<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date Of Report (Date Of Earliest Event Reported): November 22, 1998
EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN, INC.
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
WASHINGTON 0-19830 91-1465348
(State Of Incorporation) (Commission (IRS Employer
File Number) Identification No.)
981 Powell Avenue
Renton, Washington 98055
(425) 227-5740
(Address And Telephone Number Of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On November 22, 1998, Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc., a Washington
corporation (the "Company"), Lowe's Companies, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation ("Lowe's"), and Mariner Merger Corporation, a Washington corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of Lowe's ("Sub"), entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein. Pursuant to the terms of the
Merger Agreement, Sub will be merged (the "Merger") with and into the Company,
with the Company surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of
Lowe's. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of the Company's Common
Stock (excluding shares held by the Company or Lowe's, in each case other than
in a fiduciary capacity, and excluding shares held by shareholders who perfect
their statutory dissenters' rights under Washington state law) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger shall cease to
be outstanding and shall be converted into and exchanged for the right to
receive that multiple (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000) of a share of Lowe's
Common Stock obtained by dividing $29.00 by the "Base Period Trading Price"
(defined to mean the average of the daily closing prices for the shares of
Lowe's Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive trading days on which such
shares are actually traded on the New York Stock Exchange (as reported by THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported thereby, any other authoritative source
selected by Lowe's) ending at the close of trading on the fifth trading day
immediately preceding the closing date of the Merger); provided, that for
purposes of this calculation, the Base Period Trading Price shall be deemed to
equal (i) $45.31 in the event the Base Period Trading Price is greater than
$45.31 or (ii) $33.49 in the event the Base Period Trading Price is less than
$33.49. The Company shall not be obligated to consummate the Merger if the
"Lowe's Ratio" is less than 70%. The "Lowe's Ratio" shall mean the quotient
obtained by dividing the Base Period Trading Price by $39.40. It is the
intention of the Company and Lowe's that the Merger for federal income tax
purposes will be tax-free to the Company's shareholders and for accounting
purposes will qualify as a pooling of interests. In addition, the consummation
of the Merger is subject to certain other conditions contained in the Merger
Agreement, including approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company's
shareholders. Each of the Company's directors has entered into an agreement
(the "Shareholder Agreement") to vote his shares in favor of the Merger. A form
of the Shareholder Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1(a) and
incorporated by reference herein.
On November 22, 1998, the Company and Lowe's issued a joint press release
announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement, which press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1(b) and incorporated by reference herein.
THE FOREGOING SUMMARIES OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE SHAREHOLDER
AGREEMENT ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FULL AGREEMENTS
WHICH ARE ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBITS.
The information set forth above shall not be deemed to constitute an offer
to sell any security. Any such offer to sell will be made only by means of a
prospectus.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS.
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Lowe's Companies, Inc., Eagle
Hardware & Garden, Inc. and Mariner Merger Corporation, dated as
of November 22, 1998.
<PAGE>
99.1(a) Form of Shareholder Agreement between Lowe's Companies, Inc. and
each director of Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc., dated as of
November 22, 1998.
99.1(b) Press release dated November 22, 1998 announcing the execution of
the Merger Agreement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN, INC.
Date: November 25, 1998
By: /s/ RICHARD T. TAKATA
-------------------------------------
Richard T. Takata
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- ------------
<S> <C>
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Lowe's
Companies, Inc., Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. and
Mariner Merger Corporation, dated as of November
22, 1998.
99.1(a) Form of Shareholder Agreement between Lowe's
Companies, Inc. and each director of Eagle
Hardware & Garden, Inc., dated as of November 22,
1998.
99.1(b) Press release dated November 22, 1998 announcing
the execution of the Merger Agreement.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN, INC.,
MARINER MERGER CORPORATION
AND
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 22, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PARTIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PREAMBLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
ARTICLE 1 TRANSACTIONS AND TERMS OF MERGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.1 MERGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.2 TIME AND PLACE OF CLOSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
1.3 EFFECTIVE TIME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
ARTICLE 2 TERMS OF MERGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.1 CHARTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.2 BYLAWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2.3 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
ARTICLE 3 MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3.1 CONVERSION OF SHARES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3.2 ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3.3 SHARES HELD BY EAGLE OR LOWE'S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3.4 DISSENTING SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3.6 CONVERSION OF STOCK OPTIONS; RESTRICTED STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ARTICLE 4 EXCHANGE OF SHARES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4.1 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4.2 RIGHTS OF FORMER EAGLE SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
ARTICLE 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EAGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
5.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING, AND POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
5.2 AUTHORITY; NO BREACH BY AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
5.3 CAPITAL STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
5.4 EAGLE SUBSIDIARIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
5.5 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.7 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.8 INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.9 TAX MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.10 REAL PROPERTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.11 ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.12 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.13 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.15 LABOR RELATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.16 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.17 MATERIAL CONTRACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.18 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
-i-
<PAGE>
5.20 STATEMENTS TRUE AND CORRECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.21 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.22 STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.23 TRANSACTIONS AND AFFILIATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.24 SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.25 FEES AND EXPENSES OF BROKERS AND OTHERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.26 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ARTICLE 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LOWE'S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING, AND POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.2 AUTHORITY; NO BREACH BY AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.3 CAPITAL STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4 LOWE'S SUBSIDIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.5 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.7 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.8 TAX MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
6.9 ASSETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.11 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.12 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.13 LABOR RELATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.15 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.16 STATEMENTS TRUE AND CORRECT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.17 AUTHORITY OF MERGER CORPORATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.18 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6.19 RIGHTS AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ARTICLE 7 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CONSUMMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF EAGLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7.2 NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF EAGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7.3 COVENANTS OF LOWE'S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.4 ADVERSE CHANGES IN CONDITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
ARTICLE 8 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT; SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL . . . . . . 35
8.2 EXCHANGE LISTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8.3 APPLICATIONS; ANTITRUST NOTIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8.4 FILINGS WITH STATE OFFICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8.5 AGREEMENT AS TO EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8.6 INVESTIGATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8.7 PRESS RELEASES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
8.8 CERTAIN ACTIONS; FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
8.9 ACCOUNTING AND TAX TREATMENT; TAX REPRESENTATION LETTERS. . . . . . . . . 38
8.10 STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
-ii-
<PAGE>
8.11 AGREEMENT OF AFFILIATES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
8.12 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND CONTRACTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
8.13 INDEMNIFICATION, EXCULPATION AND INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
8.14 CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.15 ACCOUNTANTS' LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.16 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
ARTICLE 9 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS TO CONSUMMATE . . . . . . . . . . . 41
9.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
9.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF LOWE'S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
9.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EAGLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
10.1. TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
10.3. TERMINATION FEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
11.1 DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
11.2 EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
11.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
11.4 AMENDMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
11.5 WAIVERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
11.6 ASSIGNMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
11.7 NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
11.8 GOVERNING LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
11.9 COUNTERPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
11.10 CAPTIONS; ARTICLES AND SECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
11.11 INTERPRETATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
11.12 ENFORCEMENT OF AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
11.13 SEVERABILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
SIGNATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE>
LIST OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- -------------- -----------
<S> <C>
1. Plan of Merger (Preamble, Section 1.1, Section 11.1).
2. Form of Shareholder Agreement (Section 5.24).
3. Form of agreement of affiliates of Eagle (Section 8.11).
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of November 22, 1998, by and among EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN,
INC., a Washington corporation ("Eagle"); MARINER MERGER CORPORATION, a
Washington corporation ("Merger Corporation"); and LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC., a
North Carolina corporation ("Lowe's").
PREAMBLE
The Boards of Directors of Eagle, Merger Corporation and Lowe's each
have adopted this Agreement, approved the Merger (as defined herein) and the
other transactions contemplated herein and determined that the Merger and such
other transactions are in the best interests of their respective companies and
shareholders. This Agreement provides for the Merger of Merger Corporation with
and into Eagle upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan of
Merger, which is incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement by
reference. At the effective time of the Merger, the outstanding shares of the
capital stock of Eagle shall be converted into the right to receive shares of
the common stock of Lowe's (except as provided herein). As a result,
shareholders of Eagle shall become shareholders of Lowe's and Eagle shall
continue to conduct its business and operations as a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Lowe's. The consummation of the Merger is subject to the approval of this
Agreement by the shareholders of Eagle, expiration of the required waiting
period under the HSR Act and the satisfaction of certain other conditions
described in this Agreement. It is the intention of the parties to this
Agreement that the Merger for federal income tax purposes shall qualify as a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code, and for accounting purposes shall qualify for treatment as a pooling of
interests.
Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 11.1 of
this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual
warranties, representations, covenants, and agreements set forth herein, the
parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
TRANSACTIONS AND TERMS OF MERGER
1.1 MERGER. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, which incorporates by reference the Plan of Merger included as
EXHIBIT 1 hereto, and the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3), Merger Corporation shall be merged
with and into Eagle in accordance with the provisions of, and with the effect
provided in, Chapter 23B.11 of the WBCA (the "Merger"). Eagle shall be the
Surviving Corporation resulting from the Merger and shall become a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Lowe's and shall continue to be governed by the Laws of the State
of Washington.
<PAGE>
1.2 TIME AND PLACE OF CLOSING. The closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") will take place at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time on the first business day
following the date on which the conditions set forth in Article 9 shall be
satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement (other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject
to fulfillment or waiver of those conditions), or at such other time as the
Parties, acting through their authorized officers, may mutually agree. The
Closing shall be held at such location as may be mutually agreed upon by the
Parties.
1.3 EFFECTIVE TIME. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as
soon as practicable on the Closing Date, the parties shall file the Articles of
Merger executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WBCA and shall
make all other filings or recordings required under the WBCA. The Merger shall
become effective on the date and at the time the Articles of Merger shall become
effective with the Secretary of State of the State of Washington, or such other
date and time as mutually agreed upon in writing by the authorized officers of
each Party (the "Effective Time").
ARTICLE 2
TERMS OF MERGER
2.1 CHARTER. The Articles of Incorporation of Eagle in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Articles of Incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation, except that Article IV of Eagle's Articles of
Incorporation will be amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it
with the following: "Article IV--Authorized Capital Stock--the Corporation
shall be authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, without par value."
2.2 BYLAWS. The Bylaws of Eagle in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until otherwise
amended or repealed.
2.3 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors of Merger Corporation in
office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall serve as the directors of
the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective Time in accordance with
the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until such time as new directors are
duly elected by Lowe's, as the sole shareholder of the Surviving Corporation,
after the Effective Time. The officers of Eagle in office immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall serve as the officers of the Surviving Corporation from
and after the Effective Time in accordance with the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation, unless and until the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall
elect in their sole discretion to remove any such officers from office and/or
appoint additional officers.
-2-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE 3
MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES
3.1 CONVERSION OF SHARES. Subject to the provisions of this Article
3, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of Lowe's, Eagle, Merger Corporation or the shareholders of any of the
foregoing, the shares of the constituent corporations shall be converted as
follows:
(a) Each share of Merger Corporation Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to be
outstanding and shall be converted into one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) Each share of Eagle Common Stock (excluding shares held by Eagle
or Lowe's, in each case other than in a fiduciary capacity, and excluding shares
held by shareholders who perfect their statutory dissenters' rights as provided
in Section 3.4) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into and exchanged for the
right to receive that multiple (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000) of a share of
Lowe's Common Stock (the "Exchange Ratio") obtained by dividing $29.00 (the "Per
Share Purchase Price") by the Base Period Trading Price (defined to mean the
average of the daily closing prices for the shares of Lowe's Common Stock for
the ten (10) consecutive trading days on which such shares are actually traded
on the NYSE (as reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported thereby,
any other authoritative source selected by Lowe's) ending at the close of
trading on the fifth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date);
provided, that for purposes of this calculation, the Base Period Trading Price
shall be deemed to equal (i) $45.31 in the event the Base Period Trading Price
is greater than $45.31 or (ii) $33.49 in the event the Base Period Trading Price
is less than $33.49 (collectively, $45.31 and $33.49 are referred to as the
"Base Period Trading Price Limitations"). Pursuant to the Lowe's Rights
Agreement, each share of Lowe's Common Stock issued in connection with the
Merger upon conversion of Eagle Common Stock shall be accompanied by a Lowe's
Right, and all references to Lowe's Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the
Merger shall be deemed to include the corresponding Lowe's Right, unless the
context otherwise requires.
3.2 ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS. In the event Eagle or Lowe's changes
the number of shares of Eagle Common Stock or Lowe's Common Stock, respectively,
issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split,
stock dividend, or similar recapitalization with respect to such stock and the
record date therefor (in the case of a stock dividend) or the effective date
thereof (in the case of a stock split or similar recapitalization for which a
record date is not established) shall be prior to the Effective Time, the Per
Share Purchase Price and the Base Period Trading Price, as applicable, and thus
the Exchange Ratio, shall be appropriately adjusted to eliminate the effect of
such event. In the event Lowe's changes the number of shares of Lowe's Common
Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock
split, stock dividend, or similar recapitalization with respect to such stock
and the record date therefor (in the case of a stock dividend) or the effective
date thereof (in the case of a stock split or similar recapitalization for which
a record date is not established) shall be prior to the
-3-
<PAGE>
Effective Time, (i) the Base Period Trading Price Limitations shall be
adjusted appropriately to eliminate the effect of such event, and (ii) if
necessary, the anticipated Closing Date shall be postponed for an appropriate
period of time agreed upon by the Parties in order for the Base Period Trading
Price to reflect the market effect of such stock split, stock dividend, or
similar recapitalization.
3.3 SHARES HELD BY EAGLE OR LOWE'S. Each of the shares of Eagle
Common Stock held by Eagle or Lowe's, in each case other than in a fiduciary
capacity, shall be canceled and retired at the Effective Time and no
consideration shall be issued in exchange therefor.
3.4 DISSENTING SHAREHOLDERS. Any holder of shares of Eagle Common
Stock who perfects his dissenters' rights in accordance with and as contemplated
by Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA shall be entitled to receive the fair value of
such shares (plus accrued interest) in cash as determined pursuant to such
provision of Law; provided, that no such payment shall be made to any dissenting
shareholder unless and until such dissenting shareholder has complied with the
applicable provisions of the WBCA and surrendered to Eagle the certificate or
certificates representing the shares for which payment is being made. In the
event that after the Effective Time a dissenting shareholder of Eagle fails to
perfect, or effectively withdraws or loses, his right to receive payment for his
shares pursuant to Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA, Lowe's shall issue and deliver
the consideration to which such holder of shares of Eagle Common Stock would
have received under this Article 3 (without interest) upon surrender by such
holder of the certificate or certificates representing shares of Eagle Common
Stock held by him.
3.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, each holder of shares of Eagle Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the
Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share
of Lowe's Common Stock (after taking into account all shares of Lowe's Common
Stock that would otherwise be issuable to such holder upon conversion pursuant
to Section 3.1(b)) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest) in an
amount equal to such fractional part of a share of Lowe's Common Stock
multiplied by the market value of one share of Lowe's Common Stock at the
Effective Time. The market value of one share of Lowe's Common Stock at the
Effective Time shall be the closing price of such common stock on the NYSE (as
reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported thereby, any other
authoritative source selected by Lowe's) on the last trading day preceding the
Effective Time. No such holder will be entitled to dividends, voting rights, or
any other rights as a shareholder in respect of any fractional shares.
3.6 CONVERSION OF STOCK OPTIONS; RESTRICTED STOCK.
(a) At the Effective Time, each option or other right to
purchase shares of Eagle Common Stock pursuant to stock options or stock
appreciation rights ("Eagle Options") granted by Eagle under the Eagle Stock
Plans, which is outstanding at the Effective Time, whether or not exercisable,
shall be converted into and become rights with respect to Lowe's Common Stock,
and Lowe's shall assume each Eagle Option, in accordance with the terms of the
Eagle Stock Plans and stock option agreement by which it is evidenced, except
that from and after the Effective Time, (i) Lowe's and its Compensation
Committee shall be substituted for
-4-
<PAGE>
Eagle and the Committee of Eagle's Board of Directors (including, if
applicable, the entire Board of Directors of Eagle) administering such Eagle
Stock Plans, (ii) each Eagle Option assumed by Lowe's may be exercised solely
for shares of Lowe's Common Stock (or cash, if so provided under the terms of
such Eagle Option), (iii) the number of shares of Lowe's Common Stock subject
to such Eagle Option shall be equal to the number of shares of Eagle Common
Stock subject to such Eagle Option immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, and (iv) the per share exercise price under
each such Eagle Option shall be adjusted by dividing the per share exercise
price under each such Eagle Option by the Exchange Ratio and rounding up any
fraction of a cent to the nearest cent. Notwithstanding the provisions of
clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, Lowe's shall not be obligated to issue
any fraction of a share of Lowe's Common Stock upon exercise of Eagle Options
and any fraction of a share of Lowe's Common Stock that otherwise would be
subject to a converted Eagle Option shall represent the right to receive a
cash payment upon exercise of such converted Eagle Option equal to the product
of such fraction and the difference between the market value of one share of
Lowe's Common Stock at the time of exercise of such Option and the per share
exercise price of such Option. The market value of one share of Lowe's Common
Stock at the time of exercise of an Option shall be the closing price of such
common stock on the NYSE (as reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not
reported thereby, any other authoritative source selected by Lowe's) on the
last trading day preceding the date of exercise. In addition, notwithstanding
the provisions of clauses (iii) and (iv) of the first sentence of this Section
3.6(a), each Eagle Option which is an "incentive stock option" shall be
adjusted as required by Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code, so as not to
constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the option, within the
meaning of Section 424(h) of the Internal Revenue Code. Each of Eagle and
Lowe's agrees to take all necessary steps to effectuate the foregoing
provisions of this Section 3.6, including using its reasonable efforts to
obtain from each holder of an Eagle Option any Consent or Contract that may be
deemed necessary or advisable in order to effect the transactions contemplated
by this Section 3.6.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Lowe's
shall deliver to the participants in each Eagle Stock Plan an appropriate notice
setting forth such participant's rights pursuant thereto and the grants subject
to such Eagle Stock Plan shall continue in effect on the same terms and
conditions (subject to the adjustments required by Section 3.6(a) after giving
effect to the Merger), and Lowe's shall comply with the terms of each Eagle
Stock Plan to ensure, to the extent required by, and subject to the provisions
of, such Eagle Stock Plan, that Eagle Options which qualified as incentive stock
options prior to the Effective Time continue to qualify as incentive stock
options after the Effective Time. At or prior to the Effective Time, Lowe's
shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance sufficient
shares of Lowe's Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of Eagle Options
assumed by it in accordance with this Section 3.6. As of the Effective Time,
Lowe's shall file a registration statement on Form S-3, Form S-4/A or Form S-8,
as applicable (which shall include a re-offer prospectus, if necessary), as the
case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the
shares of Lowe's Common Stock subject to such options and shall use its
reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statements
(and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained
therein) for so long as such options remain outstanding. With respect to those
individuals who subsequent to the Merger will be subject to the reporting
-5-
<PAGE>
requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, where applicable, Lowe's
shall administer such Eagle Stock Plan assumed pursuant to this Section 3.6 in a
manner that complies with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act to the
extent such Eagle Stock Plan complied with such rule prior to the Effective
Time.
(c) All contractual restrictions or limitations on transfer with
respect to Eagle Common Stock awarded under the Eagle Stock Plans or any other
plan, program, Contract or arrangement of any Eagle Company, to the extent that
such restrictions or limitations shall not have already lapsed as of the
Effective Time (whether as a result of the Merger or otherwise), and except as
otherwise expressly provided in such plan, program, Contract or arrangement,
shall remain in full force and effect following the Effective Time with respect
to shares of Lowe's Common Stock into which such restricted stock is converted
pursuant to Section 3.1; PROVIDED that any restrictions or limitations related
to the performance of any Eagle Company shall be equitably adjusted to reflect
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
EXCHANGE OF SHARES
4.1 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Promptly after the Effective Time, Lowe's
and Eagle shall cause the exchange agent selected by Lowe's and reasonably
acceptable to Eagle (the "Exchange Agent") to mail to the former shareholders of
Eagle appropriate transmittal materials (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates theretofore
representing shares of Eagle Common Stock shall pass, only upon proper delivery
of such certificates to the Exchange Agent). The Exchange Agent may establish
reasonable and customary rules and procedures in connection with its duties.
After the Effective Time, each holder of shares of Eagle Common Stock (other
than shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 3.3 or as to which statutory
dissenters' rights have been perfected as provided in Section 3.4) issued and
outstanding at the Effective Time shall surrender the certificate or
certificates representing such shares to the Exchange Agent and shall promptly
upon surrender thereof receive in exchange therefor the consideration provided
in Section 3.1, together with all undelivered dividends or distributions in
respect of such shares (without interest thereon) pursuant to Section 4.2. To
the extent required by Section 3.5, each holder of shares of Eagle Common Stock
issued and outstanding at the Effective Time also shall receive, upon surrender
of the certificate or certificates representing such shares, cash in lieu of any
fractional share of Lowe's Common Stock to which such holder may be otherwise
entitled (without interest). Lowe's shall not be obligated to deliver the
consideration to which any former holder of Eagle Common Stock is entitled as a
result of the Merger until such holder surrenders such holder's certificate or
certificates representing the shares of Eagle Common Stock for exchange as
provided in this Section 4.1. The certificate or certificates of Eagle Common
Stock so surrendered shall be duly endorsed as the Exchange Agent may require.
Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, neither Lowe's, the
Surviving Corporation nor the Exchange Agent shall be liable to a holder of
Eagle Common Stock for any amounts paid or property delivered in good faith to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property Law.
-6-
<PAGE>
Adoption of this Agreement by the shareholders of Eagle shall constitute
ratification of the appointment of the Exchange Agent.
4.2 RIGHTS OF FORMER EAGLE SHAREHOLDERS. At the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of Eagle shall be closed as to holders of Eagle Common
Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time and no transfer of Eagle Common
Stock by any such holder shall thereafter be made or recognized. Until
surrendered for exchange in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.1, each
certificate theretofore representing shares of Eagle Common Stock (other than
shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 3.3 or as to which statutory
dissenters' rights have been perfected as provided in Section 3.4) shall from
and after the Effective Time represent for all purposes only the right to
receive the consideration provided in Sections 3.1 and 3.5 and this Section 4.2
in exchange therefor, subject, however, to the Surviving Corporation's
obligation to pay any dividends or make any other distributions with a record
date prior to the Effective Time which have been declared or made by Eagle in
respect of such shares of Eagle Common Stock in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement and which remain unpaid at the Effective Time. To the extent
permitted by Law, former shareholders of record of Eagle shall be entitled to
vote after the Effective Time at any meeting of Lowe's shareholders the number
of whole shares of Lowe's Common Stock into which their respective shares of
Eagle Common Stock are converted, regardless of whether such holders have
exchanged their certificates representing Eagle Common Stock for certificates
representing Lowe's Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. Whenever a dividend or other distribution is declared by Lowe's on
the Lowe's Common Stock, the record date for which is at or after the Effective
Time, the declaration shall include dividends or other distributions on all
shares of Lowe's Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement, but no
dividend or other distribution payable to the holders of record of Lowe's Common
Stock as of any time subsequent to the Effective Time shall be delivered to the
holder of any certificate representing shares of Eagle Common Stock issued and
outstanding at the Effective Time until such holder surrenders such certificate
for exchange as provided in Section 4.1. However, upon surrender of such Eagle
Common Stock certificate, both the Lowe's Common Stock certificate (together
with all such undelivered dividends or other distributions without interest) and
cash payments payable hereunder (without interest) shall be delivered and paid
with respect to each share represented by such certificate.
ARTICLE 5
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EAGLE
Except as disclosed in Eagle's SEC Documents filed since January 30,
1998 and prior to the date of this Agreement, Eagle hereby represents and
warrants to Lowe's as follows:
5.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING, AND POWER. Eagle is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
Washington, and has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business
as now conducted and to own, lease and operate its Assets. Eagle is duly
qualified or licensed to transact business as a foreign corporation in good
standing in the States of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where the
character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its business requires it to
be so qualified or
-7-
<PAGE>
licensed, except for such jurisdictions in which the failure to be so
qualified or licensed is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
5.2 AUTHORITY; NO BREACH BY AGREEMENT.
(a) Eagle has the corporate power and authority necessary to
execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Agreement and, subject
to the approval of this Agreement by two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to
be cast at the Shareholders' Meeting on the approval of this Agreement by the
holders of the outstanding shares of Eagle Common Stock (the "Eagle Shareholder
Approval"), which is the only shareholder vote required for approval of this
Agreement and consummation of the Merger by Eagle, to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery, and performance of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein,
including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
corporate action in respect thereof on the part of Eagle, subject to the Eagle
Shareholder Approval. This Agreement represents a legal, valid, and binding
obligation of Eagle, enforceable against Eagle in accordance with its terms
(except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship,
moratorium, or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific
performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding may be brought).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Eagle, nor the consummation by Eagle of the transactions contemplated hereby,
nor compliance by Eagle with any of the provisions hereof, will (i) conflict
with or result in a breach of any provision of Eagle's Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws, or (ii) except as disclosed in SECTION 5.2 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, constitute or result in a Default under, or require any Consent
pursuant to, or result in the creation of any Lien on any Asset of any Eagle
Company under, any Contract or Permit of any Eagle Company or, (iii) subject to
satisfaction of the condition referred to in Section 9.1(b), violate any Law or
Order applicable to any Eagle Company or any of their respective material Assets
other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, breaches,
Defaults or other occurrences of the type referred to above which are not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Eagle.
(c) No notice to, filing with, or Consent of, any public body or
authority is necessary for the consummation by Eagle of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, other than (i) the filing of a
premerger notification and report form by Eagle under the HSR Act; (ii) the
filing with the SEC of (x) the Registration Statement, (y) the Proxy Statement,
(z) such reports under Sections 13(a), 13(d), 15(d) or 16(a) of the 1934 Act as
may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby; (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the
Washington Secretary of State and appropriate documents with relevant
authorities of other states in which Eagle is qualified to do business and such
filings with governmental entities to satisfy the applicable requirements of
state securities or "blue sky" laws and (iv) such consents, approvals, orders or
authorizations the failure of which to
-8-
<PAGE>
be made or obtained are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
5.3 CAPITAL STOCK.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Eagle consists of
(i) 50,000,000 shares of Eagle Common Stock, of which 29,143,756 shares are
issued and outstanding as of November 20, 1998 and, except to the extent
additional shares are issued in accordance with Section 7.2, pursuant to the
Convertible Debentures or pursuant to the Eagle Employee Stock Purchase Plan,
not more than 30,659,106 shares will be issued and outstanding as of the
Effective Time, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par
value, none of which are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of Eagle are duly and validly issued and
outstanding and are fully paid and nonassessable. None of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of Eagle has been issued in violation of any preemptive
rights of the current or past shareholders of Eagle. Eagle has reserved
2,344,500 shares of Eagle Common Stock for issuance under the Eagle Stock Plans
(except the Eagle Employee Stock Purchase Plan), pursuant to which options to
purchase not more than 1,515,350 shares of Eagle Common Stock are outstanding as
of November 20, 1998.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 5.3(a) or under the Eagle
Employee Stock Purchase Plan or disclosed in SECTION 5.3 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, there are no shares of capital stock or other equity securities of
Eagle outstanding and no outstanding Rights relating to the capital stock of
Eagle.
5.4 EAGLE SUBSIDIARIES. Eagle has disclosed in SECTION 5.4 OF THE
EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM all of the Eagle Subsidiaries that are corporations
(identifying its jurisdiction of incorporation, each jurisdiction in which the
character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its business requires it to
be qualified and/or licensed to transact business, and the number of shares
owned and percentage ownership interest represented by such share ownership) and
all of the Eagle Subsidiaries that are general or limited partnerships or other
non-corporate entities (identifying the Law under which such entity is
organized, each jurisdiction in which the character of its Assets or the nature
or conduct of its business requires it to be qualified and/or licensed to
transact business, and the amount and nature of the ownership interest therein).
Except as disclosed in SECTION 5.4 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle or
one of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries owns all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock (or other equity interests) of each Eagle Subsidiary.
No capital stock (or other equity interest) of any Eagle Subsidiary is or may
become required to be issued (other than to another Eagle Company) by reason of
any Rights, and there are no Contracts by which any Eagle Subsidiary is bound to
issue (other than to another Eagle Company) additional shares of its capital
stock (or other equity interests) or Rights or by which any Eagle Company is or
may be bound to transfer any shares of the capital stock (or other equity
interests) of any Eagle Subsidiary (other than to another Eagle Company). There
are no Contracts relating to the rights of any Eagle Company to vote or to
dispose of any shares of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of any
Eagle Subsidiary. All of the shares of capital stock (or other equity
interests) of each Eagle Subsidiary held by a Eagle Company are fully paid and
nonassessable under the applicable corporation Law of the
-9-
<PAGE>
jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is incorporated or organized and are
owned by the Eagle Company free and clear of any Lien. Except as disclosed in
SECTION 5.4 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, each Eagle Subsidiary is a
corporation, and each such Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing, and
in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
incorporated or organized, and has the corporate power and authority necessary
for it to own, lease, and operate its Assets and to carry on its business as
now conducted. Each Eagle Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to
transact business as a foreign corporation in good standing in the states of
the United States and foreign jurisdictions where the character of its Assets
or the nature or conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified or
licensed, except for such jurisdictions in which the failure to be so
qualified or licensed is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. The minute book and other
organizational documents for each Eagle Subsidiary have been made available to
Lowe's for its review, and, except as disclosed in SECTION 5.4 OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, are true and complete as in effect as of the date of
this Agreement and accurately reflect all amendments thereto and all
proceedings of the Board of Directors and shareholders thereof.
5.5 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) Eagle has timely filed all SEC Documents required to be
filed by Eagle since January 31, 1995 (the "Eagle SEC Reports"). The Eagle SEC
Reports (i) at the time filed, complied in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and other applicable Laws and
(ii) did not, at the time they were filed (or, if amended or superseded by a
filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing)
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated in such Eagle SEC Reports (as so amended) or necessary in
order to make the statements in such Eagle SEC Reports (as so amended), in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Eagle
Subsidiary is required to file any SEC Documents.
(b) Each of the Eagle Financial Statements (including, in each
case, any related notes) contained in the Eagle SEC Reports, including any Eagle
SEC Reports filed after the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time,
complied (or, if filed after the date of this Agreement, will comply when filed)
as to form in all material respects with the applicable published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, was prepared (or, if prepared after
the date of this Agreement, will be prepared) in accordance with GAAP applied on
a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated
in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited interim
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC), and fairly presented (or, if
prepared and filed after the date of this Agreement, will fairly present when
prepared and filed) in all material respects the consolidated financial position
of Eagle and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates and the consolidated
results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the
unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and
recurring year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be material
in amount or effect.
5.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. No Eagle Company has any
Liabilities that are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
-10-
<PAGE>
Eagle, except Liabilities which are accrued or reserved against in the
consolidated balance sheets of Eagle as of January 30, 1998 and July 31, 1998,
included in the Eagle Financial Statements delivered prior to the date of this
Agreement or reflected in the notes thereto. No Eagle Company has incurred or
paid any Liability since July 31, 1998, except for such Liabilities incurred
or paid (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past business
practice and which are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle or (ii) in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as disclosed in SECTION
5.6 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM or as would otherwise not violate the
first two sentences of this Section 5.6, no Eagle Company is directly or
indirectly liable, by guarantee, indemnity, or otherwise, upon or with respect
to, or obligated, by discount or repurchase agreement or in any other way, to
provide funds in respect to, or obligated to guarantee or assume any Liability
of, any Person for any amount in excess of $500,000.
5.7 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since July 31, 1998,
except as disclosed in the Eagle Financial Statements delivered prior to the
date of this Agreement or as disclosed in SECTION 5.7 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, (i) there have been no events, changes, or occurrences which have
had, or are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Eagle, and (ii) the Eagle Companies have not taken
any action, or failed to take any action, prior to the date of this Agreement,
which action or failure, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would
represent or result in a breach or violation of any of the covenants and
agreements of Eagle provided in Article 7, except where such breach or violation
has not had, or is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. As of the date hereof, SECTION
5.7 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM lists (a) all increases in wages,
salaries and other compensation and/or benefits instituted, approved or offered
across the board to all or substantially all of the Eagle employees since
January 30, 1998, and (b) all increases in wages, salaries and other
compensation and/or benefits of 10% or more instituted, approved or offered to
any employee (whose salary exceeds $50,000) or officer of Eagle since January
30, 1998.
5.8 INSURANCE. As of the date hereof, SECTION 5.8 OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM accurately sets forth the following information with
respect to each insurance policy (including policies providing property,
casualty, liability and workers' compensation coverage and bond and surety
arrangements) to which any of the Eagle Companies is a party or under which any
Eagle Company has any continuing rights or obligations:
(a) the name of the insurer, the name of the policyholder, and the
name of each covered insured; and
(b) the policy number and the period of coverage.
With respect to each such insurance policy, except such as would not
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle: (a)
the policy is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect
(except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship,
moratorium, or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
-11-
<PAGE>
generally and except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific
performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court
before any proceeding may be brought); (b) the policy will continue to be legal,
valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect on identical terms
following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (except as
described in clause (a)); (c) neither any of the Eagle Companies nor, to the
Knowledge of the Eagle Companies, any other party to the policy is in breach or
default thereunder (including with respect to the payment of premiums or the
giving of notices), and no event has occurred that, with notice or the lapse of
time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination,
modification or acceleration under the policy; and (d) no party to the policy
has repudiated any provision thereof. Each of the Eagle Companies has been
covered during the past six years by insurance in scope and amount, in its good
faith judgment, customary and reasonable for the businesses in which it has been
engaged during the aforementioned period. As of the date hereof, SECTION 5.8 OF
THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM also describes any self-insurance arrangements
affecting any of the Eagle Companies.
5.9 TAX MATTERS.
(a) Except as set forth in SECTION 5.9 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM:
(i) Eagle and each of its Subsidiaries are members of the
affiliated group, within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code, of which Eagle is the common parent, such affiliated group
files a consolidated federal income tax return and neither Eagle nor any of
its Subsidiaries has ever filed a consolidated federal income tax return
with (or been included in a consolidated return of) a different affiliated
group;
(ii) each of the Eagle Companies has timely filed or
caused to be filed all Tax Returns required to have been filed by or for
it, and all information set forth in such Tax Returns is accurate and
complete in all material respects;
(iii) each of the Eagle Companies has paid all Taxes shown
as due on such Tax Returns;
(iv) each of the Eagle Companies is in material compliance
with all applicable information reporting and tax withholding requirements
under federal, state, local and foreign Laws;
(v) there are no Liens with respect to Taxes (other than
for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the Assets of the
Eagle Companies;
(vi) each of the Eagle Companies has collected or withheld
all Taxes required to be collected or withheld by it, and all such Taxes
have been paid to the appropriate governmental authority or set aside in
appropriate accounts for future payment when due;
-12-
<PAGE>
(vii) none of the Eagle Companies has granted (or is
subject to) any waiver, which is currently in effect, of the period of
limitations for the assessment of any Tax; no unpaid Tax deficiency has
been assessed or asserted against or with respect to any of the Eagle
Companies for any open tax period; no power of attorney relating to Taxes
that is currently in effect has been granted by or with respect to any of
the Eagle Companies; there is no currently pending administrative or
judicial proceeding, or any deficiency or refund litigation, with respect
to Taxes of any of the Eagle Companies, the adverse outcome of which would
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Eagle Companies; and any such
assertion, assessment, proceeding or litigation disclosed on SECTION 5.9 OF
THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM is being contested in good faith through
appropriate measures, and its status is described in SECTION 5.9 OF THE
EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM;
(viii) none of the Eagle Companies has made or entered into,
or holds any asset subject to, a consent filed pursuant to Section 341(f)
of the Internal Revenue Code or a "safe harbor lease" subject to former
Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(ix) none of the Eagle Companies is required to include in
income any amount from an adjustment pursuant to Section 481 of the
Internal Revenue Code or any similar provision of state or local Law, and
Eagle has no Knowledge that any governmental authority has proposed any
such adjustment;
(x) none of the Eagle Companies has made or is obligated
to make any payments, or is a party to any Contract that could obligate it
to make any payments, that would not be deductible by reason of Section
162(m) or 280G of the Internal Revenue Code; and
(xi) there are no excess loss accounts or deferred
intercompany gains with respect to any member of the affiliated group of
which Eagle is the common parent which would have a Material Adverse Effect
on Eagle if taken into account.
(b) SECTION 5.9 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM lists all
types of material Taxes paid and Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of any of the
Eagle Companies and expressly indicates each Tax with respect to which any of
the Eagle Companies is or has been included in a consolidated, unitary or
combined return.
5.10 REAL PROPERTY. SECTION 5.10 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM is a true and correct list of all Real Property of the Eagle
Companies and all real estate with respect to which any Eagle Company has
entered into a written agreement for purchase, sale or lease as of the date
hereof and, except as otherwise expressly agreed by the Parties in writing, as
of the Effective Time. With respect to the Real Property or such real estate
subject to a written agreement for purchase, sale or lease as of the date hereof
and, except as otherwise expressly agreed by the Parties in writing or as
expressly limited below, as of the Effective Time:
-13-
<PAGE>
(a) except as set forth in SECTION 5.10(a) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, there are no leases or subleases, including amendments or
modifications to leases or subleases, in which any Eagle Company is the
tenant/lessee or subtenant/sublessee of any Real Property;
(b) except as set forth in SECTION 5.10(b) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, there are no leases or subleases, including amendments or
modifications to leases or subleases, in which any Eagle Company is the
landlord/lessor of any Real Property or any licenses, concessions or other
agreements, written or oral, granting to any party or parties the right of use
or occupancy of any portion of the parcel;
(c) as of the date hereof, SECTION 5.10(c) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM contains a true and correct list of all title policies in
the possession or control of any Eagle Company;
(d) to the Knowledge of Eagle, except as set forth in SECTION
5.10(d) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, there are no pending or threatened
condemnation proceedings, mechanics' or materialman's Liens or claims of Lien,
lawsuits or administrative actions relating to the Real Property or any portion
thereof or other matters affecting adversely the current use, occupancy or value
thereof;
(e) with respect to the Real Property on which there is an open
and operating Eagle store and any other Real Property that any Eagle Company
owns or leases, (i) the buildings and improvements are located within the
boundary lines of the described parcels of such Real Property, are not in
violation of applicable setback requirements, zoning laws and ordinances (and
none of the properties or buildings or improvements thereon are subject to
"permitted non-conforming use" or "permitted non-conforming structure"
classifications), (ii) no covenant or other restriction or obligation of any
kind is binding on such Real Property owned or leased by any Eagle Company
(provided that such representation is qualified to the Knowledge of Eagle
insofar as it relates to covenants, restrictions or obligations which any Eagle
Company is not responsible for obtaining in its capacity as lessee) and (iii) to
the extent consistent with the current development of such Real Property, all
approvals of governmental authorities (including licenses and permits) required
in connection with the ownership, occupation, operation or construction thereof
have been obtained or will be timely obtained in accordance with Law with
respect to such Real Property owned or leased by any Eagle Company (provided
that such representation is qualified to the Knowledge of Eagle insofar as it
relates to approvals that any Eagle Company is not responsible for obtaining in
its capacity as lessee), in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit the intended use of any such
Real Property as a retail home improvement warehouse store with a lawn and
garden center consistent with Eagle's use of a majority of its existing stores
or, with respect to the Eagle warehouse property, the intended use of such
property as a warehouse and distribution facility; provided that,
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.2(a) to the contrary, the breach by
Eagle of this Section 5.10(e) with respect to any Eagle store location or the
Eagle warehouse property shall be deemed to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Eagle under this Agreement;
-14-
<PAGE>
(f) except as disclosed in SECTION 5.10(f) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, there are no outstanding options, rights of first
refusal, or rights of first offer to purchase or lease any of the Real Property
or any portion thereof or interest therein;
(g) there are no parties (other than any of the Eagle Companies,
except in any case where an Eagle Company has entered into a contract to
purchase a parcel but has not yet closed such purchase) in possession of the
parcel, other than tenants under any leases or subleases disclosed in
SECTION 5.10(g) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM who are in possession of
space to which they are entitled;
(h) to the extent that there is an open and operating Eagle
store on the Real Property, the Real Property is supplied with utilities and
other services necessary for its operation as a Eagle store, including gas,
electricity, water, telephone, sanitary sewer and storm sewer, and to the extent
there is not an open and operating Eagle store on the Real Property, such
utilities and other services are available to serve the Real Property;
(i) each parcel of Real Property has legal vehicular access to a
public road and such access has been properly permitted or otherwise authorized
in accordance with Law;
(j) except as set forth in SECTION 5.10(j) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle has not entered into any (i) site development
agreements where the sitework has not been completed or entirely paid for or
(ii) escrow agreements (other than purchase agreement escrows disclosed in
accordance with SECTION 5.10(l) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM) where the
funds contemplated by such escrow have not been fully disbursed;
(k) as of the date hereof, except as set forth in SECTION
5.10(k) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle has not entered into any
options or agreements to purchase or lease real estate (including any amendments
or modifications thereto);
(l) as of the date hereof, except as set forth in SECTION
5.10(l) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle has not (i) incurred brokerage
commissions or finders fees which have not been paid, (ii) entered into any
brokers or finders agreements, or (iii) has not dealt with any brokers or
finders in connection with any prospective real estate subject to options or
agreements disclosed in SECTION 5.10(k) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM;
(m) Eagle has not received a notice of default or similar notice
affecting a parcel and has not delivered a notice of default to any third party
that has not otherwise been cured and, to the Knowledge of Eagle, Eagle is not
in default with respect to any obligations affecting a parcel and no third party
is in default with respect to any obligations owing to Eagle; and
(n) to the Knowledge of Eagle, the legal instruments disclosed
in SECTION 5.10 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM (regardless of what
subsection) are in full force and effect; provided that the foregoing
representation and warranty shall not extend to any matters disclosed in SECTION
5.10(l) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM.
-15-
<PAGE>
5.11 ASSETS. Except as disclosed in SECTION 5.11 OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, as disclosed or reserved against in the Eagle Financial
Statements or with respect to Real Property of Eagle, the Eagle Companies have
good and marketable title, free and clear of all Liens, to all of their
respective Assets which are material to Eagle's business on a consolidated
basis. All Assets which are material to Eagle's business on a consolidated
basis, held under leases or subleases by any of the Eagle Companies, are held
under valid Contracts enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
(except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other Laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and except that the availability of the equitable
remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceedings may be brought), and each such
Contract is in full force and effect.
5.12 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) Except as set forth in SECTION 5.12(a) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM or as is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle: (i) the Eagle Companies own or
have the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or permission
all Intellectual Property reasonably necessary or desirable for the operation of
the businesses of the Eagle Companies as presently conducted; (ii) each item of
Intellectual Property owned or used by any of the Eagle Companies immediately
prior to the Effective Time will be owned or available for use by the Eagle
Companies on identical terms and conditions immediately subsequent to the
Effective Time; (iii) each of the Eagle Companies has taken all reasonably
necessary and desirable action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual
Property that it owns or uses; and (iv) each owned item of Intellectual Property
has not been abandoned.
(b) Except as set forth in SECTION 5.12(b) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, to the Knowledge of Eagle, none of the Eagle Companies has
interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise come into conflict
with any intellectual property rights of any third party, and to the Knowledge
of Eagle, none of the Eagle Companies has ever received any charge, complaint,
claim, demand or notice alleging any such interference, infringement,
misappropriation or violation (including any claim that any of the Eagle
Companies must license or refrain from using any intellectual property rights of
any third party), except for infringments, conflicts or other occurrences of the
type described above which are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. To the Knowledge of Eagle,
no third party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise
come into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of any of the Eagle
Companies, except such as have not had, or are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
(c) As of the date hereof, SECTION 5.12(c) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM identifies each patent, trademark, copyright or other registration
that has been issued to any of the Eagle Companies with respect to any of its
Intellectual Property, identifies each pending application or application for
registration that any of the Eagle Companies has made with respect to any of its
Intellectual Property and identifies each license, agreement or other permission
that any of the Eagle Companies has
-16-
<PAGE>
granted to any third party with respect to any of its Intellectual Property
(together with any exceptions thereto). Except as set forth in SECTION
5.12(c) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle has made available to Lowe's
correct and complete copies of all such patents, registrations, applications,
licenses, agreements, permissions (as amended to date) and all other written
documentation evidencing ownership and prosecution (if applicable) of each
such item. As of the date hereof, SECTION 5.12(c) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM also identifies each trade name or unregistered trademark used by
any of the Eagle Companies in connection with any of its businesses. Except
as set forth in SECTION 5.12(c) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, with
respect to each item of Intellectual Property required to be identified
therein:
(i) the item is not subject to any outstanding injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling or charge;
(ii) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation,
charge, complaint, claim or demand is pending or, to the Knowledge of
Eagle, is threatened which challenges the legality, validity,
enforceability, use or ownership of the item; and
(iii) none of the Eagle Companies has licensed or, to the
Knowledge of Eagle, permitted any third party to use any such item.
5.13 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) To the Knowledge of Eagle, each Eagle Company holds all
Permits required under Environmental Laws for it to carry on its business as now
conducted ("Environmental Permits"), and each Eagle Company, its Participation
Facilities, and its Operating Properties are, and have been, in compliance with
all such Environmental Permits and Environmental Laws, except for failures to
hold Environmental Permits and instances of noncompliance which are not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Eagle.
(b) There is no Litigation pending or, to the Knowledge of
Eagle, threatened before any court, governmental agency, or authority or other
forum in which any Eagle Company or any of its Operating Properties or
Participation Facilities (or Eagle in respect of such Operating Property or
Participation Facility) has been or, with respect to threatened Litigation, to
the Knowledge of Eagle, may be named as a defendant (i) for alleged
noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with any Environmental Law or
(ii) relating to the release, discharge, spillage, or disposal into the
environment of any Hazardous Material, whether or not occurring at, on, under,
adjacent to, or affecting (or potentially affecting) a site owned, leased, or
operated by any Eagle Company or any of its Operating Properties or
Participation Facilities, except for such Litigation pending or, to the
Knowledge of Eagle, threatened that is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle, nor, to
the Knowledge of Eagle, is there any reasonable basis for any Litigation of a
type described in this sentence,
-17-
<PAGE>
except such as is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
(c) During the period of (i) any Eagle Company's ownership or
operation of any of their respective current properties, (ii) any Eagle
Company's participation in the management of any Participation Facility, or
(iii) any Eagle Company's holding of a security interest in an Operating
Property, there have been no releases, discharges, spillages, or disposals of
Hazardous Material in, on, under, adjacent to, or affecting (or potentially
affecting) such properties, except such as are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. Prior to
the period of (i) any Eagle Company's ownership or operation of any of their
respective current properties, (ii) any Eagle Company's participation in the
management of any Participation Facility, or (iii) any Eagle Company's holding
of a security interest in an Operating Property, to the Knowledge of Eagle,
there were no releases, discharges, spillages, or disposals of Hazardous
Material in, on, under, or affecting (or potentially affecting) any such
property, Participation Facility or Operating Property, except such as are not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Eagle.
5.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each Eagle Company has in effect all
Permits necessary for it to own, lease, or operate its material Assets and to
carry on its business as now conducted, except for those Permits the absence of
which is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Eagle, and there has occurred no Default under any
such Permit, other than Defaults which are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. Except as
disclosed in SECTION 5.14 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, none of the Eagle
Companies:
(a) is in Default under any of the provisions of its Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws (or other governing instruments);
(b) is in Default under any Laws or Orders applicable to its
business or employees conducting its business, other than Defaults which are not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Eagle; or
(c) since January 27, 1995, has received any notification or
communication from any agency or department of federal, state, or local
government or any Regulatory Authority or the staff thereof (i) asserting that
any Eagle Company is not in compliance with any of the Laws or Orders which such
governmental authority or Regulatory Authority enforces, where such
noncompliance is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Eagle, (ii) threatening to revoke any Permits, the
revocation of which is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle, or (iii) requiring any Eagle
Company to enter into or consent to the issuance of a cease and desist order,
formal agreement, directive, commitment or memorandum of understanding, or to
adopt any Board resolution or similar undertaking, which restricts materially
the conduct of its business.
-18-
<PAGE>
5.15 LABOR RELATIONS. No Eagle Company is the subject of any
Litigation asserting that it or any other Eagle Company has committed an unfair
labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act or
comparable state law) or seeking to compel it or any other Eagle Company to
bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor
is any Eagle Company party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor is there
any strike or other labor dispute involving any Eagle Company pending or, to the
Knowledge of Eagle, threatened nor, to the Knowledge of Eagle, is there any
activity involving any Eagle Company's employees seeking to certify a collective
bargaining unit or engaging in any other organization activity.
5.16 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Eagle has disclosed in SECTION 5.16(a) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, and has made available to Lowe's prior to the execution
of this Agreement copies in each case of, all pension, retirement, profit-
sharing, deferred compensation, stock option, employee stock ownership,
severance pay, vacation, bonus, or other incentive plan, all other employee
programs, arrangements, or agreements, all medical, vision, dental, or other
health plans, all life insurance plans, and all other material employee benefit
plans or fringe benefit plans, including "employee benefit plans" as that term
is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, currently adopted, maintained by, sponsored
in whole or in part by, or contributed to by any Eagle Company or any entity
required to be treated as a single employer with Eagle under Section 414 of the
Internal Revenue Code (an "ERISA Affiliate") thereof for the benefit of
employees, retirees, dependents, spouses, directors, independent contractors, or
other beneficiaries and under which employees, retirees, dependents, spouses,
directors, independent contractors, or other beneficiaries are eligible to
participate (collectively, the "Eagle Benefit Plans"). Any of the Eagle Benefit
Plans which is an "employee pension benefit plan," as that term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA, is referred to herein as a "Eagle ERISA Plan." No Eagle
ERISA Plan is a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section 414(j) of the
Internal Revenue Code). No Eagle ERISA Plan is or has been a multi-employer plan
within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(b) All Eagle Benefit Plans are in compliance with the
applicable terms of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and any other applicable
Laws the breach or violation of which are reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle or any
ERISA Affiliate. Each Eagle ERISA Plan which is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and Eagle is not aware
of any circumstances likely to result in revocation of any such favorable
determination letter.
(c) No Eagle Company has any unsatisfied Liability under Title
IV of ERISA.
(d) Except as disclosed in SECTION 5.16(d) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, or as required by Law, no Eagle Company has any Liability
for retiree health and life benefits under any of the Eagle Benefit Plans.
There are no restrictions on the rights of such
-19-
<PAGE>
Eagle Company to amend or terminate any Eagle Benefit Plan without incurring
any Liability thereunder.
(e) Except as disclosed in SECTION 5.16(e) OF THE EAGLE
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any
payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, or
otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of any Eagle Company
from any Eagle Company under any Eagle Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii) increase
any benefits otherwise payable under any Eagle Benefit Plan, or (iii) result in
any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefit.
5.17 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Except as disclosed in SECTION 5.17 OF THE
EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM or otherwise reflected in the Eagle Financial
Statements, none of the Eagle Companies, nor any of their respective Assets,
businesses, or operations, is a party to, or is bound or affected by, or
receives benefits under, (i) any employment, severance, termination, consulting,
or retirement Contract providing for aggregate payments to any Person in any
calendar year in excess of $50,000, (ii) any Contract relating to the borrowing
of money by any Eagle Company or the guarantee by any Eagle Company of any such
obligation (other than trade payables and Contracts relating to borrowings or
guarantees made in the ordinary course of business), (iii) any Contract which
prohibits or restricts any Eagle Company from engaging in any business
activities in any geographic area, line of business or otherwise in competition
with any other Person, (iv) any Contract involving Intellectual Property (other
than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course with customers and "shrink-
wrap" software licenses), (v) any Contract relating to the purchase or sale of
any goods or services (other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course
of business and involving payments under any individual Contract not in excess
of $500,000), and (vi) any other Contract or amendment thereto that would be
required to be filed as an exhibit to a Form 10-K filed by Eagle with the SEC as
of the date of this Agreement (except as filed as exhibits to Eagle's SEC
Documents filed since January 30, 1998 and prior to the date hereof) (together
with all Contracts referred to in Sections 5.11 and 5.16(a), the "Eagle
Contracts"). With respect to each Eagle Contract and except as disclosed in
SECTION 5.17 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM: (i) the Contract is in full
force and effect (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
conservatorship, moratorium, or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and except that the availability of the equitable
remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion
of the court before any proceeding may be brought); (ii) no Eagle Company is in
Default thereunder, except where a Default is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle; (iii) no
Eagle Company has repudiated or waived any material provision of any such
Contract; and (iv) no other party to any such Contract is, to the Knowledge of
Eagle, in Default in any respect or has repudiated or waived any material
provision thereunder, except as is not reasonably likely to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle. Except as disclosed in
SECTION 5.17 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, all of the indebtedness of any
Eagle Company for money borrowed is prepayable at any time by such Eagle Company
without penalty or premium.
-20-
<PAGE>
5.18 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. There is no Litigation instituted or
pending, or, to the Knowledge of Eagle, threatened against any Eagle Company, or
against any director, employee or employee benefit plan of any Eagle Company, or
against any Asset, interest, or right of any of them, that is reasonably likely
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle,
nor are there any Orders of any Regulatory Authorities, other governmental
authorities, or arbitrators outstanding against any Eagle Company, that are
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Eagle; PROVIDED that, for purposes of this Section 5.18, any such
Litigation or Order arising after the date hereof shall not be deemed to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Eagle if and to the extent such Litigation or Order
is based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.18 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM contains a summary of all
pending Litigation as of the date of this Agreement to which any Eagle Company
is a party and which names a Eagle Company as a defendant or cross-defendant and
for which any Eagle Company has potential Liability that is reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
5.19 INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.
5.20 STATEMENTS TRUE AND CORRECT. No statement, certificate,
instrument, or other writing furnished or to be furnished by any Eagle Company
or any Affiliate thereof to Lowe's pursuant to this Agreement or any other
document, agreement, or instrument referred to herein contains or will contain
any untrue statement of material fact or will omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by any Eagle Company or any Affiliate thereof for inclusion in the
Registration Statement to be filed by Lowe's with the SEC will, when the
Registration Statement becomes effective, contain any 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, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by any Eagle Company or any Affiliate thereof for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement to be mailed to Eagle's shareholders in connection with the
Shareholders' Meeting, will, at the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
the shareholders of Eagle, contain any 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made by Eagle with
respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by Lowe's specifically for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement.
5.21 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS. No Eagle Company or any Affiliate
thereof has taken or agreed to take any action or has any Knowledge of any fact
or circumstance that is reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying
for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment or as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
-21-
<PAGE>
5.22 STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. No "moratorium," "fair price," "business
combination," "control share," or other anti-takeover Laws (collectively,
"Takeover Laws") of the WBCA, including Chapter 23B.19 of the WBCA, will be
applicable to the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger,
and to the Knowledge of Eagle, no other Takeover Laws are applicable to this
Agreement or the Merger.
5.23 TRANSACTIONS AND AFFILIATES. For purposes of this Section, the
term "Affiliate" shall mean (a) any holder of 5% or more of the voting
securities of Eagle, (b) any director, officer or employee of the Eagle
Companies, (c) any person, firm or corporation that directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with any of the Eagle
Companies or (d) any member of the immediate family of any of such persons.
Except as set forth in SECTION 5.23 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM or as
disclosed in the Eagle SEC Reports, since January 27, 1995, the Eagle Companies
have not, in the ordinary course of business or otherwise, (A) purchased, leased
or otherwise acquired any material property or assets or obtained any material
services from, (B) sold, leased or otherwise disposed of any material property
or assets or provided any material services to (except with respect to
remuneration for services rendered in the ordinary course of business as a
director, officer or employee of one or more of the Eagle Companies), (C)
entered into or modified in any manner any Contract with, or (D) borrowed any
money from, or made or forgiven any loan or other advance to, any Affiliate.
Except as set forth in SECTION 5.23 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, as
disclosed in the Eagle SEC Reports, or in each case in an amount that is less
than $100,000, (i) the Contracts of the Eagle Companies do not include any
obligation or commitment between any of the Eagle Companies and any Affiliate,
(ii) the Assets of the Eagle Companies do not include any receivable or other
obligation or commitment from an Affiliate to any of the Eagle Companies and
(iii) the Liabilities of the Eagle Companies do not include any payable or other
obligation or commitment from any of the Eagle Companies to any Affiliate.
5.24 SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS. Each of the directors of Eagle has
executed and delivered to Lowe's an agreement in substantially the form of
EXHIBIT 2.
5.25 FEES AND EXPENSES OF BROKERS AND OTHERS. None of the Eagle
Companies (a) has had any dealings, negotiations or communications with any
broker or other intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement which could reasonably give rise to any liability for any
brokers' or finders' fees or any similar fees in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) is committed to any liability
for any brokers' or finders' fees or any similar fees in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (c) has retained any broker or
other intermediary to act on its behalf in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except that Eagle has engaged NationsBanc
Montgomery Securities, LLC ("NMS") to represent it in connection with such
transactions, and shall pay all of NMS's fees and expenses in connection with
such engagement.
5.26 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE. Eagle and the Eagle Subsidiaries have
reviewed the areas within their business and operations which could be adversely
affected by the Year 2000 Problem and have initiated a program to achieve Year
2000 Compliance by December 31, 1999. As of the date hereof, except as is not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
-22-
<PAGE>
Eagle: (i) Eagle and the Eagle Subsidiaries have implemented such Year 2000
program in accordance with the timetable set forth therein; (ii) Eagle and the
Eagle Subsidiaries have made appropriate inquiries as to the Year 2000
Compliance of their material suppliers, service providers, franchisors and
vendors, and neither Eagle nor any Eagle Subsidiary has received notice of any
inability on the part of such entities to achieve Year 2000 Compliance in a
timely manner; and (iii) based on such review and program, Eagle and the Eagle
Subsidiaries believe that the Year 2000 Problem, including costs of
remediation, will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
ARTICLE 6
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LOWE'S
Except as disclosed in Lowe's SEC Documents filed since January 30,
1998 and prior to the date of this Agreement, Lowe's hereby represents and
warrants to Eagle as follows:
6.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING, AND POWER. Lowe's is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
North Carolina, and has the corporate power and authority to carry on its
business as now conducted and to own, lease and operate its Assets. Lowe's is
duly qualified or licensed to transact business as a foreign corporation in good
standing in the States of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where the
character of its Assets or the nature or conduct of its business requires it to
be so qualified or licensed, except for such jurisdictions in which the failure
to be so qualified or licensed is not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
6.2 AUTHORITY; NO BREACH BY AGREEMENT.
(a) Lowe's has the corporate power and authority necessary to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein, including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action in respect thereof on the part of Lowe's.
This Agreement represents a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Lowe's,
enforceable against Lowe's in accordance with its terms (except in all cases as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, or similar Laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the
availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance or injunctive
relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may
be brought).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Lowe's, nor the consummation by Lowe's of the transactions contemplated hereby,
nor compliance by Lowe's with any of the provisions hereof, will (i) conflict
with or result in a breach of any provision of Lowe's Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws, or (ii) constitute or result in a Default under, or require any
Consent pursuant to, or result in the creation of any Lien on any Asset of any
Lowe's Company under, any Contract or Permit of any Lowe's Company or,
(iii) subject to satisfaction of the condition referred to in Section 9.1(b),
violate any Law or Order applicable to any Lowe's
-23-
<PAGE>
Company or any of their respective material Assets other than, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, breaches, Defaults or other
occurrences of the type referred to above which are not reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
(c) No notice to, filing with, or Consent of, any public body or
authority is necessary for the consummation by Lowe's of the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated in this Agreement, other than (i) the filing of
a premerger notification and report form by Lowe's under the HSR Act; (ii) the
filing with the SEC of (y) the Registration Statement and (z) such reports under
Sections 13(a), 13(d), 15(d) or 16(a) of the 1934 Act as may be required in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii)
with respect to Merger Corporation, the filing of the Articles of Merger with
the Washington Secretary of State; (iv) such filings with governmental entities
to satisfy the applicable requirements of state securities or "blue sky" laws;
and (v) such consents, approvals, orders or authorizations the failure of which
to be made or obtained are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
6.3 CAPITAL STOCK.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Lowe's consists of
(i) 1,400,000,000 shares of Lowe's Common Stock, of which 352,680,698 shares are
issued and outstanding as of November 18, 1998, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of
Lowe's Preferred Stock, none of which is issued and outstanding. All of the
issued and outstanding shares of Lowe's Capital Stock are, and all of the shares
of Lowe's Common Stock to be issued in exchange for shares of Eagle Common Stock
upon consummation of the Merger, when issued in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding and fully paid
and nonassessable. None of the outstanding shares of Lowe's Capital Stock has
been, and none of the shares of Lowe's Common Stock to be issued in exchange for
shares of Eagle Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger will be, issued in
violation of any preemptive rights of the current or past shareholders of
Lowe's. Lowe's has reserved 15,811,292 shares of Lowe's Common Stock for
issuance under the Lowe's Stock Plans, pursuant to which options to purchase not
more than 3,341,755 shares of Lowe's Common Stock are outstanding as of November
18, 1998.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 6.3(a), or as provided
pursuant to the Lowe's Rights Agreement, or as disclosed in SECTION 6.3 OF THE
LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, there are no shares of capital stock or other
equity securities of Lowe's outstanding and no outstanding Rights relating to
the capital stock of Lowe's.
6.4 LOWE'S SUBSIDIARIES. No capital stock (or other equity
interest) of any Lowe's Subsidiary is or may become required to be issued (other
than to another Lowe's Company) by reason of any Rights, and there are no
Contracts by which any Lowe's Subsidiary is bound to issue (other than to
another Lowe's Company) additional shares of its capital stock (or other equity
interests) or Rights or by which any Lowe's Company is or may be bound to
transfer any shares of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of any
Lowe's Subsidiary (other than to
-24-
<PAGE>
another Lowe's Company). There are no Contracts relating to the rights of any
Lowe's Company to vote or to dispose of any shares of the capital stock (or
other equity interests) of any Lowe's Subsidiary. All of the shares of
capital stock (or other equity interests) of each Lowe's Subsidiary held by a
Lowe's Company are fully paid and nonassessable under the applicable
corporation Law of the jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is incorporated
or organized and are owned by the Lowe's Company free and clear of any Lien.
Each Lowe's Subsidiary is a corporation, and is duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it
is incorporated or organized, and has the corporate power and authority
necessary for it to own, lease and operate its Assets and to carry on its
business as now conducted. Each Lowe's Subsidiary is duly qualified or
licensed to transact business as a foreign corporation in good standing in the
states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where the character of
its Assets or the nature or conduct of its business requires it to be so
qualified or licensed, except for such jurisdictions in which the failure to
be so qualified or licensed is not reasonably likely to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
6.5 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) Lowe's has timely filed and made available to Eagle all SEC
Documents required to be filed by Lowe's since January 31, 1995 (the "Lowe's SEC
Reports"). The Lowe's SEC Reports (i) at the time filed, complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and
other applicable Laws and (ii) did not, at the time they were filed (or, if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on
the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated in such Lowe's SEC Reports (as so
amended) or necessary in order to make the statements in such Lowe's SEC Reports
(as so amended), in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. No Lowe's Subsidiary is required to file any SEC Documents.
(b) Each of the Lowe's Financial Statements (including, in each
case, any related notes) contained in the Lowe's SEC Reports, including any
Lowe's SEC Reports filed after the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time, complied (or, if filed after the date of this Agreement, will comply when
filed) as to form in all material respects with the applicable published rules
and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, was prepared (or, if prepared
after the date of this Agreement, will be prepared) in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be
indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited
interim statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC), and fairly presented
(or, if prepared and filed after the date of this Agreement, will fairly present
when prepared and filed) in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of Lowe's and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates and the
consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated,
except that the unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to
normal and recurring year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to
be material in amount or effect.
6.6 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. No Lowe's Company has any
Liabilities that are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
-25-
<PAGE>
Lowe's, except Liabilities which are accrued or reserved against in the
consolidated balance sheets of Lowe's as of January 30, 1998 and July 31,
1998, included in the Lowe's Financial Statements delivered prior to the date
of this Agreement or reflected in the notes thereto. No Lowe's Company has
incurred or paid any Liability since July 31, 1998, except for such
Liabilities incurred or paid (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past business practice and which are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's or (ii)
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as
disclosed in SECTION 6.6 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM or as would
otherwise not violate the first two sentences of this Section 6.6, no Lowe's
Company is directly or indirectly liable, by guarantee, indemnity, or
otherwise, upon or with respect to, or obligated, by discount or repurchase
agreement or in any other way, to provide funds in respect to, or obligated to
guarantee or assume any Liability of, any Person for any amount in excess of
$5,000,000.
6.7 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since July 31, 1998,
except as disclosed in the Lowe's Financial Statements delivered prior to the
date of this Agreement or as disclosed in SECTION 6.7 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, (i) there have been no events, changes, or occurrences which have
had, or are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's, and (ii) the Lowe's Companies have not taken
any action, or failed to take any action, prior to the date of this Agreement,
which action or failure, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would
represent or result in a material breach or violation of any of the covenants
and agreements of Lowe's provided in Article 7.
6.8 TAX MATTERS. Except as set forth in SECTION 6.8 OF THE LOWE'S
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM:
(a) Lowe's and each of its Subsidiaries are members of the
affiliated group, within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code, of which Lowe's is the common parent, such affiliated group files a
consolidated federal income tax return and neither Lowe's nor any of its
Subsidiaries has ever filed a consolidated federal income tax return with (or
been included in a consolidated return of) a different affiliated group;
(b) each of the Lowe's Companies has timely filed or caused to
be filed all Tax Returns required to have been filed by or for it, and all
information set forth in such Tax Returns is accurate and complete in all
material respects;
(c) each of the Lowe's Companies has paid all Taxes shown as due
on such Tax Returns;
(d) there are no Liens with respect to Taxes (other than for
current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the Assets of the Lowe's
Companies;
(e) each of the Lowe's Companies has collected or withheld all
Taxes required to be collected or withheld by it, and all such Taxes have been
paid to the appropriate governmental authority or set aside in appropriate
accounts for future payment when due; and
-26-
<PAGE>
(f) none of the Lowe's Companies has granted (or is subject to)
any waiver, which is currently in effect, of the period of limitations for the
assessment of any Tax; no unpaid Tax deficiency has been assessed or asserted
against or with respect to any of the Lowe's Companies for any open tax period;
there is no currently pending administrative or judicial proceeding, or any
deficiency or refund litigation, with respect to Taxes of any of the Lowe's
Companies, the adverse outcome of which would have a Material Adverse Effect on
Lowe's; and any such assertion, assessment, proceeding or litigation disclosed
on SECTION 6.8 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM is being contested in good
faith through appropriate measures, and its status is described in SECTION 6.8
OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM.
6.9 ASSETS. Except as disclosed in SECTION 6.9 OF THE LOWE'S
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, as disclosed or reserved against in the Lowe's Financial
Statements made available to Eagle prior to the date of this Agreement, or with
respect to Real Property of Lowe's, the Lowe's Companies have good and
marketable title, free and clear of all Liens, to all of their respective Assets
which are material to Lowe's business on a consolidated basis. All Assets which
are material to Lowe's business on a consolidated basis, held under leases or
subleases by any of the Lowe's Companies, are held under valid Contracts
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms (except as enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
or other Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
except that the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance or
injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
proceedings may be brought), and each such Contract is in full force and effect.
6.10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each Lowe's Company owns or has a
license to use all of the Intellectual Property used by such Lowe's Company in
the course of its business. Each Lowe's Company is the owner of or has a
license to any Intellectual Property sold or licensed to a third party by such
Lowe's Company in connection with such Lowe's Company's business operations, and
such Lowe's Company has the right to convey by sale or license any Intellectual
Property so conveyed. No Lowe's Company is in Default under any of its
Intellectual Property licenses. No proceedings have been instituted, or are
pending or to the Knowledge of Lowe's threatened, which challenge the rights of
any Lowe's Company with respect to Intellectual Property used, sold or licensed
by such Lowe's Company in the course of its business, nor has any person claimed
or alleged any rights to such Intellectual Property. The conduct of the
business of the Lowe's Companies does not infringe any Intellectual Property of
any other person. Except as disclosed in SECTION 6.10 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE
MEMORANDUM, no Lowe's Company is obligated to pay any recurring royalties to any
Person with respect to any such Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in
SECTION 6.10 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, every officer, director, or
employee of any Lowe's Company is a party to a Contract which requires such
officer, director or employee to assign any interest in any Intellectual
Property to a Lowe's Company and to keep confidential any trade secrets,
proprietary data, customer information, or other business information of a
Lowe's Company, and no such officer, director or employee is party to any
Contract with any Person other than a Lowe's Company which requires such
officer, director or employee to assign any interest in any Intellectual
Property to any Person other than a Lowe's Company or to keep confidential any
-27-
<PAGE>
trade secrets, proprietary data, customer information, or other business
information of any Person other than a Lowe's Company. Except as disclosed in
SECTION 6.10 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, no officer, director or
employee of any Lowe's Company is party to any Contract which restricts or
prohibits such officer, director or employee from engaging in activities
competitive with any Person, including any Lowe's Company.
6.11 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) To the Knowledge of Lowe's, each Lowe's Company holds all
Environmental Permits, and each Lowe's Company, its Participation Facilities,
and its Operating Properties are, and have been, in compliance with all such
Environmental Permits and all Environmental Laws, except for failures to hold
Environmental Permits and instances of noncompliance which are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Lowe's.
(b) There is no Litigation pending or, to the Knowledge of
Lowe's, threatened before any court, governmental agency, or authority or other
forum in which any Lowe's Company or any of its Operating Properties or
Participation Facilities (or Lowe's in respect of such Operating Property or
Participation Facility) has been or, with respect to threatened Litigation, may
be named as a defendant (i) for alleged noncompliance (including by any
predecessor) with any Environmental Law or (ii) relating to the release,
discharge, spillage, or disposal into the environment of any Hazardous Material,
whether or not occurring at, on, under, adjacent to, or affecting (or
potentially affecting) a site owned, leased, or operated by any Lowe's Company
or any of its Operating Properties or Participation Facilities, except for such
Litigation pending or, to the Knowledge of Lowe's, threatened that is not
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Lowe's, nor is there any reasonable basis for any Litigation of a type
described in this sentence, except such as is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
(c) During the period of (i) any Lowe's Company's ownership or
operation of any of their respective current properties, (ii) any Lowe's
Company's participation in the management of any Participation Facility, or
(iii) any Lowe's Company's holding of a security interest in a Operating
Property, there have been no releases, discharges, spillages, or disposals of
Hazardous Material in, on, under, adjacent to, or affecting (or potentially
affecting) such properties, except such as are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's. Prior to
the period of (i) any Lowe's Company's ownership or operation of any of their
respective current properties, (ii) any Lowe's Company's participation in the
management of any Participation Facility, or (iii) any Lowe's Company's holding
of a security interest in a Operating Property, to the Knowledge of Lowe's,
there were no releases, discharges, spillages, or disposals of Hazardous
Material in, on, under, or affecting any such property, Participation Facility
or Operating Property, except such as are not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
6.12 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each Lowe's Company has in effect all
Permits necessary for it to own, lease or operate its material Assets and to
carry on its business as now
-28-
<PAGE>
conducted, except for those Permits the absence of which are not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Lowe's, and there has occurred no Default under any such Permit, other than
Defaults which are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's. Except as disclosed in SECTION
6.12 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, none of the Lowe's Companies:
(a) is in Default under its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
(or other governing instruments); or
(b) is in Default under any Laws or Orders applicable to its
business or employees conducting its business, other than Defaults which
are not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's; or
(c) since January 27, 1995, has received any notification or
communication from any agency or department of federal, state, or local
government or any Regulatory Authority or the staff thereof (i) asserting
that any Lowe's Company is not in compliance with any of the Laws or
Orders which such governmental authority or Regulatory Authority
enforces, where such noncompliance is reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's,
(ii) threatening to revoke any Permits, the revocation of which is
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Lowe's, or (iii) requiring any Lowe's Company to enter
into or consent to the issuance of a cease and desist order, formal
agreement, directive, commitment or memorandum of understanding, or to
adopt any Board resolution or similar undertaking, which restricts
materially the conduct of its business.
6.13 LABOR RELATIONS. No Lowe's Company is the subject of any
Litigation asserting that it or any other Lowe's Company has committed an unfair
labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act or
comparable state law) or seeking to compel it or any other Lowe's Company to
bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor
is any Lowe's Company party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor is there
any strike or other labor dispute involving any Lowe's Company pending or, to
the Knowledge of Lowe's, threatened, nor to the Knowledge of Lowe's, is there
any activity involving any Lowe's Company's employees seeking to certify a
collective bargaining unit or engaging in any other organization activity.
6.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Lowe's has made available to Eagle prior to the execution of
this Agreement copies in each case of all pension, retirement, profit-sharing,
deferred compensation, stock option, employee stock ownership, severance pay,
vacation, bonus, or other incentive plan, all other written employee programs,
arrangements, or agreements, all medical, vision, dental, or other health plans,
all life insurance plans, and all other material employee benefit plans or
fringe benefit plans, including "employee benefit plans" as that term is defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA, currently adopted, maintained by, sponsored in whole
or in part by, or contributed to by any Lowe's Company or ERISA Affiliate
thereof for the benefit of employees, retirees,
-29-
<PAGE>
dependents, spouses, directors, independent contractors, or other
beneficiaries and under which employees, retirees, dependents, spouses,
directors, independent contractors, or other beneficiaries are eligible to
participate (collectively, the "Lowe's Benefit Plans"). Any of the Lowe's
Benefit Plans which is an "employee pension benefit plan," as that term is
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, is referred to herein as a "Lowe's ERISA
Plan." No Lowe's ERISA Plan is a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in
Section 414(j) of the Internal Revenue Code). No Lowe's ERISA Plan is or has
been a multi-employer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(b) All Lowe's Benefit Plans are in compliance with the
applicable terms of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and any other applicable
Laws the breach or violation of which are reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's. Each
Lowe's ERISA Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service, and Lowe's is not aware of any circumstances likely to
result in revocation of any such favorable determination letter.
(c) No Lowe's Company has any unsatisfied Liability under Title
IV of ERISA.
(d) Except as disclosed in SECTION 6.14(d) OF THE LOWE'S
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, or as required by Law, no Lowe's Company has any
Liability for retiree health and life benefits under any of the Lowe's Benefit
Plans. There are no restrictions on the rights of such Lowe's Company to amend
or terminate any Lowe's Benefit Plan without incurring any Liability thereunder.
(e) Except as disclosed in SECTION 6.14(e) OF THE LOWE'S
DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any
payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, or
otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of any Lowe's Company
from any Lowe's Company under any Lowe's Benefit Plan or otherwise,
(ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Lowe's Benefit Plan, or
(iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such
benefit.
6.15 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. There is no Litigation instituted or
pending, or, to the Knowledge of Lowe's, threatened against any Lowe's Company,
or against any director, employee or employee benefit plan of any Lowe's
Company, or against any Asset, interest, or right of any of them, that is
reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Lowe's, nor are there any Orders of any Regulatory Authorities, other
governmental authorities, or arbitrators outstanding against any Lowe's Company,
that are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Lowe's. SECTION 6.15 OF THE LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM
contains a summary of all Litigation as of the date of this Agreement to which
any Lowe's Company is a party and which names Lowe's as a defendant or cross-
defendant and for which any Lowe's Company has potential Liability that is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's.
-30-
<PAGE>
6.16 STATEMENTS TRUE AND CORRECT. No statement, certificate,
instrument or other writing furnished or to be furnished by any Lowe's Company
or any Affiliate thereof to Eagle pursuant to this Agreement or any other
document, agreement or instrument referred to herein contains or will contain
any untrue statement of material fact or will omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by any Lowe's Company or any Affiliate thereof for inclusion in the
Registration Statement to be filed by Lowe's with the SEC, will, when the
Registration Statement becomes effective, contain any 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, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by any Lowe's Company or any Affiliate thereof for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement to be mailed to Eagle's shareholders in connection with the
Shareholders Meeting will, at the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
the shareholders of Eagle, contain any 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The Registration Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made by Lowe's with
respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by Eagle specifically for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Registration Statement.
6.17 AUTHORITY OF MERGER CORPORATION. Merger Corporation is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of the State of Washington as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Lowe's. The
authorized capital stock of Merger Corporation shall consist of 1,000 shares of
Merger Corporation Common Stock, all of which is validly issued and outstanding,
fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by Lowe's free and clear of any Lien.
Merger Corporation has the corporate power and authority necessary to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein,
including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
corporate action in respect thereof on the part of Merger Corporation. This
Agreement represents a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Merger
Corporation, enforceable against Merger Corporation in accordance with its terms
(except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar Laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the availability
of the equitable remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject
to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought).
Lowe's, as the sole shareholder of Merger Corporation, has voted prior to the
Effective Time the shares of Merger Corporation Common Stock in favor of
adoption of this Agreement, as and to the extent required by applicable Law.
6.18 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS. No Lowe's Company or any Affiliate
thereof has taken or agreed to take any action or has any Knowledge of any fact
or circumstance that is
-31-
<PAGE>
reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying for pooling-of-
interests accounting treatment or as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
6.19 RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Execution of this Agreement and consummation
of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
result in the grant of any rights to any Person under the Lowe's Rights
Agreement (other than as contemplated by Section 6.3) or enable or require the
Lowe's Rights to be exercised, distributed or triggered. No "Stock Acquisition
Date" or "Flip-in Date" (as such terms are defined in the Lowe's Rights
Agreement) has occurred.
ARTICLE 7
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CONSUMMATION
7.1 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF EAGLE. From the date of this Agreement
until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement,
unless the prior written consent of Lowe's shall have been obtained, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and except as otherwise expressly
contemplated herein, Eagle shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
(a) operate its business only in the usual, regular, and ordinary course,
(b) use reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization and
Assets and maintain its rights and franchises, and (c) use reasonable efforts to
request estoppels, in form reasonably acceptable to Lowe's, within thirty (30)
days from the date of this Agreement, from every landlord with respect to all
Real Property leased by Eagle, and from every third party to each agreement
relating to Real Property in which Eagle has a contractual right to obtain an
estoppel or such similar instrument.
7.2 NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF EAGLE. From the date of this Agreement
until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement,
except as set forth in SECTION 7.2 OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, Eagle
covenants and agrees that it will not do or agree or commit to do, or permit any
of its Subsidiaries to do or agree or commit to do, any of the following without
the prior written consent of the chief executive officer, chief administrative
officer or chief financial officer of Lowe's, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld:
(a) amend the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other
governing instruments of any Eagle Company, or
(b) incur any additional debt obligation or other obligation for
borrowed money (other than indebtedness of a Eagle Company to another
Eagle Company and any refinancing of short-term indebtedness) in excess
of an aggregate of $500,000 (for the Eagle Companies on a consolidated
basis) except in the ordinary course of the business of Eagle Companies
consistent with past practices, or impose, or suffer the imposition, on
any Asset of any Eagle Company of any Lien or permit any such Lien to
exist (other than Liens in effect as of the date hereof that are
disclosed in the Eagle Disclosure Memorandum); or
-32-
<PAGE>
(c) repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or exchange (other
than exchanges in the ordinary course under employee benefit plans),
directly or indirectly, any shares, or any securities convertible into
any shares, of the capital stock of any Eagle Company, or declare or pay
any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of Eagle's
capital stock; or
(d) except (i) pursuant to the exercise of stock options
outstanding as of the date hereof and pursuant to the terms thereof in
existence on the date hereof, (ii) the grant to new employees (in
connection with new store openings permitted hereunder after the date
hereof) of options to acquire up to 10,000 shares of Eagle Common Stock
per new store in the ordinary course and consistent with past practices
(except that no such option grant shall provide for acceleration of
vesting as a result of this Agreement or consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein), (iii) the delivery of Eagle Common
Stock as of December 31, 1998, pursuant to the Eagle Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (except that no additional offering shall be made under
such plan after December 31, 1998), or (iv) as disclosed in SECTION
7.2(D) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, issue, sell, pledge,
encumber, authorize the issuance of, enter into any Contract to issue,
sell, pledge, encumber, or authorize the issuance of, or otherwise
permit to become outstanding, any additional shares of Eagle Common
Stock or any other capital stock of any Eagle Company, or any stock
appreciation rights, or any option, warrant, or other Right; or
(e) adjust, split, combine or reclassify any capital stock of any
Eagle Company or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities
in respect of or in substitution for shares of Eagle Common Stock, or
sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise dispose of or otherwise encumber (x)
any shares of capital stock of any Eagle Subsidiary (unless any such
shares of stock are sold or otherwise transferred to another Eagle
Company) or (y) any Asset other than in the ordinary course of business;
PROVIDED, that no sales of any Assets to any Affiliates of Eagle may be
made; or
(f) except for purchases of Assets (other than Real Property
Assets) in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practice and except in accordance with Eagle's written investment
policies, purchase any securities or make any material investment,
either by purchase of stock or securities, contributions to capital,
Asset transfers or purchase of any Assets, in any Person other than a
wholly owned Eagle Subsidiary, or otherwise acquire direct or indirect
control over any Person, other than in connection with the creation of
new wholly-owned Subsidiaries organized to conduct or continue
activities otherwise permitted by this Agreement; or
(g) except as required by Law or in accordance with obligations
or Contracts existing as of the date hereof, (i) grant any increase in
compensation or benefits to the employees or officers of any Eagle
Company or make awards under existing Eagle Benefits Plans, except in
accordance with past practice (which includes periodic performance
reviews and grants in connection with the hiring and promotion of
employees); (ii) pay any severance or termination pay or any bonus
(except in accordance with past practice); (iii) enter into or amend any
severance agreements with officers of any Eagle Company; (iv) grant any
material increase in fees or other increases in compensation or other
benefits or
-33-
<PAGE>
make awards under existing Eagle Benefits Plans to directors of any
Eagle Company except in accordance with past practice; or (v)
voluntarily accelerate the vesting of any stock options or other
stock-based compensation or employee benefits or other Rights; or
(h) enter into or amend any employment Contract between any Eagle
Company and any Person having a salary thereunder in excess of $50,000
per year (unless such amendment is required by Law) that the Eagle
Company does not have the unconditional right to terminate without
Liability (other than Liability for services already rendered), at any
time on or after the Effective Time; or
(i) except as expressly contemplated in Section 8.12, adopt any
new employee benefit plan of any Eagle Company or terminate or withdraw
from, or make any material change in or to, any existing employee
benefit plans of any Eagle Company other than any such change that is
required by Law or that, in the opinion of counsel, is necessary or
advisable to maintain the tax qualified status of any such plan, or make
any distributions from such employee benefit plans, except as required
by Law, the terms of such plans or consistent with past practice; or
(j) make any significant change in any Tax or accounting methods
or systems of internal accounting controls other than in the ordinary
course of business, except as may be appropriate to conform to changes
in Tax Laws or regulatory accounting requirements or GAAP; or
(k) commence any Litigation other than in accordance with past
practice, settle any Litigation involving any Liability of any Eagle
Company for material money damages or restrictions upon the operations
of any Eagle Company; or
(l) except in the ordinary course of business, enter into,
modify, amend or terminate any material Contract or waive, release,
compromise or assign any material rights or claims.
7.3 COVENANTS OF LOWE'S. From the date of this Agreement until the
earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, Lowe's
covenants and agrees that it shall (a) continue to conduct its business and the
business of its Subsidiaries in a manner designed in its reasonable judgment, to
enhance the long-term value of the Lowe's Common Stock and the business
prospects of the Lowe's Companies and to the extent consistent therewith use all
reasonable efforts to preserve intact the Lowe's Companies' core businesses and
goodwill with their respective employees and the communities they serve, and
(b) take no action which would (i) materially adversely affect the ability of
any Party to obtain any Consents required for the transactions contemplated
hereby without imposition of a condition or restriction of the type referred to
in the last sentences of Section 9.1(b) or 9.1(c), or (ii) materially adversely
affect the ability of any Party to perform its covenants and agreements under
this Agreement; provided, that the foregoing shall not prevent any Lowe's
Company from acquiring any Assets or other businesses or from discontinuing or
disposing of any of its Assets or business if such action is, in the reasonable
judgment of Lowe's, desirable in the conduct of the business of Lowe's and its
-34-
<PAGE>
Subsidiaries, provided that such actions shall not delay in any material respect
the Effective Time or hinder consummation of the Merger. Lowe's further
covenants and agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the
chief executive officer, president or chief financial officer of Eagle, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (A) amend the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Lowe's or, except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, the Lowe's Rights Agreement, in each case, in any manner adverse to
the holders of Eagle Common Stock as compared to rights of holders of Lowe's
Common Stock generally as of the date of this Agreement, or (B) make any
significant change in any Tax or accounting methods or systems of internal
accounting controls other than in the ordinary course of business, except as may
be appropriate to conform to changes in Tax Laws or regulatory accounting
requirements or GAAP.
7.4 ADVERSE CHANGES IN CONDITION. Each Party agrees to give written
notice promptly to the other Party upon becoming aware of the occurrence or
impending occurrence of any event or circumstance relating to it or any of its
Subsidiaries which (i) is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on it or (ii) would cause or constitute a
material breach of any of its representations, warranties, or covenants
contained herein, and to use its reasonable efforts to prevent or promptly to
remedy the same.
ARTICLE 8
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
8.1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT; SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.
As soon as reasonably practicable after execution of this Agreement, Lowe's
shall prepare and file the Registration Statement with the SEC, and shall use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective
under the 1933 Act and take any action required to be taken under the applicable
state Blue Sky or securities Laws in connection with the issuance of the shares
of Lowe's Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger. Eagle shall cooperate
in the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and shall furnish
all information concerning it and the holders of its capital stock as Lowe's may
reasonably request in connection with such action. Eagle shall call a
Shareholders' Meeting, to be held as soon as reasonably practicable after the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, for the purpose of
voting upon approval of this Agreement. In connection with the Shareholders'
Meeting, (i) Eagle shall prepare and file with the SEC a Proxy Statement and
mail such Proxy Statement to its shareholders, (ii) the Parties shall furnish
to each other all information concerning them that they may reasonably request
in connection with such Proxy Statement, (iii) the Board of Directors of Eagle
shall recommend to its shareholders the approval of the matters submitted for
approval (unless the Board of Directors of Eagle, after having consulted with
and considered the advice of outside counsel, reasonably determining in good
faith that the making of such recommendation, or the failure to withdraw or
modify its recommendation, would constitute a breach of the fiduciary duties or
other legal obligations of the Board of Directors), and (iv) Eagle shall use its
reasonable efforts to obtain such shareholders' approval (unless the Board of
Directors of Eagle, after having consulted with and considered the advice of
outside counsel, reasonably determining in good faith that the taking of such
actions would constitute a breach of
-35-
<PAGE>
the fiduciary duties or other legal obligations of the Board of Directors).
Lowe's and Eagle shall make all necessary filings with respect to the Merger
under the Securities Laws.
8.2 EXCHANGE LISTING. Lowe's shall use its reasonable efforts to
list, prior to the Effective Time, on the NYSE, subject to official notice of
issuance, the shares of Lowe's Common Stock to be issued to the holders of Eagle
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, and Lowe's shall give all notices and make
all filings with the NYSE required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein.
8.3 APPLICATIONS; ANTITRUST NOTIFICATION. Lowe's shall prepare and
file, and Eagle shall cooperate in the preparation and, where appropriate,
filing of, applications with all Regulatory Authorities having jurisdiction over
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement seeking the requisite Consents
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each
of the Parties will within five business days of the date hereof file with the
United States Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of
Justice the notification and report form required for the transactions
contemplated hereby and any supplemental or additional information which may
reasonably be requested in connection therewith pursuant to the HSR Act and will
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the HSR Act. The
Parties shall deliver to each other copies of all filings, correspondence and
orders to and from all Regulatory Authorities in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.
8.4 FILINGS WITH STATE OFFICES. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, Eagle and Merger Corporation shall execute and
file the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Washington in connection with the Closing.
8.5 AGREEMENT AS TO EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each Party agrees to use, and to cause its
Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or
advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including using its reasonable efforts to lift
or rescind any Order adversely affecting its ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated herein and to cause to be satisfied the conditions
referred to in Article 9; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude either
Party from exercising its rights under this Agreement. Each Party shall use,
and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use, its reasonable efforts to
obtain all Consents necessary or desirable for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
8.6 INVESTIGATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, each Party shall keep the other
Party advised of all material developments relevant to its business and to
consummation of the Merger and shall permit the other Party to make or cause to
be made such investigation of the business and properties of it and its
Subsidiaries and of financial and legal conditions as the other Party
reasonably requests, provided that such investigation shall be reasonably
related to the
-36-
<PAGE>
transactions contemplated hereby and shall not interfere unnecessarily with
normal operations. No investigation by a Party shall affect the
representations and warranties of the other Party.
(b) In addition to the Parties' respective obligations under the
Confidentiality Agreement, which is hereby reaffirmed and adopted, and
incorporated by reference herein each Party shall, and shall cause its advisers
and agents to, maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information
furnished to it by the other Party concerning its and its Subsidiaries'
businesses, operations, and financial positions and shall not use such
information for any purpose except in furtherance of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the
Effective Time, each Party shall promptly return or certify the destruction of
all documents and copies thereof, and all work papers containing confidential
information received from the other Party.
(c) Eagle shall use its reasonable efforts to exercise its
rights under confidentiality agreements entered into with Persons which were
considering an Acquisition Proposal with respect to Eagle to preserve the
confidentiality of the information relating to the Eagle Companies provided to
such Persons and their Affiliates and Representatives.
(d) Each Party agrees to give the other Party notice as soon as
practicable after any determination by it of any fact or occurrence relating to
the other Party which it has discovered through the course of its investigation
and which represents, or is reasonably likely to represent, either a material
breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the other Party
or which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the other Party.
8.7 PRESS RELEASES. Prior to the Effective Time, Eagle and Lowe's
shall consult with each other as to the form and substance of any press release
or other public disclosure materially related to this Agreement or any other
transaction contemplated hereby; provided, that nothing in this Section 8.7
shall be deemed to prohibit any Party from making any disclosure which its
counsel deems necessary or advisable in order to satisfy such Party's disclosure
obligations imposed by Law.
8.8 CERTAIN ACTIONS; FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS. Except with respect to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, no Eagle Company nor
any Affiliate thereof nor any Representatives thereof retained by any Eagle
Company shall directly or indirectly solicit any Acquisition Proposal by any
Person. Subject to the provisions of Sections 10.1(e) and 10.3 hereof, Eagle
may, in response to a Superior Proposal (as defined below) which was not
solicited by it, and subject to providing notice of such Superior Proposal to
Lowe's as described below, furnish any non-public information in connection
with, negotiate with respect to, or enter into any Contract with respect to,
such Superior Proposal. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent Eagle
from making any disclosure of information about an Acquisition Proposal to its
shareholders if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Eagle,
after consultation with outside counsel, failure to so disclose would constitute
a breach of its fiduciary duties or other legal obligations. Pursuant to the
proviso set forth in Section 10.1(e) hereof, Eagle shall promptly advise Lowe's
following the receipt of any Acquisition Proposal or
-37-
<PAGE>
Superior Proposal and the material details thereof, and advise Lowe's of any
material developments with respect to such Acquisition Proposal or Superior
Proposal promptly upon the occurrence thereof. Eagle shall (i) immediately
cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to any of the
foregoing, and (ii) direct and use its reasonable efforts to cause all of its
Representatives not to engage in any of the foregoing. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Superior Proposal" means any proposal or offer with respect to a
merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the Assets of the Eagle Companies or a tender or exchange
offer for more than 50% of the equity securities of Eagle, and with respect to
which the Board of Directors of Eagle determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial advisor, to be more favorable to Eagle's
shareholders than the Merger. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition
Proposal" means any tender offer or exchange offer or any proposal for a
merger, acquisition of all of the stock or assets of, or other business
combination involving Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries or the acquisition of a
substantial equity interest in, or a substantial portion of the assets of,
Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries.
8.9 ACCOUNTING AND TAX TREATMENT; TAX REPRESENTATION LETTERS. Each
of the Parties undertakes and agrees to use its reasonable efforts to cause the
Merger, and to take no action that is reasonably likely to cause the Merger not,
to qualify for treatment as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes and a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code for federal income tax purposes. For purposes of the tax opinions
described in Sections 9.2 (d) and 9.3(d) of this Agreement, each of Eagle and
Lowe's shall provide representation letters, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Lowe's and Eagle, each dated as of the date that is two business
days prior to the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to shareholders of
Eagle and reissued as of the Closing Date.
8.10 STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. Each Eagle Company shall take all
necessary steps to exempt the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from,
or if necessary to challenge the validity or applicability of, any applicable
Takeover Law, including Chapter 23B.19 of the WBCA.
8.11 AGREEMENT OF AFFILIATES. No later than 30 days following the
date of this Agreement, Eagle shall deliver to Lowe's a letter identifying all
Persons whom it reasonably believes are "affiliates" of Eagle for purposes of
Rule 145 under the 1933 Act or for purposes of qualifying the Merger for pooling
of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles
Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations. Eagle shall use its reasonable
efforts to cause each such Person to deliver to Lowe's not later than 30 days
prior to the Closing Date, a written agreement, substantially in the form of
EXHIBIT 3. Lowe's shall use its reasonable efforts to cause all Persons whom it
reasonably believes are "affiliates" of Lowe's for purposes of qualifying the
Merger for pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the
Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations to deliver
to Eagle not later than 30 days prior to the Closing Date a written agreement of
compliance with Section 2 of EXHIBIT 3.
-38-
<PAGE>
8.12 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND CONTRACTS. (a) Except as otherwise
provided herein, Lowe's shall, and shall cause Eagle to, maintain the Eagle
Benefit Plans at least through January 31, 2000; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Lowe's
may, or may cause Eagle to, amend the Eagle Benefit Plans prior to January 31,
2000 to conform the Eagle Benefit Plans to applicable Law. Thereafter Lowe's
will provide Eagle employees with benefits under the Lowe's Benefit Plans or the
Eagle Benefit Plans or a combination of such plans as determined by Lowe's in
its discretion; PROVIDED, however, that with respect to the period from February
1, 2000 to January 31, 2001, no modifications to the Eagle Benefit Plans which
would be materially adverse to the Eagle employees shall be made without the
prior written consent of Richard T. Takata. To the extent that Eagle employees
participate in Lowe's Benefit Plans, the Lowe's Benefit Plans shall recognize,
for purposes of eligibility and vesting, each such Eagle employee's service with
the Eagle Companies to the extent that such service is recognized under the
Eagle Benefit Plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Eagle shall not, and Lowe's
shall not be required to cause Eagle to, continue the Eagle Stock Plans or to
offer Eagle Common Stock as an investment option or an investment under any
Eagle Benefit Plan.
(b) Eagle may take actions to implement any of the items listed in
SECTION 8.12(b) OF THE EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM, which shall not be
considered to violate any other provision of this Agreement.
8.13 INDEMNIFICATION, EXCULPATION AND INSURANCE.
(a) Lowe's agrees that all rights to indemnification and exculpation
from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective
Time now existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers of the
Eagle Companies as provided in their respective Articles of Incorporation or By-
laws (or comparable organizational documents), shall be assumed by the Surviving
Corporation in the Merger, without further action, as of the Effective Time and
shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with their terms. In addition, from and after the Effective Time,
directors and officers of Eagle who become directors or officers of the
Surviving Corporation will be entitled to the same indemnity rights and
protections as are afforded to other directors and officers of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and
is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation
or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its
properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision will be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving
Corporation assume the obligations set forth in this Section 8.13.
(c) For six years after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall maintain in effect Eagle's current directors' and officers'
liability insurance covering acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective
Time with respect to those Persons who are currently covered by Eagle's
directors' and officers' liability insurance policy on terms with respect to
such coverage and amount no less favorable than those of such policy in effect
on the date hereof; PROVIDED, that the Surviving Corporation may substitute
therefor policies of the Surviving Corporation or its
-39-
<PAGE>
subsidiaries containing terms with respect to coverage and amount no less
favorable to such directors or officers; PROVIDED FURTHER, that if the
existing or substituted directors' and officers' liability insurance expires,
is terminated or canceled during such six-year period, the Surviving
Corporation will obtain as much directors' and officer' liability insurance as
can be obtained for the remainder of such period for a premium not in excess
of 200% of the aggregate premiums paid by Eagle in 1998 on an annualized basis
for such purpose and that in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be
required to pay aggregate premiums for insurance under this Section 8.13(c) in
excess of 200% of the aggregate premiums paid by Eagle in 1998 on an
annualized basis for such purpose.
(d) The provisions of this Section 8.13 (i) are intended to be for
the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified party, his or her
heirs and his or her representatives and (ii) are in addition to, and not in
substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any
such person may have by contract or otherwise.
8.14 CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES. The Surviving Corporation and Lowe's
shall take all actions, including entering into a supplemental indenture,
required by the Indenture, dated as of March 14, 1994, between Eagle and
Seattle-First National Bank, as Trustee, in order to, among other things,
provide that the 6.25% Convertible Debentures due 2001 of Eagle (the
"Convertible Debentures") shall become convertible into that number of shares of
Lowe's Common Stock following the Effective Time as would have been represented
if such debentures had converted into shares of Eagle Common Stock immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
8.15 ACCOUNTANTS' LETTERS. (a) Eagle shall use its reasonable efforts
to cause to be delivered to Lowe's two letters from Ernst & Young LLP, one dated
not more than five days prior to the date of the Proxy Statement and one dated
not more than five days prior to the Effective Time, with respect to certain
financial information regarding Eagle, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Lowe's, which letters shall be based upon customary specified
procedures undertaken by such firm in accordance with Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72.
(b) Lowe's shall use its reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered
to Eagle two letters from Deloitte & Touche LLP, one dated not more than five
days prior to the date of the Proxy Statement and one dated not more than five
days prior to the Effective Time, with respect to certain financial information
regarding Lowe's, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Eagle, which
letters shall be based upon customary specified procedures undertaken by such
firm in accordance with Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.
8.16 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Each Party shall use reasonable efforts
to obtain any and all Consents required for consummation of the Merger or for
the preventing of any Default under any Contract or Permit of such Party, except
for such Consents (i) the failure to obtain of which is not reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on either
Party or (ii) which, by their terms, may not be unreasonably withheld by the
party from whom Consent is required. No Consent so obtained which is necessary
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall be conditioned or
restricted in a manner
-40-
<PAGE>
which is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on either Party. To the extent any lease to which
Eagle is a party contains a covenant or other provision which, without the
Consent of a third party (other than Consents which may not be unreasonably
withheld), restricts a Eagle store from being opened or operated using
anything other than the "Eagle Hardware & Garden" tradename, or any derivative
thereof, Eagle shall take all reasonable action to obtain such Consent or
otherwise remove such restriction prior to the Effective Time.
ARTICLE 9
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS TO CONSUMMATE
9.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY. The respective
obligations of each Party to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions, unless waived by both Parties pursuant
to Section 11.6:
(a) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The Eagle Shareholder Approval shall
have been obtained.
(b) HSR ACT. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or
shall have expired.
(c) LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. No court or governmental or regulatory
authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) or taken any other action which prohibits or
makes illegal consummation of the Merger.
(d) REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration Statement shall be
effective under the 1933 Act, no stop orders suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued, no
action, suit, proceeding or investigation by the SEC to suspend the
effectiveness thereof shall have been initiated and be continuing.
(e) EXCHANGE LISTING. The shares of Lowe's Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE,
subject to official notice of issuance.
(f) POOLING LETTERS. Each of the Parties shall have received a
letter, dated as of the date of filing of the Registration Statement
with the SEC and as of the Effective Time, addressed to Lowe's and
Eagle, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lowe's and Eagle,
from Deloitte & Touche LLP to the effect that the Merger will qualify
for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment. Each of the Parties
shall have received letters, dated as of the date of filing of the
Registration Statement with the SEC and as of the Effective Time,
addressed to Lowe's and Eagle, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to Lowe's and Eagle, from Ernst & Young LLP to the effect
that such firm is not aware of any
-41-
<PAGE>
matters relating to Eagle and its Subsidiaries which would preclude the
Merger from qualifying for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment.
9.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF LOWE'S. The obligation of
Lowe's to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions, unless waived by Lowe's pursuant to Section 11.6(a):
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. For purposes of this Section
9.2(a), the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Eagle set
forth in this Agreement shall be assessed as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Effective Time with the same effect as though
all such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the
Effective Time (provided that representations and warranties which are
confined to a specified date shall speak only as of such date). The
representations and warranties of Eagle set forth in Section 5.3 shall
be true and correct (except for inaccuracies which are de minimus in
amount). All other representations and warranties of Eagle set forth in
Article 5 shall be true and correct, except where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct does not have
and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for
purposes of this sentence only, those representations and warranties of
Eagle which are qualified by reference to "material" or "Material
Adverse Effect" shall be deemed not to include such qualifications.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENTS AND COVENANTS. Each and all of the
agreements and covenants of Eagle to be performed and complied with
pursuant to this Agreement and the other agreements of Eagle
contemplated hereby prior to the Effective Time shall have been duly
performed and complied with in all material respects.
(c) CERTIFICATES. Eagle shall have delivered to Lowe's (i) a
certificate, dated as of the Effective Time and signed on its behalf by
its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer, to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.2(a) and 9.2(b) have
been satisfied, and (ii) certified copies of resolutions duly adopted by
Eagle's Board of Directors and shareholders evidencing the taking of all
corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, all in such reasonable detail as Lowe's and its
counsel shall request.
(d) TAX OPINION. Lowe's shall have received the opinion of
Hunton & Williams, counsel to Lowe's, dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and that each of
Lowe's, Merger Corporation and Eagle will be a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel to Lowe's shall be
entitled to rely upon satisfactory representations provided by the
parties hereto in the representation letters referred to in Section 8.9
hereof.
-42-
<PAGE>
9.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EAGLE. The obligation of Eagle to
consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions, unless waived by Eagle pursuant to Section 11.6(b):
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. For purposes of this Section
9.3(a), the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Lowe's set
forth in this Agreement shall be assessed as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Effective Time with the same effect as though all
such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the
Effective Time (provided that representations and warranties which are
confined to a specified date shall speak only as of such date). The
representations and warranties of Lowe's set forth in Section 6.3 shall
be true and correct (except for inaccuracies which are de minimus in
amount). All other representations and warranties of Lowe's set forth in
Article 6 shall be true and correct, except where the failure of such
representations and warranties to be so true and correct does not have
and is not reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Lowe's; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for purposes
of this sentence only, those representations and warranties of Lowe's
which are qualified by reference to "material" or "Material Adverse
Effect" shall be deemed not to include such qualifications.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF AGREEMENTS AND COVENANTS. Each and all of the
agreements and covenants of Lowe's to be performed and complied with
pursuant to this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby
prior to the Effective Time shall have been duly performed and complied
with in all material respects.
(c) CERTIFICATES. Lowe's shall have delivered to Eagle (i) a
certificate, dated as of the Effective Time and signed on its behalf by
its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer, to the
effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.3(a) and 9.3(b) have
been satisfied, and (ii) certified copies of resolutions duly adopted by
Lowe's Board of Directors and Merger Corporation's Board of Directors and
sole shareholder evidencing the taking of all corporate action necessary
to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, all in such
reasonable detail as Eagle and its counsel shall request.
(d) TAX OPINION. Eagle shall have received the opinion of
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel to Eagle, dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and that each of
Lowe's, Merger Corporation and Eagle will be a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel to Eagle shall be
entitled to rely upon satisfactory representations provided by the
parties hereto in the representation letters referred to in Section 8.9
hereof.
(e) PRICE CONDITION. In addition to the foregoing, notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement, Eagle shall not be
obligated to consummate the Merger if the Lowe's Ratio is less than 70%.
-43-
<PAGE>
For purposes of this Section 9.3(e), the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
"Lowe's Ratio" shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing the Base
Period Trading Price by the Lowe's Starting Price.
"Base Period Trading Price" shall mean the average of the daily
closing prices for the shares of Lowe's Common Stock for the ten (10)
consecutive trading days on which such shares are actually traded on the
NYSE (as reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported thereby,
any other authoritative source selected by Lowe's) ending at the close of
trading on the fifth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date.
"Lowe's Starting Price" means $39.40.
If Lowe's declares or effects a stock dividend, reclassification,
recapitalization, split-up, combination, exchange of shares, or similar
transactions prior to the Closing Date, the price for the common stock of Lowe's
shall be appropriately adjusted to eliminate the effect of such event for
purposes of applying this Section 9.3(e).
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
10.1. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time notwithstanding approval
thereof by the shareholders of Eagle, but prior to the Effective Time:
(a) by mutual written consent of Eagle and Lowe's;
(b) by Eagle or Lowe's, if the Effective Time shall not have
occurred on or before May 31, 1999 (provided that the right to terminate
this Agreement under this SECTION 10.1(b) shall not be available to any
Party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has
been the cause of or has resulted in the failure of the Effective Time to
occur on or before such date);
(c) by Eagle if (i) the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement shall have been voted on by holders of Eagle Common Stock at a
meeting duly convened therefor, and the votes shall not have been
sufficient to satisfy the condition set forth in SECTION 9.1(a) hereof,
or (ii) there has been a breach by Lowe's of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement which gives
rise to a failure of a condition set forth in Section 9.3(a) or 9.3(b),
which breach has not been cured within thirty business days following
receipt by Lowe's of notice of such breach or by the date specified in
Section 10.1(b), whichever comes first;
-44-
<PAGE>
(d) by Lowe's if (i) the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement shall have been voted on by holders of Eagle Common Stock at a
meeting duly convened therefor, and the votes shall not have been
sufficient to satisfy the condition set forth in SECTION 9.1(a) hereof,
(ii) there has been a breach by Eagle of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement which gives rise to a
failure of a condition set forth in Section 9.2(a) or 9.2(b), which
breach has not been cured within thirty business days following receipt
by Eagle of notice of such breach or by the date specified in Section
10.1(b), whichever comes first; or (iii) the Board of Directors of Eagle
should fail to recommend to its shareholders approval of this Agreement
or such recommendation shall have been made and subsequently withdrawn;
(e) by Eagle if, prior to the Effective Time, a Superior Proposal
has been made; PROVIDED, that Lowe's does not make, within five business
days of receiving notice of such Superior Proposal, an offer that the
Board of Directors of Eagle determines, in good faith after consultation
with its financial advisor, is at least as favorable to Eagle's
shareholders as such Superior Proposal; or
(f) by either Party (provided the terminating Party is not then in
material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or other
agreement contained in this Agreement which gives rise to a failure of a
condition set forth in Section 9.2(a) or 9.2(b), in the case of Eagle, or
Section 9.3(a) or 9.3(b) in the case of Lowe's) in the event that any of
the conditions precedent to the obligations of such Party to consummate
the Merger cannot be satisfied or fulfilled by the date specified in
Section 10.1(b) of this Agreement as of the date which such Party may
terminate this Agreement; or
(g) by Eagle or Lowe's, if any court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States or other Regulatory Authority shall have issued an
order, decree or ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining
or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or
other action shall have become final and non-appealable.
10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If this Agreement is so terminated and
the Merger is not consummated, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and
have no effect, without any liability on the part of either party or its
directors, officers or shareholders, other than the provisions of SECTION 8.6,
this SECTION 10.2, SECTION 10.3 and SECTION 11.2; PROVIDED that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, termination of this Agreement will not relieve a breaching Party
from liability for any willful and material breach by such Party of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement
giving rise to such termination.
10.3. TERMINATION FEE.
(a) In the event that this Agreement is terminated
(A) by Lowe's pursuant to Section 10.1(b) hereof at a time
when an Acquisition Proposal shall have previously been made known to any
Eagle Company or has previously been made directly to Eagle's
shareholders generally or any Person shall have previously
-45-
<PAGE>
publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make an
Acquisition Proposal and (i) the failure of the Effective Time to occur
has been caused by or is attributable to any failure of Eagle to fulfill
any of its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) Eagle is not otherwise
entitled to terminate this Agreement by reason of Section 10.1(c) hereof
and (iii) Eagle consummates the Acquisition Proposal in existence at the
time of termination referenced in this paragraph above or any other
Acquisition Proposal within 12 months following the date specified in
Section 10.1(b), then Eagle shall, on the date that the Acquisition
Proposal is consummated, pay Lowe's a fee equal to Thirty Five Million
Dollars ($35 million) (the "Termination Fee"), payable by wire transfer
of same day funds to an account designated by Lowe's;
(B) by Lowe's pursuant to Section 10.1(d)(i) or (iii) or by
Eagle pursuant to 10.1(c)(i), in each case at a time when an Acquisition
Proposal shall have previously been made known to any Eagle Company or
has previously been made directly to Eagle's shareholders generally or
any Person shall have previously publicly announced an intention (whether
or not conditional) to make an Acquisition Proposal and Eagle
subsequently consummates the Acquisition Proposal in existence at the
time of termination referenced in this paragraph above or any other
Acquisition Proposal within 12 months following the date of termination,
then Eagle shall, on the date that the Acquisition Proposal is
consummated, pay Lowe's the Termination Fee, payable by wire transfer of
same day funds to an account designated by Lowe's; or
(C) by Eagle pursuant to Section 10.1(e) hereof, then Eagle
shall promptly, but in no event later than the date of such termination,
pay Lowe's the Termination Fee, payable by wire transfer of same day
funds to an account designated by Lowe's.
(b) This SECTION 10.3 shall be the sole remedy of the parties
hereto in the event of any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 DEFINITIONS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the capitalized terms
set forth below shall have the following meanings:
"1933 ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"1934 ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"AFFILIATE" of a Person shall mean: (i) any other Person directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled
by or under common control with such Person; (ii) any officer, director,
partner, employer, or direct or indirect beneficial owner of
-46-
<PAGE>
any 10% or greater equity or voting interest of such Person; or (iii) any
other Person for which a Person described in clause (ii) acts in any such
capacity.
"AGREEMENT" shall mean this Agreement and Plan of Merger, including
the Exhibits delivered pursuant hereto and incorporated herein by
reference.
"ARTICLES OF MERGER" shall mean the Articles of Merger to be
executed by Eagle and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Washington relating to the Merger as contemplated by Section 1.1. The
Articles of Merger shall include the Plan of Merger as required under
Section 23B.11.050 of the WBCA.
"ASSETS" of a Person shall mean all of the assets, properties,
businesses and rights of such Person of every kind, nature, character and
description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible,
accrued or contingent, or otherwise relating to or utilized in such
Person's business, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, whether
or not carried on the books and records of such Person, and whether or
not owned in the name of such Person or any Affiliate of such Person and
wherever located.
"CLOSING DATE" shall mean the date on which the Closing occurs.
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Confidentiality
Agreement, dated October 2, 1998, between Eagle and Lowe's.
"CONSENT" shall mean any consent, approval, authorization,
clearance, exemption, waiver, or similar affirmation by any Person
pursuant to any Contract, Law, Order, or Permit.
"CONTRACT" shall mean any written or oral agreement, arrangement,
authorization, commitment, contract, indenture, instrument, lease,
obligation, plan, practice, restriction, understanding, or undertaking of
any kind or character, or other document to which any Person is a party
or that is binding on any Person or its capital stock, Assets or business.
"DEFAULT" shall mean (i) any breach or violation of or default under
any Contract, Law, Order, or Permit, (ii) any occurrence of any event
that with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would
constitute a breach or violation of or default under any Contract, Law,
Order, or Permit, or (iii) any occurrence of any event that with or
without the passage of time or the giving of notice would give rise to a
right to terminate or revoke, change the current terms of, or
renegotiate, or to accelerate, increase, or impose any Liability or to
accelerate under, any Contract, Law, Order, or Permit, where, in any such
event, such Default is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on a Party.
"EAGLE COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock, without par value,
of Eagle.
"EAGLE COMPANIES" shall mean, collectively, Eagle and all Eagle
Subsidiaries.
-47-
<PAGE>
"EAGLE DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM" shall mean the written information
entitled "Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. Disclosure Memorandum" delivered
prior to the date of this Agreement to Lowe's describing in reasonable
detail the matters contained therein, and, with respect to each
disclosure made therein, specifically referencing each Section of this
Agreement under which such disclosure is being made. Information
disclosed with respect to one Section shall not be deemed to be disclosed
for purposes of any other Section not specifically referenced with
respect thereto.
"EAGLE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall mean (i) the consolidated balance
sheets (including related notes and schedules, if any) of Eagle as of
July 31, 1998, and as of January 30, 1998 and January 31, 1997, and the
related statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash
flows (including related notes and schedules, if any) for the six months
ended July 31, 1998, and for each of the three fiscal years ended January
30, 1998, January 31, 1997 and January 31, 1996, as filed by Eagle in SEC
Documents, and (ii) the consolidated balance sheets of Eagle (including
related notes and schedules, if any) and related statements of income,
changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows (including related notes
and schedules, if any) included in SEC Documents filed with respect to
periods ended subsequent to July 31, 1998.
"EAGLE STOCK PLANS" shall mean the existing stock option and other
stock-based compensation plans of Eagle designated as follows: (i) the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (ii) the Employee Stock Ownership Plan,
(iii) the 1991 Stock Option Plan, and (iv) the Directors' Nonqualified
Stock Option Plan.
"EAGLE SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean the Subsidiaries of Eagle, which
shall include the Eagle Subsidiaries described in Section 5.4 and any
corporation or other organization acquired as a Subsidiary of Eagle in
the future and held as a Subsidiary by Eagle at the Effective Time.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean all Laws relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air,
surface water, ground water, land surface, or subsurface strata) and
which are administered, interpreted, or enforced by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and state and local agencies with
jurisdiction over, and including common law in respect of, pollution or
protection of the environment, including the Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601 ET
SEQ. ("CERCLA"), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended,
42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ("RCRA"), and other Laws relating to emissions,
discharges, releases, or threatened releases of any Hazardous Material,
or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of any Hazardous
Material.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
-48-
<PAGE>
"EXHIBITS" 1 through 3, inclusive, shall mean the Exhibits so
marked, copies of which are attached to this Agreement. Such Exhibits
are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof, and
may be referred to in this Agreement and any other related instrument or
document without being attached hereto.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied during the periods involved.
"HAZARDOUS MATERIAL" shall mean (i) any hazardous substance,
hazardous material, hazardous waste, regulated substance, or toxic
substance (as those terms are defined by any applicable Environmental
Laws) and (ii) any chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, petroleum,
petroleum products, or oil (and specifically shall include asbestos
requiring abatement, removal, or encapsulation pursuant to the
requirements of governmental authorities and any polychlorinated
biphenyls).
"HSR ACT" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall mean copyrights, patents, trademarks,
service marks, service names, trade names, applications therefor, trade
secrets, franchises, know-how, inventions, and other intellectual
property rights.
"INTERNAL REVENUE CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"KNOWLEDGE" as used with respect to a Person (including references
to such Person being aware of a particular matter) shall mean those facts
that are known or should reasonably have been known after due inquiry by
the chairman, president, chief financial officer, chief accounting
officer, chief credit officer, general counsel, any assistant or deputy
general counsel, or any senior executive or other vice president or other
member of management of such Person who, by virtue of such individual's
position with the Person, would be reasonably expected to be aware of the
matter at hand and the knowledge of any such persons obtained or which
would have been obtained from a reasonable investigation.
"LAW" shall mean any code, law (including common law), ordinance,
regulation, reporting or licensing requirement, rule, or statute
applicable to a Person or its Assets, Liabilities, or business, including
those promulgated, interpreted or enforced by any Regulatory Authority.
"LIABILITY" shall mean any direct or indirect liability,
indebtedness, obligation, penalty, cost or expense, claim, deficiency,
guaranty or endorsement of or by any Person (other than endorsements of
notes, bills, checks, and drafts presented for collection or deposit in
the ordinary course of business) of any type, whether accrued, absolute
or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, matured or unmatured, or
otherwise.
-49-
<PAGE>
"LIEN" shall mean any conditional sale agreement, default of title,
easement, encroachment, encumbrance, hypothecation, infringement, lien,
mortgage, pledge, reservation, restriction, security interest, title
retention or other security arrangement, or any adverse right or
interest, charge, or claim of any nature whatsoever of, on, or with
respect to any property or property interest, other than (i) Liens for
current property Taxes not yet due and payable, or (ii) Liens which do
not materially impair the use of or title to the Assets subject to such
Lien.
"LITIGATION" shall mean any action, arbitration, cause of action,
claim, complaint, criminal prosecution, governmental or other examination
or investigation, hearing, administrative or other proceeding relating to
or affecting a Party, its business, its Assets (including Contracts
related to it), or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"LOWE'S CAPITAL STOCK" shall mean, collectively, the Lowe's Common
Stock, the Lowe's Preferred Stock and any other class or series of
capital stock of Lowe's.
"LOWE'S COMMON STOCK" shall mean the $0.50 par value common stock of
Lowe's.
"LOWE'S COMPANIES" shall mean, collectively, Lowe's and all Lowe's
Subsidiaries.
"LOWE'S DISCLOSURE MEMORANDUM" shall mean the written information
entitled "Lowe's Companies, Inc. Disclosure Memorandum" delivered prior
to the date of this Agreement to Eagle describing in reasonable detail
the matters contained therein and, with respect to each disclosure made
therein, specifically referencing each Section of this Agreement under
which such disclosure is being made. Information disclosed with respect
to one Section shall not be deemed to be disclosed for purposes of any
other Section not specifically referenced with respect thereto.
"LOWE'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" shall mean (i) the consolidated
balance sheets (including related notes and schedules, if any) of Lowe's
as of July 31, 1998, and as of January 30, 1998 and January 31, 1997, and
the related statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and
cash flows (including related notes and schedules, if any) for the six
months ended July 31, 1998, and for each of the three fiscal years ended
January 30, 1998, January 31, 1997 and January 31, 1996, as filed by
Lowe's in SEC Documents, and (ii) the consolidated balance sheets of
Lowe's (including related notes and schedules, if any) and related
statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows
(including related notes and schedules, if any) included in SEC Documents
filed with respect to periods ended subsequent to July 31, 1998.
"LOWE'S PREFERRED STOCK" shall mean the $5.00 par value preferred
stock of Lowe's.
"LOWE'S RIGHTS" shall mean the preferred stock purchase rights
issued pursuant to the Lowe's Rights Agreement.
-50-
<PAGE>
"LOWE'S RIGHTS AGREEMENT" shall mean that certain Rights Agreement,
dated September 8, 1998, between Lowe's and Wachovia Bank, N.A.
"LOWE'S STOCK PLANS" shall mean the existing stock option and other
stock-based compensation plans of Lowe's designated as follows: Lowe's
Employee Stock Ownership Plan; Lowe's Companies, Inc. 1997 Incentive
Plan; Lowe's Companies, Inc. 1994 Incentive Plan; and Directors' Stock
Incentive Plan.
"LOWE'S SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean the Subsidiaries of Lowe's, which
shall include the Lowe's Subsidiaries described in Section 6.4 and any
corporation or other organization acquired as a Subsidiary of Lowe's in
the future and held as a Subsidiary by Lowe's at the Effective Time.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" on a Party shall mean an event, change or
occurrence which, individually or together with any other event, change
or occurrence, has a material adverse impact on (a) the financial
position, business, or results of operations of such Party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Party to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger,
other than any event, change or occurrence relating to (i) the United
States economy, the western regional economy or securities markets in
general or (ii) this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or
announcement thereof.
"MERGER CORPORATION COMMON STOCK" shall mean the no par value common
stock of Merger Corporation.
"NASD" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.
"NCBCA " shall mean the North Carolina Business Corporation Act.
"NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
"OPERATING PROPERTY" shall mean any property owned, leased, or
operated by the Party in question or by any of its Subsidiaries or in
which such Party or Subsidiary holds a security interest or other
interest (including an interest in a fiduciary capacity), and, where
required by the context, includes the owner or operator of such property,
but only with respect to such property.
"ORDER" shall mean any administrative decision or award, decree,
injunction, judgment, order, quasi-judicial decision or award, ruling, or
writ of any federal, state, local or foreign or other court, arbitrator,
mediator, tribunal, administrative agency, or Regulatory Authority.
"PARTICIPATION FACILITY" shall mean any facility or property in
which the Party in question or any of its Subsidiaries participates in
the management and, where required by
-51-
<PAGE>
the context, said term means the owner or operator of such facility or
property, but only with respect to such facility or property.
"PARTY" shall mean either Eagle or Lowe's, and "PARTIES" shall mean
both Eagle and Lowe's.
"PERMIT" shall mean any federal, state, local, and foreign
governmental approval, authorization, certificate, easement, filing,
franchise, license, notice, permit, or right to which any Person is a
party or that is or may be binding upon or inure to the benefit of any
Person or its securities, Assets, or business.
"PERSON" shall mean a natural person or any legal, commercial or
governmental entity, such as, but not limited to, a corporation, general
partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability
company, trust, business association, group acting in concert, or any
person acting in a representative capacity.
"PLAN OF MERGER" shall mean the plan of merger of Merger Corporation
with and into Eagle in substantially the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT
1.
"PROXY STATEMENT" shall mean the proxy statement used by Eagle to
solicit the Eagle Shareholder Approval, which shall include the
prospectus of Lowe's relating to the issuance of the Lowe's Common Stock
to holders of Eagle Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.
"REAL PROPERTY" shall mean all of the real property owned or leased
by the Eagle Companies, together with the improvements located thereon,
including all appurtenant rights, claims and interests.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean the Registration Statement on
Form S-4, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or
supplements thereto, filed with the SEC by Lowe's under the 1933 Act with
respect to the shares of Lowe's Common Stock to be issued to the
shareholders of Eagle in connection with the Merger.
"REGULATORY AUTHORITIES" shall mean, collectively, the SEC, the
NYSE, the NASD, the Federal Trade Commission, the United States
Department of Justice, and all other federal, state, county, local or
other governmental or regulatory agencies, authorities (including
self-regulatory authorities), instrumentalities, commissions, boards or
bodies having jurisdiction over the Parties and their respective
Subsidiaries.
"REPRESENTATIVE" shall mean any investment banker, financial
advisor, attorney, accountant, consultant, or other representative of a
Person.
"RIGHTS" shall mean all arrangements, calls, commitments, Contracts,
options, rights to subscribe to, scrip, understandings, warrants, or
other binding obligations of any character whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for,
-52-
<PAGE>
shares of the capital stock of a Person or by which a Person is or may be
bound to issue additional shares of its capital stock or other Rights.
"SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SEC DOCUMENTS" shall mean all forms, proxy statements, registration
statements, reports, schedules, and other documents filed, or required to
be filed, by a Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Regulatory
Authority pursuant to the Securities Laws.
"SECURITIES LAWS" shall mean the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisors Act
of 1940, as amended, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of any Regulatory Authority promulgated thereunder.
"SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING" shall mean the meeting of the shareholders
of Eagle to be held pursuant to Section 8.1, including any adjournment
or adjournments thereof.
"SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean all those corporations, associations, or
other business entities of which the entity in question either (i) owns
or controls 50% or more of the outstanding equity securities either
directly or through an unbroken chain of entities as to each of which 50%
or more of the outstanding equity securities is owned directly or
indirectly by its parent (provided, there shall not be included any such
entity the equity securities of which are owned or controlled in a
fiduciary capacity), or (ii) in the case of partnerships, serves as a
general partner.
"SURVIVING CORPORATION" shall mean Eagle as the surviving
corporation resulting from the Merger.
"TAX" or "TAXES" shall mean any federal, state, county, local, or
foreign taxes, charges, levies, imposts, duties, other assessments, or
similar charge of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalties,
and additions imposed thereon or with respect thereto.
"TAX RETURN" shall mean any report, return, information return, or
other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in
connection with Taxes, including any return of an affiliated or combined
or unitary group that includes a Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
"WBCA" shall mean the Washington Business Corporation Act.
"YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT" or "YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE" shall mean that the
computer systems and other automated equipment used by an entity in
connection with the conduct of its business, including, without
limitation, all hardware, software and operating systems, (i) are able to
accurately recognize, represent, process, manage and manipulate date and
date-sensitive data (including, but not limited to, calculating,
comparing, sorting, tagging and sequencing), in both input and output,
whether the date field uses 2 or 4 digits or any other
-53-
<PAGE>
date coding schema, including "leap year" calculations and will not cause
an abnormal ending scenario within the application domain or generate
incorrect values involving such dates, (ii) with respect to system time
for all hardware, software and operating systems, automatically function
into and beyond the year 2000 C.E. without intervention and that all
applications and components will correctly interpret system time into and
beyond the year 2000 C.E., and (iii) are able to accurately recognize,
represent, process and manage any date fields currently assigned special
values (i.e., 99/99/99 or 00/00/00), if any.
"YEAR 2000 PROBLEM" shall mean the risk that computer applications
may be unable to recognize and properly perform date-sensitive functions
involving certain dates prior to and any date on or after December 31,
1999.
(b) The terms set forth below shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the referenced sections:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Acquisition Proposal Section 8.8
Base Period Trading Price Section 3.1(b); 9.3(e)
Base Period Trading Price Limitations Section 3.1(b)
Closing Section 1.2
Convertible Debentures Section 8.14
Eagle Benefit Plans Section 5.16(a)
Eagle Contracts Section 5.17
Eagle ERISA Plan Section 5.16(a)
Eagle Options Section 3.6(a)
Eagle SEC Reports Section 5.5(a)
Eagle Shareholder Approval Section 5.2(a)
Effective Time Section 1.3
Environmental Permits Section 5.13(a)
ERISA Affiliate Section 5.16(a)
Exchange Agent Section 4.1
Exchange Ratio Section 3.1(b)
Lowe's Benefit Plans Section 6.14(a)
Lowe's ERISA Plan Section 6.14(a)
Lowe's Ratio Section 9.3(e)
Lowe's SEC Reports Section 6.5(a)
Lowe's Starting Price Section 9.3(e)
Per Share Purchase Price Section 3.1(b)
Superior Proposal Section 8.8
Takeover Laws Section 5.22
</TABLE>
(c) Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to
include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words
"include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed followed by the words "without limitation."
-54-
<PAGE>
11.2 EXPENSES.
Each of the Parties shall bear and pay all direct costs and expenses
incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder, including filing, registration and application fees, printing fees,
and fees and expenses of its own financial or other consultants, investment
bankers, accountants, and counsel, except that each of the Parties shall bear
and pay one-half of the filing fees payable in connection with the Registration
Statement and the Proxy Statement and printing costs incurred in connection with
the printing of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement.
11.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein)
constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior arrangements or
understandings with respect thereto, written or oral (except, as to Section
8.6(b), for the Confidentiality Agreement). Nothing in this Agreement expressed
or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person, other than the Parties or
their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement, other than as provided in Section 8.13.
11.4 AMENDMENTS. To the extent permitted by Law, this Agreement may
be amended by a subsequent writing signed by each of the Parties upon the
approval of the Boards of Directors of each of the Parties, whether before or
after shareholder approval of this Agreement has been obtained; provided, that
after any such approval by the holders of Eagle Common Stock, there shall be
made no amendment that pursuant to Chapter 23B.11 of the WBCA requires further
approval by such shareholders without the further approval of such shareholders.
11.5 WAIVERS.
(a) Prior to or at the Effective Time, Lowe's, acting through
its Board of Directors, chief executive officer or other authorized officer,
shall have the right to waive any Default in the performance of any term of this
Agreement by Eagle, to waive or extend the time for the compliance or
fulfillment by Eagle of any and all of its obligations under this Agreement, and
to waive any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of Lowe's
under this Agreement, except any condition which, if not satisfied, would result
in the violation of any Law. No such waiver shall be effective unless in
writing signed by a duly authorized officer of Lowe's.
(b) Prior to or at the Effective Time, Eagle, acting through its
Board of Directors, chief executive officer or other authorized officer, shall
have the right to waive any Default in the performance of any term of this
Agreement by Lowe's, to waive or extend the time for the compliance or
fulfillment by Lowe's of any and all of its obligations under this Agreement,
and to waive any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of Eagle
under this Agreement, except any condition which, if not satisfied, would result
in the violation of any Law. No such waiver shall be effective unless in
writing signed by a duly authorized officer of Eagle.
-55-
<PAGE>
(c) The failure of any Party at any time or times to require
performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect the right of such
Party at a later time to enforce the same or any other provision of this
Agreement. No waiver of any condition or of the breach of any term contained in
this Agreement in one or more instances shall be deemed to be or construed as a
further or continuing waiver of such condition or breach or a waiver of any
other condition or of the breach of any other term of this Agreement.
11.6 ASSIGNMENT. Except as expressly contemplated hereby, neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be assigned by any Party hereto (whether by operation of Law or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
11.7 NOTICES. All notices or other communications which are required
or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered by hand,
by facsimile transmission, by registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, or
by courier or overnight carrier, to the persons at the addresses set forth below
(or at such other address as may be provided hereunder), and shall be deemed to
have been delivered as of the date so delivered:
Eagle: EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN, INC.
981 Powell Avenue, S.W.
Renton, WA 98055
Telecopy Number: (425) 204-6702
Attention: Richard T. Takata
Copy to Counsel: Summit Law Group, P.L.L.C.
1505 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98109
Telecopy Number: (206) 281-9882
Attention: Michael J. Erickson
and to: Cravath, Swaine & Moore
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Telecopy Number: (212) 474-3700
Attention: Robert I. Townsend, III
Lowe's: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
State Highway 268 East (Elkin Highway)
-56-
<PAGE>
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Telecopy Number: (336) 658-2073
Attention: William C. Warden, Jr.
Executive Vice President, General
Counsel, Secretary and Chief
Administrative Officer
Copy to Counsel: Hunton & Williams
951 East Byrd Street
Richmond, Virginia
Telecopy Number: (804) 788-8218
Attention: Lathan M. Ewers, Jr.
11.8 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the Laws of the State of Washington, without regard to any
applicable conflicts of Laws.
11.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
11.10 CAPTIONS; ARTICLES AND SECTIONS. The captions contained in
this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this
Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to particular Articles or
Sections shall mean and refer to the referenced Articles and Sections of this
Agreement.
11.11 INTERPRETATIONS. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty
or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party, whether
under any rule of construction or otherwise. No party to this Agreement shall
be considered the draftsman. The parties acknowledge and agree that this
Agreement has been reviewed, negotiated, and accepted by all parties and their
attorneys and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary
meaning of the words used so as fairly to accomplish the purposes and intentions
of all parties hereto.
11.12 ENFORCEMENT OF AGREEMENT. The Parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United
States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
-57-
<PAGE>
11.13 SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement which
is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of
this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be
interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
[Signatures Appear on Following Page]
-58-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to
be executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.
EAGLE HARDWARE & GARDEN, INC.
By: /S/ RICHARD T. TAKATA
----------------------------------
Name: Richard T. Takata
Title: President, Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Operating
Officer
LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
By: /S/ THOMAS E. WHIDDON
----------------------------------
Name: Thomas E. Whiddon
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
MARINER MERGER CORPORATION
By: /S/ THOMAS E. WHIDDON
----------------------------------
Name: Thomas E. Whiddon
Title: President
-59-
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the 22nd day of November, 1998, by and between [Name of Director] (the
"Shareholder"), and Lowe's Companies, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina ("Lowe's").
On even date herewith, Lowe's, Mariner Merger Corporation ("Merger
Corporation") and Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Washington ("Eagle"), have entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"). The Merger
Agreement generally provides for the merger of Merger Corporation with and
into Eagle ("Merger"), and the conversion of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock, without par value, of Eagle ("Eagle Common Stock")
into shares of the $0.50 par value common stock of Lowe's. The transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement are subject to the approval of the
shareholders of Eagle, the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and the
satisfaction of other conditions.
The Shareholder is the owner of shares of Eagle Common Stock which he
has the exclusive right to vote ("Shares"). In order to induce Lowe's to
enter into the Merger Agreement, the Shareholder is entering into this
Agreement with Lowe's to set forth certain terms and conditions governing the
actions to be taken by the Shareholder with respect to the Shares until
consummation of the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Lowe's to enter into, and in consideration of
its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the mutual promises and
covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES. The Shareholder agrees during the
term of this Agreement to vote the Shares as to which he has voting power or
control, in person or by proxy, in favor of the approval of the Merger
Agreement at every meeting of the shareholders of Eagle at which such matters
are considered and at every adjournment thereof (each, a "Shareholder
Meeting").
2. NO OTHER GRANT OF PROXY. The Shareholder will not, directly
or indirectly, grant any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to the
Shares to any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or
other entity (each, a "person") other than Lowe's or any person designated in
writing by Lowe's.
3. NO VOTING TRUSTS. The Shareholder agrees that the
Shareholder will not, nor will the Shareholder permit any entity under the
Shareholder's control to, deposit any of the Shareholder's Shares in a voting
trust or subject any of its Shares to any arrangement with respect to the
voting of the Shares inconsistent with this Agreement.
<PAGE>
4. AFFILIATE AGREEMENT. If, at the time the Merger Agreement is
submitted for approval to the shareholders of Eagle, the Shareholder is an
"affiliate" of Eagle for purposes of qualifying the Merger for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable SEC rules, regulations and interpretations
thereunder, the Shareholder shall deliver to Lowe's at least 30 days prior to
the Closing Date a written agreement substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit 3 to the Merger Agreement.
5. ENFORCEMENT. The Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that
Lowe's could not be made whole by monetary damages in the event of any
default by the Shareholder of the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. It is accordingly agreed and understood that Lowe's in addition to
any other remedy which it may have at law or in equity, shall be entitled to
an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and
specifically to enforce the terms and provisions hereof in any action
instituted in any court of the United States or in any state having
appropriate jurisdiction.
6. TERM AND TERMINATION. Subject to Section 10(f), the term of
this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof, and such term and this
Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Time
and (ii) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance
with its terms. Upon such termination, no party shall have any further
obligations or liabilities hereunder.
7. CERTAIN EVENTS. The Shareholder agrees that this Agreement
and the obligations hereunder shall attach to the Shareholder's Shares and
shall be binding upon any person to which legal or beneficial ownership of
such Shares shall pass, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including
the Shareholder's heirs, guardians, administrators or successors. The
Shareholder agrees that any transfer by the Shareholder of beneficial
ownership of such Shares shall comply with any applicable laws. In the event
of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization
or other change in the capital structure of Eagle affecting the Eagle Common
Stock, or the acquisition of additional shares of Eagle Common Stock or other
voting securities of Eagle by the Shareholder (including by exercise of
options), this Agreement and the obligations hereunder shall attach to any
additional shares of Eagle Common Stock or other voting securities of Eagle
issued to or acquired by such Shareholder.
8. SHAREHOLDER CAPACITY. The Shareholder makes no agreement
herein in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Eagle. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Shareholder signs solely in his
or her capacity as the record and/or beneficial owner, as applicable, of the
Shareholder's Shares and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions
taken by the Shareholder in his or her capacity as an officer or director of
Eagle in exercising Eagle's rights under the Merger Agreement.
9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES; AMENDMENT;
WAIVER. This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to
herein) (i) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, written or oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii) is not intended to confer upon
any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
This Agreement may not be
<PAGE>
amended, supplemented or modified, and no provisions hereof may be modified
or waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties
hereto. No waiver of any provisions hereof by any party shall be deemed a
waiver of any other provisions hereof by any such party, nor shall any such
waiver be deemed a continuing waiver of any provision hereof by such party.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections,
such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement. Wherever the words "include," "includes" or "including"
are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation."
(b) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington regardless of the laws
that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws.
(c) If any term or other provision of this Agreement is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that
any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in an acceptable
manner and to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled
to the extent possible.
(d) This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement,
and shall become effective when one or more of the counterparts have been
signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being
understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.
(e) Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by the Shareholder, on the one
hand, without the prior written consent of Lowe's, nor by Lowe's, on the
other hand, without the prior written consent of the Shareholder, except that
Lowe's may assign, in its sole discretion, any or all of its rights,
interests and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Lowe's. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will
be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective successors and assigns.
(f) The obligations of the Shareholder set forth in this
Agreement shall not be effective or binding upon the Shareholder until after
such time as the Merger Agreement is executed and delivered by Lowe's and
Eagle. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as containing
any liability on the part of the Shareholder under the Merger Agreement.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.
_____________________________________
Name: [Name of Director]
ATTEST: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
By:__________________________________
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
[LETTERHEAD]
ONE OF THE "100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN AMERICA"
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOWE'S ACQUIRES EAGLE IN MOVE THAT STRENGTHENS
WEST COAST MARKET ENTRY
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC AND RENTON, WA (NOVEMBER 22, 1998) -- Lowe's Companies,
Inc. (NYSE: LOW), the nation's second largest retailer of home improvement
products, and Eagle Hardware & Garden, Inc. (NASDAQ: EAGL), today jointly
announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Lowe's
will acquire Eagle in a stock-for-stock merger transaction. This strategic
move is expected to strengthen and accelerate Lowe's entry into the Western
United States.
The Boards of Directors for both companies have unanimously approved the
transaction, which is expected to be complete during the first quarter of 1999.
The deal, which is valued at approximately $1 billion, is subject to customary
closing conditions including approval of the merger by Eagle's shareholders and
certain regulatory approvals.
"This merger allows Lowe's to accelerate our West Coast expansion program and
gives us an immediate presence in a number of key metropolitan markets in the
West. But more importantly, we're aligning ourselves with a company that
shares so much of Lowe's way of doing business -- a strong focus on customer
service and a broad array of product and service offerings in the store," said
Bob Tillman, chairman and CEO of Lowe's.
Lowe's growth strategy remains on track with the acquisition of Eagle, which
will enhance Lowe's expansion in the Western United States. Eagle's 32-store
presence in nine Western states comes in addition to Lowe's plans to open 100
stores in the region over the next three to four years, as announced earlier
this year.
"The timing of this partnership is right for our shareholders, employees, and
most importantly our loyal customers. We immediately gain access to more
capital and buying power, plus our employees will benefit greatly from the
career advancement opportunities related to Lowe's phenomenal growth," said
Eagle's Chairman David J. Heerensperger.
The merger is structured as a tax-free exchange of Lowe's shares for Eagle's
shares, and will be accounted for as a "pooling of interests." Under the
terms of the agreement, Lowe's will issue shares to Eagle's shareholders valued
at $29 per Eagle share. Eagle's shareholders will receive that number of
Lowe's shares obtained by dividing $29 by the average of the daily closing
price of Lowe's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange in a 10-day trading
period ending on the fifth trading day before closing of the transaction. In
no event will the number of shares issued per Eagle share be less than .6400 or
more than .8659. The merger is expected to be modestly accretive to Lowe's
earnings in fiscal 1999.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Eagle to partner with a nationwide
retailer that's widely regarded as one of the best employers in the country,"
said Richard T. Takata, president and CEO of Eagle. "Our companies share many
similarities in our approach to the business -- we both have an unwavering
commitment to customer service and invest heavily in employee training and
development."
(MORE)
<PAGE>
LOWE'S ACQUIRES EAGLE -- PAGE 2
"Eagle is one of the most respected names in home improvement in a number of
key markets in the Western United States," said Tillman. "We are acquiring good
sites, successful stores and well-trained people with valuable experience in
the industry. We are very impressed with their store management and
employees."
Takata will oversee the transition efforts and remain as President and Chief
Operating Officer of Eagle after the acquisition is complete. He will report
directly to Bob Tillman.
Founded in 1989, Eagle has over 6,000 employees and operates its warehouse home
improvement centers in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, California,
Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The company's home centers average 128,000 square
feet of retail selling space and feature more than 65,000 products under its
"More of Everything-TM-" merchandising philosophy.
Lowe's Companies, Inc., is one of the nation's leading home improvement
retailers, operating 465 stores in 26 states. Lowe's employs more than 65,000
people nationally and was selected this year by FORTUNE magazine as one of "The
100 Best Companies to Work for in America."
Merrill Lynch & Co. served as financial advisor to Lowe's; NationsBanc
Montgomery Securities advised Eagle.
This news release contains, among other things, certain forward-looking
statements regarding the combined company following the merger, including
statements relating to accretion to reported earnings that may be realized from
the merger, and enhanced store expansion plans in the Western region. Such
forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including a
variety of factors that may cause the combined company's actual results to
differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed
in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference
include, but are not limited to: (1) expected cost savings from the merger may
not be fully realized; (2) real estate for the combined company's store
expansion plans in the Western region may not be available as anticipated, and
development of new stores may encounter regulatory obstacles; (3) earnings
following the merger may be lower than expected; (4) competitive pressure among
home improvement warehouse chains may increase more than anticipated; (5) costs
or difficulties related to the integration of the business of Eagle into Lowe's
may be greater than expected; and (6) general economic or business conditions,
either nationally or in the Western states where Eagle does business, may be
less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, reduced demand
for the combined company's products and services.
LOWE'S CONTACTS: EAGLE CONTACTS:
Media Inquiries: Richard T. Takata
Brian Peace 336-658-4170 425-227-5740
Shareholders' and Security Analysts' Inquiries: Ron Maccarone
Robert Niblock 336-658-4860 425-227-5740
Carson Anderson 336-658-4385
# # #
