<PAGE> 1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 1996
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) -
August 19, 1996
Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-25642 13-3245741
(State of Incorporation) (Commission file number) (IRS employer
identification no.)
1200 Meidinger Tower, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive office)
(502) 589-8100
(Registrant's telephone no., including area code)
<PAGE> 2
Items 1-4. Not Applicable
Item 5. Other Events.
On August 19, 1996, CasTech Aluminum Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("CasTech"), Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and CALC Corporation, a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Merger Sub"), entered into
the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 19, 1996 (the
"Agreement"). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Merger Sub will commence a
tender offer (the "Offer") within five business days of the date thereof
for all of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of CasTech, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Shares") at a price of $20.50 per share, net to the
seller in cash. Upon the completion of the Offer and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Agreement, the Merger Sub will be merged with and
into CasTech (the "Merger"). Pursuant to the Merger, each Share, other
than shares owned by the Company, Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of the
Company or shares with respect to which appraisal rights are perfected
under Delaware law, will be converted into the right to receive an amount
in cash equal to $20.50 or such greater amount which may be paid pursuant
to the Offer. A copy of the Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2 and is
incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing description of the
Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Exhibit.
<PAGE> 3
Item 6. Not Applicable
Item 7. Financial Statements
Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(a) - (b) Not Applicable.
(c) Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K
Exhibit No. Description
2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
August 19, 1996, among CasTech Aluminum Group
Inc., Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, and
CALC Corporation.
99 Press Release, dated August 19, 1996, of
Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, announcing
its entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
with CasTech Aluminum Group Inc.
<PAGE> 4
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunder duly authorized.
Dated: August 19, 1996
COMMONWEALTH ALUMINUM CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark V. Kaminski
Name: Mark V. Kaminski
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 5
EXHIBIT INDEX
Sequential
Exhibit No. Description Page No.
2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
August 19, 1996, among CasTech Aluminum Group
Inc., Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, and
CALC Corporation.
99 Press Release, dated August 19, 1996, of
Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, announcing
its entry into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
with CasTech Aluminum Group Inc.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 2
Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter called this
"Agreement"), dated as of August 19, 1996, among CASTECH ALUMINUM GROUP
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), COMMONWEALTH ALUMINUM
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Purchaser"), and CALC CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser ("Merger
Sub"), the Company and Merger Sub sometimes being hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Constituent Corporations."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Purchaser and the Company
each have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective
shareholders for Purchaser to acquire the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company, Purchaser and Merger Sub desire to make
certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection
with this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Tender Offer
1.1. Tender Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not
have been terminated in accordance with Article IX hereof and none of the
events set forth in Annex A hereto shall have occurred or be existing,
within five business days of the date hereof, Merger Sub will commence a
tender offer (the "Offer") for all of the outstanding common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of the Company at a price of $20.50
per Share in cash, net to the seller. The obligation of Merger Sub to
accept for payment and pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer shall
be subject only to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the
Offer set forth in Annex A hereto. Without the prior written consent of
the Company, Merger Sub shall not (i) change or waive the Minimum Condition
(as defined in Annex A), (ii) reduce the number of
<PAGE> 2
Shares subject to the Offer, (iii) reduce the price per Share to be paid
pursuant to the Offer, (iv) extend the Offer if all of the conditions to
the Offer are satisfied or waived, (v) change the form of consideration
payable in the Offer, or (vi) amend, modify, or add to the conditions of
the Offer in any manner adverse to the holders of Shares. So long as this
Agreement is in effect and the conditions to the Offer have not been
satisfied or waived, at the request of the Company, Merger Sub shall extend
the Offer for an aggregate period of not more than 10 business days beyond
the originally scheduled expiration date of the Offer. Subject to the
terms and conditions of the Offer, Purchaser will promptly pay for all
Shares tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer as soon as
practicable after the expiration of the Offer. The Company's Board of
Directors shall recommend acceptance of the Offer to its stockholders in a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-
9") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
upon commencement of the Offer; provided, however, that if the Company's
Board of Directors determines consistent with its fiduciary duties to amend
or withdraw its recommendation, such amendment or withdrawal shall not
constitute a breach of this Agreement.
(b) Purchaser agrees, as to the Offer to Purchase and related
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer Documents") and
the Company agrees, as to the Schedule 14D-9, that such documents shall, in
all material respects, comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder and other applicable laws. The
Company and its counsel, as to the Offer Documents, and Merger Sub and its
counsel, as to the Schedule 14D-9, shall be given an opportunity to review
such documents prior to their being filed with the SEC.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company will cause its
Transfer Agent to furnish promptly to Merger Sub a list, as of a recent
date, of the record holders of Shares and their addresses, as well as
mailing labels containing the names and addresses of all record holders of
Shares and lists of security positions of Shares held in stock deposito-
ries. The Company will furnish Merger Sub with such additional information
(including, but not limited to, updated lists of holders of Shares and
their addresses, mailing labels and lists of security positions) and such
other assistance as Purchaser or Merger Sub or their agents may reasonably
request in communicating the Offer to the record and beneficial holders of
Shares. All such information shall be held subject to the letter
agreement, dated July 26, 1996 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"),
<PAGE> 3
between Purchaser and the Company relating to confidential information.
ARTICLE II
The Merger; Closing; Effective Time
2.1. The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.3) Merger Sub
shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease (the "Merger"). The Company
shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue to be
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, and the separate corporate
existence of the Company with all its rights, privileges, immunities,
powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as
set forth in Section 3.1. The Merger shall have the effects specified in
the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL").
2.2. Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall
take place (i) at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street,
New York, New York at 10:00 A.M. on the first business day on which the
last to be fulfilled or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VIII
hereof shall be fulfilled or waived in accordance with this Agreement or
(ii) at such other place and time and/or on such other date as the Company
and Purchaser may agree.
2.3. Effective Time. As soon as practicable following the
Closing, and provided that this Agreement has not been terminated or
abandoned pursuant to Article IX hereof, the Company and the Purchaser will
cause a Certificate of Merger (the "Delaware Certificate of Merger") to be
executed and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware as provided in
Section 251 of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective on the date on
which the Delaware Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware, and such time is hereinafter referred to as
the "Effective Time."
<PAGE> 4
ARTICLE III
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
of the Surviving Corporation
3.1. The Certificate of Incorporation. The Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the "Certificate") in effect
at the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation, until duly amended in accordance with the terms
thereof, and the DGCL, except that Article Fourth of the Company's
Certificate shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall
have the authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share."
3.2. The By-Laws. The By-Laws of Merger Sub in effect at the
Effective Time shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation, until
duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Directors
of the Surviving Corporation
4.1. Officers and Directors. The directors of Merger Sub and
the officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the
Effective Time, be the directors and officers, respectively, of the
Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or
appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws.
4.2. Actions by Directors. Following the election or
appointment of Purchaser's designees pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof, and
prior to the Effective Time, the approval of a majority of the directors of
the Company then in office who were not designated by Purchaser shall be
required to authorize (and such authorization shall constitute the
authorization of the Board of Directors of the Company and no other action
on the part of the Company, including any action by any other director of
the Company, shall be required to authorize) any termination of this
Agreement by the Company, any amendment of this Agreement requiring action
by the Board of Directors of the Company,
<PAGE> 5
any extension of time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of Purchaser or Merger Sub, any waiver of compliance with any of
the agreements or conditions contained herein for the benefit of the
Company or any other rights of the Company hereunder, and any amendment or
withdrawal by the Board of Directors of its recommendation of the Merger
pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof.
4.3. Boards of Directors; Committees. (a) If requested by
Purchaser, the Company will, subject to compliance with applicable law and
immediately following the purchase by Merger Sub of more than 50 percent of
the outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer, take all actions necessary to
cause persons designated by Purchaser to become directors of the Company so
that the total number of such persons equals that number of directors,
rounded up to the next whole number, which represents the product of
(x) the total number of directors on the Board of Directors multiplied by
(y) the percentage that the number of Shares so purchased plus any Shares
beneficially owned by Purchaser or its affiliates on the date hereof bears
to the number of Shares outstanding at the time of such purchase; provided,
however, that in no event shall Purchaser be entitled to designate a
majority of the Board of Directors unless it is the beneficial owner of
Shares entitling it to exercise at least a majority of the voting power of
the Company's outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors. In furtherance thereof, the Company will use its reasonable
best efforts to secure the resignation of all but three directors, or will
increase the size of the Board, or both, as is necessary to permit
Purchaser's designees to be elected to the Company's Board of Directors;
provided, however, that prior to the Effective Time, the Company's Board of
Directors shall always have at least three members who are neither officers
of Purchaser nor designees, shareholders or affiliates of Purchaser
("Purchaser Insiders"). At such time, the Company, if so requested, will
use its reasonable efforts to cause persons designated by Purchaser to
constitute the same percentage of each committee of such board, each board
of directors of each subsidiary of the Company and each committee of each
such board (in each case to the extent of the Company's ability to elect
such persons). The Company's obligations to appoint designees to the Board
of Directors shall be subject to Section 14(f) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 14f-1 thereunder. The Company
shall promptly take all actions required in order to fulfill its obliga-
tions under this Section 4.3 and shall include in the Schedule 14D-9 such
information as is required under such Section and Schedule. The Purchaser
will supply to the Company in writing and be solely respon-
<PAGE> 6
sible for any information with respect to the Purchaser and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Purchaser Companies") and the nominees,
directors and affiliates thereof required by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1
to be included in the Schedule 14D-9.
ARTICLE V
Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the Merger
5.1. Conversion or Cancellation of Shares. The manner of
converting or canceling shares of the Company and Merger Sub in the Merger
shall be as follows:
(a) At the Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by
Purchaser, Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of Purchaser (collectively,
the "Purchaser Companies") or Shares which are held by stockholders
("Dissenting Stockholders") exercising appraisal rights pursuant to
Section 262 of the DGCL) shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into the right to
receive, without interest, an amount in cash equal to $20.50 or such
greater amount which may be paid pursuant to the Offer (the "Merger
Consideration"). All such Shares, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holders thereof, shall no longer be outstanding
and shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate representing any such Shares shall thereafter cease
to have any rights with respect to such Shares, except the right to receive
the Merger Consideration for such Shares upon the surrender of such
certificate in accordance with Section 5.2 or the right, if any, to receive
payment from the Surviving Corporation of the "fair value" of such Shares
as determined in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL.
(b) At the Effective Time, each Share issued and outstanding
at the Effective Time and owned by any of the Purchaser Companies, and each
Share issued and held in the Company's treasury at the Effective Time,
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, cease to be outstanding, shall be canceled and retired
without payment of any consideration therefor and shall cease to exist.
(c) At the Effective Time, each share of Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall,
<PAGE> 7
by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Sub or
the holders of such shares, be converted into one Share.
5.2. Payment for Shares. Purchaser shall make available or
cause to be made available to the paying agent appointed by Purchaser with
the Company's prior approval (the "Paying Agent") amounts sufficient in the
aggregate to provide all funds necessary for the Paying Agent to make
payments pursuant to Section 5.1(a) hereof to holders of Shares issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. Promptly after the
Effective Time, the Purchaser shall instruct the Paying Agent to mail to
each person who was, at the Effective Time, a holder of record (other than
any of the Purchaser Companies) of issued and outstanding Shares a form
(mutually agreed to by Purchaser and the Company) of letter of transmittal
and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the certificates
which, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented any of such
Shares in exchange for payment therefor. Upon surrender to the Paying
Agent of such certificates, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the
Surviving Corporation shall promptly cause to be paid to the persons
entitled thereto a check in the amount to which such persons are entitled,
after giving effect to any required tax withholdings. No interest will be
paid or will accrue on the amount payable upon the surrender of any such
certificate. If payment is to be made to a person other than the
registered holder of the certificate surrendered, it shall be a condition
of such payment that the certificate so surrendered shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by
reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of the
certificate surrendered or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent that such tax has been paid or is not
applicable. One hundred and eighty days following the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to cause the Paying Agent to
deliver to it any funds (including any interest received with respect
thereto) made available to the Paying Agent which have not been disbursed
to holders of certificates formerly representing Shares outstanding on the
Effective Time, and thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to
the Surviving Corporation only as general creditors thereof with respect to
the cash payable upon due surrender of their certificates. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Paying Agent nor any party hereto shall be
liable to any holder of certificates formerly representing Shares for any
amount paid to a public official
<PAGE> 8
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. The
Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those
of the Paying Agent, in connection with the exchange of cash for Shares and
Purchaser shall reimburse the Surviving Corporation for such charges and
expenses.
5.3. Dissenters' Rights. If any Dissenting Stockholder shall
be entitled to be paid the "fair value" of his or her Shares, as provided
in Section 262 of the DGCL, the Company shall give Purchaser notice thereof
and Purchaser shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to any such demands. Neither the Company nor the
Surviving Corporation shall, except with the prior written consent of
Purchaser, voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer
to settle, any such demand for payment. If any Dissenting Stockholder
shall fail to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost the right
to dissent, the Shares held by such Dissenting Stockholder shall thereupon
be treated as though such Shares had been converted into the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 5.1.
5.4. Transfer of Shares After the Effective Time. No
transfers of Shares shall be made on the stock transfer books of the
Surviving Corporation at or after the Effective Time.
ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties
6.1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as
set forth in the corresponding sections of the disclosure letter, dated the
date hereof, delivered by the Company to Purchaser (the "Disclosure
Letter"), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser and
Merger Sub that:
(a) Corporate Organization and Qualification. Each of the
Company and its subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction
of incorporation and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or operated, or the
business conducted, by it require such qualification, except for such
failure to so qualify or be in such good standing, which, when taken
together with all other such failures, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has the requisite
corporate
<PAGE> 9
power and authority to carry on its respective businesses as they are now
being conducted except where the failure to have such power and authority
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available
to Purchaser a complete and correct copy of the Company's Certificate and
By-Laws, each as amended to date. The Company's Certificate and By-Laws so
delivered are in full force and effect.
(b) Authorized Capital. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 25,000,000 Shares, of which 12,942,443 Shares were
outstanding on July 31, 1996. All of the outstanding Shares have been duly
authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The
Company has no Shares reserved for issuance, except that, as of March 31,
1996, there were 1,450,000 Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the
Stock Option Plan and, as of the date hereof, 100,000 Shares reserved for
issuance pursuant to the Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (together, the
"Stock Plans") and, as of August 19, 1996, there were not more than
1,300,000 Shares subject to issuance under the Stock Option Plan. Each of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and owned, either directly or indirectly, by the Company free
and clear of all liens, pledges, security interests, claims or other
encumbrances. Except as set forth above, there are no shares of capital
stock of the Company authorized, issued or outstanding and except as set
forth above, there are no preemptive rights nor any outstanding subscrip-
tions, options, warrants, rights, convertible securities or other
agreements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or
unissued capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. After the Effective Time the Surviving Corporation will have
no obligation to issue, transfer or sell any Shares or common stock of the
Surviving Corporation pursuant to any Company Benefit Plan (as defined in
Section 6.1(h)).
(c) Corporate Authority. Subject only to approval of this
Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares, the
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all
corporate action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement is
a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and remedies generally and to general principles of
equity.
<PAGE> 10
(d) Governmental Filings; No Violations. (i) Other than the
filings provided for in Section 2.3 and as required under the Hart-Scott-
Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") (the "Regulatory
Filings"), no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by
the Company with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits
or authorizations required to be obtained by the Company from, any
governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission or other entity,
domestic or foreign ("Governmental Entity"), in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consumma-
tion by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, the failure to
make or obtain any or all of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company does not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not, constitute or result in (i) a
breach or violation of, or a default under, the Certificate or By-Laws of
the Company or the comparable governing instruments of any of its
subsidiaries, (ii) a breach or violation of, a default under or the
triggering of any payment or other material obligations pursuant to, any of
the Company's existing Company Benefit Plans or any grant or award made
under any of the foregoing, (iii) a breach or violation of, or a default
under, the acceleration of or the creation of a lien, pledge, security
interest or other encumbrance on assets (with or without the giving of
notice or the lapse of time) pursuant to, any provision of any agreement,
lease, license, contract, note, mortgage, indenture, arrangement or other
obligation ("Contracts") of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
law, rule, ordinance or regulation or judgment, decree, order, award or
governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is subject or (iv) any change in the rights or
obligations of any party under any of the Contracts, except, in the case of
clauses (iii) or (iv) above, for such breaches, violations, defaults,
accelerations or changes that, alone or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Disclosure Letter sets forth, to the
Knowledge of the Company, a list of any consents required under any
material Contracts to be obtained prior to consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (whether or not subject to the exception set
forth with respect to clause (iii) above). The Company will use its
reasonable best efforts promptly to obtain the consents referred to in the
Disclosure Letter.
<PAGE> 11
(e) Company Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has
made available to Purchaser each document filed by it since March 31, 1996
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, including, without limitation, (i) the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1996, and (ii) the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996,
each in the form (including exhibits and any amendments thereto) filed with
SEC (collectively, the "Company Reports"). As of their respective dates,
each of the Company Reports did not, and each Company Report filed with the
SEC subsequent to the date hereof will not, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, provided, that the
Company makes no representation with respect to information supplied by the
Purchaser Companies for use in Company Reports after the date hereof. Each
of the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference
into the Company Reports (including the related notes and schedules) fairly
presents the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of its date and each of the consolidated statements of
income and of changes in financial position included in or incorporated by
reference into the Company Reports (including any related notes and
schedules) fairly presents the results of operations, retained earnings and
changes in financial position, as the case may be, of the Company and its
subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of
unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not
be material in amount or effect), in each case in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied during the periods
involved, except as may be noted therein. Other than the Company Reports,
the Company has not filed any other definitive reports or statements with
the SEC since March 31, 1996.
(f) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the
Company Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof, since
March 31, 1996, the Company and its subsidiaries have conducted their
respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any material
transaction other than according to, the ordinary and usual course of such
businesses and there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect or any
development or combination of developments of which the Company has
Knowledge which would result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution
with respect to the capital stock of the Company; or (iii) any
<PAGE> 12
change by the Company in accounting principles, practices or methods.
Since March 31, 1996, except as provided for herein or as disclosed in the
Company Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof and other than
in the ordinary course, there has not been any increase in the compensation
payable or which could become payable by the Company and its subsidiaries
to their officers or key employees, or any amendment of any Company Benefit
Plans.
(g) Litigation and Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the
Company Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof, there are no
(i) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings,
investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii)
obligations or liabilities, or any facts or circumstances of which the
Company has Knowledge that could reasonably be expected to result in any
claims against or obligations or liabilities of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, that, alone or in the aggregate, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(h) Employee Benefits. The Disclosure Letter discloses each
written employee benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") other than
immaterial plans, and each other compensation or employee benefit plan,
program, policy, practice or arrangement providing cash or non-cash
compensation, including each retirement, bonus, welfare, severance,
relocation, salary continuation for sickness or other disability, vacation
or educational plan, program, practice, policy or arrangement and each
employment agreement, which the Company or its Subsidiaries maintain or
contribute to on behalf of their employees, former employees, directors or
former directors other than immaterial plans, policies, practices,
arrangements or agreements ("Company Benefit Plans"). Each Company Benefit
Plan has been maintained in all material respects in accordance with its
terms and with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other
applicable laws and collective bargaining agreements, including all
applicable reporting and disclosure requirements except for any failures to
so maintain which alone or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, no events have occurred with respect to the Company Benefit
Plans which alone or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse Effect,
and the withdrawal liability with respect to any "multiemployer plan"
(within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA) contributed to by the
Company, its Subsidiaries and any entities which are considered one
employer with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 4001(b)
of ERISA or
<PAGE> 13
Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code, determined as if a "complete
withdrawal" had occurred as of the date hereof, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(i) Brokers and Finders. Neither the Company nor any of its
officers, directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders, fees
in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except that the
Company has employed Merrill Lynch & Co. as its financial advisors, the
compensation arrangements with which have been disclosed in writing to
Purchaser prior to the date hereof.
(j) Takeover Statutes. The Board of Directors of the Company
has taken all necessary action to approve the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement such that the restrictions on transactions with "interested
stockholders" set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to such
transactions. To the Company's knowledge, no other "fair price",
"moratorium", "control share acquisition" or other similar antitakeover
statute or regulation (each a "Takeover Statute") is applicable to the
Company, the Shares, the Offer, the Merger or the transactions contemplated
thereby or hereby.
(k) Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed in the Company
Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof and except for such
matters that, alone or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, and to the Company's Knowledge (i) the Company and its subsidiaries
are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) no Hazardous
Substances (as hereinafter defined) have been treated, stored, or disposed
of at, on, or under the properties presently or formerly owned or operated
by the Company or its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, soil,
groundwater or surface water on, under or adjacent to the properties, and
buildings thereon) (the "Properties"), other than such treatment, storage
or disposal which would not require remediation under currently applicable
Environmental Law, and the Properties have not been used as a sanitary
landfill, dump or hazardous waste disposal site (provided, however, that
with respect to Properties formerly owned or operated by the Company, the
representations set forth in this Section 6.1(k)(ii) are limited to the
period prior to the disposition of such Properties by the Company or one of
its subsidiaries); (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has received any notices, demand letters or requests for information from
any Governmental Entity or any third party that the Company may be in
violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law and none of the
Company, its subsidiaries or the Properties are
<PAGE> 14
subject to any court order, administrative order or decree arising under
any Environmental Law and (iv) no Hazardous Substance has been disposed of,
transferred, released or transported from any of the Properties during the
time such Property was owned or operated by the Company or one of its
subsidiaries, other than as permitted under and as would not reasonably be
expected to result in liability under, applicable Environmental Law.
"Environmental Law" means (i) any Federal, state, foreign or
local law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit,
authorization, approval, consent, common law, order, judgment, decree,
injunction, requirement or agreement with any Governmental Entity, relating
(x) to the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment,
(including, without limitation, air, surface water, groundwater, surface
land, subsurface land, or any other natural resource), or to human health
or (y) to the exposure to, or the use, presence, storage, recycling,
treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling,
production, release or disposal of Hazardous Substances, in each case as
amended and as now in effect. "Hazardous Substance" means any substance
presently listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic,
radioactive or otherwise regulated, under any Environmental Law.
6.2. Representations and Warranties of Purchaser and Merger
Sub. Except as set forth in the corresponding sections of the disclosure
letter, dated the date hereof delivered by the Purchaser to the Company
(the "Purchaser Disclosure Letter"), Purchaser and Merger Sub represent and
warrant to the Company that:
(a) Corporate Organization and Qualification. Each of
Purchaser and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or operated, or the
business conducted, by it require such qualification except for such
failure to so qualify or to be in such good standing, which, when taken
together with all other such failures, would not have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition, properties, business or results of
operations of Purchaser and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Corporate Authority. Purchaser and Merger Sub each has
the requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate
action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transac-
<PAGE> 15
tions contemplated hereby. This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement
of Purchaser and Merger Sub enforceable against Purchaser and Merger Sub in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors'
rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity.
(c) Governmental Filings; No Violations; Ownership of Shares.
(i) Other than the Regulatory Filings, no notices, reports or other filings
are required to be made by Purchaser and Merger Sub with, nor are any
consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to
be obtained by Purchaser and Merger Sub from, any Governmental Entity in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser
and Merger Sub and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
by Purchaser and Merger Sub, the failure to make or obtain any or all of
which could prevent, materially delay or materially burden the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(ii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser
and Merger Sub do not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby by Purchaser and Merger Sub will not, constitute or
result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws of Purchaser or Merger Sub or (ii) a breach or
violation of, a default under, the acceleration of or the creation of a
lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on assets (with or
without the giving of notice or the lapse of time) pursuant to, any
provision of any Contract of Purchaser or Merger Sub or any law, ordinance,
rule or regulation or judgment, decree, order, award or governmental or
non-governmental permit or license to which Purchaser or Merger Sub is
subject, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for such breaches,
violations, defaults or accelerations that, alone or in the aggregate,
could not prevent or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(iii) Purchaser does not, as of the date hereof, beneficially
own any Shares.
(d) Funds. Purchaser has received a written commitment (the
"Commitment") from a financial institution to provide an aggregate of up to
$425,000,000 in connection with the Offer and the Merger, a copy of which
has previously been delivered to the Company, subject to the execution of
definitive financing agreements and the fulfillment of conditions
thereunder. As of the date
<PAGE> 16
hereof, Purchaser knows of no facts or circumstances that are likely to
result in the conditions precedent referred to in such written commitments
not being satisfied.
ARTICLE VII
Covenants
7.1. Interim Operations of the Company. The Company covenants
and agrees that, prior to the Effective Time (unless Purchaser shall
otherwise agree in writing and except as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement):
(a) the business of the Company and its subsidiaries shall be
conducted only in the ordinary and usual course and, to the extent
consistent therewith, each of the Company and its subsidiaries shall
use its reasonable best efforts to preserve its business organization
intact and maintain satisfactory relations with customers, suppliers,
employees and business associates, in each case in all material
respects;
(b) the Company shall not (i) sell, pledge, dispose of or
encumber or agree to sell or pledge any stock owned by it in any of
its subsidiaries; (ii) amend its Certificate or By-Laws; (iii) split,
combine or reclassify the outstanding Shares; or (iv) declare, set
aside or pay any dividend payable in cash, stock or property with
respect to the Shares;
(c) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall
(i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any additional shares
of, or securities convertible or exchangeable for, or options,
warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, any
shares of its capital stock other than, in the case of the Company,
Shares issuable pursuant to options outstanding on the date hereof
under the Stock Plans; (ii) transfer, lease, license, guarantee,
sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any assets or incur or
modify any indebtedness or other liability other than in the ordinary
and usual course of business; (iii) acquire directly or indirectly by
redemption or otherwise any shares of the capital stock of the
Company (iv) increase its obligations under its existing credit
agreement which would cause such aggregate borrowings to exceed
$40,000,000 or amend or modify such credit agreement; or
(v) authorize capital expenditures in excess of the Company's fiscal
1997 capital budget as provided prior to the date hereof to
<PAGE> 17
Purchaser or make any acquisition of, or investment in, assets or
stock of any other person or entity.
(d) except as described in the Disclosure Letter, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall (i) except as required by
applicable law, grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter
into any employment or severance agreement with any Director, officer
or other employee of the Company or such subsidiaries; (ii)
establish, adopt, enter into, make any new grants or awards (or
accelerate the vesting, or increase the value of any benefit) under
or amend, any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift,
compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement,
employee stock ownership, deferred compensation, employment,
termination, severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy
or arrangement for the benefit of any Directors, officers or other
employees; or (iii) increase the compensation of any Director,
officer or other Employee or pay any benefit thereto not required by
any existing plan;
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly acknowledged
that the Company has adopted or will adopt the change in control
severance agreements (the "Severance Agreements"), and amendments to
the Restated and Amended Longevity Incentive Agreements (the
"Longevity Agreement Amendments"), in each case for the individuals
set forth in the Disclosure Letter as the recipients of such
agreements, a change in control severance plan (the "Severance Plan")
and an amendment to the 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan, each
in the forms attached to the Disclosure Letter, and that prior to the
Effective Time the Company shall be permitted to implement such
agreements, plan and amendments.
(e) except as described in the Disclosure Letter, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall settle or compromise any
material claims or litigation or, except in the ordinary and usual
course of business, modify, amend or terminate any of its material
Contracts or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims;
(f) neither the Company nor any subsidiary shall make any tax
election or permit any insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary or
a loss payable payee to be canceled or terminated without notice to
Purchaser, except in the ordinary and usual course of business; and
<PAGE> 18
(g) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will
authorize or enter into an agreement to do any of the foregoing.
7.2. Acquisition Proposals. The Company agrees that neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of the respective officers
and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries shall, and the Company
shall direct and use its best efforts to cause its employees, agents and
representatives (including, without limitation, any investment banker,
attorney or accountant retained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries)
not to, initiate, solicit or encourage, directly or indirectly, any
inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer (including, without
limitation, any proposal or offer to stockholders of the Company) with
respect to a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving, or any
purchase of all or any significant portion of the assets or any equity
securities of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (any such proposal or
offer being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition Proposal") or,
except as required to comply with the fiduciary duties of the Company's
Board of Directors under applicable law after consultation with outside
counsel, engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential
information or data to, or have any discussions with, any person relating
to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt
to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal. The Company will immediately
cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of
the foregoing. The Company will take the necessary steps to inform the
individuals or entities referred to in the first sentence hereof of the
obligations undertaken in this Section 7.2. The Company will as promptly
as reasonably practicable notify Purchaser if any such inquiries or
proposals are received by, any such information is requested from, or any
such negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated with the
Company.
7.3. Meetings of the Company's Stockholders. If required
following consummation of the Offer, the Company will take, consistent with
applicable law and its Certificate and By-Laws, all action necessary to
convene a meeting of holders of Shares as promptly as practicable to
consider and vote upon the approval of this Agreement and the Merger.
Subject to fiduciary requirements of applicable law, the Board of Directors
of the Company shall recommend such approval and the Company shall take all
lawful action to solicit such approval. If the Board of Directors
determines after consultation with outside counsel that an
<PAGE> 19
amendment or withdrawal of its recommendation is required in accordance
with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, the Board of Directors may
so amend or withdraw its recommendation and such withdrawal or
recommendation shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. At any
such meeting of the Company all of the Shares then owned by the Purchaser
Companies will be voted in favor of this Agreement. The Company's proxy or
information statement with respect to such meeting of shareholders (the
"Proxy Statement"), at the date thereof and at the date of such meeting,
will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply
to the extent that any such untrue statement of a material fact or omission
to state a material fact was made by the Company in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information concerning the Purchaser Companies and
nominees, directors and affiliates of such Purchaser Companies furnished to
the Company by Purchaser specifically for use in the Proxy Statement. The
Proxy Statement shall not be filed, and no amendment or supplement to the
Proxy Statement will be made by the Company, without consultation with
Purchaser and its counsel. None of the written information concerning the
Purchaser Companies and the nominees, directors and affiliates thereof
furnished to the Company by Purchaser specifically for use in the Proxy
Statement, at the date thereof and at the date of the stockholders'
meeting, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
7.4. Filings; Other Action. Subject to the terms and
conditions herein provided, the Company and Purchaser shall: (a) promptly
make their respective filings and thereafter make any other required
submissions under the HSR Act with respect to the Offer and the Merger; and
(b) use their reasonable best efforts to promptly take, or cause to be
taken, all other action and do, or cause to be done, all other things
necessary, proper or appropriate under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and including, without limitation, in the case of Purchaser
obtaining the financing contemplated by the Commitment or otherwise, as
soon as practicable. The Company shall cooperate with Purchaser to assist
in obtaining such financing and shall take such action in connection
therewith as Purchaser may reasonably request.
<PAGE> 20
7.5. Access. Upon reasonable notice, the Company shall (and
shall cause each of its subsidiaries to) afford Purchaser's officers,
employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives
("Representatives") access, during normal business hours throughout the
period prior to the Effective Time, to its properties, books, Contracts and
records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall cause each of
its subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Purchaser all information
concerning its business, properties and personnel as Purchaser or its
Representatives may reasonably request, provided that no investigation
pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall affect or be deemed to modify any
representation or warranty made by the Company and provided, further, that
the foregoing shall not require the Company to permit any inspection, or to
disclose any information, which in the reasonable judgment of the Company
would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties or
violate any obligation of the Company with respect to confidentiality if
the Company shall have used reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of
such third party to such inspection or disclosure. All requests for
information made pursuant to this Section shall be directed to an executive
officer of the Company or such person as may be designated by any such
officer. All information obtained by Purchaser and its Representatives
pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall be treated as "Information" for all
purposes of the Confidentiality Agreement.
7.6. Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give
prompt notice to Purchaser of: (a) any notice of, or other communication
relating to, any material environmental matter, a default or event that,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default, received by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries subsequent to the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, under any Contract material to
the financial condition, properties, businesses or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or is subject; and (b) any Material
Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and Purchaser shall give prompt notice
to the other party of any notice or other communication from any third
party alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.7. Publicity. The initial press release shall be a joint
press release and thereafter the Company and Purchaser shall consult with
each other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public
statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and prior
to
<PAGE> 21
making any filings with any Governmental Entity or with any national
securities exchange with respect thereto.
7.8. Benefits. (a) Stock Options. Prior to the Effective
Time, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain any necessary
consents from optionees, and will amend the Stock Plans, to provide that at
the Effective Time each stock option outstanding pursuant to the Stock
Plans ("Option"), whether or not then exercisable, shall be canceled and
only entitle the holder thereof to receive an amount in cash equal to the
excess of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per Share of
such Option multiplied by the number of Shares previously subject to such
Option, less all applicable withholding taxes.
(b) Employee Benefits. (i) Purchaser shall, during the period
commencing at the Effective Time and ending on December 31, 1997, cause the
Surviving Corporation to provide to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries, who are employed by the Surviving Corporation or its
subsidiaries following the Effective Time ("Company Employees"), employee
benefits which in the aggregate are substantially comparable to those
currently provided (other than stock option plans, other equity-based plans
and the Restated and Amended Longevity Incentive Agreements, as amended) by
the Company to such employees, provided that employees covered by
collective bargaining agreements need not be provided such benefits;
provided, further that if during such period the Purchaser implements any
widespread decrease in benefits (or increase in costs to participants)
under compensation plans applicable generally to its employees and the
employees of its subsidiaries (other than the Surviving Corporation), the
Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries may be required by the Purchaser
to adjust the benefits (or the costs thereof) provided to their employees.
Purchaser will, and will cause the Surviving Corporation to, honor pursuant
to their terms all Company Benefit Plans in existence on the date hereof
and set forth in the Disclosure Letter or adopted prior to the Effective
Time as set forth in the Disclosure Letter, including the Severance Agree-
ments, Severance Plan and Longevity Agreement Amendments. The Company
shall prior to the Effective Time amend the Stock Plans to provide that the
Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time and to state that no
Company Employee or Director shall have the right to receive grants of
Options or exercise Options following the Effective Time.
(ii) In the event that Company Employees are or become
eligible to participate in any plans maintained by the Purchaser or its
Subsidiaries ("Purchaser Benefit
<PAGE> 22
Plans"), Purchaser or its subsidiaries shall grant such employees credit
for purposes of eligibility and vesting only, for all service credited for
such purposes under comparable Company Benefit Plans, other than with
respect to new Purchaser Benefit Plans which do not grant past service
credit to Purchaser's employees generally.
(iii) Any pre-existing condition exclusion under any Purchaser
Benefit Plan providing medical or dental benefits shall be waived for any
Company Employee who, immediately prior to commencing participation in such
Purchaser Benefit Plan, was participating in a Company Benefit Plan
providing medical or dental benefits and had satisfied any pre-existing
condition provision under such Company Benefit Plan. Any expenses that
were taken into account under a Company Benefit Plan providing medical or
dental benefits in which the Company Employee participated immediately
prior to commencing participation in a Purchaser Benefit Plan providing
medical or dental benefits shall be taken into account to the same extent
under such Purchaser Benefit Plan, in accordance with the terms of such
Purchaser Benefit Plan, for purposes of satisfying applicable deductible,
coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket provisions and life-time benefit
limits.
Section 7.9. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers'
Insurance. (a) From and after the Effective Time, Purchaser agrees that it
will indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and
officer of the Company, determined as of the Effective Time (the "Indemn-
ified Parties"), against any costs or expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(collectively, "Costs") incurred in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative, arising out of matters existing or occurring at or prior
to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after
the Effective Time, to the fullest extent that the Company would have been
permitted under Delaware law and its Certificate of Incorporation or By-
Laws in effect on the date hereof to indemnify such person (and Purchaser
shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law provided the person to whom expenses are advanced
provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately
determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification); Purchaser
shall cause the Surviving Corporation (and its successors) not to amend its
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws concerning the indemnification and
exoneration of the Company's present and
<PAGE> 23
former directors and officers in any respect that adversely affects any
rights of such directors and officers.
(b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification
under paragraph (a) of Section 7.9, upon learning of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall promptly notify Purchaser
thereof. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective Time),
(i) Purchaser or the Surviving Corporation shall have the right to assume
the defense thereof and Purchaser shall not be liable to such Indemnified
Parties for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Parties in connection with the
defense thereof, except that if Purchaser or the Surviving Corporation
elects not to assume such defense or counsel for the Indemnified Parties
advises that there are issues which raise conflicts of interest between
Purchaser or the Surviving Corporation and the Indemnified Parties, the
Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them, and Purchaser
or the Surviving Corporation shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of
such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor
are received; provided, however, that Purchaser shall be obligated pursuant
to this paragraph (b) to pay for only one firm of counsel for all
Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction unless the use of one counsel for
such Indemnified Parties would present such counsel with a conflict of
interest (ii) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense of any
such matter and (iii) Purchaser shall not be liable for any settlement
effected without its prior written consent which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; and provided further that Purchaser shall not have
any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party when and if a court of
competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such determination
shall have become final, that the indemnification of such Indemnified Party
in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law.
(c) The Purchaser shall cause the Surviving Corporation to
maintain the Company's existing officers' and directors' liability
insurance ("D&O Insurance") for a period of six years after the Effective
Time so long as the annual premium therefor is not in excess of 150% of the
last annual premium paid prior to the date hereof (the "Current Premium");
provided, however, if the existing D&O Insurance expires, is terminated or
canceled during such six year period, the Surviving Corporation will use
its best efforts to obtain as much D&O Insurance as can be obtained for the
remainder of such period for a premium not in excess (on an annualized
basis) of 150% of the Current Premium.
<PAGE> 24
7.10. Takeover Statute. If any "fair price", "moratorium",
"control share acquisition" or other form of antitakeover statute or
regulation is or shall become applicable to the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Company and the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary
so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly
as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to
eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the
transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VIII
Conditions to the Merger
8.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall
be subject to the satisfaction or waiver, where permissible, prior to the
Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. If approval of the Merger by the
holders of Shares is required by applicable law, the Merger shall have been
approved by the requisite vote of such holders, and
(b) No Injunctions; Laws. No injunction or other order shall
have been issued or any law enacted which prohibits the consummation of the
Merger or makes such consummation illegal; provided, however, that prior to
invoking this provision, each party shall use its reasonable best efforts
to have any such injunction lifted.
(c) Governmental and Regulatory Consents. The waiting period
applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have
expired or been terminated and all consents, approvals and authorizations
required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time by the Company from any
Governmental Entity in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby by the Company, Purchaser and Merger Sub shall have
been made or obtained (as the case may be);
8.2. Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser and Merger Sub to
Effect the Merger. The obligation of Purchaser and Merger Sub to effect
the Merger shall be further subject to the satisfaction or waiver, on or
prior to the Effective Time of the condition that Merger Sub shall
<PAGE> 25
have accepted for payment and paid for the Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer; provided, that this condition shall be deemed satisfied if the
Merger Sub's failure to accept for payment and pay for such shares breaches
this Agreement or violates the terms and conditions of the Offer.
ARTICLE IX
Termination
9.1. Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective Time, before or after the approval by holders of Shares, by the
mutual consent of Purchaser and the Company, by action of their respective
Boards of Directors.
9.2. Termination by either Purchaser or the Company. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by action of
the Board of Directors of either Purchaser or the Company if (i) Merger
Sub, or any Purchaser Company, shall have terminated the Offer without
purchasing any Shares pursuant thereto; provided, in the case of
termination of this Agreement by Purchaser, such termination of the Offer
does not constitute a breach of this Agreement and is not in violation of
the terms and conditions of the Offer or (ii) without fault of the
terminating party, the Merger shall not have been consummated by March 31,
1997 whether or not such date is before or after the approval by holders of
Shares.
9.3. Termination by Purchaser. Unless the Offer shall have
been consummated and persons designated by Purchaser shall constitute at
least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company,
this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned prior to
the Effective Time, before or after the approval by holders of Shares, by
action of the Board of Directors of Purchaser, if (x) the Company shall
have failed to comply in any material respect with the covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied with or performed by
the Company at or prior to such date of termination and, with respect to
any such failure that can be remedied, the failure is not remedied within
five business days after Purchaser has furnished the Company with written
notice of such failure, or (y) the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Purchaser or Merger Sub
its approval or recommendation of the Offer, this Agreement or the Merger
or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing.
<PAGE> 26
9.4. Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be
terminated and the Merger may be abandoned prior to the Effective Time,
before or after the approval by holders of Shares by action of the Board of
Directors of the Company, (x) if Purchaser or Merger Sub (or another
Purchaser Company) (i) shall have failed to comply in any material respect
with the covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement to be complied
with or performed by Purchaser or Merger Sub at or prior to such date of
termination and, with respect to any such failure that can be remedied, the
failure is not remedied within five business days after the Company has
furnished Purchaser with written notice of such failure or (ii) shall have
failed to commence the Offer within the time required in Section 1.1 or (y)
if (i) the Company is not in material breach of any of the terms of this
Agreement, (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company receives an
unsolicited written offer with respect to a merger, consolidation or sale
of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or an unsolicited
tender or exchange offer for the Shares is commenced, which the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith is more favorable to the
stockholders of the Company than the Offer and the transactions
contemplated hereby and the Board of Directors determines, after
consultation with its outside counsel that approval, acceptance or
recommendation of such transaction (an "Alternative Transaction") is
required in accordance with its fiduciary obligations under applicable law
and (iii) the Company prior to such termination pays to Purchaser in
immediately available funds all fees required to be paid pursuant to
Section 9.5.
9.5. Effect of Termination and Abandonment. (a) In the
event of termination of this Agreement and abandonment of the Merger
pursuant to this Article IX, no party hereto (or any of its directors,
officers or representatives) shall have any liability or further obligation
to any other party to this Agreement, except as provided in Section 9.5(b)
below and Section 10.2 and except that nothing herein will relieve any
party from liability for any breach of this Agreement.
(b) If (x) (i) the Offer shall have remained open for a minimum
of at least 20 business days, (ii) after the date hereof any corporation,
partnership, person, other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act) other than Purchaser or Merger Sub or any of their
respective subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, a "Person") shall have
become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Shares or any
Person shall have commenced, or shall have publicly announced an intention
to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer for 40% or more
<PAGE> 27
of the outstanding Shares or made any other Acquisition Proposal, (iii) the
Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex A) shall not have been satisfied and
the Offer is terminated without the purchase of any Shares thereunder and
(iv) within six months following such termination, the Company enters into
an agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal with any person or
other entity other than Purchaser or any person or other entity becomes the
beneficial owner of 90% or more of the outstanding Shares in either case at
a price per Share of $20.50 or more, or (y) Purchaser shall have terminated
this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.3(x) at any time after any person
shall have made an Acquisition Proposal or the Company shall have taken any
action that would be proscribed by Section 7.2 but for the exception
therein allowing certain actions to be taken if required by fiduciary duty
or Section 9.3(y) and, in either such case, within six months following
such termination, the Company enters into an agreement with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal with any person other than Purchaser or any person or
other entity becomes the beneficial owner of 90% or more of the outstanding
Shares in either case at a price per Share of $20.50 or more, or (z) the
Company shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.4(y),
then the Company, if requested by Purchaser, shall promptly, but in no
event later than five business days after the date of such request (other
than a termination pursuant to Section 9.4(y), in which case payment shall
be concurrent with termination), pay Purchaser a fee of $7,000,000, which
amount shall be payable in same day funds, plus an amount equal to
Purchaser's out-of-pocket expenses, up to a maximum of $3,000,000,
including fees and expenses paid to investment bankers, lawyers and
financing sources, incurred in connection with the transaction contemplated
by this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained
in this Section 9.5(b) are an integral part of the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Pur-
chaser and Merger Sub would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if
the Company fails to promptly pay the amount due pursuant to this Section
9.5(b), and, in order to obtain such payment, Purchaser or Merger Sub
commences a suit which results in a judgment against the Company for the
fee set forth in this paragraph (b), the Company shall pay to Purchaser or
Merger Sub its costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) in connection
with such suit, together with interest on the amount of the fee at the
prime rate of Citibank N.A. on the date such payment was required to be
made.
<PAGE> 28
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous and General
10.1. Payment of Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in
Section 9.5, whether or not the Merger shall be consummated, each party
hereto shall pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into
and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger.
10.2. Survival. The agreements of the Company, Purchaser and
Merger Sub contained in Sections 5.2 (but only to the extent that such
Section expressly relates to actions to be taken after the Effective Time),
5.3, 5.4, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10 and 10.1 shall survive the consummation of the
Merger. The agreements of the Company, Purchaser and Merger Sub contained
in Sections 7.5, 9.5 and 10.1 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. All other representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
in this Agreement shall not survive the consummation of the Merger or the
termination of this Agreement.
10.3. Modification or Amendment. Subject to the applicable
provisions of the DGCL, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto may modify or amend this Agreement, by written agreement
executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective
parties.
10.4. Waiver of Conditions. The conditions to each of the
parties' obligations to consummate the Merger are for the sole benefit of
such party and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the
extent permitted by applicable law.
10.5. Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties
hereto, this Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such
counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.
10.6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
10.7. Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other
document to be given hereunder by any party to the others shall be in
writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, if to Purchaser or Merger Sub, addressed to Purchaser or
Merger Sub, as the case may be, at 1200 Meidinger Tower, Louisville,
Kentucky 40202, Attention: President (with a
<PAGE> 29
copy to Joseph B. Frumkin, Esq., Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10004); and if to the Company, addressed to the Company at
2630 El Presidio Street, Long Beach, California 90810, Attention:
President (with a copy to Charles Nathan, Esq., Fried, Frank, Harris,
Shriver & Jacobson, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004) or to
such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the
party to receive such notice.
10.8. Entire Agreement, etc. This Agreement (including the
Disclosure Letter and any exhibits or Annexes hereto) (a) constitutes the
entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements,
understandings, representations and warranties both written and oral, among
the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (b) shall not
be assignable by operation of law or otherwise and is not intended to
create any obligations to, or rights in respect of, any persons other than
the parties hereto; provided, however, that Purchaser may designate, by
written notice to the Company, another wholly-owned direct or indirect
subsidiary to be a Constituent Corporation in lieu of Merger Sub, in the
event of which, all references herein to Merger Sub shall be deemed
references to such other subsidiary except that all representations and
warranties made herein with respect to Merger Sub as of the date of this
Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties made with respect
to such other subsidiary as of the date of such designation.
10.9. Definition of "Subsidiary". When a reference is made in
this Agreement to a subsidiary of a party, the word "subsidiary" means any
corporation or other organization whether incorporated or unincorporated of
which at least a majority of the securities or interests having by the
terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect at least 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.
10.10. Definition of "Knowledge". For purposes of this
Agreement "Knowledge" of the Company shall mean the actual knowledge,
without any duty or obligation to make any independent investigation, of
Norman E. Wells, Jr. and Terry D. Smith and, with respect to Section 6.1(k)
shall mean the knowledge of Waheed Kahn.
10.11. Definition of "Material Adverse Effect". For purposes
of this Agreement, "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any material
adverse effect on the financial
<PAGE> 30
condition, properties, businesses, results of operations or prospects of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
10.12. Obligation of Purchaser. Whenever this Agreement
requires Merger Sub to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to
include an undertaking on the part of Purchaser to cause Merger Sub to take
such action.
10.13. Captions. The Article, Section and paragraph captions
herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of
this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of
the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto on the date
first hereinabove written.
CASTECH ALUMINUM GROUP INC.
By /s/ Norman E. Wells, Jr.
Name: Norman E. Wells, Jr.
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
COMMONWEALTH ALUMINUM CORPORATION
By /s/ Mark V. Kaminski
Name: Mark V. Kaminski
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
CALC CORPORATION
By /s/ Mark V. Kaminski
Name: Mark V. Kaminski
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE> 31
Annex A
Certain Conditions of the Offer. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Offer and provided that Merger Sub shall not be obligated
to accept for payment any Shares until expiration of all applicable waiting
periods under the HSR Act, Merger Sub shall not be required to accept for
payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) promulgated under the Exchange Act
(relating to the Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return tendered
Shares promptly after termination or withdrawal of the Offer), pay for, or
may delay the acceptance for payment of or payment for, any tendered
Shares, or may, in its sole discretion, terminate or amend the Offer as to
any Shares not then paid for if a majority of the total Shares outstanding
on a fully diluted basis and as will permit Merger Sub to effect the Merger
without the vote of any person other than Merger Sub shall not have been
properly and validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn prior
to the expiration of the Offer (the "Minimum Condition"), or, if on or
after August 19, 1996, and at or before the time of payment for any of such
Shares (whether or not any of such Shares have theretofore been accepted
for payment), any of the following events shall occur:
(a) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of,
or limitation on trading in securities on the NYSE or in the over-
the-counter market (other than a shortening of trading hours or any
coordinated trading halt triggered solely as a result of a specified
increase or decrease in a market index), (ii) a declaration of a
banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks
in the United States, (iii) a commencement of a war or armed
hostilities involving the United States and continuing for at least
three business days, or (iv) any material limitation (whether or not
mandatory) by any governmental or regulatory authority, agency,
commission or other domestic entity ("Governmental Entity"), on the
extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions and
continuing for at least three business days;
(b) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in
any material respect its obligations, covenants or agreements under
the Merger Agreement and, with respect to any such failure that can
be remedied, the failure is not remedied within five business days
after Purchaser has furnished the Company written
<PAGE> 2
notice of such failure, or any representation or warranty of the
Company set forth in the Merger Agreement shall have been inaccurate
or incomplete in any material respect when made or thereafter shall
become inaccurate or incomplete in any material respect;
(c) there shall be instituted or pending any action,
litigation, proceeding, investigation or other application
(hereinafter, an "Action") before any court of competent jurisdiction
or other Governmental Entity by any Governmental Entity: (i) chal-
lenging the acquisition by Purchaser or Merger Sub of Shares or
seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Offer or the Merger; (ii) seeking to prohibit, or
impose any material limitations on Purchaser's or Merger Sub's
ownership or operation of all or a material portion of their or the
Company's business or assets, or to compel Purchaser or Merger Sub to
dispose of or hold separate all or a material portion of Purchaser's
or Merger Sub's or the Company's business or assets; (iii) seeking to
make the acceptance for payment of, purchase of, or payment for, some
or all of the Shares illegal or rendering Purchaser or Merger Sub
unable to, or restricting or prohibiting, the ability of Purchaser or
Merger Sub to accept for payment, purchase or pay for some or all of
the Shares; or (iv) seeking to impose material limitations on the
ability of Purchaser or Merger Sub effectively to acquire or hold or
to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares including, without
limitation, the right to vote the Shares purchased by them on an
equal basis with all other Shares on all matters properly presented
to the stockholders of the Company;
(d) any statute, rule, regulation, order or injunction shall
be enacted, promulgated, entered, enforced or deemed to or become ap-
plicable to the Offer or the Merger that results in any of the
consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (c)
above;
(e) any person, entity or group shall have entered into a
definitive agreement or an
<PAGE> 3
agreement in principle with the Company with respect to a tender
offer or exchange offer for some portion or all of the Shares or a
merger, consolidation or other business combination with or involving
the Company;
(f) there shall be a Material Adverse Effect;
(g) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
withdrawn or amended, or modified in a manner adverse to the
Purchaser or Merger Sub, its recommendation of the Offer or the
Merger, or shall have approved or recommended any other Acquisition
Proposal, or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing;
(h) the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated by the
Company or Purchaser or Merger Sub in accordance with its terms or
Purchaser or Merger Sub shall have reached an agreement or
understanding in writing with the Company providing for termination
or amendment of the Offer or delay in payment for the Shares;
which, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser and Merger Sub, in any such
case, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer and/or with such
acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Purchaser
and Merger Sub and may be asserted by Purchaser or Merger Sub regardless of
the circumstances giving rise to such condition or may be waived by
Purchaser or Merger Sub, by express and specific action to that effect, in
whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion,
except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement. The failure of
Purchaser or Merger Sub at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights
shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each right shall be
deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to
time.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, August 19, 1996
COMMONWEALTH ALUMINUM CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE
CASTECH ALUMINUM GROUP INC. FOR $20.50 IN CASH
New York, N.Y. (August 19, 1996) -- Commonwealth Aluminum
Corporation ("Commonwealth")(Nasdaq/NM:CALC) and Castech Aluminum Group Inc.
("CasTech") (NYSE:CTA) today jointly announced that they have entered into an
agreement that provides for Commonwealth to acquire all of the outstanding
shares of CasTech for $20.50 per share in cash. The acquisition will create the
largest independent aluminum rolling operation in the United States. The
combined entity will have operations located in Louisville and Lewisport,
Kentucky, Akron, Bedford and Uhrichsville, Ohio, and Carson, Long Beach and
Torrance, California, and will have annual shipments in excess of 900 million
pounds of aluminum sheet and over 475 million feet of electrical wiring
products. Commonwealth, a low cost producer of common alloy sheet through the
traditional direct chill casting technology, will acquire the leading
manufacturer of continuous cast aluminum sheet. Commonwealth President and Chief
Executive Officer, Mark V. Kaminski, said, "CasTech is one of the technological
leaders in continuous casting. Its patents and proprietary know-how put the
combined entity in a unique position to create opportunities for international
growth."
Commonwealth will commence a cash tender offer for all shares
of CasTech common stock within five business days at a price of $20.50 a
share, the companies said. The offer will be conditioned on, among other
things, at least a majority of the fully diluted shares of CasTech common
stock being validly tendered. The merger agreement contemplates that
shares not purchased in the tender offer will receive $20.50 per share in a
subsequent merger. Commonwealth has obtained a financing commitment for
the acquisition from National Westminster Bank, Plc; the tender will not be
contingent on financing.
Kaminski said, "This transaction positions Commonwealth to
better and more efficiently serve our customers and to reduce our
production costs and earnings volatility. The acquisition of CasTech is
expected to be accretive to Commonwealth's earnings in the first full year
of combined operations and promises to provide significant
<PAGE> 2
value to our shareholders and expanded opportunities for the employees of
both CasTech and Commonwealth. Above all, this combination will provide
Commonwealth with a unique opportunity to accelerate and expand its growth
in new aluminum markets. Furthermore, the acquisition of CasTech's ALFLEX
Division provides additional growth opportunities in the flexible conduit,
cable and electrical products markets."
CasTech's President, Norman E. Wells, Jr., stated, "I am
extremely proud of CasTech's accomplishments over the past several years.
The combination of these two groups will make Commonwealth a technological
leader in the aluminum industry -- well positioned for strong future
growth."
Commonwealth, a leading manufacturer of aluminum sheet in the
transportation, construction and consumer durables end-user markets, is
headquartered in Kentucky, posted sales of $672 million in 1995 and employs
approximately 1,100 people.
CasTech and its subsidiaries are the nation's leading
manufacturer of continuous cast aluminum sheet. The Company manufactures
aluminum sheet from recycled aluminum utilizing low cost, scrap-based mini-
mill production technology. The Company is also a leading manufacturer of
electrical flexible conduit and prewired armored cable, which are made
principally from aluminum sheet manufactured by the Company. CasTech
posted sales of $418 million in calendar year 1995, has 825 employees and
is domiciled in California.
Commonwealth is being advised by Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, who will also act as dealer manager on this transaction.
CasTech is being advised by Merrill Lynch & Co.
For further information contact Henry E. Ford, Manager of
Investor Relations for Commonwealth at 502-295-5372.
