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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 26, 1997
U.S. Robotics Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-25630 36-3994412
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.
8100 North McCormick Boulevard
Skokie, Illinois 60076
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(847)982-5010
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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ITEM 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
On February 26, 1997, the Registrant announced that it had executed a
definitive merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") with 3Com Corporation
("3Com") pursuant to which a wholly owned subsidiary of 3Com will merge with
the the Registrant and the Registrant will become a wholly owned subsidiary
of 3Com. At the closing of the merger, each outstanding share of the
Registrant's common stock will be converted into the right to receive 1.75
shares of 3Com common stock. In connection with the Merger Agreement, each
of 3Com and the Registrant granted to the other an option, exercisable in
certain circumstances as described therein, to purchase stock amounting to up
to 19.9% of its outstanding shares.
The merger has been approved by the boards of directors of the Registrant
and 3Com but is still subject to certain conditions as described in the Merger
Agreement, including, but not limited to, expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
notice period and approval of the Merger by the stockholders of both the
Registrant and 3Com.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) EXHIBITS.
2 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 26, 1996.
4 USR Stock Option Agreement dated February 26, 1997.
10 3Com Stock Option Agreement dated February 26, 1997.
99 Press Release dated February 26, 1997.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
U.S. Robotics Corporation
Date: February 27, 1997 BY: /s/ George Vinyard
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George Vinyard
Vice President and General Counsel
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
3COM CORPORATION,
a California corporation,
TR ACQUISITIONS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of 3Com Corporation,
and
U.S. ROBOTICS CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
Dated as of February 26, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I THE MERGER....................................................... 2
Section 1.1 Effective Time of the Merger............................. 2
Section 1.2 Closing.................................................. 2
Section 1.3 Effects of the Merger.................................... 2
Section 1.4 Directors and Officers................................... 3
ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES........................................ 3
Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock.............................. 3
Section 2.2 Exchange of Certificates................................. 4
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USR.......................... 7
Section 3.1 Organization............................................. 7
Section 3.2 USR Capital Structure.................................... 7
Section 3.3 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.... 8
Section 3.4 SEC Filings; Financial Statements........................ 9
Section 3.5 No Undisclosed Liabilities............................... 10
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events..................... 10
Section 3.7 Restrictions on Business Activities...................... 11
Section 3.8 Taxes.................................................... 11
Section 3.9 Intellectual Property.................................... 12
Section 3.10 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.................... 12
Section 3.11 Litigation............................................... 13
Section 3.12 Environmental Matters.................................... 13
Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans................................... 14
Section 3.14 Compliance with Laws..................................... 15
Section 3.15 Pooling of Interests..................................... 15
Section 3.16 Interested Party Transactions............................ 15
Section 3.17 Registration Statement: Proxy Statement/Prospectus...... 15
Section 3.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor............................. 16
Section 3.19 Section 203 of the DGCL Not Applicable................... 16
Section 3.21 No Existing Discussions.................................. 16
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF 3COM AND SUB.................. 16
Section 4.1 Organization............................................. 17
Section 4.2 3Com Capital Structure................................... 17
Section 4.3 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.... 18
Section 4.4 SEC Filings; Financial Statements........................ 19
Section 4.5 No Undisclosed Liabilities............................... 20
Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events..................... 20
Section 4.7 Restrictions on Business Activities...................... 20
Section 4.8 Taxes.................................................... 21
Section 4.9 Intellectual Property.................................... 21
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Section 4.10 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.................... 22
Section 4.11 Litigation............................................... 22
Section 4.12 Environmental Matters.................................... 23
Section 4.13 Employee Benefit Plans................................... 23
Section 4.14 Compliance with Laws..................................... 24
Section 4.15 Pooling of Interests..................................... 24
Section 4.16 Interested Party Transactions............................ 25
Section 4.17 Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus....... 25
Section 4.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor............................. 25
Section 4.19 No Existing Discussions.................................. 25
Section 4.20 Interim Operations of Sub................................ 25
Section 4.21 3Com Rights Agreement.................................... 25
ARTICLE V CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.............................................. 26
Section 5.1 Covenants of USR and 3Com................................ 26
Section 5.2 Cooperation.............................................. 28
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS........................................... 29
Section 6.1 No Solicitation.......................................... 29
Section 6.2 Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement....... 30
Section 6.3 Consents................................................. 30
Section 6.4 Current Nasdaq Quotation................................. 30
Section 6.5 Access to Information.................................... 30
Section 6.6 Stockholders' Meetings................................... 31
Section 6.7 Legal Conditions to Merger............................... 31
Section 6.8 Public Disclosure........................................ 32
Section 6.9 Tax-Free Reorganization.................................. 32
Section 6.10 Pooling Accounting....................................... 32
Section 6.11 Letters from Accountants................................. 32
Section 6.12 Update Disclosure: Breaches............................. 33
Section 6.13 Stockholder Agreements................................... 33
Section 6.14 Nasdaq Quotation......................................... 33
Section 6.15 Stock Plans and Options.................................. 33
Section 6.16 Brokers or Finders....................................... 35
Section 6.17 Indemnification of Directors and Officers................ 35
Section 6.18 Additional Agreements; Reasonable Efforts................ 36
Section 6.19 Stock Option Agreements.................................. 37
Section 6.20 3Com Board of Directors.................................. 37
Section 6.21 Employment and Noncompete Agreements..................... 37
Section 6.22 Rights Plans............................................. 37
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO MERGER........................................... 38
Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Merger................................................... 38
Section 7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of 3Com and Sub..... 39
Section 7.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of USR.............. 40
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT..................................... 40
Section 8.1 Termination.............................................. 40
Section 8.2 Effect of Termination.................................... 42
Section 8.3 Fees and Expenses........................................ 43
Section 8.4 Amendment................................................ 46
Section 8.5 Extension; Waiver........................................ 46
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS.................................................... 46
Section 9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements............................................... 46
Section 9.2 Notices.................................................. 46
Section 9.3 Interpretation........................................... 47
Section 9.4 Counterparts............................................. 48
Section 9.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries........... 48
Section 9.6 Governing Law............................................ 48
Section 9.7 Assignment............................................... 48
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A-1 - 3Com Stock Option Agreement
Exhibit A-2 - USR Stock Option Agreement
Exhibit B - Form of USR Stockholder Agreement
Exhibit C - Form of Employment Agreement
Exhibit D - Form of Noncompete Agreement
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TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
CROSS REFERENCE
TERMS IN AGREEMENT
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Affiliate................................................... Section 6.13
Agreement................................................... Preamble
Alternative Transaction..................................... Section 8.3(e)
Approval.................................................... Section 6.7
Cash Satisfaction........................................... Section 8.3(d)
Certificate(s).............................................. Section 2.2(b)
Certificate of Merger....................................... Section 1.1
CGCL........................................................ Section 4.3(a)
Closing..................................................... Section 1.2
Closing Date................................................ Section 1.2
Code........................................................ Recitals
Competing Offer............................................. Section 6.1(a)
Confidentiality Agreement................................... Section 6.1(a)
Constituent Corporations.................................... Section 1.3(a)
DGCL........................................................ Section 1.1
Effective time.............................................. Section 1.1
Environmental Permits....................................... Section 3.12(c)
ERISA....................................................... Section 3.13(a)
ERISA Affiliate............................................. Section 3.13(a)
Exchange Act................................................ Section 3.3(c)(iv)
Exchange Agent.............................................. Section 2.2(a)
Exchange Fund............................................... Section 2.2(a)
Exchange Ratio.............................................. Section 2.1(c)
Governmental Entity......................................... Section 3.3(c)
Hazardous Material.......................................... Section 3.12(a)
Hazardous Materials Activities ............................. Section 3.12(b)
HSR Act..................................................... Section 3.3(c)(i)
incentive stock options..................................... Section 6.15(a)
Indemnified Parties......................................... Section 6.17(b)
Merger...................................................... Recitals
Paying Party................................................ Section 8.3(d)
Paying Party Common Stock................................... Section 8.3(d)
Payment Date................................................ Section 8.3(d)(i)
Proxy Statement............................................. Section 3.17
Registration Statement...................................... Section 3.17
Returns..................................................... Section 3.8(b)
Rule 145.................................................... Section 6.13
SEC......................................................... Section 3.3(c)(ii)
Securities Act.............................................. Section 3.3(c)(ii)
Stock Option Agreements..................................... Recitals
Stock Satisfaction.......................................... Section 8.3(d)
Stockholders' Meetings...................................... Section 3.17
Sub......................................................... Preamble
Subsidiary.................................................. Section 2.1(b)
Superior Proposal........................................... Section 6.1(a)
Surviving Corporation....................................... Section 1.3(a)
Tax(es)..................................................... Section 3.8(a)
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CROSS REFERENCE
TERMS IN AGREEMENT
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Third Party................................................. Section 8.3(e)
3Com........................................................ Preamble
3Com Additional Termination Fee............................. Section 8.3(c)
3Com Balance Sheet.......................................... Section 4.4(b)
3Com Board.................................................. Section 6.20
3Com Common Stock........................................... Recitals
3Com Disclosure Schedule.................................... Article IV
3Com Employee Plans......................................... Section 4.13(a)
3Com Initial Termination Fee................................ Section 8.3(c)
3Com Intellectual Property Rights........................... Section 4.9(a)
3Com Material Adverse Effect................................ Article IV
3Com Material Contracts..................................... Section 4.10
3Com Option Plans........................................... Section 4.2(a)
3Com Preferred Stock........................................ Section 4.2(a)
3Com Purchase Plan.......................................... Section 4.2(a)
3Com Restricted Stock Plan.................................. Section 4.2(a)
3Com Rights Agreement ...................................... Section 4.2(a)
3Com SEC Reports............................................ Section 4.4(a)
3Com Stock Option Agreement................................. Recitals
USR......................................................... Preamble
USR Additional Termination Fee.............................. Section 8.3(b)
USR Balance Sheet........................................... Section 3.4(b)
USR Common Stock............................................ Recitals
USR Option Plans............................................ Section 2.1(d)
USR Disclosure Schedule..................................... Article III
USR Employee Plans.......................................... Section 3.13(a)
USR Initial Termination Fee................................. Section 8.3(b)
USR Intellectual Property Rights............................ Section 3.9(a)
USR Material Adverse Effect................................. Article III
USR Material Contracts...................................... Section 3.10
USR Preferred Stock......................................... Section 3.2(a)
USR Purchase Plans.......................................... Section 2.1(d)
USR Rights Agreement........................................ Section 3.2(a)
USR SEC Reports............................................. Section 3.4(a)
USR Series B Preferred Stock................................ Section 3.2(a)
USR Stock Option............................................ Section 6.15(a)
USR Stock Option Agreement.................................. Recitals
USR Stockholder Agreement................................... Section 6.13
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February 26, 1997, by and among
3Com Corporation, a California corporation ("3Com"), TR Acquisitions
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com
("Sub"), and U.S. Robotics Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("USR").
RECITALS
A. The Boards of Directors of 3Com, Sub and USR deem it advisable and in
the best interests of each corporation and its respective stockholders that 3Com
and USR combine in order to advance the long-term business strategies, goals and
interests of 3Com and USR;
B. The combination of 3Com and USR shall be effected by the terms of this
Agreement through a transaction in which Sub will merge with and into USR, USR
will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com and the stockholders of USR will
become shareholders of 3Com (the "Merger");
C. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as
condition and inducement to 3Com's and USR's willingness to enter into this
Agreement, 3Com and USR have entered into (i) a Stock Option Agreement dated as
of the date of this Agreement and attached hereto as EXHIBIT A-1 (the "3Com
Stock Option Agreement"), pursuant to which USR granted 3Com an option to
purchase shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of USR ("USR Common Stock"),
and (ii) a Stock Option Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement and
attached hereto as EXHIBIT A-2 (the "USR Stock Option Agreement" and, together
with the 3Com Stock Option Agreement, the "Stock Option Agreements"), pursuant
to which 3Com granted USR an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value, of 3Com ("3Com Common Stock");
D. The parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), and to cause the Merger to qualify as a
reorganization under the provisions of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of
the Code; and
E. The parties intend to cause the Merger to be accounted for as a pooling
of interests pursuant to APB Opinion No. 16, Staff Accounting Series Releases
130, 135 and 146 and Staff Accounting Bulletins Topic Two.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below, the
parties agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER. Subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") in such
form as is required by the relevant provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL") shall be duly prepared, executed and acknowledged
by the Surviving Corporation (as defined in Section 1.3) and thereafter
delivered to the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware for filing, as
provided in the DGCL, on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2). The
Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Effective Time").
Section 1.2 CLOSING. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will
take place at 10:00 a.m., California Time, on a date to be specified by 3Com and
USR, which shall be no later than the second business day after the satisfaction
or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (the
"Closing Date"), at the offices of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, 400 Hamilton
Avenue, Palo Alto, California, unless another date or place is agreed to in
writing by 3Com and USR.
Section 1.3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.
(a) At the Effective Time, (i) the separate existence of Sub shall
cease and Sub shall be merged with and into USR (Sub and USR are sometimes
referred to herein as the "Constituent Corporations" and USR is sometimes
referred to herein as the "Surviving Corporation"), (ii) the Certificate of
Incorporation of USR shall be amended to provide that Article 4 of such
Certificate of Incorporation shall read as follows: "The total number of shares
of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
1,000, all of which shall consist of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share,"
and, as so amended, such Certificate of Incorporation shall be the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and (iii) the Bylaws of Sub as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) At and after the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall
be as provided in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, the Surviving Corporation
shall possess all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a public as
well as of a private nature, and be subject to all the restrictions,
disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations; and all and
singular rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each of the Constituent
Corporations, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to
either of the Constituent Corporations on whatever account, as well as for stock
subscriptions and all other things in action or belonging to each of the
Constituent Corporations, shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises, and all and every other
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interest shall be thereafter as effectually the property of the Surviving
Corporation as they were of the Constituent Corporations, and the title to any
real estate vested by deed or otherwise, in either of the Constituent
Corporations, shall not revert or be in any way impaired; but all rights of
creditors and all liens upon any property of either of the Constituent
Corporations shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and
duties of the Constituent Corporations shall thereafter attach to the Surviving
Corporation, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if such debts
and liabilities had been incurred by it.
Section 1.4 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors of Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of USR
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the
Surviving Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are duly
elected or appointed.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 CONVERSION OF CAPITAL STOCK. As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any
shares of USR Common Stock or capital stock of Sub:
(a) CAPITAL STOCK OF SUB. Each issued and outstanding share of the
capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) CANCELLATION OF TREASURY STOCK AND 3COM-OWNED STOCK. All shares
of USR Common Stock that are owned by USR as treasury stock and any shares of
USR Common Stock that are owned by 3Com, Sub or any other wholly-owned
Subsidiary (as defined below) of 3Com shall be canceled and retired and shall
cease to exist and no stock of 3Com or other consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor. As used in this Agreement, the word "Subsidiary" means, with
respect to any party, any corporation or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which (i) such party or any other Subsidiary
of such party is a general partner (excluding partnerships, the general
partnership interests of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of such
party do not have a majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or
(ii) 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.
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(c) EXCHANGE RATIO FOR USR COMMON STOCK. Subject to Section 2.2,
each issued and outstanding share of USR Common Stock (other than shares to be
canceled in accordance with Section 2.1(b)) shall be converted into the right to
receive 1.75 (which amount will be adjusted for any stock split or stock
dividend effected between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time)
(the "Exchange Ratio") fully paid and nonassessable shares of 3Com Common Stock.
All such shares of USR Common Stock, when so converted, shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such shares shall cease
to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the shares
of 3Com Common Stock and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of 3Com Common
Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor upon the surrender of such
certificate in accordance with Section 2.2, without interest.
(d) USR STOCK OPTIONS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS. At the
Effective Time, any outstanding options to purchase USR Common Stock issued
under any of USR's Key Employee Stock Option Plan, Executive Officers and
Directors Stock Option Plan and 1996 Stock Option Plan for Israeli Employees
(collectively, the "USR Option Plans") shall become exercisable in full due to
the occurrence of a "change in control" as defined in the USR Option Plans
(other than options granted under such plans in substitution for other options
that were not subject to such acceleration provision) and will be assumed by
3Com in accordance with Section 6.15. Immediately prior to the Effective Time,
all then outstanding rights to acquire shares of USR Common Stock under USR's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "USR Purchase Plan") will be exercised for the
purchase of shares of USR Common Stock, as provided in Section 6.15.
Section 2.2 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES. The procedures for exchanging
outstanding shares of USR Common Stock for 3Com Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger shall be as follows:
(a) EXCHANGE AGENT. As of the Effective Time, 3Com shall deposit
with The First National Bank of Boston (the "Exchange Agent"), for the benefit
of the holders of shares of USR Common Stock, certificates representing the
shares of 3Com Common Stock (such shares of 3Com Common Stock, together with any
dividends or distributions with respect thereto, being hereinafter referred to
as the "Exchange Fund") issuable pursuant to Section 2.1 in exchange for
outstanding shares of USR Common Stock.
(b) EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a
certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented outstanding shares of USR Common Stock (each a "Certificate" and,
collectively, the "Certificates") whose shares were converted pursuant to
Section 2.1 into the right to receive shares of 3Com Common Stock (i) a letter
of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon
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delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and
have such other provisions as 3Com and USR may reasonably specify) and
(ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for certificates representing shares of 3Com Common Stock. Upon
surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or to such
other agent or agents as may be appointed by 3Com, together with such letter of
transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing that number of whole
shares of 3Com Common Stock which such holder has the right to receive pursuant
to the provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered shall
immediately be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of USR Common
Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of USR, a certificate
representing the proper number of shares of 3Com Common Stock may be issued to a
transferee if the Certificate representing such USR Common Stock is presented to
the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been
paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2, each Certificate
shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right
to receive upon such surrender the certificate representing shares of 3Com
Common Stock and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of 3Com Common Stock as
contemplated by this Section 2.2. The instructions for effecting the surrender
of the Certificates shall set forth procedures that must be taken by the holder
of any Certificate that has been lost, destroyed or stolen. It shall be a
condition to the right of such holder to receive a certificate representing
shares of 3Com Common Stock that the Exchange Agent shall have received, along
with the letter of transmittal, a duly executed lost certificate affidavit,
including an agreement to indemnify 3Com, signed exactly as the name or names of
the registered holder or holders appeared on the books of USR immediately prior
to the Effective Time, together with a customary bond and such other documents
as 3Com or the Exchange Agent may reasonably require in connection therewith.
(c) DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED SHARES. No dividends
or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to
3Com Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to
the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of 3Com
Common Stock represented thereby and no cash payment in lieu of fractional
shares shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to subsection (e) below until
the holder of such Certificate shall surrender such Certificate. Subject to the
effect of applicable laws, following surrender of any such Certificate, there
shall be paid to the holder of the certificates representing whole shares of
3Com Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time
of such surrender, the amount of any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share
of 3Com Common Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to subsection (e)
below and the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date
after the Effective Time previously paid with respect to such whole shares of
3Com Common Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective
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Time but prior to surrender and a payment date subsequent to surrender payable
with respect to such whole shares of 3Com Common Stock.
(d) NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN USR COMMON STOCK. All shares of
3Com Common Stock issued upon the surrender for exchange of shares of USR Common
Stock in accordance with the terms hereof (including any cash paid pursuant to
subsection (c) or (e) of this Section 2.2) shall be deemed to have been issued
in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of USR Common
Stock, subject, however, to the Surviving Corporation's obligation to pay any
dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior to the
Effective Time which may have been declared or made by USR on such shares of USR
Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the
date hereof and which remain unpaid at the Effective Time, and there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
Corporation of the shares of USR Common Stock which were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are
presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled
and exchanged as provided in this Section 2.2.
(e) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No certificate or scrip representing
fractional shares of 3Com Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for
exchange of Certificates, and such fractional share interests will not entitle
the owner thereof to vote or to exercise any rights of a stockholder of 3Com.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of shares of
USR Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been
entitled to receive a fraction of a share of 3Com Common Stock (after taking
into account all Certificates delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu
thereof, cash (without interest) in an amount equal to such fractional part of a
share of 3Com Common Stock multiplied by the last reported sale price of 3Com
Common Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq National Market, on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time.
(f) TERMINATION OF EXCHANGE FUND. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
which remains undistributed to the stockholders of USR for one year after the
Effective Time shall be delivered to 3Com, and any stockholders of USR who have
not previously complied with this Section 2.2 shall thereafter look only to 3Com
for payment of their claim for 3Com Common Stock, any cash in lieu of fractional
shares of 3Com Common Stock, and any dividends or distributions with respect to
USR Common Stock or 3Com Common Stock.
(g) NO LIABILITY. Neither 3Com nor USR shall be liable to any holder
of shares of USR Common Stock or 3Com Common Stock, as the case may be, for such
shares (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) delivered to a
public official as required by any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar law.
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USR
USR represents and warrants to 3Com and Sub that the statements contained
in this Article III are true and correct, except as set forth in the disclosure
schedule delivered by USR to 3Com on or before the date of this Agreement (the
"USR Disclosure Schedule"). The USR Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in
paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and lettered paragraphs contained in
this Article III, and the disclosure in any paragraph shall qualify only the
corresponding paragraph in this Article III. For purposes of this Agreement,
the phrase "USR Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, properties, assets (including intangible assets),
liabilities (contingent or otherwise), financial condition or results of
operations of USR and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 3.1 ORGANIZATION. Each of USR and its Subsidiaries is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power to
own, lease and operate its property and to carry on its business as now being
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly qualified to do business
and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which
the failure to be so qualified would have a USR Material Adverse Effect. Except
as set forth in the USR SEC Reports (as defined in Section 3.4) or the USR
Disclosure Schedule, neither USR nor any of its Subsidiaries directly or
indirectly owns any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other business association or entity, excluding securities in any
publicly traded company held for investment by USR and comprising less than one
percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of such company.
Section 3.2 USR CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
(a) The authorized capital stock of USR consists of 250,000,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value ("USR Preferred Stock"), of which 2,500,000 shares have
been designated Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock ("USR Series B
Preferred Stock"). As of February 21, 1997, (i) 89,180,758 shares of USR Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, (ii) no shares of USR Common Stock were held in the treasury
of USR or by Subsidiaries of USR, (iii) 18,419,960 shares of USR Common Stock
were reserved for future issuance pursuant to stock options granted and
outstanding under the USR Option Plans, (iv) approximately 2,000,000 shares of
USR Common Stock were reserved for future issuance under the USR Purchase Plan
and (v) shares of USR Series B Preferred Stock were reserved for future issuance
under the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 9, 1996, between USR and Harris
Trust and Savings Bank, as amended (the "USR Rights Agreement"). No change in
such capitalization has occurred since such date other than the exercise and
termination of outstanding stock options and the accrual of
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rights under the USR Purchase Plan. As of the date of this Agreement, none of
the shares of USR Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding. All shares of USR
Common Stock and USR Series B Preferred Stock subject to issuance as specified
above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments
pursuant to which they are issuable, shall be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable. There are no obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of USR or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any shares of USR Common Stock or the capital stock of any USR
Subsidiary or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution
or otherwise) in any such Subsidiary or any other entity other than guarantees
of bank obligations of such Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of
business. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of USR's
Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and all such shares (other than directors' qualifying shares in the case of
foreign Subsidiaries) are owned by USR or another Subsidiary free and clear of
all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations in USR's
voting rights, charges or other encumbrances of any nature.
(b) Except as set forth in this Section 3.2 or as reserved for future
grants of options under the USR Option Plans or future sale under the USR
Purchase Plan, there are no equity securities of any class of USR or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity
securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Except as set forth
in this Section 3.2 or in the USR Disclosure Schedule, there are no options,
warrants, equity securities, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any
character to which USR or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
them are bound obligating USR or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital
stock of USR or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating USR or any of its
Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such
option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. To the
best knowledge of USR, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements
or understandings with respect to the shares of capital stock of USR.
Section 3.3 AUTHORITY; NO CONFLICT; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS.
(a) USR has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of USR, subject only to the approval of
the Merger by USR's stockholders under applicable provisions of USR's
Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by USR and constitutes the valid and binding obligation
of USR, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability
may be limited by (i) bankruptcy laws and other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity, regardless of
whether asserted in a proceeding in equity or at law.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR does not, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not,
(i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of USR, (ii) result in any violation or
breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a
default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or loss of any material benefit) under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, contract
or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which USR or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or
assets may be bound, or (iii) subject to the consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, filings and registrations specified in Section 3.3(c), conflict
with or violate any permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order,
decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to USR or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except in the case of
clause (ii) for any such violations, breaches, defaults, terminations,
cancellations or accelerations which in the aggregate would not be reasonably
likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect, or a material adverse effect on
the ability of USR to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any court, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or instrumentality ("Governmental Entity") is
required by or with respect to USR or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing of the pre-merger
notification report under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing by 3Com of the Registration
Statement (as defined in Section 3.17) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the DGCL, (iv) the filing of the
Proxy Statement (as defined in Section 3.17) with the SEC in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), (v) such
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws
and the laws of any foreign country and (vi) such other consents,
authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which, in the aggregate, if
not obtained or made, would not be reasonably likely to have a USR Material
Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the parties' ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.4 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) USR has filed and made available to 3Com all forms, reports and
documents required to be filed by USR with the SEC since December 31, 1993,
other than registration statements on Form S-8 (collectively, the "USR SEC
Reports"). The USR SEC Reports (i) at the time filed, complied in all material
respects with the
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applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case
may be, and (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or if amended or
superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of
such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated in the USR SEC Reports or necessary in order
to make the statements in the USR SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. None of USR's Subsidiaries is
required to file any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each
case, any related notes) contained in the USR SEC Reports, including any USR SEC
Reports filed after the date of this Agreement until the Closing, complied or
will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, was or will be prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited statements,
as permitted for presentation in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q), and fairly
presented or will fairly present the consolidated financial position of USR and
its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates and the consolidated results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited
interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring
year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be material in
amount. The unaudited balance sheet of USR as of December 29, 1996 is referred
to herein as the "USR Balance Sheet."
Section 3.5 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. USR and its Subsidiaries do not
have any liabilities, either accrued or contingent (whether or not required to
be reflected in financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles), and whether due or to become due, which individually or
in the aggregate would be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse
Effect, other than (i) liabilities reflected in the USR Balance Sheet,
(ii) liabilities specifically described in this Agreement, or in the USR
Disclosure Schedule, and (iii) normal or recurring liabilities incurred since
December 29, 1996 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices.
Section 3.6 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since the date of the
USR Balance Sheet, USR and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses only
in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice and, since
such date, there has not been (i) any damage, destruction or loss (whether or
not covered by insurance) with respect to USR or any of its Subsidiaries having
a USR Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any material change by USR in its accounting
methods, principles or practices; (iii) any material revaluation by USR of any
of its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of
capitalized software or inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable
other than in the ordinary course of business; (iv) any other event that
constitutes a USR Material Adverse Effect; or (v) any other action or event that
would have required the consent of 3Com pursuant to Section 5.1
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of this Agreement had such action or event occurred after the date of this
Agreement and that would be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 3.7 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. There is no material
agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon USR or any of its
Subsidiaries which has the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any
current or future business practice of USR or any of its Subsidiaries, any
acquisition of property by USR or any of its Subsidiaries or the conduct of
business by USR or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or as proposed
to be conducted by USR or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.8 TAXES.
(a) For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Tax" or, collectively,
"Taxes," means any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments
and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and liabilities, including
taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use and
occupation, and value added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding,
payroll, recapture, employment, excise and property taxes, together with all
interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any
obligations under any agreements or arrangements with any other person with
respect to such amounts and including any liability for taxes of a predecessor
entity.
(b) USR has accurately prepared and timely filed all material
federal, state, local and foreign returns, estimates, information statements and
reports required to be filed at or before the Effective Time ("Returns")
relating to any and all Taxes concerning or attributable to USR or any of its
Subsidiaries or to their operations, and such Returns are true and correct in
all material respects and have been completed in all material respects in
accordance with applicable law.
(c) USR as of the Effective Time: (i) will have paid all Taxes it is
required to pay prior to the Effective Time and (ii) will have withheld with
respect to its employees all federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and
other Taxes required to be withheld, except for payments which in the aggregate
do not exceed $2,000,000.
(d) There are no Tax deficiencies, individually or in the aggregate
in excess of $1,000,000, outstanding, proposed or assessed against USR or any of
its Subsidiaries that are not reflected as liabilities on the USR Balance Sheet
nor has USR or any of its Subsidiaries executed any waiver of any statute of
limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or collection of any
Tax.
(e) USR does not have any material liabilities for Taxes that have
not been accrued for or reserved on the USR Balance Sheet, whether asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise.
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(f) USR is not aware of any plan or intention on the part of
stockholders of USR to engage in a sale or sales of USR Common Stock such that
the aggregate fair market value, as of the Effective Time, of the shares subject
to such sales would exceed fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate fair market
value of all shares of USR capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time. For purposes of this Section 3.8(f), the term "sale" shall
include any sale, exchange, transfer, distribution, redemption or reduction in
any way of the risk of ownership (by short sale or otherwise), or other
disposition, whether direct or indirect.
Section 3.9 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) USR and its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed or otherwise
possess legally enforceable rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names,
service marks, copyrights and mask works, all applications for and registrations
of such patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights and mask
works, and all processes, formulae, methods, schematics, technology, know-how,
computer software programs or applications and tangible or intangible
proprietary information or material that are necessary to conduct the business
of USR and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or planned to be conducted
(the "USR Intellectual Property Rights") except to the extent that the failure
to have such rights has not had and would not be reasonably likely to have USR
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Neither USR nor any of its Subsidiaries is or will be as a result
of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, in breach of any license, sublicense or other
agreement relating to the USR Intellectual Property Rights or any license,
sublicense or other agreement pursuant to which USR or any of its Subsidiaries
is authorized to use any third party patents, trademarks or copyrights,
including software, which are used in the manufacture of, incorporated in, or
form a part of any product of USR or any of its Subsidiaries, the breach of
which would be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
(c) To USR's knowledge, all patents, registered trademarks, service
marks and copyrights held by USR or any of its Subsidiaries which USR considers
to be material to its business are valid and enforceable. Neither USR nor any
of its Subsidiaries (i) has been sued in any suit, action or proceeding which
involves a claim of infringement of any patent, trademark, service mark or
copyright or the violation of any trade secret or other proprietary right of any
third party; or (ii) has any knowledge that the manufacturing, importation,
marketing, licensing, sale, offer for sale, or use of any of its products
infringes any patent, trademark, service mark, copyright, trade secret or other
proprietary right of any third party, which infringement would be reasonably
likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.10 AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Neither USR nor any
of its Subsidiaries has breached, or received in writing any claim or threat
that it has breached, any of the terms or conditions of any material agreement,
contract or
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commitment to which USR or any of its Subsidiaries is a party ("USR Material
Contracts") in such a manner as would permit any other party to cancel or
terminate the same or would permit any other party to collect material damages
from USR or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder. Each USR Material Contract that
has not expired or been terminated is in full force and effect and is not
subject to any material default thereunder of which USR is aware by any party
obligated to USR or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to such USR Material
Contract.
Section 3.11 LITIGATION. Except as described in the USR SEC Reports,
there is no action, suit or proceeding, claim, arbitration, or, to the knowledge
of USR, investigation against USR or any USR Subsidiary pending or as to which
USR or any USR Subsidiary has received any written notice of assertion, which
would be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect, or a material
adverse effect on the parties' ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Except as disclosed in the USR SEC Reports,
neither USR nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order,
writ, injunction or decree which, insofar as can be reasonably foreseen,
individually or in the aggregate, would have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of USR, no underground
storage tanks are present under any property that USR or any of its Subsidiaries
has at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased, where the presence of such
tanks is reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect. As of the
date hereof, no material amount of any substance that has been designated by any
Governmental Entity or by applicable federal, state or local law to be
radioactive, toxic, hazardous or otherwise a danger to health or the
environment, including, without limitation, PCBs, asbestos, petroleum,
urea-formaldehyde and all substances listed as hazardous substances pursuant to
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980, as amended, or defined as a hazardous waste pursuant to the United States
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated pursuant to said laws (a "Hazardous Material"), is present as a
result of the actions of USR or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to USR's knowledge,
as a result of any actions of any third party or otherwise, in, on or under any
property, including the land and the improvements, ground water and surface
water, that USR or any of its Subsidiaries has at any time owned, operated,
occupied or leased, where the presence of such Hazardous Material is reasonably
likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
(b) At no time has USR or any of its Subsidiaries transported,
stored, used, manufactured, disposed of, released or exposed its employees or
others to Hazardous Materials in violation of any law in effect on or before the
Closing Date, nor has USR or any of its Subsidiaries disposed of, transported,
sold, or manufactured any product containing a Hazardous Material (collectively,
"Hazardous Materials Activities") in violation of any rule, regulation, treaty
or statute
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promulgated by any Governmental Entity to prohibit, regulate or control
Hazardous Materials or any Hazardous Materials Activity which has had or is
reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
(c) USR currently holds all environmental approvals, permits,
licenses, clearances and consents (the "Environmental Permits") necessary for
the conduct of its Hazardous Materials Activities and other businesses of USR as
such activities and businesses are currently being conducted, the absence of
which would be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment
procedure, writ, injunction or claim is pending or, to the knowledge of USR,
threatened concerning any Environmental Permit or any Hazardous Materials
Activity of USR or any of its Subsidiaries which would be reasonably likely to
have a USR Material Adverse Effect. USR is not aware of any fact or
circumstance which could involve USR in any environmental litigation or impose
upon USR any environmental liability which would be reasonably likely to have a
USR Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.13 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) USR has made available to 3Com true and correct copies of all
material employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) and all bonus,
stock option, stock purchase, incentive, deferred compensation, supplemental
retirement, severance and other similar employee benefit plans, and all
unexpired severance agreements, written or otherwise, for the benefit of, or
relating to, any current or former employee of USR or any trade or business
(whether or not incorporated) which is a member or which is under common control
with USR within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code (an "ERISA Affiliate")
(together, the "USR Employee Plans"). The term "USR Employee Plans" shall be
deemed to include any plan that would be an employee benefit plan under
Section 3(3) of ERISA but for the exclusion set forth in Section 4(b)(4) of
ERISA.
(b) With respect to the USR Employee Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, no event has occurred, and to the knowledge of USR, there exists no
condition or set of circumstances in connection with which USR could be subject
to any liability that is reasonably expected to have a USR Material Adverse
Effect under ERISA, the Code or any other applicable law.
(c) With respect to the USR Employee Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, there are no funded benefit obligations for which contributions have
not been made or properly accrued and there are no unfunded benefit obligations
which have not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise properly footnoted
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, on the financial
statements
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of USR, which obligations are reasonably expected to have a USR Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.13 of the USR Disclosure
Schedule, neither USR nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or
written (i) union or collective bargaining agreement, (ii) agreement with any
officer or other key employee of USR or any of its Subsidiaries, the benefits of
which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the
occurrence of a change in control of USR or other transaction involving USR of
the nature contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) agreement with any officer of
USR or any of its Subsidiaries providing any term of employment or compensation
guarantee extending for a period longer than one year from the date hereof or
for the payment of compensation in excess of $100,000 per annum, or
(iv) agreement or plan, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation
right plan, restricted stock plan or stock purchase 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.
Section 3.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. USR and its Subsidiaries have
complied with, are not in violation of, and have not received any notices of
violation with respect to, any federal, state or local statute, law or
regulation with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or
operation of its business, except for failures to comply or violations which
would not be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.15 POOLING OF INTERESTS. To its knowledge, neither USR nor any
of its Affiliates (as defined in Section 6.13) has, through the date of this
Agreement, taken or agreed to take any action which would prevent 3Com from
accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests.
Section 3.16 INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in the
USR SEC Reports, since the date of USR's last proxy statement to its
stockholders, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by USR
as a Certain Relationship or Related Transaction, pursuant to Item 404 of
Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 3.17 REGISTRATION STATEMENT: PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. The
information supplied by USR for inclusion in the registration statement on
Form S-4 pursuant to which shares of 3Com Common Stock issuable in the Merger
will be registered with the SEC (the "Registration Statement") shall not at the
time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated in the Registration Statement or necessary in order to make the
statements in the Registration Statement, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The information supplied by USR for
inclusion in the joint proxy statement/prospectus (the "Proxy Statement") to be
sent to the stockholders of USR
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and 3Com in connection with their respective meetings of stockholders to
consider this Agreement and the Merger (collectively, the "Stockholders'
Meetings") shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
stockholders of USR and 3Com, at the time of the Stockholders' Meetings and at
the Effective Time, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of
the circumstances under which it was made, is false or misleading with respect
to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements made in the Proxy Statement not false or misleading, or omit
to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders'
Meetings which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior to the
Effective Time any event relating to USR or any of its Affiliates, officers or
directors should be discovered by USR which should be set forth in an amendment
to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, USR shall
promptly inform 3Com.
Section 3.18 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The financial advisor of USR,
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, has delivered to USR an opinion dated the
date of this Agreement to the effect that the Exchange Ratio is fair from a
financial point of view to the stockholders of USR.
Section 3.19 SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL NOT APPLICABLE. The Board of
Directors of USR has taken all necessary action so that the restrictions
contained in Section 203 of the DGCL applicable to a "business combination" (as
defined in Section 203) will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement or the USR Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the USR Stock
Option Agreement.
Section 3.20 USR RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Neither the execution or delivery of
this Agreement or the 3Com Stock Option Agreement, nor the consummation by 3Com
and Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will cause 3Com or
any of its Affiliates to be within the definition of "Acquiring Person" as
defined in the USR Rights Agreement.
Section 3.21 NO EXISTING DISCUSSIONS. As of the date hereof, USR is not
engaged, directly or indirectly, in any negotiations or discussions with any
other party with respect to a Competing Offer (as defined in Section 6.1).
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF 3COM AND SUB
3Com and Sub represent and warrant to USR that the statements contained in
this Article IV are true and correct, except as set forth in the disclosure
schedule delivered by 3Com to USR on or before the date of this Agreement (the
"3Com Disclosure Schedule"). The 3Com Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in
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paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and lettered paragraphs contained in
this Article IV, and the disclosure in any paragraph shall qualify only the
corresponding paragraph in this Article IV. For purposes of this Agreement, the
phrase "3Com Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, properties, assets (including intangible assets),
liabilities (contingent or otherwise), financial condition, or results of
operations of 3Com and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 4.1 ORGANIZATION. Each of 3Com and Sub and 3Com's other
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all
requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate its property and to carry on
its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified would have a 3Com
Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the 3Com SEC Reports (as
defined in Section 4.4) or the 3Com Disclosure Schedule, neither 3Com nor any of
its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns any equity or similar interest in,
or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business association or entity,
excluding securities in any publicly traded company held for investment by 3Com
and comprising less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of such
company.
Section 4.2 3COM CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
(a) The authorized capital stock of 3Com consists of 400,000,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, and 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
no par value ("3Com Preferred Stock"). As of February 25, 1997, (i) 177,469,588
shares of 3Com Common Stock were issued and outstanding, all of which are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) no shares of 3Com Common
Stock were held in the treasury of 3Com or by Subsidiaries of 3Com,
(iii) 27,315,924 shares of 3Com Common Stock were reserved for future issuance
pursuant to stock options granted and outstanding under 3Com's stock option
plans (the "3Com Option Plans"), (iv) approximately 5,767,807 shares of 3Com
Common Stock were reserved for future issuance pursuant to 3Com's employee stock
purchase plan (the "3Com Purchase Plan"), (v) 648,416 shares were reserved for
future issuance under 3Com's Restricted Stock Plan (the "3Com Restricted Stock
Plan") and (vi) shares of 3Com Common Stock were reserved for future issuance
under the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1994,
between 3Com and The First National Bank of Boston (the "3Com Rights
Agreement"). No change in such capitalization has occurred since such date
other than the exercise and termination of outstanding stock options and the
accrual of rights under the 3Com Purchase Plan. As of the date of this
Agreement, none of the shares of 3Com Preferred Stock are issued and
outstanding. All shares of 3Com Common Stock subject to issuance as specified
above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments
pursuant to which they are issuable, shall be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully
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paid and nonassessable. There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of
3Com or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
shares of 3Com Common Stock or the capital stock of any 3Com Subsidiary or make
any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any
such Subsidiary or any other entity other than guarantees of bank obligations of
Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each of 3Com's Subsidiaries are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares
(other than directors' qualifying shares in the case of foreign Subsidiaries)
are owned by 3Com or another Subsidiary free and clear of all security
interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations in 3Com's voting
rights, charges or other encumbrances of any nature.
(b) Except as set forth in this Section 4.2 or as reserved for future
grants of options under the 3Com Option Plans or future sales under the 3Com
Purchase Plan, there are no equity securities of any class of 3Com or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity
securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Except as set forth
in this Section 4.2 or in the 3Com Disclosure Schedule, there are no options,
warrants, equity securities, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any
character to which 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
them are bound obligating 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital
stock of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating 3Com or any of its
Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such
option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. To the
best knowledge of 3Com, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements
or understandings with respect to the shares of capital stock of 3Com.
Section 4.3 AUTHORITY; NO CONFLICT; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS.
(a) 3Com and Sub have all requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of 3Com and Sub,
subject only to the approval of the Merger by 3Com's shareholders under
applicable provisions of 3Com's Articles of Incorporation and the California
General Corporation Law (the "CGCL"). This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by 3Com and Sub and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of
3Com and Sub, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy laws and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity,
regardless of whether asserted in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com and Sub does
not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
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will not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of any
provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of 3Com or the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws of Sub, (ii) result in any violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give
rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation
or loss of any material benefit) under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement, instrument or obligation to which 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be
bound, or (iii) subject to the consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
filings and registrations specified in Section 4.3.(c), conflict with or violate
any permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute,
law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their properties or assets, except in the case of clause (ii) for any
such violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations or
accelerations which in the aggregate would not be reasonably likely to have a
3Com Material Adverse Effect, or a material adverse effect on the ability of
3Com to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required by or with
respect to 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except for (i) the filing of the pre-merger notification report under
the HSR Act, (ii) the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC in
accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the DGCL, (iv)
the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange
Act, (v) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal and state
securities laws and the laws of any foreign country and (vi) such other
consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which in the
aggregate, if not obtained or made, would not be reasonably likely to have a
3Com Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the parties'
ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.4 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) 3Com has filed and made available to USR all forms, reports and
documents required to be filed by 3Com with the SEC since December 31, 1993,
other than registration statements on Form S-8 (collectively, the "3Com SEC
Reports"). The 3Com SEC Reports (i) at the time filed, complied in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on
the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated in the 3Com SEC Reports or
necessary in order to make the statements in the 3Com SEC Reports, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made,
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not misleading. None of 3Com's Subsidiaries is required to file any forms,
reports or other documents with the SEC.
(b) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each
case, any related notes) contained in the 3Com SEC Reports, including any 3Com
SEC Reports filed after the date of this Agreement until the Closing, complied
or will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, was or will be prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in
the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited statements,
as permitted for presentation in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q), and fairly
presented or will fairly present the consolidated financial position of 3Com and
its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates and the consolidated results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited
interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring
year-end adjustments which were not or are not expected to be material in
amount. The unaudited balance sheet of 3Com as of November 30, 1996 is referred
to herein as the "3Com Balance Sheet."
Section 4.5 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. 3Com and its Subsidiaries do
not have any liabilities, either accrued or contingent (whether or not required
to be reflected in financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles), and whether due or to become due, which individually or
in the aggregate would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse
Effect, other than (i) liabilities reflected in the 3Com Balance Sheet,
(ii) liabilities specifically described in this Agreement, or in the 3Com
Disclosure Schedule, and (iii) normal or recurring liabilities incurred since
November 30, 1996 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices.
Section 4.6 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since the date of the
3Com Balance Sheet, 3Com and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses
only in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice and,
since such date, there has not been (i) any damage, destruction or loss (whether
or not covered by insurance) with respect to 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries
having a 3Com Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any material change by 3Com in its
accounting methods, principles or practices; (iii) any material revaluation by
3Com of any of its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value
of capitalized software or inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable
other than in the ordinary course of business; (iv) any other event that
constitutes a 3Com Material Adverse Effect; or (v) any other action or event
that would have required the consent of USR pursuant to Section 5.1 of this
Agreement had such action or event occurred after the date of this Agreement and
that would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.7 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. There is no material
agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon 3Com or any of its
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Subsidiaries which has the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any
current or future business practice of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries, any
acquisition of property by 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries or the conduct of
business by 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or as
proposed to be conducted by 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.8 TAXES.
(a) 3Com has accurately prepared and timely filed all material
Returns relating to any and all Taxes concerning or attributable to 3Com or any
of its Subsidiaries or to their operations, and such Returns are true and
correct in all material respects and have been completed in all material
respects in accordance with applicable law.
(b) 3Com as of the Effective Time: (i) will have paid all Taxes it
is required to pay prior to the Effective Time and (ii) will have withheld with
respect to its employees all federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and
other Taxes required to be withheld, except for payments which in the aggregate
do not exceed $2,000,000.
(c) There are no Tax deficiencies, individually or in the aggregate
in excess of $1,000,000, outstanding, proposed or assessed against 3Com or any
of its Subsidiaries that are not reflected as liabilities on the 3Com Balance
Sheet nor has 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries executed any waiver of any statute
of limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or collection of
any Tax.
(d) 3Com does not have any material liabilities for Taxes that have
not been accrued for or reserved on the 3Com Balance Sheet, whether asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise.
(e) 3Com is not aware of any plan or intention on the part of
shareholders of 3Com to engage in a sale or sales of 3Com Common Stock such that
the aggregate fair market value, as of the Effective Time, of the shares subject
to such sales would exceed fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate fair market
value of all shares of 3Com capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time. For purposes of this Section 4.8(e), the term "sale" shall
include any sale, exchange, transfer, distribution, redemption or reduction in
any way of the risk of ownership (by short sale or otherwise), or other
disposition, whether direct or indirect.
Section 4.9 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) 3Com and its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed or otherwise
possess legally enforceable rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names,
service marks, copyrights and mask works, all applications for and registrations
of such patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights and mask
works, and all processes, formulae, methods, schematics, technology, know-how,
computer software
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programs or applications, and tangible or intangible proprietary information or
material that are necessary to conduct the business of 3Com and its Subsidiaries
as currently conducted or planned to be conducted (the "3Com Intellectual
Property Rights"), except to the extent that the failure to have such rights has
not had and would not be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse
Effect.
(b) Neither 3Com nor any of its Subsidiaries is or will be as a
result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, in breach of any license, sublicense or other
agreement relating to the 3Com Intellectual Property Rights or any license,
sublicense or other agreement pursuant to which 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries
is authorized to use any third party patents, trademarks or copyrights,
including software, which are used in the manufacture of, incorporated in, or
form a part of any product of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries, the breach of
which would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
(c) To 3Com's knowledge, all patents, registered trademarks, service
marks and copyrights held by 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries which 3Com
considers to be material to its business are valid and enforceable. Neither
3Com nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been sued in any suit, action or
proceeding which involves a claim of infringement of any patent, trademark,
service mark or copyright or the violation of any trade secret or other
proprietary right of any third party; or (ii) has any knowledge that the
manufacturing, importation, marketing, licensing, sale, offer for sale, or use
of any of its products infringes any patent, trademark, service mark, copyright,
trade secret or other proprietary right of any third party, which infringement
would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.10 AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Neither 3Com nor any
of its Subsidiaries has breached, or received in writing any claim or threat
that it has breached, any of the terms or conditions of any material agreement,
contract or commitment to which 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
("3Com Material Contracts") in such a manner as would permit any other party to
cancel or terminate the same or would permit any other party to seek material
damages from 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder. Each 3Com Material
Contract that has not expired or been terminated is in full force and effect and
is not subject to any material default thereunder of which 3Com is aware by any
party obligated to 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to such 3Com
Material Contract.
Section 4.11 LITIGATION. Except as described in the 3Com SEC Reports,
there is no action, suit or proceeding, claim, arbitration or, to the knowledge
of 3Com, investigation against 3Com or any 3Com Subsidiary pending or as to
which 3Com or any 3Com Subsidiary has received any written notice of assertion,
which would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect, or a
material adverse effect on the parties' ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Except as disclosed in the 3Com SEC Reports,
neither 3Com nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any outstanding order,
writ, injunction or decree which,
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insofar as can be reasonably foreseen, individually or in the aggregate, would
have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.12 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of 3Com, no underground
storage tanks are present under any property that 3Com or any of its
Subsidiaries has at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased, where the
presence of such tanks is reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse
Effect. As of the date hereof, no material amount of any Hazardous Material is
present as a result of the actions of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to
3Com's knowledge, as a result of any actions of any third party or otherwise,
in, on or under any property, including the land and the improvements, ground
water and surface water, that 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries has at any time
owned, operated, occupied or leased, where the presence of such Hazardous
Material is reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
(b) At no time has 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries engaged in
Hazardous Materials Activities in violation of any rule, regulation, treaty or
statute promulgated by any Governmental Entity to prohibit, regulate or control
Hazardous Materials or any Hazardous Materials Activity which has had or is
reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
(c) 3Com currently holds all Environmental Permits necessary for the
conduct of its Hazardous Materials Activities and other businesses of 3Com as
such activities and businesses are currently being conducted, the absence of
which would be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
(d) No action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment
procedure, writ, injunction or claim is pending or, to the knowledge of 3Com,
threatened concerning any Environmental Permit or any Hazardous Materials
Activity of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries which would be reasonably likely to
have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect. 3Com is not aware of any fact or
circumstance which could involve 3Com in any environmental litigation or impose
upon 3Com any environmental liability, which would be reasonably likely to have
a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.13 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) 3Com has made available to USR true and correct copies of all
material employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and all
bonus, stock option, stock purchase, incentive, deferred compensation,
supplemental retirement, severance and other similar employee benefit plans, and
all unexpired severance agreements, written or otherwise, for the benefit of, or
relating to, any current or former employee of 3Com or any ERISA Affiliate of
3Com (together, the "3Com Employee Plans"). The term "3Com Employee Plans"
shall be deemed to
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include any plan that would be an employee benefit plan under Section 3(3) of
ERISA but for the exclusion set forth in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA.
(b) With respect to the 3Com Employee Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, no event has occurred, and to the knowledge of 3Com, there exists no
condition or set of circumstances in connection with which 3Com could be subject
to any liability that is reasonably expected to have a 3Com Material Adverse
Effect under ERISA, the Code or any other applicable law.
(c) With respect to the 3Com Employee Plans, individually and in the
aggregate, there are no funded benefit obligations for which contributions have
not been made or properly accrued and there are no unfunded benefit obligations
which have not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise properly footnoted
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, on the financial
statements of 3Com, which obligations are reasonably expected to have a 3Com
Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13 of the 3Com Disclosure
Schedule, neither 3Com nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or
written (i) union or collective bargaining agreement, (ii) agreement with any
officer or other key employee of 3Com or any of its Subsidiaries, the benefits
of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the
occurrence of a change in control of 3Com or other transaction involving 3Com of
the nature contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) agreement with any officer of
3Com or any of its Subsidiaries providing any term of employment or compensation
guarantee extending for a period longer than one year from the date hereof or
for the payment of compensation in excess of $100,000 per annum, or
(iv) agreement or plan, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation
right plan, restricted stock plan or stock purchase 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.
Section 4.14 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. 3Com and its Subsidiaries have
complied with, are not in violation of, and have not received any notices of
violation with respect to, any federal, state or local statute, law or
regulation with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or
operation of its business, except for failures to comply or violations which
would not be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.15 POOLING OF INTERESTS. To its knowledge, neither 3Com nor
any of its Affiliates (as defined in Section 6.13) has, through the date of this
Agreement, taken or agreed to take any action which would prevent 3Com from
accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests.
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Section 4.16 INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in the
3Com SEC Reports, since the date of 3Com's last proxy statement to its
stockholders, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by
3Com as a Certain Relationship or Related Transaction, pursuant to Item 404 of
Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
Section 4.17 REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. The
information supplied by 3Com for inclusion in the Registration Statement shall
not at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or necessary in order
to make the statements in the Registration Statement, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The information
supplied by 3Com for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall not, on the date the
Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of USR and 3Com, at the time of
the Stockholders' Meetings and at the Effective Time, contain any statement
which, at such time and in light of the circumstances under which it was made,
is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in the Proxy
Statement not false or misleading, or omit to state any material fact necessary
to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the
solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders' Meetings which has become false or
misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any event relating to
3Com or any of its Affiliates, officers or directors should be discovered by
3Com which should be set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or
a supplement to the Proxy Statement, 3Com shall promptly inform USR.
Section 4.18 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The financial advisor of
3Com, Goldman, Sachs & Co., has delivered to 3Com an opinion dated the date of
this Agreement to the effect that the Exchange Ratio is fair to 3Com.
Section 4.19 NO EXISTING DISCUSSIONS. As of the date hereof, 3Com is not
engaged, directly or indirectly, in any negotiations or discussions with any
other party with respect to a Competing Offer (as defined in Section 6.1).
Section 4.20 INTERIM OPERATIONS OF SUB. Sub was formed solely for the
purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has
engaged in no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.21 3COM RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Neither the execution or delivery of
this Agreement or the USR Stock Option Agreement, nor the consummation by USR of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will cause USR or any of its
Affiliates to be within the definition of "Acquiring Person" as defined in the
3Com Rights Agreement.
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ARTICLE V
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Section 5.1 COVENANTS OF USR AND 3COM. During the period from the date
of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement or the Effective Time, USR and 3Com each agrees as to itself and its
Subsidiaries (except to the extent that the other party shall otherwise consent
in writing), to carry on its business in the usual, regular and ordinary course
in substantially the same manner as previously conducted, to pay its debts and
taxes when due, subject to good faith disputes over such debts or taxes, to pay
or perform its other obligations when due, and, to the extent consistent with
such business, to use all reasonable efforts consistent with past practices and
policies to (i) preserve intact its present business organization, (ii) keep
available the services of its present officers and key employees and
(iii) preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors,
licensors, licensees, and others having business dealings with it. USR and 3Com
shall each promptly notify the other of any event or occurrence not in the
ordinary course of business of USR or 3Com, respectively, where such event or
occurrence would result in a breach of any covenant of USR or 3Com,
respectively, set forth in this Agreement or cause any representation or
warranty of USR or 3Com, respectively, set forth in this Agreement to be untrue
as of the date of, or giving effect to, such event or occurrence. Except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, subject to Section 6.1, each of USR
and 3Com shall not (and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to), without
the prior written consent of the other party:
(a) Accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability of
options or restricted stock granted under any employee stock plan of such party
or authorize cash payments in exchange for any options granted under any of such
plans except as required by the terms of such plans or any related agreements in
effect as of the date of this Agreement;
(b) Transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise extend,
amend or modify any material rights to the USR Intellectual Property Rights, in
the case of USR, or the 3Com Intellectual Property Rights, in the case of 3Com,
other than the grant of non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of
business substantially consistent with past practices;
(c) Declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its capital stock, or
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any shares of its capital stock except from former employees,
directors and consultants in accordance with agreements, in effect as of the
date of this Agreement, providing for the repurchase of shares in connection
with any termination of service by such party;
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(d) Issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock or securities convertible
into shares of its capital stock, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options
to acquire, or other agreements or commitments of any character obligating it to
issue any such shares or other convertible securities, other than (i) the grant
by USR of options to new USR employees, other than officers, hired subsequent to
February 15, 1997 to purchase up to an aggregate of 600,000 shares of USR Common
Stock; (ii) the grant by 3Com of options (A) to existing 3Com employees to
purchase up to an aggregate of 7,000,000 shares of 3Com Common Stock and (B) to
new 3Com Employees, other than officers, hired subsequent to February 15, 1997
to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,300,000 shares of 3Com Common Stock; or
(iii) the issuance of (A) rights to purchase shares of USR Common Stock or
shares of 3Com Common Stock under the USR Purchase Plan or 3Com Purchase Plan,
respectively, or (B) shares of USR Common Stock or 3Com Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of options granted under or pursuant to rights under the USR
Option Plans or the USR Purchase Plan or the 3Com Option Plans, the 3Com
Purchase Plan or the 3Com Restricted Stock Plan, respectively;
(e) Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or
by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or substantial portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership
or other business organization or division, or otherwise acquire or agree to
acquire any assets other than, in the case of 3Com, acquisitions not involving
consideration of more than $250,000,000 individually or $500,000,000 in the
aggregate (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that 3Com will consult with USR before undertaking
any acquisition involving consideration of more than $50,000,000), or (B) in the
case of USR, acquisitions not involving consideration of more than $25,000,000
in the aggregate;
(f) Sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
the business of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(g) (i) Increase or agree to increase the compensation payable or to
become payable to its officers or employees, except for increases in salary or
wages of employees in the ordinary course in accordance with past practices,
(ii) grant any additional severance or termination pay to, or enter into any
employment or severance agreements with, officers, (iii) grant any severance or
termination pay to, or enter into any employment or severance agreement with,
any employee, except in settlement of dispute with terminated employees,
(iv) enter into any collective bargaining agreement, or (v) establish, adopt,
enter into or amend in any material respect any bonus, profit sharing, thrift,
compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred
compensation, employment, termination, severance or other plan, trust, fund,
policy or arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or employees;
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(h) Revalue any material amount of its assets, including writing down
the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in
the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices;
(i) Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to
acquire any debt securities or guarantee any debt securities of others, other
than indebtedness incurred under outstanding lines of credit;
(j) Amend or propose to amend its Certificate or Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws, except as contemplated by this Agreement;
(k) Incur or commit to incur aggregate capital expenditures in an
amount in excess of $50,000,000 except, in the case of USR, for capital
expenditures relating to USR's Mt. Prospect facility and, in the case of 3Com,
for capital expenditures relating to 3Com's Singapore facility;
(l) Take any action with respect to accounting policies or
procedures, other than actions in the ordinary course of business and consistent
with past practice;
(m) Waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material claims
or litigation;
(n) Except as described in the USR Disclosure Schedule, make any tax
election or settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign
tax liability; or
(o) Take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in Sections (a) through (n) above, or any action which is
reasonably likely to make any of such party's representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement untrue or incorrect in any material respect on the
date made (to the extent so limited) or as of the Effective Time.
Section 5.2 COOPERATION. Subject to compliance with applicable law,
from the date hereof until the Effective Time, each of 3Com and USR shall confer
on a regular and frequent basis with one or more representatives of the other
party to report operational matters of materiality and the general status of
ongoing operations and shall promptly provide the other party or its counsel
with copies of all filings made by such party with any Governmental Entity in
connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 6.1 NO SOLICITATION.
(a) USR and 3Com each agree that it shall not, directly or
indirectly, through any officer, director, employee, representative or agent,
(i) solicit, initiate, or encourage any inquiries or proposals that constitute,
or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a proposal or offer for a merger,
consolidation, business combination, sale of substantial assets, sale of shares
of capital stock (including without limitation by way of a tender offer) or
similar transactions involving such party, other than the transactions
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (any of the foregoing inquiries or
proposals being referred to in this Agreement as a "Competing Offer"),
(ii) engage in negotiations or discussions concerning, or provide any non-public
information to any person or entity relating to, any Competing Offer, or
(iii) agree to, approve or recommend any Competing Offer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent USR or 3Com or their
respective Boards of Directors from (A) furnishing non-public information to, or
entering into discussions or negotiations with, any person or entity in
connection with an unsolicited bona fide written Competing Offer by such person
or entity (including a new and unsolicited Competing Offer received by such
party after the execution of this Agreement from a person or entity whose
initial contact with such party may have been solicited by such party prior to
the execution of this Agreement) or recommending such an unsolicited bona fide
written Competing Offer to the stockholders of such party, if and only to the
extent that (1) the Board of Directors of such party determines in good faith
(after consultation with and based upon the advice of its financial advisor)
that such Competing Offer would, if consummated, result in a transaction more
favorable to such party's stockholders than the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement (any such more favorable Competing Offer being referred to in this
Agreement as a "Superior Proposal") and that the person or entity making such
Superior Proposal has the financial means, or the ability to obtain the
necessary financing, to conclude such transaction, (2) the Board of Directors of
such party determines in good faith (after consultation with and based upon the
advice of its outside legal counsel) that the failure to take such action would
be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of such Board of Directors to its
stockholders under applicable law, and (3) prior to furnishing such non-public
information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, such person
or entity, such Board of Directors receives from such person or entity an
executed confidentiality agreement with confidentiality provisions not
materially less favorable to such person or entity than those contained in
Section 2 of the Confidentiality and Standstill Agreement dated February 9, 1997
between 3Com and USR (the "Confidentiality Agreement"); or (B) complying with
Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Competing Offer.
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(b) USR and 3Com shall each notify the other party no later than
24 hours after receipt by USR or 3Com (or its advisors), respectively, of any
Competing Offer or any request for nonpublic information in connection with a
Competing Offer or for access to the properties, books or records of such party
by any person or entity that informs such party that it is considering making,
or has made, a Competing Offer. Such notice to the other party shall be made
orally and in writing and shall indicate in reasonable detail the identity of
the offeror and the terms and conditions of such proposal, inquiry or contact.
Section 6.2 PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS; REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement,
3Com and USR shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement, and 3Com
shall prepare and file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the
Proxy Statement will be included. 3Com and USR shall use their best efforts to
cause the Registration Statement to become effective as soon after such filing
as practicable. The Proxy Statement shall include the recommendations of the
Board of Directors of USR and 3Com, respectively, in favor of this Agreement and
the Merger; provided that the Board of Directors of either party may withdraw
such recommendation if such Board of Directors determines in good faith (after
consultation with and based on the advice of its outside counsel) that the
failure to withdraw such recommendation would be inconsistent with the fiduciary
duties of such Board of Directors to its stockholders under applicable law.
(b) 3Com and USR shall make all necessary filings with respect to the
Merger under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and applicable state blue
sky laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Section 6.3 CONSENTS. Each of 3Com and USR shall use all reasonable
efforts to obtain all necessary consents, waivers and approvals under their
respective material agreements, contracts, licenses or leases as may be
necessary or advisable to consummate the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.4 CURRENT NASDAQ QUOTATION. Each of 3Com and USR agrees to
continue the quotation of 3Com Common Stock and USR Common Stock, respectively,
on The Nasdaq National Market during the term of this Agreement to the extent
necessary so that appraisal rights will not be available to stockholders of USR
under Section 262 of the DGCL.
Section 6.5 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Upon reasonable notice and subject
to applicable law and other legal obligations, USR and 3Com shall each (and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) afford to the officers, employees,
accountants, counsel and other representatives of the other, access, during
normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time, to all its
properties, books, contracts, commitments and records and, during such period,
each of USR and 3Com shall (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) furnish
promptly to the other (a) a copy of each report,
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schedule, registration statement and other document filed or received by it
during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal securities laws and
(b) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as
such other party may reasonably request. Unless otherwise required by law, the
parties will hold any such information which is nonpublic in confidence in
accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement. No information or knowledge
obtained in any investigation pursuant to this Section 6.5 shall affect or be
deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or
the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger.
Section 6.6 STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS. USR and 3Com shall each call a
meeting of its respective stockholders to be held as promptly as practicable for
the purpose of voting upon this Agreement and the Merger. Subject to
Sections 6.1 and 6.2, USR and 3Com will, through their respective Boards of
Directors, recommend to their respective stockholders approval of such matters
and will coordinate and cooperate with respect to the timing of such meetings
and shall use their best efforts to hold such meetings on the same day and as
soon as practicable after the date hereof. Unless otherwise required to comply
with the applicable fiduciary duties of the directors of USR and 3Com,
respectively, as determined by such directors in good faith (after consultation
with and based upon the advice of its outside legal counsel) USR and 3Com shall
each use their reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in
favor of such matters.
Section 6.7 LEGAL CONDITIONS TO MERGER. Each of 3Com and USR will take
all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements
which may be imposed on itself with respect to the Merger (which actions shall
include, without limitation, furnishing all information required under the HSR
Act and in connection with approvals of or filings with any other Governmental
Entity) and will promptly cooperate with and will use their best efforts to
furnish information to each other in connection with any such requirements
imposed upon any of them or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the
Merger. Each of 3Com and USR will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) take
all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with each other
in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption
by, any Governmental Entity or other third party, required to be obtained or
made by USR, 3Com or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger
(any of the foregoing an "Approval") or the taking of any action contemplated
thereby or by this Agreement (ii) diligently oppose or pursue any rehearing,
appeal or other challenge which may be available to it of any refusal to issue
any Approval or of any order or ruling of any Governmental Entity which may
adversely affect the ability of the parties hereto to consummate the Merger or
to take any action contemplated by any Approval or by this Agreement until such
time as such refusal to issue any Approval or any order or ruling has become
final and non-appealable, and (iii) diligently oppose any objections to, appeals
from or petitions to reconsider or reopen any Approval or the taking of any
action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither USR nor 3Com shall be required to agree, as a condition to
any Approval, to divest
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itself of or hold separate any Subsidiary, division or business unit which is
material to the business of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or the divestiture or holding separate of which would be reasonably likely to
have a material adverse effect on (A) the business, properties, assets,
liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of such party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (B) the benefits intended to be derived as a
result of the Merger.
Section 6.8 PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. 3Com and USR shall consult with each
other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statement
with respect to the Merger or this Agreement and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as
may be required by law or by the rules of the NASD.
Section 6.9 TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION. 3Com and USR shall each use its
best efforts to cause the Merger to be treated as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
Section 6.10 POOLING ACCOUNTING. 3Com and USR shall each use its best
efforts to cause the business combination to be effected by the Merger to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests. Each of 3Com and USR shall use its
best efforts (i) to cause its respective Affiliates (as defined in Section 6.13)
not to take any action that would adversely affect the ability of 3Com to
account for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling
of interests and (ii) to cause its respective Affiliates to sign and deliver to
3Com a customary "pooling letter" in form and substance agreed upon by USR and
3Com to the extent that receipt of such letter is required to assure the
availability of pooling of interests accounting treatment.
Section 6.11 LETTERS FROM ACCOUNTANTS.
(a) USR shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to 3Com
"cold comfort" letters of Grant Thornton LLP, its independent public
accountants, dated the date on which the Registration Statement shall become
effective and as of the Effective Time, respectively, and addressed to 3Com, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to 3Com and comparable in scope and
substance to letters customarily delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement
and transactions such as those contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) 3Com shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to USR
"cold comfort" letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP, its independent public
accountants, dated the date on which the Registration Statement shall become
effective and as of the Effective Time, respectively, and addressed to USR in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to USR and comparable in scope and
substance to letters customarily delivered by independent public accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement
and transactions such as those contemplated by this Agreement.
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Section 6.12 UPDATE DISCLOSURE: BREACHES. From and after the date of
this Agreement until the Effective Time, each party hereto shall promptly notify
the other party, by written update to its Disclosure Schedule, of (i) the
occurrence or non-occurrence of any event which would be likely to cause any
condition to the obligations of any party to effect the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement not to be satisfied, or (ii) the
failure of USR or 3Com, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it pursuant
to this Agreement which would be likely to result in any condition to the
obligations of any party to effect the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement not to be satisfied. The delivery of any notice
pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall not cure any breach of any representation or
warranty requiring disclosure of such matter prior to the date of this Agreement
or otherwise limit or affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice, provided that such party, within ten days after receipt
of such notice, advises the other party of its objection to the matter disclosed
in such notice and the nature of such objection..
Section 6.13 STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENTS. Upon the execution of this
Agreement, 3Com and USR will provide each other with a list of those persons who
are, in 3Com's or USR's respective reasonable judgment, "affiliates" of 3Com or
USR, respectively, within the meaning of Rule 145 under the Securities Act
("Rule 145"). Each such person who is an "affiliate" of 3Com or USR within the
meaning of Rule 145 is referred to herein as an "Affiliate." 3Com and USR shall
provide each other such information and documents as USR or 3Com shall
reasonably request for purposes of reviewing such list and shall notify the
other party in writing regarding any change in the identity of its Affiliates
prior to the Closing Date. USR shall use its best efforts to deliver or cause
to be delivered to 3Com by March 15, 1997 from each of the Affiliates of USR, an
executed agreement, in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT B ("USR Stockholder
Agreement"). 3Com shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the
certificates evidencing any 3Com Common Stock to be received by Affiliates of
USR pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to issue appropriate stop
transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the 3Com Common Stock,
consistent with the terms of the USR Stockholder Agreement.
Section 6.14 NASDAQ QUOTATION. 3Com shall use its best efforts to cause
the shares of 3Com Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for
quotation on The Nasdaq National Market, subject to official notice of issuance,
prior to the Closing Date.
Section 6.15 STOCK PLANS AND OPTIONS.
(a) At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase shares
of USR Common Stock (a "USR Stock Option") under the USR Option Plans, shall be
deemed to constitute an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as
were applicable under such USR Stock Option, the same number of shares of 3Com
Common Stock as the holder of such USR Stock Option would have been entitled to
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receive pursuant to the Merger had such holder exercised such option in full
immediately prior to the Effective Time (rounded down to the nearest whole
number), at a price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to
(i) the aggregate exercise price for the shares of USR Common Stock otherwise
purchasable pursuant to such USR Stock Option divided by (ii) the number of full
shares of 3Com Common Stock deemed purchasable pursuant to such 3Com Stock
Option in accordance with the foregoing; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, in the case of
any USR Stock Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies ("incentive stock
options"), the option price, the number of shares purchasable pursuant to such
option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be
determined in order to comply with Section 424(a) of the Code.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, 3Com shall
deliver to the participants in the USR Option Plans appropriate notice setting
forth such participants' rights pursuant thereto and the grants pursuant to the
USR Option Plans shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions
(subject to the adjustments required by this Section 6.15 after giving effect to
the Merger). 3Com shall comply with the terms of the USR Option Plans and
ensure, to the extent required by, and subject to the provisions of, such USR
Option Plans, that USR Stock Options which qualified as incentive stock options
prior the Effective Time continue to qualify as incentive stock options after
the Effective Time.
(c) 3Com shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve and
make available for issuance a sufficient number of shares of 3Com Common Stock
for delivery under USR Stock Options assumed in accordance with this
Section 6.15. At or prior to the Effective Time, 3Com shall file a registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate forms) with respect
to the shares of 3Com Common Stock subject to such options and shall use its
best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement or
registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or
prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such options remain outstanding.
(d) USR shall take such action as is necessary to cause the ending
date of the then current offering period under the USR Purchase Plan (as such
term is defined therein) to be the last trading day on which the USR Common
Stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market immediately prior to the Effective
Time (the "Final USR Purchase Date"); provided, that, such change in the
offering period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger. On
the Final USR Purchase Date, USR shall apply the funds credited as of such date
under the USR Purchase Plan within each participant's payroll withholding
account to the purchase of whole shares of USR Common Stock in accordance with
the terms of the USR Purchase Plan.
(e) Employees of USR as of the Effective Time shall be permitted to
participate in the 3Com Purchase Plan commencing on the first enrollment date of
such plan following the Effective Time, subject to the eligibility provisions of
such
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plan (with employees receiving credit, for purposes of such eligibility
provisions, for service with USR or 3Com).
Section 6.16 BROKERS OR FINDERS. Each of 3Com and USR represents, as to
itself, its Subsidiaries and its Affiliates, that no agent, broker, investment
banker, financial advisor or other firm or person is or will be entitled to any
broker's or finder's fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection
with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, whose fees and expenses will be paid by USR in
accordance with USR's agreement with such firm (a copy of which has been
delivered by USR to 3Com prior to the date of this Agreement), and Goldman,
Sachs & Co., whose fees and expenses will be paid by 3Com in accordance with
3Com's agreement with such firm (a copy of which has been delivered by 3Com
prior to the date of this Agreement), and each of 3Com and USR agrees to
indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any and all claims,
liabilities or obligations with respect to any other fees, commissions or
expenses asserted by any person on the basis of any act or statement alleged to
have been made by such party or its Affiliate.
Section 6.17 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) 3Com and the Surviving Corporation agree that the indemnification
obligations set forth in USR's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, in each
case as of the date of this Agreement, shall survive the Merger (and, prior to
the Effective Time, 3Com shall cause the Bylaws of Sub to reflect such
provisions) and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a
period of six years after the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely
affect the rights thereunder of the individuals who on or prior to the Effective
Time were directors, officers, employees or agents of USR or its Subsidiaries.
(b) After the Effective Time, 3Com and the Surviving Corporation
shall, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, indemnify and hold
harmless, each present and former director or officer of USR and each Subsidiary
of USR and each such person who served at the request of USR or any Subsidiary
of USR as a director, officer, trustee, partner, fiduciary, employee or agent of
USR or of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension, or
other employee benefit plan or enterprise (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") against all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and settlement amounts
paid in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
(whether arising before or after the Effective Time), whether civil,
administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to any action or
omission in their capacity as an officer, director, employee, agent or other
person to whom this Section 6.17 applies, in each case occurring before the
Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of any such claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation, 3Com or the Surviving Corporation, shall pay the
fees and expenses of counsel selected by any Indemnified Party, which counsel
shall be reasonably
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satisfactory to 3Com and the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, promptly
after statements therefor are received (unless the Surviving Corporation shall
elect to defend such action).
(c) For a period of six years from the Effective Time, 3Com shall
provide or cause the Surviving Corporation to provide to USR's current directors
and officers liability insurance protection substantially equivalent in kind and
scope as that provided by USR's current directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies (copies of which have been made available to 3Com); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to expend
in any one year an amount in excess of 150% of the annual premiums currently
paid by USR for such insurance; and, PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if during such
period the annual premiums for such comparable insurance coverage exceed such
amount, the Surviving Corporation shall be obligated to obtain a policy which,
in the reasonable judgment of the Surviving Corporation, provides the best
coverage available for a cost not exceeding such amount.
(d) In the event 3Com or the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other
person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity in
such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all its
properties and assets to any person, then, and in each case, proper provision
shall be made so that the successors and assigns of 3Com or the Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, honor the indemnification obligations set forth
in this Section 6.17.
(e) The obligations of USR, the Surviving Corporation, and 3Com under
this Section 6.17 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to
adversely affect any director, officer, employee, agent or other person to whom
this Section 6.17 applies without the consent of such affected director,
officer, employee, agent or other person (it being expressly agreed that each
such director, officer, employee, agent or other person to whom this Section
6.17 applies shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Section 6.17).
Section 6.18 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS; REASONABLE EFFORTS. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, subject to the appropriate vote of the stockholders of USR and
3Com described in Section 6.6, including cooperating fully with the other party,
including by provision of information and making all necessary filings under the
HSR Act. In case at any time after the Effective Time any further action is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest
the Surviving Corporation with full title to all properties, assets, rights,
approvals, immunities and franchises of either of the Constituent Corporations,
the proper officers and directors of each party to this Agreement shall take all
such necessary action.
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Section 6.19 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENTS. 3Com and USR agree to fully
perform their respective obligations under the Stock Option Agreements.
Section 6.20 3COM BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) 3Com shall take all actions necessary (subject to any necessary
stockholder approval) to cause the number of directors comprising the full Board
of Directors of 3Com at the Effective Time (the "3Com Board") to be comprised of
11 directors, to elect James Cowie as a member of the 3Com Board with a term
expiring in 1998 and to elect Casey Cowell and Paul Yovovich as members of the
3Com Board with terms expiring in 1999, all such elections to be effective as of
the Effective Time. If, prior to the Effective Time, any of Messrs. Cowie,
Cowell or Yovovich shall decline or be unable to serve as a member of the 3Com
Board, USR shall designate another person, reasonably acceptable to the 3Com
Board, to serve in such person's stead.
(b) 3Com shall take all action necessary to cause the Compensation
Committee of the 3Com Board, as of the Effective Time to be comprised of two
members, one of which shall be Mr. Yovovich.
(c) The foregoing members of the 3Com Board and Compensation
Committee shall hold their respective positions until their resignation or
removal or the election or appointment of their respective successors in the
manner provided by 3Com's charter documents and applicable law.
Section 6.21 EMPLOYMENT AND NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS. 3Com and USR shall
each use its reasonable efforts to cause each of the USR employees listed in
Schedule 6.21 of the USR Disclosure Schedule to enter into (a) Employment
Agreements, substantially in the form of EXHIBIT C hereto providing for the
compensation specified in said Schedule 6.21 for each such employee and
(b) Noncompete Agreements, substantially in the form of EXHIBIT D hereto.
Section 6.22 RIGHTS PLANS.
(a) USR covenants and agrees that it shall either (i) redeem,
effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, all the then outstanding
Rights (as defined in the USR Rights Agreement) for cash pursuant to and in
compliance with Section 23 of the USR Rights Agreement or (ii) take such other
action to terminate the USR Rights Agreement as of that time, as USR and 3Com
may mutually agree. USR shall not redeem the Rights issued under the USR Rights
Agreement, or terminate the USR Rights Agreement, prior to the Effective Time
(other than in accordance with the preceding sentence) unless required to do so
by a court of competent jurisdiction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that USR may take any
of the foregoing actions if the Board of Directors of USR shall have determined
to recommend a Competing Offer to its stockholders after determining, pursuant
to Section 6.1, that such Competing Offer constitutes a Superior Proposal.
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(b) 3Com shall not redeem the rights issued under the 3Com Rights
Plan or terminate the 3Com Rights Plan prior to the Effective Time unless
required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
3Com may take any of the foregoing actions if the Board of Directors of 3Com
shall have determined to recommend a Competing Offer to its stockholders after
determining, pursuant to Section 6.1, that such Competing Offer constitutes a
Superior Proposal.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO MERGER
Section 7.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement and the Merger shall have
been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of USR Common Stock and the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of 3Com Common Stock.
(b) WAITING PERIODS. The waiting period applicable to the
consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act and any other waiting periods under
applicable foreign laws shall have expired or been terminated.
(c) APPROVALS. Other than the filing provided for by Section 1.1,
all authorizations, consents, orders or approvals of, or declarations or filings
with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental Entity the
failure of which to obtain or comply with, would be reasonably likely to have a
USR Material Adverse Effect or a 3Com Material Adverse Effect shall have been
filed, occurred or been obtained.
(d) REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration Statement shall have
become effective under the Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any
stop order or proceedings seeking a stop order.
(e) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS; ILLEGALITY. No temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or limiting or restricting
3Com's conduct or operation of the business of 3Com or the Surviving Corporation
after the Merger shall have been issued, except for any such order, injunction
restraint or prohibition which would not be reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on 3Com, the Surviving Corporation and their respective
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; nor shall there be any action taken, or any
statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered,
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enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger by any Governmental Entity which
makes the consummation of the Merger illegal.
(f) POOLING LETTERS. 3Com and USR shall have received letters from
Deloitte & Touche LLP and Grant Thornton LLP, respectively, each dated the date
of the Proxy Statement and confirmed in writing as of the Closing Date and
addressed to 3Com and USR, respectively, stating that they know of nothing that
would prohibit the business combination to be effected by the Merger from
qualifying as a pooling of interests transaction under generally accepted
accounting principles.
(g) NASDAQ. The shares of 3Com Common Stock to be issued in the
Merger shall have been approved for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market.
Section 7.2 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF 3COM AND SUB. The
obligations of 3Com and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction
of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived in writing
exclusively by 3Com and Sub:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
warranties of USR set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent
such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the
Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for
(i) changes contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) where the failure to be true
and correct would not be reasonably likely to have a USR Material Adverse Effect
or a material adverse effect upon the parties' ability to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; and 3Com shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of USR by the chief executive officer and the chief financial
officer of USR to such effect.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF USR. USR shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date; and 3Com shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of USR by the chief executive officer and the chief
financial officer of USR to such effect.
(c) TAX OPINION. 3Com shall have received a written opinion from
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, A Professional Corporation, counsel to 3Com, to
the effect that the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a
tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In
rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely upon reasonable representations
and certificates of 3Com, Sub, USR and certain stockholders of USR, and 3Com,
Sub and USR will make, and USR agrees to use reasonable efforts to cause such
stockholders of USR to make, such representations and deliver such certificates.
(d) ACCOUNTANTS' LETTER. 3Com shall have received from Grant
Thornton LLP the letters described in Section 6.11(a).
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(e) BLUE SKY LAWS. 3Com shall have received all permits and other
authorizations required under applicable state blue sky laws for the issuance of
shares of 3Com Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.
Section 7.3 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF USR. The obligation
of USR to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by
USR:
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
warranties of 3Com and Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the
extent such representations speak as of an earlier date) as of the Closing Date
as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for (i) changes
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) where the failure to be true and correct
would not be reasonably likely to have a 3Com Material Adverse Effect or a
material adverse effect upon the parties' ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby; and USR shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of 3Com by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of 3Com
to such effect.
(b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF 3COM AND SUB. 3Com and Sub shall
have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date; and USR shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of 3Com by the chief executive officer
and the chief financial officer of 3Com to such effect.
(c) TAX OPINION. USR shall have received the opinion of Mayer, Brown
& Platt, counsel to USR, to the effect that the Merger will be treated for
federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely
upon reasonable representations and certificates of 3Com, Sub, USR and certain
stockholders of USR, and 3Com, Sub and USR will make, and USR agrees to use
reasonable efforts to cause such stockholders of USR to make, such
representations and deliver such certificates.
(d) ACCOUNTANTS' LETTER. USR shall have received from Deloitte &
Touche LLP the letters described in Section 6.11(b).
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 8.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time (with respect to Sections 8.1(b) through 8.1(h), by
written notice by the terminating party to the other party), whether before or
after approval
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of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the stockholders of
3Com or USR;
(a) by mutual written consent of 3Com and USR; or
(b) by either 3Com or USR if the Merger shall not have been
consummated by September 15, 1997 (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the
cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such
date, and PROVIDED FURTHER, that this Agreement may be extended up to 90 days by
either party by written notice to the other party if the Merger would have been
consummated but for the absence of one or more required Approvals or third-party
consents, and such Approval(s) or consent(s) can reasonably be expected to be
obtained within such 90-day period); or
(c) by either 3Com or USR if a court of competent jurisdiction or
other Governmental Entity shall have issued a final order, decree or ruling, or
taken any other action, having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining
or otherwise prohibiting the Merger, and all appeals with respect to such order
or action have been exhausted or the time for appeal of such order, decree,
ruling or action shall have expired (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any
party which has not complied with its obligations under Section 6.7); or
(d) by either 3Com or USR if, at the USR Stockholders' Meeting or the
3Com Stockholders' Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof),
the requisite vote of stockholders in favor of this Agreement and the Merger
shall not have been obtained, (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the right to terminate
this Agreement under this Section 8.1(d) shall not be available to any party
which has not complied with its obligations under Sections 6.2 and 6.6, and no
termination shall be effective by any party which has not complied with its
obligations under Section 8.3(b) or (c), as the case may be, of this Agreement);
or
(e) by 3Com if (i) the Board of Directors of USR shall have withdrawn
or modified its recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger in a manner
adverse to 3Com or shall have resolved or publicly announced or disclosed to any
third party its intention to do so; (ii) an Alternative Transaction (as defined
in Section 8.3(e)) involving USR shall have taken place or the Board of
Directors of USR shall have recommended such an Alternative Transaction to the
stockholders of USR or shall have resolved or publicly announced its intention
to recommend or engage in such an Alternative Transaction; or (iii) a tender
offer or exchange offer for twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding
shares of USR Common Stock shall have been commenced or a registration statement
with respect thereto shall have been filed (other than by 3Com or an affiliate
thereof), and the Board of Directors of USR shall have (A) recommended (or shall
have resolved or publicly announced its intention to
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recommend) that the stockholders of USR tender their shares in such tender or
exchange offer or (B) resolved or publicly announced its intention to take no
position with respect to such tender offer; or
(f) by 3Com, if the Board of Directors of 3Com shall have determined,
to recommend a Competing Offer to its shareholders after determining, pursuant
to Section 6.1, that such Competing Offer constitutes a Superior Proposal;
(g) by 3Com if a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement on the part of USR set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred
which would cause the conditions set forth in Sections 7.2(a) or 7.2(b) not to
be satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured or, if capable of
being cured, shall not have been cured within ten business days following
receipt by USR of written notice of such breach from 3Com; or
(h) by USR if (i) the Board of Directors of 3Com shall have withdrawn
or modified its recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger in a manner
adverse to USR or shall have resolved or publicly announced or disclosed to any
third party its intention to do so; (ii) an Alternative Transaction (as defined
in Section 8.3(e)) involving 3Com shall have taken place or the Board of
Directors of 3Com shall have recommended such an Alternative Transaction (or a
proposal or offer therefor) to the stockholders of 3Com or shall have resolved
or publicly announced its intention to recommend or engage in such an
Alternative Transaction; or (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for twenty
percent (20%) or more of the outstanding shares of 3Com Common Stock shall have
been commenced or a registration statement with respect thereto shall have been
filed (other than by USR or an affiliate thereof), and the Board of Directors of
3Com shall have (A) recommended (or shall have resolved or publicly announced
its intention to recommend) that the stockholders of 3Com tender their shares in
such tender or exchange offer or (B) resolved or publicly announced its
intention to take no position with respect to such tender offer;
(i) by USR, if the Board of Directors of USR shall have determined to
recommend a Competing Offer to its stockholders after determining, pursuant to
Section 6.1, that such Competing Offer constitutes a Superior Proposal; or
(j) by USR, if a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement on the part of 3Com set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred
which would cause the conditions set forth Sections 7.3(a) or 7.3(b) not to be
satisfied, and such breach is incapable of being cured or, if capable of being
cured, shall not have been cured within ten business days following receipt by
3Com of written notice of such breach from USR.
Section 8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, there shall be no liability or obligation on
the part of 3Com, USR, Sub, or their respective officers, directors,
stockholders or Affiliates,
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except as set forth in Section 8.3 and further except to the extent that such
termination results from the willful breach by a party of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement; and
PROVIDED, that the provisions of Sections 6.19 and 8.3 of this Agreement and the
Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and survive any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 8.3 FEES AND EXPENSES.
(a) Except as set forth in this Section 8.3, all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the
Merger is consummated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that 3Com and USR shall share equally
all fees and expenses, other than attorneys' and accounting fees and expenses,
incurred in relation to the printing and filing of the Proxy Statement
(including any related preliminary materials) and the Registration Statement
(including financial statements and exhibits) and any amendments or supplements
thereto and the fee(s) required to be paid in connection with the filing(s)
required under the HSR Act in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated (i) by 3Com pursuant to Section
8.1(e), (ii) by USR pursuant to Section 8.1(d) as a result of the failure to
receive the requisite vote for approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the
stockholders of USR at the USR Stockholders' Meeting, (iii) by USR pursuant to
Section 8.1(i), or (iv) by 3Com as a result of a breach by USR within the scope
of Section 8.1(g), AND, in each such case, at the time of such failure or breach
an Alternative Transaction involving USR shall have been announced which shall
not have been absolutely and unconditionally withdrawn and abandoned, USR shall
pay to 3Com a termination fee of $75 million in cash or USR Common Stock, as
provided in Section 8.3(d), (the "USR Initial Termination Fee"), plus documented
expenses of 3Com relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby in an amount up to $10 million, within one business day after such
termination. If an Alternative Transaction involving USR is thereafter
consummated, or USR enters into a definitive agreement with respect to an
Alternative Transaction, within 12 months after payment of the USR Initial
Termination Fee, USR shall pay to 3Com an additional fee (the "USR Additional
Termination Fee") of $75 million in cash, at or prior to the consummation of
such Alternative Transaction, or within one business day following the effective
date of such definitive agreement, whichever is earlier.
(c) If this Agreement is terminated (i) by USR pursuant to Section
8.1(h) or (ii) by 3Com pursuant to Section 8.1(d) as a result of the failure to
receive the requisite vote for approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the
stockholders of 3Com at the 3Com Stockholders' Meeting, (iii) by 3Com pursuant
to Section 8.1(f), or (iv) by USR as a result of a breach by 3Com within the
scope of Section 8.1(j), AND, in each such case, at the time of such failure or
breach an Alternative Transaction involving 3Com shall have been announced which
shall not have been absolutely and
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unconditionally withdrawn and abandoned, 3Com shall pay to USR a termination fee
of $75 million in cash or 3Com Common Stock, as provided in Section 8.3(d), (the
"3Com Initial Termination Fee"), plus documented expenses of USR relating to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in an amount up to
$10 million, within one business day after such termination. If an Alternative
Transaction involving 3Com is thereafter consummated, or 3Com enters into a
definitive agreement providing for an Alternative Transaction, within 12 months
after payment of the 3Com Initial Termination Fee, 3Com shall pay to USR an
additional fee (the "3Com Additional Termination Fee") of $75 million in cash,
at or prior to the consummation of such Alternative Transaction, or within one
business day following the effective date of such definitive agreement,
whichever is earlier.
(d) The USR Initial Termination Fee and the 3Com Initial Termination
Fee shall be payable in cash (a "Cash Satisfaction") or, at the election of the
paying party (the "Paying Party") and subject to the prior satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in clause (i) below, in shares (a "Stock
Satisfaction") of the paying party's common stock (the "Paying Party Common
Stock").
(i) CONDITIONS TO STOCK SATISFACTION. The Paying Party's right to
elect a Stock Satisfaction shall be subject to, and conditioned upon: (A)
the expiration or early termination, prior to the date on which payment of
the applicable Initial Termination Fee is due (the "Payment Date"), of all
waiting periods, if any, under the HSR Act applicable to the transactions
necessary to effect such Stock Satisfaction; (B) the effectiveness, on the
Payment Date, of a registration statement covering the shares of Paying
Party Common Stock to be issued in such Stock Satisfaction and the absence
of any stop order with respect thereto, or, alternatively, the receipt of a
registration rights agreement in form acceptable to the recipient of the
applicable Initial Termination Fee; (C) the admission, prior to the Payment
Date, of the shares of Paying Party Common Stock to listing on the
applicable national securities exchange or national market system; (D) the
absence, on the Payment Date, of any preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise
restraining such issuance; and (E) the receipt, prior to the Payment Date,
of all consents, approvals, orders or authorizations of, or registrations,
declarations or filings with, any Governmental Entity, if any, required in
connection with the transactions necessary to effect such Stock
Satisfaction.
(ii) PROCEDURE FOR STOCK SATISFACTION. In the event of a Stock
Satisfaction, the Paying Party shall: (A) issue to the other party a number
of shares of Paying Party Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing the applicable Initial Termination Fee by the average closing
price of Paying Party Common Stock as reported on the applicable national
securities exchange or national market system for the 20 days ending on the
fifth trading day prior to the date hereof; (B) deliver to the other party
a single certificate in definitive form representing the number of shares
of Paying Party Common
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Stock registered in the name of the other party; and (C) pay all expenses,
and any and all federal, state and local taxes and other charges that may
be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and delivery of stock
certificates pursuant to a Stock Satisfaction.
(iii) VOTING OF SHARES ISSUED PURSUANT TO A STOCK SATISFACTION. Until
the earlier of the third anniversary of the Payment Date or the transfer of
the Paying Party Common Stock by the initial recipient thereof to an
unaffiliated third party, the holder of the Paying Party Common Stock shall
vote and execute stockholder written consents with respect to such shares,
on each matter submitted to the Paying Party's stockholders for a vote or
action by stockholder written consent, for and against such matter in the
same proportion(s) as the votes and consents of all other shareholders of
the Paying Party (whether by proxy or otherwise).
(e) As used in this Agreement, an "Alternative Transaction" involving
a specified party to this Agreement means (i) a transaction or series of
transactions pursuant to which any person or group (as such term is defined
under the Exchange Act) other than 3Com, USR or Sub, or any affiliate thereof,
(a "Third Party") acquires or would acquire (upon completion of such transaction
or series of transactions) shares (or securities exercisable for or convertible
into shares) representing more than twenty percent (20%) of the outstanding
shares of such party's common stock, pursuant to a tender offer or exchange
offer or otherwise, (ii) a merger, consolidation, share exchange or other
business combination involving such party or any of its material Subsidiaries
if, upon consummation of such merger, consolidation, share exchange or other
business combination such Third Party owns or would own more than twenty percent
(20%) of the outstanding equity securities of such party or any of its material
Subsidiaries or the entity surviving such merger or business combination or
resulting from such consolidation, (iii) any other transaction or series of
transactions pursuant to which any Third Party acquires or would acquire (upon
completion of such transaction or series of transactions) control of assets of
such party or any of its material Subsidiaries (including, for this purpose,
outstanding equity securities of Subsidiaries of such party) having a fair
market value equal to more than twenty percent (20%) of the fair market value of
all the consolidated assets of such party immediately prior to such transaction
or series of transactions, or (iv) any transaction or series of transactions
pursuant to which any Third Party acquires or would acquire (upon completion of
such transaction or series of transactions) control of the Board of Directors of
such party or by which nominees of any Third Party are (or would be) elected or
appointed to a majority of the seats on the Board of Directors of such party.
(f) In no event shall USR or 3Com, as the case may be, be required to
pay any termination fee to the other party if, immediately prior to the
applicable termination of this Agreement, the party that would otherwise be
entitled to receive such termination fee pursuant to Section 8.3 was in material
breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
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(g) If one party fails to promptly pay to the other any fee or
expense due hereunder, the defaulting party shall pay the costs and expenses
(including reasonable documented legal fees and expenses) in connection with any
action, including the filing of any lawsuit or other legal action, taken to
collect payment, together with interest on the amount of any unpaid fee at the
publicly announced prime rate of Citibank, N.A. from the date such fee was
required to be paid.
Section 8.4 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors,
at any time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with
the Merger by the stockholders of USR or 3Com, but, after any such approval, no
amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by such
stockholders without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.
Section 8.5 EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for
the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties
hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) 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 only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party.
ARTICLE IX(a)
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.
None of the representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in
any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing
and the Effective Time, except for covenants and agreements which, by their
terms, are to be performed after the Effective Time and the agreements of the
Affiliates of USR delivered pursuant to Section 6.13. The Confidentiality
Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
Section 9.2 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (which is confirmed) or mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested) 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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(a) if to 3Com or Sub, to
3Com Corporation
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: (408) 764-6434
with a copy to:
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
400 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1825
Attention: J. Howard Clowes
Facsimile No.: (415) 327-3699
(b) if to USR, to:
U.S. Robotics Corporation
8100 North McCormick Boulevard
Skokie, IL 60076
Attention: George Vinyard
Facsimile No.: (847) 982-9118
with a copy to:
Mayer, Brown & Platt
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603-3441
Attention: Richard Millard
Facsimile No.: (312) 701-7711
Section 9.3 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to a section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation." The phrase "made available" in this
Agreement shall mean that the information referred to has been made available if
requested by the party to whom such information is to be made available. The
phrase "to the knowledge of" a party shall mean the actual knowledge of any of
the executive officers of such party after due inquiry of those employees of the
party who could reasonably be expected to have information relating to the
subject matter of the representation. The phrases "the date of this Agreement",
"the date hereof," and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise
requires, shall be deemed to refer to February 26, 1997.
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Section 9.4 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.
Section 9.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein)
(a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and (b) except as provided in Section 6.17 is not
intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or
remedies hereunder.
Section 9.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
any applicable conflicts of law rules. Each party hereto irrevocably and
unconditionally consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the
State of Delaware and of the United States of America located in the State of
Delaware for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to
this agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and further agrees that
service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered or
certified mail to the party at the address specified in Section 9.2, shall be
effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought against
such party in any such court. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit
or proceeding arising out of this agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby, in the courts of the State of Delaware located in Wilmington, Delaware
or the United States of America located in Wilmington, Delaware, and hereby
further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim
in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. If any provision of this
Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any reason, it shall be modified
rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties
to the extent possible. In any event, all other provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed valid and enforceable to the extent possible.
Section 9.7 ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties, and any attempted assignment thereof without such
consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 3Com, Sub and USR have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first written above.
U.S. ROBOTICS CORPORATION 3COM CORPORATION
By: By:
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Chairman Title: Senior Vice President
---------------------------- ----------------------------
TR ACQUISITIONS CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
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USR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS USR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of February 26, 1997 by and between 3Com Corporation, a California
corporation ("3Com"), and U.S. Robotics Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("USR").
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, 3Com,
USR, and TR Acquisitions Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of 3Com ("Sub"), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of February 26, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"), which provides, among
other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, for the
merger of Sub with and into USR in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Merger"); and
B. As a condition and inducement to USR's willingness to enter into the
Merger Agreement, USR has requested that 3Com agree, and 3Com has agreed, to
grant to USR an option to acquire certain shares of 3Com's authorized but
unissued common stock, par value $.01 per share, together with any associated
rights under the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of December 21,
1994 between 3Com and The First National Bank of Boston ("3Com Common Stock"),
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce USR to enter into the Merger Agreement and in
consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein and in the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound, hereby agree as follows. Capitalized terms used herein but
not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger
Agreement.
1. GRANT OF OPTION. 3Com hereby grants to USR an irrevocable option (the
"3Com Option") to purchase a number of shares of 3Com Common Stock equal to the
Option Number (as defined in Section 2(d)), on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth below.
2. EXERCISE AND TERMINATION OF THE 3COM OPTION.
(a) EXERCISE. The 3Com Option may be exercised by USR, in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time after the occurrence of an event which
causes the 3Com Initial Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to
become payable (a "Trigger Event") and prior to the termination of USR's right
to exercise the 3Com Option by the terms of this Agreement. 3Com shall notify
USR promptly in writing of the occurrence of any Trigger Event; however, such
notice shall not be a condition to the right of USR to exercise the 3Com Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 3Com Option may not be exercised if USR is in
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material breach of any of its material representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.
(b) EXERCISE PROCEDURE. In the event that USR wishes to exercise the
3Com Option, USR shall deliver to 3Com written notice (an "Exercise Notice")
specifying the total number of shares of 3Com Common Stock that USR wishes to
purchase. To the extent permitted by law and the Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation of 3Com (the "3Com Charter") and provided that the conditions
set forth in Section 3 to 3Com's obligation to issue the shares of 3Com Common
Stock to USR hereunder have been satisfied or waived, USR shall, upon delivery
of the Exercise Notice and tender of the applicable aggregate Exercise Price,
immediately be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of 3Com Common
Stock issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books
of 3Com shall then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of
3Com Common Stock shall not theretofore have been delivered to USR. Each
closing of a purchase of shares of 3Com Common Stock hereunder (a "Closing")
shall occur at a place, on a date, and at a time designated by USR in an
Exercise Notice delivered at least two (2) business days prior to the date of
such Closing.
(c) TERMINATION OF THE 3COM OPTION. USR's right to exercise the 3Com
Option shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the Effective Time of
the Merger; (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement other than under
circumstances which also constitute a Trigger Event under this Agreement; or
(iii) twelve (12) months following the receipt by USR of written notice from
3Com of the occurrence of a Trigger Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the 3Com Option cannot be exercised by reason of any applicable judgment,
decree, order, law or regulation, the 3Com Option shall remain exercisable and
shall not terminate until the earlier of (x) the date on which such impediment
shall become final and not subject to appeal and (y) 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard
Time, on the tenth (10th) business day after such impediment shall have been
removed. The rights of USR set forth in Sections 7 and 10 shall not terminate
upon termination of USR's right to exercise the 3Com Option, but shall extend to
the time provided in such sections. Notwithstanding the termination of the 3Com
Option, USR shall be entitled to purchase the shares of 3Com Common Stock with
respect to which USR had exercised the 3Com Option prior to such termination.
(d) OPTION NUMBER. The Option Number shall initially be the number
of shares equal to nineteen and nine-tenths percent (19.9%) of the total number
of shares of 3Com Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement, and shall be adjusted hereafter to reflect changes in 3Com's
capitalization occurring after the date hereof in accordance with Section 11.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the
Option Number exceed nineteen and nine-tenths percent (19.9%) of the total
number of shares of 3Com Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement, adjusted in accordance with Section 11.
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(e) EXERCISE PRICE. The purchase price per share of 3Com Common
Stock pursuant to the 3Com Option (the "Exercise Price") shall be payable, at
USR's election, in cash (a "Cash Exercise") or in shares (a "Stock Exercise") of
USR common stock, $.01 par value per share ("USR Common Stock"). The Exercise
Price, (i) in the case of a Cash Exercise, shall be a cash amount equal to the
average of the last sale prices of 3Com Common Stock on the ten (10) trading
days immediately prior to the announcement of the Merger (the "Cash Exercise
Price"), and (ii) in the case of a Stock Exercise, shall be a number of shares
(or fraction of a share) of USR Common Stock with a value (based on the average
of the last sale prices of USR Common Stock on the ten (10) trading days
immediately prior to the applicable Closing) equal to the Cash Exercise Price
(the "Stock Exercise Price").
(f) CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. In the event USR would receive Net Proceeds
(as defined below) of more than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in
connection with the sale or other disposition of the shares of 3Com Common Stock
acquired pursuant to the 3Com Option (other than a sale of such shares to 3Com
pursuant to Section 7), all Net Proceeds in excess of such amount shall be
remitted to 3Com promptly upon receipt. "Net Proceeds" shall mean the aggregate
proceeds of such sale or disposition in excess of the product of the Exercise
Price multiplied by the number of shares of 3Com Common Stock included in such
sale or disposition. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or in the
Merger Agreement to the contrary, the maximum aggregate amount payable by 3Com
to USR and its affiliates pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement and the
provisions of Section 8.3(c) of the Merger Agreement shall not exceed the sum of
one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) plus expenses pursuant to
Section 8.3(c) of the Merger Agreement plus, in the case of payments pursuant to
Sections 7(a)(ii) and 7(b)(ii) of this Agreement, the aggregate Exercise Price
for the shares of 3Com Common Stock repurchased by 3Com from USR pursuant to
Section 7 of this Agreement, it being understood that the limitation contained
in this sentence shall not limit the amounts receivable by USR from persons
other than 3Com, including without limitation amounts receivable pursuant to a
tender offer or other sale.
3. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The obligation of 3Com to issue the shares of
3Com Common Stock to USR hereunder is subject to the conditions that (a) all
waiting periods, if any, under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1975, as amended (the "HSR Act"), applicable to the issuance of the shares of
3Com Common Stock by 3Com and the acquisition of such shares by USR hereunder
(and, in the case of a Stock Exercise, the issuance of shares of USR Common
Stock by USR and the acquisition of such shares by 3Com) shall have expired or
have been terminated; (b) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise restraining such
issuance shall be in effect; and (c) all consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations and permits of any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
authority, if any, required in connection with the issuance of the shares of
3Com Common Stock and the acquisition of such shares by USR hereunder (and, in
the case of a Stock Exercise, the issuance of shares of USR Common Stock and the
acquisition of such shares by 3Com) shall have been obtained.
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4. CLOSING. At any Closing:
(a) 3Com shall deliver to USR or its designee a single certificate in
definitive form representing the number of shares of 3Com Common Stock
designated by USR in its Exercise Notice, such certificate to be registered in
the name of USR and to bear the legend set forth in Section 12;
(b) USR shall deliver to 3Com the aggregate Exercise Price for the
shares of 3Com Common Stock so designated and being purchased by (i) wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts specified in
writing by 3Com (in the case of a Cash Exercise), or (ii) subject to the
satisfaction of applicable conditions, delivery of a certificate or certificates
representing the number of shares of USR Common Stock being issued by USR in
consideration thereof (in the case of a Stock Exercise);
(c) 3Com shall pay all expenses, and any and all federal, state and
local taxes and other charges that may be payable in connection with the
preparation, issue and delivery of stock certificates under this Section 4; and
(d) 3Com shall cause the shares of 3Com Common Stock being delivered
at the Closing to be approved for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market and
shall pay all expenses in connection with the application for approval of such
quotation.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF 3COM. 3Com represents and warrants
to USR that:
(a) 3Com is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of California and has all corporate
power and authority required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its
obligations hereunder;
(b) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com and the
consummation by 3Com of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of 3Com and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of 3Com and no action of 3Com shareholders are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby; this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by 3Com,
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by USR and
the receipt of all required governmental approvals, constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of 3Com, enforceable against 3Com in accordance with its
terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally, and except that the availability of equitable remedies,
including specific performance, may be subject to the discretion of any court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought;
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(c) 3Com has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue, upon exercise of the 3Com
Option, and at all times from the date hereof through the expiration of the 3Com
Option will have reserved, a number of authorized and unissued shares of 3Com
Common Stock not less than the Option Number, such amount being subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 11, all of which, upon their issuance and
delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(d) the shares of 3Com Common Stock issued to USR upon the exercise
of the 3Com Option will be, upon delivery thereof to USR, free and clear of all
claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests of any nature
whatsoever;
(e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com does not,
and, subject to compliance with applicable law, the consummation by 3Com of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate, conflict with, or result in
a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate
the performance required by, or result in a right of termination, cancellation,
or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit under, or
the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets
(any such violation, conflict, breach, default, termination, acceleration, right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss, or creation, a "Violation")
of 3Com or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to (i) any provision of the 3Com
Charter or the Bylaws of 3Com, (ii) any provision of any material loan or credit
agreement, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, benefit plan or other agreement,
obligation, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license (a "Material
Contract") of 3Com or any of its subsidiaries or to which any of them is a party
or by which any of them or their properties or assets are bound, or (iii) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to 3Com or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets;
(f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com does not,
and (except for the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under
the HSR Act and except as contemplated by Sections 10(e), (f) and (j)) the
performance of this Agreement by 3Com and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, require any consent, approval, order,
authorization or permit of, filing with, or notification to any governmental or
regulatory authority;
(g) none of 3Com or any of its affiliates or anyone acting on its or
their behalf has issued, sold or offered any security of 3Com to any person
under circumstances that would cause the issuance and sale of shares of 3Com
Common Stock hereunder to be subject to the registration requirements of the
Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof, and, assuming the
representations and warranties of USR contained in Section 6(g) are true and
correct, the issuance, sale and delivery of the shares of 3Com Common Stock
hereunder would be exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, as in effect on the date
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hereof, and 3Com shall not take any action which would cause the issuance, sale,
and delivery of shares of 3Com Common Stock hereunder not to be exempt from such
requirements; and
(h) any shares of USR Common Stock acquired by 3Com pursuant to this
Agreement will be acquired for 3Com's own account, for investment purposes only,
and will not be acquired by 3Com with a view to the public distribution thereof
in violation of any applicable provision of the Securities Act.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USR. USR represents and warrants to
3Com that:
(a) USR is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and
authority required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations
hereunder;
(b) except as set forth in Section 6(c), the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by USR and the consummation by USR of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of USR, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of USR and no
action of its stockholders are necessary to authorize this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby; this Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by USR and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by 3Com and the receipt of all required governmental approvals,
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of USR, enforceable against USR in
accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally, and except that the availability of equitable
remedies, including specific performance, may be subject to the discretion of
any court before which any proceeding may be brought;
(c) prior to any delivery of shares of USR Common Stock in
consideration of the purchase of shares of 3Com Common Stock pursuant hereto,
USR will have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize for issuance and
to permit it to issue such shares of USR Common Stock, all of which, upon their
issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(d) the shares of USR Common Stock (if any) issued to 3Com in
consideration of the purchase of shares of 3Com Common Stock pursuant hereto
will be, upon delivery thereof to 3Com, free and clear of all claims, liens,
charges, encumbrances and security interests of any nature whatsoever;
(e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR does not, and
the consummation by USR of the transactions contemplated hereby will not,
violate, conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of, or
constitute a
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default (with or without notice or a lapse of time, or both) under, or result in
any Violation by USR or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to (i) any provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of USR, (ii) any Material Contract
of USR or any of its subsidiaries or to which any of them is a party or by which
any of them or any of their properties or assets are bound, or (iii) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to USR or its properties or assets, which Violation, in the case of each of
clauses (ii) or (iii), would have an USR Material Adverse Effect;
(f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR does not, and
(except for the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under the
HSR Act and except as contemplated by Sections 10(e), (f) and (j)) the
performance of this Agreement by USR and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, require any consent, approval, order,
authorization or permit of, filing with, or notification to any governmental or
regulatory authority; and
(g) any shares of 3Com Common Stock acquired by USR upon exercise of
the 3Com Option will be acquired for USR's own account, for investment purposes
only and will not be, and the 3Com Option is not being, acquired by USR with a
view to the public distribution thereof, in violation of any applicable
provision of the Securities Act.
7. CERTAIN REPURCHASES.
(a) USR "PUT". Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(f),
upon written notice to 3Com by USR (the "Repurchase Notice"):
(i) at any time during which the 3Com Option is exercisable pursuant
to Section 2 (the "Repurchase Period"), 3Com and its successors in interest
shall repurchase from USR all or any portion of the 3Com Option, as
specified by USR, at the Option Repurchase Price set forth in Section
7(b)(i); and
(ii) at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section
8), 3Com and its successors in interest shall repurchase from USR all or
any portion of the shares of 3Com Common Stock purchased by USR pursuant to
the 3Com Option, as specified by USR, at the Share Repurchase Price set
forth in Section 7(b)(ii).
(b) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Section 7, the
following definitions shall apply:
(i) OPTION REPURCHASE PRICE. "Option Repurchase Price" shall mean
(A) the difference between the Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price (as
defined below) for shares of 3Com Common Stock as of the date of the
applicable Repurchase Notice and the Exercise Price, multiplied by (B) the
number of shares of 3Com Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the 3Com
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Option or the portion thereof covered by the applicable Repurchase Notice,
but only if the Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price is greater than the
Exercise Price. "Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price" shall mean, as of
any date, the higher of (X) the highest price per share offered as of such
date pursuant to any tender or exchange offer or other offer with respect
to a business combination offer involving 3Com or any of its material
subsidiaries as the target party which was made prior to such date and not
terminated or withdrawn as of such date, and (Y) the Fair Market Value (as
defined in Section 7(b)(iii)) of 3Com Common Stock as of such date.
(ii) SHARE REPURCHASE PRICE. "Share Repurchase Price" shall mean the
product of (A) the sum of (I) the Exercise Price paid by USR per share of
3Com Common Stock acquired pursuant to the 3Com Option and (II) if the
Share Repurchase Market/Offer Price (as defined below) is greater than the
Exercise Price, the difference between the Share Repurchase Market/Offer
Price and the Exercise Price, and (B) the number of shares of 3Com Common
Stock to be repurchased pursuant to this Section 7. "Share Repurchase
Market/Offer Price" shall mean, as of any date, the higher of (X) the
highest price per share offered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer or
other business combination offer involving 3Com as the target party during
the Repurchase Period prior to the delivery by USR of a notice of
repurchase, and (Y) the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b)(iii))
of 3Com Common Stock as of such date.
(iii) FAIR MARKET VALUE. As used in this Agreement, "Fair Market
Value" shall mean, with respect to any security, the per share average of
the last sale prices on The Nasdaq National Market (or such other national
stock exchange or national market system as shall then be the primary
trading market for such security) for the ten (10) trading days immediately
preceding the applicable date.
(c) REDELIVERY OF SHARES OF USR COMMON STOCK. In 3Com's discretion
or if specified by USR in the Repurchase Notice, all or a portion of the Share
Repurchase Price shall be paid by 3Com in shares of USR Common Stock, by
redelivery to USR of the shares of USR Common Stock (and the certificate(s)
representing such shares) previously delivered by USR to 3Com pursuant to a
Stock Exercise. For purposes of this Section 7(c), each share of USR Common
Stock redelivered to USR shall be valued at the Fair Market Value thereof. If
fewer than all of the shares of 3Com Common Stock purchased by USR pursuant to a
Stock Exercise are to be repurchased by 3Com pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii), USR
shall issue to 3Com new certificates representing those shares of USR Common
Stock which are not due to be redelivered to USR pursuant to this Section 7(c)
to the extent that excess shares of USR Common Stock are included in the
certificates redelivered to USR by 3Com. All shares of USR Common Stock
redelivered to USR hereunder shall be free and clear of all claims, liens,
charges, encumbrances and security interests of any nature whatsoever.
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(d) PAYMENT AND REDELIVERY OF 3COM OPTIONS OR SHARES. In the event
that USR exercises its rights under this Section 7, 3Com shall, within ten (10)
business days thereafter, pay the required amount to USR in immediately
available funds and USR shall surrender to 3Com the 3Com Option or the
certificate or certificates evidencing the shares of 3Com Common Stock purchased
by USR pursuant hereto, and USR shall warrant that it has sole beneficial
ownership of the 3Com Option or such shares and that the 3Com Option or such
shares are then free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and
security interests of any nature whatsoever.
(e) REPURCHASE PRICE REDUCED AT USR'S OPTION. In the event that
payment of the repurchase price specified in Section 7(a) would subject the
repurchase of the 3Com Option or the shares of 3Com Common Stock purchased by
USR pursuant to the 3Com Option to a vote of the stockholders of 3Com pursuant
to applicable law, regulations, or requirements of a national securities
exchange or national market system or the 3Com Charter, then USR may, at its
election, reduce the repurchase price or the number of shares covered by the USR
repurchase request to an amount which would permit such repurchase without the
necessity for such a vote.
(f) REPURCHASE AT THE ELECTION OF 3COM.
(i) Except to the extent that USR shall have previously exercised its
rights under Section 7(a), at the request of 3Com during the six-month
period immediately following the Repurchase Period, 3Com may repurchase
from USR, and USR shall sell to 3Com, all (but not less than all) the
shares of 3Com Common Stock acquired by USR pursuant hereto and with
respect to which USR has beneficial ownership at the time of such
repurchase, at a price equal to the sum of (A) the greater of (I) one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Current Market Price (as defined in
Section 7(f)(iii)) or (II) the sum of (X) the Purchase Price in respect of
the shares so acquired plus (Y) USR's Pre-Tax Carrying Cost (as defined in
Section 7(f)(iii)), multiplied in either case by the number of shares so
acquired, and (B) the amount of the documented out-of-pocket expenses (to
the extent not previously reimbursed or compensated for pursuant hereto or
pursuant to the Merger Agreement) incurred by USR in connection with the
Merger Agreement and this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby and hereby, including reasonable accounting, investment banking and
legal fees (the "Section 7(f) Repurchase Consideration"); provided, that
3Com's rights under this Section 7(f) shall be suspended (with any such
rights being extended accordingly) during any period when the exercise of
such rights would subject USR to liability or disgorgement of profits
pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(ii) If 3Com exercises its rights under this Section 7(f), 3Com shall,
within ten (10) business days pay the Section 7(f) Repurchase Consideration
in immediately available funds and USR shall surrender to 3Com certificates
evidencing the shares of 3Com Common Stock purchased hereunder with
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respect to which USR then has beneficial ownership, and USR shall warrant
that it has sole beneficial ownership of such shares and that all such
shares are then free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances
and security interests of any nature whatsoever.
(iii) As used in Section 7(f)(i), (A) "Current Market Price" shall
mean the average of the last sale prices per share of 3Com Common Stock on
The Nasdaq National Market for the ten (10) trading days immediately
preceding the date of 3Com's request for repurchase pursuant to this
Section 7(f), and (B) "Pre-Tax Carrying Cost" shall mean an amount equal to
the interest on the aggregate purchase price paid by USR for the shares of
3Com Common Stock purchased pursuant to the 3Com Option from the date of
purchase to the date of repurchase at the rate of interest announced by
Citibank, N.A. as its prime or base lending or reference rate during such
period, less any dividends received on the shares so purchased, divided by
the number of shares so purchased.
8. VOTING OF SHARES. Following the date hereof and prior to the fifth
anniversary of the date hereof (the "Expiration Date"), (a) each party shall
vote any shares of capital stock of the other party acquired by such party
pursuant to this Agreement ("Restricted Shares"), including any shares of USR
Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Exercise, or otherwise beneficially
owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) by
such party, on each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of such other
party for and against such matter in the same proportion as all other shares of
the same class of capital stock of such other party are voted (whether by proxy
or otherwise) for and against such matter, and (b) each party shall execute
written consents with respect to the Restricted Shares in the same proportion as
written consents are executed by other holders of such class of capital stock.
Before acquiring any Restricted Shares hereunder, USR shall execute and deliver
a proxy to 3Com authorizing 3Com to vote and execute written consents with
respect to all Restricted Shares acquired by USR hereunder, and before acquiring
any Restricted Shares in payment therefor, 3Com shall execute and deliver a
proxy to USR authorizing USR to vote and execute written consents with respect
to all Restricted Shares acquired by 3Com hereunder, in each case in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 8.
9. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.
(a) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Prior to the Expiration Date, neither
party shall, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, sell,
assign, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Restricted Shares
beneficially owned by such party, other than (i) pursuant to Section 7, or (ii)
in accordance with Sections 9(b), 9(c) or 10.
(b) PERMITTED SALES. Following the termination of the Merger
Agreement, a party shall be permitted to sell any Restricted Shares beneficially
owned by it if such sale is made pursuant to a tender or exchange offer that has
been
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approved or recommended, or otherwise determined to be fair to and in the best
interests of the holders of common stock of the other party, by a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors of such other party.
(c) 3COM'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. At any time after the first
occurrence of a Trigger Event and prior to the expiration of twenty-four (24)
months immediately following the first purchase of shares of 3Com Common Stock
pursuant to the 3Com Option, if USR shall desire to sell, assign, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any of the shares of 3Com Common Stock or other
securities acquired by it pursuant to the 3Com Option, it shall give 3Com
written notice of the proposed transaction (a "USR Offer Notice"), identifying
the proposed transferee, accompanied by a copy of a binding offer to purchase
such shares or other securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the
terms of the proposed transaction. A USR Offer Notice shall be deemed an offer
by USR to 3Com, which may be accepted within five (5) business days of the
receipt of such USR Offer Notice, on the same terms and conditions and at the
same price at which USR is proposing to transfer such shares or other securities
to such transferee. The purchase of any such shares or other securities by 3Com
shall be settled within five (5) business days of the date of the acceptance of
the offer and the purchase price shall be paid to USR in immediately available
funds. In the event of the failure or refusal of 3Com to purchase all the
shares or other securities covered by a USR Offer Notice, USR may sell all, but
not less than all, of such shares or other securities to the proposed transferee
at no less than the price specified and on terms no more favorable to the
transferee than those set forth in the USR Offer Notice; provided that the
provisions of this sentence shall not limit the rights USR may otherwise have in
the event 3Com has accepted the offer contained in the USR Offer Notice and
wrongfully refuses to purchase the shares or other securities subject thereto.
The requirements of this Section 9(c) shall not apply to (i) any disposition as
a result of which the proposed transferee would own beneficially not more than
three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting power of 3Com, (ii) any disposition
of 3Com Common Stock or other securities by a person to whom USR has assigned
its rights under the 3Com Option with the consent of 3Com, (iii) any sale by
means of a public offering registered under the Securities Act, or (iv) any
transfer to a wholly-owned subsidiary of USR which agrees in writing to be bound
by the terms hereof.
(d) USR'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. At any time after the first
occurrence of a Trigger Event and prior to the expiration of twenty-four (24)
months immediately following the first transfer of shares of USR Common Stock
from USR to 3Com in connection with a Stock Exercise of the 3Com Option, if 3Com
shall desire to sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of the
shares of USR Common Stock or other securities acquired by it pursuant to a
Stock Exercise of the 3Com Option by USR, it shall give USR written notice of
the proposed transaction (a "3Com Offer Notice"), identifying the proposed
transferee, accompanied by a copy of a binding offer to purchase such shares or
other securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the terms of the
proposed transaction. A 3Com Offer Notice shall be deemed an offer by 3Com to
USR, which may be accepted within five (5) business days of the receipt of such
3Com Offer Notice, on the same terms and conditions and
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at the same price at which 3Com is proposing to transfer such shares or other
securities to such transferee. The purchase of any such shares or other
securities by USR shall be settled within five (5) business days of the date of
the acceptance of the offer and the purchase price shall be paid to 3Com in
immediately available funds. In the event of the failure or refusal of USR to
purchase all the shares or other securities covered by a 3Com Offer Notice, 3Com
may sell all, but not less than all, of such shares or other securities to the
proposed transferee at no less than the price specified and on terms no more
favorable to the transferee than those set forth in the 3Com Offer Notice;
provided that the provisions of this sentence shall not limit the rights 3Com
may otherwise have in the event USR has accepted the offer contained in the 3Com
Offer Notice and wrongfully refuses to purchase the shares or other securities
subject thereto. The requirements of this Section 9(d) shall not apply to (i)
any disposition as a result of which the proposed transferee would own
beneficially not more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting power of
USR, (ii) any sale by means of a public offering registered under the Securities
Act, or (iii) any transfer to a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com which agrees in
writing to be bound by the terms hereof.
10. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Following the termination of the Merger Agreement, either party
hereto that owns Restricted Shares (a "Holder") may by written notice (the
"Registration Notice") to the other party (the "Registrant") request the
Registrant to register under the Securities Act all or any part of the
Restricted Shares beneficially owned by such Holder (the "Registrable
Securities") pursuant to a bona fide firm commitment underwritten public
offering, in which the Holder and the underwriters shall effect as wide a
distribution of such Registrable Securities as is reasonably practicable and
shall use their best efforts to prevent any person (including any "group" as
used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act)) and its affiliates from purchasing
through such offering Restricted Shares representing more than three percent
(3%) of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant on a fully
diluted basis (a "Permitted Offering").
(b) The Registration Notice shall include a certificate executed by
the Holder and its proposed managing underwriter, which underwriter shall be an
investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing (the "Manager"),
stating that (i) they have a good faith intention to commence promptly a
Permitted Offering, and (ii) the manager in good faith believes that, based on
the then-prevailing market conditions, it will be able to sell the Registrable
Securities to the public in a Permitted Offering within one hundred twenty (120)
days at a per share price equal to at least eighty percent (80%) of the then
Fair Market Value of such shares.
(c) The Registrant (and/or any person designated by the Registrant)
shall thereupon have the option exercisable by written notice delivered to the
Holder within five (5) business days after the receipt of the Registration
Notice, irrevocably to agree to purchase all or any part of the Registrable
Securities proposed to be so sold for cash at a price equal to the product of
(i) the number of Registrable
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Securities to be so purchased by the Registrant and (ii) the then Fair Market
Value of such shares.
(d) Any purchase of Registrable Securities by the Registrant (or its
designee) under Section 10(c) shall take place at a closing to be held at the
principal executive offices of the Registrant or at the offices of its counsel
at any reasonable date and time designated by the Registrant and/or such
designee in such notice within twenty (20) business days after delivery of such
notice, and any payment for the shares to be so purchased shall be made by
delivery at the time of such closing in immediately available funds.
(e) If the Registrant does not elect to exercise its option pursuant
to Section 10(c) with respect to all Registrable Securities, it shall use its
best efforts to effect, as promptly as practicable, the registration under the
Securities Act of the unpurchased Registrable Securities proposed to be so sold;
provided, however, that (i) neither party shall be entitled to demand more than
an aggregate of two (2) effective registration statements hereunder, and (ii)
the Registrant will not be required to file any such registration statement
during any period of time (not to exceed forty (40) days after such request in
the case of clause (A) below or ninety (90) days after such request in the case
of clauses (B) and (C) below) when (A) the Registrant is in possession of
material non-public information which it reasonably believes would be
detrimental to be disclosed at such time and, in the opinion of counsel to the
Registrant, such information would be required to be disclosed if a registration
statement were filed at that time; (B) the Registrant is required under the
Securities Act to include audited financial statements for any period in such
registration statement and such financial statements are not yet available for
inclusion in such registration statement; or (C) the Registrant determines, in
its reasonable judgment, that such registration would interfere with any
financing, acquisition or other transaction involving the Registrant or any of
its material subsidiaries and that such transaction is material to the
Registrant and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. If consummation of the sale
of any Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration hereunder does not
occur within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectiveness of the
initial registration statement, the provisions of this Section 10 shall again be
applicable to any proposed registration.
(f) The Registrant shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 10 to be qualified
for sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the
Holder may reasonably request and shall continue such registration or
qualification in effect in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the
Registrant shall not be required to qualify to do business in, or consent to
general service of process in, any jurisdiction by reason of this provision.
(g) The registration rights set forth in this Section 10 are subject
to the condition that the Holder shall provide the Registrant with such
information with respect to its Registrable Securities, the plans for the
distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to the Holder as,
in the reasonable judgment of
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<PAGE>
counsel for the Registrant, is necessary to enable the Registrant to include in
such registration statement all material facts required to be disclosed with
respect to a registration thereunder.
(h) A registration effected under this Section 10 shall be effected
at the Registrant's expense, except for underwriting discounts and commissions
and the fees and the expenses of counsel to the Holder, and the Registrant shall
provide to the underwriters such documentation (including certificates, opinions
of counsel and "comfort" letters from auditors) as is customary in connection
with underwritten public offerings as such underwriters may reasonably require.
(i) In connection with any registration effected under this Section
10, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each other and the underwriters in the
customary manner, (ii) to enter into an underwriting agreement in form and
substance customary for transactions of such type with the Manager and the other
underwriters participating in such offering, and (iii) to take all further
actions which shall be reasonably necessary to effect such registration and sale
(including if the Manager deems it necessary, participating in road-show
presentations).
(j) The Registrant shall be entitled to include (at its expense)
additional shares of its common stock in a registration effected pursuant to
this Section 10 only if and to the extent the Manager determines that such
inclusion will not adversely affect the prospects for success of such offering.
11. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
(a) Without limiting any restriction on 3Com contained in this
Agreement or in the Merger Agreement, in the event of any change in 3Com Common
Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, merger (other than the
Merger), recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or any similar
transaction, the type and number of shares or securities subject to the 3Com
Option, and the Exercise Price per share provided herein, shall be adjusted
appropriately and proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing
such transaction so that USR shall receive, upon exercise of the 3Com Option,
the number and class of securities or property that USR would have received in
respect of the shares of 3Com Common Stock issuable to USR if the 3Com Option
had been exercised immediately prior to such event or the record date therefor,
as applicable.
(b) In the event that 3Com shall enter into an agreement: (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than USR or one of its
subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than USR or one of its
subsidiaries, to merge into 3Com and 3Com shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then-outstanding shares of
3Com Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of 3Com 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 USR or one of its subsidiaries,
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<PAGE>
then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make
proper provision so that upon the consummation of such transaction and upon the
subsequent exercise of the 3Com Option, USR shall be entitled to receive, for
each share of 3Com Common Stock with respect to which the 3Com Option has not
theretofore been exercised, an amount of consideration in the form of and equal
to the per share amount of consideration that would be received by the holder of
one share of 3Com Common Stock (and, in the event of an election or similar
arrangement with respect to the type of consideration to be received by the
holders of 3Com Common Stock, subject to the foregoing, proper provision shall
be made so that the holder of the 3Com Option would have the same election or
similar rights as would the holder of the number of shares of 3Com Common Stock
for which the 3Com Option is then exercisable).
12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. Each certificate representing shares of 3Com
Common Stock issued to USR hereunder, and shares of USR Common Stock, if any,
delivered to 3Com pursuant to a Stock Exercise, shall include a legend in
substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR
BLUE SKY LAWS, AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN
EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO
SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE USR
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 1997, A COPY OF WHICH MAY
BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to the resale restrictions of
the Securities Act and state securities or Blue Sky laws in the foregoing legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if USR or 3Com, as the case may be, shall have delivered to the other party 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 the other
party, to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the
Securities Act or such laws; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this
Agreement in the foregoing legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
certificate(s) without such reference if the shares have been sold or
transferred in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and under
circumstances that do not require the retention of such reference; and (iii) the
legend shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the preceding
clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall
bear any other legend as may be required by law. Certificates representing
shares sold in a registered public offering pursuant to Section 10 shall not be
required to bear the legend set forth in this Section 12.
13. BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and
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<PAGE>
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly provided
for in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor the rights or obligations of
either party hereto are assignable, except by operation of law, or with the
written consent of the other party, and any such attempted assignment in
violation of this Agreement shall be void and of no force or effect. Nothing
contained in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted assigns any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever. Any Restricted Shares sold by a
party in compliance with the provisions of Section 10 shall, upon consummation
of such sale, be free of the restrictions imposed with respect to such shares by
this Agreement, unless and until such party shall repurchase or otherwise become
the beneficial owner of such shares, and any transferee of such shares shall not
be entitled to the registration rights of such party.
14. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto recognize and agree that if
for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and
irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages would not be
an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in addition to other
remedies, whether at law or in equity, the other party shall be entitled to an
injunction to prevent or restrain any violation or threatened violation of the
provisions of this Agreement, and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, in any court of the State of Delaware or of the United States
of America located in the State of Delaware. In the event that any action
should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, neither
party will allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an
adequate remedy at law. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally
consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
and of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware for any
actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, and further agrees that service of any
process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered or certified mail to
U.S. Robotics Corporation at 8100 North McCormick Blvd., Skokie, Illinois 60076,
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel, or to 3Com Corporation at 5400
Bayfront Plaza, Santa Clara, California 95052-8145, Attention: Mark Michael,
General Counsel, shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or
proceeding brought against such party in any such court. Each party hereto
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of
any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, in the courts of the State of Delaware or of
the United States of America located in Wilmington, Delaware, and hereby further
irrevocable and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
15. VALIDITY.
(a) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other
provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
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<PAGE>
(b) In the event any court or other governmental or regulatory
authority holds any provisions of this Agreement to be null, void or
unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith the execution
and delivery of an amendment to this Agreement in order, as nearly as possible,
to effectuate, to the extent permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto
with respect to such provision and the economic effects thereof.
(c) If for any reason any such court or other governmental or
regulatory authority determines that USR is not permitted to acquire, or 3Com is
not permitted to repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of
3Com Common Stock provided in this Agreement (as the same may be adjusted), it
is the express intention of 3Com to allow USR to acquire or to require 3Com to
repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible without any other
amendment or modification hereof.
(d) Each party agrees that, should any court or other governmental or
regulatory authority hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be
null, void or unenforceable, or order any party to take any action inconsistent
herewith, or not take any action required herein, the other party shall not be
entitled to specific performance of such provision or part hereof or to any
other remedy, including but not limited to money damages, for breach hereof or
of any other provision of this Agreement or part hereof as the result of such
holding or order.
16. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if (a) delivered personally, or (b) if sent by
overnight courier service (receipt confirmed in writing), or (c) if delivered by
facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed), or (d) five days after being
mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the parties
in each case to the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):
If to 3Com, to:
By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand:
3Com Corporation
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
Attention: Mark Michael, General Counsel
By Fax:
3Com Corporation
408-764-6434
Attention: Mark Michael, General Counsel
with a copy to:
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<PAGE>
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
400 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94302
Fax: 415-327-3699
Attention: J. Howard Clowes & Rod J. Howard
If to USR, to:
By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand:
U.S. Robotics Corporation
8100 North McCormick Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60076-2999
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel
By Fax:
U.S. Robotics Corporation
847-982-9118
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel
with a copy to:
Mayer Brown & Platt
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603-3441
Fax: 312-701-7711
Attention: Richard S. Millard
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made
and to be performed entirely within such State and without regard to its choice
of law principles.
18. INTERPRETATION. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of the Agreement. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such
reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.
Whenever the words "include," "includes," or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." Whenever "or" is used in this Agreement it shall be construed in
the nonexclusive sense. The words "herein," "hereby," "hereof," "hereto,"
"hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement.
19. COUNTERPARTS; EFFECT. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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<PAGE>
20. EXPENSES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the
Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses.
21. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived only by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto, or, in the case of a
waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the party waiving compliance.
22. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIODS. The time periods for exercises of certain
rights hereunder shall be extended (but in no event by more than six (6)
months): (a) to the extent necessary to obtain all governmental approvals for
the exercise of such rights, and for the expiration of all statutory waiting
periods; and (b) to the extent necessary to avoid any liability or disgorgement
of profits under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act by reason of such exercise.
23. FURTHER ASSURANCE. Each party agrees to execute and deliver all such
further documents and instruments and take all such further action as may be
necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
3COM CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
U.S. ROBOTICS CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
3COM STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS 3COM STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of February 26, 1997 by and between U.S. Robotics Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("USR"), and 3Com Corporation, a California corporation ("3Com").
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, USR,
3Com, and TR Acquisitions Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of 3Com ("Sub"), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of February 26, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"), which provides, among
other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, for the
merger of Sub with and into USR in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Merger"); and
B. As a condition and inducement to 3Com's willingness to enter into the
Merger Agreement, 3Com has requested that USR agree, and USR has agreed, to
grant to 3Com an option to acquire certain shares of USR's authorized but
unissued common stock, $.01 par value per share, together with any associated
rights under the Rights Agreement dated as of May 9, 1996 between USR and Harris
Trust and Savings Bank ("USR Common Stock"), on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce 3Com to enter into the Merger Agreement and in
consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein and in the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound, hereby agree as follows. Capitalized terms used herein but
not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger
Agreement.
1. GRANT OF OPTION. USR hereby grants to 3Com an irrevocable option (the
"USR Option") to purchase a number of shares of USR Common Stock equal to the
Option Number (as defined in Section 2(d)), on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth below.
2. EXERCISE AND TERMINATION OF THE USR OPTION.
(a) EXERCISE. The USR Option may be exercised by 3Com, in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time after the occurrence of an event which
causes the USR Initial Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to
become payable (a "Trigger Event") and prior to the termination of 3Com's right
to exercise the USR Option by the terms of this Agreement. USR shall notify
3Com promptly in writing of the occurrence of any Trigger Event; however, such
notice
<PAGE>
shall not be a condition to the right of 3Com to exercise the USR Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the USR Option may not be exercised if 3Com is in
material breach of any of its material representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.
(b) EXERCISE PROCEDURE. In the event that 3Com wishes to exercise
the USR Option, 3Com shall deliver to USR written notice (an "Exercise Notice")
specifying the total number of shares of USR Common Stock that 3Com wishes to
purchase. To the extent permitted by law and the Certificate of Incorporation
of USR (the "USR Charter") and provided that the conditions set forth in Section
3 to USR's obligation to issue the shares of USR Common Stock to 3Com hereunder
have been satisfied or waived, 3Com shall, upon delivery of the Exercise Notice
and tender of the applicable aggregate Exercise Price, immediately be deemed to
be the holder of record of the shares of USR Common Stock issuable upon such
exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of USR shall then be
closed or that certificates representing such shares of USR Common Stock shall
not theretofore have been delivered to 3Com. Each closing of a purchase of
shares of USR Common Stock hereunder (a "Closing") shall occur at a place, on a
date, and at a time designated by 3Com in an Exercise Notice delivered at least
two (2) business days prior to the date of such Closing.
(c) TERMINATION OF THE USR OPTION. 3Com's right to exercise the USR
Option shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the Effective Time of
the Merger; (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement other than under
circumstances which also constitute a Trigger Event under this Agreement; or
(iii) twelve (12) months following the receipt by 3Com of written notice from
USR of the occurrence of a Trigger Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
USR Option cannot be exercised by reason of any applicable judgment, decree,
order, law or regulation, the USR Option shall remain exercisable and shall not
terminate until the earlier of (x) the date on which such impediment shall
become final and not subject to appeal and (y) 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time,
on the tenth (10th) business day after such impediment shall have been removed.
The rights of 3Com set forth in Sections 7 and 10 shall not terminate upon
termination of 3Com's right to exercise the USR Option, but shall extend to the
time provided in such sections. Notwithstanding the termination of the USR
Option, 3Com shall be entitled to purchase the shares of USR Common Stock with
respect to which 3Com had exercised the USR Option prior to such termination.
(d) OPTION NUMBER. The Option Number shall initially be the number
of shares equal to nineteen and nine-tenths percent (19.9%) of the total number
of shares of USR Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement, and shall be adjusted hereafter to reflect changes in USR's
capitalization occurring after the date hereof in accordance with Section 11.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the
Option Number exceed nineteen and nine-tenths percent (19.9%) of the total
number of
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<PAGE>
shares of USR Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement, adjusted in accordance with Section 11.
(e) EXERCISE PRICE. The purchase price per share of USR Common Stock
pursuant to the USR Option (the "Exercise Price") shall be payable, at 3Com's
election, in cash (a "Cash Exercise") or in shares (a "Stock Exercise") of 3Com
common stock, $.01 par value per share ("3Com Common Stock"). The Exercise
Price, (i) in the case of a Cash Exercise, shall be a cash amount equal to the
product of the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and the
average of the last sale prices of 3Com Common Stock on the ten (10) trading
days immediately prior to the announcement of the Merger (the "Cash Exercise
Price"), and (ii) in the case of a Stock Exercise, shall be a number of shares
(or fraction of a share) of 3Com Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the
"Stock Exercise Price"), subject in each case to adjustment pursuant to Section
11.
(f) CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. In the event 3Com would receive Net
Proceeds (as defined below) of more than one hundred million dollars
($100,000,000) in connection with the sale or other disposition of the shares of
USR Common Stock acquired pursuant to the USR Option (other than a sale of such
shares to USR pursuant to Section 7), all Net Proceeds in excess of such amount
shall be remitted to USR promptly upon receipt. "Net Proceeds" shall mean the
aggregate proceeds of such sale or disposition in excess of the product of the
Exercise Price multiplied by the number of shares of USR Common Stock included
in such sale or disposition. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or in
the Merger Agreement to the contrary, the maximum aggregate amount payable by
USR to 3Com and its affiliates pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement and the
provisions of Section 8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement shall not exceed the sum of
one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000) plus expenses pursuant to
Section 8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement plus, in the case of payments pursuant to
Sections 7(a)(ii) and 7(b)(ii) of this Agreement, the aggregate Exercise Price
for the shares of USR Common Stock repurchased by USR from 3Com pursuant to
Section 7 of this Agreement, it being understood that the limitation contained
in this sentence shall not limit the amounts receivable by 3Com from persons
other than USR, including without limitation amounts receivable pursuant to a
tender offer or other sale.
3. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The obligation of USR to issue the shares of
USR Common Stock to 3Com hereunder is subject to the conditions that (a) all
waiting periods, if any, under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1975, as amended (the "HSR Act"), applicable to the issuance of the shares of
USR Common Stock by USR and the acquisition of such shares by 3Com hereunder
(and, in the case of a Stock Exercise, the issuance of shares of 3Com Common
Stock by 3Com and the acquisition of such shares by USR) shall have expired or
have been terminated; (b) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise restraining such
issuance shall be in effect; and (c) all consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations and permits of any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
authority, if any, required in connection with the
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<PAGE>
issuance of the shares of USR Common Stock and the acquisition of such shares by
3Com hereunder (and, in the case of a Stock Exercise, the issuance of shares of
3Com Common Stock and the acquisition of such shares by USR) shall have been
obtained.
4. CLOSING. At any Closing:
(a) USR shall deliver to 3Com or its designee a single certificate in
definitive form representing the number of shares of USR Common Stock designated
by 3Com in its Exercise Notice, such certificate to be registered in the name of
3Com and to bear the legend set forth in Section 12;
(b) 3Com shall deliver to USR the aggregate Exercise Price for the
shares of USR Common Stock so designated and being purchased by (i) wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account or accounts specified in
writing by USR (in the case of a Cash Exercise), or (ii) subject to the
satisfaction of applicable conditions, delivery of a certificate or certificates
representing the number of shares of 3Com Common Stock being issued by 3Com in
consideration thereof (in the case of a Stock Exercise);
(c) USR shall pay all expenses, and any and all federal, state and
local taxes and other charges that may be payable in connection with the
preparation, issue and delivery of stock certificates under this Section 4; and
(d) USR shall cause the shares of USR Common Stock being delivered at
the Closing to be approved for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market and shall
pay all expenses in connection with the application for approval of such
quotation.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF USR. USR represents and warrants to
3Com that:
(a) USR is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and
authority required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations
hereunder;
(b) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR and the
consummation by USR of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of USR and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of USR and no action of USR stockholders are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby; this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by USR,
and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by 3Com and
the receipt of all required governmental approvals, constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of USR, enforceable against USR in accordance with its terms,
except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar
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<PAGE>
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and except that
the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, may be
subject to the discretion of any court before which any proceeding therefor may
be brought;
(c) USR has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and
reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue, upon exercise of the USR Option,
and at all times from the date hereof through the expiration of the USR Option
will have reserved, a number of authorized and unissued shares of USR Common
Stock not less than the Option Number, such amount being subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 11, all of which, upon their issuance and delivery in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(d) the shares of USR Common Stock issued to 3Com upon the exercise
of the USR Option will be, upon delivery thereof to 3Com, free and clear of all
claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests of any nature
whatsoever;
(e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR does not,
and, subject to compliance with applicable law, the consummation by USR of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate, conflict with, or result in
a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate
the performance required by, or result in a right of termination, cancellation,
or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit under, or
the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets
(any such violation, conflict, breach, default, termination, acceleration, right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration, loss, or creation, a "Violation")
of USR or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to (i) any provision of the USR
Charter or the Bylaws of USR, (ii) any provision of any material loan or credit
agreement, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, benefit plan or other agreement,
obligation, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license (a "Material
Contract") of USR or any of its subsidiaries or to which any of them is a party
or by which any of them or their properties or assets are bound, or (iii) any
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to USR or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets;
(f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by USR does not, and
(except for the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under the
HSR Act and except as contemplated by Sections 10(e), (f) and (j)) the
performance of this Agreement by USR and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, require any consent, approval, order,
authorization or permit of, filing with, or notification to any governmental or
regulatory authority;
(g) none of USR or any of its affiliates or anyone acting on its or
their behalf has issued, sold or offered any security of USR to any person under
circumstances that would cause the issuance and sale of shares of USR Common
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Stock hereunder to be subject to the registration requirements of the Securities
Act as in effect on the date hereof, and, assuming the representations and
warranties of 3Com contained in Section 6(g) are true and correct, the issuance,
sale and delivery of the shares of USR Common Stock hereunder would be exempt
from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, as in effect on the date hereof, and USR shall not take any action which
would cause the issuance, sale, and delivery of shares of USR Common Stock
hereunder not to be exempt from such requirements; and
(h) any shares of 3Com Common Stock acquired by USR pursuant to this
Agreement will be acquired for USR's own account, for investment purposes only,
and will not be acquired by USR with a view to the public distribution thereof
in violation of any applicable provision of the Securities Act.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF 3COM. 3Com represents and warrants
to USR that:
(a) 3Com is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of California and has all corporate
power and authority required to enter into this Agreement and to carry out its
obligations hereunder;
(b) except as set forth in Section 6(c), the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by 3Com and the consummation by 3Com of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of 3Com, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of 3Com and
no action of its shareholders are necessary to authorize this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby; this Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by 3Com and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery hereof by USR and the receipt of all required
governmental approvals, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of 3Com,
enforceable against 3Com in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and except that the
availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, may be
subject to the discretion of any court before which any proceeding may be
brought;
(c) prior to any delivery of shares of 3Com Common Stock in
consideration of the purchase of shares of USR Common Stock pursuant hereto,
3Com will have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize for issuance
and to permit it to issue such shares of 3Com Common Stock, all of which, upon
their issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will
be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(d) the shares of 3Com Common Stock (if any) issued to USR in
consideration of the purchase of shares of USR Common Stock pursuant hereto will
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be, upon delivery thereof to USR, free and clear of all claims, liens, charges,
encumbrances and security interests of any nature whatsoever;
(e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com does not,
and the consummation by 3Com of the transactions contemplated hereby will not,
violate, conflict with, or result in the breach of any provision of, or
constitute a default (with or without notice or a lapse of time, or both) under,
or result in any Violation by 3Com or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to (i)
any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of 3Com, (ii) any
Material Contract of 3Com or any of its subsidiaries or to which any of them is
a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets are bound,
or (iii) any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to 3Com or its properties or assets, which Violation, in
the case of each of clauses (ii) or (iii), would have an 3Com Material Adverse
Effect;
(f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by 3Com does not,
and (except for the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under
the HSR Act and except as contemplated by Sections 10(e), (f) and (j)) the
performance of this Agreement by 3Com and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, require any consent, approval, order,
authorization or permit of, filing with, or notification to any governmental or
regulatory authority; and
(g) any shares of USR Common Stock acquired by 3Com upon exercise of
the USR Option will be acquired for 3Com's own account, for investment purposes
only and will not be, and the USR Option is not being, acquired by 3Com with a
view to the public distribution thereof, in violation of any applicable
provision of the Securities Act.
7. CERTAIN REPURCHASES.
(a) 3COM "PUT". Subject to the limitations set forth in Section
2(f), upon written notice to USR by 3Com (the "Repurchase Notice"):
(i) at any time during which the USR Option is exercisable pursuant
to Section 2 (the "Repurchase Period"), USR and its successors in interest
shall repurchase from 3Com all or any portion of the USR Option, as
specified by 3Com, at the Option Repurchase Price set forth in Section
7(b)(i); and
(ii) at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section
8), USR and its successors in interest shall repurchase from 3Com all or
any portion of the shares of USR Common Stock purchased by 3Com pursuant to
the USR Option, as specified by 3Com, at the Share Repurchase Price set
forth in Section 7(b)(ii).
(b) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Section 7, the
following definitions shall apply:
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(i) OPTION REPURCHASE PRICE. "Option Repurchase Price" shall mean
(A) the difference between the Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price (as
defined below) for shares of USR Common Stock as of the date of the
applicable Repurchase Notice and the Exercise Price, multiplied by (B) the
number of shares of USR Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the USR Option
or the portion thereof covered by the applicable Repurchase Notice, but
only if the Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price is greater than the
Exercise Price. "Option Repurchase Market/Offer Price" shall mean, as of
any date, the higher of (X) the highest price per share offered as of such
date pursuant to any tender or exchange offer or other offer with respect
to a business combination offer involving USR or any of its material
subsidiaries as the target party which was made prior to such date and not
terminated or withdrawn as of such date, and (Y) the Fair Market Value (as
defined in Section 7(b)(iii)) of USR Common Stock as of such date.
(ii) SHARE REPURCHASE PRICE. "Share Repurchase Price" shall mean the
product of (A) the sum of (I) the Exercise Price paid by 3Com per share of
USR Common Stock acquired pursuant to the USR Option and (II) if the Share
Repurchase Market/Offer Price (as defined below) is greater than the
Exercise Price, the difference between the Share Repurchase Market/Offer
Price and the Exercise Price, and (B) the number of shares of USR Common
Stock to be repurchased pursuant to this Section 7. "Share Repurchase
Market/Offer Price" shall mean, as of any date, the higher of (X) the
highest price per share offered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer or
other business combination offer involving USR as the target party during
the Repurchase Period prior to the delivery by 3Com of a notice of
repurchase, and (Y) the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b)(iii))
of USR Common Stock as of such date.
(iii) FAIR MARKET VALUE. As used in this Agreement, "Fair Market
Value" shall mean, with respect to any security, the per share average of
the last sale prices on The Nasdaq National Market (or such other national
stock exchange or national market system as shall then be the primary
trading market for such security) for the ten (10) trading days immediately
preceding the applicable date.
(c) REDELIVERY OF SHARES OF 3COM COMMON STOCK. In USR's discretion
or if specified by 3Com in the Repurchase Notice, all or a portion of the Share
Repurchase Price shall be paid by USR in shares of 3Com Common Stock, by
redelivery to 3Com of the shares of 3Com Common Stock (and the certificate(s)
representing such shares) previously delivered by 3Com to USR pursuant to a
Stock Exercise. For purposes of this Section 7(c), each share of 3Com Common
Stock redelivered to 3Com shall be valued at the Fair Market Value thereof. If
fewer than all of the shares of USR Common Stock purchased by 3Com pursuant to a
Stock Exercise are to be repurchased by USR pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii), 3Com
shall issue to USR new certificates representing those shares of 3Com Common
Stock which are not due to be redelivered to 3Com pursuant to this Section 7(c)
to the extent that
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excess shares of 3Com Common Stock are included in the certificates redelivered
to 3Com by USR. All shares of 3Com Common Stock redelivered to 3Com hereunder
shall be free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security
interests of any nature whatsoever.
(d) PAYMENT AND REDELIVERY OF USR OPTIONS OR SHARES. In the event
that 3Com exercises its rights under this Section 7, USR shall, within ten (10)
business days thereafter, pay the required amount to 3Com in immediately
available funds and 3Com shall surrender to USR the USR Option or the
certificate or certificates evidencing the shares of USR Common Stock purchased
by 3Com pursuant hereto, and 3Com shall warrant that it has sole beneficial
ownership of the USR Option or such shares and that the USR Option or such
shares are then free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and
security interests of any nature whatsoever.
(e) REPURCHASE PRICE REDUCED AT 3COM'S OPTION. In the event that
payment of the repurchase price specified in Section 7(a) would subject the
repurchase of the USR Option or the shares of USR Common Stock purchased by 3Com
pursuant to the USR Option to a vote of the stockholders of USR pursuant to
applicable law, regulations, or requirements of a national securities exchange
or national market system or the USR Charter, then 3Com may, at its election,
reduce the repurchase price or the number of shares covered by the 3Com
repurchase request to an amount which would permit such repurchase without the
necessity for such a vote.
(f) REPURCHASE AT THE ELECTION OF USR.
(i) Except to the extent that 3Com shall have previously exercised its
rights under Section 7(a), at the request of USR during the six-month
period immediately following the Repurchase Period, USR may repurchase from
3Com, and 3Com shall sell to USR, all (but not less than all) the shares of
USR Common Stock acquired by 3Com pursuant hereto and with respect to which
3Com has beneficial ownership at the time of such repurchase, at a price
equal to the sum of (A) the greater of (I) one hundred ten percent (110%)
of the Current Market Price (as defined in Section 7(f)(iii)) or (II) the
sum of (X) the Purchase Price in respect of the shares so acquired plus (Y)
3Com's Pre-Tax Carrying Cost (as defined in Section 7(f)(iii)), multiplied
in either case by the number of shares so acquired, and (B) the amount of
the documented out-of-pocket expenses (to the extent not previously
reimbursed or compensated for pursuant hereto or pursuant to the Merger
Agreement) incurred by 3Com in connection with the Merger Agreement and
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and hereby,
including reasonable accounting, investment banking and legal fees (the
"Section 7(f) Repurchase Consideration"); provided, that USR's rights under
this Section 7(f) shall be suspended (with any such rights being extended
accordingly) during any period when the exercise of such rights would
subject 3Com to liability or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act.
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(ii) If USR exercises its rights under this Section 7(f), USR shall,
within ten (10) business days pay the Section 7(f) Repurchase Consideration
in immediately available funds and 3Com shall surrender to USR certificates
evidencing the shares of USR Common Stock purchased hereunder with respect
to which 3Com then has beneficial ownership, and 3Com shall warrant that it
has sole beneficial ownership of such shares and that all such shares are
then free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and
security interests of any nature whatsoever.
(iii) As used in Section 7(f)(i), (A) "Current Market Price" shall
mean the average of the last sale prices per share of USR Common Stock on
The Nasdaq National Market for the ten (10) trading days immediately
preceding the date of USR's request for repurchase pursuant to this Section
7(f), and (B) "Pre-Tax Carrying Cost" shall mean an amount equal to the
interest on the aggregate purchase price paid by 3Com for the shares of USR
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the USR Option from the date of purchase
to the date of repurchase at the rate of interest announced by Citibank,
N.A. as its prime or base lending or reference rate during such period,
less any dividends received on the shares so purchased, divided by the
number of shares so purchased.
8. VOTING OF SHARES. Following the date hereof and prior to the fifth
anniversary of the date hereof (the "Expiration Date"), (a) each party shall
vote any shares of capital stock of the other party acquired by such party
pursuant to this Agreement ("Restricted Shares"), including any shares of 3Com
Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Exercise, or otherwise beneficially
owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) by
such party, on each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of such other
party for and against such matter in the same proportion as all other shares of
the same class of capital stock of such other party are voted (whether by proxy
or otherwise) for and against such matter, and (b) each party shall execute
written consents with respect to the Restricted Shares in the same proportion as
written consents are executed by other holders of such class of capital stock.
Before acquiring any Restricted Shares hereunder, 3Com shall execute and deliver
a proxy to USR authorizing USR to vote and execute written consents with respect
to all Restricted Shares acquired by 3Com hereunder, and before acquiring any
Restricted Shares in payment therefor, USR shall execute and deliver a proxy to
3Com authorizing 3Com to vote and execute written consents with respect to all
Restricted Shares acquired by USR hereunder, in each case in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 8.
9. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.
(a) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Prior to the Expiration Date, neither
party shall, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, sell,
assign, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Restricted Shares
beneficially owned by such
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party, other than (i) pursuant to Section 7, or (ii) in accordance with Sections
9(b), 9(c) or 10.
(b) PERMITTED SALES. Following the termination of the Merger
Agreement, a party shall be permitted to sell any Restricted Shares beneficially
owned by it if such sale is made pursuant to a tender or exchange offer that has
been approved or recommended, or otherwise determined to be fair to and in the
best interests of the holders of common stock of the other party, by a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors of such other party.
(c) USR'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. At any time after the first
occurrence of a Trigger Event and prior to the expiration of twenty-four (24)
months immediately following the first purchase of shares of USR Common Stock
pursuant to the USR Option, if 3Com shall desire to sell, assign, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or any of the shares of USR Common Stock or other
securities acquired by it pursuant to the USR Option, it shall give USR written
notice of the proposed transaction (a "3Com Offer Notice"), identifying the
proposed transferee, accompanied by a copy of a binding offer to purchase such
shares or other securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the terms
of the proposed transaction. A 3Com Offer Notice shall be deemed an offer by
3Com to USR, which may be accepted within five (5) business days of the receipt
of such 3Com Offer Notice, on the same terms and conditions and at the same
price at which 3Com is proposing to transfer such shares or other securities to
such transferee. The purchase of any such shares or other securities by USR
shall be settled within five (5) business days of the date of the acceptance of
the offer and the purchase price shall be paid to 3Com in immediately available
funds. In the event of the failure or refusal of USR to purchase all the shares
or other securities covered by a 3Com Offer Notice, 3Com may sell all, but not
less than all, of such shares or other securities to the proposed transferee at
no less than the price specified and on terms no more favorable to the
transferee than those set forth in the 3Com Offer Notice; provided that the
provisions of this sentence shall not limit the rights 3Com may otherwise have
in the event USR has accepted the offer contained in the 3Com Offer Notice and
wrongfully refuses to purchase the shares or other securities subject thereto.
The requirements of this Section 9(c) shall not apply to (i) any disposition as
a result of which the proposed transferee would own beneficially not more than
three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting power of USR, (ii) any disposition
of USR Common Stock or other securities by a person to whom 3Com has assigned
its rights under the USR Option with the consent of USR, (iii) any sale by means
of a public offering registered under the Securities Act, or (iv) any transfer
to a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com which agrees in writing to be bound by the
terms hereof.
(d) 3COM'S RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. At any time after the first
occurrence of a Trigger Event and prior to the expiration of twenty-four (24)
months immediately following the first transfer of shares of 3Com Common Stock
from 3Com to USR in connection with a Stock Exercise of the USR Option, if USR
shall desire to sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of the
shares of 3Com
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Common Stock or other securities acquired by it pursuant to a Stock Exercise of
the USR Option by 3Com, it shall give 3Com written notice of the proposed
transaction (a "USR Offer Notice"), identifying the proposed transferee,
accompanied by a copy of a binding offer to purchase such shares or other
securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the terms of the proposed
transaction. A USR Offer Notice shall be deemed an offer by USR to 3Com, which
may be accepted within five (5) business days of the receipt of such USR Offer
Notice, on the same terms and conditions and at the same price at which USR is
proposing to transfer such shares or other securities to such transferee. The
purchase of any such shares or other securities by 3Com shall be settled within
five (5) business days of the date of the acceptance of the offer and the
purchase price shall be paid to USR in immediately available funds. In the
event of the failure or refusal of 3Com to purchase all the shares or other
securities covered by a USR Offer Notice, USR may sell all, but not less than
all, of such shares or other securities to the proposed transferee at no less
than the price specified and on terms no more favorable to the transferee than
those set forth in the USR Offer Notice; provided that the provisions of this
sentence shall not limit the rights USR may otherwise have in the event 3Com has
accepted the offer contained in the USR Offer Notice and wrongfully refuses to
purchase the shares or other securities subject thereto. The requirements of
this Section 9(d) shall not apply to (i) any disposition as a result of which
the proposed transferee would own beneficially not more than three percent (3%)
of the outstanding voting power of 3Com, (ii) any sale by means of a public
offering registered under the Securities Act, or (iii) any transfer to a
wholly-owned subsidiary of USR which agrees in writing to be bound by the terms
hereof.
10. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) Following the termination of the Merger Agreement, either party
hereto that owns Restricted Shares (a "Holder") may by written notice (the
"Registration Notice") to the other party (the "Registrant") request the
Registrant to register under the Securities Act all or any part of the
Restricted Shares beneficially owned by such Holder (the "Registrable
Securities") pursuant to a bona fide firm commitment underwritten public
offering, in which the Holder and the underwriters shall effect as wide a
distribution of such Registrable Securities as is reasonably practicable and
shall use their best efforts to prevent any person (including any "group" as
used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act)) and its affiliates from purchasing
through such offering Restricted Shares representing more than three percent
(3%) of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant on a fully
diluted basis (a "Permitted Offering").
(b) The Registration Notice shall include a certificate executed by
the Holder and its proposed managing underwriter, which underwriter shall be an
investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing (the "Manager"),
stating that (i) they have a good faith intention to commence promptly a
Permitted Offering, and (ii) the manager in good faith believes that, based on
the then-prevailing market conditions, it will be able to sell the Registrable
Securities to the public in a Permitted
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Offering within one hundred twenty (120) days at a per share price equal to at
least eighty percent (80%) of the then Fair Market Value of such shares.
(c) The Registrant (and/or any person designated by the Registrant)
shall thereupon have the option exercisable by written notice delivered to the
Holder within five (5) business days after the receipt of the Registration
Notice, irrevocably to agree to purchase all or any part of the Registrable
Securities proposed to be so sold for cash at a price equal to the product of
(i) the number of Registrable Securities to be so purchased by the Registrant
and (ii) the then Fair Market Value of such shares.
(d) Any purchase of Registrable Securities by the Registrant (or its
designee) under Section 10(c) shall take place at a closing to be held at the
principal executive offices of the Registrant or at the offices of its counsel
at any reasonable date and time designated by the Registrant and/or such
designee in such notice within twenty (20) business days after delivery of such
notice, and any payment for the shares to be so purchased shall be made by
delivery at the time of such closing in immediately available funds.
(e) If the Registrant does not elect to exercise its option pursuant
to Section 10(c) with respect to all Registrable Securities, it shall use its
best efforts to effect, as promptly as practicable, the registration under the
Securities Act of the unpurchased Registrable Securities proposed to be so sold;
provided, however, that (i) neither party shall be entitled to demand more than
an aggregate of two (2) effective registration statements hereunder, and (ii)
the Registrant will not be required to file any such registration statement
during any period of time (not to exceed forty (40) days after such request in
the case of clause (A) below or ninety (90) days after such request in the case
of clauses (B) and (C) below) when (A) the Registrant is in possession of
material non-public information which it reasonably believes would be
detrimental to be disclosed at such time and, in the opinion of counsel to the
Registrant, such information would be required to be disclosed if a registration
statement were filed at that time; (B) the Registrant is required under the
Securities Act to include audited financial statements for any period in such
registration statement and such financial statements are not yet available for
inclusion in such registration statement; or (C) the Registrant determines, in
its reasonable judgment, that such registration would interfere with any
financing, acquisition or other transaction involving the Registrant or any of
its material subsidiaries and that such transaction is material to the
Registrant and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. If consummation of the sale
of any Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration hereunder does not
occur within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effectiveness of the
initial registration statement, the provisions of this Section 10 shall again be
applicable to any proposed registration.
(f) The Registrant shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 10 to be qualified
for sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the
Holder may
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reasonably request and shall continue such registration or qualification in
effect in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Registrant shall not be
required to qualify to do business in, or consent to general service of process
in, any jurisdiction by reason of this provision.
(g) The registration rights set forth in this Section 10 are subject
to the condition that the Holder shall provide the Registrant with such
information with respect to its Registrable Securities, the plans for the
distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to the Holder as,
in the reasonable judgment of counsel for the Registrant, is necessary to enable
the Registrant to include in such registration statement all material facts
required to be disclosed with respect to a registration thereunder.
(h) A registration effected under this Section 10 shall be effected
at the Registrant's expense, except for underwriting discounts and commissions
and the fees and the expenses of counsel to the Holder, and the Registrant shall
provide to the underwriters such documentation (including certificates, opinions
of counsel and "comfort" letters from auditors) as is customary in connection
with underwritten public offerings as such underwriters may reasonably require.
(i) In connection with any registration effected under this Section
10, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each other and the underwriters in the
customary manner, (ii) to enter into an underwriting agreement in form and
substance customary for transactions of such type with the Manager and the other
underwriters participating in such offering, and (iii) to take all further
actions which shall be reasonably necessary to effect such registration and sale
(including if the Manager deems it necessary, participating in road-show
presentations).
(j) The Registrant shall be entitled to include (at its expense)
additional shares of its common stock in a registration effected pursuant to
this Section 10 only if and to the extent the Manager determines that such
inclusion will not adversely affect the prospects for success of such offering.
11. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
(a) Without limiting any restriction on USR contained in this
Agreement or in the Merger Agreement, in the event of any change in USR Common
Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, merger (other than the
Merger), recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or any similar
transaction, the type and number of shares or securities subject to the USR
Option, and the Exercise Price per share provided herein, shall be adjusted
appropriately and proper provision shall be made in the agreements governing
such transaction so that 3Com shall receive, upon exercise of the USR Option,
the number and class of securities or property that 3Com would have received in
respect of the shares of USR Common Stock issuable to 3Com if the USR Option had
been exercised immediately prior to such event or the record date therefor, as
applicable.
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(b) In the event that USR shall enter into an agreement: (i) to
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than 3Com or one of its
subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger; (ii) to permit any person, other than 3Com or one of
its subsidiaries, to merge into USR and USR shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then-outstanding shares of
USR Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of USR 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 3Com or one of its subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so that upon
the consummation of such transaction and upon the subsequent exercise of the USR
Option, 3Com shall be entitled to receive, for each share of USR Common Stock
with respect to which the USR Option has not theretofore been exercised, an
amount of consideration in the form of and equal to the per share amount of
consideration that would be received by the holder of one share of USR Common
Stock (and, in the event of an election or similar arrangement with respect to
the type of consideration to be received by the holders of USR Common Stock,
subject to the foregoing, proper provision shall be made so that the holder of
the USR Option would have the same election or similar rights as would the
holder of the number of shares of USR Common Stock for which the USR Option is
then exercisable).
12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS. Each certificate representing shares of USR
Common Stock issued to 3Com hereunder, and shares of 3Com Common Stock, if any,
delivered to USR pursuant to a Stock Exercise, shall include a legend in
substantially the following form:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR
BLUE SKY LAWS, AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN
EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO
SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE 3COM
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 1997, A COPY OF WHICH MAY
BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST.
It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to the resale restrictions of
the Securities Act and state securities or Blue Sky laws in the foregoing legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if 3Com or USR, as the case may be, shall have delivered to the other party 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 the other
party, to the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the
Securities Act or such laws; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this
Agreement in the foregoing legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
certificate(s) without such reference if the shares
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have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement and under circumstances that do not require the retention of such
reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the
conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In
addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by
law. Certificates representing shares sold in a registered public offering
pursuant to Section 10 shall not be required to bear the legend set forth in
this Section 12.
13. BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly
provided for in this Agreement, neither this Agreement nor the rights or
obligations of either party hereto are assignable, except by operation of law,
or with the written consent of the other party, and any such attempted
assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be void and of no force or
effect. Nothing contained in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective
permitted assigns any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever. Any
Restricted Shares sold by a party in compliance with the provisions of Section
10 shall, upon consummation of such sale, be free of the restrictions imposed
with respect to such shares by this Agreement, unless and until such party shall
repurchase or otherwise become the beneficial owner of such shares, and any
transferee of such shares shall not be entitled to the registration rights of
such party.
14. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto recognize and agree that if
for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and
irreparable harm or injury would be caused for which money damages would not be
an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each party agrees that, in addition to other
remedies, whether at law or in equity, the other party shall be entitled to an
injunction to prevent or restrain any violation or threatened violation of the
provisions of this Agreement, and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, in any court of the State of Delaware or of the United States
of America located in the State of Delaware. In the event that any action
should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, neither
party will allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an
adequate remedy at law. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally
consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
and of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware for any
actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, and further agrees that service of any
process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered or certified mail to
U.S. Robotics Corporation at 8100 North McCormick Blvd., Skokie, Illinois 60076,
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel, or to 3Com Corporation at 5400
Bayfront Plaza, Santa Clara, California 95052-8145, Attention: Mark Michael,
General Counsel, shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or
proceeding brought against such party in any such court. Each party hereto
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of
any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of
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<PAGE>
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in the courts of the
State of Delaware or of the United States of America located in Wilmington,
Delaware, and hereby further irrevocable and unconditionally waives and agrees
not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
15. VALIDITY.
(a) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other
provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(b) In the event any court or other governmental or regulatory
authority holds any provisions of this Agreement to be null, void or
unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith the execution
and delivery of an amendment to this Agreement in order, as nearly as possible,
to effectuate, to the extent permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto
with respect to such provision and the economic effects thereof.
(c) If for any reason any such court or other governmental or
regulatory authority determines that 3Com is not permitted to acquire, or USR is
not permitted to repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of
USR Common Stock provided in this Agreement (as the same may be adjusted), it is
the express intention of USR to allow 3Com to acquire or to require USR to
repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible without any other
amendment or modification hereof.
(d) Each party agrees that, should any court or other governmental or
regulatory authority hold any provision of this Agreement or part hereof to be
null, void or unenforceable, or order any party to take any action inconsistent
herewith, or not take any action required herein, the other party shall not be
entitled to specific performance of such provision or part hereof or to any
other remedy, including but not limited to money damages, for breach hereof or
of any other provision of this Agreement or part hereof as the result of such
holding or order.
16. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if (a) delivered personally, or (b) if sent by
overnight courier service (receipt confirmed in writing), or (c) if delivered by
facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed), or (d) five days after being
mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the parties
in each case to the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):
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<PAGE>
If to 3Com, to:
By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand:
3Com Corporation
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
Attention: Mark Michael, General Counsel
By Fax:
3Com Corporation
408/764-6434
Attention: Mark Michael, General Counsel
with a copy to:
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
400 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94302
Fax: 415/327-3699
Attention: J. Howard Clowes &
Rod J. Howard
If to USR, to:
By Mail, Overnight Courier or Hand:
U.S. Robotics Corporation
8100 North McCormick Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60076-2999
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel
By Fax:
U.S. Robotics Corporation
847/982-9118
Attention: George Vinyard, General Counsel
with a copy to:
Mayer Brown & Platt
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603-3441
Fax: 312/701-7711
Attention: Richard S. Millard
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<PAGE>
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made
and to be performed entirely within such State and without regard to its choice
of law principles.
18. INTERPRETATION. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of the Agreement. When reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such
reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.
Whenever the words "include," "includes," or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." Whenever "or" is used in this Agreement it shall be construed in
the nonexclusive sense. The words "herein," "hereby," "hereof," "hereto,"
"hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Agreement.
19. COUNTERPARTS; EFFECT. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
20. EXPENSES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the
Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring
such expenses.
21. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived only by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto, or, in the case of a
waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the party waiving compliance.
22. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIODS. The time periods for exercises of certain
rights hereunder shall be extended (but in no event by more than six (6)
months): (a) to the extent necessary to obtain all governmental approvals for
the exercise of such rights, and for the expiration of all statutory waiting
periods; and (b) to the extent necessary to avoid any liability or disgorgement
of profits under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act by reason of such exercise.
23. FURTHER ASSURANCE. Each party agrees to execute and deliver all such
further documents and instruments and take all such further action as may be
necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
U.S. ROBOTICS CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
3COM CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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<PAGE>
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1997-- 3Com Corp and U.S. Robotics
Corporation (Nasdaq:USRX) today announced a definitive agreement to enter into
the largest merger in the history of the data networking industry. Upon
closing, the company will retain the 3Com name.
The merger will create a networking leader with more than $5 billion in annual
revenues, more than 12,000 employees in some 130 countries, leading positions in
each of its core markets and an installed base of more customer connections to
corporate intranets and the Internet than any other company. The combination of
3Com and U.S. Robotics will enable one company to provide customers worldwide
with comprehensive end-to-end LAN/WAN networking solutions, from network
interface cards and high speed modems, through local area network workgroup and
enterprise switching solutions, to remote access and wide area networking
solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, each share of U.S. Robotics's stock will be
exchanged for 1.75 shares of 3Com stock. The transaction will be accounted for
as a pooling of interests, and is expected to be neutral to slightly accretive
to 3Com earnings in fiscal 1998. Based on the closing price of 3Com stock on
Tuesday, February 25, the deal is valued at $6.6 billion. Subject to several
conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval of both companies'
shareholders, the transaction is expected to close this summer. There will be a
one-time charge against earnings during the quarter in which the deal closes.
Eric Benhamou, 3Com's chairman and chief executive officer will remain chairman
and chief executive officer, of the combined company. Following the close of
the transaction, Casey Cowell will join 3Com's Board of Directors as vice
chairman.
"The combination of 3Com and U.S. Robotics dramatically alters the networking
landscape with the industry's broadest set of innovative, feature-rich network
access solutions," said Benhamou. "Together, with an installed base of over 100
million network connections, we can offer network users the fastest access to
their local and wide area networks. The leadership and momentum we have will
continue to define the next dimension of networking. This combination will be
good for customers, good for shareholders, and good for our employees."
"3Com and U.S. Robotics share a common vision," said Casey Cowell, chairman and
chief executive officer of U.S. Robotics. "By providing faster, more
intelligent, and easier-to-use products for connecting the broadest array of
users to local and wide area networks, we can accelerate the deployment of
networking worldwide. The combination of 3Com and U.S. Robotics's technology,
products, brands, and global distribution will allow us to bring the power of
networking to the widest possible range of customers, including large
enterprises, small businesses, telephone carriers, network and Internet service
providers, and consumers."
The combined company will be an indisputable industry leader in each of its
network access businesses. This combination of the distinct but complementary
strengths and products of the
<PAGE>
two companies will result in a leading market position in remote access
products, workgroup hubs and switches, and modems and intelligent network
interface cards for both the desktop and mobile users. The breadth of
leadership is further extended to the core of the network with a complete line
of high-function LAN systems including a leading market position in LAN and ATM
switches.
Additionally, there are near-term benefits the merged company expects to obtain
from the consolidation and sharpened focus of both companies' resources
particularly in the remote access and LAN/ATM switching businesses. 3Com
anticipates broader geographic coverage for the company's expanding product
portfolio, including U.S. Robotics new X2 technology for high-speed modems
and WAN access. It can leverage U.S. Robotics well-established retail
channels of distribution as well as maximize U.S. Robotics significant
presence in the carrier and Internet Service Provider markets. Also, 3Com
can capitalize on its growing direct sales force and strong distribution
channel for the full range of the combined companies' networking systems and
access products. Finally, both 3Com and U.S. Robotics are world-class
manufacturers, and 3Com expects cost-savings can be achieved from economies
of scale throughout the company, particularly in manufacturing, purchasing
and facilities.
Additionally, John McCartney, U.S. Robotics' President and Chief Operating
Officer, will join Eric Benhamou's executive staff. McCartney's key management
team will join 3Com's senior management as members of the company's Operating
Committee. Chris Paisley will continue as 3Com's senior vice president and
chief financial officer.
This news release, other than the historical financial information, may consist
of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations in results, the timely availability
of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and the other
risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in both company's SEC
reports, including the report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30,
1996 for 3Com and for the quarter ended December 29, 1996 for U.S. Robotics.
Actual results may vary materially.
U.S. Robotics is one of the world's leading suppliers of products and systems
that provide access to information. The Company designs, manufactures, markets
and supports remote access servers, enterprise communication systems,
desktop/mobile client products and modems and telephony products that connect
computers and other equipment over analog, digital and switched cellular
networks, enabling users to gain access to, manage and share data, fax and voice
information. Its customers include Internet service providers, regional Bell
operating companies, inter-exchange carriers and a wide range of other large and
small businesses, institutions and individuals.
3Com Corporation has helped more than 45 million people gain access to critical
information through high speed networks. Designed to serve large enterprises,
service providers, small
<PAGE>
offices and homes, 3Com products provide a scalable architecture to meet the
immediate and long term connectivity needs of today's user. With research and
development on three continents, 3Com is one of the data networking industry's
largest and fastest growing companies. The company's innovative marketing,
engineering, sales and support simplify communication, optimize network
reliability and protect customer investments. For further information, visit
3Com World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or call 1-800-NET-3Com.
Note to Editors: 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. U.S.
Robotics is a registered trademark of U.S. Robotics Corporation.
CONTACT: 3Com Investor Relations
Bill Slakey, 408/326-1286
[email protected]
or
3Com Public Relations
Bob Ingols, 408/764-8002
[email protected]
or
U.S. Robotics Media Relations
Kathleen Behoff, 847-982-5161 or 847-982-5399
[email protected]
