the three month period ended March 31, 1999
increased 14.8% to $173.5 million from $151.1 million for the comparable period
in 1998, primarily as a result of increased sales volume. Gross profit as a
percent of sales increased to 28.9% for the three months ended March 31, 1999,
from 27.5% for the same period in 1998. The increase in gross profit as a
percent of sales largely reflects the higher margins of businesses acquired in
the second half of 1998 and first quarter of 1999 as well as improvements in
gross margins of Fisher's domestic operations.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE
Selling, general and administrative expense for the three months ended
March 31, 1999 increased 8.1% to $133.2 million from $123.2 million for the
comparable period in 1998. The increase in selling, general and administrative
expense in 1999 is primarily due to the selling, general and administrative
expense of companies acquired since March 31, 1998 and increased sales volume.
Selling, general and administrative expense in both periods includes
nonrecurring costs associated with the temporary duplication of operations,
relocation of inventories and employees, hiring and training new employees, and
other one-time and redundant costs. For the three months ended March 31, 1999,
$0.7 million of such costs were included in selling, general and administrative
expense, compared with $1.8 million for the corresponding period in 1998.
Excluding such costs, selling, general and administrative expense as a
percentage of sales was 22.1% for the three months ended March 31, 1999 and the
same for the comparable period in 1998.
The international distribution segment continues to have significantly
higher selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales as
compared with that of Fisher's domestic distribution segment. These higher costs
are being incurred as part of a plan to develop an integrated worldwide supply
capability, the benefit of which has not been fully realized.
TRANSACTION-RELATED COSTS
During the first quarter of 1998, the Company recorded $71.0 million of
expenses consisting primarily of non-cash compensation expense relating to the
conversion of employee stock options, the implementation of certain executive
severance agreements and the grant of options to certain executives in
accordance with the terms of the Transaction.
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS TO BE DISPOSED OF
As discussed above, Management plans to dispose of its technology segment.
Accordingly, the 1999 and 1998 results of operations of this segment are
reported separately in the statements of operations. Loss from operations to be
disposed of increased $6.2 million to $8.7 million from $2.5 million primarily
as a result of a $5.2 million write-off of in-process research and development
costs associated with an acquisition during the first quarter of 1999.
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 1999 increased
to $31.6 million from ($45.6) million for the corresponding period in 1998 due
to the factors discussed above. Excluding nonrecurring and Transaction-related
costs of $5.9 million in the first quarter of 1999 and $72.8 million in the
first quarter of 1998, operating income was $37.5 million and $27.2 million,
respectively.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense increased to $26.8 million for the three months ended
March 31, 1999 from $24.9 million for the comparable period in 1998. The
increase is the result of a full quarter of interest expense in 1999 resulting
from the January 21, 1998 Transaction and additional indebtedness resulting from
the $200 million 9% Senior Subordinated Notes issued in November 1998, both
partially offset by one-time charges in the first quarter of 1998 related to the
consummation of the Transaction.
13
<PAGE> 14
INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)
The income tax provision (benefit) for the three months ended March 31,
1999 was $3.9 million compared with ($26.2) million for the corresponding period
in 1998. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 1999
was 53% compared with 38% for the corresponding period in 1998. Excluding the
$71.0 million of Transaction-related costs in 1998, of which a portion was not
deductible, the effective income tax rates for these periods were comparable.
NET INCOME (LOSS)
Net income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 1999 increased to
$3.5 million from ($41.9) million for the comparable period in 1998, due to the
factors discussed above.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During the three months ended March 31, 1999, the Company's operations used
$42.7 million of cash compared with providing $39.9 million for the same period
in 1998. This change in cash used in operating activities primarily reflects a
decrease in cash flows. The decrease in cash flows results from changes in
working capital due to a decrease in cash provided by payables, accruals and
other current liabilities. The payables and accruals change is primarily due to
the timing of payments of accounts payable and interest and increased payments
of accrued compensation amounts.
The Company's operating working capital (defined as receivables plus
inventories less accounts payable and accrued liabilities) changed to ($6.1)
million at March 31, 1999 from ($7.0) million at December 31, 1998. A decrease
in accruals was primarily offset by a decrease in accounts receivable. The
decrease in accrued liabilities is principally attributable to payments of
accrued interest and compensation amounts. The decrease in accounts receivable
is primarily the result of the sale of additional receivables under a
receivables securitization facility.
Currently, the Company is evaluating a number of potential acquisitions in
the United States and Europe and implementing the planned consolidation and
relocation of its logistical facilities in North America and Europe. While there
is no guarantee that any of these potential acquisitions will be consummated or
that the Company's consolidation and relocation activities will occur, one or
more acquisitions and implementation of the Company's relocation activities
could have a material effect on the Company's working capital requirements
throughout the remainder of 1999.
During the three months ended March 31, 1999, the Company used $47.2
million of cash for investing activities compared with $12.8 million for the
same period in 1998. The increase in cash used for investing activities is
primarily due to increases in acquisition spending. During the last three months
the Company completed two acquisitions and acquired the remaining shares of
Bioblock for an aggregate purchase price of $41.9 million. The acquisitions were
funded with cash on hand and through the sale of receivables under a receivables
securitization facility. For the three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998, the
Company had capital expenditures of $9.0 million and $12.0 million,
respectively. This decrease in capital expenditures is primarily due to timing.
The Company anticipates its 1999 annual capital expenditures will approximate
total 1998 expenditures as it continues its consolidation and relocation of
logistics facilities in North America and Europe and its project to upgrade
global computer systems.
During the three months ended March 31, 1999, the Company's financing
activities provided $56.7 million compared with using $9.4 million for the same
period in 1998. Financing activities in the first quarter of 1998 primarily
related to the Transaction described in Note 2 to the Financial Statements.
Financing activities in the first quarter of 1999 primarily relate to cash flows
from the sale of additional receivables, which were used to fund operating and
investing activities.
Fisher expects that cash flows from operations, together with cash and cash
equivalents on hand and funds available under existing credit facilities, will
be sufficient to meet ongoing operating and capital expenditure requirements.
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<PAGE> 15
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION
The Company conducts business in many of the 11 countries that have agreed
to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (the "EMU") and, among other
things, adopt a single currency called the Euro. On January 1, 1999, a
three-year transition period for the Euro began and the conversion rates between
the Euro and the national currencies were fixed. Business enterprises have the
option of switching to the single currency at any time prior to January 1, 2002.
In connection with the upgrade of its management information systems, the
Company is incorporating the necessary changes to allow it to conduct business
in Euros and the national currencies during the transition period and entirely
in Euros thereafter. The Company is not able to accurately estimate or segregate
the costs relating to the conversion to the Euro, but management does not
believe that such costs are material. The Company does not anticipate that the
conversion to the Euro will have a material impact on its future results of
operation.
DEPENDENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS; SYSTEMS CONVERSION; YEAR 2000 ISSUE
The statements in the following section include "Year 2000 readiness
disclosure" within the meaning of Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure
Act.
The Company's business is dependent in large part on its information
systems. These systems play an integral role in: tracking product offerings
(including pricing and availability); processing and shipping more than 20,000
items per day; warehouse operations; purchasing from more than 3,000 vendors;
inventory management; financial reporting; and other operational functions.
Year 2000 issues exist when dates in computer systems are recorded using
two digits (rather than four) and are then used for arithmetic operations,
comparisons or sorting. A two-digit date recording may recognize a date using
"00" as 1900 rather than 2000, which could cause the Company's computer systems
to perform inaccurate computations. The Company's Year 2000 issues relate not
only to its own systems but also to those of its customers and suppliers.
Based upon assessments of each of the Company's business units and the
information systems supporting those operations, the Company is implementing a
program having the following major elements and a target completion date no
later than December 31, 1999:
First, the applications and other software supporting each business unit
have been inventoried and analyzed and either: (a) confirmed as Year 2000
compliant, (b) scheduled for upgrade to a Year 2000 compliant version, (c)
scheduled for remediation to become Year 2000 compliant or (d) scheduled for
replacement by other software which provides Year 2000 compliance and other
benefits. For example, certain of the financial applications supporting the U.S.
distribution business have been replaced by Oracle software; most of the
remaining software supporting the U.S. distribution businesses has been
remediated, tested by software professionals and end-users, and implemented in
regular business operations. A limited number of other software applications are
scheduled for upgrade or replacement prior to September 30, 1999.
The primary methods of assuring Year 2000 compliance for core business
systems are: (a) remediation for the U.S., Canadian and U.K. distribution
systems, (b) replacement by new Year 2000 and Euro compliant software for the
other European businesses, (c) upgrade to Year 2000 versions for certain
manufacturing businesses and (d) replacement by new Year 2000 software for the
remaining manufacturing businesses and overseas distribution businesses.
Second, the Company has initiated programs to assure Year 2000 compliance
for the equipment and software licenses that it currently markets to customers
and to obtain and transmit to customers information about the equipment and
software licenses which customers may have purchased in the past. Various units
of the Company are also assisting customers in developing plans to replace or
upgrade any non-compliant equipment or software, especially in laboratories,
whether or not the products were acquired from the Company.
Third, the Company has initiated programs to identify those suppliers whose
own systems could lead to delays or interruptions in supply, either because of
Year 2000 non-compliance or because of the necessity of extensive systems
upgrades or replacements to avoid Year 2000 issues. The Company is addressing
such system changes by suppliers, where appropriate, by adjusting inventory
levels and order lead times to reduce any delays or interruptions of product
supply to the Company's customers and is developing similar contingency plans,
on a supplier-specific basis to assure availability of products from suppliers
making future systems changes
15
<PAGE> 16
or not providing adequate assurances of readiness to fill orders at the
beginning of 2000 and in order to prevent or reduce any adverse effect on fill
rates to the Company's customers.
Fourth, with particular regard to Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI"), the
Company has developed plans to work with trading partners, including both
suppliers and customers, to either work around the requirement for six digit
date fields in the prior EDI standards or to migrate, with the trading partner,
to ANSI version 4010, which employs eight digit data fields. The Company has
begun exchanging ANSI Version 4010 transactions with customers and suppliers and
has identified many of the customers and suppliers who plan to migrate to
Version 4010 and many of the customers and suppliers who plan to remain on
earlier levels, windowing the transmitted six digit date at both ends and
recognizing the correct year. The Company is scheduling test sessions with
customers and suppliers requesting either migration to Version 4010 or testing
of Year 2000 compliance of such windowing.
Fifth, the Company is implementing a project involving testing with
available test software personal computers and associated software at various
Company locations, followed by upgrade or replacement where appropriate. In
addition, the Company has implemented projects which include inventory,
identification, assessment (through vendor contacts, testing or both), planning,
implementation (replacement, repair or upgrade) and testing of manufacturing
equipment, environmental control equipment, elevators, security systems,
telecommunications software and equipment and similar purchased equipment,
software and systems. While this portion of the overall program is targeted for
completion by June 30, 1999, it is currently anticipated that a limited amount
of this activity of certain of the Company's sites would remain incomplete until
a date no later than September 1999. Contingency plans may be developed to work
around these sites not fully compliant by June 30, 1999.
With regard to financial cost, implementation of the program has resulted
in and will continue to result in significant time expenditure by Company
personnel and outside software and equipment providers and some expenditures for
equipment and software upgrades and replacements. Because many of these efforts
have been designed to achieve other functional or systems improvements, in
addition to Year 2000 compliance, and are being carried out by operational
personnel within each business unit, it is difficult to allocate particular
funding levels solely to the Year 2000 compliance activities. In general,
however, the Company has spent approximately $4 million in operating expenses
and approximately $30 million in capital expenditures on Year 2000 activities to
date and estimates incurring an additional $4 million in operating expenses and
$7 million in capital expenditures to complete its Year 2000 programs.
Although the Company believes that its present remediation and replacement
programs will adequately address the Year 2000 issues with respect to its
internal systems, there can be no assurance that the Company's belief is correct
or that its present assessment is in fact accurate. There can be no assurance
that the remediation and replacement programs will be completed prior to the
Year 2000 or that if completed prior to the Year 2000 that disruption will not
occur. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company's vendors,
suppliers and the myriad of other financial, transportation, utility and other
service providers will successfully resolve their own Year 2000 issues in a
manner which avoids significant impact to the Company. The Company has received
written assurances from many of its suppliers and other providers acknowledging
the Year 2000 issues and stating their present intention to be compliant. The
Company has not received assurances from all of its suppliers and other
providers and there is no guarantee that one or more key suppliers and other
providers will not fail to become compliant in time to avoid a disruption to the
Company's business which, in spite of the Company's contingency plans, would
have a significant adverse impact on the Company. Because of the complexity of
the Company's systems, the number of transactions processed and the number of
third parties with whom the Company interacts, certain failures of the Company
or its suppliers, vendors and other service providers to completely overcome the
Year 2000 issue could result in substantial and material impact on the Company's
business, operations and financial results.
The Company's forecasted costs and timing for completion of its Year 2000
programs are based on its best estimates, which in turn are based on numerous
assumptions of future events, including the continued availability and cost of
necessary personnel and other resources, third party modification plans, and
other factors. However, the Company cannot be certain that these estimates will
be achieved and actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
The preceding "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure" contains various
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the Section 27A Securities Act of 1933. These
forward-looking statements represent the Company's beliefs or expectations
regarding future events. When used in the "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure," the
words "believes," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions are intended
to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, the Company's expectations as to when it will complete the
modification and testing phases of its Year 2000 project plans as well as its
Year 2000 contingency plans; its estimated cost of achieving Year 2000
readiness; and the Company's belief that its internal systems will be Year 2000
compliant in a timely manner. All forward-looking statements involve a
16
<PAGE> 17
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the projected results. Factors that may cause these differences
include, but are not limited to, the availability of qualified personnel and
other information technology resources; the ability to identify and remediate
all date sensitive lines of computer code or to replace embedded computer chips
in affected systems or equipment; and the actions of governmental agencies or
other third parties with respect to Year 2000 problems.
ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company's primary interest rate exposures relate to its cash, fixed
and variable rate debt and interest rate swaps. The potential loss in fair
values is based on an immediate change in the net present values of the
Company's interest rate sensitive exposures resulting from a 10% change in
interest rates. The potential loss in cash flows and earnings is based on the
change in the net interest income/expense over a one-year period due to an
immediate 10% change in rates. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates does
not have a material effect on the fair values, cash flows or earnings of the
Company.
The Company's primary currency rate exposures are to its foreign
denominated debt, intercompany debt, cash and foreign currency forward exchange
contracts. The potential loss in fair values is based on an immediate change in
the U.S. dollar equivalent balances of the Company's currency exposures due to a
10% shift in exchange rates. The potential loss in cash flows and earnings is
based on the change in cash flow and earnings over a one-year period resulting
from an immediate 10% change in currency exchange rates. A hypothetical 10%
change in the currency exchange rates does not have a material effect on the
fair values, cash flows or earnings of the Company.
17
<PAGE> 18
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
Exhibit 2.01 - Distribution Agreement, dated March 29, 1999, among
Fisher Scientific International Inc. and ProcureNet,
Inc.*
Exhibit 10.01 - Amended and Restated Investors' Agreement dated as of
March 29, 1999 among Fisher Scientific International,
Inc., Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund III, L.P., THI-CCI
Limited Partnership, THL Foreign Fund III, L.P., THL
FSI Equity Investors, L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking
Partners II, L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II --
A, L.P., DLJ Offshore Partners, II, C.V., DLJ
Diversified Partners, L.P., DLJ Diversified Partners,
A.L.P., DLJ Millennium Partners, L.P., DLJ Millennium
Partners -- A, L.P., DLJMB Funding II, Inc., UK
Investment Plan 1997 Partners, DLJ EAB Partners, L.P.,
DLJ ESC II, L.P., DLJ First ESC, L.P., Chase Equity
Associates, L.P., Merrill Lynch Kecalp L.P. 1997,
Kecalp Inc., ML IBK Positions, Inc. and certain other
persons named therein
Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule
------------------
* Included as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated April 15, 1999 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on April 30, 1999.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
The Company filed the following Current Report on Form 8-K during the
period covered by this report:
1. Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Registration No. 1-10920) was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 1999
which amends and restates the Current Report on Form 8-K which
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 4, 1998 reporting the acquisition by the Company of
Bioblock Scientific S.A. under Item 2 -- Acquisition or
Disposition of Assets.
18
<PAGE> 19
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
Date: May 14, 1999 /s/ PAUL M. MEISTER
------------ ------------------------------------------
PAUL M. MEISTER
Vice Chairman of the Board,
Executive Vice President - Chief Financial
Officer and Director
19
<PAGE> 20
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ------------------------------ -----------------------------------------
10.01 Amended and Restated Investors' Agreement
dated as of March 29, 1999 among Fisher
Scientific International, Inc., Thomas H.
Lee Equity Fund III, L.P., THI-CCI
Limited Partnership, THL Foreign Fund
III, L.P., THL FSI Equity Investors,
L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II,
L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II --
A, L.P., DLJ Offshore Partners, II, C.V.,
DLJ Diversified Partners, L.P., DLJ
Diversified Partners, A.L.P., DLJ
Millennium Partners, L.P., DLJ Millennium
Partners -- A, L.P., DLJMB Funding II,
Inc., UK Investment Plan 1997 Partners,
DLJ EAB Partners, L.P., DLJ ESC II, L.P.,
DLJ First ESC, L.P., Chase Equity
Associates, L.P., Merrill Lynch Kecalp
L.P. 1997, Kecalp Inc., ML IBK Positions,
Inc. and certain other persons named
therein
27 Financial Data Schedule
20
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTORS' AGREEMENT
dated
as of
March 29, 1999
among
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND III, L.P.,
THL-CCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
THL FOREIGN FUND III, L.P.,
THL FSI EQUITY INVESTORS, L.P.,
DLJ MERCHANT BANKING PARTNERS II, L.P.,
DLJ MERCHANT BANKING PARTNERS II - A, L.P.,
DLJ OFFSHORE PARTNERS II, C.V.,
DLJ DIVERSIFIED PARTNERS, L.P.,
DLJ DIVERSIFIED PARTNERS - A, L.P.,
DLJ MILLENNIUM PARTNERS, L.P.
DLJ MILLENNIUM PARTNERS - A, L.P.,
DLJMB FUNDING II, INC.,
UK INVESTMENT PLAN 1997 PARTNERS,
DLJ EAB PARTNERS, L.P.,
DLJ ESC II, L.P.,
DLJ FIRST ESC, L.P.,
CHASE EQUITY ASSOCIATES, L.P.,
MERRILL LYNCH KECALP L.P. 1997,
KECALP INC.,
ML IBK POSITIONS, INC.
AND
CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions......................................................2
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Section 2.1 Composition of the Board........................................13
Section 2.2 Removal.........................................................13
Section 2.3 Vacancies.......................................................14
Section 2.4 Action by the Board.............................................14
Section 2.5 Conflicting Charter or Bylaw Provision..........................15
ARTICLE III
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
Section 3.1 General.........................................................15
Section 3.2 Legends.........................................................16
Section 3.3 Permitted Transferees; Transfers by THL Entities;
Exchanges by THL Entities.......................................16
Section 3.4 Restrictions on Transfers by Institutional Shareholders.........17
Section 3.5 Restrictions on Transfers by Management Shareholders............18
Section 3.6 Company Right of First Refusal..................................19
Section 3.7 Notifications Regarding Transfers...............................20
ARTICLE IV
TAG-ALONG RIGHTS; DRAG-ALONG RIGHTS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
i
<PAGE> 3
Section 4.1 Rights to Participate in Transfer...............................20
Section 4.2 Right to Compel Participation in Certain Transfers..............23
Section 4.3 Preemptive Rights...............................................26
Section 4.4. Certain Other Purchases of Equity Securities....................30
ARTICLE V
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 5.1 Demand Registration.............................................31
Section 5.2 Piggyback Registration..........................................34
Section 5.3 Holdback Agreements.............................................36
Section 5.4 Registration Procedures.........................................36
Section 5.5 Indemnification by the Company..................................41
Section 5.6 Indemnification by Participating Shareholders...................42
Section 5.7 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings..........................43
Section 5.8 Contribution....................................................44
Section 5.9 Participation in Public Offering................................46
Section 5.10 Cooperation by the Company......................................46
Section 5.11 No Transfer of Registration Rights..............................47
ARTICLE VI
CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 Confidentiality.................................................47
Section 6.2 Reports.........................................................49
Section 6.3 Limitations on Subsequent Registration..........................49
Section 6.4 Limitation on Purchase of Equity Securities.....................49
Section 6.5 Regulated Stockholders..........................................50
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
ii
<PAGE> 4
Section 7.1 Entire Agreement................................................51
Section 7.2 Binding Effect; Benefit.........................................51
Section 7.3 Assignability...................................................52
Section 7.4 Amendment; Waiver; Termination..................................52
Section 7.5 Notices.........................................................53
Section 7.6 Headings........................................................55
Section 7.7 Counterparts....................................................56
Section 7.8 Applicable Law..................................................56
Section 7.9 Specific Performance............................................56
Section 7.10 Consent to Jurisdiction; Expenses...............................56
Section 7.11 Representative..................................................57
Section 7.12 Severability....................................................59
iii
<PAGE> 5
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTORS' AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of
March 29, 1999 among (i) Fisher Scientific International, Inc. (the "Company"),
(ii) Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund III, L.P. ("THL"), certain individuals associated
with THL listed on Schedule I attached hereto, THL-CCI Limited Partnership
("THL-CCI"), THL Foreign Fund III, L.P. and THL FSI Equity Investors, L.P.
("THL/FSI" and collectively with THL, the individuals listed on Schedule I,
THL-CCI, and THL Foreign Fund III, L.P., the "THL Entities"), (iii) DLJ Merchant
Banking Partners II, L.P. ("DLJMB"), DLJ Offshore Partners II, C.V., DLJ
Diversified Partners, L.P., DLJMB Funding II, Inc., DLJ Merchant Banking
Partners II - A, L.P., DLJ Diversified Partners - A, L.P., DLJ Millennium
Partners, L.P., DLJ Millennium Partners - A, L.P., UK Investment Plan 1997
Partners, DLJ EAB Partners, L.P., DLJ ESC II, L.P., and DLJ First ESC, L.P.
(collectively the "DLJ Entities"), (iv) Chase Equity Associates, L.P. ("Chase
Equity"), (v) Merrill Lynch KECALP L.P. 1997, KECALP INC., and ML IBK Positions,
Inc., (collectively, the "Merrill Lynch Entities" and, together with each other
entity listed in clauses (iii) and (iv), the "Institutional Shareholders" and,
collectively with (ii), the "Equity Investors") and (vi) certain other Persons
listed on the signature pages hereof (including the trust pursuant to the Trust
Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between the Company and Mellon Bank,
N.A., as trustee (the "Rabbi Trust")) (the "Management Shareholders" and
individually, along with the THL Entities, DLJ Entities, Chase Equity, and
Merrill Lynch Entities, each a "Shareholder") and such other parties who may
become parties of this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof.
W I T N E S S E T H :
<PAGE> 6
WHEREAS, the parties hereto entered into an investors'
agreement, dated as of January 21, 1998 (the "Original Agreement"), to govern
certain of their rights, duties and obligations after consummation of the Merger
(as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the
Original Agreement in its entirety as set forth below; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined
below) the Equity Investors acquired securities of FSI Merger Corp. ("FSI"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement (as
defined below), FSI was merged with and into the Company, with the Company as
the surviving corporation (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger, the stock of FSI held by the
Equity Investors was converted into stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger, the Management Shareholders
retained shares of stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, upon the Merger and pursuant to the Equity Investors'
commitment to purchase cumulative preferred stock of the Company, warrants to
purchase common stock of the Company were issued to the Equity Investors; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Rabbi Trust and any stock or option
plan, Management Shareholders hold shares of stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto may obtain additional shares of
stock of the Company in the future;
<PAGE> 7
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 DEFINITIONS. (a) The following terms, as used
herein, have the following meanings:
"Adverse Person" means any Person whom the Board reasonably
determines is a competitor or a potential competitor of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with such Person, provided that no securityholder of the Company shall
be deemed an Affiliate of any other securityholder solely by reason of any
investment in the Company. For the purpose of this definition, the term
"control" (including with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling,"
"controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any
Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.
"Applicable Law," with respect to any Person, means all
provisions of all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits,
certificates or orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Person
or any of its assets or property or to which such Person or any of its assets or
property is subject, and all judgments, injunctions, orders and decrees of all
courts and arbitrators in proceedings or actions in which such
3
<PAGE> 8
Person is a party or by which it or any of its assets of properties is or may be
bound or subject.
"beneficially own" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule
13d-3 of the Exchange Act.
"Board" means the board of directors of the Company.
"Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law to
close.
"Closing Date" means January 21, 1998.
"Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company, non-voting common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company and any stock into which such common stock and non-voting common stock
may thereafter be converted or changed.
"Demand Registration" means collectively, a THL Demand
Registration, an Institutional Shareholder Demand Registration, or a Management
Shareholder Demand Registration.
"Derivatives" shall mean options, warrants (including the
Equity Warrants) or other rights to acquire any Equity Securities of the
Company.
"Equity Investors" means the Institutional Shareholders and
the THL Entities.
"Equity Securities" means the Common Stock and preferred
stock, securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or preferred
stock, Derivatives, and any other equity security issued by the Company. In
connection with any reference to a class of
4
<PAGE> 9
Equity Securities which does not specify whether such class is voting or
non-voting, voting Common Stock and non-voting Common Stock shall be treated as
the same class of Equity Securities to the extent that such voting and
non-voting Common Stock have identical terms other than with respect to voting
rights.
"Equity Warrants" means warrants to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to the Equity Warrant Acquisition Agreement.
"Equity Warrant Acquisition Agreement" means the Common Stock
Warrant Acquisition Agreement, of even date herewith, among the Company, the
Institutional Shareholders and the THL Entities.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Federal Reserve Board" means The Board of Governors of the
United States Federal Reserve System.
"Fully Diluted" means, with respect to any class of Equity
Securities, all outstanding shares of such class and all shares issuable in
respect of securities convertible into or exchangeable for such class, stock
appreciation rights or options, warrants and other irrevocable rights to
purchase or subscribe for such class or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for such class; provided, that no Person shall be deemed to own
such number of Fully Diluted shares of such class as such Person has the right
to acquire from any Person other than the Company.
"Initial Ownership" means, with respect to any class of Equity
Securities, the number of shares of such class of Equity Securities beneficially
owned and (without duplication) which such Persons had the right to
5
<PAGE> 10
acquire from any Person as of January 21, 1998, or in the case of any Person
that shall become a party to this Agreement on a later date, as of such date,
taking into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split or
similar event.
"Initial Public Offering" means the first sale after January
21, 1998 of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or any
successor form).
"Merger Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended, dated as of November 14, 1997, by and
between the Company and FSI.
"New Common Securities" means the Common Stock, whether now
authorized or not, any rights, options or warrants to purchase Common Stock and
any indebtedness or stock of the Company which is convertible into Common Stock
(or which is convertible into a security which is, in turn, convertible into
Common Stock) issued after January 21, 1998; provided, that the term "New Common
Securities" does not include (i) such Equity Securities issued as a stock
dividend to all holders of Common Stock pro rata or upon any subdivision or
combination of shares of Common Stock; (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon
exercise of Derivatives outstanding on January 21, 1998; (iii) shares of Common
Stock issued to Michael D. Dingman (or entities designated by Mr. Dingman who
become upon such issuance a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section
7.3(a) and (b)) in exchange for up to $7,500,000 in cash; and (iv) Equity
Securities issued in connection with a THL Exchange.
"New Preferred Securities" means any preferred stock, whether
now authorized or not, any rights, options
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<PAGE> 11
or warrants to purchase preferred stock and any indebtedness or stock of the
Company which is convertible into preferred stock (or which is convertible into
a security which is, in turn, convertible into preferred stock) issued after
January 21, 1998; provided, that the term "New Preferred Securities" does not
include such Equity Securities issued as a stock dividend to all holders of
preferred stock pro rata or upon any subdivision or combination of shares of
preferred stock and (ii) shares of preferred stock issued upon exercise of
Derivatives outstanding on January 21, 1998.
"Non-THL Shareholders" means all Shareholders other than the
THL Entities.
"Percentage Ownership" means, with respect to any Shareholder
at any time, (i) the number of Fully Diluted shares of Common Stock that such
Shareholder beneficially owns (and, without duplication, has the right to
acquire from any Person) at such time, divided by (ii) the total number of Fully
Diluted shares of Common Stock at such time.
"Permitted Transferee" means (i) in the case of Institutional
Shareholders (A) the Company, (B) any THL Entity, (C) any general or limited
partner or shareholder of such Shareholder, and any corporation, partnership or
other entity that is an Affiliate of such Shareholder (collectively,
"Shareholder Affiliates"), (D) any general partner, limited partner, employee,
officer or director of such Shareholder or a Shareholder Affiliate, or any
spouse, lineal descendant (whether natural or adopted), sibling, parent, heir,
executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, lifetime trustee, legatee or
beneficiary of any of the foregoing persons described in this clause (d)
(collectively, "Shareholder Associates"), and (E) any trust, the beneficiaries
of which, or any corporation, limited liability company or partnership,
stock-
7
<PAGE> 12
holders, members or general or limited partners of which include only such
Shareholder, such Shareholder Affiliates or Shareholder Associates; provided,
however, that in order for any of the parties identified in clauses (C), (D) or
(E) to be a Permitted Transferee in connection with a Transfer (or series of
related Transfers) in excess of 2.5% of such Institutional Shareholder's Initial
Ownership of the class of Equity Securities to be transferred, such party must
be acceptable to THL, which acceptance may not be unreasonably withheld and
which acceptance shall not be required for the Transfer by KECALP Inc. of all of
its Equity Securities to Merrill Lynch KECALP International L.P. 1997, a Cayman
Islands limited partnership; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the foregoing
proviso shall not be applicable if the number of Shares of a class of Equity
Securities to be Transferred by an Institutional Shareholder pursuant to clause
(C), (D) or (E), together with all other Transfers of such class of Equity
Securities by such Institutional Shareholder and its Permitted Transferees
pursuant to any of such clauses, is less than (I) the aggregate number of Shares
of such class of Equity Securities Transferred by the THL Entities and their THL
Designated Transferees in accordance with clause (A) or (B) of the definition of
"THL Designated Transferees" MULTIPLIED BY (II) such Institutional Shareholders'
Initial Proportionate Equity Interest of such class, treating for purposes of
this proviso the Equity Warrants as part of the class of Common Stock, or
(ii) in the case of a Management Shareholder (A) the Company,
(B) any THL Entity, (C) a spouse or lineal descendant (whether natural or
adopted), sibling, parent, heir, executor, administrator, testamentary trustee,
lifetime trustee, legatee or beneficiary of any of such Management Shareholder,
(D) any trust, the beneficiaries of which, or any corporation, limited liability
company or partnership, stockholders, members or general
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<PAGE> 13
or limited partners of which include only the Persons named in clause (B) or
(C), (E) bona fide financial institutions, to the extent that such transfer is
in connection with a pledge in connection with a borrowing arrangement unrelated
to a constructive or synthetic sale, such as any hedge, sale or purchase of any
derivative security or other action (other than Transfers expressly permitted by
the terms hereof) having the effect of reducing a Management Shareholder's
economic interest in Equity Securities or reducing a Management Shareholder's
exposure to a decrease in fair market value of Equity Securities, or other
similar transaction involving such Management Shareholder's Equity Securities,
or (F) a charitable institution as defined in Section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which receives a bona fide gift of Shares,
which when aggregated with all other Transfers of Shares of such class of Equity
Securities by such Management Shareholder and its Permitted Transferees pursuant
to this clause (F) does not exceed 10% of such Management Shareholders' Initial
Ownership of such class of Equity Securities.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association, trust or other entity or organization,
including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality
thereof.
"Primary Executives" means the following Management
Shareholders: Paul M. Montrone and Paul M. Meister.
"Public Offering" means any primary or secondary public
offering of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act other than pursuant to a registration
statement filed in connection with a transaction of the type described in Rule
145 of the Securities Act or for
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<PAGE> 14
the purpose of issuing securities pursuant to an employee benefit plan.
"Qualifying Public Offering" means a Public Offering yielding
aggregate gross proceeds of at least $50,000,000.
"Registrable Securities" means at any time, with respect to
any Shareholder or its Permitted Transferees, any shares of Common Stock then
owned by such Shareholder or its Permitted Transferees until (i) a registration
statement covering such securities has been declared effective by the SEC and
such securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration
statement, (ii) such securities are sold under circumstances in which all of the
applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force)
under the Securities Act are met or (iii) such securities are otherwise
Transferred, the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of
ownership for such securities not bearing the legend required pursuant to this
Agreement and such securities may be resold without subsequent registration
under the Securities Act.
"Registration Expenses" means (i) all registration and filing
fees, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue
sky qualifications of the securities registered), (iii) printing expenses, (iv)
internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties), (v) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants
retained by the Company (including expenses relating to any comfort letters or
costs associated with the delivery by independent certified public
10
<PAGE> 15
accountants of a comfort letter or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section
5.4(h) hereof), (vi) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts
retained by the Company in connection with such registration, (vii) reasonable
fees and expenses of up to one counsel for the Shareholders participating in the
offering, (viii) fees and expenses in connection with any review of underwriting
arrangements by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") including fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter"
and (ix) fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or
sellers of securities, but shall not include any underwriting fees, discounts,
commissions or transfer taxes attributable to the sale of Registrable
Securities, or any out-of-pocket expenses (except as set forth in clause (vii)
above) of the Shareholders or any fees and expenses of underwriter's counsel.
"Regulated Stockholder" shall mean Chase Equity Associates,
L.P. and any other Stockholder (i) that is subject to the provisions of
Regulation Y or Regulation K of the Federal Reserve Board, 12 C.F.R. Part 225
(or any successor to such Regulations) and (ii) that holds Equity Securities of
the Company and (iii) that has provided written notice to the Company of its
status as a "Regulated Stockholder" hereunder.
"Regulatory Problem" means any set of facts or circumstance
wherein it has been asserted by any governmental regulatory agency (or a
Regulated Stockholder reasonably believes that there is a risk of such
assertion) that such Regulated Stockholder is not entitled to acquire, own, hold
or control, or exercise any significant right (including the right to vote) with
respect to, any Equity Securities of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company.
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"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shareholder" means each Person (other than the Company but
including the Equity Investors and the Management Shareholders) who is or shall
become a party to this Agreement, whether in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Original Agreement or this Agreement, pursuant to Section 7.3 or
otherwise, so long as such Person shall beneficially own any Equity Securities.
"Shares" means shares of Common Stock and other Equity
Securities held by the Shareholders on January 21, 1998 or acquired thereafter,
but excluding any Derivatives.
"Subscription Agreement" means each Subscription Agreement
dated as of January 21, 1998 between FSI and each of the Equity Investors.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any entity of
which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person.
"THL Designated Transferee" means (A) any general or limited
partner of the THL Entities (a "THL Partner"), and any corporation, partnership,
or other entity which is an Affiliate of the THL Entities or any THL Partner
(collectively, the "THL Affiliates"), (B) any managing director, general
partner, director, limited partner, officer or employee of the THL Entities or a
THL Affiliate, or the heirs, executors, administrators,
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<PAGE> 17
testamentary trustees, lifetime trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any of
the foregoing Persons referred to in this clause (B) (collectively, "THL
Associates"), (C) a charitable institution as defined in Section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which receives a bona fide gift by a
THL Individual of Shares (D) a bank, financial institution or other lender which
receives a bona fide pledge by a THL Individual of Shares, and (E) any trust,
the beneficiaries of which, or any corporation, limited liability company or
partnership, the stockholders, members or general or limited partners of which
include only the THL Entities, THL Affiliates, THL Associates, their spouses or
their lineal descendants. The term "THL Entities," to the extent the THL
Entities shall have Transferred any of its Shares to "THL Designated
Transferees," shall mean the THL Entities and the THL Designated Transferees of
the THL Entities, taken together, and any right or action that may be exercised
or taken at the election of the THL Entities may be exercised or taken at the
election of the THL Entities and such THL Designated Transferees, unless
otherwise restricted by the THL Entity engaging in such a transfer.
"THL Individuals" means the Persons listed on Schedule I and
Schedule II.
"Underwritten Public Offering" means a firmly underwritten
public offering of Registrable Securities of the Company pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
(b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set
forth opposite such term:
Term Section
---- -------
Cause 2.2
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Confidential Information 6.1(b)
DLJ Entities Representative 7.11(b)
Drag-Along Notice 4.2(b)
Drag-Along Notice Period 4.2(b)
Drag-Along Portion 4.2(a)
Drag-Along Rights 4.2(a)
Drag-Along Sale 4.2(a)
Drag-Along Sale Price(s) 4.2(b)
ethical wall 6.1(a)
Holders 5.1(b)
Indemnified Party 5.7
Indemnifying Party 5.7
Initial Proportionate
Equity Interest 3.4
Inspectors 5.4(g)
Institutional Shareholder
Demand Registration 5.1(g)
Management Representative 7.11(d)
Management Transfer 3.5(a)
Maximum Offering Size 5.1(e)
Merrill Lynch Entities
Representative 7.11(c)
New Securities 4.3(a)
Nominee 2.3(a)
Offer Price 3.6(a)
Offered Shares 3.6(a)
Offeror 3.6(a)
Option Period 3.6(a)
Piggyback Registration 5.2(a)
Preemptive Rights Notice 4.3(a)
Preemptive Rights Portion 4.3(a)
Primary Executive Demand
Registration 5.1(h)
Records 5.4(g)
Representatives 6.1(b)
Shareholder 7.3(a)
Tag-Along Notice 4.1(b)
Tag-Along Notice Period 4.1(b)
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Tag-Along Offer 4.1(b)
Tag-Along Person 4.1(a)
Tag-Along Portion 4.1(b)
Tag-Along Response Notice 4.1(b)
Tag-Along Right 4.1(b)
Tag-Along Sale 4.1(a)
Tag-Along Shareholder 4.1(a)
Third Party Purchase Notice 4.4
Third Party Purchase Portion 4.4
THL Demand Registration 5.1(a)
THL Entities Representative 7.11(a)
THL Entity Shareholder 7.3(d)
THL Exchange 3.3
Threshold Percentage 4.1(a)
Transfer 3.1(a)
Transfer Notice 3.6(a)
Trigger Date 6.4
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<PAGE> 20
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Section 2.1 COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD. The Board shall consist
of at least nine, but no more than ten, members (two of which shall be
individuals which are not "Affiliates" or "Associates" (as those terms are used
within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act) of any Shareholder or its Affiliates), of whom four shall be
nominated by THL, one shall be nominated by DLJMB, one shall be Paul M. Montrone
and one shall be Paul M. Meister. Each Shareholder entitled to vote for the
election of directors to the Board agrees that it will vote its shares of Common
Stock or execute consents, as the case may be, and take all other necessary
action (including causing the Company to call a special meeting of shareholders)
in order to ensure that the composition of the Board is as set forth in this
Section 2.1; provided that, no Shareholder shall be required to vote for another
Shareholder's nominee or Mr. Montrone or Mr. Meister if the number of shares of
Common Stock held by (i) Mr. Montrone and Mr. Meister collectively, or (ii) such
other Shareholder making the nomination collectively with its Affiliates, as
applicable, is, at the close of business on the day preceding such vote or
execution of consents, less than 10% of such party's or parties' Initial
Ownership of shares of Common Stock on a Fully Diluted basis; and, provided
further, that for so long as Messrs. Montrone and Meister collectively own 10%
or more of their collective Initial Ownership of shares of Common Stock on a
Fully Diluted basis, designees nominated by THL and the Equity Investors shall
be selected in good faith after consultation with Messrs. Montrone and Meister,
which consultation shall involve a consideration of Messrs. Montrone and
Meister's views relating to the Company. The initial Board after the execution
of this
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Agreement shall consist of the individuals listed on Schedule III hereto.
Section 2.2 REMOVAL. Each Shareholder agrees that if, at any
time, it is then entitled to vote for the removal of directors of the Company,
it will not vote any of its shares of Common Stock in favor of the removal of
any director who shall have been designated or nominated pursuant to Section 2.1
unless such removal shall be for Cause or such director or the Person(s)
entitled to designate or nominate such director shall have consented to such
removal in writing, provided that if the Persons entitled to designate or
nominate any director pursuant to Section 2.1 shall request the removal, with or
without Cause, of such director in writing, such Shareholder shall vote its
shares of Common Stock in favor of such removal. Removal for "Cause" shall mean
removal of a director because of such director's (a) willful and continued
failure substantially to perform his duties with the Company in his established
position, (b) willful conduct which is injurious to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise, or (c) conviction for, or guilty plea to,
a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
Section 2.3 VACANCIES. If, as a result of death, disability,
retirement, resignation, removal (with or without Cause) or otherwise, there
shall exist or occur any vacancy on the Board:
(a) the Shareholder(s) entitled under Section 2.1 to nominate
such director whose death, disability, retirement, resignation or
removal resulted in such vacancy, may, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.1, nominate another individual (the "Nominee") to fill such
vacancy and serve as a director of the Company;
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(b) subject to Section 2.1, each Shareholder then
entitled to vote for the election of the Nominee as a director of the
Company agrees that it will vote its shares of Common Stock, or execute
a written consent, as the case may be, in order to ensure that the
Nominee be elected to the Board; and
(c) in the case of removal of either of the Primary
Executives from the Board, the other Primary Executive, if he is still
a member of the Board, shall be entitled to nominate an individual to
fill the resulting vacancy, and the provisions of Section 2.3(b) shall
apply to the election of such nominee.
Section 2.4 ACTION BY THE BOARD. (a) A quorum of the Board
shall consist initially of three directors; provided that THL shall have the
right, subject to applicable law or regulation, in its sole discretion, until
such time as THL owns less than 25% of its Initial Ownership of shares of Common
Stock, to increase or decrease the number of directors necessary to constitute a
quorum.
(b) All actions of the Board shall require the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors at a duly convened
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present or the unanimous written
consent of the Board; provided that, in the event there is a vacancy on the
Board and an individual has been nominated to fill such vacancy, the first order
of business shall be to fill such vacancy.
Section 2.5 CONFLICTING CHARTER OR BYLAW PROVISION. Each
Shareholder shall vote its shares of Common Stock, and shall take all other
actions reasonably necessary, to ensure that the Company's certificate of
incorporation and bylaws (copies of which are attached
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hereto as Exhibits A and B) facilitate and do not at any time conflict with any
provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
Section 3.1 GENERAL. (a) Each Equity Investor understands and
agrees that the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Subscription
Agreement and the Equity Warrants received pursuant to the Equity Warrant
Acquisition Agreement have not been registered under the Securities Act and are
restricted securities. Each Shareholder agrees that it will not, directly or
indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, grant a participation in, pledge or
otherwise dispose of ("Transfer") any Shares or Equity Warrants (or solicit any
offers to buy or otherwise acquire, or take a pledge of any Shares or Equity
Warrants) except in compliance with the Securities Act and the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
(b) Any attempt by any Shareholder to Transfer any
Shares or Equity Warrants not in compliance with this Agreement shall be null
and void and the Company shall not, and shall cause any transfer agent not to,
give any effect in the Company's stock records to such attempted Transfer.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
except as may be otherwise set forth in the applicable instrument, Derivatives
(other than the Equity Warrants) shall be transferable only by will, law of
descent or distribution or pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof.
Section 3.2 LEGENDS. (a) In addition to any other legend that
may be required, each certificate for
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Shares that is issued to any Shareholder shall bear a legend in substantially
the following form:
"THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH. THIS SECURITY IS ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL
LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE INVESTORS' AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF JANUARY 21, 1998, COPIES OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED UPON REQUEST FROM
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC. OR ANY SUCCESSOR THERETO."
(b) If any Shares shall cease to be Registrable
Securities under clause (i) or clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the
Company shall, upon the written request of the holder thereof, issue to such
holder a new certificate evidencing such Shares without the first sentence of
the legend required by Section 3.2(a) endorsed thereon. If any Shares cease to
be subject to any and all limitations or restrictions on Transfer set forth in
this Agreement, the Company shall, upon the written request of the holder
thereof, issue to such holder a new certificate evidencing such Shares without
the second sentence of the legend required by Section 3.2(a) endorsed thereon.
Section 3.3 PERMITTED TRANSFEREES; TRANSFERS BY THL ENTITIES;
EXCHANGES BY THL ENTITIES. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, (a) any Non-THL Shareholder may at any time Transfer any or all of its
Shares or Equity Warrants to one or more of its Permitted Transferees so long as
(i) such Permitted Transferee shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the
terms of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and (ii) the Transfer to such
Permitted Transferee is not in violation of applicable federal or state
securities laws and (b) any THL Entity may at any
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time Transfer any or all of its Shares or Equity Warrants to any third party
(including THL Designated Transferees) so long as (i) the Transfer is in
compliance with Section 4.1 hereof, (ii) if the transferee is to be treated as a
THL Designated Transferee, such transferee shall have agreed in writing to be
bound by the terms of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3 and (iii) the
Transfer is not in violation of applicable federal or state securities laws. Any
THL Entity may at any time exchange (a "THL Exchange") with the Company any or
all of its voting Equity Securities on a share-for-share basis for shares of an
equivalent class of non-voting Equity Securities of the Company, which
non-voting Equity Securities shall have substantially the rights, preferences
and limitations as set forth in the form of certificate of designation attached
hereto as Exhibit C. The Company agrees to take all such actions, subject to
Applicable Law, as are reasonably requested by any THL Entity to effectuate a
THL Exchange.
Section 3.4 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS BY INSTITUTIONAL
SHAREHOLDERS. Except as provided in Section 3.3, each Institutional Shareholder
and each Permitted Transferee of such Institutional Shareholder may Transfer its
Shares and Equity Warrants only as follows:
(i) in a Transfer made in compliance with
Section 4.1 or 4.2;
(ii) in a Public Offering in connection with the
exercise of its rights under Article 5 hereof;
(iii) following the earlier to occur of (A) the
date on which the Percentage Ownership of such Institutional
Shareholder and its Permitted Transferees is less than 25% of its
Initial
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Ownership of shares of Common Stock and (B) the seventh anniversary of
the Closing Date, to any Person other than any Adverse Person; or
(iv) in a Transfer made after an Initial Public
Offering in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Institutional
Shareholder may not Transfer an aggregate number of Shares of such
class of Equity Securities that, together with all prior Transfers of
such class by such Institutional Shareholder and its Permitted
Transferees pursuant to one or more Rule 144 Transfers, represents more
than (A) the aggregate number of Shares of such class Transferred by
the THL Entities and their THL Designated Transferees (other than, in
either case, to THL Designated Transferees) MULTIPLIED BY (B) such
Institutional Shareholders' Initial Proportionate Equity Interest of
such class; provided, further, that, for purposes of this subsection
(iv), the Equity Warrants shall be treated as part of the class of
shares of Common Stock and the calculations described herein shall
include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
such Equity Warrants. The "Initial Proportionate Equity Interest" of a
party is such party's Initial Ownership of such class divided by the
Initial Ownership of THL of such class.
Section 3III.5 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS BY MANAGEMENT
SHAREHOLDERS. (a) Except as provided in Section 3.3, each Management Shareholder
and each Permitted Transferee of such Management Shareholder may Transfer its
Shares only as follows or as set forth in Section 3.5(b):
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(i) in a Transfer made in compliance with
Section 4.1 or 4.2;
(ii) in a Public Offering in connection with the
exercise of its rights under Article 5 hereof;
(iii) in a Transfer made after an Initial Public
Offering in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Management
Shareholder may not Transfer an aggregate number of Shares of any class
of Equity Securities that, together with all prior Transfers of such
class by such Management Shareholder and its Permitted Transferees
pursuant to one or more Rule 144 Transfers, represents more than (A)
the aggregate number of Shares of such class Transferred by the THL
Entities and their THL Designated Transferees (other than, in either
case, to THL Designated Transferees) MULTIPLIED BY (B) such Management
Shareholders' Initial Proportionate Equity Interest of such class;
(iv) following the tenth anniversary of the
Closing Date to any Third Party other than an Adverse Person; or
(v) subject to Section 3.6, a Transfer by a
Management Shareholder to another Management Shareholder (a "Management
Transfer").
(b) Each Management Shareholder and each
Permitted Transferee of such Management Shareholder may Transfer its Shares to
any Person other than an Adverse Person upon the occurrence of a Qualifying
Public Offering.
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Section 3.6 COMPANY RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. (a) If a
Management Shareholder (an "Offeror") desires to Transfer Shares to another
Management Shareholder pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.5(a)(v):
(i) such Offeror shall give notice of such offer (the
"Transfer Notice") to the Company. The Transfer Notice shall state the
terms and conditions of such offer, including the name of the
prospective purchaser, the proposed purchase price per share of such
Shares (the "Offer Price"), payment terms (including a description of
any proposed non-cash consideration), the type of disposition and the
number of such Shares to be transferred ("Offered Shares"). The
Transfer Notice shall further state that the Company may acquire, in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, any of the Offered
Shares for the price and upon the other terms and conditions, including
deferred payment (if applicable), set forth therein.
(ii) For a period of ten Business Days after receipt of the
Transfer Notice (the "Option Period"), the Company may, by notice in
writing to the Offeror delivering such Transfer Notice, elect in
writing to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Offered Shares
at the Offer Price. The closing of the purchase of Shares pursuant to
Section 3.5, shall take place at the principal office of the Company on
the tenth day after the expiration of the Option Period. At such
Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Offeror, against delivery of
certificates duly endorsed and stock powers representing the Shares
being acquired by the Company, the Offer Price, on the same terms as
set forth in the Transfer Notice (including any non-cash consideration
described therein), payable in respect of the Shares being purchased by
the Company. All
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of the foregoing deliveries will be deemed to be made simultaneously,
and none shall be deemed completed until all have been completed.
(b) The provisions of Section 3.6(a) shall not apply to a Management
Shareholder (other than a Primary Executive) if such Management Shareholder
Transfers Shares aggregating, with all other prior Transfers of Shares by such
Management Shareholder, an amount less than 25% of such Management Shareholder's
Initial Ownership.
Section 3.7 NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING TRANSFERS. To the extent
that either an Institutional Shareholder proposes a Transfer pursuant to Section
3.4(iv) or a Management Shareholder proposes a Transfer pursuant to Section
3.5(a)(iii), such Shareholder shall provide notice to THL at least five Business
Days prior to the proposed Transfer Date of the number of Shares proposed to be
Transferred. Not less than two Business Days prior to the proposed Transfer
Date, THL shall notify such Shareholder of whether the Transfer is believed to
be permitted based on the formulas set forth in Section 3.4(iv) or 3.5(a)(iii),
as applicable.
ARTICLE IV
TAG-ALONG RIGHTS; DRAG-ALONG RIGHTS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
Section 4.1 RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE IN TRANSFER. (a) If the THL
Entities propose to Transfer (a "Tag-Along Sale") shares of a class of Equity
Securities, other than Transfers of shares of such class (i) in a Public
Offering pursuant to the exercise of their rights
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under Article 5, (ii) to any THL Designated Transferee, (iii) up to the
Threshold Percentage or (iv) in a THL Exchange, the Non-THL Shareholders may, at
their option, elect to exercise their rights under this Section 4.1 (each such
Shareholder, a "Tag-Along Person"); provided, however, that the exception set
forth in clause (iii) shall not apply to the Primary Executives. The "Threshold
Percentage" shall equal 5% in the aggregate of the THL Entities' Initial
Ownership of such class of Equity Securities.
(b) In the event of a proposed Transfer in accordance
with paragraph (a) above, THL shall provide each Non-THL Shareholder written
notice of the terms and conditions of such proposed Transfer ("Tag-Along
Notice") at least 10 days prior to such proposed Transfer and offer each
Tag-Along Person the opportunity to participate in such sale. The Tag-Along
Notice shall identify the number of shares of such class of Equity Securities to
be sold in the Tag-Along Sale ("Tag-Along Offer"), the price at which the
Transfer is proposed to be made, and all other material terms and conditions of
the Tag-Along Offer, including the form of the proposed agreement, if any. From
the date of the Tag-Along Notice, each Tag-Along Person shall have the right (a
"Tag-Along Right"), exercisable by written notice ("Tag-Along Response Notice")
given to THL within 5 Business Days (the "Tag-Along Notice Period"), to request
that THL include in the proposed Transfer the number of shares of such class of
Equity Securities held by such Tag-Along Person as is specified in such notice;
provided that if the aggregate number of shares of such class of Equity
Securities proposed to be sold by the THL Entities and all Tag-Along Persons in
such transaction exceeds the number of shares of such class of Equity Securities
which can be sold on the terms and conditions set forth in the Tag-Along Notice,
then only the Tag-Along Portion of shares of the THL Entities and each Tag-Along
Person
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shall be sold pursuant to the Tag-Along Offer. "Tag-Along Portion" means,
with respect to any class of Equity Securities, the number of shares of such
class held (or, without duplication, that such Shareholder has the right to
acquire from any Person) by the Tag-Along Person or THL, as the case may be,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of shares
of such class subject to the Tag-Along Offer and the denominator of which is the
aggregate number of shares of such class on a Fully Diluted basis owned by all
Shareholders. In the event the THL Entities shall propose to Transfer a number
of shares of such class in excess of the Threshold Percentage, the Tag-Along
Portion shall be calculated with respect to all of the shares proposed to be
Transferred by the THL Entities. To the extent that the Tag-Along Notice
provides that shares of Common Stock and Equity Warrants will be transferred (i)
the Equity Warrants and the Common Stock shall be treated as part of a single
class of Equity Securities and, if applicable, Equity Warrants are referred to
in this Section 4.1 as "shares" of such class, (ii) the calculations described
in this Section 4.1 with respect to such Tag-Along Notice shall include the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Equity Warrants
and (iii) the allocation between Equity Warrants and shares of Common Stock
subject to the Tag-Along Rights will be proportional to the allocation of the
number of Shares subject to the Tag-Along Notice as compared with the number of
Equity Warrants subject to the Tag-Along Notice.
(c) If the Tag-Along Persons exercise their Tag-Along
Rights hereunder, each Tag-Along Person shall deliver, together with its
Tag-Along Response Notice, to THL the certificate or certificates representing
the Shares of such Tag-Along Person to be included in the Transfer, together
with a limited power-of-attorney authorizing THL to Transfer such Shares
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on the terms set forth in the Tag-Along Notice. It is understood that to the
extent THL can do so without affecting the other terms on which the Tag-Along
Sale is proposed to be made, THL will seek to exclude from the terms of such
Tag-Along Sale any material restrictions on the ability, following such
Tag-Along Sale, of any Tag-Along Person to conduct its business in a manner
consistent with past practice. Delivery of such certificate or certificates
representing the shares to be Transferred and the limited power-of-attorney
authorizing THL to Transfer such shares shall constitute an irrevocable
acceptance of the Tag-Along Offer by such Tag-Along Persons. If, at the end of a
120 day period after such delivery, THL has not completed the Transfer of all
such shares on substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the
Tag-Along Notice, THL shall return to each Tag-Along Person the limited
power-of-attorney (and all copies thereof) together with all certificates
representing the shares which such Tag-Along Person delivered for Transfer
pursuant to this Section 4.1.
(d) Concurrently with the consummation of the
Tag-Along Sale, THL shall notify the Tag-Along Persons thereof, shall remit to
the Tag-Along Persons the total consideration (by bank or certified check) for
the Shares of the Tag-Along Persons Transferred pursuant thereto, and shall,
promptly after the consummation of such Tag-Along Sale furnish such other
evidence of the completion and time of completion of such Transfer and the terms
thereof as may be reasonably requested by the Tag-Along Persons.
(e) If at the termination of the Tag-Along Notice
Period any Tag-Along Person shall not have elected to participate in the
Tag-Along Sale, such Tag-Along Person will be deemed to have waived its rights
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under Section 4.1(a), with respect to the Transfer of its securities pursuant to
such Tag-Along Sale.
(f) If any Tag-Along Person declines to exercise its
Tag-Along Rights or elects to exercise its Tag-Along Rights with respect to less
than such Tag-Along Person's Tag-Along Portion, the THL Entities shall be
entitled to Transfer, pursuant to the Tag-Along Offer, a number of shares held
by the THL Entities equal to the number of shares constituting the portion of
such Tag-Along Person's Tag-Along Portion with respect to which Tag-Along Rights
were not exercised.
(g) THL may sell, on behalf of the THL Entities and
any Tag-Along Person who exercises the Tag-Along Rights pursuant to this Section
4.1, the shares subject to the Tag-Along Offer on the terms and conditions set
forth in the Tag-Along Notice within 120 days of the date on which Tag-Along
Rights shall have been waived, exercised or expire.
Section 4.2 RIGHT TO COMPEL PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN
TRANSFERS. (a) If (i) the THL Entities propose to Transfer not less than 50% of
their Initial Ownership of Common Stock to a Third Party in a bona fide sale or
(ii) the THL Entities propose a Transfer in which the shares of Common Stock to
be Transferred by Shareholders constitute more than 50% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (a "Drag-Along Sale"), THL may at its option require all
Shareholders to sell all Equity Securities proposed to be sold therein
("Drag-Along Rights") then held by every Non-THL Shareholder, and (subject to
and at the closing of the Drag-Along Sale) to compel to exercise all, but not
less than all, of the Derivatives (whether then vested or unvested) held by
every Non-THL Shareholder and to sell all of the Shares received upon such
exercise to such Third Party, for the same
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consideration and otherwise on the same terms and conditions as the THL
Entities; provided, that any Non-THL Shareholder who holds Derivatives the
exercise price per share of which is greater than the per share price at which
the Shares are to be sold to the Third Party may, if required by THL to exercise
such Derivatives, in place of such exercise, submit to irrevocable cancellation
thereof without any liability for payment of any exercise price with respect
thereto; provided, further, that, upon such Drag-Along Sale, the Primary
Executives shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Equity
Investors to, at THL's option, either arrange for the purchase by a third party
or purchase directly all of the Shares held by such Primary Executive as a
condition to consummation of such Drag-Along Sale and, in which case the number
of shares to be sold by each Equity Investor will be reduced on a proportional
basis. The number of shares of each class of Equity Securities to be sold by
each Non-THL Shareholder will be the Drag-Along Portion of the shares of such
class that such Non-THL Shareholder owns. "Drag-Along Portion" means, with
respect to any Non-THL Shareholder and any class of Equity Securities, the
number of Shares of such class of Equity Securities beneficially owned by such
Non-THL Shareholder multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of such class of Equity Securities proposed to be sold by the
THL Entities on behalf of the THL Entities and the Non-THL Shareholders (as
reduced by the number of shares of such class of Equity Securities to be sold by
the Primary Executives in excess of their pro rata interest) and the denominator
of which is the total number of shares of such class of Equity Securities
beneficially owned by the Shareholders. In the event the Drag-Along Sale is not
consummated with respect to any shares acquired upon exercise of Derivatives,
such Derivatives shall be deemed not to have been exercised or cancelled, as
applicable. To the extent the Drag-Along Sale relates to Derivatives, and THL
determines not to
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compel the exercise thereof, the Derivatives shall be treated as a separate
class of Equity Securities and, if applicable, Derivatives are referred to in
this Section 4.2 as "shares" of such class.
(b) THL shall provide written notice of such
Drag-Along Sale to the Non-THL Shareholders (a "Drag-Along Notice") not later
than the fifteenth day prior to the proposed Drag-Along Sale. The Drag-Along
Notice shall identify the Transferee, the number of shares of any class of
Equity Securities, the consideration for which a Transfer is proposed to be made
for each class of Equity Securities (the "Drag-Along Sale Price(s)") and all
other material terms and conditions of the Drag-Along Sale. Subject to Section
4.2(d), each Non-THL Shareholder shall be required to participate in the
Drag-Along Sale on the terms and conditions set forth in the Drag-Along Notice
and to tender all its Shares as set forth below. It is understood that to the
extent THL can do so without affecting the other terms on which the Drag-Along
Sale is proposed to be made, THL will seek to exclude from the terms of such
Drag-Along Sale any material restrictions on the ability, following such
Drag-Along Sale, of any Non-THL Shareholder to conduct its business in a manner
consistent with past practice. The price(s) payable in such Transfer shall be
the Drag-Along Sale Price(s). Not later than the tenth day following the date of
the Drag-Along Notice (the "Drag-Along Notice Period"), each of the Non-THL
Shareholders shall deliver to a representative of THL designated in the
Drag-Along Notice certificates representing all the Shares beneficially owned
and held by such Non-THL Shareholder, duly endorsed, (or evidence of title and
ownership of any Derivative which are subject to the Drag-Along Sale but which
are not exercised in connection therewith) together with all other documents
required to be executed in connection with such Drag-Along Sale, or
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if such delivery is not permitted by applicable law, an unconditional agreement
to deliver such shares pursuant to this Section 4.2 at the closing for such
Drag-Along Sale against delivery to such Non-THL Shareholder of the
consideration therefor. If a Non-THL Shareholder should fail to deliver such
certificates to THL, the Company shall cause the books and records of the
Company to show that such shares are bound by the provisions of this Section 4.2
and that such shares shall be Transferred to the purchaser of the shares
immediately upon surrender for Transfer by the holder thereof.
(c) The THL Entities shall have a period of 90 days
from the date of receipt of the Drag-Along Notice to consummate the Drag-Along
Sale on the terms and conditions set forth in such Drag-Along Sale Notice. If
the Drag-Along Sale shall not have been consummated during such period, THL
shall return to each of the Non-THL Shareholders all certificates or other
evidence of title and ownership representing shares that such Non-THL
Shareholder delivered for Transfer pursuant hereto, together with any documents
in the possession of THL executed by the Non-THL Shareholder in connection with
such proposed Transfer, and all the restrictions on Transfer contained in this
Agreement or otherwise applicable at such time with respect to shares owned by
the Non-THL Shareholders shall again be in effect.
(d) Concurrently with the consummation of the
Transfer of shares pursuant to this Section 4.2, THL shall give notice thereof
to all Shareholders, shall remit to each of the Shareholders who have
surrendered their certificates or other evidence of title and ownership the
total consideration (by bank or certified check) for the shares Transferred
pursuant hereto and shall furnish such other evidence of the completion and time
of completion of such Transfer and the terms thereof as may be reasonably
requested by such Shareholders.
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(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, in the event the terms on which a Drag-Along Sale is proposed
to be made shall include a provision which materially and adversely affects the
ability of any Non-THL Shareholder to compete in any line of business or
geographic area, such Non-THL Shareholder shall not be required to participate
in the Drag-Along Sale on the terms and conditions set forth in the Drag-Along
Notice. In the event any Shareholder shall elect, pursuant to the preceding
sentence, not to participate in the Drag-Along Sale, THL Entities and their THL
Designated Transferees shall have the right to purchase, and such Shareholder
shall be obligated to sell to the THL Entities and their THL Designated
Transferees such Shareholder's shares, at the Drag-Along Sale Price(s) and on
substantially the same terms (other than any such non-compete provision), not
later than immediately prior to the consummation of the Drag-Along Sale. Except
as provided above, in connection with any Drag-Along Sale, all Shareholders
shall be subject to (i) the same terms and conditions of sale and (ii) the same
indemnity, contribution, hold-back, escrow or similar obligations.
Section 4.3 PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. (a) The Company shall provide
each Shareholder with a written notice (a "Preemptive Rights Notice") of any
proposed issuance by the Company of Equity Securities (other than the issuance
of Equity Securities in connection with a THL Exchange) at least 10 days prior
to the proposed issuance date. Such notice shall specify the price at which the
Equity Securities are to be issued and the other material terms of the issuance.
(i) In the event the Company shall issue any New
Common Securities or New Preferred Securities (collectively, the "New
Securities") to
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<PAGE> 38
any third party (including any Shareholder) prior to a Qualifying
Public Offering, the THL Entities and each Management Shareholder shall
be entitled to purchase, at the price and on the terms at which such
New Securities are proposed to be issued and specified in such
Preemptive Rights Notice, the THL Entities' or such Management
Shareholder's Preemptive Rights Portion of such class of the New
Securities proposed to be issued. "Preemptive Rights Portion" means,
with respect to New Common Securities, the pro rata portion of New
Common Securities proposed to be issued by the Company, which amount
shall be based upon such Shareholder's Initial Ownership of shares of
Common Stock as a percentage of the sum of the Initial Ownership of
shares of Common Stock of (A) the THL Entities, (B) all Institutional
Shareholders and (C) all Management Shareholders and, with respect to
New Preferred Securities, the pro rata portion of New Preferred
Securities proposed to be issued by the Company, which amount shall be
based upon such Shareholder's Initial Ownership of shares of Preferred
Stock as a percentage of the sum of the Initial Ownership of shares of
Preferred Stock of (A) the THL Entities and (B) all Institutional
Shareholders.
(ii) In the event that the Company shall issue any New
Securities to any third party (including any Shareholder) following a
Qualifying Public Offering, the THL Entities shall be entitled to
purchase, at the price and on the terms at which such New Securities
are proposed to be issued and specified in such Preemptive Rights
Notice, the THL Entities' Preemptive Rights Portion of such class of
the New Securities proposed to be issued.
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(iii) In the event the THL Entities propose to purchase any
New Securities from the Company pursuant to Section 4.3(a)(i) or (ii)
or otherwise, the THL Entities may elect to purchase any or all of
their Preemptive Rights Portion in the form of non-voting New
Securities on the same terms and conditions as would have been
available to purchase shares of voting New Securities.
(iv) In the event the THL Entities propose to purchase any New
Securities from the Company pursuant to 4.3(a)(i) or (ii) or otherwise,
(A) prior to a Qualifying Public Offering, each Institutional
Shareholder, and (B) following a Qualifying Public Offering, each
Non-THL Shareholder shall be entitled to purchase, at the price and on
the terms at which the THL Entities propose to purchase such New
Securities and specified in such Preemptive Rights Notice, such
Shareholder's Preemptive Rights Portion of such class of the New
Securities proposed to be issued in the transaction giving rise to the
THL Entities' proposed purchase of New Securities; provided, however,
such Shareholders shall not be entitled to purchase New Securities
unless the THL Entities complete the purchase of New Securities in
accordance with the Preemptive Rights Notice.
A Shareholder may exercise its rights under this Section 4.3
by delivering written notice of its election to purchase New Securities to the
Company, THL and each Non-THL Shareholder within five days of receipt of the
Preemptive Rights Notice. A delivery of such a written notice (which notice
shall specify the number of New Securities to be purchased by the Shareholder
submitting such notice) by such Shareholder shall constitute a binding agreement
of such Shareholder to purchase, subject to the purchase by THL of its portion
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of such New Securities, at the price and on the terms specified in the
Preemptive Rights Notice, the number of New Securities specified in such
Shareholder's written notice.
(b) In the event any Non-THL Shareholder declines to
exercise its preemptive rights under this Section 4.3 or elects to exercise such
rights with respect to less than such Shareholder's Preemptive Rights Portion,
the THL Entities shall have the right to purchase, or any Non-THL Shareholder
designated by THL shall have the right to purchase, from the Company the number
of New Securities constituting the Preemptive Rights Portion with respect to
which such Non-THL Shareholder shall not have exercised its preemptive rights.
(c) In the case of any issuance of New Securities,
the Company shall have 90 days from the date of the Preemptive Rights Notice to
consummate the proposed issuance of any or all of such New Securities which the
Shareholders have not elected to purchase at the price and upon terms that are
not materially less favorable to the Company than those specified in the
Preemptive Rights Notice. At the consummation of such issuance, the Company
shall issue certificates representing the New Securities to be purchased by each
Shareholder exercising preemptive rights pursuant to this Section 4.3 registered
in the name of such Shareholder, against payment by such Shareholder of the
purchase price for such New Securities. If the Company proposes to issue New
Securities after such 90-day period, it shall again comply with the procedures
set forth in this Section.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Shareholder
shall be entitled to purchase New Securities as contemplated by this Section 4.3
in connection with
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issuances of New Securities (i) to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary
pursuant to employee benefit plans or arrangements approved by the Board
(including upon the exercise of employee stock options), or (ii) in connection
with any bona fide, arm's-length restructuring or refinancing of outstanding
indebtedness (including convertible indebtedness) of the Company or any
Subsidiary. The Company shall not be under any obligation to consummate any
proposed issuance of New Securities, regardless of whether it shall have
delivered a Preemptive Rights Notice in respect of such proposed issuance.
(e) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts
to provide the Preemptive Rights Notice at least 15 Business Days prior to any
proposed issuance of New Securities. In the event it is impracticable to provide
the Preemptive Rights Notice at least 15 Business Days prior to such issuance,
any Shareholder may offer to finance or arrange to finance the purchase by any
other Shareholder of such other Shareholder's Preemptive Rights Portion and such
financing or arranging Shareholder shall be entitled to receive as compensation
for such services reasonable and customary fees and expenses. No Shareholder
shall be under any obligation to provide or arrange such financing for any other
Shareholder.
Section 4.4. CERTAIN OTHER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES. In
the event, at any time after the date hereof and prior to the Trigger Date, the
THL Entities shall acquire any Equity Securities (other than Equity Securities
acquired in a THL Exchange) from any Person other than the Shareholders, THL
shall deliver, within five Business Days of the date of such acquisition, a
notice to each Equity Investor (a "Third Party Purchase Notice") specifying the
class of Equity Securities, the number of shares of such class acquired and the
weighted average of price per share paid by the THL Entities.
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Such Third Party Purchase Notice shall constitute an offer to each such
Shareholder to purchase such Shareholder's Third Party Purchase Portion of the
number of shares of such class acquired by the THL Entities. A Shareholder may
exercise its rights under this Section 4.4 by delivering written notice of its
election to purchase its Third Party Purchase Portion within ten days of receipt
of the Third Party Purchase Notice. A delivery of such written notice (which
shall specify the number of shares of such class of Equity Securities to be
purchased by the Shareholder submitting such notice) by such Shareholder shall
constitute a binding agreement of such Shareholder to purchase, at the price and
on the terms specified in the Third Party Purchase Notice, the number of shares
of a class of Equity Securities specified in such notice. At the consummation of
the Transfer of the shares of a class of Equity Securities purchased by the THL
Entities to any Shareholder that has exercised its right hereunder, the THL
Entities shall deliver to such Shareholder certificates or other evidence of
title and ownership representing the shares of such class of Equity Securities
to be purchased against payment by such Shareholder of the purchase price for
such shares of Equity Securities. "Third Party Purchase Portion" means, with
respect to any Shareholder at any time, the number of shares of the class of
Equity Securities purchased by the THL Entities in a transaction subject to
Section 4.4, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is (i) the number
of shares of such class of Equity Securities on a Fully Diluted basis that such
Shareholder beneficially owns at such time, and the denominator of which is (ii)
the total number of shares of such class of Equity Securities on a Fully Diluted
basis beneficially owned at such time by all Equity Investors. To the extent the
Third Party Purchase Notice relates to Derivatives, such Derivatives shall be
treated as a separate class of Equity Securities and, if
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applicable, Derivatives are referred to in this Section 4.4 as "shares" of such
class.
ARTICLE V
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 5.1 DEMAND REGISTRATION. (a) If the Company shall
receive a written request by THL that the Company effect the registration under
the Securities Act of all or a portion of the THL Entities' Registrable
Securities, and specifying the intended method of disposition thereof, then the
Company shall promptly give written notice of such requested registration (a
"THL Demand Registration") at least five days prior to the anticipated filing
date of the registration statement relating to such THL Demand Registration to
the Non-THL Shareholders and thereupon will use its best efforts to effect, as
expeditiously as possible, the registration under the Securities Act of:
(i) the Registrable Securities of the THL Entities
which the Company has been so requested to register; and
(ii) subject to the restrictions set forth in Section
5.2, all other Registrable Securities of the same class as that to
which THL's request relates for which an effective Piggyback
Registration (as such term is defined in Section 5.2) request has been
made;
provided, that subject to Section 5.1(d) hereof, the Company shall not be
obligated to effect more than six THL Demand Registrations. In no event will the
Company
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be required to effect more than one THL Demand Registration within any
four-month period.
(b) Promptly after the expiration of the 2-day period
referred to in Section 5.2(a) hereof, the Company will notify all the
Shareholders to be included in the THL Demand Registration (the "Holders") of
the other Holders and the number of Registrable Securities requested to be
included therein. THL may, at any time prior to the effective date of the
registration statement relating to such registration, revoke such request,
without liability to any of the other Holders, by providing a written notice to
the Company revoking such request, in which case such request, so revoked, shall
not be considered a THL Demand Registration.
(c) The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in
connection with any THL Demand Registration.
(d) A registration requested pursuant to this Section
5.1 shall not be deemed to have been effected (i) unless the registration
statement relating thereto (A) has become effective under the Securities Act and
(B) has remained effective for a period of at least 180 days (or such shorter
period in which all Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such
registration have actually been sold thereunder); provided, that if after any
registration statement requested pursuant to this Section 5.1 becomes effective
(x) such registration statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction
or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court
and (y) less than 75% of the Registrable Securities included in such
registration statement have been sold thereunder, such registration statement
shall not be considered a THL Demand Registration, or (ii) if the Maximum
Offering Size (as defined below) is reduced in accordance with Section 5.1(e)
such that less than 66 2/3% of the Registrable
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Securities of the THL Entities sought to be included in such registration are
included.
(e) If a THL Demand Registration involves an
Underwritten Public Offering and the managing underwriter shall advise the
Company and THL that, in its view, (i) the number of shares of Registrable
Securities requested to be included in such registration (including any
securities which the Company proposes to be included which are not Registrable
Securities) or (ii) the inclusion of some or all of the shares of Registrable
Securities owned by the Holders, in any such case, exceeds the largest number of
shares which can be sold without having an adverse effect on such offering,
including the price at which such shares can be sold (the "Maximum Offering
Size"), the Company will include in such registration, in the priority listed
below, up to the Maximum Offering Size:
(A) first, all Registrable Securities requested by
THL to be registered and all Registrable Securities requested to be
included in such registration by any other Holder pursuant to an
effective Piggyback Registration request (allocated, if necessary for
the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among
the THL Entities and such Holders on the basis of the relative number
of Registrable Securities held by such Shareholder); and
(B) second, any securities proposed to be registered
by the Company.
PROVIDED, however, that in such case, any Holder may elect to withdraw such
Holder's Registrable Securities from the registration.
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(f) Upon written notice to THL, the Company may
postpone effecting a registration pursuant to this Section 5.1 on one occasion
during any period of six consecutive months for a reasonable time specified in
the notice but not exceeding 90 days (which period may not be extended or
renewed), if (i) an investment banking firm of recognized national standing
shall advise the Company and THL in writing that effecting the registration
would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities of the Company
the preparation of which had then been commenced or (ii) the Company has a bona
fide business reason for determining that it is in possession of material
non-public information the disclosure of which during the period specified in
such notice the Company believes, in its reasonable judgment, would not be in
the best interests of the Company.
(g) After the Company has effected two Demand
Registrations pursuant to this Section 5.1 of Common Stock, the Institutional
Shareholders, upon request of such Institutional Shareholders owning a majority
of the Shares acquired by such Institutional Shareholders on the Closing Date,
may request that the Company register shares of Registrable Securities then
owned by such Institutional Shareholders (an "Institutional Shareholder Demand
Registration"). In no event will the Company be required to effect more than one
such Institutional Shareholder Demand Registration. The provisions of this
Article 5 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any such Institutional Shareholder
Demand Registration.
(h) After the Transfer of Shares of Common Stock
representing more than 20% of the Shares collectively owned by the Equity
Investors of the Initial Ownership on a Fully Diluted basis owned by such Equity
Investors, the Primary Executives may request that the Company register Shares
which are Registrable Securities
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then owned by them (a "Primary Executive Demand Registration"). In no event will
the Company be required to effect more than three such Primary Executive Demand
Registrations. The provisions of this Article 5 shall apply, mutatis mutandis,
to any such Primary Executive Demand Registration; provided, that,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) no Primary Executive Demand
Registrations may be made during the six month period following the Effective
Time or within six months after the effective date any other registration
statement (other than registration statement on From S-4 or S-8 or similar
form), and (ii) the Company must use its best efforts to effect such Primary
Executive Demand Registration as soon as practicable, but in no event later than
120 days following the date of the demand.
Section 5.2 PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION. (a) If the Company
proposes to register any Equity Securities under the Securities Act, whether or
not for sale for its own account (including pursuant to a Demand Registration),
in connection with a public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a
registration statement filed in connection with a transaction of the type
described in Rule 145 of the Securities Act or for the purpose of issuing
securities pursuant to an employee benefit plan) it will each such time, subject
to the provisions of Section 5.2(b) hereof, give prompt written notice at least
five days prior to the anticipated filing date of the registration statement
relating to such registration to all Shareholders and their respective Permitted
Transferees (or, in the case of a Demand Registration to all Shareholders and
their Permitted Transferees other than the Shareholder making the demand), which
notice shall set forth such Shareholders' rights under this Section 5.2 and
shall offer all Shareholders the opportunity to include in such registration
statement such number of shares of Common
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Stock as each such Shareholder may request (a "Piggyback Registration"). Upon
the written request of any such Shareholder made within 2 days (one of which
shall be a Business Day) after the receipt of notice from the Company (which
request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be
disposed of by such Shareholder), the Company will use its reasonable best
efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by such
Shareholders, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the
Registrable Securities so to be registered; provided, that (i) if such
registration involves an Underwritten Public Offering, all such Shareholders
requesting to be included in the Company's registration must sell their
Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected as provided in Section
5.4(f) on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Company or the other
selling Shareholder, as applicable, and (ii) if, at any time after giving
written notice of its intention to register on its own behalf any stock and
prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection
with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to
register such stock, the Company shall give written notice to all such
Shareholders and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any
Registrable Securities in connection with such registration. No registration
effected under this Section 5.2 on behalf of the Company shall relieve the
Company of its obligations to effect a Demand Registration, to the extent
required by Section 5.1 hereof. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses
in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested
pursuant to this Section 5.2.
(b) If a registration pursuant to this Section 5.2
involves an Underwritten Public Offering (other than in the case of an
Underwritten Public
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Offering resulting from a Demand Registration, in which case the provisions with
respect to priority of inclusion in such offering set forth in Section 5.1(e)
shall apply) and the managing underwriter advises the Company that, in its view,
the number of shares of Common Stock which the Company and the selling
Shareholders intend to include in such registration exceeds the Maximum Offering
Size, the Company will include in such registration, in the following priority,
up to the Maximum Offering Size:
(i) first, so much of the Equity Securities proposed
to be registered for the account of the Company as would not cause the
offering to exceed the Maximum Offering Size; and
(ii) second, all Registrable Securities requested to
be included in such registration by any Shareholder pursuant to an
effective Piggyback Registration request (allocated, if necessary for
the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among
such Shareholders on the basis of the relative number of shares of
Registrable Securities held by such Shareholder).
Section 5.3 HOLDBACK AGREEMENTS. With respect to each and
every firmly Underwritten Public Offering, each Shareholder (collectively with
all of its Affiliates which are Shareholders) owning Shares representing more
than 1% of the then outstanding Shares (including Shares which would be held
upon any conversion or exercise of rights) agrees, and their Permitted
Transferees will agree, not to offer or sell any Shares (except for Shares, if
any, sold in that Public Offering) during the period which commences on the 14th
day prior to the effective date of the applicable registration statement for a
public offering of Shares (except as part of such registration) and ends on the
earlier of: (i) 180 days after the effective date of the registration statement
or
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(ii) any such shorter period as the Company and the lead managing underwriter
of an Underwritten Public Offering agree.
Section 5.4 REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. Whenever Shareholders
request that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to Section 5.1 or
5.2 hereof, the Company will, subject to the provisions of such Sections, use
its best efforts, or reasonable best efforts, as the case maybe, to effect the
registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof as quickly as practicable, and in any
event within 60 days of the date of demand and in connection with any such
request:
(a) The Company will as expeditiously as possible prepare and
file with the SEC a registration statement on any form selected by
counsel for the Company and which form shall be available for the sale
of the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance
with the intended method of distribution thereof, and use its best
efforts to cause such filed registration statement to become and remain
effective for a period of not less than 180 days (or such shorter
period in which all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders
included in such registration statement shall have actually been sold
thereunder).
(b) The Company will, if requested, prior to filing a
registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, furnish to each Shareholder and each underwriter, if any, of
the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
copies of such registration statement as proposed to be filed, and
thereafter the Company will furnish to such Shareholder and
underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such registration
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statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case
including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference
therein), the prospectus included in such registration statement
(including each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents as
such Shareholder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Shareholder. Each Shareholder shall have the right to request that the
Company modify any information contained in such registration
statement, amendment and supplement thereto pertaining to such
Shareholder and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
comply with such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not
have any obligation to so modify any information if so doing would
cause the prospectus to contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) After the filing of the registration statement, the
Company will (i) cause the related prospectus to be supplemented by any
required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, (ii) comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement during
the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration
statement or supplement to such prospectus and (iii) promptly notify
each Shareholder holding Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the
SEC or any state securities commission under state blue sky
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<PAGE> 52
laws and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of
such stop order or to remove it if entered.
(d) The Company will use its best efforts to (i) register or
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions in the United States as the Managing Underwriter or any
Shareholder or Shareholders holding such Registrable Securities
reasonably (in light of such Shareholder's intended plan of
distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and
operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that
may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Shareholder to
consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Shareholder; provided, however, that the Company will not be required
to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph (d),
(B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent
to general service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(e) The Company will immediately notify each Shareholder
holding such Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of an event
requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such
prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such
Registrable Securities, such prospectus will
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not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and promptly prepare and make
available to each such Shareholder and file with the SEC any such
supplement or amendment.
(f) In connection with (i) (A) any THL Demand Registration or
(B) any registration by the Company of Registrable Securities, the
Company shall appoint the underwriter or underwriters chosen by THL and
(ii) (A) any Institutional Shareholder Demand Registration or (B) any
Primary Executive Demand Registration, the Company shall appoint the
underwriter or underwriters chosen by Shareholders holding the majority
of the Registrable Securities to be registered; provided, that the
underwriter or underwriters identified in accordance with clauses
(ii)(A) and (ii)(B) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. The
Company will enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of such Registrable Securities, including the engagement of a
"qualified independent underwriter" in connection with the
qualification of the underwriting arrangements with the NASD.
(g) Upon execution of confidentiality agreements in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company will make
available for inspection by any Shareholder and any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to a registration statement
being filed by the Company pursuant to this Section 5.4 and any
attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such
Shareholder or underwriter
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(collectively, the "Inspectors"), all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably requested by any
such Person, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees
to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in
connection with such registration statement.
(h) The Company will furnish to each such Shareholder and to
each such underwriter, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such
underwriter and the participating Shareholders, of (i) an opinion or
opinions of counsel to the Company and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort
letters from the Company's independent public accountants, each in
customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily
covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as a
majority of such Shareholders or the managing underwriter therefor
reasonably requests.
(i) The Company will otherwise use its best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the relevant
state blue sky commissions, and make available to its securityholders,
as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering a
period of 12 months, beginning within three months after the effective
date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
(j) The Company may require each such Shareholder to promptly
furnish in writing to the Company information regarding the
distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time
to time reasonably request and such other
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information as may be legally required in connection with such
registration.
(k) Each such Shareholder agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Section 5.4(e) hereof, such Shareholder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such
Shareholder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 5.4(e) hereof, and, if so directed
by the Company, such Shareholder will deliver to the Company all
copies, other than any permanent file copies then in such Shareholder's
possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event that the
Company shall give such notice, the Company shall extend the period
during which such registration statement shall be maintained effective
(including the period referred to in Section 5.4(a) hereof) by the
number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of notice pursuant to Section 5.4(e) hereof to the date when the
Company shall make available to such Shareholder a prospectus
supplemented or amended to conform with the requirements of Section
5.4(e) hereof.
(l) The Company will use its best efforts to list such
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which the Common
Stock is then listed or on NASDAQ if the Common Stock is then quoted on
NASDAQ not later than the effective date of such registration
statement.
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Section 5.5 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless each Shareholder holding Registrable Securities
covered by a registration statement, its officers, directors, employees,
partners and agents, and each Person, if any, who controls such Shareholder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act (and officers, directors, employees, partners and agents of such
controlling Persons) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, joint
or several liabilities or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses and reasonable costs of investigation) caused by any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration
statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission so made in strict conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Shareholder or on
such Shareholder's behalf expressly for use therein; provided that with respect
to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
in any preliminary prospectus, or in any final prospectus, as the case may be,
the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not apply to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the
fact that a current copy of the final prospectus (or, in the case of a final
prospectus, the final prospectus as amended or supplemented) was not sent or
given to the Person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
at or prior to the written
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confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities concerned to such Person
if it is determined that the Company has provided such current copy of such
final prospectus (or such amended or supplemented prospectus, as the case may
be) to such Shareholder in a timely manner prior to such sale and it was the
responsibility of such Shareholder under the Securities Act to provide such
Person with a current copy of the prospectus (or such amended or supplemented
prospectus, as the case may be) and such current copy of the final prospectus
(or such amended or supplemented prospectus, as the case may be) would have
cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense.
The Company also agrees to indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable
Securities, their officers and directors and each person who controls such
underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of
the Shareholders provided in this Section 5.5.
Section 5.6 INDEMNIFICATION BY PARTICIPATING SHAREHOLDERS.
Each Shareholder holding Registrable Securities included in any registration
statement agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its officers, directors and agents and each Person (other than such
Shareholder), if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Shareholder, but only
(i) with respect to information furnished in writing by such Shareholder or on
such Shareholder's behalf expressly for use in any registration statement or
prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus or (ii) to the extent that any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense described in Section 5.5 results from
the fact that a current copy of the final prospectus (or, in the case of a
prospectus, the prospectus as amended or
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supplemented) was not sent or given to the Person asserting any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense at or prior to the time of the written
confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities concerning such Person if
it is determined that it was the responsibility of such Shareholder to provide
such Person with a current copy of the final prospectus (or such amended or
supplemented prospectus, as the case may be) and such current copy of the final
prospectus (or such amended or supplemented prospectus, as the case may be)
would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense. Each such Shareholder shall be prepared, if required by the
underwriting agreement, to indemnify and hold harmless underwriters of the
Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Company provided in this Section 5.6. As a condition to
including Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in
accordance with Article 5 hereof, the Company may require that it shall have
received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from any underwriter to
indemnify and hold it harmless to the extent customarily provided by
underwriters with respect to similar securities.
No Shareholder shall be liable under Section 5.6 for any
damage thereunder in excess of the net proceeds realized by such Shareholder in
the sale of the Registrable Securities of such Shareholder.
Section 5.7 CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. In case
any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
this Article 5, such Person (an "Indemnified Party") shall promptly notify the
Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in
writing and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the
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defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such Indemnified Party, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses;
provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party so to notify the Indemnifying
Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder
except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by
such failure to notify. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have
the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying
Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel or (ii) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnified Party
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the
Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such
separate firm for the Indemnified Parties, such firm shall be designated in
writing by the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but
if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified
Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason of such settlement
or judgment. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of
the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any
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Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out
of such proceeding.
Section 5.8 CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for
in this Article 5 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable
to the Indemnified Parties in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) as between the Company and the Shareholders holding Registrable
Securities covered by a registration statement and their related Indemnified
Parties on the one hand and the underwriters and their related Indemnified
Parties on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and such Shareholders on the one hand
and the underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shareholders'
Registrable Securities, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and such Shareholders on the
one hand and of such underwriters on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations and (ii) as between the
Company and their related Indemnified Parties on the one hand and each such
Shareholder and their related Indemnified Parties on the other, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and of
each such Shareholder in connection with such statements or omissions, as well
as any other relevant equitable
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considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and such
Shareholders on the one hand and such underwriters on the other shall be deemed
to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of
underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received
by the Company and such Shareholders bear to the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by such underwriters, in each case as set forth in the
table on the cover page of the prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and
such Shareholders on the one hand and of such underwriters on the other shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and such
Shareholders or by such underwriters. The relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and of each such Shareholder on the other shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by such party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
The Company and the Shareholders agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5.8 were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party
in connection with
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investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5.8 no underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to securities
purchased by such underwriter in such offering, less the aggregate amount of any
damages which such underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and no
Shareholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the net proceeds realized on the sale of the Registrable Securities of
such Shareholder exceeds the amount of any damages which such Shareholder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. Each Shareholder's obligation to contribute
pursuant to this Section 5.8 is several in the proportion that the proceeds of
the offering received by such Shareholder bears to the total proceeds of the
offering received by all such Shareholders and not joint.
Section 5.9 PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC OFFERING. No Person may
participate in any Underwritten Public Offering hereunder unless such Person (a)
agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and the provisions of
this Agreement in respect of registration rights.
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Section 5.10 COOPERATION BY THE COMPANY. In the event any
Shareholder shall Transfer any Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act, the Company shall cooperate, to the extent
commercially reasonable, with such Shareholder and shall provide to such
Shareholder such information as such Shareholder shall reasonably request.
Section 5.11 NO TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. None of the
rights of Shareholders under this Article 5 shall be assignable by any
Shareholder to any Person acquiring securities of such Shareholder in any Public
Offering or pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act.
ARTICLE VI
CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) Each Shareholder hereby
agrees that Confidential Information (as defined below) furnished and to be
furnished to it was and will be made available in connection with such
Shareholder's investment in the Company. Each Shareholder agrees that it will
use the Confidential Information only in connection with its investment in the
Company and not for any other purpose. Each Shareholder further acknowledges and
agrees that it will not disclose any Confidential Information to any Person;
provided that Confidential Information may be disclosed (i) to such
Shareholder's Representatives (as defined below) in the normal course of the
performance of their duties or to any financial institution providing credit to
such Shareholder, (ii) to the extent required by applicable law, rule or
regulation (including complying with any oral or written questions,
interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil
investigative
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demand or similar process to which a Shareholder is subject; provided that such
Shareholder gives the Company prompt notice of such request(s), to the extent
practicable, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or
similar relief (and the Shareholder shall cooperate with such efforts by the
Company, and shall in any event make only the minimum disclosure required by
such law, rule or regulation)), (iii) to any Person to whom such Shareholder is
contemplating a Transfer of its Shares (provided that such Transfer would not be
in violation of the provisions of this Agreement and as long as such potential
Transferee is advised of the confidential nature of such information and agrees
to be bound by a confidentiality agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
the Company (it being understood that a confidentiality agreement consistent
with the provisions hereof shall be satisfactory to the Company)) or (iv) if the
prior written consent of the Board shall have been obtained. Nothing contained
herein shall prevent the use (subject, to the extent possible, to a protective
order) of Confidential Information in connection with the assertion or defense
of any claim by or against the Company or any Shareholder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each Shareholder or Affiliate of a Shareholder who engages
principally in the business of effecting or recommending transactions, either as
a principal or as agent on behalf of third parties, in, relating to or involving
securities (including public securities of the Company or its subsidiaries) and
including, without limitation, transactions in which such Shareholder or
Affiliate may act as an investment advisor, an investment company, a broker or
dealer in securities, an underwriter or placement agent of securities, a market
maker, a specialist, an arbitrageur, a block positioner or a provider of
securities research, may engage in such activities with respect to securities of
the Company so long as, prior to engaging in any such activities (i)
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such Shareholder has established an effective "ethical wall" between individuals
receiving Confidential Information and those individuals (including Affiliates)
involved in effectuating trades or other transactions involving such securities
of the Company or its subsidiaries, which "ethical wall" is designed to prevent
any transfer, directly or indirectly, of Confidential Information and (ii) such
purchases, sales, dealings or other transactions are made only in accordance
with such "ethical wall" policies and procedures in accordance with applicable
law, rule or regulation.
(b) "Confidential Information" means any information
concerning the Company and Persons which are or become its subsidiaries or the
financial condition, business, operations or prospects of the Company and
Persons which are or become its subsidiaries in the possession of or furnished
to any Shareholder (including, without limitation by virtue of its present or
former right to designate a director of the Company); provided that the term
"Confidential Information" does not include information which (i) is or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by a
Shareholder or its partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, counsel,
investment advisers or representatives (all such persons being collectively
referred to as "Representatives") in violation of the Merger Agreement or this
Agreement, (ii) is or was available to such Shareholder on a nonconfidential
basis prior to its disclosure to such Shareholder or its Representatives by the
Company or (iii) was or becomes available to such Shareholder on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, provided that such
source is or was (at the time of receipt of the relevant information) not, to
the best of such Shareholder's knowledge, bound by a confidentiality agreement
with (or other confidentiality obligation to) the Company or another Person.
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Section 6.2 REPORTS. The Company will furnish all the Equity
Investors with the quarterly and annual financial reports that the Company is
required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act promptly after the filing thereof or, in
the event the Company is not required to file such reports, quarterly and annual
reports containing the same information as would be required in such reports on
the date that such reports would otherwise be filed.
Section 6.3 LIMITATIONS ON SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATION. The
Company shall not enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder
of any securities of the Company (a) which conflicts with the provision of
Article V, (b) that would allow such holder or prospective holder to include
such securities in any registration filed pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2 hereof,
unless under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may
include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the
inclusion of such securities would not reduce the amount of the Registrable
Securities of the Shareholders included therein or (c) on terms otherwise more
favorable than this Agreement.
Section 6.4 LIMITATION ON PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES. Until
the earlier to occur of (i) the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date or (ii)
the date on which at least 40% of the outstanding Common Stock on a Fully
Diluted basis of the Company is held by Persons other than the Shareholders (the
"Trigger Date"), no Non-THL Shareholder shall acquire any Equity Securities
except if (A) with respect to each Institutional Shareholder, such Shareholder
may acquire Equity Securities in a purchase of Equity Securities pursuant to
Section 4.3 or 4.4 hereof, (B) with respect to each
62
<PAGE> 67
Management Shareholder, such Shareholder may acquire Equity Securities either in
a purchase of Equity Securities pursuant to Section 4.3 or 4.4 hereof or in any
other transaction so long as THL has been notified at least five Business Days
in advance and if given a reasonable opportunity to consult with such
Shareholder prior to the purchase or (C) in a Transfer from any other Non-THL
Shareholder which is otherwise permitted under the terms of Article 3 hereof.
Section 6.5 REGULATED STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) If a Regulated Stockholder determines that it has a
Regulatory Problem, the Company agrees to take all such actions, subject to
Applicable Law, as are reasonably requested by such Regulated Stockholder (i) to
effectuate and facilitate any transfer by such Regulated Stockholder of any
Equity Securities of the Company then held by such Regulated Stockholder to any
Person designated by such Regulated Stockholder, (ii) to permit such Regulated
Stockholder (or any Affiliate of such Regulated Stockholder) to exchange all or
any portion of the voting Equity Securities then held by such Person on a
share-for-share basis for shares of a class of non-voting Equity Securities of
the Company, which non-voting Equity Securities shall be convertible into voting
Equity Securities on such terms as are requested by such Regulated Stockholder
in light of regulatory considerations then prevailing, and (iii) to continue and
preserve the respective allocation of the voting interests with respect to the
Company provided for in this Agreement and with respect to such Regulated
Stockholder's ownership of the Company's voting Equity Securities. Such actions
may include, without limitation, (x) entering into such additional agreements as
are reasonably requested by such Regulated Stockholder to permit any Person(s)
designated by such Regulated Stockholder to exercise any voting power which is
63
<PAGE> 68
relinquished by such Regulated Stockholder upon any exchange of voting Equity
Securities for non-voting Equity Securities of the Company, and (y) entering
into such additional agreements, adopting such amendments to the charter
documents of the Company and taking such additional actions as are reasonably
requested by such Regulated Stockholder in order to effectuate the intent of the
foregoing.
(b) If a Regulated Stockholder has the right or opportunity to
acquire any of the Company's Equity Securities from the Company, any Stockholder
or any other Person (as the result of a preemptive offer, pro rata offer or
otherwise), at such Regulated Stockholder's request, the Company will offer to
sell (or if the Company is not the seller, to cooperate with the seller and such
Regulated Stockholder to permit such seller to sell) such non-voting Equity
Securities on the same terms as would have existed had such Regulated
Stockholder acquired the Equity Securities so offered and immediately requested
their exchange for non-voting Equity Securities pursuant to clause (a) above.
(c) The Company agrees not to amend or waive the voting or
other provisions of this Agreement or the Company's charter documents if such
amendment or waiver would cause any Regulated Stockholder to have a Regulatory
Problem; provided that any such Regulated Stockholder notifies the Company that
it would have a Regulatory Problem promptly after it has notice of such
amendment or waiver.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
64
<PAGE> 69
Section 7.1 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the Merger
Agreement, the Subscription Agreement and the Equity Warrant Acquisition
Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
Section 7.2 BINDING EFFECT; BENEFIT. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any
Person other than the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, successors,
legal representatives and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations
or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.3 ASSIGNABILITY. (a) Neither this Agreement nor any
right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof
shall be assignable by the Company or any Shareholder; provided that any Person
acquiring shares of Common Stock who is required by the terms of this Agreement
to become a party hereto shall execute and deliver to the Company an agreement
to be bound by this Agreement and shall thenceforth be a "Shareholder."
(b) Any Permitted Transferee of a Management
Shareholder who shall become a party hereto shall be deemed a "Management
Shareholder."
(c) Any Permitted Transferee of an Institutional
Shareholder who shall become a party to this Agreement shall be deemed an
"Institutional Shareholder."
65
<PAGE> 70
Section 7.4 AMENDMENT; WAIVER; TERMINATION. (a) No provision
of this Agreement may be waived except by an instrument in writing executed by
the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended or otherwise modified except by an instrument in
writing executed by the Company with approval of the Board of Directors and
holders of at least 50% of the shares of Common Stock held by the parties to
this Agreement at the time of such proposed amendment or modification.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, THL may
at any time, including after completion of a Qualifying Public Offering, and
without any other action by any other party, effectuate an amendment to this
Agreement to delete in its entirety Section 4.3(a); provided, however, that if
THL causes such Section to be deleted, so long as the THL Entities own at least
10% of their Initial Ownership of shares of Common Stock, the THL Entities shall
not purchase any New Securities from the Company unless the Company offers each
Non-THL Shareholder the right to participate in the purchase of such New
Securities in accordance with Section 4.3(a)(iii) as if it continued to be in
effect.
(b) In addition, any amendment or modification of any
provision of this Agreement that would adversely affect THL may be effected only
with the consent of THL.
(c) In addition, any amendment or modification of any
provision of this Agreement that would adversely affect any (i) Institutional
Shareholder may be effected only with the consent of such Institutional
Shareholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Common Stock held by such
Institutional Shareholders or (ii) Management Shareholder may be effected only
with the consent of the Management
66
<PAGE> 71
Shareholders (which must include the Primary Executives) holding at least 50% of
the shares of Common Stock held by the Management Shareholders.
(d) This Agreement shall terminate on January 21,
2008 unless earlier terminated.
Section 7.5 NOTICES. (a) All notices and other communications
given or made pursuant hereto or pursuant to any other agreement among the
parties, unless otherwise specified, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given and received when sent by fax (with confirmation in writing
via first class U.S. mail) or delivered personally or on the third Business Day
after being sent by registered or certified U.S. mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) to the parties at the fax number or address set forth below
or at such other addresses as shall be furnished by the parties by like notice:
(i) if to the Company, to:
Fisher Scientific International, Inc.
Liberty Lane
Hampton, New Hampshire 03842
Attention: Todd M. DuChene, Esq.
Fax: (603) 929-2703
(ii) if to a Management Shareholder who holds Equity
Securities exclusively through the Rabbi Trust, to such
Shareholder's attention at the following address:
Mellon Bank
1 Mellon Bank Building
500 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Fax: (412)236-4222
67
<PAGE> 72
(iii) if to any other Management Shareholder, to such
Shareholder's attention at the following address:
Fisher Scientific International, Inc.
Liberty Lane
Hampton, New Hampshire 03842
Fax: (603) 929-2703
(iv) if to a THL Associate, to such Shareholder's
attention at the following address:
Thomas H. Lee Company
75 State Street
Suite 2600
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Fax: (617) 227-3514
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Eric L. Cochran, Esq.
Fax: (212) 735-2000
(v) if to any other Shareholder, to such Shareholder at
the address specified by such Shareholder on the signature
pages of this Agreement.
Any Shareholder may change its notice address by providing
notice to the Company with a copy, in the case of the Non-THL Shareholders, to
Thomas H. Lee Company
68
<PAGE> 73
75 State Street
Suite 2600
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: Anthony J. DiNovi
Fax: (617) 227-3514
Any Person who becomes a Shareholder shall provide its address
and fax number to the Company, which shall promptly provide such information to
each Non-THL Shareholder.
(b) Notices required to be given pursuant to Sections
5.1(a) and 5.1(b) and Section 5.2 by the Company shall be deemed given only if
such notices are also be given telephonically and by fax to the following
persons (or any other individual the respective entities may designate in
writing to the Company to replace such person):
(i) for the benefit of the THL Entities, to Anthony
J. DiNovi (tel: 617-227-1050; fax: 617-227-3514), with a copy to Eric
L. Cochran (tel: 212-735-2596; fax: 212-735-2000);
(ii) for the benefit of the Management Shareholders,
to Todd DuChene (tel: 603-926-2340; fax: 603-929-2703), with a copy to
Eric Press (tel: 212-403-1314; fax: 212-403-2000);
(iii) for the benefit of the DLJ Entities, to
Thompson Dean (tel: 212-892-4460; fax: 212-892-7272) and Kirk Wortman
(tel: 212-892-7041; fax: 212-892-7272), with a copy to George R. Bason,
Jr. (tel: 212-450-4000; fax: 212-450-4800);
69
<PAGE> 74
(iv) for the benefit of Chase Equity, to Jonas
Steinman (tel: 212-622-3028; fax: 212-622-3101), with a copy to John J.
Suydam (tel: 212-408-2471; fax 212-408-2420);
(v) for the benefit of the Merrill Lynch Entities, to
Robert Tully (tel: 212-236-7304; fax: 212-236-7360) and Margaret Nelson
(tel: 212-449-9812; fax: 212-449-9813), with a copy to Deborah
Zajkowski (tel: 212-449-2973; fax: 212-449-1119).
Section 7.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement
are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
Section 7.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and
all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
Section 7.8 APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to the conflicts of laws rules of such state.
Section 7.9 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each party hereto
acknowledges that the remedies at law of the other parties for a breach or
threatened breach of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of
this fact, any party to this Agreement, without posting any bond, and in
addition to all other remedies which may be available, shall be entitled to
obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary
restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable
remedy which may then be available.
70
<PAGE> 75
Section 7.10 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; EXPENSES. (a) Any suit,
action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter
arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be brought in any Federal Court sitting in the State
of Delaware or any Delaware State court sitting in Delaware, and each of the
parties hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the
appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding
and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection
which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or
proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be served
on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction
of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party agrees that
service of process on such party by any method provided in Section 7.5 shall be
deemed effective service of process on such party and consents to the personal
jurisdiction of any Federal Court sitting in the State of Delaware, or any
Delaware State court sitting in Delaware.
(b) In any dispute arising under this Agreement among any of
the parties hereto, the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the prevailing party shall
be paid by the party that does not prevail.
Section 7.11 REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) Each THL Entity hereby designates and appoints
(and each Permitted Transferee of each such THL Entities is hereby deemed to
have so designated and appointed) each of Anthony J. DiNovi, Scott Sperling and
71
<PAGE> 76
Kent Weldon, as his attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for each of
them (the "THL Entities' Representative"), to serve as the representative of
each such person to perform all such acts as are required, authorized or
contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such person and hereby
acknowledges that the THL Entities' Representative shall be the only person
authorized to take any action so required, authorized or contemplated by this
Agreement by each such person. Each such person further acknowledges that the
foregoing appointment and designation shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest and shall survive the death or incapacity of such person. Each such
person hereby authorizes (and each such Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to
have authorized) the other parties hereto to disregard any notice or other
action taken by such person pursuant to this Agreement except for the THL
Entities' Representative. The other parties hereto are and will be entitled to
rely on any action so taken or any notice given by the THL Entities'
Representative and are and will be entitled and authorized to give notices only
to the THL Entities' Representative for any notice contemplated by this
Agreement to be given to any such person. A successor to the THL Entities'
Representative may be chosen by a majority in interest of the THL Entities'
Shareholders, provided that notice thereof is given by the new THL Entities'
Representative to the Company and to each Non-THL Shareholder.
(b) Each DLJ Entity hereby designates and appoints
(and each Permitted Transferee of each such DLJ Entities' is hereby deemed to
have so designated and appointed) DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc., as his
attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for each of them (the "DLJ
Entities' Representative"), to serve as the representative of each such person
to perform all such acts (other than voting of shares of Common Stock) as are
required, authorized or contemplated by this
72
<PAGE> 77
Agreement to be performed by such person and hereby acknowledges that the DLJ
Entities' Representative shall be the only person authorized to take any action
so required, authorized or contemplated by this Agreement by each such person.
Each such person hereby authorizes (and each such Permitted Transferee shall be
deemed to have authorized) the other parties hereto to disregard any notice or
other action taken by such person pursuant to this Agreement except for the DLJ
Entities' Representative. The other parties hereto are and will be entitled to
rely on any action so taken or any notice given by the DLJ Entities'
Representative and are and will be entitled and authorized to give notices only
to the DLJ Entities' Representative for any notice contemplated by this
Agreement to be given to any such person. A successor to the DLJ Entities'
Representative may be chosen by a majority in interest of the DLJ Entities'
Shareholders, provided that notice thereof is given by the new DLJ Entities'
Representative to the Company and to each other DLJ Entity Shareholder.
(c) Each Merrill Lynch Entity hereby designates and
appoints (and each Permitted Transferee of each such Merrill Lynch Entities is
hereby deemed to have so designated and appointed) KECALP Inc., as his
attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for each of them (the "Merrill
Lynch Entities Representative"), to serve as the representative of each such
person to perform all such acts as are required, authorized or contemplated by
this Agreement to be performed by such person and hereby acknowledges that the
Merrill Lynch Entities Representative shall be the only person authorized to
take any action so required, authorized or contemplated by this Agreement by
each such person. Each such person further acknowledges that the foregoing
appointment and designation shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and
shall survive the death or incapacity of such person. Each such person hereby
73
<PAGE> 78
authorizes (and each such Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to have
authorized) the other parties hereby to disregard any notice or other action
taken by such person pursuant to this Agreement except for the Merrill Lynch
Entities Representative. The other parties hereto are and will be entitled to
rely on any action so taken or any notice given by the Merrill Lynch Entities
Representative and are and will be entitled and authorized to give notices only
to the Merrill Lynch Entities Representative for any notice contemplated by this
Agreement to be given to any such person. A successor to the Merrill Lynch
Entities Representative may be chosen by a majority in interest of the Merrill
Lynch Entities' Shareholders, provided that notice thereof is given by the new
Merrill Lynch Entities Representative to the Company and to each other Merrill
Lynch Entity Shareholder.
(d) Each Management Shareholder hereby designates and
appoints (and each Permitted Transferee of each such Management Shareholder is
hereby deemed to have so designated and appointed) Paul M. Meister, as his
attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for each of them (the
"Management Representative"), to serve as the representative of each such person
to perform all such acts as are required, authorized or contemplated by this
Agreement to be performed by such person and hereby acknowledges that the
Management Representative shall be the only person authorized to take any action
so required, authorized or contemplated by this Agreement by each such person.
Each such person further acknowledges that the foregoing appointment and
designation shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and shall survive the
death or incapacity of such person. Each such person hereby authorizes (and each
such Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to have authorized) the other parties
hereby to disregard any notice or other action taken by such person pursuant to
this Agreement except for the
74
<PAGE> 79
Management Representative. The other parties hereto are and will be entitled to
rely on any action so taken or any notice given by the Management Representative
and are and will be entitled and authorized to give notices only to the
Management Representative for any notice contemplated by this Agreement to be
given to any such person. A successor to the Management Representative may be
chosen by a majority in interest of the Management Shareholders, provided that
notice thereof is given by the new Management Representative to the Company and
to each other Management Shareholder.
Section 7.12 SEVERABILITY. If one or more provisions of this
Agreement are held to be unenforceable to any extent under applicable law, such
provision shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to
the maximum possible extent so as to effectuate the parties' intent to the
maximum possible extent, and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted
as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance
with its terms to the maximum extent permitted by law.
75
<PAGE> 80
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first
above written.
FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
By: /s/Todd M. Duchene
----------------------------------------
Name:Todd M. DuChene
Title:Vice President and General Counsel
<PAGE> 81
THL Equity Shareholders:
THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND III, L.P.
By: THL Equity Advisors III Limited
Partnership, as General Partner
By: THL Equity Trust III,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Anthony J. Dinovi
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THOMAS H. LEE FOREIGN FUND III, L.P.
By: THL Equity Advisors III Limited
Partnership, as General Partner
By: THL Equity Trust III,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Anthony J. Dinovi
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 82
THL FSI EQUITY INVESTORS, L.P.
By: THL Equity Advisors III
Limited Partnership, as
General Partner
By: THL Equity Trust III,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Anthony J. Dinovi
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THL-CCI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: THL Investment Management
Corp.,as General Partner
By: /s/ Wendy L. Masler
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 83
Management Shareholders:
By: /s/ Paul M. Montrone
----------------------------------------
Name: Paul M. Montrone
By: /s/ Paul M. Meister
----------------------------------------
Name: Paul M. Meister
<PAGE> 84
DLJ Entities' Shareholders:
DLJ MERCHANT BANKING PARTNERS II, L.P.
By: DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ MERCHANT BANKING PARTNERS II-A, L.P.
By: DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ OFFSHORE PARTNERS II, C.V.
By: DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.,
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
<PAGE> 85
Title:
<PAGE> 86
DLJ DIVERSIFIED PARTNERS, L.P.
By: DLJ Diversified Partners, Inc.,
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ DIVERSIFIED PARTNERS - A, L.P.
By: DLJ Diversified Partners, Inc.,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ MILLENNIUM PARTNERS, L.P.
By: DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 87
DLJ MILLENNIUM PARTNERS - A, L.P.
By: DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJMB FUNDING II, INC.
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
UK INVESTMENT PLAN 1997 PARTNERS
By: Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Inc.,
as general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 88
DLJ EAB PARTNERS, L.P.
By: DLJ LBO Plans Management Corporation,
as managing general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ ESC II, L.P.
By: DLJ LBO Plans Management Corporation,
as general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
DLJ FIRST ESC, L.P.
By: DLJ LBO Plans Management Corporation,
as general partner
By: /s/ Kirk B. Wortman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 89
The address for each of the DLJ Entities
listed above is:
c/o DLJ Merchant Banking II, Inc.
277 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10172
Fax: (212) 892-7272
<PAGE> 90
CHASE EQUITY ASSOCIATES, L.P.
By: Chase Capital Partners
By: /s/ Jonas Steinman
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address:
380 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
<PAGE> 91
Merrill Lynch Entities:
ML IBK POSITIONS, INC.
By: /s/ James V. Caruso
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
KECALP INC.
By: /s/ Edward J. Higgins
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
MERRILL LYNCH KECALP L.P. 1997
By: KECALP Inc., as general partner
By: /s/ Edward J. Higgins
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The address for each of the Merrill
Lynch Entities listed above is:
255 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10080
Fax: (212) 236-7584
<PAGE> 92
Individual Shareholders:
By: /s/ David V. Harkins
----------------------------------------
Name: David V. Harkins
By: /s/ Sheryll J. Harkins
----------------------------------------
Name: The 1995 Harkins Gift Trust
By: /s/ Thomas R. Shepherd
----------------------------------------
Name: Thomas R. Shepherd
Money Purchase Pension Plan
By: /s/ Scott A. Schoen
----------------------------------------
Name: Scott A. Schoen
By: /s/ C. Hunter Boll
----------------------------------------
Name: C. Hunter Boll
By: /s/ Scott M. Sperling
----------------------------------------
Name: Scott M. Sperling
By: /s/ Scott M. Sperling
----------------------------------------
Name: Sperling Family Limited
Partnership
By: /s/ Anthony J. DiNovi
----------------------------------------
Name: Anthony J. DiNovi
By: /s/ Thomas M. Hagerty
----------------------------------------
<PAGE> 93
Name: Thomas M. Hagerty
By: /s/ Warren C. Smith,Jr.
----------------------------------------
Name: Warren C. Smith,Jr.
By: /s/ Seth W. Lawry
----------------------------------------
Name: Seth W. Lawry
By: /s/ Joseph J. Incandela
----------------------------------------
Name: Joseph J. Incandela
By: /s/ Kent R. Weldon
----------------------------------------
Name: Kent R. Weldon
By: /s/ Terrence M. Mullen
----------------------------------------
Name: Terrence M. Mullen
By: /s/ Todd M. Abbrecht
----------------------------------------
Name: Todd M. Abbrecht
By: /s/ Wendy L. Masler
----------------------------------------
Name: Wendy L. Masler
By: /s/ Wendy L. Masler
----------------------------------------
Name: THL-CCI Limited Partnership
By: Wendy L. Masler
Title: Vice President
<PAGE> 94
By: /s/ Andrew D. Flaster
----------------------------------------
Name: Andrew D. Flaster
By: /s/ Kristina A. Watts
----------------------------------------
Name: First Trust Co. FBO
Kristina A. Watts
By: /s/ Charles Robins
----------------------------------------
Name: Charles Robins
By: /s/ James Westra
----------------------------------------
Name: James Westra
By: /s/ Charles A. Brizius
----------------------------------------
Name: Charles A. Brizius
<PAGE> 95
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTORS' AGREEMENT
COUNTERPART SIGNATURE PAGE
By: /s/ Mellon Bank, as Trustee
----------------------------------------
MELLON BANK, NA, as Trustee
Mellon Bank, NA, solely in its capacity
as Trustee for FISHER SCIENTIFIC
INTERNATIONAL INC. TRUST DATED
JANUARY 21, 1998 (as directed by FISHER
SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.) and not
in its individual capacity
<PAGE> 96
SCHEDULE I
CERTAIN NAMED INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDERS OF THL
David V. Harkins
The 1995 Harkins Gift Trust
Thomas R. Shepherd Money Purchase Pension Plan (Keogh)
Scott A. Schoen
C. Hunter Boll
Scott M. Sperling
Sperling Family Limited Partnership
Anthony J. DiNovi
Thomas M. Hagerty
Warren C. Smith, Jr.
Seth W. Lawry
Joseph J. Incandela
Kent R. Weldon
Terrence M. Mullen
Todd M. Abbrecht
Wendy L. Masler
Andrew D. Flaster
First Trust Co. FBO Kristina A. Watts
Charles W. Robins
James Westra
Charles A. Brizius
<PAGE> 97
SCHEDULE II
THL INDIVIDUALS
Thomas H. Lee
Barbara F. Lee
George R. Taylor
Andrew T. Mulderry
Anjan Mukherjee
Jeffrey B. Kovach
Charles S. Woo
Paxman & Co. for Robert Schiff Lee 1988 Irrevocable Trust
Paxman & Co. for Stephen Zachary Lee 1988 Irrevocable Trust
THL Investment Management Corp.
<PAGE> 98
SCHEDULE III
INITIAL CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS I CLASS II CLASS III
TERM EXPIRING 1999 TERM EXPIRING 2000 TERM EXPIRING 2001
- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------
[DLJ Nominee]
Mitchell Blutt Anthony J. DiNovi Robert Day
David Harkins Paul Montrone Michael Dingman
Paul Meister Scott Sperling Kent Weldon
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1999 AND THE INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999
<CASH> 32
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<INVENTORY> 231
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<PP&E> 243
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0
0
<COMMON> 0
<OTHER-SE> (328)
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<SALES> 601
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 601
<CGS> 427
<TOTAL-COSTS> 427
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<INCOME-CONTINUING> 4
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<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 4
<EPS-PRIMARY> $0.09
<EPS-DILUTED> $0.08
</TABLE>
