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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
80533W1071
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(CUSIP Number)
David R. Birk, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Avnet, Inc.
2211 South 47th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
(480) 643-2000
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)
With a copy to:
James E. Abbott, Esq.
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn
2 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
(212) 732-3200
March 2, 2000
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This
Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of ss.ss. 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the
following box: [ ].
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP No. 80533W1071 Page 2 of 12 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
AVNET, INC.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. 11-1890605
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY [ ]
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC, OO
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE ORGANIZATION
New York
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7
SOLE VOTING POWER
4,090,971
NUMBER OF
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8
SHARES SHARED VOTING POWER
-0-
BENEFICIALLY
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9
OWNED BY SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
4,090,971
EACH
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10
REPORTING SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
PERSON WITH
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
4,090,971
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES [ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
26.4% (assuming exercise of the Savoir Option and the
Stockholders' Option)
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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ITEM 1. Security and Issuer.
This Statement on Schedule 13D (this "Schedule 13D") relates to shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Savoir Common Stock"), of Savoir
Technology Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Savoir" or the "Issuer"). The
principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 254 E. Hacienda Avenue,
Campbell, California 95008.
ITEM 2. Identity and Background.
This Statement is being filed by Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation
("Avnet"). Avnet is one of the world's largest industrial distributors of
electronic components and computer products, with sales of $6.35 billion in its
fiscal year ended July 2, 1999. The principal executive offices of Avnet are
located at 2211 South 47th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034.
The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and
citizenship of each director and executive officer of Avnet is set forth in
Schedule I hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
During the last five years, neither Avnet, nor, to the knowledge of Avnet,
any of the persons listed on Schedule I hereto, (1) has been convicted in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
(2) has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body
of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject
to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or
prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws
or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
ITEM 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
As more fully described in Item 4 hereof, Avnet has entered into the Savoir
Option Agreement (as defined in Item 4 below) with Savoir and the Inducement
Agreement (as defined in Item 4 below) with certain stockholders of Savoir.
Pursuant to the Savoir Option Agreement, Savoir has granted Avnet an option to
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acquire shares of Savoir Common Stock as described below. Pursuant to the
Inducement Agreement, certain stockholders of Savoir have granted Avnet an
option to acquire such stockholders' shares of Savoir Common Stock as described
below and have agreed to vote such stockholders' shares of Savoir Common Stock
in favor of approval of the Merger Agreement (as defined in Item 4 below) and
against any acquisition proposal from any person other than Avnet. Avnet may pay
the exercise price under both the Savoir Option Agreement and the Inducement
Agreement in cash or in shares of Avnet common stock, par value $1.00 per share
("Avnet Common Stock"), in the election of Avnet. If the conditions precedent to
permit Avnet to exercise its option to purchase shares of Savoir Common Stock
pursuant to the Savoir Option Agreement and/or the Inducement Agreement were
satisfied and Avnet so exercised those options, and elected to pay the exercise
price for one or both options in cash, Avnet currently anticipates that funds
for such exercise would be provided from general funds available to Avnet.
No funds were used by Avnet in connection with entering into the Merger
Agreement, the Inducement Agreement or the Savoir Option Agreement.
ITEM 4. Purpose of Transaction.
On March 2, 2000, Avnet, Tactful Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Avnet ("Merger Sub"), and Savoir entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") providing for, among other things, the
merger of Merger Sub with and into Savoir (the "Merger"). Following the Merger,
the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and Savoir shall
continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"), as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Avnet.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and subject to adjustments as
set forth therein, at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement),
each share of Savoir Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than certain shares to be cancelled and other than
dissenters' shares) will be converted into the right to receive between 0.15494
and 0.11452 fully paid and nonassessable shares of Avnet Common Stock.
Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions set forth in
the Merger Agreement including (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Savoir Common Stock, including the holders
of Savoir's Class A Preferred Stock voting with the holders of Savoir Common
Stock on an as-converted basis, (ii) obtaining certain regulatory approvals, and
(iii) the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, as well as
other customary conditions.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) the certificate of incorporation of
Savoir in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the certificate
of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or
amended as provided therein or by applicable law, (ii) the by-laws of Savoir in
effect at the Effective Time will be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein by applicable law,
except that the initial number of members of the Board of Directors as provided
in the by-laws will be reduced to two, and (iii) the directors of Merger Sub
will be the directors
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of the Surviving Corporation, and the individuals specified by Avnet in writing
prior to the Effective Time will be the initial officers of the Surviving
Corporation at and after the Effective Time, in each case until their successors
have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.
The Merger Agreement contains certain customary restrictions on the conduct
of the businesses of Savoir pending the Merger, including certain customary
restrictions relating to the capital stock of Savoir. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, Savoir has agreed, among other things, that, after the date of the
Merger Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, it will not declare or pay any
dividends on or make other distributions in respect of any capital stock.
The Merger Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1 hereto and is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. The foregoing summary of the Merger
Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such exhibit.
Concurrent with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Avnet and Savoir
entered into an Option Agreement (the "Savoir Option Agreement"), dated as of
March 2, 2000, under which Savoir granted Avnet an option (the "Savoir Option")
to purchase up to 2,023,435 shares of Savoir Common Stock, representing 15.0% of
the issued and outstanding Savoir Common Stock, at an exercise price of $6.83
per share, subject to certain customary anti-dilution adjustments.
Also in connection with the Merger Agreement, Avnet entered into an
Inducement Agreement (the "Inducement Agreement"), dated as of March 2, 2000,
with P. Scott Munro, Carlton Joseph Mertens II, Dennis Polk, Bob O'Reilly, Larry
Smart, Angelo Guadagno, Bill Sickler, Mike Gunnels and Guy Lammle (collectively,
the "Stockholders"), under which each of the Stockholders granted Avnet an
option (the "Stockholders' Option") to purchase such Stockholder's shares
(collectively, 2,067,536 shares) of Savoir Common Stock at an exercise price of
$7.85 per share. If Avnet exercises the Stockholders' Option and the Merger
occurs at an exchange price for shares of Avnet Common Stock which is less than
$59.6063, the Stockholders will be entitled to additional shares of Avnet common
stock or cash, at the election of Avnet. If Avnet exercises the Stockholders'
Option and the Merger occurs at an exchange price which is greater than
$59.6063, Avnet will be entitled to a return of a portion of its shares of
common stock or cash, at the election of each Stockholder.
Under the Inducement Agreement, each Stockholder has agreed (i) to vote
such Stockholder's shares of Savoir Common Stock in favor of approval of the
Merger Agreement and against any other proposal for any recapitalization,
merger, sale of assets or other business combination between Savoir and any
other person or entity other than Avnet or Tactful or the taking of any action
which would result in any of the conditions to Avnet's obligations under the
Merger Agreement not being fulfilled. Also under the Inducement Agreement, each
Stockholder has agreed not to dispose of such Stockholder's shares.
Under the Inducement Agreement, each Stockholder has also agreed that in
the event (i) of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization,
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reclassification, combination or exchange of shares of stock of Savoir, (ii)
such Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any
shares of Savoir Common Stock after March 2, 2000, or (iii) such Stockholder
acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any shares of Savoir Common
Stock after March 2, 2000, such new shares will be subject to the terms of the
Inducement Agreement.
Avnet may not exercise the Stockholders' Option until Savoir or its
stockholders shall have received in writing, or there shall have been publicly
proposed, an Acquisition Proposal. An "Acquisition Proposal" means any proposal
or offer relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of all or a
substantial part of the assets of Savoir or any of its subsidiaries or of over
15% of any class or series of equity securities of Savoir or any of its
subsidiaries, any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would
result in any person beneficially owning 15% or more of any class or series of
equity securities of Savoir or any of its subsidiaries, any merger,
consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of the
assets, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving Savoir or any of its subsidiaries, other than the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Avnet may not exercise the Savoir Option
until the occurrence of a Purchase Event. A "Purchase Event" will occur if (a)
the Merger Agreement is terminated (i) by Avnet because required regulatory
approvals have been obtained but the Merger has not been consummated by
September 15, 2000, or because the approval of the shareholders of Savoir has
not been obtained, or because of a breach by Savoir of any of its
representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement which has or
would reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on Savoir, or
because the Board of Directors of Savoir shall have withdrawn or adversely
amended its recommendation of the Merger or recommended another offer for the
purchase of Savoir, or (ii) by Savoir because the approval of the shareholders
of Savoir has not been obtained or because Savoir has received a superior
proposal and (b) within one year of any such termination Savoir enters into an
agreement to effect an Acquisition Proposal.
The Inducement Agreement and the Stockholders' Options will terminate on
the earliest to occur of (a) the effective time of the Merger, (b) 6 months
after the first occurrence of a Purchase Event (subject to extension if
governmental authorities restrict exercise of the options), (c) termination of
the Merger Agreement under circumstances which do not and cannot result in a
Purchase Event, and (d) 12 months after the termination of the Merger Agreement
under circumstances which do or could result in a Purchase Event, unless during
such 12-month period a Purchase Event shall occur.
The Savoir Option Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2 hereto and is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The foregoing summary of the
Savoir Option Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such exhibit. The Inducement Agreement is attached as
Exhibit 3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The
foregoing summary of the Inducement Agreement does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.
Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Savoir Option Agreement
and the Inducement Agreement or as otherwise set forth in this Item 4,
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neither Avnet, nor, to the knowledge of Avnet, any of the persons listed on
Schedule I hereto, has any present plans or proposals which relate to or which
would result in or relate to any of the actions specified in subparagraphs (a)
through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
ITEM 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
Neither Avnet nor, to the knowledge of Avnet, any of the persons listed on
Schedule I hereto beneficially owns any shares of Savoir Common Stock other than
as set forth herein or as listed on Schedule I hereto. Prior to the Savoir
Option and the Stockholders' Option becoming exercisable and being exercised,
Avnet expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Savoir Common
Stock which may be purchasable by Avnet thereunder. Neither the filing of this
Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be deemed to constitute an admission
that Avnet is the beneficial owner of the shares of Savoir Common Stock subject
to the Savoir Option and the Stockholders' Option for purposes of Section 13(d)
or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other
purpose and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed.
(a) Pursuant to the Savoir Option, Avnet has been granted an option to
purchase up to 2,023,435 shares of Savoir Common Stock at $6.83 per
share, subject to customary antidilution adjustments as provided
therein. Pursuant to the Stockholders' Option, Avnet has been granted
an option to purchase each Stockholder's shares at an exercise price
of $7.85 per share (subject to adjustment as described in Item 4
above). The Savoir Option and the Stockholders' Option become
exercisable under certain conditions described in Item 4 above. Based
on the number of outstanding shares of Savoir Common Stock on March 2,
2000, if all of such options were exercised in full, Avnet would
beneficially own 26.4% of the shares of Savoir Common Stock
outstanding following exercise of the Savoir Option and the
Stockholders' Option.
(b) Avnet would have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to any
shares of Savoir Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Savoir
Option and/or the Stockholders' Option.
(c) Except as described in Item 4 hereof or as listed on Schedule I
hereto, no transactions in the Savoir Common Stock were effected by
Avnet, or, to the knowledge of Avnet, any of the persons listed on
Schedule I hereto, during the 60-day period preceding March 2, 2000.
(d) Except as described in Item 4 above, until the Savoir Option and/or
any Stockholders' Option are exercised, Avnet has no right to receive
dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of Savoir
Common Stock subject to the Savoir Option and the Stockholders'
Option. If the Savoir Option and/or any Stockholders' Option were
exercised by Avnet, Avnet would have the sole right to receive
dividends on the shares of Savoir Common Stock acquired pursuant
thereto.
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(e) Not applicable.
ITEM 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
Except as set forth in this Schedule 13D, to the knowledge of Avnet, there
are no other contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or
otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 or listed on Schedule I hereto, and
between such persons and any person with respect to any securities of Savoir,
including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities of
Savoir, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees
or profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of
proxies, or a pledge or contingency the occurrence of which would give another
person voting power over the securities of Savoir.
ITEM 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
1. Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among
Avnet, Inc., Tactful Acquisition Corp. and Savoir Technology Group,
Inc.
2. Option Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among Avnet, Inc.
and Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
3. Inducement Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among Avnet,
Inc. and certain stockholders of Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to my knowledge and belief, I certify that the
information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: March 13, 2000
AVNET INC.
By: /s/David R. Birk
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Name: David R. Birk
Title: Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
The name and present principal occupation of each director and executive
officer of Avnet, Inc. are set forth below. Except as noted below, the business
address for each person listed below is c/o Avnet, Inc., 2211 South 47th Street,
Phoenix, Arizona 85034, and each such person is a United States citizen.
Name, Address and Citizenship Title
Roy Vallee Director; Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer of
Avnet.
Eleanor Baum Director; Dean of the School of
The Cooper Union Engineering of The Cooper Union,
51 Astor Place New York, NY.
New York, NY 10003
J. Veronica Biggins Director; Partner, Heidrick &
Heidrick & Struggles Struggles.
303 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta GA 30308
Joseph F. Caligiuri Director; Executive Vice President
(retired) of Litton Industries, Inc.
Lawrence W. Clarkson Director; Senior Vice President
(retired) of The Boeing Company.
Ehud Houminer Director; Professor and Executive-
Columbia Business School in-Residence at Columbia Business
Columbia University School, Columbia University,
3022 Broadway New York, NY and a principal of
New York, NY 10027 Lear, Yavitz and Associates.
Citizen of Israel
James A. Lawrence Director; Executive Vice President
General Mills Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of
P.O. Box 1113 General Mills.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426
Salvatore J. Nuzzo Director; Chairman and CEO of
Datron Inc. Datron Inc.
1200 N. Glenrock Dr.
Garland, TX 75040
Frederic Salerno Director; Senior Executive Vice
Bell Atlantic President & CFO/Strategy & Business
1095 Avenue of the Americas Development and Director,
New York, NY 10013 Bell Atlantic.
<PAGE>
Name, Address and Citizenship Title
Frederick S. Wood Director; Consultant to General
Dynamics Corporation.
David R. Birk Senior Vice President and General
Counsel of Avnet.
Andrew S. Bryant Senior Vice President of Avnet.
Steven Church Senior Vice President of Avnet.
John F. Cole Controller of Avnet.
Anthony DeLuca Senior Vice President of Avnet.
Brian Hilton Senior Vice President of Avnet.
Patrick Jewett Senior Vice President of Avnet.
Edward Kamins Vice President of Avnet.
Raymond Sadowski Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Assistant
Secretary of Avnet.
George Smith Vice President of Avnet.
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
1. Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among
Avnet, Inc., Tactful Acquisition Corp. and Savoir Technology Group,
Inc.
2. Option Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among Avnet, Inc.
and Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
3. Inducement Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2000, by and among Avnet,
Inc. and certain stockholders of Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
AGREEMENT
AND
PLAN OF MERGER
dated as of
March 2, 2000
by and among
AVNET, INC.
and
TACTFUL ACQUISITION CORP.
and
SAVOIR TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
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Table of Contents
Page
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger 1
1.2 Closing 2
1.3 Effective Time 2
1.4 Certificate of Incorporation 2
1.5 By-Laws 2
1.6 Officers and Directors 2
1.7 Conversion of Shares 2
1.8 Surrender of Shares; Transfer Books 4
1.9 Options and Warrants 6
1.10 Affiliates 7
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
2.1 Organization; Subsidiaries 7
2.2 Capitalization 8
2.3 Authority; Validity 9
2.4 No Conflict 10
2.5 Consents 10
2.6 Financial Statements; SEC Filings 11
2.7 Tax Matters 12
2.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events 13
2.9 Material Contracts; Customers and 13
Suppliers
2.10 Title and Related Matters 14
2.11 Employee Benefit Plans 15
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Page
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2.12 Employment Agreements 18
2.13 Legal Proceedings 18
2.14 Compliance with Law; Accuracy of 18
Certain Information
2.15 Accuracy of Proxy and Registration 18
Statement and Other Information
2.16 Insurance 19
2.17 Environmental Matters 19
2.18 Certain Agreements 20
2.19 Intellectual Property 20
2.20 Product Warranties 22
2.21 Labor Matters 22
2.22 Related Party Transactions 22
2.23 State Takeover Statutes 22
2.24 Brokers; Advisors 23
2.25 Full Disclosure 23
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND
BUYER
3.1 Organization 23
3.2 Authority; Validity 23
3.3 No Conflict 24
3.4 Consents 24
3.5 Legal Proceedings 24
3.6 Financial Statements, SEC Filings 24
3.7 No Material Adverse Effect 25
3.8 Compliance with Law 25
3.9 Accuracy of Proxy and Registration 25
Statement and Other Information
3.10 Full Disclosure 26
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Page
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3.11 No Brokers or Finders 26
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
4.1 Access and Information 26
4.2 Governmental Filings 27
4.3 Consents and Approvals 27
4.4 Meeting of Shareholders; Proxy and 28
Registration Statement; Listing
Application
(a) Meeting of Shareholders 28
(b) Proxy and Registration Statement 28
(c) Indemnification 29
(d) Listing Application 29
4.5 Conduct of Company Business 29
(a) Ordinary Course 29
(b) Charter Documents 29
(c) Dividends 29
(d) Stock 30
4.6 Publicity 30
4.7 Notification of Defaults and Adverse 30
Events
4.8 Satisfy Conditions to Closing 30
4.9 Termination Fee 30
4.10 Anti-takeover Statutes 30
4.11 Indemnification; Insurance 31
(a) Indemnification 31
(b) Insurance 32
4.12 Employee Benefits 32
4.13 No Solicitation 32
4.14 Consent of Holders of Options 33
4.15 Redemption of Class B Preferred Stock 34
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Page
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4.16 Audited Financial Statements 34
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS
5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Company, 34
Parent and Buyer
(a) Approval 34
(b) Approval from Government Entities 34
(c) Absence of Governmental Litigation 34
(d) Effectiveness of Registration 34
Statement
(e) Market Conditions 34
5.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and 35
Buyer
(a) Representations and Compliance 35
(b) Tax Opinion 35
(c) No Material Adverse Effect 35
(d) Material Contracts 35
(e) Consent of Option Holders 35
(f) Audited Financial Statements 35
5.3 Conditions to Obligations of Company 36
(a) Representations and Compliance 36
(b) Tax Opinion 36
(c) Listing 36
(d) No Material Adverse Effect 36
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER
6.1 Termination and Abandonment 36
6.2 Effect of Termination 37
<PAGE>
Page
6.3 Amendment 38
6.4 Extension; Waiver 38
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Termination of Representations and 38
Warranties
7.2 Expenses 38
7.3 Remedies 38
7.4 Notices 38
7.5 Further Assurances 39
7.6 Assignability 39
7.7 Governing Law 39
7.8 Interpretation 40
7.9 Counterparts 40
7.10 Integration 40
ARTICLE VIII
DEFINITIONS
8.1 Definitions 40
Annexes
Annex A Inducement Agreement
Annex B Option Agreement
Annex C Affiliate Letter
<PAGE>
Schedules
Schedule 2.1 Capitalization of Company and Company's
Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.2(a) Rights to Acquire Company Common Stock
Schedule 2.4 Company Required Consents
Schedule 2.8 Certain Events Company
Schedule 2.9 Material Contracts; Customers and Suppliers
Schedule 2.10 Certain Property or Assets
Schedule 2.11(a) Company Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 2.11(b) Certain Company Benefit Plan Operations
Schedule 2.11(d) Certain Company Benefit Plan Contributions
Schedule 2.11(e) Certain Company Benefit Plan Matters
Schedule 2.11(i) Certain Company Benefits
Schedule 2.12 Employment Agreements
Schedule 2.13 Legal Proceedings
Schedule 2.14 Compliance with Law
Schedule 2.14(ii) Accuracy of Certain Information
Schedule 2.16 Company Insurance Policies
Schedule 2.17 Certain Environmental Matters
Schedule 2.19 Intellectual Property
Schedule 2.20 Product Warranties
Schedule 2.22 Related Party Transactions
<PAGE>
Agreement and Plan of Merger
THIS AGREEMENT and PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") is entered into as of
March 2, 2000 by and among Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation ("Parent"),
Tactful Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Parent ("Buyer"), and Savoir Technology Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Company").
Recitals
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Buyer and Company
have each approved the acquisition of Company upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, to induce Parent and Buyer to enter into this Agreement, (i)
certain beneficial and record holders of capital stock of Company are entering
into an Inducement Agreement (the "Inducement Agreement") to vote their capital
stock of Company in favor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in
the form of Annex A to this Agreement, and (ii) Company is entering into an
Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") granting Parent the right to acquire
2,023,435 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Company
("Company Common Stock") representing 15% of the currently outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock upon the terms and conditions set forth therein, in the
form of Annex B to this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Parent, Buyer and Company desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement and
prescribe various conditions to the Merger (as such term is defined below).
Agreement
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at
the Effective Time (as defined below), Buyer will be merged with and into
Company and the separate corporate existence of Buyer will thereupon cease (the
"Merger"). Company will be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes
hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation") and will continue to be
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The separate corporate existence
of Company with all its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and
<PAGE>
franchises will continue unaffected by the Merger and Company will succeed to
all of the rights and properties of Buyer and will be subject to all of the
debts and liabilities of Buyer.
1.2 Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the
"Closing") will take place (i) at the offices of Parent at 10:00 A.M., Pacific
Standard time on the second business day after the day on which the last of the
conditions set forth in Article V is fulfilled or waived in accordance with this
Agreement or (ii) at such other place and time or on such other date as the
parties hereto may agree (the date of the Closing, the "Closing Date").
1.3 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and
provided that this Agreement has not been terminated or abandoned pursuant to
Article VI, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") shall be duly
prepared, executed and acknowledged by Company and thereafter filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with Section 251 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), on or as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date. The Merger will become effective immediately
upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger (or, if the Certificate of Merger
provide for a subsequent time for effectiveness, at the time thereafter so
provided in the Certificate of Merger); the time of such effectiveness is
hereinafter referred to as the "Effective Time"; and the date of such
effectiveness is hereinafter referred to as the "Effective Date."
1.4 Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of
Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation at and after the
Effective Time until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the
applicable provisions of the DGCL.
1.5 By-Laws. The By-Laws of Company in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time will be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation at and after the
Effective Time until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the
applicable provisions of the DGCL; provided, however, that as of the Effective
Time, the second sentence of Section 3.2 of the By-Laws of Company shall be
amended to read in its entirety as follows: "The Board of Directors shall
consist of two directors, until such time as the Board of Directors modifies
such number by amendment to this Section 3.2."
1.6 Officers and Directors. The persons serving as directors of Buyer
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the
Surviving Corporation at and after the Effective Time, and the individuals
specified by Parent in writing prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial
officers of the Surviving Corporation at and after the Effective Time, in each
case until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or
until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
Surviving Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.
1.7 Conversion of Shares. Except as otherwise provided herein, at the
Effective Time:
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(a) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than shares canceled pursuant to this Section
1.7) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive a number of fully paid
and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of Parent, par value $1.00 per share
("Parent Stock") equal to the number derived by dividing $7.85 by the Exchange
Price (the "Stock Merger Consideration"); provided, however, that if between the
date of this Agreement and the Effective Time the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a
different class, by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification,
recapitalization, split, combination, or exchange of shares, the Stock Merger
Consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company shall be
appropriately and correspondingly adjusted to reflect such stock dividend,
subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange
of shares.
(i) The Exchange Price shall be determined as follows:
(A) If the Closing Price is less than $50.6654, the Exchange Price
shall be $50.6654.
(B) If the Closing Price is equal to or greater than $50.6654 and not
greater than $68.5472, the Exchange Price shall be the Closing Price.
(C) If the Closing Price is greater than $68.5472, the Exchange Price
shall be $68.5472.
(ii) For purposes of calculating the Exchange Price in Section 1.7(a), the
term "Closing Price" means the average of the closing trade prices of Parent
Stock for the fifteen consecutive trading days ending on the fifth trading day
before the date of the meeting of Company's shareholders to vote with respect to
the Merger and this Agreement (the "Company Shareholders Meeting"), as reported
on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape.
(b) Each share of Class A Preferred Stock of Company (collectively, the
"Class A Preferred Shares" and, collectively with the Company Common Shares, the
"Company Shares") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof, be converted into the right to receive the number of shares of Parent
Stock derived by dividing $9.6581 by the Exchange Price.
(c) Each Company Common Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time
by Company, Parent or Buyer or any of their wholly-owned subsidiaries (other
than shares held in trust or otherwise in a representative capacity) (the
"Canceled Shares") shall be retired automatically, and no consideration shall be
payable with respect thereto.
(d) Each share of common stock of Buyer, par value $.01 per share, issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the
Merger and without
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any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into one share of
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
1.8 Surrender of Shares; Transfer Books.
(a) Exchange Agent. Before the mailing of the Proxy and Registration
Statement, Parent (with the consent of Company, which will not be unreasonably
withheld) will appoint a bank or trust company to act as exchange agent (the
"Exchange Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration. Parent will
furnish the Exchange Agent forthwith upon the Effective Time with cash and
certificates representing such number of shares of Parent Stock as the Exchange
Agent shall require in order to transmit the Merger Consideration to
shareholders surrendering certificates that immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented Company Shares in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section
1.8.
(b) Exchange Procedures for Shares of Company Common Stock. As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to
transmit to each holder of record of a certificate that immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented Company Shares (i) a letter of transmittal (which
shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to
such certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the certificates to
the Exchange Agent and shall be in customary form) and (ii) instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of such certificates in exchange for the Merger
Consideration. Each holder of an outstanding certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company Shares shall, upon
surrender to the Exchange Agent of such certificate or certificates in
accordance with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and acceptance
thereof by the Exchange Agent, be entitled to a certificate or certificates
representing the number of full shares of Parent Stock, if any, to be received
by the holder thereof pursuant to this Agreement and the cash, if any, payable
in lieu of any fractional shares. The Exchange Agent will accept such
certificates upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the
Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance
with normal exchange practices. After the Effective Time, there will be no
further transfer on the records of the Surviving Corporation or its transfer
agent of Company Shares which have been converted pursuant to this Agreement
into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and if certificates that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company Shares are presented
to the Surviving Corporation for transfer, they will be canceled against
delivery of certificates for Parent Stock (and cash to the extent required by
Section 1.8(e)). If any certificate for such Parent Stock is to be issued in, or
if cash is to be remitted to, a name other than that in which the certificate
that formerly represented Company Shares surrendered for exchange is registered,
it will be a condition of such exchange that the certificate so surrendered will
be properly endorsed, with signature guaranteed, or otherwise in proper form for
transfer and that the person requesting such exchange will pay to the Surviving
Corporation or its transfer agent any transfer or other taxes required by reason
of the issuance of certificates for such Parent Stock in a name other than that
of the registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or establish to the
satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation or its transfer agent that such tax
has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as
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contemplated by this Section 1.8(b), each certificate that formerly represented
Company Shares which have been converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration will be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent
only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration as
contemplated by Section 1.7 and Section 1.8(e). No interest will be paid or will
accrue on any cash payable in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Stock.
(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other
distributions with respect to Parent Stock with a record date after the
Effective Time will be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered certificate that
formerly represented Company Shares with respect to the shares of Parent Stock
to be received in respect thereof and no cash payment in lieu of fractional
shares will be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section 1.8(e) until the
surrender of such certificate in accordance with this Article I. Subject to the
effect of applicable laws, following surrender of any such certificate, there
will be paid to the holder of the certificate representing whole shares of
Parent Stock issued in connection herewith, without interest, (i) at the time of
such surrender the amount of any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share of
Parent Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.8(e) and the
proportionate amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date
after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of
Parent Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the proportionate amount
of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
but before such surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender
payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Stock.
(d) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All Merger
Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of certificates that formerly
represented Company Shares in accordance with the terms of this Article I will
be deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all rights
pertaining to the Company Shares represented by such certificates.
(e) No Fractional Shares; Exchange Agent.
(1) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Parent Stock and no
certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Stock will
be issued in connection with the Merger, and such fractional share
interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a
shareholder of the Surviving Corporation after the Merger.
(2) Cash Payment in Lieu of Fractional Shares. Each record holder of
Company Shares converted pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have
been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Parent Stock (after
taking into account all Company Shares held by such holder) will be
entitled to receive, in lieu thereof upon surrender of the certificates
that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company Shares, a
cash payment (without interest) in lieu of such fractional share in an
amount equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the Exchange
Price.
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(3) Termination of Exchange Agent's Duties. Any holders of
certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
Company Shares who have not complied with this Article I within six months
after the Effective Time will thereafter look only to Parent for payment of
the Merger Consideration.
(4) No Liability. None of Parent, Buyer, Company or the Exchange Agent
will be liable to any person in respect of any shares of Parent Stock (or
dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash delivered to a
public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar law. If any certificates that immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented Company Shares have not been surrendered before one year
after the Effective Time or immediately before such earlier date on which
any shares of Parent Stock, any cash, in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Stock, or any dividends or distributions with respect to shares of
Parent Stock in respect of such certificate would otherwise escheat to or
become the property of any governmental entity, any such shares, cash,
dividends or distributions in respect of such certificate shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Surviving
Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person
previously entitled thereto.
1.9 Options and Warrants. (a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Board of
Directors of Company and the Board of Directors of Parent (or, if appropriate,
respective committees thereof) shall adopt appropriate resolutions and take such
action as may be required, under the Company Option Plan (as defined in Section
2.2) and Parent's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Parent Option Plan"), or
otherwise, such that, at the Effective Time,
(i) each Option (as defined in Section 2.2) issued under the Company Option
Plan (a "Plan Option"), whether or not then exercisable, will be converted into
an option to acquire shares of Parent Stock, under, and subject to the terms and
conditions of, the Parent Option Plan (or, at the election of Parent, subject to
the terms and conditions of such Plan Option); provided, that (A) the number of
shares of Parent Stock subject to such option at acquire Parent Stock shall be
determined by multiplying the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject
to such Plan Option by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be $7.85 and the
denominator shall be the Exchange Price (with such share number rounded down to
the nearest whole number); and (B) the exercise price of such option to acquire
Parent Stock shall be determined by multiplying the exercise price of such Plan
Option by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the Exchange Price and the
denominator shall be $7.85 (with such exercise price rounded up to the nearest
penny), and
(ii) each Warrant (as defined in Section 2.2), and each Option other than a
Plan Option, whether or not then exercisable, will be converted into a right to
acquire shares of Parent Stock, subject to terms and conditions materially
equivalent, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of Parent, to
the terms and conditions set out in such Warrant or Option; provided, that (A)
the number of shares of Parent Stock subject to such right shall be determined
by multiplying the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Warrant or
Option by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be $7.85 and the denominator
shall be the Exchange Price;
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and (B) the exercise price of such right shall be determined by multiplying the
exercise price of such Warrant by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be
the Exchange Price and the denominator shall be $7.85.
(b) At the Effective Time, the Company Option Plan and any other employee
stock option plans of Company shall be terminated automatically and no further
stock awards, stock options or stock appreciation rights shall be granted
thereunder subsequent to the Effective Time. Company will take all reasonable
steps to insure that none of Parent, Buyer, Company or any of their respective
subsidiaries is or will be bound by any Options, Warrants, or other options,
warrants, rights or agreements that would entitle any person, other than Parent
or its affiliates at or after the Effective Time to own or acquire any shares of
any capital stock of the Surviving Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or to
receive any payment in respect thereof other than as provided in this Section
1.9. Company will use its best efforts to obtain, prior to the Effective Time,
written agreements of the holders of all Options and Warrants legally binding
such holders to the foregoing.
1.10 Affiliates. Certificates representing Parent Stock issued to any
person deemed by Parent to be an "affiliate," for purposes of Rule 145 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of Company ("Company
Affiliates") will bear an appropriate restrictive legend. Within 90 days from
the date of this Agreement, Company will deliver to Parent a list of all persons
who are then Company Affiliates. Company will promptly amend or supplement this
list as changes occur. Company will cause each person named in any such list,
amendment or supplement and any other person that Parent considers to be a
Company Affiliate to deliver promptly to Parent a letter substantially in the
form of Annex C to this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Company hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, Parent and
Buyer that:
2.1 Organization; Subsidiaries.
(a) Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, except as set forth in
Schedule 2.1, each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation and, except as set forth in Schedule 2.1, each of the foregoing is
in good standing as a foreign corporation qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or operated, or the business
conducted by it require such qualification, except for such failure to so
qualify or to be in such good standing, which is not reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of Company and its
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Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to carry on its respective businesses as they are now
being conducted.
(b) Schedule 2.1 lists all Subsidiaries of Company and correctly sets forth
the capitalization of each such Subsidiary, the jurisdiction in which Company
and each such Subsidiary is organized or formed and each jurisdiction in which
Company and each such Subsidiary is qualified or licensed to do business as a
foreign corporation. As used in this Agreement, the term "Subsidiary" shall
mean, with respect to any party, any corporation or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated or domestic or foreign to the United States of
which (a) such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a general partner
(excluding such partnerships where such party or any Subsidiary of such party do
not have a majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or (b) at least
a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing
similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more
of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries.
Schedule 2.1 correctly lists the current directors and executive officers of
Company and of each of its subsidiaries. True, correct and complete copies of
the respective charter documents and by-laws of Company and each of its
Subsidiaries as in effect on the date hereof have been delivered to Buyer.
(c) All outstanding securities or other ownership interests in each of the
Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 2.1, except as set forth on Schedule 2.1, are
owned of record and beneficially by Company or another of Company's wholly-owned
subsidiaries, subject to no lien, claim, charge or encumbrance, and have been
duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Company
does not directly or indirectly own or hold any interest in any corporation,
association or business entity other than those listed on Schedule 2.1. There
are no irrevocable proxies, voting agreements, or voting trusts with respect to
any of the securities or other ownership interests of the Subsidiaries and no
restrictions on Company to vote any of the stock or other securities of any of
the Subsidiaries.
2.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Company consists of (i) 25,000,000
shares of Company Common Stock; and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of which there are designated
2,242,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, 10 shares of Series B Preferred
Stock and the remaining shares of which have not been designated. As of February
24, 2000 (a) 13,489,569 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and
outstanding, (b) 1,850,012 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 10 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (c) 4,743,685 shares of
Company Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to Company's 1994 Stock
Option Plan (the "Company Option Plan"), under which options to purchase
2,197,275 shares of Company Common Stock ("Options") have been granted, and (d)
458,741 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved for issuance under Company's
1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). All the
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outstanding shares of Company's capital stock are, and all of shares of Company
Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of outstanding Options
will be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive or
other similar rights. Schedule 2.2 sets forth a complete and correct list of the
Options (including but not limited to Options granted under Company's
Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement and under the Option Agreement dated July
26, 1998 between Company and William H. Welling), including for each the name of
the Option holder, the date of grant, the expiration date, and the number of
shares subject to such Option. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other
instruments or evidences of indebtedness having the right to vote (or
convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, securities having the
right to vote) on any matters on which the stockholders of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may vote ("Voting Debt") issued and outstanding. Schedule 2.2 sets
forth a complete and correct list of all obligations of Company to issue shares
pursuant to warrant agreements of Company ("Warrants"). Except as disclosed in
Schedule 2.2, (i) there are no shares of capital stock of Company authorized,
issued or outstanding, (ii) there are no existing options, warrants, calls,
rights (including preemptive rights), subscriptions or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any character, obligating Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or
sold any shares of capital stock or Voting Debt of, or other equity interests
in, Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for such shares, Voting Debt, or equity interests,
or obligating Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, right, subscription or other right, agreement,
arrangement or commitment, and (iii) there are no outstanding contractual or
other obligations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock, or the capital stock of
any Subsidiary or affiliate of Company or to provide funds to make any
investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any
Subsidiary or any other entity. Except for the Inducement Agreement, there are
not as of the date hereof and there will not be at the Effective Time any
stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to
which Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is
bound relating to the voting of any shares of the capital stock of Company or
any agreements, arrangements, or other understandings to which Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound that will limit in any way
the solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of Company from or the casting of
votes by, the stockholders of Company with respect to the Merger. There is no
liability for any dividends or other distributions declared or accumulated but
unpaid with respect to any capital stock of Company.
2.3 Authority; Validity. Company has the corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Option Agreement and, subject to
approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of Company in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the DGCL (the "Company Shareholders' Approval"), to
carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Company's Board
of Directors. Company's Board of Directors has directed that this Agreement and
the
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transactions contemplated hereby be submitted to Company's shareholders for
consideration at a meeting of such shareholders and, except for the Company
Shareholders' Approval, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Company
are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Option Agreement and the Inducement Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Upon execution and delivery hereof
(assuming that this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of
Parent and Buyer), this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of
Company enforceable against Company in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws and equitable principles relating to or
limiting creditors rights generally.
2.4 No Conflict. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.4, neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or their assets is subject to or
obligated under any charter, bylaw, Contract, or other instrument or permit, or
subject to any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree or award,
which would be defaulted, breached, terminated, forfeited or violated by or in
conflict with (or upon the failure to give notice or the lapse of time, or both,
would result in a default, breach, termination, forfeiture or conflict with
Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Option
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby except where such
event or occurrence is not reasonably likely to result in losses, liabilities,
costs or expenses, damage or decline in value to the business, condition or
properties of Company's Business (collectively, "Losses") that, individually or
in the aggregate, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as set
forth on Schedule 2.4 and except for compliance with the HSR Act, Company's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Option Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not result in the
creation of any lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on the
assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or result in any change in the
rights or obligations of any party under or the acceleration of (with or without
the giving of notice or the lapse of time), any provision of any Material
Contract of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any change in the rights or
obligations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, decree or award or permit or license to which
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject except where such encumbrance or
change would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.5 Consents. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.5 and other than (i) the
filing of the Certificate of Merger as provided in Section 1.3, (ii) the filing
with the SEC and the NYSE of the Proxy and Registration Statement, (iii) such
consents (including the Company Shareholders' Approval), orders, approvals,
authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under
the DGCL, applicable state securities laws and the securities laws of any
foreign country, (iv) such filings as may be required under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act")
and (v) such local consents, orders, approvals, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings which, if not obtained or made would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, and that would not impair, prohibit or prevent the consummation of the
transactions contemplated
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hereby, no consent of any Person not a party to this Agreement, or consent of or
filing with (including any waiting period) any domestic or foreign court,
commission, governmental body, regulatory agency, authority or tribunal (a
"Governmental Entity") is required to be obtained or performed on the part of
Company to permit the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
2.6 Financial Statements; SEC Filings.
(a) Company has delivered to Buyer the unaudited consolidated balance sheet
of Company as of December 31, 1999 and the consolidated statements of income,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1999 and
1998. All financial statements delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6(a) are in
accordance with the books and records of Company and have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
throughout the periods indicated. All consolidated balance sheets included in
such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of Company as of the dates thereof. Except as
and to the extent reflected or reserved against in such consolidated balance
sheet (including the notes thereto), as of December 31, 1999, Company did not
have any liabilities or obligations (absolute or contingent) of a nature
required by generally accepted accounting principles to be reflected in a
consolidated balance sheet as of such date. All consolidated statements of
income present fairly in all material respects the consolidated results of
operations of Company for the periods indicated. All accounts receivable
appearing on such consolidated balance sheet arose from bona fide sales of
products or services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and are current and collectible in the amounts appearing thereon, net
of any allowances for bad debts and customer returns. All inventories appearing
on such consolidated balance sheet are owned by Company or its Subsidiaries free
and clear of any liens or encumbrances and are of merchantable quality and in
good condition and, to the extent such inventories are not of merchantable
quality or in good condition, appropriate reserves have been provided therefor.
Since December 31, 1999, Company has not made any changes in the accounting
principles it has followed theretofore in preparing its consolidated financial
statements, and all transactions have been recorded in Company's accounting
records in the same manner as theretofore.
(b) Since January 1, 1998, Company has filed with the SEC all forms,
statements, reports and documents (including all exhibits, amendments and
supplements thereto) required to be filed by it under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder (such forms,
statements, reports and documents are collectively referred to as the "Company
SEC Filings"). Company has delivered or made available to Buyer accurate and
complete copies of all of the Company SEC Filings.
(c) As of their respective dates, (i) each of Company's past Company SEC
Filings was, and each of its future Company SEC Filings will be, prepared in
compliance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and (ii) none of its past Company SEC
Filings did, and none of its future Company SEC Filings will,
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contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.6(d), neither Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is obligated to make earnout payments or other similar payments of
cash or securities arising from completed acquisitions of businesses by Company
and its Subsidiaries to the former owners of such businesses.
2.7 Tax Matters.
(a) Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all Tax Returns required
to be filed by it, except where failures to make such Tax Returns would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and
all such Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects. Company
and each of its Subsidiaries has paid (or Company has paid on its behalf) all
Taxes shown as due on such Tax Returns. The most recent financial statements
referred to in Section 2.6 reflect an adequate reserve for all Taxes payable by
Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof
accrued through the date of such financial statements and no liabilities for
Taxes have been incurred by Company or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to
such date other than in the ordinary course of its business.
(b) No action, suit, investigation, audit, claim, assessment or adjustment
is pending or proposed or threatened in writing with respect to a material
amount of Taxes of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) There is no agreement or other document extending, or having the effect
of extending, the period of assessment or collection of any material amount of
Taxes and no power of attorney with respect to any Taxes has been executed or
filed with any taxing authority.
(d) No material liens for Taxes exist with respect to any assets or
properties of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for statutory liens for
Taxes not yet due.
(e) None of Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by
any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnity obligation or similar agreement,
arrangement or practice with respect to a material amount of Taxes (including
any advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to
Taxes with any taxing authority), and none of Company or any Subsidiary has been
a member of any group of corporations filing federal, state, local or foreign
Tax Returns on a combined or consolidated basis other than each such group of
which it is currently a member.
(f) None of Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to include
in a taxable period ending after the Effective Time a material amount of taxable
income attributable to income
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that accrued in a prior taxable period but was not recognized in any prior
taxable period as a result of the installment method of accounting.
(g) All material amounts of Taxes which Company or any Subsidiary is
required by law to withhold or to collect for payment have been duly withheld
and collected, and have been paid or accrued.
(h) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed a consent
pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
the Treasury Regulations thereunder (the "Code") or agreed to have Section
341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as
such term is defined n Section 341(f)(2) of the Code) owned by Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(i) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement, contract or arrangement that could result, separately or in the
aggregate, in the payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the meaning
of Section 280G of the Code or that would not be deductible pursuant to the
terms of section 162(m) of the Code.
(j) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a "United States real
property holding corporation" within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the
Code.
(k) None of Company or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed, or is otherwise
required, to make any adjustments pursuant to Code Section 481(a) or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign law, or has any application pending with
any taxing authority requesting permission for a change in accounting methods.
2.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth on Schedule
2.8 (or disclosed in the Company SEC Filings since December 31, 1999), since
December 31, 1999, there has not been (a) any event which has resulted in, or is
likely to result in, a Company Material Adverse Effect; (b) any declaration,
setting aside or payment of any dividend (whether in cash, stock or property) in
respect of the capital stock of Company, or any redemption or other acquisition
of such stock by Company; (c) any increase in the compensation payable or to
become payable by Company to its officers or key employees, except those
occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any material increase in any
bonus, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement
made to, for or with any such officers or key employees; or (d) any labor
dispute, other than routine matters, none of which is material to Company's
Business.
2.9 Material Contracts; Customers and Suppliers. Schedule 2.9 lists each of
the Contracts to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is
subject or by which any thereof is bound as of the date hereof (i) that would be
required by Item 601(b)(10) of SEC Regulation S-K to be filed as an exhibit to
an Annual Report on Form 10-K, (ii) that relates to MIS (data processing)
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equipment or other capital equipment in the amount of $50,000 or more, (iii)
that is in the amount of $50,000 or more and contains any provision prohibiting
or limiting assignment thereof (including by merger or otherwise by operation of
law) allowing another party to terminate or change any term or provision thereof
in the event of any change in control or merger of Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or (iv) pursuant to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
the right to borrow money or obtain any financial accommodation (each a
"Material Contract") except for those Contracts listed as exhibits to Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998 or
disclosed in Company SEC Filings since December 31, 1998. Except as set forth on
Schedule 2.9, no breach or default, alleged breach or default or event which
would (with the passage of time, notice or both) constitute a breach or default
thereunder by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or, to
Company's knowledge, any other party or obligor with respect thereto, has
occurred, except where such breaches or defaults, individually or in the
aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. To Company's knowledge, no party to any Material Contract intends to
cancel, withdraw, modify or amend such Material Contract. Schedule 2.9 also
lists any customers to whom Company sold products in an amount in excess of
$2,300,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 ("Principal
Customers"). Schedule 2.9 also lists any suppliers for whom Company sold
products in an amount in excess of $5,000,000 during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1999 ("Principal Suppliers"). Except as set forth on Schedule
2.9(ii), no Principal Customers or Principal Suppliers has advised Company that
it intends to terminate its relationship with Company as a result of the
consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set
forth in Schedule 2.9, neither Company nor any of its affiliates is a party to,
or in negotiations for the purpose of entering into, any agreement to acquire a
majority of the voting securities of, or substantially all of the assets of, any
Person or any business division of any Person.
2.10 Title and Related Matters. Schedule 2.10 sets forth a list of parcels
of real property owned or leased by Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
including all sales and distribution facilities and all corporate support and
distribution centers. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.10, Company has good and
indefeasible title to all of its properties, interests in properties and assets,
real and personal, reflected in Company's December 31, 1999 consolidated balance
sheet or acquired after December 31, 1999 or necessary to conduct its business
as now conducted (except properties, interests on properties and assets sold or
otherwise disposed of since December 31, 1999 in the ordinary course of
business), free and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges, charges or
encumbrances of any kind or character, except (a) the lien of current taxes not
yet due and payable, (b) liens for mechanics', carriers', workmens',
repairmens', landlord, statutory or common law liens either not delinquent or
being contested in good faith, (c) such imperfections of title, liens,
restrictions, variances and easements as do not materially detract from the
value of or interfere with the value or the present or presently contemplated
future use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby, or otherwise
materially impair the present or presently contemplated future business
operations at such properties and (d) liens securing debt which is reflected on
Company's December 31, 1999 consolidated balance sheet. The plants and equipment
of Company that are necessary to the operation of Company's Business are in good
operating
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condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear). All properties material
to the operations of Company are reflected in Company's December 31, 1999
consolidated balance sheet to the extent generally accepted accounting
principles require the same to be reflected.
2.11 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Schedule 2.11(a) lists all employee benefit and compensation plans,
programs, policies, agreements and commitments (other than oral employment
agreements that are terminable at will by the employer without additional cost)
covering any employee or former employee, or the beneficiary of either, of
Company or any entity which would be aggregated at any relevant time with
Company pursuant to Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the IRC (referred to
herein as a "Company ERISA Affiliate"), providing benefits in the nature of
pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, retirement, severance, bonus,
incentive compensation, stock option, stock bonus, stock purchase, health,
medical, life, disability, sick leave, vacation, or other welfare or fringe
benefits, including, without limitation, all employee benefit plans (as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA (referred to herein as the "Company ERISA Plans"), and
fringe benefit plans (as defined in IRC Section 6039D) (together with Company
ERISA Plans referred to herein as the "Company Benefit Plans"). Except as set
forth on Schedule 2.11(a), neither Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has
ever contributed to, or been obligated to contribute to, (i) a multiemployer
plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or (ii) a Company Benefit Plan
subject to Title IV of ERISA.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11(b), each Company Benefit Plan is
currently, and has been in the past, operated and administered in all material
respects in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all
applicable Laws, including, without limitation, ERISA and the IRC. Each Company
Benefit Plan which is, or was, intended to qualify under IRC Section 401(a)
(referred to herein as a "Qualified Plan") is, or was, so qualified and either
(i) has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified by the issuance of a
favorable determination letter a copy of which has been furnished to Parent,
which remains in effect as of the date hereof and, to Company's knowledge,
nothing has occurred since the date of such letter to cause such letter to be no
longer valid, or (ii) is within the "remedial amendment period" as defined in
IRC Section 401(b) and the regulations thereunder. Except as set forth on
Schedule 2.11(b), all reports, notices and other documents required to be filed
with any Governmental Entity or furnished to employees or participants with
respect to the Company Benefit Plans have been timely filed or furnished. With
respect to the most recent Form 5500 regarding each funded Company Benefit Plan,
benefit liabilities do not exceed assets, and no material adverse change has
occurred with respect to the financial materials covered thereby since the last
Form 5500.
(c) No liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA has been or is
expected to be incurred by Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to
any ongoing, frozen or terminated "single-employer plan", within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or previously maintained by any of them,
or the single-employer plan of any Company ERISA Affiliate. Company and its
subsidiaries have not incurred and do not expect to incur any
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withdrawal liability with respect to a multiemployer plan under Subtitle E of
Title IV of ERISA (regardless of whether based on contributions of an ERISA
Affiliate). No notice of a "reportable event" within the meaning of Section 4043
of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived or
extended, other than pursuant to PBGC Reg. Section 4043.66, has been required to
be filed for any Company ERISA Plan or by any Company ERISA Affiliate within the
12-month period ending on the date hereof.
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11(d), all contributions required to
be paid on or prior to the date hereof to or with respect to any Company Benefit
Plan by its terms or applicable law have been paid in full and proper form.
Neither any Company ERISA Plan nor any single-employer plan of a Company ERISA
Affiliate has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (whether or not waived) within
the meaning of IRC Section 412 or Section 302 of ERISA and no Company ERISA
Affiliate has an outstanding funding waiver. Neither Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has provided, or is required to provide, security to any Company
ERISA Plan or to any single-employer plan of a Company ERISA Affiliate pursuant
to IRC Section 401(a)(29).
(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11(e), the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (i) do not constitute or result in a severance or termination
of employment under any Company Benefit Plan for which severance or termination
benefits may be payable with respect to any employee covered thereby, (ii)
accelerate the time of payment or vesting or increase the amount of benefits due
under any Company Benefit Plan or compensation to any employee of Company, or
(iii) result in any payments (including parachute payments) or funding (through
grants or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan
or Law or result in any obligation or liability of Company to any employee of
Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate or (iv) result in payments under any
Company Benefit Plan which would not be deductible under IRC Section 162(m) or
IRC Section 280G.
(f) Neither Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate, nor to Company's
knowledge any other "disqualified person" or "party in interest" (as defined in
IRC Section 4975 and Section 3(14) of ERISA, respectively) with respect to any
Company ERISA Plan has engaged in any transaction in violation of Section 406 of
ERISA for which no class, individual or statutory exemption exists or any
"prohibited transaction" (as defined in IRC Section 4975(c)(1)) for which no
class, individual or statutory exemption exists under IRC Section 4975(c)(2) or
(d), nor has any such person who is a "fiduciary" (as defined in Section 3(21)
of ERISA) of any Company ERISA Plan breached or participated in the breach of
any fiduciary obligation imposed pursuant to Part 4 of Title I of ERISA.
(g) There are no actions, suits, disputes or claims pending or, to
Company's knowledge, threatened (other than routine claims for benefits) or
legal, administrative or other proceedings or governmental investigations
pending or, to Company's knowledge, threatened, against or with respect to any
Company Benefit Plan or the assets of any Company Benefit Plan.
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(h) Under each Company ERISA Plan which is a single-employer plan, as of
the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the
actuarially determined present value of all "benefit liabilities", within the
meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on the basis of the
actuarial assumptions contained in the Plan's most recent actuarial valuation),
did not exceed the then current value of the assets of such Plan, and there has
been no material change in the financial condition of such Plan since the last
day of the most recent plan year. The withdrawal liability of Company and its
Subsidiaries under each Company ERISA Plan which is a multiemployer plan to
which Company, any of its subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed
during the preceding 12 months, determined as if a "complete withdrawal," within
the meaning of Section 4203 of ERISA, had occurred as of the date hereof, does
not exceed $100,000.
(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11(i), no Company Benefit Plan
provides or provided health or medical benefits (whether or not insured) with
respect to current or former employees of Company or its subsidiaries beyond
their retirement or other termination of service (other than coverage mandated
by statutory law). Company or its subsidiaries may amend or terminate any such
Company Benefit Plan at any time without incurring any liability themselves.
(j) Each Company ERISA Plan that is an "employee welfare benefit plan" as
that term is defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA is either (as identified on
Schedule 2.11(a)): (i) funded through an insurance company contract, (ii) funded
throughout a tax-exempt "VEBA" trust or (iii) unfunded. There is no liability in
the nature of a retroactive rate adjustment or loss-sharing or similar
arrangement, with respect to any Company ERISA Plan which is an employee welfare
benefit plan.
(k) Company has provided to Parent true and complete copies of the
following with respect to each of the Company Benefit Plans: (i) each plan
document and summary plan description if any; (ii) each trust agreement,
insurance policy or other instrument relating to the funding thereof; (iii) the
most recent Annual Report (Form 5500 series) and associated schedules filed with
the IRS or the United States Department of Labor for each Company Benefit Plan
required to make such filing; (iv) the most recent audited financial statement
report, if any; (v) the most recent actuarial report if any; and (vi) a
description of each unwritten Company Benefit Plan and the individuals covered
thereby.
(l) All Company Benefit Plans maintained outside of the United States
comply in all material respects with applicable local law. Company and its
subsidiaries have no material unfunded liabilities with respect to any such
Company Benefit Plan.
(m) The Board of Directors of Company has adopted resolutions terminating
the ESPP in accordance with Section 18 thereof, effective as of the date hereof,
or as soon hereafter as practicable and legally permissible, and providing that
no shares of Company Common Stock shall be issued for the current participation
period thereunder and that the amount in each
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participant's plan account thereunder shall be refunded to such participant in
cash pursuant to Section 9(d) thereof.
(n) The Board of Directors of Company (through its Options Committee or
other body duly exercising the powers thereof) has adopted resolutions approving
the conversion of the Options in the manner set forth in Section 1.9(a) and
declaring that such conversion constitutes an assumption of the Options in
accordance with Section 8(b) of the Company Option Plan.
2.12 Employment Agreements. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.12, none of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any employment, consulting,
non-competition, severance, or indemnification agreement with any current or
former executive officer or director or employee of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. True and complete copies of the agreements set forth on Schedule
2.12 have been furnished to Parent prior to the date hereof. Neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement.
2.13 Legal Proceedings. Schedule 2.13 sets forth a list of all legal
proceedings pending to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party,
except (i) all workers' compensation claims which are fully insured, and (ii)
receivables collections for less than $50,000 where Company is the plaintiff and
related countersuits. There is no pending or, to Company's knowledge, threatened
judicial or administrative proceeding or investigation affecting Company or any
of its Subsidiaries that if resolved adversely to it would reasonably be likely
to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected
to impair Company's ability to consummate the Merger.
2.14 Compliance with Law; Accuracy of Certain Information. Except as set
forth on Schedule 2.14, all licenses, franchises, permits and other governmental
authorizations (collectively, "Licenses") held by Company and its Subsidiaries
that are material in connection with Company's Business are valid and sufficient
for all business presently carried on by Company. No suspension, cancellation or
termination of any such material Licenses is threatened or imminent. Except as
set forth on Schedule 2.14, Company's Business is being conducted in compliance
with all applicable Laws and is not being conducted in violation of any Law,
except for violations which either individually or in the aggregate are not
reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. Any and all
past litigation concerning Licenses and all claims and causes of action raised
therein have been finally adjudicated. No such License has been revoked,
conditioned (except as may be customary) or restricted and no action (equitable,
legal or administrative), arbitration or other process is pending, or to the
Company's knowledge, threatened in writing which in any way challenges the
validity of, or seeks to revoke, condition or restrict any such License.
2.15 Accuracy of Proxy and Registration Statement and Other Information. On
the date on which Company mails to its shareholders the Proxy and Registration
Statement, on the date the Company Shareholders Meeting is held, and on the
Effective Date, the Proxy and Registration Statement will contain all material
statements concerning Company which are required to be set
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forth therein in accordance with the Exchange Act; and at such respective times,
the Proxy and Registration Statement will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact with respect to Company
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company makes no representation or
warranty with respect to any information concerning Buyer or any of Buyer's
Subsidiaries or advisors included or incorporated by reference in the Proxy and
Registration Statement.
2.16 Insurance. Schedule 2.16 lists all of Company's insurance policies.
All properties of Company and its subsidiaries are insured for their respective
benefits, in amounts customary and reasonable for the line of business of
Company and against all risks usually insured against by Persons operating
similar properties in the localities where such properties are located under
valid and enforceable policies issued by insurers of recognized responsibility,
except where failure to so insure would not be reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
in default under any such policy or bond, and all such policies are in full
force and effect, with all premiums due thereon paid. Company and its
subsidiaries have timely filed claims with their respective insurers with
respect to all matters and occurrences for which they believe they have coverage
except for such failures as are not reasonably likely to result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
2.17 Environmental Matters.
(a) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and at all times
has been, in compliance with all local, state and federal statutes, orders,
rules, ordinances, regulations, codes and policies and all judicial or
administrative interpretations thereof (collectively, "Environmental Laws")
relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including, without
limitation, laws relating to exposures, emissions, discharges, releases or
threatened releases of Hazardous Substances (as hereinafter defined) into or on
land, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, personal property or structures
(including the protection, cleanup, removal, remediation or damage thereof), or
otherwise related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport, discharge or handling of Hazardous Substances.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of any
investigation, claim or proceeding against the Company relating to Hazardous
Substances or any action pursuant to or violation or alleged violation under any
Environmental Law, and the Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that
could involve the Company or any Subsidiary in any environmental litigation,
proceeding, investigation or claim or impose any environmental liability upon
the Company or any Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no Hazardous Substances in,
under or about the soil, sediment, surface water or groundwater on, under or
around any properties at any time owned, leased or occupied by the Company or
any Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has disposed of any
Hazardous Substances on or about such properties. There is no
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present release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substances in, on, under
or around such properties. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has disposed
of any materials at any site being investigated or remediated for contamination
or possible contamination of the environment.
2.18 Certain Agreements. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.18, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Benefit Plan, any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which
will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be
calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, where the liability that would reasonably be expected to result would
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.19 Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or
otherwise possesses legally sufficient rights to use, all patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, copyrights, and any applications therefor,
technology, know-how, computer software programs or applications (in both source
code and object code form) and tangible or intangible proprietary information or
material that are used or proposed to be used in the business of the Company or
such Subsidiary, as currently conducted in any material respect. Schedule 2.19
lists all current patents, registered and material unregistered copyrights,
trade names and service marks, any domain name, and any applications therefor
owned by the Company (the "Company Intellectual Property Rights"), and specifies
the jurisdictions in which each such Company Intellectual Property Right has
been issued or registered or in which an application for such issuance and
registration has been filed, including the respective registration or
application numbers and the names of all registered owners. Schedule 2.19
includes and specifically identifies all third-party patents, trademarks, and
copyrights (including software) (the "Third Party Intellectual Property Rights")
which are incorporated in, are, or form a part of, any product of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Schedule 2.19 lists (i) any requests the Company or any
Subsidiary has received to make any registration of the type referred to in the
penultimate sentence prior hereto, including the identity of the requester and
the item requested to be so registered, and the jurisdiction for which such
request has been made; (ii) all material licenses, sublicenses and other
agreements as to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and
pursuant to which any person is authorized to use any Company Intellectual
Property Right, or any trade secret material to the Company; and (iii) all
material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any Third Party Intellectual Property
Rights, or other trade secret of a third party in or as any product, and
includes the identity of all parties thereto, a description of the nature and
subject matter thereof, the applicable royalty and the term thereof.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, nor will it be as a
result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its
obligations hereunder, in violation of any license, sublicense or agreement
described in Schedule 2.19. Except as set forth
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in Schedule 2.19, no claims with respect to the Company Intellectual Property
Rights, any trade secret material to the Company or Third Party Intellectual
Property Rights to the extent arising out of any use, reproduction or
distribution of such Third Party Intellectual Property Rights by or through the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, are currently pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company, are threatened by any person, (i) to the effect that the
manufacture, sale, licensing or use of any product as now used, sold or licensed
or proposed for use, sale or license by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
infringes on any patent, trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, or
trade secret; (ii) against the use by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any
patent, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, technology, know-how
or computer software programs and applications used in the business of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or as proposed to be
conducted; (iii) challenging the ownership, validity or effectiveness of any of
the Company Intellectual Property Rights or other trade secret material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, or (iv) challenging the Company's or any of its
Subsidiaries' license or legally enforceable right to use of the Third Party
Intellectual Property Rights. To the Company's knowledge, after reasonable
investigation, all patents, registered trademarks, trade names, service marks,
and copyrights held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are valid and
subsisting. To the Company's knowledge, there is no material unauthorized use,
infringement or misappropriation of any of the Company Intellectual Property
Rights by any third party, including any employee or former employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries (A) has been sued or charged in writing as a defendant in any
claim, suit, action or proceeding such involves a claim or infringement of trade
secrets, any patents, trademarks, service marks, or copyrights and which has not
been finally terminated prior the date hereof or been informed or notified by
any third party that the Company may be engaged in such infringement or (B) has
knowledge of any infringement liability with respect to, or infringement by, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any trade secret, patent, trademark,
service mark, or copyright of another.
(c) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that
with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default), or impair the
Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' rights or alter the rights or obligations
of any third party under, or give to others any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any license agreement, contract or
other arrangement of any nature relating to Company Intellectual Property Rights
or Third Party Intellectual Property Rights.
(d) Schedule 2.19 contains a complete and accurate list of any proceedings
before any patent or trademark authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is
a party, a description of the subject matter of each proceeding, and the current
status of each proceeding, including, without limitation, interferences,
priority contests, opposition, and protests. Such list includes any pending
applications for reissue or reexamination of a patent. The Company or a
Subsidiary has the exclusive right to file, prosecute and maintain any such
applications for patents, copyrights or trademarks and the patents and
registrations that issue therefrom.
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(e) Each employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries has executed a
confidentiality, invention and copyright agreement with the Company in the forms
previously delivered to Parent.
2.20 Product Warranties. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.20, all products
are sold or licensed by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to terms that
provide (a) the Company's disclaimer of all warranties, express or implied,
including those of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose; (b) the
Company's disclaimer of all consequential damages arising from the use or
possession of the product, regardless of whether such liability is based in
tort, contract or otherwise; and (c) language stating that if the foregoing
disclaimers are held to be unenforceable, the Company's maximum liability shall
not exceed the amount of money(ies) paid for such product(s).
2.21 Labor Matters. There are no controversies pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened, between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
any group of their respective employees. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor
union contract applicable to persons employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries
nor does the Company know of any activities or proceedings of any labor union to
organize any such employees; and neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
has breached or otherwise failed to comply with any provision of any such
agreement or contract and there are no grievances outstanding against any such
parties under any such agreement or contract. There are no unfair labor practice
complaints pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before the
National Labor Relations Board or any current union representation questions
involving employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has
no knowledge of any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, lockouts, or threats
thereof, by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The Company has no knowledge of any strikes, slowdowns, work
stoppages, lockouts, or threats thereof, by or with respect to any employees of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No consent of any union which is a party
to any collective bargaining agreement with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
2.22 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Filings or Schedule 2.22, no director, officer, or "affiliate" (as such term is
defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of the Company (a) has outstanding
any indebtedness or other similar obligations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than ordinary course of business travel advances or (b)
other than employment related benefits agreements contemplated by or disclosed
in this Agreement, is a party to any legally binding contract, commitment or
obligation to, from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
2.23 State Takeover Statutes. The action of the Board of Directors of the
Company in approving the Merger, this Agreement, the Option Agreement and the
Inducement Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is
sufficient to render inapplicable to the
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Merger, this Agreement, the Option Agreement and the Inducement Agreement the
provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL.
2.24 Brokers; Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than Alliant Partners and Tucker, Anthony, Cleary, Gull, the
fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company (and are reflected in
agreements between Alliant Partners and Tucker, Anthony, Cleary, Gull,
respectively, and the Company, complete copies of which have been furnished to
Parent), is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. A
true and complete estimate of the fees and costs of all financial and accounting
advisors and legal counsel retained by Company in connection with the
negotiation and consummation of the Merger is set forth in Schedule 2.24.
2.25 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Company herein
(including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) or in any certificate furnished by
or on behalf of the Company to Parent in connection herewith, taken together
with all the other information provided to Parent or its counsel in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, contains or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements herein or therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND BUYER
Parent and Buyer hereby represent and warrant to Company as follows:
3.1 Organization. Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, and has corporate
power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Buyer is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, and has corporate power to carry on its business as it
is now being conducted.
3.2 Authority; Validity. Parent and Buyer have all corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out their
respective obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Board of Directors of
Parent and Buyer, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or
Buyer are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Upon execution and delivery hereof (assuming that this
Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Company), this Agreement
will be the valid and binding obligation of Parent and Buyer enforceable against
Parent and Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability
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may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or limiting creditors rights generally and equitable
principles.
3.3 No Conflict. Neither Parent, Buyer nor any of their respective assets
is subject to or obligated under any charter, bylaw, Contract, or other
instrument or any permit, or subject to any statute, rule, order or decree,
which would be defaulted, breached, terminated, forfeited or violated by or in
conflict (or upon the failure to give notice or the lapse of time, or both,
would result in a default, breach, termination, forfeiture or conflict) with its
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby except where such event
or occurrence (i) as of the date hereof is not reasonably likely to result in
Losses that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be likely to
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) between the date hereof and the
Closing Date would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely
to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
3.4 Consents. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, no consent of any
Person not a party to this Agreement, nor consent of or filing with (including
any waiting period) any Governmental Entity, is required to be obtained or
performed on the part of Parent and Buyer to permit the Merger.
3.5 Legal Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed by Parent to Company
there is no pending or, to Parent's knowledge, threatened judicial or
administrative proceeding or investigation affecting Parent that if resolved
adversely to Parent would reasonably be likely to result in a Parent Material
Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to impair its ability to
consummate the Merger.
3.6 Financial Statements, SEC Filings.
(a) Parent has delivered copies of the following financial statements to
Company: (i) the consolidated balance sheet of Parent at July 2, 1999 and the
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the
years ended July 2, 1999 and June 26, 1998, in each case including the notes
thereto and the related report of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified
public accountants, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Parent
at December 31, 1999 and the unaudited consolidated statements of income,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the six-month period ended December 31,
1999 in each case including any notes thereto.
(b) All financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 3.6(a) hereof
are in accordance with the books and records of Parent and have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto or, in the case of the unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q
of the SEC). All consolidated balance sheets included on such financial
statements present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of Parent as of the dates thereof (subject, in the case of the
unaudited statements, to customary reclassification year-end
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adjustments). Except as and to the extent reflected or reserved against in such
consolidated balance sheets (including the notes thereto) as of December 31,
1999, Parent did not have any liabilities or obligations (absolute or
contingent) of a nature required by generally accepted accounting principles to
be reflected in a consolidated balance sheet as of such date. All consolidated
statements of income included on such financial statements present fairly in all
material respects the consolidated results of operations of Parent for the
periods indicated.
(c) Since January 1, 1998, Parent has filed with the SEC all material
forms, statements, reports and documents (including all exhibits, amendments and
supplements thereto) required to be filed by it under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder (such forms,
statements, reports and documents are collectively referred to as the "Parent
SEC Filings"). Parent has delivered or made available to Company accurate and
complete copies of all of the Parent SEC Filings.
(d) As of their respective dates, (i) each of Parent's past Parent SEC
Filings was, and each of its future Parent SEC Filings will be, prepared in
compliance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and (ii) none of its past Parent SEC
Filings did, and none of its future Parent SEC Filings will, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3.7 No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 1999 there has not been
any event which has had or is likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
3.8 Compliance with Law. All licenses, franchises, permits and other
governmental authorizations held by Parent that are material in connection with
Parent's Business are valid and sufficient for all business presently carried on
by Parent except where the failure to maintain such a valid and sufficient
permit would not reasonably be likely to result in a Parent Material Adverse
Effect. No suspension, cancellation or termination of any such material,
licenses, franchises, permits and other governmental authorizations is
threatened or imminent. Parent's Business is not being conducted in violation of
any Law, except for violations which either individually or in the aggregate are
not reasonably likely to result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
3.9 Accuracy of Proxy and Registration Statement and Other Information. On
the date on which Company mails to its shareholders the Proxy and Registration
Statement, on the date the Company Shareholders Meeting is held, and on the
Effective Date, the Proxy and Registration Statement will contain all material
statements concerning Parent and Buyer which are required to be set forth
therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and at such
respective times, the Proxy and Registration Statement will not include 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 not misleading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Buyer make no representation or
warranty with respect to any information concerning Company or any
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of Company's Subsidiaries or advisors included or incorporated by reference in
the Proxy and Registration Statement.
3.10 Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty by Parent or Buyer
herein (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) or in any certificate
furnished by or on behalf of Parent or Buyer to Company in connection herewith,
taken together with all the other information provided to Company or its counsel
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all the information
included in the Parent SEC Filings, contains or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements herein or therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3.11 No Brokers or Finders. Neither Buyer nor any of its officers,
directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any financial advisory, brokerage or finder's fees or commissions
in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except that Parent has
retained Merrill Lynch & Co. as its financial advisor, whose fees and expenses
will be paid by Parent.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
4.1 Access and Information.
(a) Subject to applicable laws and regulations, upon reasonable notice
during the period from the date hereof through the Effective Time, Company will
give to Parent and Buyer and Parent and Buyer's Representatives full access
during normal business hours to all of its and its subsidiaries' properties,
books, records, documents (including, without limitation, Tax Returns for all
periods open under the applicable statute of limitations), personnel, auditors
and counsel, and each party shall (and shall cause its subsidiaries to) furnish
promptly to the other party all information concerning such party and its
subsidiaries as such other party or such other party's Representatives may
reasonably request. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, upon reasonable
notice during the period from the date hereof through the Effective Time, Parent
and Buyer will provide to Company and Company's Representatives such information
as Company may reasonably request to determine the accuracy of Parent's and
Buyer's representations and warranties in this Agreement and compliance by
Parent and Buyer with their covenants in this Agreement.
(b) All non-public information disclosed by any party (or its
Representatives) whether before or after the date hereof, in connection with the
transactions contemplated by, or the discussions and negotiations preceding,
this Agreement to any other party (or its Representatives) shall be kept
confidential by such other party and its Representatives and shall not be used
by any such Persons other than as contemplated by this Agreement. Subject to the
requirements of
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applicable Law, Parent, Buyer and Company will keep confidential, and each will
cause their respective Representatives to keep confidential, all such non-public
information and documents unless such information (i) was already known to
Parent, Buyer or Company, as the case may be, as long as such information was
not obtained in violation of a confidentiality obligation (ii) becomes available
to Parent, Buyer or Company, as the case may be, from other sources not known by
Parent, Buyer or Company, respectively, to be bound by a confidentiality
obligation, (iii) is independently acquired by Parent, Buyer or Company, as the
case may be, as a result of work carried out by any Representative of Parent,
Buyer or Company, respectively, to whom no disclosure of such information has
been made, (iv) is disclosed with the prior written approval of Company or
Parent, Buyer, as the case may be, or (v) is or becomes readily ascertainable
from publicly available information. Upon any termination of this Agreement,
each party hereto will collect and deliver to the other, or certify as to the
destruction of, all documents obtained by it or any of its Representatives then
in their possession and any copies thereof.
(c) Subject to applicable Law, if between the date hereof and the Effective
Date any Governmental Entity shall commence any examination, review,
investigation, action, suit or proceeding against any party hereto with respect
to the Merger, such party shall (i) give the other parties prompt notice
thereof, (ii) keep the other parties informed as to the status thereof and (iii)
permit the other parties to observe and be present at each meeting, conference
or other proceeding and have access to and be consulted in connection with any
document filed or provided to such Governmental Entity in connection with such
examination, review, investigation, action, suit or proceeding.
4.2 Governmental Filings. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, the parties hereto shall: (a) promptly make their respective filings
and thereafter make any other required submissions under the HSR Act with
respect to the Merger; (b) use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with one
another in (i) determining which filings are required to be made prior to the
Effective Time with, and which consents, approvals, permits or authorizations
are required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time from, any Governmental
Entity in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (ii) timely making all such
filings and timely seeking all such consents, approvals, permits or
authorizations; and (c) using all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all other action and doing, or cause to be done, all other things
necessary, proper or appropriate to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.3 Consents and Approvals.
(a) Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any and
all consents from other parties to all Material Contracts, if necessary or
appropriate to allow the consummation of the Merger. Each party hereto shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any and all permits or approvals
of any Governmental Entity required by such party for the lawful consummation of
the Merger.
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(b) Each party hereto shall, upon request, furnish each other with all
information concerning themselves, their respective subsidiaries, directors,
officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary
or advisable in connection with the Proxy and Registration Statement or any
other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent,
Buyer or Company to any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Each party hereto shall promptly furnish each other with copies of all
written communications received by such party or any of their respective
subsidiaries from, or delivered by any of the foregoing to, any Governmental
Entity in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 Meeting of Shareholders; Proxy and Registration Statement; Listing
Application.
(a) Meeting of Shareholders. Company shall take all action necessary in
accordance with applicable Law and its charter documents to duly call, give
notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders as promptly as
practicable to consider and vote upon this Agreement, the Merger and all matters
related thereto. Company shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its
shareholders approval of such matters (unless Company's directors after
consultation with legal counsel, believe such action is inconsistent with the
proper exercise by such directors of their fiduciary duties), and Company shall
use its best efforts to obtain such approval by its shareholders. Company agrees
to adjourn, postpone or delay its meeting, or to convene a second meeting, as
appropriate, in the event insufficient voting shares are present to conduct the
meeting.
(b) Proxy and Registration Statement. As promptly as reasonably
practicable, Company, Parent and Buyer shall prepare and file with the SEC a
proxy statement and registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the Parent
Stock to be issued in the Merger (the "Proxy and Registration Statement" or
"Registration Statement") for use in connection with the Company's shareholder
meeting. The Proxy and Registration Statement shall not be filed, and no
amendment or supplement to the Proxy and Registration Statement shall be made by
either Company or Parent, without prior consultation with the other party and
its counsel. Company and Parent shall cooperate and use all reasonable efforts
to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. Parent will,
as promptly as practicable, provide any written comments received from the SEC
with respect to the Registration Statement and advise Company of any verbal
comments received from the SEC with respect thereto. Parent shall also take any
action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is
now not so qualified) required to be taken under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various States in connection with the issuance of the Parent Stock
pursuant to the Merger.
(c) Indemnification. Each of Company and Parent (each an "Indemnifying
Party") agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other, each person who
controls the other within the
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meaning of the Securities Act, and each director and officer of the other,
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees and costs of investigation and defense) that are based
on the ground or alleged ground that the Registration Statement includes an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading. This indemnification obligation extends, however, only insofar as
any such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity
with, any written information furnished by the Indemnifying Party for use in the
preparation of such materials. These indemnity obligations will remain in force
after any termination of this Agreement.
(d) Listing Application. Parent shall use its best efforts to cause the
Parent Stock distributed in connection with the Merger to be authorized for
listing on the NYSE and shall make all necessary blue sky law filings in
connection therewith.
4.5 Conduct of Company Business. Company covenants and agrees that after
the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time (unless Parent and Buyer shall
have agreed in writing):
(a) Ordinary Course. Company will, and will cause its subsidiaries to,
operate Company's Business only in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practices and use its best efforts to (i) preserve its existing
business organization, insurance coverage, material rights, material licenses or
permits, advantageous business relationships, material agreements and credit
facilities; (ii) retain and keep available the services of its present officers,
employees and agents; and (iii) preserve the goodwill of its customers,
suppliers and others having business relations with it. Company and its
subsidiaries will not: (A) enter into any material transaction or commitment, or
dispose of or acquire any material properties or assets, except purchases and
sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices; (B) implement any new employee benefit plan, or employment,
compensatory or severance agreement; (C) amend any existing employee benefit
plan or employment agreement except as required by Law or by this Agreement; or
(D) take any action that would jeopardize the continuance of its material
supplier or customer relationships; (E) make any material change in the nature
of their businesses and operations; (F) enter into any transaction or agreement
with any officer, director or affiliate of Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(G) incur or agree to incur any obligation or liability (absolute or contingent)
that individually calls for payment by Company or any of its subsidiaries of
more than $100,000 in any specific case in the aggregate, excluding transactions
in the ordinary course of business; or (H) make any Tax election or make any
change in any method or period of accounting or any material change in any
accounting policy, practice or procedure.
(b) Charter Documents. Company will not amend its Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend
their charter documents or by-laws.
(c) Dividends. Company will not declare or pay any dividend or make any
other distribution in respect of its capital stock.
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(d) Stock. Company will not split, combine or reclassify any shares of its
capital stock, or issue, redeem or acquire (or agree to do so) any of its equity
securities, options, warrants, or convertible instruments, except (i) pursuant
to existing obligations under Company Benefit Plans, (ii) pursuant to the
existing commitments or conversion rights listed on Schedule 2.2(a) or (iii)
pursuant to Section 4.15. Company will not grant any Options.
4.6 Publicity. Company and Parent must mutually agree upon the initial
press releases. Thereafter, Company and Parent shall coordinate all publicity
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no party shall
issue any press release, publicity statement or other public notice relating to
this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without
prior consultation with both Company and Parent, except to the extent that the
disclosing party is advised by its counsel that such action is required by
applicable Law, and then, if practicable, only after consultation with the other
party.
4.7 Notification of Defaults and Adverse Events. Company and Parent will
promptly notify each other if, subsequent to the date of this Agreement and
prior to the Effective Date: (i) an event occurs that may be reasonably likely
to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, respectively, or (ii) any suit, action or proceeding is instituted or,
to the knowledge of Company or Parent, threatened against or affecting Company
or Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries which, if adversely
determined, would be reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Company and Parent will
promptly notify the other if it determines it is or will be unable to comply
with any of its obligations under this Agreement or fulfill any conditions under
its control.
4.8 Satisfy Conditions to Closing. Parent and Company shall each use its
reasonable best efforts to cause all conditions to Closing to be satisfied.
4.9 Termination Fee. If this Agreement is terminated (a) by Parent pursuant
to Section 6.1(d), Section 6.1(e), Section 6.1(f) or Section 6.1(h), or (b) by
Company pursuant to Section 6.1(d) or Section 6.1(g) (in each case only if the
Company or its stockholders have received in writing, or there shall have been
publicly disclosed, an Acquisition Proposal on or before the date of such
termination), then Company shall pay to Parent, upon demand, $750,000 in cash.
If within one year of (A) any such termination, or (B) any termination by Parent
pursuant to Section 6.1(c)(if prior to such termination pursuant to Section
6.1(c), (i) the SEC shall have declared effective the Proxy and Registration
Statement, (ii) the waiting period under the HSR Act shall have expired, in each
case no later than August 1, 2000, and (iii) the Company or its stockholders
shall have received in writing, or there shall have been publicly disclosed, an
Acquisition Proposal), Company enters into an agreement to effect an Acquisition
Proposal, then Company shall pay to Parent, upon demand, an amount in cash equal
to $4,500,000, less any amount paid pursuant to the immediately preceding
sentence (the total of all amounts payable under this Section 4.9 being the
"Termination Fee").
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4.10 Anti-takeover Statutes. If any anti-takeover or similar statute is
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, Company will grant such
approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions
contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate the effects of such
anti-takeover or similar statute on the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.11 Indemnification; Insurance.
(a) Indemnification. For not less four (4) years after the Effective Time,
Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless,
each present and former director and officer of Company and each such person's
personal representative, estate, testator or intestate successors (the
"Indemnified Parties") against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
costs, expenses, judgments and amounts paid in settlement with the approval of
Parent and the Surviving Corporation (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld) in connection with any actual or threatened claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation arising out of or pertaining to any action or
omission occurring prior to the Effective Time (including without limitation,
any which arise out of or relate to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement), whether asserted or claimed prior to, or on or after, the Effective
Time, to the full extent Company would be permitted under the DGCL or Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws in effect as of the date of this
Agreement (to the extent consistent with applicable law), including, without
limitation, provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in the defense
of any action or suit, provided that any determination required to be made with
respect to whether an Indemnified Party's conduct complies with the standards
set forth under Delaware law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws shall be made by independent counsel mutually acceptable to Parent and
the Indemnified Party. In addition, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall
pay expenses incurred by an Indemnified Party in advance of the final
disposition of any such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by
or on behalf of such Indemnified Party to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified. Without
limiting the foregoing, in the event any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation is brought against any Indemnified Party, Parent and the Surviving
Corporation shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such action or
proceeding. Upon assumption by Parent and the Surviving Corporation of the
defense of any such action or proceeding, the Indemnified Party shall have the
right to participate in such action or proceeding and to retain its own counsel,
but neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any legal
fees or expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) Parent and the Surviving Corporation have
agreed to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Indemnified Party shall have been
advised by counsel that representation of the Indemnified Party by counsel
provided by Parent and the Surviving Corporation is not possible due to
conflicts of interest among Parent and the Surviving Corporation and the
Indemnified Party, or (iii) Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall have
failed in a timely manner to assume the defense of the matter. Neither Parent
nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement of any claim
effected without its written consent. Neither Parent nor the Surviving
Corporation shall, except with the written consent of the Indemnified Party,
consent
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to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as
an unconditional term the release by the claimant or plaintiff of such
Indemnified Party from all further liability in respect of such claim. Any
Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 4.11(a),
upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation,
shall notify Parent and the Surviving Corporation (but the failure so to notify
Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have under this Section 4.11(a) except to the extent such failure
materially prejudices Parent and the Surviving Corporation). In addition to the
foregoing, and without limiting in any manner the foregoing, after the Effective
Time Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall assume the obligations of
Company under the indemnification agreements set forth in Section 4.4(c), but
only to the extent Company would be permitted under the DGCL to perform its
obligations under such indemnification agreements.
(b) Insurance. For a period of not less than four (4) years after the
Effective Date, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be
maintained officers' and directors' liability insurance covering Company's
existing officers and directors who are currently covered in such capacities by
Company's existing officers' and directors' liability insurance policies on
terms substantially no less advantageous to such officers and directors than
such existing insurance provided, further, that in no event shall Parent and the
Surviving Corporation be required to expend in excess of 200% of the annual
premium currently paid by the Company for such coverage (or obtain coverage in
excess of the coverage that is available for such 200% of such annual premium).
4.12 Employee Benefits. (a) As soon after the date hereof as practicable
and legally permissible, Company shall make a cash refund of all participant
plan accounts under the ESPP pursuant to the resolutions described in Section
2.11(m).
(b) At the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall offer all
persons who were theretofore employees of Company and its subsidiaries benefits
under Parent Benefit Plans which, in the aggregate, are no less favorable to
such employees than those that Company currently provides to its own employees.
Each Parent Benefit Plan (i) shall give credit for purposes of eligibility to
participate and vesting to employees of Company and its subsidiaries for service
prior to the Effective Time with Company and its subsidiaries (and their
predecessors, to the extent credit for service with such predecessors was given
by Company) to the same extent that such service was recognized under a
comparable Company Benefit Plan and (ii) shall, if applicable, waive any
pre-existing condition or limitation applicable to the addition of such
employees to any Parent Benefit Plan to the same extent that such condition or
limitation would be waived under a comparable Company Benefit Plan.
4.13 No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof, Company shall not,
and shall not authorize or permit any of its subsidiaries or Representatives to,
directly or indirectly, solicit or initiate (including by way of furnishing
information) or take any other action to facilitate knowingly any inquiries or
the making of any proposal which constitutes or may reasonably be expected to
lead to an Acquisition Proposal from any person or entity, or engage in any
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discussion or negotiations relating thereto or accept any Acquisition Proposal;
provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision hereof, Company may
(a) comply with Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a
tender or exchange offer; and (b) at any time prior to the Closing, (i) engage
in discussions or negotiations with a third party who (without any solicitation,
initiation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation, directly or indirectly, by
or with Company or any of its subsidiaries or Representatives after the date
hereof) seeks to initiate such discussions or negotiations, and may furnish such
third party nonpublic information concerning Company and its business,
properties and assets if, and only to the extent that, (A) (1) the third party
has first made a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that the Board of Directors of
Company believes in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor)
is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all relevant,
legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the Acquisition Proposal and
the source of its financing, and believes in good faith (after consultation with
its financial advisor and after considering all of the terms, conditions,
representations, warranties and covenants which are included in such Acquisition
Proposal) that such Acquisition Proposal would, if consummated, result in a
transaction more favorable to the shareholders of Company, from a financial
point of view, than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and believes
in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor) that the person
making such Acquisition Proposal has, or is reasonably likely to have or obtain,
any necessary funds or customary commitments to provide any funds necessary to
consummate such Acquisition Proposal (any such more favorable Acquisition
Proposal being referred in this Agreement as a "Superior Proposal") and (2)
Company's Board of Directors shall conclude in good faith, after considering
applicable provisions of state law, that such action may be necessary for the
Board of Directors to act in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under
applicable law, and (B) forty-eight hours prior to furnishing such information
to or entering into discussions or negotiations with such person or entity,
Company (1) provides prompt notice to Parent to the effect that it is furnishing
information to or entering into discussions or negotiations with such person or
entity and (2) receives from such person or entity an executed confidentiality
agreement in reasonably customary form on terms not materially more favorable to
such person or entity than the terms contained in the Confidentiality Agreement,
and/or (ii) accept a Superior Proposal from a third party, provided that the
conditions set forth in clauses (i)(A) and (i)(B) above have been satisfied and
Company complies with and terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1(g).
Company shall immediately cease and terminate any existing solicitation,
initiation, encouragement, activity, discussion or negotiation with any persons
or entities conducted heretofore by Company or any of its subsidiaries or
Representatives with respect to the foregoing. The Company shall notify Parent
orally and in writing of any such inquiries, offers or proposals (including the
terms and conditions of any such proposal and the identity of the person making
it) within twenty-four hours of the receipt thereof, and shall keep Parent
informed of the status and details of any such inquiry, offer, or proposal.
4.14. Consent of Holders of Options. Company shall use its best reasonable
efforts to obtain and deliver to Parent, prior to the Effective Time, binding
agreements from the holders of all of the Options, agreeing to the conversion of
such Options on the terms described in Section 1.9.
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4.15. Redemption of Class B Preferred Shares. Prior to the Effective Time,
Company will redeem all outstanding shares of its Class B Preferred Stock, and
will obtain the prior written consent of the holders of Class A Preferred Shares
to such redemption.
4.16. Audited Financial Statements. As soon as practicable, Company shall
deliver the consolidated balance sheet of Company as of December 31, 1999 and
the consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for
the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, in each case including the notes
thereto and the related report of PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP, independent
certified public accountants.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS
5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Company, Parent and Buyer. The respective
obligations of the parties to effect the Merger are subject to the fulfillment
at or prior to the Effective Date of the following conditions unless waived in
writing by all parties:
(a) Approval. All corporate actions necessary to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Merger shall have been duly
and validly taken by the other parties. The shareholders of Company shall have
approved this Agreement and the Merger in accordance with applicable Law.
(b) Approval from Government Entities. All approvals required by any
Governmental Entity and all other actions required to effect the Merger and
related transactions shall have been obtained. The waiting period under the HSR
Act shall have expired, or early termination of the waiting period under the HSR
Act shall have been granted.
(c) Absence of Governmental Litigation. No Governmental Entity shall have
instituted a proceeding seeking injunctive or other relief in connection with
the Merger and related transactions. There shall not be any judgment, decree,
injunction, ruling or order of any Governmental Entity that prohibits,
restricts, or delays consummation of the Merger.
(d) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement
covering the Parent Stock shall have been declared effective under the
Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued with respect thereto.
(e) Market Conditions. There shall not have occurred and be continuing (i)
any general suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on
any national securities exchange or the over-the-counter market, (ii) a
declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of
banks in the United States, (iii) any limitation (whether or not mandatory)
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by any government or Governmental Entity of the United States on the extension
of credit by banks or other lending institutions, or (iv) in the case of any of
the foregoing existing at the time of the execution of this Agreement, a
material acceleration or worsening thereof.
5.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Buyer. The obligations of
Parent and Buyer to effect the Merger are subject to the fulfillment at or prior
to the Effective Date of the following conditions except to the extent waived in
writing by Parent and Buyer:
(a) Representations and Compliance. The representations and warranties of
Company in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and on the Effective Date with the same effect as though made on and
as of such date, except where failure to be so true and correct would not (in
the aggregate for all representations and warranties of Company) have Company
Material Adverse Effect (other than representations and warranties that are
already so qualified, which in each such case shall be true and correct as
written), and except for any changes contemplated by this Agreement; Company
shall have complied in all material respects with all covenants requiring
compliance by it prior to the Effective Date; and Buyer shall have received an
officer's certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Company
certifying as to each of the foregoing.
(b) Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received an opinion from Carter, Ledyard
& Milburn, counsel to Parent, based upon reasonably requested representation
letters and dated the Effective Date, that the Merger will constitute a
reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes within the meaning
of IRC Section 368(a), that each of Parent, Buyer and Company will be a party to
that reorganization within the meaning of IRC Section 368(b) and that neither
Parent, Buyer nor Company will recognize any gain on the Merger.
(c) No Material Adverse Effect. From the date hereof, there shall not have
occurred any event which has resulted or is likely to result in a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Material Contracts. All consents from International Business Machines
Corp., IBM Credit Corp. and their affiliates, and from other parties to the
Material Contracts listed on Schedule 2.4 if necessary to allow the consummation
of the Merger and the continuation of Company's Business in the ordinary course
after consummation of the Merger, shall have been received.
(e) Consent of Option Holders. Company shall have delivered to Parent
binding agreements from the holders of at least 90% of the Options (by number of
underlying shares of Company Common Stock), agreeing to the conversion of such
Options on the terms described in Section 1.9.
(f) Audited Financial Statements. The corresponding portions of the audited
financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.16 shall not differ, in any
manner adverse to Parent and Buyer, from the unaudited financial statements
described in Section 2.6(a).
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5.3 Conditions to Obligations of Company. The obligations of Company to
effect the Merger are subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective
Date of the following conditions unless waived in writing by Company:
(a) Representations and Compliance. The representations and warranties of
Parent and Buyer in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the date of this Agreement and on the Effective Date with the
same effect as though made on and as of such date, except where failure to be so
true and correct would not (in the aggregate for all representations and
warranties of Parent and Buyer) have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (other
than representations and warranties that are already so qualified, which in each
such case shall be true and correct as written), except for any changes
contemplated by this Agreement; Parent and Buyer shall have complied in all
material respects with all covenants requiring compliance by it prior to the
Effective Date; and Company shall have received an officer's certificate signed
by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent certifying as to each of the foregoing.
(b) Tax Opinion. Company shall have received an opinion from Pillsbury
Madison & Sutro LLP, counsel to Company, based upon reasonably requested
representation letters and dated the Effective Date, that the Merger will
constitute a reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes within
the meaning of IRC Section 368(a) that each of Parent, Buyer and Company will be
a party to that reorganization within the meaning of IRC Section 368(b).
(c) Listing. The Parent Stock distributed in connection with the Merger
shall have been accepted upon notice of issuance for listing on the NYSE.
(d) No Material Adverse Effect. From the date hereof, there shall not have
occurred any event which has resulted or is likely to result in a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
6.1 Termination and Abandonment. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before
or after approval by the shareholders of Company:
(a) by mutual consent of Parent and Company;
(b) by either Parent or Company upon written notice to the other party if
any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final
nonappealable order denying, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
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(c) by either Parent or Company if the Merger shall not have been
consummated on or before September 15, 2000 unless the failure of the Merger to
occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate
this Agreement to perform or observe in any material respect the covenants and
agreements of such party set forth herein;
(d) by either Company or Parent if any approval of the shareholders of
Company required for the consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained
by reason of the failure to hold the Company Shareholders Meeting or to obtain
the required vote of shareholders of Company at the Company Shareholders'
Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;
(e) by either Parent or Company (so long as the terminating party is not
then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement
contained herein) if there shall have been a breach of any of the
representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the
other party which has or would reasonably likely have a Company Material Adverse
Effect (if the terminating party is Parent) or a Parent Material Adverse Effect
(if the terminating party is Company);
(f) by either Parent or Company (so long as the terminating party is not
then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement
contained herein) if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or
agreements or conditions or obligations set forth in this Agreement on the part
of the other party which has or would reasonably likely have a Company Material
Adverse Effect (if the terminating party is Parent) or a Parent Material Adverse
Effect (if the terminating party is Company), and which breach shall not have
been cured within ten days following receipt by the breaching party of written
notice of such breach from the other party hereto or which breach, by its
nature, cannot be cured prior to the Effective Time;
(g) by Company, prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, for the purpose of entering into an agreement with a Person that has
made a Superior Proposal; and
(h) by Parent prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby if the Board of Directors of Company shall have withdrawn, amended,
modified, conditioned or qualified in a manner adverse to Parent its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or shall have recommended another Acquisition
Proposal or offer for the purchase of Company Common Stock.
6.2 Effect of Termination. Except as provided in Section 4.9 and Section
7.2 hereof with respect to expenses and fees (including the Termination Fee),
and except as provided in Section 4.1(b) hereof with respect to information
obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and except as
provided in Section 4.4(c), in the event of the termination of this Agreement
and the abandonment of the Merger, this Agreement shall thereafter become null
and void and have no effect, and no party hereto shall have any liability to any
other party hereto or its shareholders or directors or officers in respect
thereof, and each party shall be
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responsible for its own expenses, except that nothing herein shall relieve any
party for liability for any willful breach hereof.
6.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any
time before or after approval hereof by the shareholders of Company and Buyer,
but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be made which would under the
DGCL require the approval of the shareholders of Company or Buyer, respectively,
without such further approval of such shareholders. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.
6.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Date, the parties
hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Termination of Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of each party will terminate on the Effective Date.
7.2 Expenses. Subject to Section 4.9, each party will pay its own expenses
relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
7.3 Remedies. If, in accordance with the terms of the parenthetical
contained in the second sentence of Section 4.4(a), Company's Board of Directors
fails to recommend this Agreement (and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger) to Company's shareholders, or amends, modifies, withdraws,
conditions or qualifies, in a manner adverse to Parent, its approval and
recommendation thereof to Company's shareholders, Parent's sole remedy in
connection therewith under this Agreement (without prejudice to the remedies of
Parent under the Option Agreement and the Inducement Agreement) shall be
Company's payment of the Termination Fee to Parent pursuant to Section 4.9.
7.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered in person, sent by registered or
certified mail (return receipt requested), or telecopied to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):
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if to Parent or Buyer:
Avnet, Inc.
2211 South 4th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Attention: David Birk, General Counsel
Telecopy: (480) 643-7929
with a copy to:
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn
2 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Jim Abbott, Esq.
Telecopy: (212) 732-3200
if to Company:
Savoir Technology Group, Inc.
254 East Hacienda Avenue
Campbell, California 95008
Attention: P. Scott Munro, CEO
Telecopy: (408) 370-4597
with a copy to:
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, California 94304
Attention: Jorge del Calvo
Telecopy: (650) 233-4545
7.5 Further Assurances. Buyer and Company each agree to execute and deliver
such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and to take
such other actions as may be reasonably necessary or desirable in order to
expeditiously consummate or implement the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
7.6 Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
under it are assignable.
7.7 Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State
of Delaware without regard to conflict of law principles.
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7.8 Interpretation. Headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
7.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
7.10 Integration. This Agreement and the Schedules hereto constitute the
entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings
(including the Confidentiality Agreement), both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
ARTICLE VIII
DEFINITIONS
8.1 Definitions. For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires: (a) the terms
defined in this Article VIII have the meaning assigned to them in this Article
VIII and include the plural as well as the singular; (b) all accounting terms
not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under generally accepted
accounting principles; (c) all references in this Agreement to designated
"Articles," "Sections" and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles,
Sections and other subdivisions of the body of this Agreement; (d) pronouns of
either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms;
and (e) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar
import refer to this Agreement as whole and not to any particular Article,
Section nor other subdivision.
As used in this Agreement and the Schedules delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, the following definitions shall apply.
"Acquisition Proposal" means any proposal or offer from any Person relating
to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of all or a substantial part
of the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or of over 15% of any
class or series of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any
Person beneficially owning 15% or more of any class or series of equity
securities of Company or any of its subsidiaries, any merger, consolidation,
business combination, sale of all or substantially all of the assets,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving
Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
"Buyer" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Canceled Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(d).
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"Certificate of Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Company" has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
"Company Affiliates" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10.
"Company Benefit Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(a).
"Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the second Recital
hereto.
"Company ERISA Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(a).
"Company ERISA Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(a).
"Company Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, financial condition, results of operation, business prospects or
properties of Company and its subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation and its
subsidiaries, in each case taken as a whole. For purposes of this Agreement, a
Company Material Adverse Effect does not include a material adverse effect on
the business, financial condition, results of operation or properties of Company
as a result of (i) the transactions contemplated hereby or the public
announcement thereof, or (ii) changes in the conditions or prospects of Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which are consistent with general
economic conditions or general changes affecting the electronic components,
computer products or production supplies distribution industries or electronics
manufacturing industry, or (iii) any matter disclosed in Company SEC Filings (as
defined in Section 2.6) made before the execution of this Agreement or in the
Schedules to this Agreement.
"Company SEC Filings" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b).
"Company Shareholders' Approval" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"Company Common Shares" means shares of Company Common Stock.
"Company's Business" means the business of Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
"Company Option Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
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"Company Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(c).
"Confidentiality Agreement" means the confidentiality agreement of recent
date by and between Company and Parent.
"Contract" means any agreement, arrangement, bond, commitment, franchise,
indemnity, indenture, instrument, lease, license or understanding, whether or
not in writing.
"Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
"Effective Time" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
"Environmental Regulations" means, collectively, all Laws, regulations,
orders and other requirements of any Governmental Entity relating to the
protection of human health or the environment or to Hazardous Substances and the
use, storage, treatment, disposal, transport, generation, release of, and
exposure of others to, Hazardous Substances.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"ESPP" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(a).
"Exchange Price" is that price calculated pursuant to the terms set forth
in Section 1.7(a).
"Governmental Entity" means any governmental agency, district, bureau,
board, commission, court, department, official political subdivision, tribunal
or other instrumentality of any government, whether federal, state or local,
domestic or foreign.
"Hazardous Substances" means (but shall not be limited to) substances that
are defined or listed in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any applicable
Laws as "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous wastes" or
"toxic substances," or any other formulation intended to define, list or
classify substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity, radioactivity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity
or "EP toxicity," and petroleum and drilling fluids, produced waters and other
wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil,
natural gas or geothermal energy, and lead, asbestos, PCBs or other substances
regulated under Environmental Regulations.
"HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
as amended.
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"Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a).
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(c).
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.
"Laws" means any constitutional provision, statute, ordinance, or other
law, code, common law, rule, regulation or interpretation of any Governmental
Entity and any decree, injunction, judgment, award, order, ruling, assessment or
writ.
"Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
"Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
"Merger Consideration" means the Stock Merger Consideration and cash
payable in lieu of fractional shares, if any, pursuant to Section 1.8(e).
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange.
"Options" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
"Parent Benefit Plans" means collectively, all employee benefit plans,
programs and commitments that Parent makes generally available to its employees
and their beneficiaries, providing benefits in the nature of pension,
retirement, severance, stock purchase, health, medical, life, disability, sick
leave, vacation, or other welfare or fringe benefits, including, without
limitation, all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and
fringe benefit plans (as defined in IRC Section 6039D).
"Parent's Business" means the business of Parent and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
"Parent Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, financial condition, results of operation, business prospects or
properties of Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For purposes of
this Agreement, a Parent Material Adverse Effect does not include a material
adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operation or
properties of Parent as a result of (i) the transactions contemplated hereby or
the public announcement hereof, or (ii) changes in the conditions or prospects
of Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which are consistent with
general economic conditions or general changes affecting the electronic
components or computer products, distribution industries or electronics
manufacturing industry, or (iii) any matter disclosed in the Parent SEC Filings
(as defined in Section 3.6) or in the Schedules to this Agreement.
"Parent Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(a).
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"Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
bank, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
"Plan Option" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
"Qualified Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(b).
"Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(b).
"Representatives" means a Person's or any of its Subsidiaries' officers,
directors, employees, consultants, investment bankers, accountants, attorneys
and other advisors, representatives and agents.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Superior Proposal" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
"Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
"Tax" or "Taxes" means any foreign, federal, state, county or local income,
sales, use, excise, franchise, ad valorem, real and personal property, transfer,
gross receipt, stamp, premium, profits, customs, duties, windfall profits,
capital stock, production, business and occupation, disability, employment,
payroll, severance or withholding taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any
kind whatever imposed by any Governmental Entity, and interest and penalties
(civil or criminal), additions to tax, payments in lieu of taxes or additional
amounts related thereto or to the nonpayment thereof, and any loss in connection
with the determination, settlement or litigation of any Tax liability.
"Tax Return" means a declaration, statement report, return or other
document or information required to be filed or supplied with respect to Taxes,
including, where permitted or required, combined or consolidated returns for any
group of entities that includes Company or any of its subsidiaries.
"Termination Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
AVNET, INC.
By: /s/Raymond Sadowski
-------------------
Name: Raymond Sadowski
Title Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
TACTFUL ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/David R. Birk
----------------
Name: David R.Birk
Title President
SAVOIR TECHNOLOGY GROUP,
INC.
By: /s/P. Scott Munro
-----------------
Name: P. Scott Munro
Title Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
45
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of March 2, 2000 (the "Agreement"), by and
between Savoir Technology Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer"), and
Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation ("Grantee").
WHEREAS, Issuer, Grantee and Tactful Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("Sub"), which is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Grantee,
propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date
hereof (the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement), providing for, among
other things, a merger (the "Merger") of Sub with and into Issuer;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's willingness to enter
into the Merger Agreement, Grantee has requested that Issuer agree, and Issuer
has agreed, to grant Grantee the Option (as defined below); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in
the Merger Agreement, Issuer and Grantee agree as follows:
1. GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase
up to 2,023,435 shares (the "Option Shares") of common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of Issuer (the "Issuer Common Stock") (being 15% of the number of
shares of Issuer Common Stock outstanding on February 24, 2000 before such
issuance), at a purchase price of $6.83 per Option Share (such price, as
adjusted if applicable, the "Purchase Price"), payable in cash or in shares of
common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Grantee (the "Grantee Common
Stock"), at the election of Grantee. The number and nature of Option Shares that
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Purchase Price are
subject to adjustment as set forth herein.
2. EXERCISE OF OPTION. (a) Grantee may exercise the Option, in whole or in
part, at any time or from time to time following the occurrence of a Purchase
Event (as defined below); provided that, except as otherwise provided herein,
the Option shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the
earliest to occur of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) 6 months after the first
occurrence of a Purchase Event (or if, at the expiration of such 6-months after
the first occurrence of a Purchase Event, the Option cannot be exercised by
reason of any applicable judgment, decree, order, law or regulation, 10 business
days after such impediment to exercise shall have been removed, but in no event
under this clause (ii) later than the first anniversary of the Purchase Event),
(iii) termination of the Merger Agreement under circumstances which do not and
cannot result in Grantee's becoming entitled to receive the Termination Fee from
Issuer
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pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement; and (iv) 12 months after the
termination of the Merger Agreement under circumstances which do or could result
in Grantee's becoming entitled to receive the Termination Fee from Issuer
pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement, unless during such 12-month
period, a Purchase Event shall occur. The Grantee also may terminate the Option,
in whole or in part, upon notice to Issuer. The termination of the Option shall
not affect any rights hereunder which by their terms extend beyond the date of
such termination.
(b) As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means an event the result of which
is that the Grantee becomes entitled to receive the Termination Fee from Issuer
pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement.
(c) In the event Grantee wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send to
Issuer a written notice (the "Exercise Notice"; the date of which being herein
referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of Option
Shares it intends to purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and
date not earlier than three business days nor later than 10 business days from
such Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (a "Closing"; and the date of
such Closing, a "Closing Date"); and (iii) whether it elects to pay the Purchase
Price in cash or in shares of Grantee Common Stock; provided that such closing
shall be held only if (A) such purchase would not otherwise violate or cause the
violation of applicable law (including the HSR Act), (B) no law, rule or
regulation shall have been adopted or promulgated, and no temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling
issued by a court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction
shall be in effect, which prohibits delivery of such Option Shares (and the
parties hereto shall use their reasonable best efforts to have any such order,
injunction, decree or ruling vacated or reversed) and (C) any prior notification
to or approval of any other regulatory authority in the United States or
elsewhere required in connection with such purchase shall have been made or
obtained, other than those which if not made or obtained would not reasonably be
expected to result in a significant detriment to the Grantee and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole. If the Closing cannot be consummated by reason of a restriction set forth
in clause (A), (B) or (C) above, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(a),
the Closing shall be held within 5 business days following the elimination of
such restriction.
3. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES. (a) On each Closing Date, if
Grantee has elected to pay the Purchase Price therefor in cash, Grantee shall
pay to Issuer in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account
designated by Issuer an amount equal to the Purchase Price multiplied by the
Option Shares to be purchased on such Closing Date.
(b) On each Closing Date, if Grantee has elected to pay the Purchase Price
therefor in shares of Grantee Common Stock ("Purchase Shares"), Grantee shall
deliver to Issuer a certificate or certificates representing the Purchase Shares
to be delivered at such Closing, which Purchase Shares shall be free and clear
of all liens, charges or encumbrances ("Liens"),
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and Issuer shall deliver to Grantee a letter agreeing that Issuer shall not
offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such Purchase Shares in violation of
applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement. The number of Purchase
Shares issuable at such Closing shall be obtained by multiplying the number of
Option Shares specified in the Exercise Notice therefor by a fraction, of which
the numerator shall be the Purchase Price, and the denominator shall be price
per share of Grantee Common Stock on the five trading days immediately preceding
the Notice Date therefor.
(c) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in Section 3(a) or Purchase Shares as provided in
Section 3(b), Issuer shall deliver to Grantee a certificate or certificates
representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such closing, which Option
Shares shall be free and clear of all Liens, and Grantee shall deliver to Issuer
a letter agreeing that Grantee shall not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of
such Option Shares in violation of applicable law or the provisions of this
Agreement.
(c) Certificates for the Option Shares and Purchase Shares (collectively,
"Shares") delivered at each Closing shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend
which shall read substantially as follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND PURSUANT
TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH __, 2000. A COPY OF
SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT
BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to restrictions arising under
the Securities Act in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of
substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the issuer of such Shares
shall have received a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion
of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such issuer and its
counsel, to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the
Securities Act and (ii) the reference to restrictions pursuant to this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the Shares evidenced by certificate(s) containing such
reference have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of
this Agreement under circumstances that do not require the retention of such
reference.
4. AUTHORIZED STOCK. (a) Issuer hereby represents and warrants to, and
covenants with, Grantee that Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other
action to authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue, at all times from the
date hereof until the obligation to deliver Shares upon the exercise of the
Option terminates, and will have reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the
Option, all of the Option Shares issuable to Grantee upon exercise of the
Option, and Issuer will take all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize
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and reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue all additional shares of
Issuer Common Stock or other securities which may be issued pursuant to Section
6 upon exercise of the Option. The Option Shares to be issued upon due exercise
of the Option, including all additional shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities which may be issuable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section
6, upon issuance pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all Liens, including
any preemptive rights of any stockholder of Issuer.
(b) Grantee hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, Issuer
that prior to each Closing at which Grantee will issue Purchase Shares, Grantee
will take all necessary corporate and other action to authorize and reserve and
to permit it to issue, and will have reserved for issuance, all of the Purchase
Shares issuable to Issuer at such Closing, and Grantee will take all necessary
corporate and other action to authorize and reserve for issuance and to permit
it to issue all additional shares of Grantee Common Stock or other securities
which may be issued pursuant to Section 6 upon exercise of the Option. The
Purchase Shares to be issued upon due exercise of the Option, including all
additional shares of Grantee Common Stock or other securities which may be
issuable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 6, upon issuance
pursuant hereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable,
and shall be delivered free and clear of all Liens, including any preemptive
rights of any stockholder of Grantee.
5. PURCHASE NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to
Issuer that any Option Shares or other securities acquired by Grantee upon
exercise of the Option will not be taken with a view to the public distribution
thereof and will not be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a
transaction registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee that any Purchase Shares or
other securities acquired by Issuer upon exercise of the Option will not be
taken with a view to the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred
or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act.
6. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, ETC. (a) In the event of any
change in Shares by reason of reclassification, recapitalization, stock split,
split-up, combination, exchange of shares, stock dividend, dividend, dividend
payable in any other securities, or any similar event, the type and number of
Shares or securities subject to the Option, and the Purchase Price therefor
(including for purposes of repurchase thereof pursuant to Section 7), shall be
adjusted appropriately, and proper provisions shall be made in the agreements
governing such transaction, so that Grantee and Issuer each shall receive upon
exercise of the Option the number and class of shares or other securities or
property that Grantee would have received in respect of Shares if the Option had
been exercised immediately prior to such event or the record date therefor, as
applicable. If any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock are issued after the
date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to an event described in the
immediately preceding sentence), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
subject to the
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<PAGE>
Option shall be adjusted so that immediately prior to such issuance, it equals
15% of the number of Shares then issued and outstanding. In no event shall the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the Option exceed 15% of the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock issued and outstanding at the time of
exercise (without giving effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the
Option).
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, whenever the number of Option Shares
purchasable upon exercise of the Option is adjusted as provided in this Section
6, the Purchase Price per Option Share shall be adjusted by multiplying the
Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of
Option Shares purchasable prior to the adjustment and the denominator of which
is equal to the number of Option Shares purchasable after the adjustment.
(c) Without limiting the parties' relative rights and obligations under the
Merger Agreement, in the event that Issuer enters into an agreement (i) to
consolidate with or merge or convert into any Person, other than Grantee or one
of its Subsidiaries, and Issuer will not be the continuing or surviving
corporation in such consolidation, conversion, or merger, (ii) to permit any
Person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and
Issuer will be the continuing or surviving corporation, but in connection with
such merger, the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the consummation of such merger will be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of Issuer or any other Person or cash or any other property, or
(iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to
any Person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each
such case, the agreement governing such transaction will make proper provision
so that the Option will, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon
the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for,
an option with identical terms appropriately adjusted to acquire the number and
class of shares or other securities or property that Grantee would have received
in respect of Option Shares had the Option been exercised immediately prior to
such consolidation, conversion, merger, sale or transfer or the record date
therefor, as applicable. Issuer shall take such steps in connection with such
consolidation, merger, conversion, sale, transfer, or other such transaction as
may be reasonably necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter apply as nearly as possible to any securities or property thereafter
deliverable upon exercise of the Option.
7. REPURCHASE OF OPTION. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
2(a), at any time upon or after the first occurrence of a Purchase Event and
prior to termination of the Option in accordance with Section 2, Issuer shall at
the request of Grantee (any such request, a "Cash Exercise Notice"), repurchase
from Grantee the Option or a portion thereof (if and to the extent not
previously exercised or terminated) at a price which, subject to Section 10
below, is equal to the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as defined
below) as of the Section 7 Request Date (as defined below) for an Option Share
over (y) the Purchase Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6),
multiplied by all or such portion of the Option
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<PAGE>
Shares subject to the Option as the Grantee shall specify in the Cash Exercise
Notice (the "Option Repurchase Price").
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(a), at any time following
the occurrence of a Purchase Event, Issuer (or any successor entity thereof)
may, at its election (notice of which shall be given to Grantee), repurchase the
Option (if and to the extent not previously exercised or terminated) at the
Option Repurchase Price; provided that the aggregate number of Option Shares as
to which the Option may be repurchased shall not exceed 1,348,957. For purposes
of this Agreement, an exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the
Closing Date and not on the Notice Date relating thereto.
(c) In connection with any exercise of rights under this Section 7, Issuer
shall, within 5 business days after the Section 7 Request Date, pay the Option
Repurchase Price in immediately available funds, and Grantee shall surrender to
Issuer the Option or the applicable portion thereof. Upon receipt by the Grantee
of the Option Repurchase price, the obligations of the Issuer to deliver Option
Shares pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement shall be terminated with respect
to the number of Option Shares specified in the Cash Exercise Notice or the
number of Option Shares as to which the Option is repurchased under Section
7(b).
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following
meanings:
(i) "Applicable Price", as of any date, means the highest of (A) the
highest price per Share paid or proposed to be paid by any third party for
Shares or the consideration per Share received or to be received by holders
of Shares, in each case pursuant to any Acquisition Proposal for or with
Issuer made on or prior to such date or (B) the average closing price per
Share as reported by Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") or if the Shares are
not listed on the NNM, the highest bid price per Share as quoted on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or,
if the Shares are not quoted thereon, on the principal trading market on
which such Shares are traded as reported by a recognized source, during the
10 trading days preceding such date. If the consideration to be offered,
paid or received pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) shall be other than
in cash, the value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith
by an independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
Grantee and reasonably acceptable to Issuer.
(ii) "Section 7 Request Date" means the date on which Issuer gives notice
of its election to repurchase the Option pursuant to Section 7(b) or
Grantee provides a Cash Exercise Notice, as the case may be.
8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Issuer shall, if requested by Grantee or any
Subsidiary of Grantee which is the owner of Option Shares (collectively with
Grantee, the
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"Owners") at any time and from time to time within two years of the first
exercise of the Option, as expeditiously as possible prepare and file up to two
registration statements under the Securities Act if such registration is
necessary in order to permit the sale or other disposition of any or all shares
or other securities that have been acquired by or are issuable to such Owners
upon exercise of the Option ("Registrable Securities") in accordance with the
intended method of sale or other disposition stated by such Owners, including a
"shelf" registration statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any
successor provision, and Issuer shall use all reasonable efforts to qualify such
Registrable Securities under any applicable state securities laws. Issuer shall
use all reasonable efforts to cause each such registration statement to become
effective, to obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are required
therefor and to keep such registration statement effective for such period at
least 90 days from the day such registration statement first becomes effective
as may be reasonably necessary to effect such sale or other disposition. The
obligations of Issuer hereunder to file a registration statement and to maintain
its effectiveness may be suspended for a period of time not exceeding 90 days in
the aggregate if the Board of Directors of Issuer shall have determined in good
faith that the filing of such registration statement or the maintenance of its
effectiveness would require disclosure of nonpublic information that would
materially and adversely affect Issuer (but in no event shall Issuer exercise
such postponement right more than once in any 12-month period). Any registration
statement prepared and filed under this Section 8, and any sale covered thereby,
shall be at Issuer's expense except for underwriting discounts or commissions,
brokers' fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of Owners' counsel
related thereto. The Owners shall provide all information reasonably requested
by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder. If
during the time period referred to in the first sentence of this Section 8
Issuer effects a registration under the Securities Act capital stock of the same
class as the Registrable Securities for its own account or for any other
stockholders of Issuer (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor
form), it shall allow the Owners the right to participate in such registration,
and such participation shall not affect the obligation of Issuer to effect two
registration statements for the Owners under this Section 8; provided that, if
the managing underwriters of such offering advise Issuer in writing that in
their opinion the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in
such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without
adversely affecting the offering price, Issuer and the Owners shall each reduce
on a pro rata basis the Registrable Securities to be included therein on their
respective behalf. In connection with any registration pursuant to this Section
8, Issuer and the Owners shall provide each other and any underwriter of the
offering with customary representations, warranties, covenants, indemnification
and contribution in connection with such registration.
9. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF ISSUER. (a) If Shares or any other securities to
be acquired upon exercise of the Option are then listed on the NNM or any other
securities exchange or market, Issuer, upon the request of any Owner, will
promptly file an application to list the Shares or other securities to be
acquired upon exercise of the Options on the NNM or such other securities
exchange or market and will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval
of such listing as soon as practicable.
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<PAGE>
(b) Issuer will use its reasonable best 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 and regulations to permit the exercise of the
Option in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, as soon as
practicable after the date hereof, including making any appropriate filing
pursuant to the HSR Act and any other applicable law, supplying as promptly as
practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be
requested pursuant to the HSR Act and any other applicable law, and taking all
other actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable
waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as practicable.
(c) Issuer agrees not to avoid or seek to avoid (whether by charter
amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, conversion, merger, issuance
of rights, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act) the
observance or performance of any of the covenants, agreements or conditions to
be observed or performed hereunder by it.
(d) Issuer shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any
acquisitions or dispositions by Grantee (or any affiliate who may become subject
to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act) of any
Shares acquired in connection with this Agreement (through conversion or
exercise of the Option or otherwise) to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act.
10. LIMITATION OF GRANTEE PROFIT. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision
in this Agreement, in no event shall Grantee's Total Profit (as defined below)
exceed $5,100,000 (the "Maximum Profit") and, if it otherwise would exceed such
amount, Grantee, at its sole discretion, shall either (i) reduce the number of
Shares subject to the Option, (ii) deliver to Issuer for cancellation Shares (or
other securities into which such Option Shares are converted or exchanged)
previously purchased by Grantee, (iii) pay cash to Issuer, or (iv) any
combination of the foregoing, so that Grantee's actually realized Total Profit
shall not exceed the Maximum Profit after taking into account the foregoing
actions.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Option may
not be exercised for a number of Option Shares as would, as of any Notice Date,
result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of more than the Maximum
Profit and, if exercise of the Option otherwise would result in the Notional
Total Profit exceeding such amount, Grantee, at its discretion, may (in addition
to any of the actions specified in Section 10(a) above) (i) reduce the number of
Shares subject to the Option or (ii) increase the Purchase Price for that number
of Option Shares set forth in the Exercise Notice so that the Notional Total
Profit shall not exceed the Maximum Profit; PROVIDED that nothing in this
sentence shall restrict any exercise of the Option permitted hereby on any
subsequent date at the Purchase Price set forth in Section 1 hereof.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Total Profit" shall mean: (i) the
aggregate amount (before taxes) of (A) any excess of (x) the net cash amounts or
fair market value of any
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property received by Grantee pursuant to a sale of Option Shares (or securities
into which such shares are converted or exchanged) over (y) the Grantee's
aggregate Purchase Price for such Option Shares (or other securities), plus (B)
any amounts received by Grantee on the repurchase of the Option by Issuer
pursuant to Section 7, plus (C) any Termination Fee paid by Issuer and received
by Grantee pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement, minus (ii) the
amounts of any cash previously paid by Grantee to Issuer pursuant to this
Section 10 plus the value of the Option Shares (or other securities) previously
delivered by Grantee to Issuer for cancellation pursuant to this Section 10.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, "Notional Total Profit" with respect to
any number of Option Shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise the
Option shall mean the Total Profit determined as of the Notice Date assuming
that the Option was exercised on such date for such number of Option Shares
specified in the Exercise Notice and assuming that such Option Shares, together
with all other Option Shares previously acquired upon exercise of the Option and
held by Grantee as of such date, were sold for cash at the closing price per
Share on the NNM as of the close of business on the preceding trading day (less
customary brokerage commissions).
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this
Agreement shall affect the ability of Grantee to receive, nor relieve Issuer's
obligation to pay, the Termination Fee provided for in Section 4.9 of the Merger
Agreement; provided that if and to the extent the Total Profit received by
Grantee would exceed the Maximum Profit following receipt of such payment,
Grantee shall be obligated to promptly comply with the terms of Section 10(a).
(f) For purposes of Section 10(a) and clause (ii) of Section 10(c), the
value of any Option Shares delivered by Grantee to Issuer shall be the
Applicable Price of such Option Shares.
11. LOSS, THEFT, ETC. OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement (and the Option granted
and evidenced hereby) is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of
Grantee, upon presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal
office of Issuer for other Agreements providing for Options of different
denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same
number of Shares purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as
used herein include any other Agreements and related Options for which this
Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by
Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction)
of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation
of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement
of like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.
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<PAGE>
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all expenses incurred
by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder, including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants,
investment bankers, accountants and counsel.
(b) WAIVER AND AMENDMENT. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived at
any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such provision. This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except upon the
execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY; SEVERABILITY. Except as
otherwise set forth in the Merger Agreement, this Agreement, together with the
Merger Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder. If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction or a federal or state regulatory agency to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or
regulatory agency determines that the Option does not permit Grantee to acquire,
or does not require Issuer to issue or repurchase, the full number of Shares, or
all or the relevant portion of the Option, as the case may be and as provided in
Sections 2 and 7, as adjusted pursuant to Section 6, it is the express intention
of Issuer to allow Grantee to acquire or to require Issuer to issue or
repurchase such lesser number of Shares, or such lesser portion of the Option,
as the case may be, as may be permissible without any amendment or modification
hereof.
(d) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES).
(e) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings contained herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given as set forth in Section 7.4 of the Merger
Agreement.
(g) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be executed
in two counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and
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delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not
sign the same counterpart.
(h) ASSIGNMENT. Grantee may not, without the prior written consent of
Issuer (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), assign this Agreement or the
Option to any other person. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Issuer
except by operation of law. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective successors and assigns.
(i) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties
contained in Sections 2.1 through 2.5 of the Merger Agreement are incorporated
herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.
(j) FURTHER ASSURANCES. In the event of any exercise of the Option by
Grantee, Issuer and Grantee shall execute and deliver all other documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.
(k) ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in
the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties
shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Both parties further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting
of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any such equitable relief and
that this provision is without prejudice to any other rights that the parties
hereto may have for any failure to perform this Agreement.
(l) CAPTIONS. The Article, Section and paragraph captions herein are for
convenience only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be
deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
(m) CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. Issuer hereby waives the restrictions on
Grantee's acquisition of Shares contained in the Confidentiality Agreement to
the extent necessary to permit Grantee to exercise the Option and purchase the
Option Shares as herein provided.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Issuer and Grantee have caused this Stock Option
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first above written.
SAVOIR TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
By:/s/P. Scott Munro
-----------------
AVNET, INC.
By: Raymond Sadowski
----------------
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INDUCEMENT AGREEMENT
This Inducement Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of March 2, 2000, by
and among Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation ("Parent"), and the stockholders
listed on the signature page hereof (each such stockholder being referred to
herein as a "Stockholder" and, collectively with each other Stockholder, the
"Stockholders").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, each Stockholder is the sole record and beneficial owner of, and
has the sole right to vote with respect to, certain shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Company Common Stock") of Savoir Technology Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company") (together with any shares of Company
Common Stock acquired by a Stockholder after the date hereof, the "Company
Shares");
WHEREAS, Parent, Tactful Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
("Buyer"), and Company propose on the date hereof to enter into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Buyer will be merged
with and into Company (the "Merger"), on the terms and subject to the conditions
contained in the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Buyer and Parent to enter into the Merger
Agreement and to incur the obligations set forth therein, the Stockholders are
entering into this Agreement pursuant to which each Stockholder is granting: (i)
an irrevocable proxy to Parent to vote in favor of the Merger, and to make
certain agreements with respect to such Stockholders' Company Shares, upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein, and (ii) an option to Parent to purchase
all of the Company Shares owned by such Stockholders.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
promises contained herein, and upon and subject to the terms and conditions set
forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably
appoints and constitutes Parent or any designee of Parent, with full power of
substitution, the lawful agent, attorney and proxy of the Stockholder (each an
"Irrevocable Proxy") during the term of this Agreement to vote in its sole
discretion all of the shares of Company Common Stock of which such Stockholder
is or becomes the owner of record or has the power to vote in the following
manner for the following purposes: (i) to call one or more meetings of the
stockholders of Company in accordance with the By-Laws of Company and applicable
law for the purpose of considering the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement such that the stockholders shall have the full opportunity to approve
the Merger Agreement and any and all amendments, modifications and
<PAGE>
waivers thereof and the transactions contemplated thereby; (ii) in favor of the
Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
at any stockholders meetings of Company held to consider the Merger Agreement
(whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned meeting); (iii)
against any other proposal for any recapitalization, merger, sale of assets or
other business combination between Company and any other person or entity other
than Buyer or Parent or the taking of any action which would result in any of
the conditions to Parent's obligations under the Merger Agreement not being
fulfilled; and (iv) as otherwise necessary or appropriate to enable Buyer and
Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and,
in connection with such purposes, to otherwise act with respect to the Shares
which the Stockholder is entitled to vote. THIS IRREVOCABLE PROXY HAS BEEN GIVEN
IN CONSIDERATION OF THE UNDERTAKINGS OF BUYER AND PARENT IN THE MERGER AGREEMENT
AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE AND COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST UNTIL THE EXPIRATION DATE
AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 HEREOF. This Agreement shall revoke all other proxies
granted by the Stockholders with respect to their Shares.
Section 2. Expiration Date. This Irrevocable Proxy shall expire on the date
(the "Expiration Date") of the earlier to occur of (i) the effective time of the
Merger, (ii) 6 months after the first occurrence of a Purchase Event (or if, at
the expiration of such 6-months after the first occurrence of a Purchase Event,
the Option (as defined below) cannot be exercised by reason of any applicable
judgment, decree, order, law or regulation, 10 business days after such
impediment to exercise shall have been removed, but in no event under this
clause (ii) later than the first anniversary of the Purchase Event), (iii)
termination of the Merger Agreement under circumstances which do not and cannot
result in Parent becoming entitled to receive the Termination Fee from Company
pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement; and (iv) 12 months after the
termination of the Merger Agreement under circumstances which do or could result
in Parent's becoming entitled to receive the Termination Fee from Issuer
pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement, unless during such 12-month
period, a Purchase Event shall occur. As used herein, a "Purchase Event" means
an event the result of which is that Parent becomes entitled to receive the
Termination Fee from Company pursuant to Section 4.9 of the Merger Agreement.
Section 3. Grant of Option. Subject to the conditions herein set forth,
each Stockholder hereby grants to Parent an irrevocable option (the "Option") to
acquire such Stockholder's Shares (the "Option Shares"), at the Exercise Price,
payable in cash or in shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
Parent (the "Parent Stock"), at the election of Parent. The number and nature of
Option Shares that may be received upon the exercise of the Option, and the
Exercise Price, are subject to adjustment as set forth herein. The Option may be
exercised from and after the date Company or its stockholders shall have
received in writing, or there shall have been publicly disclosed, an
"Acquisition Proposal" (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement). The
Option shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the Expiration
Date.
Section 4. Exercise of Option. Parent may exercise the Option by delivery
of written notice of exercise (an "Exercise Notice") to the Stockholder with
respect to which the Option is being exercised (the "Called Stockholder"),
binding Parent to acquire the Called Stockholder's
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Option Shares on the terms set forth herein, signed by an officer of Parent, to
the Called Stockholder at the executive offices of Company in Campbell,
California, prior to the Expiration Date.
Section 5. Exercise Price. (a) The "Exercise Price" shall be $7.85, subject
to adjustment pursuant to this Section 5. In the event of any change in Option
Shares by reason of reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, split-up,
combination, exchange of shares, stock dividend, dividend, dividend payable in
any other securities, or any similar event, the type and number of Option Shares
or securities subject to the Option, and the Exercise Price therefor, shall be
adjusted appropriately, and proper provisions shall be made in the agreements
governing such transaction, so that Parent shall receive upon exercise of each
Option the number and class of shares or other securities or property that
Parent would have received in respect of Option Shares if such Option had been
exercised immediately prior to such event or the record date therefor.
(b) If the Merger shall occur, under the Merger Agreement as entered into
on the date hereof, at an "Exchange Price" (as such term is defined in the
Merger Agreement) less than $59.6063, and if any Option shall have been
exercised prior to the Merger, then Parent shall issue to each Stockholder with
respect to which the Option was exercised, promptly after the Merger, an
additional number of shares of Parent Stock (plus cash in lieu of fractional
shares) equal to the difference (the "Collar Difference") between (i) the number
of shares of Parent Stock (A) issued upon such exercise of the Option (if Parent
shall have elected to pay the Exercise Price in shares of Parent Stock) or (B)
derived by dividing the amount of cash received upon such exercise of the Option
(if Parent shall have elected to pay the Exercise Price in cash) by the Exchange
Price and (ii) the number of shares of Parent Stock to which such Stockholder
would have been entitled in respect of such Option Shares upon the Merger.
(c) If the Merger shall occur, under the Merger Agreement as entered into
on the date hereof, at an Exchange Price greater than $59.6063 and if any Option
shall have been exercised prior to the Merger, then each Stockholder with
respect to which the Option was exercised, promptly after the Merger, shall
deliver to Parent a number of shares of Parent Stock (plus cash in lieu of
fractional shares) equal to the Collar Difference, or, in the election of the
Stockholder, cash equal to the product of the Collar Difference times the
Exchange Price.
Section 6. Closing of Option. (a) The closing of each purchase and sale of
Option Shares (the "Closing") shall occur at the offices of Carter, Ledyard &
Milburn in New York, New York, at 10 a.m. on the second business day following
the delivery of the Exercise Notice therefor.
(b) At each Closing, if Parent shall have elected to pay the Exercise Price
therefor in shares of Parent Stock ("Purchase Shares"), Parent shall deliver to
the Called Stockholder a certificate or certificates representing the Purchase
Shares to be delivered at such Closing, which Purchase Shares shall be free and
clear of all liens, charges or encumbrances ("Liens"), plus cash in lieu of
fractional shares, and the Called Stockholder shall deliver to Grantee a letter
agreeing that Issuer shall not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such
Purchase Shares in violation of applicable law or the provisions of this
Agreement. The number of Purchase Shares issuable at such Closing
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<PAGE>
shall be obtained by multiplying the number of Option Shares specified in the
Exercise Notice therefor by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the
Exercise Price, and the denominator shall be price per share of Parent Common
Stock on the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Exercise
Notice therefor.
(c) At each Closing, if Parent shall have elected to pay the Exercise Price
therefor in cash, Grantee shall pay to the Called Stockholder in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer an
amount equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Option Shares to
be purchased at such Closing.
(d) At each Closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in Section 6(b) or Purchase Shares as provided in
Section 6(c), the Called Stockholder shall deliver to Parent a certificate or
certificates representing the Option Shares to be purchased at such closing,
which Option Shares shall be free and clear of all Liens, and Parent shall
deliver to the Called Stockholder a letter agreeing that Parent shall not offer
to sell or otherwise dispose of such Option Shares in violation of applicable
law or the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) Certificates for the Option Shares and Purchase Shares delivered at
each Closing shall be endorsed with a restrictive legend which shall read
substantially as follows:
THE TRANSFER OF THE STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND PURSUANT
TO THE TERMS OF AN INDUCEMENT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH __, 2000. A COPY OF
SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT
BY THE ISSUER OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to restrictions arising under
the Securities Act in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of
substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the issuer of such Shares
shall have received a copy of a letter from the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to such issuer and its counsel, to the effect that such legend is
not required for purposes of the Securities Act and (ii) the reference to
restrictions pursuant to this Agreement in the above legend shall be removed by
delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the Shares
evidenced by certificate(s) containing such reference have been sold or
transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement under
circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference.
Section 7. Covenants of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder covenants and
agrees for the benefit of Parent that, until the Expiration Date, such
Stockholder will not:
(a) sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, assign, tender or
otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or
understanding with respect to
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<PAGE>
the sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment, tender or
other disposition of, any of his Company Shares or any interest therein;
(b) other than as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, grant any
powers of attorney or proxies or consents in respect of any of such
Stockholder's Company Shares, deposit any of such Company Shares into a voting
trust, enter into a voting agreement with respect to any of such Company Shares
or otherwise restrict or take any action adversely affecting the ability of such
Stockholder freely to exercise all voting rights with respect thereto; or
(c) except as permitted by the Merger Agreement, directly or indirectly
through his or her agents and representatives, initiate, solicit or encourage,
any inquiries or the making or implementation of any alternative proposal (an
"Alternative Proposal") to acquire the Company Shares or engage in any
negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or
have any discussions with, any person relating to an Alternative Proposal, or
otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Alternative
Proposal; and such Stockholder shall (i) immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any existing activities, including discussions or negotiations with
any parties, conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing and will
take the necessary steps to inform his or her agents and representatives of the
obligations undertaken in this Section 7(c), and (ii) notify Parent immediately
if any such inquiries or proposals are received by, any such information is
requested from, or any such negotiations or discussions are sought to be
initiated or continued with, him or her.
Section 8. Covenants of Parent. Parent covenants and agrees for the benefit
of the Stockholders that (a) immediately upon execution of this Agreement,
Parent shall enter into the Merger Agreement, and (b) until the Expiration Date,
it shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action,
and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or advisable in order to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Merger Agreement, consistent with the terms and conditions of each such
agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8 or any other
provision of this Agreement is intended, nor shall it be construed, to limit or
in any way restrict Parent's right or ability to exercise any of its rights
under the Merger Agreement.
Section 9. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each
Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent that:
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this
Agreement will not conflict with, require a consent, waiver or approval under,
or result in a breach or default under, any of the terms of any contract,
commitment or other obligation (written or oral) to which such Stockholder is
bound;
(b) such Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into and
execute this Agreement and to perform his obligations hereunder;
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<PAGE>
(c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder
and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder
enforceable against him in accordance with its terms;
(d) such Stockholder is the sole record and beneficial owner of, and has
the sole right to vote with respect to, the number of Company Shares set forth
opposite such Stockholder's name on Schedule A hereto, and such Company Shares
represent all shares of Company Common Stock of or with respect to which such
Stockholder is the sole owner or has the right to vote at the date hereof;
(e) except for the Company Shares listed on Schedule A hereto, such
Stockholder does not have any right to acquire, nor is he or she the "beneficial
owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended) of, any other shares of any class of capital stock of
Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
any shares of any class of capital stock of Company (other than shares subject
to options or other rights granted by Company as set forth on Schedule B
hereto);
(f) such Stockholder's Company Shares are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable, and such Stockholder owns its Company Shares free
and clear of all Liens, other than as provided by this Agreement, and good and
valid title to its Company Shares, free and clear of any Lien, will pass to
Parent upon Closing or exercise of the Option granted pursuant to Section 4
hereof; and
(g) The Board of Directors of Company has approved the granting of the
Option to Parent.
The representations and warranties contained herein shall be made as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing.
Section 10. Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent represents and
warrants to the Stockholders that:
(a) It has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and
perform all of its obligations under this Agreement;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it and all
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on its part, and this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid
and binding contract of Parent enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms;
(c) Parent will not acquire the Option Shares with a view to the
distribution thereof as that term is used in the Securities Act of 1933; and
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<PAGE>
(d) The Purchase Shares issuable hereunder, when issued to a Called
Stockholder in accordance with Section 6(b) hereof, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock of Parent,
and good and valid title to such shares of Parent Stock, free and clear of any
Encumbrance, will pass to the Stockholders upon exercise of the Option.
The representations and warranties contained herein shall be made as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing.
Section 10. Adjustments; Additional Shares. In the event of any stock
dividend, stock split, merger (other than the Merger), recapitalization,
reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or the like of the capital
stock of Company on, of or affecting the Company Common Stock then the terms of
this Agreement shall apply to the shares of capital stock or other instruments
or documents that the Stockholders own or have the right to vote immediately
following the effectiveness of such event as though they were Shares hereunder.
Section 11. Registration Rights. If Parent shall have elected to pay the
Exercise Price for the purchase of any Option Shares in Purchase Shares, Parent
shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible after the Closing therefor,
prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act if such
registration is necessary in order to permit the sale or other disposition of
any or all such Purchase Shares in accordance with the intended method of sale
or other disposition stated by the holder of such Purchase Shares, including a
"shelf" registration statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any
successor provision, and Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to list such
Purchase Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and to qualify such Purchase
Shares under any applicable state securities laws. Parent shall use all
reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, to
obtain all consents or waivers of other parties which are required therefor and
to keep such registration statement effective for such period at least 90 days
from the day such registration statement first becomes effective as may be
reasonably necessary to effect such sale or other disposition. The obligations
of Parent hereunder to file a registration statement and to maintain its
effectiveness may be suspended for a period of time not exceeding 90 days in the
aggregate if the Board of Directors of Parent shall have determined in good
faith that the filing of such registration statement or the maintenance of its
effectiveness would require disclosure of nonpublic information that would
materially and adversely affect Parent (but in no event shall Parent exercise
such postponement right more than once in any 12-month period). Any registration
statement prepared and filed under this Section 11, and any sale covered
thereby, shall be at Parent's expense except for underwriting discounts or
commissions, brokers' fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
to the Purchase Share holders. The Purchase Share holders shall provide all
information reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in any registration
statement to be filed hereunder. In connection with any registration pursuant to
this Section 11, Parent and the Purchase Share holders shall provide each other
and any underwriter of the offering with customary representations, warranties,
covenants, indemnification and contribution in connection with such
registration.
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<PAGE>
Section 12. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that the Shares
are unique and that money damages are an inadequate remedy for breach of this
Agreement because of the difficulty of ascertaining the amount of damage that
will be suffered by Parent in the event that this Agreement is breached.
Therefore, each of the Stockholders agrees that in addition to and not in lieu
of any other remedies available in Parent at law or in equity, Parent may obtain
specific performance of this Agreement.
Section 13. Assignment. Parent's rights and obligations under this
Agreement may not be assigned without the consent of each affected Stockholder,
except that Parent may assign the same to any of its direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiaries upon delivery of written notice of such assignment to
such affected Stockholder(s).
Section 14. Amendments. Amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or consent to departure therefrom shall be effective unless in writing
and signed by Parent and all affected Stockholders, in the case of an amendment,
or by the party which is the beneficiary of any such provision, in the case of a
waiver or a consent to depart therefrom.
Section 15. Notices. Any notices or other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have bee duly given (and shall be deemed to
have been duly received if so given) if personally delivered or sent by
telecopier or by registered or certified mail, postage paid, addressed to the
respective parties as follows:
If to Parent:
Avnet, Inc.
2211 South 4th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Attention: David Birk, General Counsel
Telecopy: (480) 643-7929
with a copy to:
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn
2 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: James E. Abbott
Telecopier No.: 212-732-3232
If to a Stockholder:
To the address listed on the signature page hereof
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with a copy to:
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
2550 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, California 94304
Attention: Jorge del Calvo
Telecopy: (650) 233-4545
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
only be effective upon receipt.
Section 16. Miscellaneous. All references herein to time shall mean New
York, New York time. All amounts payable hereunder are in United States Dollars.
Section 17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
Section 18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, personal
representatives, executors, heirs and permitted assigns.
Section 19. Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and each of the Stockholders have duly executed
this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
AVNET, INC.
By: /s/Raymond Sadowski
--------------------
Name: Raymond Sadowski
Title: Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
/s/P. Scott Munro
-----------------------------
P. Scott Munro
/s/Carlton Joseph Mertens II
-----------------------------
Carlton Joseph Mertens II
/s/Dennis Polk
-----------------------------
Dennis Polk
/s/Bob O'Reilly
-----------------------------
Bob O'Reilly
/s/Larry Smart
-----------------------------
Larry Smart
/s/Angelo Guadagno
-----------------------------
Angelo Guadagno
/s/Bill Sickler
-----------------------------
Bill Sickler
/s/Mike Gunnels
-----------------------------
Mike Gunnels
/s/Guy Lammle
-----------------------------
Guy Lammle
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