As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2000
AMENDMENT NO. 1
To
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
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DELAWARE 3841 36-4370966
(State or other (Primary Standard (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Industrial Classification Identification No.)
incorporation or Code Number)
organization)
8505 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(503) 641-6115
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
ROBERT D. THOMPSON
8505 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(503) 641-6115
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
Copies to:
JOHN A. GRANDA, ESQ. JEFFREY P. LIBSON, ESQ.
Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. Pepper Hamilton LLP
1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2800 1235 Westlake Drive, Suite 400
Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312
(816) 842-8600 (610) 640-7800
Facsimile: (816) 691-3495 Facsimile: (610) 640-7835
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement is declared effective and all other conditions to the merger (as defined herein) have been satisfied or waived.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box. [_]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
EPITOPE
MERGER PROPOSED--YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
The boards of directors of Epitope, Inc. and STC Technologies, Inc. have agreed on the merger of the two companies into OraSure Technologies, Inc. which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Epitope. We believe OraSure Technologies will be able to create substantially more stockholder value than could be achieved by Epitope or STC individually.
Upon completion of the transaction, each share of STC common stock will be converted into a number of shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies based on an exchange ratio that will depend upon the average closing price of Epitope common stock during a 20 trading day pre-merger measurement period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers. The maximum exchange ratio is 6.8364 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock for each share of STC common stock which is applicable if the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period is less than $8.00. If the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period is between $8.00 and $13.00, the exchange ratio will range from 6.8364 and 5.4691 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock for each share of STC common stock, respectively. If the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period is above $13.00, there is no minimum exchange ratio but shares with a maximum trading value of $260 million would be issued to STC stockholders and optionholders. STC and Epitope stockholders will not know the number of shares that STC stockholders will receive in the mergers until three days before the vote on the mergers, but they can call to receive that information at
We are asking Epitope
stockholders to approve the
agreement and plan of merger. A
special meeting of Epitope
stockholders will be held:
Thursday, August 31, 2000
10:00 a.m., Local Time
Epitope, Inc.'s board of
directors unanimously recommends
that Epitope stockholders vote FOR
approval of the agreement and plan
of merger.
Robert D. Thompson
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Epitope, Inc.
STC
any time during that three day period. The companies plan to consummate the mergers on the same date as the date on which the meetings of stockholders of Epitope and STC are held to vote on the mergers. It is a condition to the mergers that immediately prior to the completion of the mergers, the outstanding shares of STC Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be converted into STC common stock.
Each share of Epitope common stock will be converted into one share of common stock of OraSure Technologies.
It is anticipated that after the mergers approximately an equal number of fully diluted shares of OraSure Technologies will be held by former Epitope stockholders, optionholders and warrantholders, on the one hand, and by the former STC stockholders and optionholders, on the other hand. This relative ownership could vary based on the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period as described above.
Some of STC's stockholders, including members of management and the board of directors, have executed stockholder agreements in which they have agreed to vote a sufficient number of shares of STC stock to assure adoption by STC of the agreement and plan of merger under Delaware law. Some of Epitope's stockholders, including members of management and the board of directors, who collectively hold 3.3% of the outstanding Epitope common stock, have executed stockholder agreements in which they have agreed to vote all of their shares of Epitope common stock in favor of approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
We are asking STC stockholders
to adopt the agreement and plan of
merger. A special meeting of STC
stockholders will be held:
Thursday, August 31, 2000
10:00 a.m., Local Time
STC's board of directors
unanimously recommends that STC
stockholders vote FOR adoption of
the agreement and plan of merger.
Michael J. Gausling
President and Chief Executive Officer,
STC Technologies, Inc.
Consider the risks described on pages 13 through 21 of this document.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved the stock to be issued under this document or determined if this document is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Joint proxy statement/prospectus dated , 2000 and first mailed to stockholders on , 2000.
This document incorporates important business and financial information about Epitope that is not included in or delivered with this document. This information is available without charge to stockholders upon written or oral request at Epitope's address and telephone number listed on page 120. To obtain timely delivery, stockholders must request the information no later than August 24, 2000.
EPITOPE
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2000
AT 10:00 A.M.
To the Stockholders of Epitope, Inc.:
A special meeting of stockholders of Epitope, Inc. will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at , , , to consider and vote upon:
1. A proposal to approve the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of May 6, 2000, among Epitope, Epitope's wholly-owned subsidiary, OraSure Technologies, Inc., and STC Technologies, Inc., pursuant to which Epitope and STC each will merge into OraSure Technologies and OraSure Technologies will issue shares of common stock in exchange for the shares of STC common stock and Epitope common stock surrendered in connection with the mergers, all as described in the attached document.
2. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Holders of record of Epitope common stock at the close of business on July 24, 2000, will be entitled to vote at the Epitope meeting or any adjournment or postponement.
Admittance to the special meeting will be granted only to stockholders as of the record date and guests of management. Please bring identification and, if you hold your shares in "street name" or otherwise not in your own name, please bring proof of share ownership, such as an account statement, for admittance.
The board of directors of Epitope has determined that the agreement and plan of merger is fair to and in the best interests of Epitope and its stockholders, has declared its advisability, and unanimously recommends that you vote in favor of the approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
Please do not send any certificates for your stock.
Andrew S. Goldstein Secretary
, 2000
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Epitope meeting, please complete, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope promptly or authorize the individuals named on your proxy card to vote your shares by calling toll free at or, if outside the U.S., calling , or using the Internet ( ) by following the instructions included with your proxy card.
If you do not vote your shares, or instruct your stockbroker to vote for you, it will have the same effect as voting against the merger.
STC
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2000
AT 10:00 A.M.
To the Stockholders of STC Technologies, Inc.:
A special meeting of stockholders of STC Technologies, Inc. will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at , , , to consider and vote upon:
1. A proposal to adopt the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of May 6, 2000, among Epitope, Inc., Epitope's wholly-owned subsidiary, OraSure Technologies, Inc., and STC, pursuant to which Epitope and STC each will merge into OraSure Technologies and OraSure Technologies will issue shares of common stock in exchange for the shares of STC common stock and Epitope common stock surrendered in connection with the mergers, all as described in the attached document.
2. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Holders of record of STC common stock and STC Series A convertible preferred stock at the close of business on July , 2000, will be entitled to vote at the STC meeting or any adjournment or postponement.
Admittance to the special meeting will be granted only to stockholders as of the record date and guests of management. Please bring identification.
Please contact Richard Hooper at (610) 882-1820 if you have any questions regarding the special meeting.
The board of directors of STC has determined that the agreement and plan of merger is fair to and in the best interests of STC and its stockholders, has declared its advisability, and unanimously recommends that you vote in favor of the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger.
Please do not send any certificates for your stock.
Jeffrey P. Libson Secretary
, 2000
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the STC meeting, please complete, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope promptly.
If you do not vote your shares, it will have the same effect as voting against the merger.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGERS................................... 1
SUMMARY................................................................... 2
EPITOPE, INC. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA..................................... 8
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA............................ 9
COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA................................................ 10
Summary Unaudited Comparative Historical and Pro Forma Per Share Data... 11
Market Price Data....................................................... 12
RISK FACTORS.............................................................. 13
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS................ 22
THE MERGERS............................................................... 24
General................................................................. 24
Background of the Mergers............................................... 24
Our Reasons for the Mergers; Recommendations of Our Boards of
Directors.............................................................. 30
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers... 32
Regulatory Matters Relating to the Mergers.............................. 34
Appraisal Rights........................................................ 34
Federal Securities Laws Consequences.................................... 36
Accounting Treatment.................................................... 37
Stock Market Listing.................................................... 38
INTERESTS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS IN THE MERGERS........................ 38
Existing Agreements and Plans with Respect to Directors and Officers.... 38
Board of Directors, Management and Agreements of the Combined Company... 39
Ownership of Common Stock; Stock Options................................ 42
Additional Information Concerning the Designees to the Board of
Directors.............................................................. 42
THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER.......................................... 44
Structure of the Mergers................................................ 44
Timing of Closing....................................................... 44
Merger Consideration.................................................... 44
Treatment of Stock Options.............................................. 45
Exchange of Certificates................................................ 46
The Board of OraSure Technologies and Related Matters................... 46
Name of OraSure Technologies............................................ 47
Representations and Warranties.......................................... 47
Covenants............................................................... 48
Mutual Covenants........................................................ 51
Conditions.............................................................. 52
Termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger......................... 53
Fees and Expenses Payable by Epitope Because of a Termination........... 54
Fees and Expenses Generally............................................. 55
Amendments and Waivers.................................................. 55
STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENTS AND VOTING INDICATIONS............................. 56
OPINIONS OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS............................................ 57
Opinion of Financial Advisor to Epitope................................. 57
Opinion of Financial Advisor to STC..................................... 62
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Page
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Opinion and Analysis of Robertson Stephens.............................. 63
Comparable Company Analysis............................................. 64
Contribution Analysis................................................... 66
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis........................................... 66
Financing History Analysis.............................................. 67
Pro Forma Merger Analysis............................................... 67
Other Factors........................................................... 67
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION................................. 69
Pooling of Interests Accounting Treatment............................... 69
Periods Covered......................................................... 69
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETINGS AND VOTING................................. 78
Matters Relating to the Meetings........................................ 78
Vote Necessary to Approve Epitope and STC Proposals..................... 79
Voting by Proxy......................................................... 80
How to Vote by Proxy.................................................... 80
Other Business; Adjournments............................................ 81
INFORMATION ABOUT EPITOPE, INC............................................ 81
INFORMATION ABOUT STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC................................... 82
General................................................................. 82
Industry Background - In Vitro Diagnostic Testing Market................ 82
Products................................................................ 83
Insurance Risk Assessment Products...................................... 83
Drugs-of-Abuse Products................................................. 83
Q.E.D.(R) Saliva Alcohol Test........................................... 85
Histofreezer(R) Portable Cryosurgical Removal System.................... 85
Up-Converting Phosphor Technology - UPT................................. 86
Competitive Analysis of UPT Labels...................................... 87
UPT Lateral Flow Applications........................................... 88
UPT License Agreements.................................................. 90
Research and Development................................................ 90
Sales and Marketing..................................................... 91
Significant Customers, Suppliers Products, and Markets.................. 91
Manufacturing........................................................... 91
Employees............................................................... 92
Competition............................................................. 92
Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information........................ 94
Government Regulation................................................... 94
Environmental Regulations............................................... 96
Product Liability Insurance............................................. 96
Properties.............................................................. 96
Legal Proceedings....................................................... 97
Recent Developments..................................................... 97
Executive Compensation.................................................. 97
Stock Option Grants..................................................... 98
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.......................... 98
Management's Discussion and Analysis of STC's Financial Condition and
STC's Results of Operations............................................ 99
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Page
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STC STOCK OWNERSHIP........................................................ 105
INFORMATION ABOUT ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC................................ 106
MATERIAL DIFFERENCES IN RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS............................. 106
DESCRIPTION OF ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES CAPITAL STOCK.......................... 113
General.................................................................. 113
OraSure Technologies Common Stock........................................ 113
OraSure Technologies Preferred Stock..................................... 113
Description of Rights.................................................... 114
Statutory Business Combination Provision................................. 115
Other Matters............................................................ 115
Stockholder Proposals.................................................... 116
Limitations on Director/Officer Liability................................ 116
Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................. 117
LEGAL MATTERS.............................................................. 118
EXPERTS.................................................................... 118
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS............................................... 118
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION........................................ 119
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS................................ F-1
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ANNEXES
Annex A --Agreement and Plan of Merger Annex B --Opinion of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Annex C --Opinion of FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. Annex D --Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGERS
Q: Why are Epitope and STC proposing the mergers?
A: We are proposing the mergers because we believe the combined strengths of the two companies will enable us to compete more effectively on a national and international basis and to create substantially more stockholder value than could be achieved by the companies individually.
Q: What will happen in the mergers?
A: We are proposing a transaction in which both Epitope and STC will merge into OraSure Technologies, Inc., which is a new company formed under Delaware law solely for the purposes of combining the two companies and changing the state of incorporation of Epitope from Oregon to Delaware. Epitope stockholders and STC stockholders each will have their respective shares of common stock converted into newly-issued shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies.
Q: When are the stockholders' meetings?
A: Each company's meeting will take place on August 31, 2000. The location of each meeting is specified on the cover page to this document.
Q: What do I need to do now?
A: You should carefully read and consider the information contained in this document. Then, please mail your signed proxy card in the enclosed return envelope or, for Epitope stockholders only, vote by telephone or by Internet, as soon as possible, so that your shares may be represented at your meeting. In order to assure that we obtain your vote, please give your proxy as instructed on your proxy card even if you currently plan to attend your meeting in person.
Q: What should I do if I want to change my vote?
A: Just send in a later-dated, signed proxy card to your company's Secretary.
Or, you can attend your meeting in person and vote. You may also revoke your
proxy by sending a notice of revocation to your company's Secretary at the
address under "Summary--The Companies" on page 2.
Q: If my shares are held in "street name" by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me?
A: If you do not provide your broker with instructions on how to vote your "street name" shares, your broker will not be permitted to vote them. You should therefore be sure to provide your broker with instructions on how to vote your shares.
If you do not give voting instructions to your broker, you will, in effect, be voting against the applicable merger unless you appear in person at your stockholders' meeting and vote in favor of that merger.
Q: Should I send in my stock certificates now?
A: No. If the mergers are completed, we will send Epitope stockholders and STC stockholders written instructions for exchanging their share certificates.
Q: What plans are there for future dividends?
A: Neither Epitope nor STC has historically paid quarterly dividends to its stockholders. OraSure Technologies' dividend policy will be set by its board of directors. The amount of any dividends will depend on a number of factors, including OraSure Technologies' financial condition, capital requirements, results of operations, future business prospects and other factors that OraSure Technologies' board of directors may deem relevant. We do not anticipate that OraSure Technologies will pay dividends to stockholders in the foreseeable future because it plans to deploy its capital in a manner intended to generate growth in stockholder value.
Q: When do you expect the mergers to be completed?
A: We are planning on completing the mergers on the same date as the date on which the meetings of stockholders are held to vote on the mergers.
Q: Whom do I call if I have questions about the meetings or the mergers?
A: Epitope and STC stockholders may call D. F. King & Co. at 800-658-8509.
SUMMARY
This Summary highlights selected information from this document and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand the mergers fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the mergers, you should carefully read this document and the documents we refer to. See "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 119. The Companies
Epitope, Inc.
8505 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(503) 641-6115
Epitope develops, manufactures and markets medical devices and diagnostic products utilizing its proprietary oral fluid technologies for sale to public- and private-sector clients worldwide. Epitope's primary focus is on the detection of HIV antibodies, with emphasis in the U.S. life insurance and global public health markets, and on the use of oral fluid testing for the detection of drugs of abuse and other substances. Epitope's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "EPTO".
STC Technologies, Inc.
150 Webster Street
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015
(610) 882-1820
STC develops, manufactures and markets proprietary diagnostic products and medical devices for use in clinical laboratories, physician offices and workplace testing. STC is a supplier of oral fluid tests to the insurance risk assessment testing market and also manufactures and markets other substance abuse testing products. STC also is developing up-converting phosphor technology ("UPT(TM)") for a broad range of diagnostic applications including but not limited to use in rapid point of care oral fluid testing for the detection of drugs of abuse and other substances. STC's securities are not publicly traded.
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
8505 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(503) 641-6115
OraSure Technologies is a newly formed Delaware corporation that has not, to date, conducted any activities other than those incident to its formation, the execution of the agreement and plan of merger and the preparation of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. In the reorganization, Epitope and STC will merge into OraSure Technologies. The business of OraSure Technologies will be the combined businesses currently conducted by Epitope and STC.
Reasons for the Mergers
The combination of the developer of an oral fluid collection device with a manufacturer of oral fluid tests will better enable us to achieve our shared mission of becoming a leading oral fluid diagnostics company. Combining Epitope and STC will leverage our expertise in oral fluid technology, infectious disease testing and substance abuse testing. By building upon our complementary product portfolios, technologies and sales infrastructure, we believe the combination will open up new U.S. and foreign markets and strengthen positioning in key current markets such as the rapidly expanding point of care market. In particular, STC's proprietary up-converting phosphor technology has broad applications for oral fluid testing. With the increased sensitivity and accuracy of UPT technology, OraSure Technologies can expand the menu of tests available on Epitope's OraSure(R) oral fluid collection device as well as expand oral fluid testing to point-of-care testing.
This same basic technology represented by UPT is also expected to be of significant benefit to other medical diagnostic manufacturers outside the area of expertise of Epitope and STC. For many of these additional applications of UPT, OraSure Technologies plans to license the technology to these other companies to provide an ongoing revenue stream of license fees and royalties.
These complementary skill sets, together with a combined research and development investment of $5.4 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 1999, should accelerate product
development and commercialization of a variety of oral fluid testing platforms. We believe stockholder value will be further enhanced by greater opportunities for increased revenues as well as more than $2 million of estimated annual cost savings relating to cost avoidance and elimination of duplication.
The mergers will also effect a change in the state of incorporation of Epitope from Oregon to Delaware in order to provide a greater degree of predictability and certainty in complying with applicable corporate law requirements.
To review our reasons for the mergers in greater detail, see page 30.
Our Recommendations to Stockholders (see
page 30)
To Epitope Stockholders:
Epitope's board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
To STC Stockholders:
STC's board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR adoption of the agreement and plan of merger.
The Mergers
The agreement and plan of merger is attached as Annex A to this document. We urge you to read the agreement and plan of merger as it is the principal legal document that governs the mergers. If the agreement and plan of merger is adopted by our stockholders, we will combine our businesses through two separate mergers into OraSure Technologies.
What STC and Epitope Stockholders Will Receive (see page 44)
As a result of the mergers, each share of STC common stock will be converted into a number of shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies that will depend upon the average closing price of Epitope common stock during a 20 trading day period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers. If the average closing price of Epitope common stock were to be between $8.00 and $13.00 per share, each share of STC common stock would be converted into between 6.8364 and 5.4691 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock, respectively. We refer in this document to the number of shares of OraSure Technologies common stock that each share of STC common stock will be converted into as the "exchange ratio" and the low to high range of the average closing price of Epitope common stock as the "collar."
The outstanding shares of STC series A convertible preferred stock will be converted into STC common stock prior to the completion of the mergers. As a result of the mergers, these shares of STC common stock will be converted into shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies as described above.
As a result of the mergers, Epitope stockholders will receive one share of common stock of OraSure Technologies for each share of Epitope common stock. As of July 24, 2000, there were 16,778,938 shares of common stock of Epitope outstanding.
OraSure Technologies will not issue any fractional shares. Instead, the company will pay holders of common stock of STC cash equal to the value of any fractional shares computed based on the mean of the high and low sales prices of common stock of OraSure Technologies as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on the first full day on which it is traded after completion of the mergers. Epitope stockholders will not receive fractional shares because their exchange ratio is one-for-one.
Opinions of Financial Advisors (see page 57)
Epitope
The Epitope board of directors has received an opinion of its financial advisor, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., also operating as and referred to in this document as "Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown," as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Epitope of the exchange ratio. The full text of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's written opinion dated May 6, 2000 is attached as Annex B. We encourage you to read this opinion carefully in its entirety for a description of the assumptions made, matters
considered and limitations on the review undertaken. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion is addressed to the Epitope board of directors and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote with respect to matters relating to the proposed mergers.
STC
STC's board of directors received the opinion of FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., STC's financial advisor, as to the fairness of the exchange ratio from a financial point of view, to STC and the holders of shares of STC common stock. The full text of Robertson Stephens' written opinion dated May 9, 2000 is attached as Annex C. We encourage you to read this opinion carefully in its entirety for a description of the assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken. Robertson Stephens' opinion is addressed to the STC board of directors and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote with respect to matters relating to the proposed mergers.
Comparative Per Share Market Price Information (see page 10)
Epitope common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market. For the 20 trading days ending on May 5, 2000, the last full trading before announcement of the agreement and plan of merger, the average closing price of Epitope common stock was $9.17. On August 4, 2000, the most recent practicable date prior to the mailing of this document, Epitope common stock closed at $13.00. There is no established public trading market for STC common stock.
Listing of Common Stock of OraSure Technologies
Following the consummation of the mergers, shares of OraSure Technologies will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol "OSUR".
Stockholder Votes Required (see page 79)
For Epitope stockholders: Approval of the agreement and plan of merger requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast by holders of Epitope common stock. As of May 6, 2000, directors and executive officers of Epitope and their affiliates owned an aggregate number of shares of Epitope representing approximately 3.3% of the total votes entitled to be cast, and they have executed stockholder agreements in which they have agreed to vote all of these shares in favor of approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
For STC stockholders: Adoption of the agreement and plan of merger requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of STC common stock. For purposes of this vote, the holders of STC convertible preferred stock will vote with STC common stock. As of May 6, 2000, directors and executive officers of STC and their affiliates owned an aggregate number of shares of STC representing approximately 57.4% of the total votes entitled to be cast, and they have executed stockholder agreements in which they have agreed to vote all of these shares in favor of adoption of the agreement and plan of merger. These votes are sufficient to adopt the agreement and plan of merger.
Ownership of OraSure Technologies After the Merger
Assuming that the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the 20 trading day measurement period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meeting held to approve the mergers is $13.00, the same as during the comparable time period prior to the mailing date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, about 50% of the outstanding common stock of OraSure Technologies will be held by former Epitope stockholders and about 50% of the outstanding common stock of OraSure Technologies will be held by former STC stockholders. After giving effect to the issuance of common stock of OraSure Technologies upon the exercise of Epitope options and warrants and STC options, about 51% of the fully diluted common stock of OraSure Technologies will be held by former Epitope stockholders, optionholders and warrantholders, and about 49% of the fully diluted common stock of OraSure Technologies will be held by former STC stockholders and optionholders.
Board of Directors (see page 39)
After the mergers, the board of directors of OraSure Technologies will have seven members,
consisting of three persons designated by Epitope's board of directors, three persons designated by STC's board of directors and one person designated by the boards of both Epitope and STC.
Executive Officers (see page 39)
After the mergers, we intend that Mr. Robert D. Thompson of Epitope will be the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies and Mr. Michael J. Gausling of STC will be the president and chief operating officer of OraSure Technologies. Our plan is that after the mergers, the six most senior positions in OraSure Technologies will be comprised of three executives from Epitope and three executives from STC.
Interests of Officers and Directors in the Mergers (see page 38)
When you consider our boards of directors' recommendations that you vote in favor of the relevant proposals, you should be aware that a number of our officers and directors will be entitled to receive significant benefits if the mergers occur that they will not be entitled to receive if the mergers do not occur.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers (see page 32)
An STC stockholder's receipt of common stock of OraSure Technologies in the merger of STC into OraSure Technologies will be tax-free for United States federal income tax purposes, except for tax resulting from the receipt of cash instead of any fractional share of common stock of OraSure Technologies. An Epitope stockholder's receipt of common stock of OraSure Technologies in the merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies will be tax-free for United States federal income tax purposes. Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies will not recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the mergers.
Accounting Treatment (see page 37)
We believe the mergers will qualify as a "pooling of interests" for accounting and financial reporting purposes, which means that we will treat our companies as if they had always been combined for accounting and financial reporting purposes.
Appraisal Rights (see page 34)
Epitope is incorporated under Oregon law and STC is incorporated under Delaware law. Under applicable Oregon law, Epitope stockholders do not have any appraisal rights in connection with the mergers. Under applicable Delaware law, STC stockholders have appraisal rights if they do not vote or vote against the merger and comply with procedures required under Delaware law.
Regulatory Approvals (see page 34)
There are no remaining regulatory conditions to completion of the mergers.
Conditions to the Completion of the Mergers (see page 52)
Completion of the mergers depends upon satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions. The most significant of these conditions are the following:
. adoption and approval of the agreement and plan of merger by the requisite vote of Epitope's stockholders and by the requisite vote of STC's stockholders;
. receipt by each of Epitope and STC from their respective independent accountants of a letter concurring with their clients' management that no condition exists that would preclude OraSure Technologies from accounting for the mergers as a "pooling of interests" in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
. receipt of opinions of tax counsel to Epitope and STC that each of the mergers will qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes;
. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion attached as Annex B not being withdrawn or materially modified in an adverse manner;
. absence of a material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, assets, liabilities, business or prospects of Epitope or STC.
Termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (see page 53)
The agreement and plan of merger can be terminated by Epitope or STC upon the occurrence of various events. The most significant of those events are:
. Epitope stockholders do not approve the agreement and plan of merger;
. either party approves or recommends another proposal made by a third party to its stockholders;
. a tender or exchange offer for securities of either party has commenced and that party has not sent a statement to its security holders recommending rejection of such tender or exchange offer within the required time.
In addition, Epitope can terminate the agreement and plan of merger before its stockholders' vote upon three business days' notice to STC if the Epitope board of directors has determined in good faith, after considering any revised proposal by STC, that an acquisition proposal by a third party is a superior proposal, Epitope has complied with its obligations in the agreement and plan of merger not to solicit such proposals and Epitope makes the payment and reimbursement described in the "Termination Fees" section below.
STC can also terminate the agreement and plan of merger if Epitope's stockholder rights plan has been triggered which could take place upon occurrence of the same type of circumstances with respect to Epitope's stock as are described with respect to OraSure's stockholder rights plan under the first paragraph under "Description of Rights" on page 114.
Epitope and STC can also both agree to terminate the agreement and plan of merger. The agreement and plan of merger will terminate automatically if the transactions contemplated by it are enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction for a period extending beyond 90 days.
STC Walk-Away Right (see page 54)
In the event Epitope's stock price falls below $6.00 per share, STC can terminate the agreement and plan of merger. STC's determination of whether or not to exercise its walk-away right will be based upon its Board's careful consideration of the impact of such decrease on the valuation of STC's business in the merger and other strategic alternatives to the merger which may be available to STC, including consideration of whether STC should continue as a separate company, seek other possible merger opportunities, undertake an initial public offering of its securities or other possible alternatives. STC does not intend to resolicit proxies in connection with its determination of whether to exercise its walk-away right. A vote for the merger and approval of the merger agreement by STC stockholders constitutes acknowledgement of STC's possible exercise of its walk-away right.
Termination Fees and Expenses (see page 54)
Epitope will be required to pay STC a fee of $3,000,000 if the agreement and plan of merger is terminated by STC because of various events which relate to Epitope's support of, or failure to recommend against, an acquisition proposal from a third party.
Epitope will make an additional payment of $2,000,000 to STC and will reimburse STC for its reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the mergers up to a maximum of $1,000,000 if:
. an acquisition proposal by a third party had been made for Epitope prior to the actions set out above; and
. within twelve months following the termination of the agreement and plan of merger by STC, Epitope enters into a definitive agreement with the party that made such acquisition proposal.
Epitope will pay a termination fee to STC in an amount equal to $5,000,000 and will reimburse STC for its reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the mergers up to a maximum of $1,000,000 if the agreement and plan of merger is terminated by Epitope because, prior to the required approval of its stockholders, Epitope has entered into a definitive agreement for a superior acquisition approval and has satisfied the requirements described above permitting it to do so.
The $5,000,000 termination fee and $1,000,000 expense reimbursement referred
to above will be
reduced to the extent any termination fee or expense reimbursement has already been paid to STC by Epitope for any reason.
Stockholder Agreements (see page 56)
Some of STC's stockholders, including members of management and the board of directors, have agreed to vote all of their shares of STC stock in favor of adoption of the agreement and plan of merger. These votes are sufficient to adopt the agreement and plan of merger under Delaware law. Some of Epitope's stockholders, including members of management and the board of directors, who collectively hold 3.3% of the outstanding Epitope common stock, have executed stockholder agreements in which they have agreed to vote all of their shares of Epitope common stock in favor of approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
Material Differences in Rights of Stockholders (see page 106)
The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of OraSure Technologies will change the rights of Epitope and STC stockholders in the following respects:
. increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 30 million in the case of Epitope, and 6 million in the case of STC, to 120 million;
. increase the number of authorized shares of preferred stock from 1 million in the case of Epitope, and 2 million in the case of STC, to 25 million;
. reduce the number of directors from nine in the case of Epitope, and eight in the case of STC, to seven with three members being designated by each of Epitope and STC and one member designated jointly by Epitope and STC;
. OraSure Technologies' board will be composed of three classes, one of which is elected each year, while all of STC's directors are elected each year;
. OraSure's directors may be removed only for "cause" as narrowly defined while STC's or Epitope's directors may be removed with or without cause if, in the case of Epitope, 90% of the votes are cast for removal;
. STC stockholders can act by written consent with the minimum number of votes required by law, but OraSure Technologies' stockholders must vote at a meeting of stockholders;
. a special meeting of stockholders may be called by holders of a majority of the outstanding STC shares or ten percent of the outstanding Epitope shares, but a special meeting of OraSure Technologies can only be called by the chairman, the president or the board;
. amendments to the certificate of incorporation require a vote by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares, but rights of the type described above in this summary require a vote by holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of OraSure Technologies; and
. STC has no stockholder rights plan but both Epitope and OraSure Technologies have similar stockholder rights plan, except that the purchase price of each right is $60 in the case of Epitope and $85 in the case of OraSure Technologies.
EPITOPE, INC. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The table below shows summary selected historical financial information for Epitope as of and for the years ended September 30, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Epitope. The information as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, has been derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Epitope. This information is only a summary, and you should read it in conjunction with Epitope's historical financial statements and related notes and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the annual reports, quarterly reports and other information on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 119.
Nine Months Ended
June 30, Year Ended September 30,
-------------------- --------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
--------- --------- --------- --------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands, except per share information)
Operating Results:
Revenues.............. $ 9,102 $ 7,005 $ 10,073 $ 9,792 $ 9,360 $ 5,594 $ 2,856
Operating costs and
expenses............. 11,727 9,496 13,555 12,042 14,323 10,881 14,464
Other income (net).... 986 194 276 322 882 6,388 1,157
(Loss) income from
continuing
operations........... (1,639) (2,297) (3,206) (1,928) (4,081) 1,101 (10,451)
Discontinued
operations........... -- -- -- -- (18,359) (2,501) (8,045)
Net loss.............. (1,639) (2,297) (3,206) (1,928) (22,440) (1,400) (18,496)
(Loss) income per
share from continuing
operations........... (0.11) (0.17) (0.23) (0.14) (0.30) 0.08 (0.88)
Net loss per share.... (0.11) (0.17) (0.23) (0.14) (1.67) (0.11) (1.56)
Shares used in per
share calculations... 15,249 13,888 13,957 13,529 13,404 12,661 11,886
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital....... $ 17,490 $ 6,901 $ 6,887 $ 6,510 $ 9,538 $ 24,793 $ 20,686
Total assets.......... 21,597 10,449 10,694 10,357 17,012 29,784 26,142
Accumulated deficit... (107,891) (105,342) (106,251) (103,046) (95,426) (72,985) (71,585)
Shareholders' equity.. 19,740 8,719 8,576 8,274 15,014 27,967 22,347
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STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The table below shows summary selected historical financial information for STC. The historical financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 has been derived from the audited financial statements of STC. The information as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, has been derived from the unaudited financial statements of STC. This information is only a summary, and you should read it in conjunction with STC ' historical financial statements and related notes and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. See "Information About STC " on page 82.
Six Months Ended
June 30, Year Ended December 31,
------------------ ------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------
(in thousands, except per share information)
Operating Results:
Revenues.............. $ 7,479 $ 6,315 $14,015 $10,652 $ 7,922 $ 7,617 $7,539
Costs and expenses.... 7,416 6,151 14,591 10,647 8,972 8,725 8,036
Other income
(expense), net....... (36) (151) (370) (451) (100) (230) 47
Income (loss) before
income taxes......... 27 13 (946) (446) (1,150) (1,338) (450)
Income taxes.......... 12 -- 50 -- -- 30 --
Net income (loss)..... 15 13 (996) (446) (1,150) (1,368) (450)
Deemed dividend on
preferred stock...... (500) (250) (750) -- -- -- --
Net income (loss) to
common stockholders.. (485) (237) (1,746) (446) (1,150) (1,368) (450)
Net income (loss) per
share................ (0.20) (0.10) (0.73) (0.19) (0.48) (0.68) (0.23)
Shares used in per
share calculations... 2,389 2,389 2,389 2,389 2,389 2,000 2,000
Pro forma net income
(loss) per share
(1).................. -- (0.32)
Shares used in pro
forma per share
calculated (1)....... 3,469 3,142
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital....... $ 8,771 $ 10,893 $ 9,886 $ 2,215 $ 2,932 $ 5,303 $2,928
Total assets.......... 19,077 19,832 19,556 10,426 8,966 10,458 8,081
Long-term debt........ 5,302 5,819 5,820 6,001 4,026 5,077 5,456
Redeemable preferred
stock................ 10,102 9,101 9,602 -- -- -- --
Retained earnings
(accumulated
deficit)............. (2,838) (1,924) (2,853) (1,857) (1,411) (261) 55
Stockholders' equity
(deficit)............ (178) 2,072 414 2,427 2,859 3,709 1,098
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COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA
A summary of the relative exchange ratios for the mergers is shown in the table below. The calculations assume that all outstanding options, warrants and shares of preferred stock of STC have been exercised or converted so that 3,656,876 STC shares are deemed to be outstanding at the effective time of the mergers. For a more detailed description of the calculations please see "The Agreement and Plan of Merger--Merger Consideration."
Average Epitope Basis for OraSure Exchange Ratio Percentage
Stock Price (for calculation of Technologies of STC Shares to Ownership of
20 day period shares to be Shares to be OraSure OraSure
measurement issued to STC issued to STC Technologies Technologies
period that ends Stockholders Stockholders Shares fully diluted
prior to the common stock by
third trading stockholders of
day before the Epitope and STC
date of the
meetings held to
approve the
mergers)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than $8.00 25 million 25 million 6.8364 Epitope
shares shares stockholders: 45%
STC stockholders:
55%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From $8.00 to Number of shares From 20 to 25 From 6.8364 to Epitope
$9.99 to be adjusted million shares 5.4691 stockholders:
to equal $200 From 45% to 51%
million STC stockholders:
From 55% to 49%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From $10.00 to 20 million 20 million 5.4691 Epitope
$13.00 shares shares stockholders: 51%
STC stockholders:
49%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Above $13.00 Number of shares Less than 20 Less than 5.4691 Epitope
to be adjusted million stockholders:
to equal $260 Begins at 51% and
million increases
proportionately
STC stockholders:
Begins at 49% and
decreases
proportionately
(see "Merger
Consideration" on
page 44)
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Summary Unaudited Comparative Historical and Pro Forma Per Share Data
The following table sets forth per share data of:
. Epitope on a historical basis.
. STC on a historical basis.
. Epitope and STC combined on a pro forma basis, assuming an Epitope price that is at least $10.00 but not more than $13.00 per share.
. Epitope and STC combined on a pro forma basis stated on an equivalent STC basis, assuming an Epitope price that is at least $10.00 but not more than $13.00 per share.
This table should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto for Epitope and the historical financial statements and notes thereto for STC contained herein. Pro forma combined and equivalent pro forma per share data reflect the combined results of Epitope and STC presented as though they were one company for all periods shown.
The STC equivalent per share pro forma information shows the effect of the mergers from the perspective of an owner of STC common stock.
Nine Months Ended Year Ended
June 30, September 30,
------------------ ----------------------
Income (loss) per share from 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997
continuing operations: -------- -------- ------ ------ ------
Epitope historical basis.......... $ (0.11) $ (0.17) $(0.23) $(0.14) $(0.30)
STC historical basis.............. (0.42) (0.02) (0.70) (0.26) (0.47)
Epitope and STC combined on a pro
forma basis assuming an Epitope
price of:
At least $10.00 but not more
than $13.00.................... (0.08) (0.08) (0.15) (0.10) (0.20)
Epitope and STC combined on a pro
forma basis per STC equivalent
common share assuming an Epitope
price of:
At least $10.00 but not more
than $13.00.................... (0.44) (0.45) (0.81) (0.53) (1.08)
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As of June 30, 2000 As of September 30, 1999
Book Value Per Share: ------------------- ------------------------
Epitope historical basis......... $ 1.18 $0.60
STC historical basis............. (0.07) 0.30
Epitope and STC combined on a pro
forma basis assuming an Epitope
price of:
At least $10.00 but not more
than $13.00................... 0.68 0.40
Epitope and STC combined on a pro
forma basis per STC equivalent
common share assuming an Epitope
price of:
At least $10.00 but not more
than $13.00................... 4.45 2.18
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Market Price Data
The table below presents the high and low sales prices per share of Epitope common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 5, 2000, the last full trading day immediately preceding the public announcement of the proposed mergers, and on August 4, 2000, the most recent practicable date prior to the mailing of this document, as well as the "equivalent stock price" of shares of STC common stock on such dates. The "equivalent stock price" of shares of STC common stock represents the per share sales price for Epitope common stock on the Nasdaq National Market at such specified date, multiplied by the possible exchange ratios described under "Summary Unaudited Comparative Historical and Pro Forma Per Share Data" which may be applicable depending upon the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the 20 trading day measurement period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers. The "equivalent stock price" per share of STC common stock shows the effect of the mergers from the perspective of an owner of STC common stock. STC stockholders should obtain current market quotations for shares of Epitope common stock prior to making any decision with respect to the mergers.
STC STC
Equivalent Equivalent
Stock Price Stock Price
assuming assuming
an exchange an exchange
Epitope ratio of ratio of
Common Stock 5.4691 6.8364
(Price per (Price per (Price per
share) share) share)
--------------- ------------- -------------
High Low High Low High Low
------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------
May 5, 2000......................... $12.875 $11.250 $70.43 $61.54 $88.07 $76.95
August 4, 2000...................... $13.500 $12.813 $73.83 $70.08 $92.29 $87.59
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There is no established public trading market for STC common stock.
The table below presents the average closing sales price per share of Epitope common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the 20 trading day measurement period ending May 5, 2000 and July 20, 2000, as well as the "equivalent stock price" of shares of STC common stock during such periods.
STC
Equivalent Stock
Price based on
the applicable
Epitope exchange ratio
Common Stock (Price per
(Price per share) share)
----------------- ----------------
20 trading day average ending May 5, 2000.. $9.17 $54.69
20 trading day average ending August 4,
2000...................................... $13.228 $71.10
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Neither Epitope nor STC has historically paid quarterly dividends to its stockholders. OraSure Technologies' dividend policy will be set by its board of directors. The amount of dividends will depend on a number of factors, including OraSure Technologies' financial condition, capital requirements, results of operations, future business prospects and other factors that OraSure Technologies' board of directors may deem relevant. We do not anticipate that OraSure Technologies will pay dividends to stockholders in the foreseeable future because it plans to deploy its capital to generate growth in stockholder value.
Following the consummation of the mergers, shares of OraSure Technologies common stock will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol "OSUR".
RISK FACTORS
You should consider the following risk factors in determining how to vote at the meeting.
Risks Related to the Transaction
Epitope and STC Stockholders Will Not Know the Number of Shares of OraSure Technologies Common Stock that STC Stockholders Will Receive in the STC Merger and Epitope Stockholders Will Not Know Their Percentage Ownership in OraSure Technologies Until Three Trading Days Before the Meeting Held to Vote on the Mergers; Changes in the Market Price of Epitope Common Stock Could Affect the Number of Shares of OraSure Technologies Issued to STC Stockholders
The number of shares of OraSure Technologies to be received by stockholders of STC is determined by the average closing price of Epitope common stock during a 20 trading day measurement period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers. The maximum number of shares of OraSure Technologies which shareholders of STC may receive has been capped at 6.8364 shares of OraSure Technologies' common stock per share of STC common stock, however a minimum number of shares has not been set. If the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period is between $8.00 and $13.00 each share of STC common stock will receive between 6.8364 and 5.4691 shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies. If the average closing price of Epitope common stock during the measurement period is greater than $13, shares with a maximum trading value of $260 million would be issued to STC stockholders and optionholders.
The percentage ownership of OraSure Technologies to be held by Epitope stockholders is dependent upon the number of shares of OraSure Technologies to be issued to STC stockholders. Epitope stockholders will not be able to determine their percentage ownership until three trading days prior to the meeting. The price of Epitope common stock has recently experienced price fluctuations and may increase or decrease significantly in the future. The price of Epitope common stock may vary because of
. changes in the business of Epitope,
. operations or prospects of Epitope,
. the timing of the completion of the mergers,
. the prospects of post-merger operations,
. general market and economic conditions and other factors.
We urge stockholders to obtain current market quotations for Epitope common stock.
Epitope and STC Directors and Officers Have Interests Relating to the Mergers Which are Different From Your Interests
We expect to retain the majority of Epitope's and STC's officers after the mergers. Epitope's and STC's officers will have employment agreements with the combined company. In addition, these officers will be entitled to participate in our employee benefit plans, including grants of stock options in our stock option plan.
If we complete the mergers, options to purchase approximately 790,914 shares of Epitope common stock held by Epitope's directors and executive officers at a weighted exercise price of $4.56 per share will become immediately exercisable. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement and plan of merger, officers, directors, employees and agents of Epitope and STC are indemnified against all judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, costs or expenses or liabilities arising from their positions relating to any act or omission occurring at or prior to closing. A detailed discussion of these interests can be found on page 38 under the heading "Interests of Officers and Directors in the Mergers."
We May Be Unable to Successfully Integrate Our Technological Development, Sales and Marketing, and Regulatory Compliance Departments and Realize the Full Cost Savings We Anticipate
The mergers involve the integration of two companies that have previously operated independently. The difficulties of combining the companies' operations include:
. the necessity of coordinating geographically separated organizations;
. coordinating research and development, sales and marketing and regulatory compliance efforts;
. integrating personnel with diverse business backgrounds; and
. combining different corporate cultures.
The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of one or more of OraSure Technologies' businesses and the loss of key personnel. Any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the mergers and the integration of the two companies' operations could divert management's attention from the day-to-day activities of the business.
Among the factors considered by the STC and the Epitope boards of directors in connection with their respective approvals of the agreement and plan of merger were the opportunities for economies of scale and operating efficiencies that could result from the mergers. We cannot give any assurance that these savings will be realized within the time periods contemplated or realized at all.
We Will Incur Significant Merger-Related and Integration-Related Expenses
A one-time charge for direct incremental merger-related transaction costs will be recorded in the quarter in which the mergers are consummated. The direct incremental merger-related transaction costs consist principally of charges related to investment banking fees, professional services, registration and other regulatory costs of approximately $5.4 million. We expect to incur charges to operations, currently estimated to be $1.7 million, to reflect costs associated with combining the operations of the two companies. These costs will be recorded subsequent to consummation of the mergers. These amounts are preliminary estimates and are therefore subject to change. Additional unanticipated expenses may be incurred in the integration of our businesses.
Conditions to the Mergers May Not Be Satisfied Which Would Result in Cancellation of the Mergers and Significant Expenses for STC and Epitope
The agreement and plan of merger contains conditions that, if not satisfied, would result in the mergers not occurring, even though the Epitope and STC stockholders approved it. We cannot assure you that all of the closing conditions to the mergers will be satisfied, that any unsatisfied conditions will be waived or that the mergers will occur. If the mergers do not occur, STC and Epitope may incur significant expenses that could result in decreased net income or increased net losses for STC and Epitope respectively.
The Price of OraSure Technologies Common Stock May Be Affected by Factors Different from Those Affecting the Value of Epitope and STC Stock as Individual Companies and May Fluctuate Significantly Regardless of OraSure Technologies' Actual Operating Performance
Upon completion of the mergers, Epitope and STC common stockholders will become OraSure Technologies' common stockholders. The combined company's business will differ from that of each of Epitope and STC individually as a result of the integration of their product offerings, research and development programs and marketing strategies. OraSure Technologies' results of operations, as well as the price of OraSure Technologies' common stock, may be affected by factors different from those affecting Epitope's and STC's results of operations and the value of Epitope and STC stock individually. These factors include the integration of two businesses, the realization of anticipated cost savings and the prospects of the combined company. See "Information about Epitope, Inc.," "Information about STC Technologies, Inc.," and "Where You Can Find More Information."
There is no current public market for OraSure Technologies common stock but that stock will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market effective immediately following completion of the mergers. The trading price of OraSure Technologies' common stock may be volatile. OraSure Technologies' stock price could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including:
. actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results;
. announcements of technological innovations;
. new products or services offered by OraSure Technologies or its competitors;
. changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
. OraSure Technologies' announcement of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
. additions or departures of key personnel;
. sales of common stock; and
. other events that may be beyond OraSure Technologies' control.
In addition, the Nasdaq National Market has recently experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the various listed companies. These broad market and industry factors may materially adversely affect the market price of OraSure Technologies' common stock, regardless of OraSure Technologies' actual operating performance.
Clients of Epitope and/or STC May Delay or Cancel Contracts as a Result of Concerns Over the Mergers
The announcement and closing of the mergers could cause clients and potential clients of Epitope and STC to delay or cancel contracts as a result of client concerns and uncertainty over the combined company's offerings, personnel or services. Such a delay or cancellation could result in a loss of revenues for OraSure Technologies.
If the Mergers Are Not Completed, Epitope May Be Required To Pay STC Up To $6 Million
The agreement and plan of merger provides that Epitope must pay STC a $3 million break up fee if STC terminates the transaction because the Epitope meeting of its stockholders is not held prior to October 31, 2000, except due to judicial action beyond Epitope's control, or if the Epitope board of directors has:
. adversely changed its recommendation on the mergers;
. approved, endorsed or recommended an acquisition proposal of a third party; or
. not sent the Epitope stockholders a recommendation of rejection of any tender offer bid of a third party within ten days of commencement of the tender offer.
Epitope may also be required to pay an additional $2 million to STC if, prior to the termination of the agreement and plan of merger by STC, Epitope has
. entered into negotiations with a third party for a superior proposal and the third party acquires Epitope within twelve months following the termination of the agreement and plan of merger; or
. Epitope enters into a definitive agreement with a third party, before the vote of its stockholders, for a superior proposal and Epitope terminates the agreement and plan of merger.
Epitope has also agreed to pay up to an additional $1 million of STC's expenses if an agreement or transaction with a third party is entered into under the circumstances described above.
The Ability of OraSure Technologies Stockholders to Effect Changes in Control of OraSure Technologies will be Limited
There are provisions in OraSure Technologies' certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law that could delay or impede the removal of incumbent directors and could make more difficult a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest involving OraSure Technologies or could discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of OraSure Technologies, even if these events would be beneficial to the interests of the stockholders. In particular, these provisions include:
. division of our board of directors into three classes serving staggered three-year terms;
. removal of our directors by the stockholders only for cause
. ability to issue additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock without stockholder approval;
. prohibiting our stockholders from calling a special meeting of stockholders
. prohibiting our stockholders from amending provisions of our certificate of incorporation or by-laws except with approval by stockholders owning 66.6% of the common stock.
OraSure Technologies also has a rights plan in place under which one right will be attached to each share of common stock issued in the mergers. The Rights will detach and become exercisable if, among other things, a person acquires 15% or more of the outstanding common stock without approval of the board of directors of OraSure Technologies. In that event, each right entitles the holders of the rights to purchase, for the right's exercise price, common stock of OraSure Technologies having a value equal to two times that exercise price. However, all rights owned by the acquiring person in those circumstances become automatically void. Persons interested in acquiring control of OraSure Technologies are therefore more likely to negotiate with the board of directors of OraSure Technologies for that purpose in order to avoid risking the significant economic and voting dilution from triggering exercisability of the rights.
OraSure Technologies is also subject to provisions of the Delaware corporation law that, in general, prohibit any business combination with a beneficial owner of 15% or more of the OraSure Technologies common stock for five years unless the holder's acquisition of OraSure Technologies stock was approved in advance by the OraSure Technologies board of directors.
Sales of Substantial Amounts of OraSure Technologies Common Stock in the Open Market Could Depress OraSure Technologies' Stock Price
If OraSure Technologies' stockholders sell substantial amounts of OraSure Technologies' common stock in the public market following consummation of the mergers, the market price of OraSure Technologies' common stock could fall. These sales might also make it more difficult for OraSure Technologies to sell equity or equity related securities at a time and price that OraSure Technologies would deem appropriate.
Sales of a large number of shares of common stock in the public market following the consummation of the mergers, or even the belief that such sales could occur, could cause a drop in the market price of OraSure Technologies' common stock and could impair OraSure Technologies' ability to raise capital through offerings of OraSure Technologies' equity securities. Based on the number of shares outstanding as of July 20, 2000, there will be between 40,497,271 and 35,753,608 shares of OraSure Technologies' common stock outstanding immediately after the mergers, assuming that the average Epitope common stock price for the 20 trading day measurement period ending prior to the third trading day before the date of the meetings held to approve the merger is between $8.00 and $13.00 per share. In addition, there would be between 4,997,580 and 4,741,243 shares of OraSure Technologies' common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options and warrants outstanding immediately after the mergers, with respect to that same trading range. All of the shares issued to STC and Epitope stockholders will be freely tradable without restrictions or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, unless such shares are held by any OraSure Technologies "affiliate" or any "affiliate" of STC or Epitope prior to the mergers, as that term is defined under the Securities Act of 1933. The term
"affiliate" would include directors, executive officers and some significant stockholders. Two institutional investors which are affiliates of STC that hold 764,706 shares of STC convertible preferred stock immediately prior to the mergers have the right to require OraSure Technologies to file registration statements registering the 4,182,294 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock they would receive in the mergers for future sale if the average Epitope common stock price during the measurement period is between $10.00 and $13.00 per share.
Risks Related to the Business of OraSure Technologies
We Will Face Intense Competition from New and Existing Diagnostic Products
The diagnostics industry is focused on the testing of biological specimens in a laboratory or at the point of care and is highly competitive and rapidly changing. Our principal competitors are specialized biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies with biotechnology divisions and medical diagnostic companies, many of which have considerably greater financial, technical, and marketing resources.
As new products enter the market, our products may become obsolete or our competitors' products may be more effective or more effectively marketed and sold than our products.
If OraSure Technologies fails to maintain and enhance its competitive position, our customers may decide to use products developed by our competitors which would result in a loss of revenues.
Our Research and Development Efforts May Not Succeed or Our Competitors May Develop More Effective or Successful Diagnostic Products
In order to remain competitive, we must commit substantial resources each year to research and development. In the twelve months ended December 31, 1999, STC spent $4.8 million on research and development including a one-time acquired in-process technology charge of $1.5 million and Epitope spent approximately $2.3 million on research and development.
In our business, the research and development process takes a significant amount of time from inception to commercial product launch. This process is conducted in various stages, and during each stage there is a substantial risk that we will not achieve our goals and have to abandon a product in which we have invested substantial amounts. We cannot assure you that OraSure Technologies will succeed in its research and development efforts. If OraSure Technologies fails to develop commercially successful products, or if competitors develop more effective products or a greater number of successful new products, our customers may decide to use products developed by our competitors which would result in a loss of revenues.
The Significant Time Necessary for Regulatory Approval of New Diagnostic Products May Prevent or Adversely Delay Our Ability to Bring New Diagnostic Products to Market
We and our competitors are subject to strict government controls on the development, manufacture, labeling, distribution and marketing of products. We often must obtain and maintain regulatory approval for a product from a country's national health or drug regulatory agency before the product may be sold in a particular country.
The submission of an application to a regulatory authority does not guarantee that it will grant a license to market the product. Each authority may impose its own requirements and delay or refuse to grant approval, even though a product has been approved in another country.
In our principal markets, the approval process for a new product can be complex and lengthy. The time taken to obtain approval varies depending on the nature of the application and may result in the passage of a significant period of time from the date of application. This increases the cost to us of developing new products and increases the risk that we will not succeed in introducing or selling them.
In addition, the European Union has established a requirement that diagnostic medical devices used to test biological specimens must receive regulatory approval known as a CE mark by December 2003 or be forced to stop or delay export to the European community of products without the CE mark until this is received. This requirement will affect many of OraSure Technologies' products. OraSure Technologies will not be permitted to sell its products in Europe if a CE mark is not obtained by this date which may lead to the termination of strategic alliances for sales of those products in Europe. While STC and Epitope intend to apply for CE marks for their future products, and are not aware of any material reason why such approvals will not be granted, there can be no assurance that a CE mark will be received prior to the deadline. Epitope currently holds a CE mark for its OraSure oral fluid collection device.
If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not believe our Western blot product and medical devices are manufactured in compliance with FDA's "good manufacturing practices" regulations, FDA may require Epitope to suspend production.
Epitope's Western blot products, as with all of its medical devices, must be manufactured in compliance with FDA's "good manufacturing practices" (GMP) regulations. The FDA issued a warning letter in June 1998 and observations of deficiencies in January 1999. In June 2000, after an inspection, the FDA stated its view that Epitope's products are not manufactured in compliance with these GMP regulations. FDA has questioned Epitope's compliance with GMP regulations in areas such as process validation, purchasing controls, complaint handling, and equipment controls. Epitope has undertaken a substantial review of its manufacturing, and has either already made changes or has plans to make changes, to satisfy FDA with respect to its GMP compliance. These plans have been communicated to the FDA in a meeting in March 2000 and in a written reply to the agency in June 2000. There is a risk that the FDA will not be satisfied by Epitope's efforts. If the FDA is not satisfied, it could issue another warning letter, or take other enforcement action intended to force Epitope to stop manufacturing its products until FDA believes Epitope is in compliance with GMP requirements. Also, although FDA has recently granted Epitope permission to obtain certificates needed for export of products, the FDA would refuse export permission in the future if the agency determines that Epitope's progress toward GMP compliance is not sufficient.
A Market For Our Intercept and OraQuick Products May Not Develop
OraSure Technologies' future success will depend partly on the market acceptance, and the timing of such acceptance, of recently introduced products such as the Intercept oral fluid drug test service, products currently in development, such as the OraQuick rapid oral fluid test, and products based upon the UPT technology, if successfully developed, and other new products or technologies that may be developed or acquired and introduced. To achieve market acceptance, we must make substantial marketing efforts and spend significant funds to inform potential customers and the public of the perceived benefits of our products. We currently have limited evidence on which to evaluate the market reaction to products that may be developed, and there can be no assurance that any products will meet with market acceptance and fill the market need that we perceive to exist.
We Depend On Patents and Proprietary Rights Relating to Our Diagnostic Products Which May Offer Only Limited Protection Against Potential Infringement. If We are Unable to Enforce Our Patents and Proprietary Rights, We May Face Increased Competition Which Could Result in a Loss of Revenues
The diagnostics industry places considerable importance on obtaining patent, trademark, and trade secret protection, as well as other intellectual property rights, for new technologies, products and processes. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to develop and maintain a strong intellectual property portfolio for our products and technologies both in the United States and in other countries. Litigation or other legal proceedings may be necessary to defend against claims of infringement, to enforce our intellectual property rights, and could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our efforts.
As appropriate, we intend to file patent applications and obtain patent protection for our proprietary technology. These patent applications and patents will cover, as appropriate, compositions of matter for our products, methods of making those products, methods of using those products, and apparatus relating to the use or manufacture of those products.
We will also rely on trade secrets, know-how and continuing technological advancements to protect our proprietary technology. We will enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, advisors
jand collaborators. However, these parties may not honor these agreements and we may not be able to successfully protect our rights to unpatented trade secrets and know-how. Others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets and know-how.
Many of our scientific and management personnel were previously employed by competing companies. Although we encourage and expect all such employees to abide by any confidentiality agreement with a prior employer, such companies may allege trade secret violations and similar claims against us.
To facilitate development and commercialization of our proprietary technology base, we may need to obtain licenses to patents or other proprietary rights from other parties. If we are unable to obtain such licenses, our product development and commercialization efforts may be delayed.
We may collaborate with universities and governmental research organizations which, as a result, may acquire certain rights to any inventions or technical information derived from such collaboration.
We may incur substantial costs in asserting or protecting our intellectual property rights, or in defending suits against us related to intellectual property rights. Such disputes could substantially delay our product development or commercialization activities. Such disputes might include state or federal court litigation as well as patent interference, patent reexamination, patent reissue, or trademark opposition proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Such opposition or revocation proceedings could be instituted in a foreign patent office. An adverse decision in any such proceeding could result in the loss of our rights to a patent, an invention, or trademark.
The sales potential for OraQuick will be affected by the ability to obtain access to an HIV-2 license
The overall sales potential, and the specific countries in which OraSure Technologies will be able to sell its OraQuick rapid HIV test, will be affected by whether it can arrange a sublicense or distribution agreement, related to the patent for detection of the HIV-2 virus. HIV-2 is a type of the HIV virus estimated to represent less than 2% of known HIV cases worldwide. Nevertheless, HIV-2 is considered to be an important component in the testing regimen for HIV in many markets. In addition, a patent on the detection of HIV-2 is in force in most of the countries of North America, Western Europe, and in Japan, Korea and South Africa. Access to a license for HIV-2 may be necessary to sell HIV-2 tests in countries where this patent is registered, or to manufacture in those same countries and sell into non-patent markets. Since the HIV-2 patent is registered in the United States, OraSure Technologies would be restricted from manufacturing the HIV-1/2 version of its OraQuick product in the U.S. and selling into other countries, even if the HIV-2 patent was not registered in those other countries. OraSure Technologies believes that the HIV-2 patent is not in force in Sub-Saharan Africa (except South Africa), India, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Thailand, Russia and Eastern European countries.
The importance of HIV-2 differs by country, and can be affected by both regulatory requirements and by competitive pressures. In most countries, any product used to screen the blood supply, will require the ability to detect HIV-2, although the OraQuick product has not been intended for that market purpose. In other markets, including the United States, a test which can detect only the more prevalent HIV-1 type is generally considered sufficient, except in testing related to the blood supply. Because the competitive situation in each country will be affected by the availability of other testing products as well as the country's regulatory environment, OraSure Technologies may be at a competitive disadvantage in some markets without an HIV-2 product even if it's not required by regulations.
Epitope is pursuing several alternatives to address this situation. Whichever alternative is ultimately chosen will affect the overall potential timing and amount of revenue from the OraQuick product. The first alternative is to negotiate an agreement with a company which holds an HIV-2 license, and to manufacture an HIV-1/2 version of the OraQuick product in the U.S. for domestic use and for export to other countries. This alternative would provide wide market access, but may require distribution through the license holder to some countries and royalty payments related to the HIV-2 license. A second alternative is to sell an OraQuick HIV-1 version in markets such as the United States, which do not require HIV-2 for most diagnostic testing, and to export this version to other countries, which do not require HIV-2 detection. The third alternative is to sell an
HIV-1 version of OraQuick in the U.S. market, and to manufacture an OraQuick HIV-1/2 version in a country where the HIV-2 patent is not in force, for export to countries where market pressures require an HIV-1/2 test. Both the second and third alternatives could delay introduction of the OraQuick test into the U.S. market.
If We Lose Our Key Personnel or are Unable to Attract and Retain Qualified Personnel as Necessary, Our Diagnostic Product Development Programs Could Be Delayed or Harmed
Our success will depend to a large extent upon the efforts of key managerial and technical employees. The loss of such employees in connection with the mergers could cause interruptions or delays in our activities, as well as possible increases in our costs. We will have substantial key-man life insurance on our key employees.
Our success also depends to a significant degree upon the future contributions of the executive officers, management, and scientific staff of the combined company. If we lose the services of these people, we may be unable to achieve our business objectives. We may not be able to attract or retain qualified employees in the future due to the intense competition for qualified personnel among other medical products businesses. If we are not able to attract and retain the necessary personnel to accomplish our business objectives, we may experience constraints that will adversely affect our ability to meet the demands of its strategic partners in a timely fashion or to support our internal research and development programs. In particular, our product development programs depend on the ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists, including molecular biologists, biochemists and engineers. Recruiting qualified personnel can be an intensely competitive and time- consuming process. Although we believe we will be successful in attracting and retaining qualified personnel, competition for experienced scientists and other technical personnel from numerous companies and academic and other research institutions may limit our ability to do so on acceptable terms. All of our employees, other than a few senior officers who will have employment agreements after the mergers, are at-will employees, which means that either the employee or OraSure Technologies may terminate their employment at any time. If we experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, and in particular scientific personnel, we may need to provide higher compensation to such personnel than we currently anticipate or we may incur additional expenses for the recruitment of qualified personnel.
Our planned activities will require additional expertise in specific industries and areas applicable to the products developed through STC's UPT technologies. These activities will require the addition of new personnel, including management, and the development of additional expertise by existing management personnel. The inability to acquire these services or to develop this expertise could impair the development, if any, of products related to the UPT technologies.
As a Result of Products Under Development, the Combined Company Will Have an Increased International Presence and Our Ability to Sell Our Diagnostic Products in International Markets May Be Limited by Regulatory and Cultural Constraints
The combined company intends to devote significant resources to increase international sales of its OraQuick and UPT products.
However, in the past, neither STC nor Epitope has had significant direct experience with the governmental regulatory agencies in foreign countries that control sale of products into those countries. Epitope has experienced extended delays in obtaining approvals to make sales in Argentina and Greece, demonstrating that compliance with foreign regulatory requirements can be difficult and impede international marketing efforts. In addition to economic and political issues, a number of factors can slow or prevent international sales, including those set forth below:
. Regulatory requirements in general or more stringent regulation of testing products in particular may slow, limit, or prevent the offering of products in foreign jurisdictions;
. Exchange rates, currency fluctuations, tariffs and other barriers, extended payment terms, dependence on and difficulties in managing international distributors or representatives;
. Cultural and political differences may make it difficult to effectively market, sell and gain acceptance of products in foreign jurisdictions;
. Accounts receivable collection may be more difficult;
. Inexperience in international markets may slow or limit our ability to sell products in foreign countries; and
. Additional regulations and regulatory processes may affect sales of products.
Some of these factors may cause the costs of our international sales to exceed significantly our domestic costs of doing business.
We May Be Sued for Product Liabilities for Injuries Resulting from the Use of Our Diagnostic Products
We may be held liable if any product we developed, or any product which is made with the use or incorporation of, any of technologies belonging to us, causes injury or is found otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Although we will obtain product liability insurance, this insurance may not fully cover our potential liabilities. As new products come to market, we will need to increase our products liability coverage. Inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or otherwise to protect against potential product liability claims could affect our decision to commercialize products developed by us or our strategic partners. If we are sued for any injury caused by our products, our liability could exceed our total assets.
We May Not Be Able to Commercialize the UPT Technologies or Products, Which Could Negatively Affect Future Revenues of OraSure Technologies
STC's UPT technology is new and is in the early stage of development and commercial development of UPT may not be successful. Successful products require significant development and investment, including testing, to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness or other benefits prior to their commercialization. To date, STC has not commercialized any UPT product.
In addition, regulatory approval must be obtained before most products based upon the UPT technology may be sold. Additional development efforts on UPT products will be required before any regulatory authority will review them. Regulatory authorities may not approve these products for commercial sale. Accordingly, because of these uncertainties, products based upon the UPT technology may not be commercialized. The failure to develop UPT products with commercial potential would negatively affect OraSure Technologies' future revenues.
We May be Dependent Upon Strategic Partners to Assist in Developing and Commercializing Some of Our Diagnostic Products
We intend to pursue some product opportunities independently. However, we may pursue some product opportunities that require a level of investment to develop and commercialize them that necessitate involving one or more strategic partners.
In particular, our strategy for development and commercialization of UPT and certain of our products may entail entering into additional arrangements with corporate partners, universities, research laboratory licensees, and others. If we are able to enter into such arrangements, we may be required to transfer certain material rights to such strategic partners, licensees, and others. While we expect that our current and future partners, licensees, and others have and will have an economic motivation to succeed in performing their contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources to be devoted to these activities will be controlled by others. Consequently, there can be no assurance that any revenues or profits will be derived from such arrangements.
We Depend Upon Patent Licenses and Other Proprietary Rights From Third Parties, Including Rights to UPT Compositions, Methods, and Apparatuses
STC has licensed the worldwide rights to UPT compositions, methods, and apparatuses for use in diagnostic applications, which are the subject of six issued United States patents, and of two pending U.S. patent applications. Corresponding patents and patent applications have been granted or issued in numerous foreign countries, including, for example, European countries, Japan, and Canada. STC cooperates with the licensor to prosecute such patent applications and protect such patent rights. Failure by the licensor to prosecute such applications and protect such patent rights could harm our business. If these third parties do not meet their obligations under the license agreements or do not reasonably consent to sublicenses by us, or if the license agreement is terminated we could lose the opportunity to develop UPT.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
"Forward-looking statements" contained in this document, are those statements concerning anticipated financial or product performance, product development, plans for growth and other factors that could affect future operations or financial position, and other non-historical facts with respect to OraSure Technologies, Epitope or STC. These statements often include the words, "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "could," or similar expressions.
Examples of forward-looking statements include:
. pro forma financial statements and projections relating to revenues, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, financial condition, capital expenditures, the payment or non-payment of dividends, future share price or value, and other financial items;
. statements of plans and objectives;
. statements of future economic performance; and
. statements of the assumptions underlying these statements.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results of operations, financial condition, business and stock price or values of Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies may be materially different from those described in these forward-looking statements. Stockholders of Epitope and STC are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
Among the factors that could cause actual results or the share price or value of OraSure Technologies stock, to be materially different from those described in, or contemplated by, the forward-looking statements are the following:
. the ability to attain estimated expense savings;
. the ability to continue to successfully market existing products, which may be adversely impacted by the introduction of competing products;
. OraSure Technologies' ability to integrate the two businesses and possible future mergers and acquisitions as well as successfully manage growth;
. OraSure Technologies' ability to successfully develop and market new products;
. market acceptance of oral testing products and UPT products;
. the ability to expand the market for existing products;
. the ability to fund research and development activities;
. the ability to get to market ahead of competition;
. the greater financial and technical resources of competitors;
. the success of OraSure Technologies' research and development activities and the speed with which regulatory authorizations and product rollouts may be achieved;
. the ability to commercialize early stage technologies;
. the ability to develop distribution channels and the marketing abilities of the companies with which it collaborates;
. internal marketing obstacles, including delays in obtaining regulatory approvals;
. the ability to obtain and maintain all certifications required by customers;
. future changes in laws and regulations, including regulations affecting government reimbursement for laboratory testing, and regulations governing anti-fraud and abuse, drug testing, and environmental and occupational safety;
. the ability to successfully negotiate pricing of products with our customers;
. the loss or impairment of sources of capital and the adequacy of such sources to meet OraSure Technologies' funding needs;
. fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
. fluctuations in quarterly operating results;
. the effects of OraSure Technologies' accounting policies and general changes in generally accepted accounting practices;
. OraSure Technologies' exposure to product liability 1awsuits;
. OraSure Technologies' success in litigation involving its intellectual property, including possible inability to protect proprietary technologies;
. ethical, social, legal and political developments affecting, among other things, the use of our HIV or drug testing products;
. general economic and business conditions;
. OraSure Technologies' ability to attract and retain management and other employees;
. the number of shares of OraSure Technologies issued in the mergers; and
. other risk factors detailed in Epitope's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
We have described under "Risk Factors" additional factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from those described in the forward- looking statements. Other factors that we have not identified in this document could also have this effect.
All forward-looking statements made in this document are made as of the date of this document. Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies may not publicly update or correct any of these forward-looking statements in the future.
THE MERGERS
General
The Epitope board of directors is using this document to solicit proxies from the holders of Epitope common stock for use at the Epitope meeting. The STC board of directors also is using this document to solicit proxies from the holders of STC common stock and convertible preferred stock for use at the STC meeting. We will sometimes refer to the merger of STC into OraSure Technologies as the "STC Merger" and the merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies as the "Epitope Merger." The STC Merger and the Epitope Merger are referred to collectively as the "mergers."
Epitope Proposal
At the Epitope meeting, Epitope stockholders will be asked to vote upon a proposal to approve the agreement and plan of merger. We sometimes refer to this proposal as the "Epitope proposal."
STC Proposal
At the STC meeting, holders of STC common stock and STC convertible preferred stock will be asked to vote together as a single class upon a proposal to adopt the agreement and plan of merger. We sometimes refer to this proposal as the "STC proposal."
Background of the Mergers
Epitope and STC have common interests in the research and development of diagnostic products for use in detecting the presence of specific chemical substances for the life insurance testing market such as cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine) and cocaine. In September 1995, Epitope and STC entered into a regulatory approval agreement to collaborate to obtain FDA clearance for the detection of specific drugs of abuse in an oral fluid sample such as cocaine, cannabinoids (marijuana), opiates, amphetamines and PCP. Since that time, Epitope and STC have distributed each other's products to their customers through a series of distribution agreements, which have resulted in payments by STC to Epitope of approximately $135,000 and payments by Epitope to STC of approximately $123,000, to date as described on page 84.
In January 1998, STC began evaluating options to finance its future growth, including, financing from institutional investors, corporate affiliations, possible sale of product lines, raising capital from private institutional investors and existing stockholders, and bank financings.
On February 10, 1998, John Morgan, Epitope's then president and chief executive officer, visited STC's headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to learn more about STC and its UPT technology and to discuss the status of regulatory approval for STC's drugs of abuse tests. During that meeting, future possible collaborative business opportunities (including expanded distribution arrangements, which subsequently led to additional distribution agreements between STC and Epitope) were discussed with Michael Gausling, STC's president and chief executive officer. At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue their discussions. On February 20, 1998, STC and Epitope signed a mutual non-disclosure agreement. On February 24, 1998, Mr. Gausling visited Epitope's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon to continue these discussions.
On April 7, 1998, at a regularly scheduled STC board of directors meeting, the STC board of directors was briefed about the discussions with Epitope and approved proceeding with discussions and mutual due diligence regarding a strategic business relationship with Epitope. On April 8, 1998, STC and Epitope signed a non-binding agreement concerning the parties' willingness to continue discussions regarding a possible strategic business relationship, including Epitope's acquisition of STC's outstanding stock, formation of a joint venture, or an equity investment in STC.
From April through June 1998, STC and Epitope, with Epitope's financial consultant, EGS Securities Corp., each conducted due diligence investigations concerning the other company, including meetings at the offices of EGS, STC and Epitope. On June 15 and June 16, 1998, STC's senior management made a
presentation to Epitope's board of directors, senior management and financial consultant regarding STC, its history, business, strategies, products, UPT technology, markets and financial information. Following this presentation, the Epitope board of directors authorized Epitope management to continue discussions with STC. On June 23, 1998, Epitope's senior management and representatives from EGS made a presentation to STC's board of directors and several STC stockholders. Epitope's presentation included a brief overview of Epitope, its business, history, products, business strategy, technologies, marketing focus, management and financial information. Following the presentation, the STC board of directors authorized the continuation of due diligence and discussions with Epitope concerning a possible relationship/transaction with Epitope. STC then told Epitope that STC's board did not consider STC for sale, but that STC's board was willing to consider an offer from Epitope.
On July 3, 1998, Mr. Gausling, Richard Hooper, STC's chief financial officer, and outside legal counsel to STC attended meetings at EGS in New York City at which preliminary business and financial terms regarding a possible acquisition by Epitope of STC's core business product lines, but excluding UPT, was discussed. A draft term sheet was received by STC on July 4, 1998. The draft term sheet did not contemplate a merger of Epitope and STC. It called for a ten year exclusive, worldwide license to Epitope for use of STC's current business products which would have excluded UPT technology. The license fee consisted of $6.6 million, payable in installments and a guarantee by Epitope of STC's debt. The proposed terms also included a call option for Epitope to purchase all of STC's stock related to STC's current products business for an exercise price equal to 3 million shares of Epitope common stock, assumption by Epitope of all of STC's debt and a formula contingent payment of up to 1 million additional shares of Epitope common stock if earnings before interest and taxes from sales of STC's current business products exceeded $3.161 million. Conversely, STC was given a put option with the same exercise price, except that it did not include assumption of any STC debt by Epitope. The Epitope call option was proposed to be exercisable 30 days following the second anniversary of the closing date and STC's put option was proposed to be exercisable for 30 days following expiration of Epitope's exercise period. The consideration offered by Epitope was determined by a review of STC's core business, an estimate of the potential savings from combining the businesses of the two companies, and a comparison to the valuation multiples of similar companies in the medical diagnostics business.
At STC's regularly scheduled meeting of its board of directors on July 14, 1998, Mr. Gausling presented Epitope's proposal and recommended that STC reject the proposal. Mr. Gausling expressed his view that the proposal was not favorable to STC and did not adequately address valuation, liquidity and the treatment of STC employees. After discussion, the STC board rejected Epitope's proposal, based primarily on the STC board's determination that the proposed transaction did not reflect a sufficient valuation of STC's business, and that deferral of a significant amount of the consideration was not in STC's or its stockholders' best interests. On July 21, 1998, Mr. Morgan informed the Epitope board of directors that the term sheet presented to STC had been rejected. Discussions between STC and Epitope regarding a business combination were terminated. STC did not make any counteroffer to Epitope relating to its proposed transaction.
On April 21, 1999, the Epitope board of directors reached a consensus that Epitope should pursue opportunities for consolidation or the acquisition of businesses or product lines that would broaden Epitope's current product lines while focusing on the area of non-invasive medical diagnostic testing.
On June 15, 1999, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the STC board of directors, board representatives of new investors inquired whether STC had ever given consideration to possible merger, sale or acquisition opportunities. At this meeting, Mr. Gausling discussed STC's previous negotiations with Epitope, as well as several other potential transactions relating to the purchase, sale or license of individual product lines or groups of products.
On June 23, 1999, Mr. Gausling and Mr. Morgan met at Epitope and reviewed the status of on-going distribution arrangements between STC and Epitope. At the meeting, new discussions regarding a possible business combination commenced. On July 8, 1999, Mr. Morgan met with Mr. Gausling at STC to discuss a possible purchase of STC's core business product lines as well as rights to the UPT technology related to oral
fluid testing applications. At that time, Mr. Gausling indicated to Mr. Morgan that, while STC was not actively seeking a sale or merger, he believed the STC board would be willing to consider a proposal from Epitope because of the perceived strategic fit of the businesses. Mr. Gausling also indicated that he believed an Epitope proposal, to be considered worthwhile for STC, would have to provide for a valuation of STC resulting in ownership of at least half of the stock of the combined company (and preferably substantially more than half based on Epitope's then current stock price), provide sufficient capital in order to enable STC to continue the development of UPT technology, provide continued employment for STC's employees in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and provide increased liquidity for STC's stockholders.
On July 20, 1999, STC received a non-binding term sheet from Epitope setting forth the proposed principal terms for Epitope's purchase of these product lines. The draft term sheet did not contemplate a merger of Epitope and STC. It proposed the acquisition of STC's current business products only (excluding UPT technology). The purchase price consisted of shares of Epitope stock which would be subject to restrictions on resale (although post-closing registration was contemplated). The proposed terms would have resulted in STC receiving shares representing approximately 43% of the combined company's outstanding stock at the time of Closing, with a potential for additional shares, to be issued based on terms contingent on factors to be measured during the following calendar year, which could have resulted in STC receiving shares equal to approximately 48% of the combined company's outstanding stock during the following calendar year. The proposal also contemplated Epitope receiving distribution rights for products developed by STC from UPT technology and warrants to purchase shares of STC stock (at unspecified terms). In addition, the proposal contemplated Epitope assuming approximately $5 million of STC's indebtedness. The consideration offered by Epitope was determined by a review of STC's core business, an estimate of the potential savings from combining the businesses of the two companies, and a comparison to the valuation multiples of similar companies in the medical diagnostics business.
At a special meeting of the STC board of directors held on July 26, 1999, Mr. Morgan made a presentation describing Epitope's performance, objectives for growth, plans for introduction of a new rapid test for HIV called OraQuick and potential to expand Epitope's product offerings by adding oral fluid tests for indications beyond HIV. Mr. Morgan also discussed the proposed terms of the purchase of these product lines. Mr. Morgan's presentation also included a discussion of Epitope's anticipated expansion of international sales of its OraSure device, which Epitope expected to make a meaningful impact on future operating results. Mr. Morgan also described FDA inspections of its facilities which had resulted in an FDA warning letter and further follow-up, and he described Epitope's active and planned changes in its procedures to improve compliance. Also in attendance were several STC executives and stockholders, and representatives from STC's legal counsel, independent accounting firm and a prospective financial advisor to STC. Following Mr. Morgan's presentation, STC's board met with representatives of the prospective financial advisor. During that meeting, the representatives of the prospective financial advisor made a presentation to the STC board concerning the firm's experience and capabilities in assisting companies considering strategic business alternatives. Their presentation also included, based on publicly available information, a brief overview of the business, products and markets of STC and Epitope, and financial and stock performance data of Epitope, a brief discussion of factors considered by boards undertaking similar business transactions, as well as a brief discussion of the types of valuation methodologies generally conducted in similar business transactions. Ultimately, STC determined not to engage a financial advisor at that time. The STC board then engaged in a discussion of the proposed transaction and concluded that a sale of less than all of its business on the terms proposed would place significant limitations on the ability of STC to pursue the continued research and development of UPT technology, that the percentage of Epitope shares to be issued to STC (and the related market value of Epitope stock) did not reflect a sufficient valuation of STC's business, that the transaction might not be treated as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes and that, having recently completed a private equity financing, STC had sufficient cash resources to continue to operate as an independent company. The STC board also expressed concerns about Epitope's program to achieve compliance with FDA requirements, as well as a substantial doubt regarding Epitope's ability to achieve its international sales goals with its OraSure device. As a result, STC's board rejected Epitope's proposal and discussions between STC and Epitope regarding a
business combination again were terminated. STC did not make any counteroffer to Epitope relating to its proposed transaction.
On February 17 and February 18, 2000, Robert Thompson, the newly appointed chief executive officer of Epitope, visited STC's offices to discuss the status of a national launch of the Intercept drugs-of-abuse testing system and to further discuss future mutual business opportunities. During meetings on February 18, 2000, Mr. Thompson initiated discussions with Mr. Gausling regarding various strategic alliances, including possible changes in the companies distribution agreements, or a possible merger of Epitope and STC.
During February 21 through March 3, 2000, Epitope and STC evaluated these various strategic alliances as well as a possible merger and relative valuations related to the possible merger. During that time, Epitope and STC each discussed financial and business information concerning one another, and responded to requests from each other for information and briefed members of its board about the discussions.
On March 3, 2000, STC received a non-binding term sheet from Epitope which set forth the principal terms of the proposed transaction. The term sheet contemplated a direct merger of STC into Epitope with all common and preferred shares converted into an aggregate of 20 million shares of common stock, with the possibility that the exchange ratio of common and preferred stock of STC might differ. Instead of a collar on Epitope's common stock price to address the impact on the value of the consideration payable in the mergers as a result of market fluctuations from signing through closing, the term sheet contemplated as a condition to the closing of the mergers that the opinions rendered by Epitope's and STC's financial advisors at the time of signing of the agreement and plan of merger not be withdrawn. The governance aspects of the proposal included a board of seven directors composed of four STC representatives and three Epitope representatives, Robert Thompson as the chief executive officer and president, and Michael Gausling as the non-executive vice chairman of the board. The deal protection provisions proposed included (i) agreements by officers, directors and large stockholders to vote for the merger, (ii) an agreement not to solicit alternative acquisition proposals with no right to terminate the agreement and plan of merger because a higher offer had been made by a third party, (iii) a termination fee payable by STC to Epitope in the amount of $5 million, plus reimbursement of Epitope's expenses, if either the merger was not consummated by a specified date or STC's shareholders failed to approve the merger and an alternative acquisition proposal was then pending, or an agreement for an alternative acquisition proposal was entered into within one year of that proposal, and (iv) reciprocal options to purchase up to 19.9% of the other's capital stock exercisable if the termination fee became payable, but with the profits from the exercise of the option, together with the termination fee, capped at $5 million. The material differences between the proposed term sheet and the mergers described in the agreement and plan of merger are the addition of the collar on the exchange ratio, the number of STC designees to the combined company's board of directors decreasing from four to three, the election of Mr. Gausling as President and Chief Operating Officer of the combined company, the elimination of any termination fee to be paid by STC to Epitope and the elimination of reciprocal options to purchase stock.
At a regularly scheduled meeting of STC's board of directors held on March 14, 2000, the STC board of directors was provided with Epitope's term sheet and, after discussion, the board of directors directed STC management to proceed with the merger negotiations. At the meeting, the STC board of directors also approved hiring a financial advisor to evaluate the advisability, from a financial point of view, of a possible merger with Epitope. On March 20, 2000, STC retained FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. as its financial advisor.
On March 3, 2000, the Epitope board of directors met and considered the status of preliminary discussions with STC regarding a potential merger. The Epitope board requested that management perform substantial due diligence and engage a financial advisor to assist Epitope in connection with the transaction. Epitope subsequently retained Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown to serve as its financial advisor.
On March 21, 2000, the Epitope board of directors was informed by Mr. Thompson about the status of preliminary discussions with STC regarding a merger. The board authorized the engagement of Stinson,
Mag & Fizzell to serve as legal counsel with respect to the proposed merger and related documentation, negotiation and due diligence matters.
During the period from March 29 through March 31, 2000, STC senior management commenced due diligence at Epitope's headquarters. Both companies' financial advisors were present for the meetings. On April 6, 2000, Epitope's financial advisor conducted due diligence at STC's headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Legal and accounting due diligence was conducted by each company's advisors from April 10 through April 18, 2000. On April 10, 2000, Mr. Hooper and STC's legal and financial advisors participated on a conference call to discuss the proposed term sheet. In early April 2000, counsel to Epitope provided STC a proposed agreement and plan of merger.
The parties had originally contemplated a structure for the combination which involved a single step merger of STC directly into Epitope. Counsel to Epitope, however, recommended adding a second-step merger to the structure in which Epitope would merge into a newly-created corporation organized under Delaware law solely for the purpose of changing Epitope's state of incorporation from Oregon to Delaware. The parties
agreed that a change of the state of incorporation from Oregon to Delaware would be advisable because it
would provide a greater degree of predictability and certainty in complying with applicable corporate law requirements and provide related benefits described under "Reasons for the Mergers; Recommendations of Our Boards of Directors." In order to accomplish the second-step merger, Epitope formed a wholly-owned subsidiary under Delaware law originally named Edward Merger Subsidiary, Inc. which was later changed to OraSure Technologies, Inc.
From April 10 through April 12, 2000, Mr. Gausling and STC's executive vice president and chief scientific officer, Dr. Sam Niedbala, attended meetings at Epitope. Mr. Gausling and Dr. Niedbala made a presentation to Epitope's board of directors on April 10, 2000. STC's presentation included a brief overview of STC's business, history, operating results, products, marketing strategies, UPT technology (and STC's analysis of market opportunities for products developed from the UPT technology), business strategy, projected operating results and STC's view of the combined company's opportunities.
On April 17, 2000, representatives of STC, Epitope and their advisors participated on a conference call to negotiate terms of the proposed agreement and plan of merger.
On April 18, 2000, the Epitope board of directors was informed about the status of merger discussions with STC and related strategic, financial and legal matters by Mr. Thompson and Epitope's legal and financial advisors.
At a meeting on April 25, 2000 at the offices of STC's legal counsel, Messrs. Gausling and Thompson met with each company's legal and financial advisors to negotiate the valuation of STC, break-up fees, escrow provisions, stockholder agreements, and other matters. Following the meeting, Mr. Thompson traveled to STC and informally met with several members of STC's board of directors.
During the remainder of April and the beginning of May, representatives of Epitope, STC and their advisors participated on conference calls to negotiate the final terms of the agreement and plan of merger and to discuss various legal, financial and regulatory matters.
During the meetings held in March, April and May 2000, Epitope and STC, together with their legal and financial advisors, engaged in discussions and negotiations regarding the terms of the mergers. As a result of these negotiations, Epitope and STC agreed that the fixed exchange ratio proposed in the initial term sheet should be preserved as long as the average closing price of Epitope common stock during a pricing period of 20 trading days ending prior to the third trading day before the stockholder meetings remained between $10.00 per share and $13.00 per share. These prices reflected a recent historical average trading price and the current trading price of Epitope common stock at that time. In the event that the average Epitope closing price over the pricing period was between $8.00 per share and $10.00 per share, Epitope and STC agreed that the exchange ratio should be adjusted upward to compensate the STC stockholders for the decrease in the value of the Epitope shares to be received in the mergers and that the exchange ratio should be fixed in the event that the
average Epitope closing price over the pricing period declined below $8.00 per share. In connection with this price protection, Epitope and STC agreed to a downward adjustment to the exchange ratio in the event that the average Epitope closing price over the pricing period climbed above $13.00 per share in order to limit the value of the consideration that Epitope would have to provide to STC stockholders in the mergers. Epitope and STC also agreed to permit STC to terminate the mergers in the event that the average Epitope closing price over the pricing period declined below $6.00 per share.
On April 29, 2000, a meeting was held between members of Epitope's senior management and board of directors and representatives of Sawtooth Capital Management, the owner of approximately 15% of Epitope's outstanding common stock. A non-disclosure agreement was signed by Sawtooth prior to the meeting. The representatives of Sawtooth were already familiar with the core businesses of STC because of the existing relationship between Epitope and STC, and agreed that there was a clear strategic fit between the companies. Sawtooth also focused their attention on the future potential for the products of the combined company and on comparisons to the market capitalizations of comparable medical diagnostic companies. During those discussions, Sawtooth expressed its support for the mergers and indicated it planned to vote for approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
At a special meeting of the STC board of directors held on May 6, 2000, the board of directors met with STC's legal and financial advisors in attendance. At that meeting, Robertson Stephens delivered its opinion subsequently confirmed in writing to the STC board of directors to the effect that, as of that date, based upon and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered and limits of the review undertaken by Robertson Stephens, the exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to STC and STC stockholders. The STC board of directors reviewed discussion materials prepared by Robertson Stephens with regard to Epitope's offer and engaged in a detailed discussion of the merits of the proposed transaction to STC's stockholders. STC's legal counsel reviewed the material terms and conditions of the agreement and plan of merger, the results of the due diligence review of Epitope, the negotiations that led to the proposed final terms of the transaction and the application of the director's fiduciary duties to consideration of and action on the mergers. Based on their discussions and the materials presented at this meeting and prior meetings, STC's board of directors concluded that Epitope's proposal was in the best interests of STC and its stockholders and approved the agreement and plan of merger and related documents. The STC board did not consider soliciting bids from other potential acquirors because the STC board had not considered the company to be currently for sale and was not actively seeking a sale or merger transaction, but was willing to consider the unsolicited offer from Epitope due to the perceived strategic fit of the businesses.
A special meeting of the Epitope board of directors was held on May 6, 2000 with representatives of Epitope's legal and financial advisors in attendance. At the meeting, Epitope's legal counsel reviewed the material terms and conditions of the agreement and plan of merger, the results of the due diligence review of STC, the negotiations that led to the proposed final terms of the transaction and the application of the director's fiduciary duties to consideration of and action on the mergers and related agreements. Also at the meeting, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown delivered to the Epitope board of directors its opinion to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the matters described in its opinion, the exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to Epitope. Based on their discussions and material presented at this meeting and at prior meetings, Epitope's board of directors concluded that the merger proposal was in the best interests of Epitope's stockholders and approved the agreement and plan of merger and related documents. The Epitope board did not consider soliciting bids from other potential acquirors because it viewed the mergers as a strategic combination providing unique benefits.
The agreement and plan of merger was executed by STC, Epitope and OraSure Technologies as of May 6, 2000. In connection with the execution of the agreement and plan of merger, stockholders of STC representing approximately 57.4% of the outstanding shares of STC stock entered into a voting agreement pursuant to which they agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of STC stock in favor of adopting the agreement and plan of merger. In connection with the execution of the agreement and plan of merger, stockholders of Epitope
representing approximately 3.3% of the outstanding shares of Epitope common stock entered into a voting agreement pursuant to which they agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of Epitope common stock in favor of the mergers.
On May 8, 2000, STC and Epitope issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the agreement and plan of merger between Epitope and STC.
Our Reasons for the Mergers; Recommendations of Our Boards of Directors
The combination of a developer of an oral fluid collection device with an oral fluid test developer will better enable us to achieve our shared mission of becoming a leading oral fluid diagnostic company. Combining Epitope and STC will leverage our expertise in oral fluid technology, infectious disease testing and substance abuse testing. By building upon our complementary product portfolios, technologies and sales infrastructure, we believe the combination will open up new U.S. and foreign markets and strengthen positioning in key current markets such as the rapidly expanding point of care market. In particular, STC's proprietary Up-Converting Phosphor technology, UPT, has broad applications for oral fluid testing. With the increased sensitivity and accuracy of UPT technology, OraSure Technologies can expand the menu of tests available on Epitope's OraSure(R) oral fluid collection device as well as expand oral fluid testing to point-of-care testing.
This same basic technology represented by UPT is also expected to be of significant benefit to other medical diagnostic manufacturers outside the area of expertise of Epitope and STC. For many of these additional applications of UPT, OraSure Technologies plans to license the technology to these other companies to provide an ongoing revenue stream of license fees and royalties.
These complementary skill sets, together with a combined annual research and development investment of $5.4 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 1999, should accelerate product development and commercialization of a variety of oral fluid testing platforms. We believe stockholder value will be further enhanced by greater opportunities for increased revenues as well as more than $2 million of estimated annual cost savings relating to cost avoidance and elimination of duplication.
The merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies will effect a change in the state of incorporation from Oregon to Delaware in order to (i) obtain a greater degree of predictability and certainty regarding how the entity's affairs should be conducted to assure compliance with applicable corporate law requirements; and (ii) obtain the benefits resulting from the responsiveness of Delaware's legislature and courts to the needs of corporations organized under Delaware's jurisdiction. Delaware has long been the leading state in adopting, construing and implementing comprehensive and flexible corporate laws responsive to the legal and business needs of corporations. As a result, Delaware's General Corporation Law has become widely regarded as the most extensive and well-defined body of corporate law in the United States. Because of Delaware's prominence as the state of incorporation for many major corporations, both the legislature and courts in Delaware have demonstrated an ability and a willingness to act quickly and effectively to meet changing business needs. Moreover, the Delaware courts have rendered a substantial number of decisions interpreting and explaining Delaware law, including legal principles applicable to measures that may be taken by a corporation and as to the conduct of its board of directors to comply with their fiduciary obligations. For these reasons, many United States corporations initially have chosen Delaware as their state of incorporation or subsequently have changed their corporate domicile to Delaware in a manner similar to the Epitope proposal.
Each of our boards of directors, in reaching its decision on the mergers, consulted with its senior management and legal and financial advisors, reviewed a significant amount of information and considered a number of factors. All of the material factors considered are set forth below:
. the reasons described above under "Our Reasons for the Merger" and the risks described under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements":
. the strategic and financial alternatives available to each of Epitope and STC in their industry (as described below);
. the strategic fit between Epitope and STC, and the belief that OraSure Technologies has the potential to enhance stockholder value through additional opportunities and operating efficiencies;
. the opportunity for Epitope's and STC's stockholders to participate in a larger, more competitive company;
. the fact that the transaction was structured with shared corporate governance for OraSure Technologies, including equal representation of Epitope and STC designees on the company's board of directors, as well as the fact that Mr. Thompson will be the chief executive officer and Mr. Gausling will serve as president and chief operating officer of OraSure Technologies, thus enabling each of Epitope and STC to provide substantial input into the policies and operation of the combined businesses and effect the long-term goals of each company;
. information concerning the financial performance, business operations, financial condition and proprietary technologies of Epitope and STC and of the two companies on a combined basis;
. the financial presentations, including the opinions, of our respective financial advisors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the exchange ratio as described below under the caption "Opinions of Financial Advisors;"
. the likely impact of the mergers on each company's employees (including the selection of STC's facilities in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as the corporate headquarters of the combined company) and customers (including expanded offerings of existing products and enhanced new product development activities);
. the expected effect of the mergers on our existing strategic relationships with third parties (including an expanded research and development organization and an expanded new product pipeline, with the potential for increased new product development and new technological innovations);
. the interests of officers and directors of each company in the mergers, as described under "Interests of Officers and Directors in the Mergers;"
. the fact that Epitope is permitted to terminate the agreement and plan of merger upon receipt of a superior acquisition proposal, subject to the payment of a specified termination fee and expense reimbursement;
. the impact that the termination fee and expense reimbursement may have on potential third-party acquirors; and
. the qualification of the mergers as tax-free reorganizations for United States federal income tax purposes, except for tax resulting from any cash received for fractional shares by the holders of STC common stock.
The STC board of directors also considered the benefits of this transaction as opposed to other alternatives, including the valuation given to STC's business, the opportunity to retain STC's facilities in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as the headquarters of the combined company (with the direct benefits of continued employment and possibly expanded employment, aiding STC's existing employees and its community), the addition of Epitope's products to its own product list (providing expanded product offerings for existing and new customers, as well as the enhanced possibility of the development of new products and technologies), the opportunity to leverage a higher revenue base in order to increase profitability, and the potential liquidity for STC's stockholders through the exchange of their shares in STC for shares of Orasure which would be publicly-traded on the Nasdaq National Market. The STC board also considered possible alternatives, including continuing as a separate company. The STC board did not believe that a merger transaction was necessary for the ultimate success of its business, and in light of the strategic fit with Epitope, did not solicit bids from other companies or engage in merger discussions with any other companies. The STC board also considered that the combined company's size (in anticipated revenues, profits and human resources) would enable it to more easily expand its presence in existing markets and enter new markets with its products, as well as make it more visible to institutional investors and the overall investment community. However, the board was concerned with the possiblity that the further commercialization of its technologies could result in the need for capital and the risk that, as a private company, STC might not have sufficient access to capital and might not, when needed, be able to complete a public offering in order to gain access to public capital markets, or otherwise obtain capital. After consideration of the factors described above, and in consideration of the uncertainties presented by possible alternatives, the STC board of directors concluded that the merger was a superior alternative for STC.
The Epitope board viewed the mergers as a strategic combination in that it will provide vertical integration of products and services, result in significantly enhanced opportunities for increased revenues and cost efficiencies, be accretive to pro forma income per share and share value based solely on conservative cost savings estimates and the number of shares likely to be issued in the mergers, add significant financial strength and flexibility and enhance the competitive position of the combined companies. In view of the unique strategic fit between Epitope and STC and the unique benefits from their combination, the Epitope board believed that it was neither necessary nor useful to solicit alternative acquisition bids.
In view of the wide variety of the material factors considered in connection with their respective evaluations of the mergers and the complexity of these matters, our boards of directors did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise attempt to assign any relative weight to the various factors considered. In addition, our boards of directors did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to our boards of directors' ultimate determination, but rather our boards of directors conducted an overall analysis of the factors described above, including discussions with and questioning of our respective management and legal and financial advisors. In considering the factors described above, individual members of our boards of directors may have given different weight to different factors.
There can be no assurance that any of the potential savings, synergies or opportunities considered by our boards of directors will be achieved through consummation of the mergers.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors of Epitope
Epitope's board of directors unanimously recommends that Epitope stockholders vote FOR approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors of STC
STC's board of directors unanimously recommends that STC stockholders vote FOR adoption of the agreement and plan of merger.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers
The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax consequences of the mergers. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions as in effect as of the date of this document, all of which may change, possibly with retroactive effect.
This discussion does not address all aspects of federal income taxation that may be important to a stockholder of Epitope or a stockholder of STC in light of that holder's particular circumstances or to a holder subject to special rules, such as:
. a stockholder who is not a citizen or resident of the United States,
. a financial institution or insurance company,
. a tax-exempt organization,
. a dealer or broker in securities,
. a stockholder that holds stock of STC or Epitope as part of a hedge, appreciated financial position, straddle or conversion transaction, or
. a stockholder who acquired stock of STC or Epitope pursuant to the exercise of options or otherwise as compensation.
This discussion will sometimes refer to the merger of STC into OraSure Technologies as the "STC Merger" and the merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies as the "Epitope Merger" and collectively as the "mergers."
Tax Opinions. Epitope has received an opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C., and STC has received an opinion of Pepper Hamilton LLP (together with Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C., "tax counsel"), each dated as of the date of this document, that the mergers will be treated for federal income tax purposes as reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code and that Epitope, OraSure Technologies and STC will each be parties to the reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is a condition to the obligation of each of Epitope and STC to complete the mergers that the relevant tax counsel confirm its opinion as of the closing date. Neither Epitope nor STC intends to waive this condition.
The opinions of tax counsel regarding the mergers have relied, and the confirmation opinions regarding the mergers as of the closing date will rely, on (1) representations and covenants made by Epitope, OraSure Technologies and STC, including those contained in representation letters of officers of Epitope, OraSure Technologies and STC, (2) an assumption regarding the completion of the mergers in the manner contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger, and (3) an assumption that the shares of STC and Epitope are held as capital assets by the stockholders of STC and Epitope, respectively. In addition, the opinions of tax counsel have assumed, and tax counsel's ability to provide the closing date opinions will depend on, the absence of changes in existing facts or in law between the date of this document and the closing date. If any of those representations, covenants or assumptions is inaccurate, tax counsel may not be able to provide the closing date opinions and the tax consequences of the mergers could differ from those described in the opinions that tax counsel have delivered. Tax counsel's opinions neither bind the IRS nor preclude the IRS or the courts from adopting a contrary position. Epitope, OraSure Technologies and STC do not intend to obtain a ruling from the IRS on the tax consequences of the mergers.
United States Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Mergers. The mergers will be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Epitope, OraSure Technologies and STC will each be parties to the reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to Epitope Stockholders. For United States federal income tax purposes:
. A holder of Epitope common stock will not recognize any gain or loss upon its exchange in the Epitope Merger of its shares of Epitope common stock for shares of the common stock of OraSure Technologies.
. A holder of Epitope common stock will have a tax basis in the common stock of OraSure Technologies received in the Epitope Merger equal to the tax basis of the Epitope common stock surrendered by that holder in the Epitope Merger.
. The holding period for shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies received in exchange for shares of Epitope common stock in the Epitope Merger will include the holding period for the shares of Epitope common stock surrendered in the Epitope Merger, provided such common stock was held as a capital asset.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to STC Stockholders. For United States federal income tax purposes:
. A holder of STC common stock will not recognize any gain or loss upon its exchange in the STC Merger of its shares of STC common stock for shares of the common stock of OraSure Technologies.
. If a holder of STC common stock receives cash instead of a fractional share of the common stock of OraSure Technologies, the holder will be required to recognize gain or loss, measured by the difference between the amount of cash received instead of that fractional share and the portion of the tax basis of the holder's shares of STC common stock allocable to that fractional share. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss provided such common stock was held as a capital asset, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the share of STC common stock exchanged for that fractional share of the common stock of OraSure Technologies was held for more than one year on the closing date.
. A holder of STC common stock will have a tax basis in the common stock of OraSure Technologies received in the STC Merger equal to (1) the tax basis of the STC common stock surrendered by that holder in the STC Merger, reduced by (2) any tax basis of the STC common stock surrendered that is allocable to any fractional share of the common stock of OraSure Technologies for which cash is received.
. The holding period for shares of the common stock of OraSure Technologies received in exchange for shares of STC common stock in the STC Merger will include the holding period for the shares of STC common stock surrendered in the STC Merger, provided such common stock was held as a capital asset.
This discussion of material United States federal income tax consequences is intended to provide only a general summary, and is not a complete analysis or description of all potential United States federal income tax consequences of the mergers. This discussion does not address tax consequences that may vary with, or are contingent on, individual circumstances. In addition, it does not address any non-income tax or any state, local or non-U.S. income tax consequences of the mergers. Accordingly, we strongly urge each stockholder to consult his or her own tax advisor to determine the particular United States federal, state or local or non-U.S. income or other tax consequences to him or her of the mergers.
Regulatory Matters Relating to the Mergers
Antitrust Review
Epitope and STC believe that the mergers promote competition and are in the public interest in part because OraSure Technologies will be able to compete more effectively with larger companies than either Epitope or STC could alone. However, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the mergers on antitrust grounds will not be made.
U.S. Antitrust Approvals
Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the rules promulgated under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the acquisition of shares of OraSure Technologies by a non-exempt holder of STC common stock pursuant to the mergers may not be consummated until notifications have been given and certain information and materials have been furnished to and reviewed by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and specified waiting period requirements have been satisfied. On June 1, 2000, the premerger notification forms required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act were filed with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act expired on June 12, 2000 upon the grant of an early termination of the thirty day statutory waiting period under the Hart- Scott-Rodino Act. At any time prior to or after the consummation of the mergers, the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission could take action under the federal antitrust laws, including seeking to enjoin the mergers or seeking conditions thereon. State antitrust authorities and private parties in certain circumstances may bring legal action under the antitrust laws seeking to enjoin the mergers or impose conditions.
Appraisal Rights
Holders of Epitope common stock do not have appraisal rights under Oregon corporation law in connection with the Epitope Merger because Epitope's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market.
Record holders of STC common and convertible preferred stock will have appraisal rights under Section 262 of Delaware General Corporation Law in connection with the STC Merger. Each stockholder of record who desires to exercise appraisal rights must satisfy the following conditions and otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 262:
. A separate written demand for appraisal of shares must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of STC at 150 Webster Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, before the taking of the vote on the STC Proposal at the STC Meeting. This written demand must reasonably inform STC of the identity of the
stockholder and that the stockholder thereby demands the appraisal of his or her shares. In addition to informing STC of the identity of the record holder and the demand for appraisal of shares, such demand should also specify the mailing address of that stockholder and the number of shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock owned by that stockholder. A proxy or vote abstaining from voting, or voting against the STC Proposal, or a failure to vote on the STC Proposal, does not constitute such a demand for appraisal within the meaning of Section 262.
. A stockholder of record wishing to exercise his or her appraisal rights under Section 262 must not vote for or consent to the adoption of the STC Proposal. If a stockholder returns a signed proxy failing to specify either (i) a vote against the STC Proposal or (ii) a direction to abstain from voting on the STC Proposal, the proxy will be voted for the adoption of the STC Proposal, which will have the effect of waiving that stockholder's appraisal rights and nullifying any previously filed written demand for appraisal.
A demand for appraisal must be made by or for and in the name of the stockholder of record, fully and correctly, as such stockholder's name appears on the certificates representing the STC common stock or convertible preferred stock. Such demand cannot be made by the beneficial owner if he or she does not also hold the shares of record. If the shares are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, such demand must be executed by the fiduciary. If the shares are owned of record by more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, such demand must be executed by all joint owners. An authorized agent, including an agent for two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; however, the agent must identify the record owner and expressly disclose the fact that, in exercising the demand, he or she is acting as agent for the record holder.
A record holder, such as a broker, who holds shares as a nominee for others may exercise his or her right of appraisal with respect to the shares held for all or less than all beneficial owners of shares as to which he or she is the record holder. In such case, the written demand must set forth the number of shares as to which appraisal is sought. If the number of shares as to which appraisal is sought is not expressly mentioned, the demand will be presumed to cover all shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock outstanding in the name of such record holder. Persons whose shares are held by brokers or other nominees and who desire to exercise dissenters' rights of appraisal should consider either (a) arranging to have their shares transferred into their own names of record and making the necessary written demand for appraisal or (b) arranging to have their broker or other nominee, as the case may be, take all of the steps necessary to comply with Section 262.
Within 10 days after the Effective Time of the STC Merger, OraSure Technologies as the surviving corporation in the STC Merger must provide notice of the Effective Time of the STC Merger to all stockholders who have complied with Section 262 and have not voted for or consented to the STC Proposal. At any time within 60 days after the Effective Time of the STC Merger, any stockholder may withdraw his or her demand for appraisal and accept the terms offered in the STC Merger; after this, the stockholder may withdraw his or her demand for appraisal only with the consent of OraSure Technologies. In either event, the right of such stockholder to an appraisal ceases.
Within 120 days after the Effective Time of the STC Merger, either OraSure Technologies as the surviving corporation in the STC Merger or any stockholder who has complied with the provisions of Section 262, as described above, may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of the shares of all stockholders entitled to appraisal. Inasmuch as OraSure Technologies as the surviving corporation in the STC Merger has no obligation to file such a petition, and has no present intention to do so, any stockholder of record who desires such a petition to be filed should file it on a timely basis. If no petition for appraisal is filed with the Court of Chancery within 120 days after the Effective Time of the STC Merger, stockholders' rights to appraisal cease, and all stockholders become entitled to receive the consideration provided for in the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
If a petition for an appraisal is timely filed and a copy thereof served upon OraSure Technologies as the surviving corporation in the STC Merger, after a hearing on such petition the Delaware Court of Chancery will
determine which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights and will appraise the fair value of the shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock owned by those stockholders. The fair value of the shares will be determined exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the STC Merger. A fair rate of interest, if any, may be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining fair value, and the fair rate of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors.
The cost of the appraisal proceeding may be determined by the Court of Chancery and assessed against the parties as the Court deems equitable under the circumstances. Upon application of a dissenting stockholder, the Court may order that all or a portion of expenses incurred by any dissenting stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including reasonable attorneys' fees and the fees and expenses of experts, be charged pro rata against the value of all shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock entitled to appraisal.
Any stockholder who has duly demanded appraisal in compliance with Section 262 will not, after the Effective Time of the STC Merger, be entitled to vote for any purpose the shares of common stock or convertible preferred stock subject to such demand or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions with respect to the shares held by that holder, except for dividends or distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date prior to the Effective Time of the STC Merger.
Federal Securities Laws Consequences
This document does not cover any resales of the common stock of OraSure Technologies to be received by the stockholders of STC and of Epitope upon completion of the mergers, and no person is authorized to make any use of this document in connection with any such resale.
All shares of OraSure Technologies common stock that will be distributed to stockholders of STC and Epitope in the mergers will be freely transferable, except for the restrictions on transfer imposed by the federal securities laws on "affiliates" of STC, Epitope or OraSure Technologies. Shares of OraSure Technologies common stock received by persons who are deemed to be affiliates of STC or Epitope, but who are not and will not become affiliates of OraSure Technologies as of the time the vote is taken on the mergers, may be resold by them only in transactions permitted by the resale provisions of Rule 145(d) or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act of 1933. Persons who are or will become affiliates of OraSure Technologies as of the time the vote is taken on the mergers may be resold by them only in transactions permitted by the resale provisions of Rule 144 or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act of 1933. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of STC, Epitope or OraSure Technologies generally include persons that control, are controlled by, or under common control with the respective entity, such as their respective officers, directors and significant stockholders.
In general, under Rule 144, an affiliate of OraSure Technologies would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of one percent of the number of shares of such class of stock then outstanding or the average weekly trading volume of the shares of such class of stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a Form 144 with respect to such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain requirements pertaining to the manner of such sales, notices of such sales and the availability of current public information concerning the issuer. In general, Rule 145(d) will impose the same volume and manner of sale limitations as under Rule 144 as to sales made during the one year period following the mergers. During the period between the first and second year following consummation of the mergers, resales made by persons subject to Rule 145(d) are permitted to be made without any volume or manner of sale of limitations if OraSure Technologies is current in meeting its reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There are no limitations on resales by persons who are subject to Rule 145(d) after two years have elapsed following the mergers if such persons are not then affiliates of OraSure Technologies and have not been so affiliated during the preceding three months.
SEC guidelines indicate further that the "pooling-of-interests" method of accounting generally will not be challenged on the basis of sales of shares by affiliates of Epitope or STC if the affiliates do not dispose of any
of their shares that the affiliates own, or shares of OraSure Technologies they receive in connection with the mergers, during the period beginning 30 days before the mergers and ending when financial results covering at least 30 days of operations of OraSure Technologies following the mergers have been published.
OraSure Technologies has obtained written agreements from affiliates containing provisions intended to preserve the ability to account for the mergers as a "pooling of interests" and to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by the Securities Act of 1933 on the resale or other disposition of shares issued pursuant to the mergers.
Under the terms of an agreement between STC and its institutional investors, two of which are affiliates, if OraSure Technologies proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act, either for its own account or for the account of other security holders exercising registration rights, the institutional investor affiliates are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include shares of common stock in the registration. Further, the institutional investor affiliates have the right to require OraSure Technologies to file an unlimited number of additional registration statements on Form S-3 at OraSure Technologies' expense. These registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, among them, a limit on the number of registration statements which may be required to be filed in any one year, a minimum offering amount, the right of the underwriters of an offering to limit the number of shares included in such registration and OraSure Technologies' right not to effect a requested registration for up to a maximum of 180 days in the event that OraSure Technologies determines in good faith that such registration might interfere with any transaction it is contemplating or involve initial or continuing disclosure obligations that might not be in its best interests.
Accounting Treatment
Epitope and STC believe the mergers will qualify as a "pooling of interests" for accounting and financial reporting purposes. The "pooling of interests" method of accounting assumes that the combining companies have been merged from inception, and the historical financial statements for periods prior to consummation of the mergers are restated as though the companies had been combined from inception pursuant to Opinion No. 16 of the Accounting Principles Board.
We expect that prior to the completion of the mergers:
. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will deliver to Epitope a letter stating that based upon discussions with officials of Epitope responsible for financial and accounting matters and information provided to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP concurs with Epitope management's conclusions that, as of the date of its letter, no conditions exist relating to Epitope that would preclude OraSure Technologies from accounting for the mergers as a pooling of interests.
. Arthur Andersen LLP will deliver to STC a letter stating that based upon discussions with officials of STC responsible for financial and accounting matters and information furnished to Arthur Andersen LLP, Arthur Andersen LLP concurs with STC management's conclusion that, as of the date of its letter, no conditions exist related to STC that they believe would preclude STC from qualifying as a "combining company" and that no conditions exist they believe would preclude OraSure Technologies from accounting for the mergers as a pooling of interests.
Epitope and STC have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to cause the mergers to qualify as a pooling of interests. The agreement and plan of merger permits each of STC and Epitope to waive covenants and conditions and to amend the agreement to modify covenants and conditions. While it is not expected that either STC or Epitope would waive or modify the provisions of the agreement and plan of merger requiring receipt of the letters from the accounting firms concurring with their client's management to account for the merger as a pooling of interests, it is permitted by the agreement.
Stock Market Listing
Following consummation of the mergers, shares of OraSure Technologies will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol "OSUR".
INTERESTS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS IN THE MERGERS
In considering the recommendations of the boards of directors of Epitope and STC with respect to the mergers, stockholders of Epitope and STC should be aware that the officers and directors of Epitope and STC have interests in the mergers that are different from, or in addition to, their interests as stockholders of Epitope and STC generally. The boards of directors of Epitope and STC were aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the agreement and plan of merger and the transactions contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger.
Existing Agreements and Plans with Respect to Directors and Officers
Epitope
Employment Agreements. Robert D. Thompson is the president and chief executive officer of Epitope, Charles E. Bergeron is the chief financial officer of Epitope, William D. Block is the vice president of sales and marketing for Epitope, J. Richard George, Ph.D., is the chief scientific officer of Epitope, and Andrew S. Goldstein is the senior vice president of advanced technology development for Epitope. These individuals are the current executive officers of Epitope. Each of them has an employment agreement with Epitope. Pursuant to such employment agreements, all current executive officers of Epitope, other than Mr. Goldstein, are entitled to receive one year of salary in the event their employment is terminated without cause. Mr. Goldstein is entitled to receive two years of salary in the event his employment is terminated in connection with a change in control of Epitope. The agreements with Messrs. Thompson, Bergeron and Block permit each of them to treat a change in control of Epitope and certain other events as a termination without cause. The agreements do not expire by their terms and are terminable by Epitope with cause (upon 90 days' notice, in the case of Mr. Goldstein) or, subject to payment of the salary amounts described above, without cause. However, none of the executive officers, other than Mr. Bergeron, will receive any cash payment as a result of the termination of their current employment agreements with Epitope. Although Mr. Bergeron is named in the agreement and plan of merger as the chief financial officer of the combined company, he will only be serving in that position for a transitional period which is expected to end on January 1, 2001. Mr. Bergeron will not be entering into an employment agreement with OraSure Technologies, but he will receive twelve months of his regular salary in the amount of $157,500 upon the termination of his employment with OraSure Technologies. OraSure Technologies has not yet identified the person who will become its chief financial officer at the end of that transitional period.
Stock Option Plans. As a result of the mergers and pursuant to the applicable stock option agreements, all outstanding stock options awarded under the Epitope, Inc. Amended and Restated 1991 Stock Award Plan, the Epitope, Inc. 2000 Stock Award Plan and Mr. Thompson's nonqualified stock option agreement, whether or not fully vested, will accelerate, vest and become fully exercisable upon consummation of the mergers. Any option that is not exercised before the date the mergers become effective will be converted into an immediately exercisable right with respect to common stock of OraSure Technologies following the mergers, in a manner intended to maintain the aggregate intrinsic value of the converted options. The number of shares of OraSure Technologies stock to which any converted option will pertain will equal the same number of Epitope shares subject to such award, and the exercise price of such options will be the current exercise price of such option.
The following table shows the number of unvested options and the estimated value of unvested options that will become vested and exercisable for executive officers of Epitope, assuming the mergers are completed on August 31, 2000 assuming that the price per share at the effective time of the mergers is $13.00.
Number of Unvested Aggregate Value of
Name Epitope Options (1) Unvested Options (2)
---- ------------------ --------------------
Robert D. Thompson............... 375,000 $ 4,875,000
Charles E. Bergeron.............. 50,417 655,421
William D. Block................. 81,251 1,056,263
J. Richard George, Ph.D.......... 45,417 590,421
Andrew S. Goldstein.............. 35,209 457,717
------- -----------
587,294 $ 7,634,822
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(1) Includes all options granted that will be unvested and outstanding on July 20, 2000 or later, provided that the mergers have not occurred by that date.
(2) Grants valued assuming a market value of $13.00 per share for OraSure Technologies stock at the time of the mergers, less the exercise price for each option granted.
STC
Employment Agreements. STC currently does not have any employment agreements with any of its executive officers. However, after the consummation of the mergers pursuant to the agreement and plan of merger, Michael J. Gausling, the president and chief executive officer of STC, Dr. R. Sam Niedbala, the executive vice president and chief science officer of STC and William Hinchey, the executive vice president of business development-oral fluid products of STC, will be employed by OraSure Technologies pursuant to employment agreements, the terms of which are set forth below.
Stock Options and Incentive Plans. None of the stock options awarded under the STC 1996 Employee Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan prior to the consummation of the mergers will accelerate or vest as a result of the mergers. Any option that is not exercised before the date the mergers become effective will be converted into an option with respect to common stock of OraSure Technologies following the mergers, in a manner intended to maintain the aggregate intrinsic value of the converted options. The number of shares of combined company stock to which any such converted option will pertain will equal the number of STC shares subject to such award multiplied by the exchange ratio, and the exercise price of such options will be the current exercise price of such option divided by the exchange ratio. For more information about the exchange ratio, see the section entitled "The Agreement and Plan of Merger--Merger Consideration" beginning on page 44.
Increased Liquidity of Shares The STC shares and options to purchase shares of STC will be converted in the STC Merger to shares of OraSure Technologies and options to purchase shares of OraSure Technologies, which shares will be publicly traded. These shares will therefore have increased liquidity, subject to the restrictions on disposition described under "Federal Securities Law Consequences."
Board of Directors, Management and Agreements of the Combined Company
Board of Directors of the Combined Company. We have agreed in the agreement and plan of merger that, as of the effective time of the mergers, the board of directors of the combined company will have 7 members, consisting of three persons designated by Epitope's board of directors, three persons designated by STC's board of directors, and one person mutually acceptable to the boards of both Epitope and STC. More information concerning the designees is provided under the heading "Additional Information Concerning the Designees to the Board of Directors" beginning on page 42.
Management of the Combined Company. We have also agreed that Mr. Thompson, the president and chief executive officer of Epitope, will become the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies; Mr. Gausling, the president and chief executive officer of STC, will become the president and chief operating officer of OraSure Technologies; Dr. Niedbala, the executive vice president and chief science officer of STC, will become the executive vice president and chief science officer of OraSure Technologies; Dr. George, the chief scientific officer of Epitope, will become the senior vice president of research and development, infectious disease of OraSure Technologies; Mr. Block, the vice president of sales and marketing of Epitope, will become the senior vice president of sales of OraSure Technologies; Mr. Hinchey, the executive vice president of business development-oral fluid products of STC, will become the senior vice president of marketing of OraSure Technologies; and Mr. Bergeron, the chief financial officer of Epitope, will become the vice president and chief financial officer of OraSure Technologies for a transitional period. All other management positions of OraSure Technologies will be determined jointly by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Gausling.
Employment Agreements with OraSure Technologies. Pursuant to the agreement and plan of merger, OraSure Technologies will enter into employment agreements with six people: Robert D. Thompson, Michael J. Gausling, William Hinchey, R. Sam Niedbala, Ph.D., William D. Block and J. Richard George, Ph.D. The salary which Mr. Thompson, Mr. Block and Dr. George will receive under the employment agreement with OraSure Technologies described below are the same as their current salary with Epitope.
Mr. Thompson's employment agreement provides, among other things, that Mr. Thompson will serve as the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies for a term of three years, subject to automatic renewal for successive one year periods unless either party gives the other party notice that the term will not be extended. Mr. Thompson will be paid a regular salary of $275,000 per year. Mr. Thompson is also eligible to participate in the executive bonus plan to be established by OraSure Technologies, and to receive or participate in any long- term incentive plan or any other additional benefits which may be made available by OraSure Technologies from time to time. Mr. Thompson will be reimbursed for job-related expenses, he will be paid a one-time relocation allowance of $30,000 upon relocation of his residence to Pennsylvania, and OraSure Technologies will purchase, or arrange for a third-party to purchase, Mr. Thompson's house in Portland, Oregon at a purchase price of $672,000. OraSure Technologies will pay all mortgage payments on the house that become due between the date of the relocation of OraSure Technologies' headquarters to Pennsylvania and the closing date of the purchase of Mr. Thompson's Portland, Oregon house, with any amounts so paid to be grossed up for any income tax owed by Mr. Thompson as a result of such payments. The agreement also provides that Mr. Thompson and OraSure Technologies will enter into a business protection agreement containing noncompetition provisions.
Mr. Thompson's employment agreement will terminate upon Mr. Thompson's death or upon 60 days' written notice from Mr. Thompson to OraSure Technologies. Mr. Thompson's employment agreement may also be terminated by OraSure Technologies for cause (as defined therein), or without cause. Upon the termination of Mr. Thompson's employment without cause, Mr. Thompson will continue to be paid his annual salary for the greater of (x) 12 months, (y) the remaining term of the employment agreement, or (z) 36 months if Mr. Thompson elects to treat one of the events described below as a termination without cause. Mr. Thompson may elect to treat the following events as a termination without cause:
. a material breach of the employment agreement by OraSure Technologies,
. a reduction in Mr. Thompson's salary or a change in his title or a substantial diminution of his duties,
. a requirement that Mr. Thompson regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board, or
. a "change in control" of OraSure Technologies.
A "change in control" generally is defined to take place when disclosure of such a change would be required by the proxy rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or when either:
. a person (other than OraSure Technologies, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of OraSure Technologies or any person with voting power arising from a revocable proxy) acquires
beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of the combined voting power of OraSure Technologies' voting securities,
. less than a majority of the directors are persons who were either nominated or selected by the board,
. the consummation of any consolidation or merger in which OraSure Technologies is not the surviving corporation or the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of OraSure Technologies, or
. the approval by the stockholders of OraSure Technologies of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of OraSure Technologies.
All of the other employment agreements are substantially similar to Mr. Thompson's, with the following exceptions:
Mr. Gausling will serve as the president and chief operating officer of OraSure Technologies, he will be under the supervision of the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies and he will be paid a regular salary of $225,000 per year (as compared to his annual salary of $200,000 from STC). Mr. Gausling's house will not be purchased by OraSure Technologies and he will receive no relocation allowance. Mr. Gausling's employment agreement contains the same termination provisions as Mr. Thompson's, except that Mr. Gausling cannot elect to treat a requirement that he regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board as a termination without cause.
Mr. Hinchey will serve as the senior vice president of marketing of OraSure Technologies, he will be under the supervision of the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies and he will be paid a regular salary of $150,000 per year (as compared to his annual salary of $140,000 from STC). Mr. Hinchey's employment agreement is for a term of two, rather than three, years. Mr. Hinchey's house will not be purchased by OraSure Technologies and he will receive no relocation allowance. Mr. Hinchey's employment agreement contains the same termination provisions as Mr. Thompson's, except that Mr. Hinchey cannot elect to treat a requirement that he regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board as a termination without cause and he will be paid his salary for 24 months, rather than 36 months, if he elects to treat one of the events described above as a termination without cause.
Dr. Niedbala will serve as the executive vice president and chief science officer of OraSure Technologies, he will be under the supervision of the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies and he will be paid a regular salary of $185,000 per year (as compared to his annual salary of $175,000 from STC). Dr. Niedbala's house will not be purchased by OraSure Technologies and he will receive no relocation allowance. Dr. Niedbala's employment agreement contains the same termination provisions as Mr. Thompson's, except that Dr. Niedbala cannot elect to treat a requirement that he regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board as a termination without cause and he will be paid his salary for 24 months, rather than 36 months, if he elects to treat one of the events described above as a termination without cause.
Mr. Block will serve as the senior vice president of sales of OraSure Technologies, he will be under the supervision of the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies and he will be paid a regular salary of $150,000 per year. Mr. Block's employment agreement is for a term of two, rather than three, years. Mr. Block's house will be purchased by OraSure Technologies at a purchase price equal to the average of three independent appraisals or such other price as is agreed to by OraSure Technologies and Mr. Block. Mr. Block will receive a $30,000 relocation allowance. Mr. Block's employment agreement contains the same termination provisions as Mr. Thompson's, except that Mr. Block cannot elect to treat a requirement that he regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board as a termination without cause and he will be paid his salary for 24 months, rather than 36 months, if he elects to treat one of the events described above as a termination without cause.
Dr. George will serve as the senior vice president of research and development, infectious disease, of OraSure Technologies, he will be under the supervision of the chief science officer of OraSure Technologies
and he will be paid a regular salary of $150,000 per year. Dr. George's employment agreement is for a term of two, rather than three, years. Dr. George's house will not be purchased by OraSure Technologies and he will receive no relocation allowance. Dr. George's employment agreement contains the same termination provisions as Mr. Thompson's, except that Dr. George cannot elect to treat a requirement that he regularly report to someone other than the chairman of the board as a termination without cause and he will be paid his salary for 24 months, rather than 36 months, if he elects to treat one of the events described above as a termination without cause.
Ownership of Common Stock; Stock Options
As of July 20, 2000, directors and executive officers of Epitope beneficially owned an aggregate of approximately 1,166,598 shares of Epitope common stock, including options to purchase 879,079 shares of Epitope common stock exercisable within 60 days. These shares collectively constitute approximately 7.0% of the outstanding shares of Epitope common stock.
As of June 1, 2000, directors and executive officers of STC beneficially owned an aggregate of 2,058,033 shares of STC common stock including 784,706 shares of STC convertible preferred stock, and options to purchase 12,500 shares of STC common stock exercisable within 60 days. These shares collectively constitute approximately 59.3% of the outstanding shares of STC common stock.
Additional Information Concerning the Designees to the Board of Directors
Following the merger, OraSure Technologies' board of directors will have seven members, consisting of three individuals designated by Epitope's board of directors and three individuals designated by STC's board of directors and one individual designated by the boards of both Epitope and STC.
Epitope Designees. The following current directors of Epitope are Epitope's designees for OraSure Technologies' board of directors.
Robert D. Thompson, age 38, president and chief executive officer of Epitope. Prior to joining Epitope in January 2000, Mr. Thompson was chief operating officer and chief financial officer at LabOne, Inc., a Kansas City, Missouri- based insurance testing laboratory. Mr. Thompson originally joined LabOne as vice president-business development in 1993 and was promoted to chief financial officer, treasurer, and executive vice president, finance, in 1994. He added the title of chief operating officer in 1996. LabOne is one of the pioneers in the use of Epitope's OraSure device for HIV testing in the insurance market and supplies HIV testing services to support Epitope's public health test kit product. Before joining LabOne, Mr. Thompson served as chief financial officer of Metwest, Inc., a Dallas-based clinical laboratory, and worked for seven years as an international business consultant. Mr. Thompson received an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and a B.S. degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Roger L. Pringle, age 59, director of Epitope. Mr. Pringle has been chairman of the board and a member of the board of directors of Epitope since February 1989. Mr. Pringle is president of The Pringle Company, a management consulting firm in Portland, Oregon, which he founded in 1975. Mr. Pringle is also a director of Agritope, Inc. and Bank of the Northwest.
Frank G. Hausmann, age 42, director of Epitope. Mr. Hausmann has been a member of the board of directors of Epitope since December 1999. Mr. Hausmann has been employed by CenterSpan Communications Corporation, formerly known as Thrustmaster, Inc., since July 1998 and has been its president and chief executive officer since October 1998. He served as vice president, finance and administration and chief financial officer prior to that time. From August 1997 to May 1998, Mr. Hausmann served as vice president, finance and chief financial officer of Atlas Telecom, Inc., a developer of enhanced facsimile and voice- mail solutions, that was experiencing financial difficulties and engaged Mr. Hausmann as part of its efforts to turn
around the company. In May 1998, an involuntary bankruptcy case was commenced against Atlas Telecom. From September 1995 to July 1997, he served as vice president, corporate development and general counsel of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., a designer and marketer of computer peripherals such as modems and graphics and sound cards. Mr. Hausmann received B.S. degrees in economics and political science from Willamette University and a J.D. degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar. Mr. Hausmann is also a director of CenterSpan Communications Corporation.
STC Designees. The following current directors of STC are STC's designees for OraSure Technologies' board of directors.
Michael J. Gausling, age 42, president and chief executive officer of STC. Mr. Gausling a co-founder of STC and has served as chairman of the board since 1996, president and chief executive officer since 1990, a director of STC since 1987, and was executive vice president, finance and operations from 1987 to 1990. Prior to forming STC, he had been employed in the area of corporate finance at Procter and Gamble. Mr. Gausling received his B.S.M.E. from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and his MBA in Finance from Miami University. Mr. Gausling is also a director of Paragon Technologies, Inc. and Keystone Savings Bank.
William W. Crouse, age 57, Director of STC. Mr. Crouse has been a member of the board of directors of STC since April 1999. Since 1994, Mr. Crouse has served as Managing Director of HealthCare Ventures LLC, a venture capital firm. Mr. Crouse served as Worldwide President of Ortho Diagnostic Systems, and Vice President of Johnson & Johnson International. Mr. Crouse has more than 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He serves as a director of BioTransplant Incorporated, Dendreon Corporation, The New York Blood Center and Lehigh University. Mr. Crouse received his B.S. in finance and economics from Lehigh University and his M.B.A. from Pace University.
Michael G. Bolton, age 56, Director of STC. Mr. Bolton has been a member of the board of directors of STC since April 1999 and is a Senior Vice President of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. Since January 1998, Mr. Bolton has served as the Managing Director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners L.P., a Safeguard Scientific's affiliate. Prior to joining Safeguard, Mr. Bolton was an executive at Lehigh University for 25 years. Mr. Bolton was the founding chief executive of the Ben Franklin Technology Center at Lehigh University and co-founder of the NEPA Venture Fund. Mr. Bolton received his B.A. in Economics and his MBA from Lehigh University.
Joint Designee. The seventh member of OraSure Technologies' board of directors will be selected jointly by the boards of Epitope and STC. No candidate for that seat had been selected as of the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The person who will be elected to this board seat will qualify as an "independent" director under applicable NASD rules and therefore will not be an officer, employee or affiliate of, or have other disqualifying relationships with, either Epitope or STC.
THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
The following summary of the agreement and plan of merger is qualified by reference to the complete text of the agreement and plan of merger dated as of May 6, 2000, which is incorporated by reference and attached as Annex A.
Structure of the Mergers
Under the agreement and plan of merger, STC will merge into OraSure Technologies, a newly formed subsidiary of Epitope and, immediately thereafter, Epitope will merge into OraSure Technologies. OraSure Technologies will be the surviving corporation in both of the mergers. We will sometimes refer to the merger of STC into OraSure Technologies as the "STC Merger" and the merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies as the "Epitope Merger."
Timing of Closing
The closing of the mergers will take place on a date mutually agreed upon by Epitope and STC, which will be no later than the third business day after all closing conditions set forth in the agreement and plan of merger have been satisfied or waived. The closing date is expected to be the same date as the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers. We expect that immediately upon the closing of the mergers, we will file a certificate of merger with respect to the STC Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, we will then file a certificate of merger with respect to the Epitope Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware and articles of merger with respect to the Epitope Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Oregon. The effective time of the mergers will either be the time the certificates of merger and the articles of merger are filed, or at such later time as may be specified in the certificates of merger and the articles of merger.
Merger Consideration
The STC Merger. The agreement and plan of merger provides that, at the effective time of the STC Merger, each share of STC common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of that merger, other than shares as to which appraisal rights have been exercised, will be converted into shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies at an exchange ratio determined as follows:
(i) if the average Epitope stock price is greater than $13.00, then the exchange ratio will be determined by dividing $260 million by the average Epitope stock price, and then dividing that number by the number of shares of fully diluted STC common stock outstanding;
(ii) if the average Epitope stock price is equal to or less than $13.00, but equal to or more than $10.00, then the exchange ratio will be determined by dividing 20 million shares by the number of shares of fully diluted STC common stock outstanding; or
(iii) if the average Epitope stock price is less than $10.00, then the exchange ratio will be determined by dividing $200 million by the average Epitope stock price, and then dividing that number by the number of shares of fully diluted STC common stock outstanding; provided that, if the number you get when you divide $200 million by the average Epitope stock price is greater than 25 million, then such number shall be deemed to be 25 million for the purposes of completing the calculation set forth above.
For purposes of determining the exchange ratio, the following definitions apply:
"average Epitope stock price" means the average of the closing price per share of Epitope common stock during a 20-day measurement period that ends immediately preceding the third trading day before the date of the stockholder meetings held to approve the mergers; and
"fully diluted STC common stock outstanding" means the sum of the number of shares of STC common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the STC Merger and the number of shares of STC common stock underlying all STC options or other rights to purchase or acquire STC common stock.
The following table sets forth the per share value of the merger consideration to be received by the holders of STC common stock at various average closing prices of Epitope common stock, assuming that the fully diluted STC common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the mergers is equal to 3,656,876 shares.
Average Epitope Stock Price Per Share Consideration Exchange Ratio
--------------------------- ----------------------- --------------
$15.00 $71.10 4.7399
$14.00 $71.10 5.0785
$13.00 $71.10 5.4691
$12.00 $65.63 5.4691
$11.00 $60.16 5.4691
$10.00 $54.69 5.4691
$ 9.00 $54.69 6.0768
$ 8.00 $54.69 6.8364
$ 7.00 $47.86 6.8364
$ 6.00 $41.02 6.8364
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All shares of STC convertible preferred stock will be converted into shares of STC common stock prior to the STC Merger. However, any shares of STC common stock issued and owned or held by STC or OraSure Technologies will be canceled without any payment for those shares.
Each share of OraSure Technologies common stock outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the effective time of the STC Merger will continue to represent one share of common stock of OraSure Technologies.
OraSure Technologies will not issue any fractional shares in the STC Merger. Holders of STC common stock who would otherwise receive fractional shares will instead receive a cash payment based upon the value of such fractional shares of the common stock of OraSure Technologies.
As a result of the STC Merger, all shares of STC common stock and convertible preferred stock will no longer be outstanding.
The Epitope Merger. The agreement and plan of merger provides that each share of Epitope common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Epitope Merger will, at the effective time of that merger, be converted into one share of common stock of OraSure Technologies. However, any shares of Epitope common stock issued and owned or held by Epitope or OraSure Technologies will be canceled without any payment for those shares.
Each share of OraSure Technologies common stock outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to the effective time of the Epitope Merger will continue to represent one share of common stock of OraSure Technologies.
As a result of the Epitope Merger, all shares of Epitope common stock will no longer be outstanding.
Treatment of Stock Options
The STC Merger. At the effective time of the STC Merger, each outstanding option granted by STC to purchase shares of STC common stock will be converted into an option with respect to common stock of OraSure Technologies, in a manner intended to maintain the aggregate intrinsic value of the converted options. There will be no acceleration in the vesting or exercisability of any such option as a result of the STC Merger. The number of shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies which any such converted option will pertain to will equal the number of STC shares subject to such award multiplied by the exchange ratio used to determine the merger consideration for the STC Merger, and the exercise price of such award will be the current exercise price of such award divided by the exchange ratio.
The Epitope Merger. At the effective time of the Epitope Merger, each outstanding option granted by Epitope to purchase shares of Epitope common stock will be converted into an option with respect to common stock of OraSure Technologies, in a manner intended to maintain the aggregate intrinsic value of the converted options. The number of shares of common stock of OraSure Technologies to which any such converted option will pertain will be equal to the same number of Epitope shares subject to the option, and the exercise price of the option will remain the per-share exercise price specified in the option. Pursuant to Epitope's 1991 Stock Award Plan and 2000 Stock Award Plan and Mr. Thompson's non-qualified stock option agreement, all outstanding options will immediately vest and become exercisable upon completion of the mergers. In connection with the vesting of these stock options, OraSure Technologies will recognize a one-time, non-cash charge of $665,267 related to deferred compensation in the quarter in which the mergers are consummated. This charge is the total of the unamortized portion of the difference between the original exercise price and the market price at the time the options were issued to each person who received discounted options.
Exchange of Certificates
OraSure Technologies has appointed ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. exchange agent to handle the exchange of STC and Epitope stock certificates for stock certificates of OraSure Technologies in the mergers and the payment of cash for fractional shares that would otherwise have been issued pursuant to the STC Merger. Soon after the effective time of the mergers, the exchange agent will send to each former STC and Epitope stockholder a letter of transmittal to be used to exchange STC and Epitope stock certificates for shares of OraSure Technologies and, in the case of the STC Merger, to receive cash instead of any fractional shares. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions explaining the procedure for surrendering STC and Epitope stock certificates. You should not return any stock certificates with the enclosed proxy card.
Holders of STC and Epitope stock who surrender their stock certificates to the exchange agent, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal, will receive the appropriate merger consideration. Holders of unexchanged shares of STC or Epitope stock will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions payable by OraSure Technologies after the effective time of the mergers until they surrender their stock certificates in accordance with the exchange agent's instructions.
The Board of OraSure Technologies and Related Matters
Board of Directors of OraSure Technologies. Epitope and STC have agreed to take the necessary action so that, as of the effective time of the mergers, the board of directors of OraSure Technologies will consist of seven members, three of whom will be designated by Epitope's board of directors and three of whom will be designated by STC's board of directors, and one of whom will be a person mutually acceptable to the boards of both Epitope and STC. The board of directors of OraSure Technologies will be divided into three classes, with the initial terms of office of the first, second and third classes expiring at the first, second and third annual meetings of the stockholders of OraSure Technologies, respectively. One STC designee and one Epitope designee will be placed in each class of the board of OraSure Technologies.
Management of OraSure Technologies. The agreement and plan of merger provides that, as of the effective time of the mergers, the following persons will serve as the principal officers of OraSure Technologies: Mr. Thompson, the president and chief executive officer of Epitope, will serve as the chief executive officer of OraSure Technologies; Mr. Gausling, the president and chief executive officer of STC, will serve as the president and chief operating officer of OraSure Technologies; R. Sam Niedbala, the executive vice president and chief science officer of STC, will serve as executive vice president and chief science officer of OraSure Technologies; J. Richard George, Ph.D., the chief scientific officer of Epitope, will serve as senior vice president of research and development, infectious disease of OraSure Technologies; William D. Block, the vice president of sales and marketing of Epitope, will serve as senior vice president of sales of OraSure Technologies; William Hinchey, the executive vice president of business development-oral fluid products of STC, will serve as senior vice president of marketing of OraSure Technologies; and Mr. Bergeron, the chief financial officer of Epitope, will become the vice president and chief financial officer of OraSure Technologies for a transitional period. All other management positions of OraSure Technologies will be determined jointly by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Gausling.
Headquarters of OraSure Technologies. We agreed in the agreement and plan of merger that by January 1, 2001 the principal corporate offices and headquarters of OraSure Technologies will be located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Name of OraSure Technologies
We agreed in the agreement and plan of merger that the name of the combined company will be OraSure Technologies, Inc.
Representations and Warranties
In the agreement and plan of merger, Epitope and STC make customary representations and warranties to each other relating to, among other things:
. corporate existence and power;
. corporate authority to enter into, and carry out the obligations under, the agreement and plan of merger and enforceability of the agreement and plan of merger;
. government approvals and required consents;
. lack of conflicts with existing agreements;
. capitalization;
. in the case of Epitope, documents and other reports that have been or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
. financial statements;
. absence of undisclosed liabilities;
. reliability of information to be supplied for this joint proxy statement/prospectus;
. the absence of material changes and events;
. the absence of material litigation;
. taxes;
. employee benefit plan matters;
. compliance with laws;
. licenses, permits and registrations;
. title to properties;
. intellectual property;
. environmental matters;
. payment of fees to finders or brokers in connection with the agreement and plan of merger;
. opinions of financial advisors as to fairness of the exchange ratio from a financial point of view as of May 6, 2000;
. required vote of stockholders of Epitope and STC;
. board approval and recommendations to stockholders of Epitope and STC;
. exemption of the mergers from state takeover statutes;
. accounting for the mergers as a pooling of interests;
. treatment of the mergers as a tax-free reorganization;
. restrictions on disposition of stock by affiliates to ensure "pooling of interests," accounting and compliance with federal securities laws;
. the absence of undisclosed agreements with employees requiring payments as a result of the mergers;
. the absence of transactions with directors, officers and affiliates not previously disclosed;
. material contracts;
. the absence of unlawful payments;
. insurance;
. compliance with FDA requirements; and
. product liability claims.
In addition, Epitope also represented to STC that its stockholder rights plan is not applicable to the mergers or the agreement and plan of merger. The agreement and plan of merger also contains representations and warranties relating to the wholly-owned subsidiary of Epitope into which both Epitope and STC will be merged, including due organization, capitalization, corporate authorization, lack of conflicts with existing agreements, no prior business activities and taxes.
The representations and warranties contained in the agreement and plan of merger do not survive the effective time of the mergers.
Covenants
We have each undertaken to perform covenants set forth in the agreement and plan of merger. The principal covenants are as follows:
Interim Operations of Epitope and STC. From the date of signing the agreement and plan of merger until the effective time of the mergers or the termination of the agreement and plan of merger, we have each agreed to conduct our business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve our current business organizations intact, to maintain in effect all licenses, approvals and other obligations and to preserve our relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom we do business with the intention that our ongoing business shall not be impaired in any material respect. In addition, each of us has agreed to restrictions, subject to limited exceptions, that prohibit us from taking specified actions, including the following:
. amend our articles or certificates of incorporation, bylaws or other governing documents;
. split, combine or reclassify any of our capital stock;
. declare, set aside or pay any dividends or other distribution;
. purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of our capital stock;
. issue, deliver or sell any shares of our capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire our capital stock other than the options to purchase shares of our common stock in an amount equal to the number of shares underlying options forfeited prior to closing by our employees, under our option plans, and upon exercise of stock options and warrants in accordance with their present terms;
. amend any term of any of our outstanding securities;
. incur any capital expenditures except for those contemplated by our capital expenditure budget or those incurred in the ordinary course of business;
. acquire any assets or equity interests with a fair market value of more than $100,000, excluding amounts contemplated by our capital expenditure budget, but in no event may asset or equity interest acquisitions and budgeted capital expenditures exceed $500,000 in the aggregate;
. sell, lease, out-license, encumber or otherwise dispose of assets except in the ordinary course of business, assets no longer in use, or assets related to discontinued operations;
. incur or generate any debt or issue any debt securities, warrants or rights to acquire any debt, make any loans, capital contributions to or investments in any other person, or, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, guarantee any debt securities or indebtedness of others, in any case, in an amount in excess of $100,000;
. enter into any agreement or arrangement that restricts or limits us from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any location;
. enter into, amend, modify or terminate any material agreement except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
. except in the ordinary course of business or as may be required by law or any existing agreement, increase the amount of compensation of any director or executive officer or increase any employee benefits, grant any severance pay to any director, officer or employee, adopt, amend, make a contribution to, or accelerate vesting under any benefit plan, or hire any employee with an annual base salary in excess of $75,000;
. except as may be required as a result of a change in law or in generally accepted accounting principles, change any of our respective accounting methods or our respective fiscal year;
. make any material tax election or settle any material income tax liability, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
. settle or commence any litigation or investigation material to our respective business other than the discharge of various liabilities in the ordinary course of business;
. enter into any new line of business;
. amend, modify, or waive any provision of Epitope's stockholder rights plan, other than as required to close the mergers;
. take any action to redeem Epitope's stock purchase rights under its stockholder rights plan; or
. agree, commit or resolve to do any of the foregoing.
No Solicitation. Except as described below, we have agreed that each of us will not directly or indirectly, and we will use our reasonable best efforts to cause each of our officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, not to, solicit, initiate, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any inquiries or proposals relating to an "acquisition proposal," as defined below, participate in any discussions or negotiations or provide any information regarding any acquisition proposal, grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement, or enter into any agreement with respect to an acquisition proposal.
An "acquisition proposal" is:
. any offer or proposal for a purchase or sale of 10% or more of the assets of Epitope or STC, any purchase or sale of, or tender or exchange offer for, 10% or more of any equity securities of Epitope or STC, or any other similar transaction or series of transactions involving the issuance of more than 10% of the outstanding securities of Epitope or STC; or
. any offer or proposal for a merger, reorganization, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, liquidation or dissolution or similar transaction involving Epitope or STC, other than a proposal made by the other party or its affiliate.
However, in response to an unsolicited bona fide written acquisition proposal to acquire Epitope, Epitope may:
. furnish any information to any person making such acquisition proposal;
. participate in discussions or negotiations regarding such acquisition proposal; and
. recommend approval of such acquisition proposal and withdraw its recommendation to approve these mergers.
In order for Epitope to engage in any of the above activities in response to the unsolicited acquisition proposal:
. its meeting of stockholders must not have occurred;
. in order to furnish information or participate in discussions or negotiations as described above, its board of directors must conclude in good faith that the acquisition proposal could reasonably be expected to result in a "superior proposal" as described below;
. in order to recommend approval of such acquisition proposal or withdraw its recommendation as described above, its board of directors must conclude in good faith that the acquisition proposal constitutes a "superior proposal";
. prior to providing any information or data to any person in connection with an acquisition proposal, it must receive from that person an executed confidentiality agreement containing terms at least as stringent as the terms contained in the confidentiality agreement Epitope entered into with STC before signing the agreement and plan of merger; and
. prior to providing any information or data to any person or entering into discussions or negotiations with any person, Epitope must notify STC.
Epitope has also agreed to promptly keep STC informed of the status and terms of any proposals, offers, discussions or negotiations related to a bona fide unsolicited written acquisition proposal.
Epitope is not prevented from disclosing to its stockholders its position with respect to an acquisition proposal, or taking other action required, in order to comply with Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
A "superior proposal" is a written proposal made by a third party for:
(1) a merger, reorganization, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving Epitope, as a result of which either:
(A) its stockholders before the transaction cease to own at least 50% of the voting securities of the entity surviving or resulting from such transaction, or the ultimate parent entity of the surviving or resulting entity; or
(B) the individuals comprising its board of directors before the transaction do not constitute a majority of the board of directors of the entity surviving or resulting from such transaction, or ultimate parent entity of the surviving or resulting entity;
(2) a sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of at least 50% of the assets of it and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; or
(3) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by a person of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of its common stock, whether by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, tender or exchange offer or otherwise, other than a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, tender or exchange offer or other transaction upon the consummation of which such party's stockholders would in the aggregate beneficially own greater than 60% of the voting securities of such person;
which is otherwise on terms which its board of directors in good faith concludes, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, after taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the nature of the person making the proposal, would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to its stockholders, from a financial point of view, than the merger between Epitope and STC (after giving effect to any revised proposal made by STC during a three business day period after notice thereof), and is reasonably capable of being completed. No acquisition proposal will be deemed a superior proposal if any financing required to complete the contemplated transaction is not committed in writing at the time the Epitope board of directors determines that the proposal is a superior proposal.
Board of Directors' Covenant to Recommend. We have agreed that each of our respective boards of directors will, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law and Epitope's right to pursue the types of bona fide written unsolicited acquisition proposals described above that it receives, recommend to our respective stockholders the adoption and approval of the agreement and plan of merger, and will not, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law and Epitope's right to pursue bona fide written unsolicited acquisition proposals of the type described above that it receives, withdraw, modify, or materially qualify in a manner adverse to the other company its recommendation, or to take any action or make any statement in connection with its stockholders' meeting that is materially inconsistent with its recommendation.
Mutual Covenants
We have also undertaken to perform other covenants relating to our conduct prior to the effective time, including those requiring us:
. to use our reasonable best efforts to take all actions and do all things necessary or advisable under applicable law to complete the mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger as soon as practicable;
. to prepare the OraSure Technologies registration statement and this joint proxy statement/prospectus and to cause OraSure Technologies to take any required action under state securities laws in connection with the issuance of OraSure Technologies common stock in the mergers;
. to notify each other of the time the registration statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of qualification of the shares in any jurisdiction, or any request by the SEC for amendment of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or comments on this joint proxy statement/prospectus, responses to those comments or requests from the SEC for additional information;
. to notify each other if information in this joint proxy statement/prospectus becomes or is discovered to be misleading;
. to cooperate to make any required governmental filing and to obtain all required third-party consents;
. to cooperate to set a mutually acceptable date for the special meetings;
. to give notice of and convene meetings of our stockholders to consider and vote upon adoption and approval of the agreement and plan of merger and the mergers;
. to permit the other party to review any communication given by us to any governmental entity or in connection with any proceeding by a private party and give the other party the opportunity to attend, and participate in, any such proceeding;
. to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the OraSure Technologies common stock to be issued in the mergers to be approved for listing on the Nasdaq National Market; and
. to consult with one another before issuing a press release or making any public statement regarding the agreement and plan of merger, except as required by applicable law or any listing agreement with the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Access to Information. We have agreed to provide each other with access to our offices and information, with such information to be held subject to our obligations of confidentiality undertaken in connection with the agreement and plan of merger.
Notification of Certain Matters. We have agreed to notify each other of:
. the receipt of any notice or communication from a third party alleging that their consent is required in connection with the agreement and plan of merger;
. any communication from a governmental entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger;
. any actions, suits or investigations commenced or, to the knowledge of the party, threatened, against the party; and
. such party's obtaining knowledge of any occurrence causing a representation or warranty to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or causing the material failure of a party to comply with a covenant or condition of the agreement and plan of merger.
Tax and Accounting Treatment. Each party has agreed that it will use it best efforts to cause the mergers to receive tax-free treatment, other than the taxes resulting from the payment of cash instead of issuing fractional shares, as described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus in the section entitled "The Mergers--Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers" beginning on page 32, and to qualify for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment, as described in the section entitled "The Mergers-- Accounting Treatment" beginning on page 37.
Confidentiality. We have each agreed that we will hold, and will cause our representatives to hold, in confidence, all information received in connection with the transactions contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger. We have agreed not to use the confidential material for any purpose other than the purpose of the transactions contemplated by the agreement and plan of merger. We have also agreed that the confidential information will only be disclosed to representatives on a need to know basis and each such representative will be informed of its obligation to keep the information confidential. If we are required by law to disclose the confidential information, we have agreed to promptly notify the party disclosing the information so that they may seek an appropriate protective order preventing such disclosure. We will not be subject to these obligations with respect to any information:
. that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by one of us in connection with the agreement and plan of merger;
. that was previously available to us on a non-confidential basis; or
. that becomes available to us on a non-confidential basis from an outside source that is not known to the party receiving the information to be contractually or legally prohibited from disclosing the information.
If the agreement and plan of merger is terminated, we have agreed that we will use our best efforts to cause the documents and other materials subject to such confidentiality obligations to be destroyed or returned.
Insurance and Indemnification. OraSure Technologies has agreed to:
. assume certain indemnification agreements of Epitope and STC, which agreements will survive the mergers and continue in effect for the longer of six years or until the final disposition of any claim made pursuant to such agreements;
. indemnify and hold harmless all past and present directors, officers and employees of STC and Epitope and its subsidiaries, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, for acts or omissions occurring on or before the mergers, including reimbursement for all expenses incurred in connection with any action, proceeding or investigation arising from such acts or omissions; and
. cause to be maintained for a period of six years after the mergers policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance covering the directors and officers of STC and Epitope similar in scope and coverage to that maintained by STC and Epitope.
Conditions
Each of our respective obligations to complete the mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions, the most significant of which are:
. the adoption and approval of the agreement and plan of merger by the STC stockholders and the Epitope stockholders;
. the approval for listing on the Nasdaq National Market the common stock of OraSure Technologies to be issued in the mergers;
. the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act which expired on July 1, 2000;
. the receipt of all other governmental and regulatory consents, approvals and authorizations necessary for the mergers and the issuance of common stock in the mergers, unless not obtaining those consents or approvals would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on OraSure Technologies and its subsidiaries, taken together, after the mergers;
. the absence of any law, order or injunction prohibiting completion of the mergers or which otherwise would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on OraSure Technologies and its subsidiaries, taken together, after the mergers;
. receipt by each of Epitope and STC from their respective independent accountants of a letter concurring with the conclusions of their clients' management that no condition exists that would preclude OraSure Technologies from accounting for the mergers of Epitope and STC into OraSure Technologies as a "pooling of interests" in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The obligations of STC on one hand, and Epitope on the other, to consummate the mergers of STC and Epitope into OraSure Technologies are also subject to the fulfillment, on or before the effective time of the mergers, of the following additional conditions, unless waived in writing:
. the performance by the other party in all material respects of all obligations required to performed by it;
. the representations and warranties of the other party being true in all material respects as if they were made on the closing date of the mergers;
. the receipt of an opinion from its counsel to the effect that the merger of STC into OraSure Technologies or the merger of Epitope into OraSure Technologies, as the case may be, will qualify as a tax free reorganization within the meaning of federal income tax laws and that each of Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies will be a party to such reorganization;
. the receipt of all required employment and affiliate agreements;
. in the case of Epitope, the opinion of Epitope's financial advisor attached as Annex B not being withdrawn or materially modified in an adverse manner;
. the Food and Drug Administration having taken no adverse action prohibiting or significantly limiting the manufacture, sale, promotion or distribution of any products of STC or Epitope, as the case may be or their respective operations; and
. the absence of any material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, assets, liabilities, business or prospects of STC or Epitope, as the case may be.
It is a further condition to the obligations of STC that, at the effective time of the mergers, no event has occurred that would trigger a distribution of rights under Epitope's stockholder rights plan or that would make such rights exercisable. It is a further condition to Epitope's obligations that, at the effective time of the mergers, the holders of all shares of the convertible preferred stock of STC have converted such shares into common stock of STC.
Termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger
Termination by Epitope or STC. Either one of us may terminate the agreement and plan of merger and abandon the mergers at any time prior to the effective time of the mergers if:
. both of us agree to terminate effective by mutual written agreement;
. the mergers have not been completed by October 31, 2000, provided that the terminating party's breach of or failure to fulfill any obligation under the agreement and plan of merger is not the cause of the mergers not being completed;
. a law or regulation makes consummation of the mergers illegal;
. a court order or ruling of another governmental entity permanently prohibiting the completion of the mergers becomes final and non- appealable, provided that the terminating party shall have used its reasonable best efforts to avoid or remove such prohibition; or
. Epitope's stockholders fail to approve the agreement and plan of merger.
Termination by Epitope. Epitope may terminate the agreement and plan of merger and abandon the mergers at any time prior to the effective time of the mergers if:
. the board of directors of STC amends, withdraws or materially qualifies in any manner adverse to Epitope its recommendation to its stockholders for adoption of the agreement and plan of merger or takes any action or makes any statement in connection with the STC stockholders meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation, or has resolved or publicly proposed to take such action;
. the board of directors of STC approves, endorses or recommends another proposal to its stockholders;
. STC or one of its affiliates willfully and materially breaches its obligations with respect to alternate acquisition proposals;
. STC breaches any representation, warranty or covenant that will cause a condition to closing not to be satisfied before the earlier of 20 business days written notice thereof or October 31, 2000;
. a tender or exchange offer relating to the securities of STC has commenced and STC has not sent a statement recommending rejection of such tender or exchange offer to its security holders within ten business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer; or
. prior to the required approval of its stockholders, Epitope enters into a definitive agreement for a superior proposal for Epitope and the agreement and plan of merger is terminated, provided that Epitope complied with the terms of the agreement and plan of merger with respect to the superior proposal, Epitope's board of directors determined in good faith, after taking into account any revised proposal by STC during a three business day period after notice thereof, that an acquisition proposal is a superior proposal and Epitope makes the payment and reimbursement described below.
Termination by STC. STC may terminate the agreement and plan of merger and abandon the mergers at any time prior to the effective time of the mergers if:
. The board of directors of Epitope amends, withdraws or materially qualifies in a manner adverse to STC its recommendation to its stockholders for adoption of the agreement and plan of merger or takes any action or makes any statement in connection with the Epitope stockholders meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation, or has resolved or publicly proposed to take such action;
. Epitope's board of directors approves, endorses or recommends another proposal to its stockholders;
. Epitope or one of its affiliates willfully and materially breaches its obligations with respect to alternate acquisition proposals;
. Epitope breaches any representation, warranty or covenant that will cause a condition to closing not to be satisfied before the earlier of 20 business days written notice thereof or October 31, 2000;
. a tender or exchange offer relating to the securities of Epitope has commenced and Epitope has not sent a statement recommending rejection of such tender or exchange offer to its security holders within ten business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer;
. the rights issued under Epitope's stockholder rights plan have become exercisable or such plan has otherwise been triggered or a distribution has otherwise occurred under such plan;
. the average closing stock price of Epitope during a 20-day period ending three days prior to the effective time of the mergers is less than $6.00 per share; or
. the Epitope meeting of stockholders is canceled or is otherwise not held or a final vote of Epitope's stockholders has not been taken with respect to the merger prior to October 31, 2000, except as a result of a judgment, injunction, order or decree of any competent authority or events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Epitope.
In addition, the agreement and plan of merger will automatically terminate if the transactions contemplated by it are enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction for a period extending beyond 90 days.
Fees and Expenses Payable by Epitope Because of a Termination
Epitope has agreed to pay STC a termination fee in the following amounts in the following circumstances:
. Epitope will pay a termination fee to STC in an amount equal to $3,000,000 if the agreement and plan of merger is terminated by STC because:
(a) Epitope's board of directors has adversely changed its recommendation, or fails to include in this joint proxy statement its recommendation, to its stockholders for adoption of the agreement and plan of merger;
(b) Epitope's board of directors recommends, approves or endorses another acquisition proposal to its stockholders;
(c) a tender or exchange offer relating to the securities of Epitope has commenced and Epitope has not sent a statement recommending rejection of such tender or exchange offer to its security holders within ten business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer;
(d) Epitope or its board of directors or any committee thereof shall have resolved to do or permit any of the foregoing; or
(e) the Epitope meeting of stockholders is canceled or is otherwise not held or a final vote of Epitope's stockholders has not been taken with respect to the mergers prior to October 31, 2000, except as a result of a judgment, injunction, order or decree of any competent authority or events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Epitope.
. Epitope will make an additional payment of $2,000,000 to STC and will reimburse STC for its reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the mergers up to a maximum of $1,000,000 if:
(a) an acquisition proposal had been made prior to the actions set out in subparagraphs (a)--(e) above; and
(b) within twelve months following the termination of the agreement and plan of merger by STC, Epitope enters into a definitive agreement with the party that made such acquisition proposal.
. Epitope will pay a termination fee to STC in an amount equal to $5,000,000 and will reimburse STC for its reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the mergers up to a maximum of $1,000,000 if the following circumstances occur: (i) the agreement and plan of merger is terminated by Epitope because, prior to the required approval of its stockholders, Epitope's board of directors has entered into a definitive agreement for a superior proposal (as described above), (ii) Epitope has given STC three business days to negotiate a revised transaction with it and the Epitope board of directors concludes in good faith, after taking into account any revised proposal by STC, that it has received a superior proposal from a third party; and (iii) Epitope has complied with the restrictions on soliciting or encouraging acquisition proposals from third parties.
. The $5,000,000 termination fee and $1,000,000 expense reimbursement referred to above will be reduced to the extent any termination fee or expense reimbursement has already been paid to STC by Epitope for any reason.
Fees and Expenses Generally
Except as described above, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the agreement and plan of merger will be paid by the party incurring such fees and expenses.
Amendments and Waivers
Any provision of the agreement and plan of merger may be amended or waived by the parties at any time before or after the stockholders' meetings. However, no amendment or waiver requiring stockholder approval (generally those representing material changes) shall be made after the stockholders' meetings without the further approval of such stockholders. If a provision of the agreement and plan of merger is amended or waived prior to the meetings, we would anticipate, to the extent required by applicable law, preparing and mailing to stockholders an amendment or supplement to this proxy statement and resoliciting proxies for use at the meetings. All amendments to the agreement and plan of merger must be in writing signed by each party. All waivers must be in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENTS AND VOTING INDICATIONS
The following information relating to the stockholder agreements is not intended to be a complete description of all of the information relating to the stockholder agreements, but is intended to include the material terms of the stockholder agreements.
As a condition to the execution by STC and Epitope of the agreement and plan of merger, some of the stockholders of Epitope, including members of management and the board of directors, entered into stockholder agreements for the benefit of STC and some of the stockholders of STC, including members of management and the board of directors, entered into stockholder agreements for the benefit of Epitope.
Pursuant to the stockholder agreements, the stockholders agreed to vote their shares of STC and Epitope common stock in favor of adoption of the agreement and plan of merger and granted irrevocable proxies in support of such voting agreements. Any transferee of their shares are subject to such voting agreements and irrevocable proxies. The obligations under the stockholder agreements terminate automatically upon the termination of the agreement and plan of merger.
The obligations of these stockholders in the stockholder agreements will not be affected if the price of Epitope stock falls below $6.00 per share, but will terminate if STC, in that event, exercises its walk-away right in the agreement and plan of merger.
The following holders of STC securities, representing 1,992,024 shares or approximately 57.4% of its outstanding stock, are parties to stockholder agreements for the benefit of Epitope: HealthcareVentures V, LP; Michael J. Gausling; William M. Hinchey; Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners, L.P.; Raymond S. Niedbala; The Michael J. Gausling Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 28, 2000; The Mike Gausling Irrevocable Education Trust Dated April 28, 2000; The Raymond S. Niedbala 2000 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 28, 2000; The Raymond S. Niedbala Family Trust Dated April 28, 2000; The William M. Hinchey 2000 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 27, 2000; and The William M. Hinchey Irrevocable Education Trust Dated April 27, 2000.
The following holders of Epitope common stock, representing 529,177 shares or approximately 3.3% of its outstanding common stock, are parties to stockholder agreements for the benefit of STC: Roger Pringle and Andrew Goldstein.
Sawtooth Capital Management, the owner of approximately 15% of Epitope's common stock, has informed Epitope that it plans to vote for approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
As of July 20, 2000 Epitope directors and executive officers beneficially owned 1,166,598 shares of Epitope common stock, including 879,079 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days. These shares represent approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of Epitope common stock as of July 20, 2000. These individuals have indicated that they intend to vote all of these shares which are outstanding as of the record date in favor of the Epitope Proposal.
As of July 20, 2000 STC directors and executive officers beneficially owned 2,058,033 shares of STC common stock, including 12,500 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days. These shares represent approximately 59.3% of the votes entitled to be cast as of the record date. These individuals have indicated that they intend to vote all of the above shares which are outstanding as of the record date in favor of the STC Proposal.
OPINIONS OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Opinion of Financial Advisor to Epitope
Epitope engaged Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown to act as its exclusive financial advisor in connection with the mergers. On May 6, 2000, at a meeting of the Epitope board of directors held to evaluate the proposed mergers, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown rendered an oral opinion, confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated the same date, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the matters described in its opinion, the exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to Epitope. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion addressed the fairness of the exchange ratio, from a financial point, to Epitope rather than Epitope's stockholders since STC is a privately held company and the exchange ratio, which reflects the number of shares of OraSure Technologies common stock to be received by STC stockholders, will be determined based on Epitope's closing stock price as though Epitope were the issuer, or "acquiror," in the mergers.
The full text of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's written opinion dated May 6, 2000, which describes the assumptions made, matters considered and limitations of the review undertaken, is attached as Annex B and is incorporated into this document by reference. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion is addressed to the Epitope board of directors and relates only to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Epitope of the exchange ratio. The opinion does not address the merits of the underlying decision by Epitope to engage in the mergers and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote with respect to matters relating to the proposed mergers. The summary of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion described below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of its opinion.
In connection with Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's role as Epitope's financial advisor, and in arriving at its opinion, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown:
. reviewed publicly available financial and other information concerning Epitope, financial and other information concerning STC and internal analyses and other information which Epitope, STC and their advisors furnished to or discussed with Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown;
. held discussions with members of Epitope's and STC's senior managements regarding the business and prospects of their companies and the joint prospects of OraSure Technologies;
. reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for Epitope common stock;
. compared financial and stock market information for Epitope and financial and other information for STC with similar information for other companies whose securities are publicly traded;
. reviewed the financial terms of recent business combinations which Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown deemed comparable in whole or in part;
. reviewed the terms of the agreement and plan of merger; and
. performed other studies and analyses and considered other factors as Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown deemed appropriate.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown did not assume responsibility for independent verification of, and did not independently verify, any information, whether publicly available or furnished to Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, concerning Epitope, STC or OraSure Technologies, including, without limitation, any financial information, forecasts or projections considered in connection with the rendering of its opinion. For purposes of its opinion, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all information that it reviewed and did not conduct a physical inspection of any of the properties or assets, or prepare or obtain any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of Epitope or STC. With respect to the financial forecasts and projections relating to Epitope and STC that were made available to Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown and used in its analyses, including forecasts of synergies expected to be achieved as a result of the mergers, Epitope and STC advised Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, and Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown assumed, that they were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of Epitope's and STC's managements. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion was necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions existing on, and the information made available to Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown as of, the date of its opinion.
For purposes of rendering its opinion, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown assumed that, in all respects material to its analysis, the representations and warranties of Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies contained in the agreement and plan of merger were true and correct, Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies will each perform all of the covenants and agreements to be performed by it under the agreement and plan of merger and all conditions to the obligations of each of Epitope, STC and OraSure Technologies to consummate the mergers will be satisfied without any waiver. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also assumed that all material governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents required in connection with the consummation of the mergers will be obtained and that in connection with obtaining any necessary governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents, or any amendments, modifications or waivers to any agreements, instruments or orders to which either Epitope or STC is a party or is subject or by which it is bound, no limitations, restrictions or conditions will be imposed or amendments, modifications or waivers made that would have a material adverse effect on Epitope or STC or materially reduce the contemplated benefits of the mergers to Epitope.
Epitope informed Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, and for purposes of rendering its opinion Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown assumed, that the mergers are expected to qualify as tax-free reorganizations for federal income tax purposes and be accounted for as a poolings of interests. In connection with its opinion, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown was not authorized to, and did not, solicit interest from any third party with respect to the acquisition of all or a part of Epitope. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown expressed no opinion as to the price at which OraSure Technologies common stock will trade at any time. No other instructions or limitations were imposed by Epitope on Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown with respect to the investigations made or the procedures followed by it in rendering its opinion.
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses performed by Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown in connection with its opinion to the Epitope board of directors dated May 6, 2000. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. Considering the data below without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's financial analyses.
Contribution Analysis.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown analyzed the contributions of Epitope and STC to OraSure Technologies' latest 12 months and estimated calendar years 2000 and 2001 revenues, and estimated calendar years 2000 and 2001 earnings before interest and taxes, commonly referred to as EBIT, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, commonly referred to as EBITDA, and net income. Estimated financial data for Epitope and STC were based on internal estimates of or discussions with Epitope's and STC's managements. Based on the exchange ratio and the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000 of $11.50, this analysis indicated contribution reference ranges for Epitope of approximately 38.4% to 59.6% and for STC of approximately 40.4% to 61.6%, as compared to the pro forma equity ownership in OraSure Technologies of Epitope's stockholders of approximately 47.9% and of STC's stockholders of approximately 52.1%. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also analyzed Epitope's contribution based on the exchange ratio and closing prices of Epitope common stock of $8.00 and $13.00, the low and high end of the collar, which indicated a contribution reference range for Epitope of approximately 38.4% to 59.6%, as compared to the pro forma equity ownership in OraSure Technologies of Epitope's stockholders of approximately 41.2% to 48.3%.
Analysis of Selected Public Companies.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown compared financial information for STC and financial and stock market information for Epitope and the following five selected publicly held companies in the medical device industry:
. Biosite Diagnostics, Inc.
. Epitope
. IGEN International, Inc.
. i-Stat Corporation
. LifePoint, Inc.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown reviewed technology values, calculated as equity market value, plus debt, less cash, as multiples of latest 12 months and estimated calendar years 2000 and 2001 revenues. All multiples were based on closing stock prices on May 4, 2000. Estimated financial data for the selected companies were based on publicly available research analysts' estimates and estimated financial data for Epitope and STC were based on internal estimates of or discussions with Epitope's and STC's managements. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown then compared the technology value multiples derived from the selected companies with corresponding multiples for STC implied by the exchange ratio. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also compared the technology value multiples derived from the selected companies, excluding Epitope, with corresponding multiples implied for Epitope based on the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000. This analysis indicated the following range of implied technology value multiples for the selected companies, as compared to the multiples for STC implied by the exchange ratio and the multiples for Epitope based on the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000:
Implied
STC
Multiples Epitope Multiples
Multiples Based on Based on
of Selected Exchange May 4, 2000
Companies Ratio Closing Stock Price
----------- --------- -------------------
Technology Values: Mean Range
------------------ ---- ------
Latest 12 months revenues 13x 5x-20x 15x 18x
Estimated calendar year 2000
revenues 9x 7x-12x 12x 12x
Estimated calendar year 2001
revenues 6x 4x-9x 8x 9x
|
Analysis of Selected Precedent Transactions.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown reviewed the purchase prices and implied transaction multiples in the following 10 selected transactions in the medical device industry:
Acquiror Target -------- ------ . Guidant Corporation Cardio Thoracic Systems, Inc. . Tyco International Ltd. General Surgical Innovations, Inc. . Abbott Laboratories Perclose, Inc. . AutoCyte, Inc. NeoPath, Inc. . Eclipse Surgical Technologies, Inc. Cardiogenesis Corp. . Guidant Corporation InControl Corp. . Guidant Corporation Endovascular Technologies, Inc. . Johnson & Johnson Biopsys Medical, Inc. . Pfizer Inc. Corvita Corporation . Medtronic, Inc. InStent, Inc. |
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also reviewed the purchase prices and implied transaction multiples in the following 11 selected transactions in the life sciences industry:
Acquiror Target -------- ------ . PE Corp.--PE Biosystems Group Third Wave Technologies Inc. . Baxter International Inc. North American Vaccine, Inc. . Genzyme Corporation Cell Genesys, Inc. . Invitrogen Corporation NOVEX . Mylan Laboratories Inc. Penederm Inc. . Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Synteni, Inc. . Arris Pharmaceuticals Corporation Sequana Therapeutics, Inc. . Medarex, Inc. Genpharm International, Inc. . Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ChemGenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. . Sandoz AG Genetic Therapy, Inc. . Glaxo Plc Affymax N.V. |
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown reviewed technology values in the selected transactions as multiples of latest 12 months revenues. All multiples were based on publicly available information at the time of announcement of the relevant transaction. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown then compared the technology value multiples derived from the selected transactions with corresponding multiples for STC implied by the exchange ratio. This analysis indicated the following range of implied technology value multiples for the selected transactions, as compared to the multiples for STC implied by the exchange ratio based on the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000:
Implied
STC
Selected Multiples
Medical Selected Life Based on
Device Sciences Exchange
Transactions Transactions Ratio
------------- ------------- ---------
Technology Values: Mean Range Mean Range
------------------ ----- ------- ----- -------
Latest 12 months revenues 18x 9x-40x 18x 2x-42x 15x
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Discounted Cash Flow Analyses.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown performed separate discounted cash flow analyses of Epitope and STC to estimate the present value of the unlevered, after-tax free cash flows that Epitope and STC could each generate on a standalone basis during estimated calendar years 2000 through 2004. Estimated financial data used in these analyses were based on internal estimates of or discussions with Epitope's and STC's managements. The range of estimated terminal values for Epitope and STC was calculated by applying terminal value multiples ranging from 10.0x to 14.0x to Epitope's and STC's estimated fiscal year 2004 EBITDA. The present value of the cash flows and terminal values were calculated using discount rates ranging from 15.0% to 19.0%. This analysis yielded the following approximate implied equity reference range for STC, as compared to the equity value for STC implied by the exchange ratio based on the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000:
Implied STC Equity Reference Implied STC Equity Value
Range Based on Exchange Ratio
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------
$169.9 million-$270.0 million $230.0 million
This analysis also yielded the following approximate implied equity reference
range for Epitope, as compared to the implied equity value for Epitope based on
the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000:
Implied Epitope Equity Implied Equity Value of Epitope
Reference Range Based on May 4, 2000 Closing Stock Price
---------------------- ----------------------------------------
$144.4 million-$215.8 million $211.7 million
|
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also performed a discounted cash flow analysis of OraSure Technologies based on the methodology described above in its discounted cash flow analyses of Epitope and STC on a standalone basis, after giving effect to cost savings and other potential synergies anticipated by Epitope's and STC's managements to result from the mergers. Estimated financial data used in this analysis were based on internal estimates of or discussions with Epitope's and STC's managements. Utilizing a discount rate of 17.0%, which reflects the midpoint of the discount rate range used in the standalone discounted cash flow analyses, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown compared the implied equity reference range of Epitope derived from the standalone discounted cash flow analyses to the implied equity reference range for OraSure Technologies based on Epitope's stockholders' percentage interest in OraSure Technologies. This analysis indicated a higher implied equity reference for Epitope after giving effect to the mergers relative to the implied equity reference range for Epitope on a standalone basis.
Pro Forma Merger Analysis.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown analyzed the potential pro forma financial impact of the mergers on Epitope's estimated earnings per share for fiscal years 2000 and 2001, both before and after giving effect to cost savings
and other potential synergies anticipated by Epitope's and STC's managements to result from the mergers, with particular focus on fiscal year 2001, the first year in which Epitope's and STC's managements expect cost savings and other synergies to be realized. Estimated financial data used in this analysis were based on internal estimates of or discussions with Epitope's and STC's managements. Based on the exchange ratio and the closing price of Epitope common stock on May 4, 2000, the results of the pro forma merger analysis suggested that the mergers would be dilutive to Epitope's earnings per share in fiscal year 2001 before giving effect to potential synergies and other cost savings and accretive to Epitope's earnings per share in fiscal year 2001 after giving effect to potential synergies and other cost savings. The actual operating or financial results achieved by OraSure Technologies may vary from projected results and the variations may be material as a result of business and operational risks, the timing and amount of synergies, the costs associated with achieving synergies and other factors.
Other Factors.
In rendering its opinion, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown also reviewed and considered other factors, including:
. historical market prices and trading volumes for Epitope common stock and the relationship between movements in Epitope common stock, the common stock of selected diagnostic companies and the NASDAQ index; and
. ownership profiles of Epitope and STC.
The above summary is not a complete description of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion to the Epitope board of directors or the financial analyses performed and factors considered by Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown in connection with its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex analytical process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown believes that its analyses and the summary above must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and factors or focusing on information presented in tabular format, without considering all analyses and factors or the narrative description of the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's analyses and opinion.
In performing its analyses, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown considered industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters existing as of the date of its opinion, many of which are beyond the control of Epitope and STC. No company, transaction or business used in the analyses as a comparison is identical to Epitope, STC or the mergers, and an evaluation of the results of those analyses is not entirely mathematical. Rather, the analyses involve complex considerations and judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the acquisition, public trading or other values of the companies, business segments or transactions analyzed.
The estimates contained in Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's analyses and the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis are not necessarily indicative of actual values or future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by its analyses. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses or securities do not necessarily purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Accordingly, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's analyses and estimates are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.
The type and amount of consideration payable in the mergers was determined through negotiation between Epitope and STC. Although Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown provided financial advice to Epitope during the course of negotiations, the decision to enter into the mergers was solely that of the Epitope board of directors. Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's opinion and financial analyses were only one of many factors considered by the Epitope board of directors in its evaluation of the mergers and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the Epitope board of directors or management with respect to the exchange ratio or the mergers.
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and, as a customary part of its investment banking business, is engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. Epitope selected Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown based on Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's reputation and expertise. In the ordinary course of business, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown and its affiliates may actively trade or hold the securities and other instruments and obligations of Epitope for their own account and for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in those securities, instruments or obligations.
Under the terms of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's engagement, Epitope has agreed to pay Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown for its services upon completion of the mergers an aggregate financial advisory fee of $1.8 million. In addition, Epitope has agreed to reimburse Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown for its reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, and to indemnify Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown and related parties against liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws, relating to, or arising out of, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown's engagement.
Opinion of Financial Advisor to STC
STC engaged Robertson Stephens to render an opinion as to the fairness of the exchange ratio, from a financial point of view, to STC and the "Holders of STC common stock." The "Holders of STC common stock" is defined in Robertson Stephens' written opinion letter dated May 9, 2000 as all holders of STC common stock other than Epitope, OraSure Technologies, any affiliates of Epitope or OraSure Technologies, holders of dissenting shares or any holders of STC common stock who are officers or directors (or who have representatives serving as directors) of STC.
On May 6, 2000, at a meeting of the STC board held to evaluate the proposed mergers, Robertson Stephens delivered to STC's board its opinion subsequently confirmed in writing that, as of May 6, 2000 and based on the matters considered and the limitations on the review undertaken described in the opinion, the exchange ratio was fair from a financial point of view to STC and the Holders of STC common stock. The exchange ratio was determined through negotiations between the respective managements of STC and Epitope. Robertson Stephens was not asked by, and did not recommend to, STC that any specific exchange ratio constituted the appropriate exchange ratio for the mergers.
You should consider the following when reading the discussion of the opinion of STC's financial advisor in this document:
. We urge you to read carefully the entire opinion of Robertson Stephens, which is set forth in Annex C to this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is incorporated by reference.
. The following description of the Robertson Stephens opinion is qualified by reference to the full opinion located in Annex C to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The full opinion sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made by Robertson Stephens, the matters it considered and the limitations on the review undertaken.
. The Robertson Stephens opinion was prepared for the benefit and use of the STC board in its consideration of the merger and does not constitute a recommendation to stockholders of STC or Epitope as to how they should vote, or take any other action, with respect to the mergers.
. The Robertson Stephens opinion does not address the relative merits of the mergers and any other business strategies that STC's board considered, nor does it address the decision of the STC board to proceed with the mergers.
Although developments following the date of the Robertson Stephens opinion may affect the opinion, Robertson Stephens assumed no obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion. The Robertson Stephens opinion is necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions that were in effect on, and
information made available to Robertson Stephens as of, the date of the opinion. You should understand that subsequent developments may affect the conclusion expressed in the Robertson Stephens opinion, and that Robertson Stephens disclaims any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting its opinion. The Robertson Stephens opinion is limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the date thereof, of the exchange ratio to STC and the Holders of STC common stock.
Opinion and Analysis of Robertson Stephens
In connection with the preparation of the Robertson Stephens opinion, Robertson Stephens:
. reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other business and financial information of Epitope;
. reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data, including certain financial forecasts and other forward looking information, concerning (a) STC prepared by the management of STC and (b) Epitope prepared by the management of Epitope;
. reviewed certain publicly available estimates of research analysts relating to Epitope;
. held discussions with the respective managements of STC and Epitope concerning the businesses, past and current operations, financial condition and future prospects of both STC and Epitope, independently and combined, including discussions with the managements of STC and Epitope concerning cost savings and other synergies that are expected to result from the mergers as well as their views regarding the strategic rationale for the mergers;
. reviewed the financial terms and conditions set forth in the agreement and plan of merger;
. reviewed the stock price and trading history of Epitope common stock;
. compared the financial performance of Epitope and the prices and trading activity of Epitope common stock with that of certain other publicly traded companies comparable to Epitope;
. compared the financial performance of STC with that of certain publicly traded companies comparable to STC;
. reviewed the pro forma impact of the mergers on Epitope's earnings per share;
. prepared an analysis of the relative contributions of STC and Epitope to OraSure Technologies;
. prepared a discounted cash flow analysis of STC and Epitope;
. participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of STC and Epitope and their financial and legal advisors; and
. made such other studies and inquiries, and reviewed such other data, as it deemed relevant.
In its review and analysis, and in arriving at its opinion, Robertson Stephens assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information provided to Robertson Stephens (including information furnished to it orally or otherwise discussed with it by management of STC and Epitope) or publicly available and neither attempted to verify, nor assumed responsibility for verifying, any of such information. Robertson Stephens relied upon the assurances of the managements of STC and Epitope that they were not aware of any facts that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. Furthermore, Robertson Stephens did not obtain or make, or assume any responsibility for obtaining or making, any independent evaluation or appraisal of the properties, assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of STC or Epitope, nor was it furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal.
With respect to the financial forecasts and projections (and the assumptions and bases therefor) for each of STC and Epitope that Robertson Stephens reviewed, Robertson Stephens has assumed that:
. these forecasts and projections were reasonably prepared in good faith on the basis of reasonable assumptions;
. these forecasts and projections reflected the best currently available estimates and judgments as to the future financial condition and performance of STC and Epitope; and
. these forecasts and projections would be realized in the amounts and in the time periods currently estimated.
In addition, Robertson Stephens assumed that:
. the mergers will be consummated upon the terms set forth in the agreement and plan of merger without material alteration thereof, including, among other things, that the mergers will be accounted for as a "pooling-of- interests" business combination in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;
. the mergers will be treated as tax-free reorganizations pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
. the historical financial statements of each of STC and Epitope reviewed by it were prepared and fairly presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
Robertson Stephens relied as to certain legal matters relevant to rendering its opinion on the advice of counsel to STC.
Robertson Stephens expressed no opinion as to:
. the value of any employee agreement or other arrangements entered into in connection with the mergers;
. any tax or other consequences that may result from the mergers; or
. what the value of the common stock of OraSure Technologies will be when issued to STC's stockholders pursuant to the mergers or the price at which shares of OraSure Technologies' common stock that are issued pursuant to the mergers may be traded in the future.
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses performed by Robertson Stephens in connection with rendering its opinion. The summary of the financial analyses is not a complete description of all of the analyses performed by Robertson Stephens. Certain of the information in this section is presented in tabular form. IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL ANALYSES PERFORMED BY ROBERTSON STEPHENS, THESE TABLES MUST BE READ TOGETHER WITH THE TEXT OF EACH SUMMARY. THE ROBERTSON STEPHENS OPINION IS BASED ON THE TOTALITY OF THE VARIOUS ANALYSES WHICH IT PERFORMED, AND NO PARTICULAR PORTION OF THE ANALYSIS HAS ANY MERIT STANDING ALONE.
Comparable Company Analysis
Using publicly available information, Robertson Stephens analyzed, among other things, the total capitalization and trading multiples of the following selected publicly traded companies in the oral fluids based testing industry:
. Biosite Diagnostics Inc.
. Epitope
. Avitar, Inc.
. American Bio Medica Corp.
. Lifepoint, Inc.
Revenues. As set forth in the following table, applying a range of multiples for Biosite and Epitope for calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001 to corresponding revenue data for STC resulted in the following range of implied equity values and exchange ratios for calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001. All of the aforementioned companies are comparable to STC. However, Robertson Stephens viewed Biosite and Epitope, given their product lifecycles, as providing the most meaningful comparison and therefore used these two companies as the basis of this evaluation.
Implied
Multiple Implied Exchange
Calendar Year Range Equity Values Ratio
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------
(in millions)
1999.................................. 7.9x-17.1x $105.0-$233.9 2.7268-6.0765
2000.................................. 6.4x-10.2x $112.6-$182.9 2.9263-4.7527
2001.................................. 5.4x- 6.6x $157.0-$193.2 4.0786-5.0182
Mean.................................. 3.2439-5.2825
|
The comparable company analysis set forth above yielded implied exchange ratios ranging from 2.7268 to 6.0765, compared to the proposed range of exchange ratios of 5.456 to 6.820.
No company or business used in the above analysis as a comparison is identical to STC. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the foregoing is not entirely mathematical; rather it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the public trading and other values of the comparable companies or the business segment or company to which they are being compared.
Using publicly available information, Robertson Stephens analyzed, among other things, the total capitalization and trading multiples of Epitope and the following selected publicly traded companies in the oral fluids based testing industry:
. Biosite Diagnostics Inc.
. Avitar, Inc.
. American Bio Medica Corp.
. Lifepoint, Inc.
As set forth in the following table, applying a range of multiples for Biosite and Epitope for calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001 to corresponding revenue data for Epitope resulted in the following range of implied equity values and share prices for calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Implied
Multiple Implied Price Per
Calendar Year Range Equity Values Share
------------- ---------- ------------- ------------
(in millions)
1999................................... 7.9x-17.1x $95.0-$ 191.2 $5.22-$10.51
2000................................... 6.4x-10.2x $126.6-$194.3 $6.96-$10.68
2001................................... 5.4x- 6.6x $136.6-$164.2 $7.51-$ 9.03
Mean................................... $6.09-$10.59
|
With the exception of Epitope, no company or business used in the above analysis as a comparison is identical to Epitope. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the foregoing is not entirely mathematical; rather it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the public trading and other values of the comparable companies or the business segment or company to which they are being compared.
Contribution Analysis
Using projections for each of STC and Epitope provided by the managements of STC and Epitope, Robertson Stephens analyzed the respective contributions of STC and Epitope to the estimated revenues, operating profits and net income of OraSure Technologies for calendar years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. The actual results achieved by OraSure Technologies may vary from projected results and the variations may be material. The following table summarizes the results of this analysis:
Epitope's Contribution to
STC's Contribution to OraSure OraSure Technologies'
Calendar Year Technologies' Total Revenues Total Revenues
------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------
1999.................... 57.3% 42.7%
2000.................... 50.9% 49.1%
2001.................... 56.7% 43.3%
2002.................... 48.6% 51.4%
|
STC's Contribution to OraSure Epitope's Contribution to
Technologies' Total Operating OraSure Technologies'
Calendar Year Profit Total Operating Profit
------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------
1999.................... NMF NMF
2000.................... 30.9% 69.1%
2001.................... 59.7% 40.3%
2002.................... 40.1% 59.9%
|
Epitope's Contribution to
STC's Contribution to OraSure OraSure Technologies' Net
Calendar Year Technologies' Net Income Income
------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------
1999.................... NMF NMF
2000.................... 11.3% 88.7%
2001.................... 38.0% 62.0%
2002.................... 26.4% 73.6%
|
The contribution analysis set forth above for total revenues resulted in implied exchange ratios ranging from approximately 4.6919 to 6.6586, compared to the proposed range of exchange ratios of 5.456 to 6.820.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Robertson Stephens performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the cash flows of STC using STC estimates provided by the management of STC for the fiscal years 2000 through 2003. Robertson Stephens first discounted the projected cash flows through December 31, 2003 using a range of discount rates from 17.0% to 23.0%. The range of discount rates was based on the weighted average cost of capital of the comparable companies, derived from publicly available information. Robertson Stephens then added to the present value of the cash flows the terminal value of STC in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003, discounted back at the same discount rate. The terminal value was computed by multiplying STC's projected revenue in fiscal 2003 by exit revenue multiples ranging from 6.0x to 10.0x. The range of exit revenue multiples selected reflect Robertson Stephen's judgment as to an appropriate range of multiples at the end of the reference period. The discounted cash flow valuation resulted in implied equity values of STC ranging from approximately $176.1 million to $320.6 million and implied exchange ratios ranging from 4.5750 to 8.3291, compared to the proposed range of exchange ratios of 5.456 to 6.820.
Robertson Stephens performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the cash flows of Epitope using estimates provided by the management of Epitope for the fiscal years 2000 through 2003. Robertson Stephens first discovered projected cash flows through December 31, 2003 using a range of discount rates from 17.0% to 23.0%. The range of discount rates was based on the weighted average cost of capital of Epitope and the comparable companies, derived from publicly available information. Robertson Stephens then added to the present value of the cash flows the terminal value of Epitope in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003, discounted back at the same discount rate. The terminal value was computed by multiplying Epitope's projected
revenue in fiscal 2003 by exit revenue multiples ranging from 5.0x to 9.0x. The range of exit revenue multiples selected reflect Robertson Stephen's judgment as to an appropriate range of multiples at the end of the reference period. The discounted cash flow valuation resulted in implied equity values of Epitope ranging from approximately $155.3 million to $281.3 million and an implied price per share of Epitope common stock ranging from $8.53 to $15.46.
Financing History Analysis
Robertson Stephens reviewed the financing history of STC. This review showed a post-money equity valuation of STC of $31.7 million, based on a private placement of preferred stock in June of 1999, STC's most recent financing transaction.
Pro Forma Merger Analysis
Robertson Stephens analyzed the impact of the mergers on the projected earnings per share of OraSure Technologies for calendar years 2000, 2001 and 2002. The projected earnings per share of each of STC and Epitope were provided by the respective managements of STC and Epitope. For purposes of this analysis, Robertson Stephens assumed a range in the number of shares of Epitope common stock that may be issued by Epitope in the mergers. The results of this analysis suggested that in 2001, the first full year of combined operations, the mergers would be dilutive before taking into account the expected pre-tax synergies and cost savings and accretive after taking into account the expected pre-tax synergies and cost savings assuming no more than approximately 22 million shares are issued by Epitope in the merger. The actual operating or financial results achieved by OraSure Technologies may vary from the projected results and the variations may be material as a result of business and operational risks, the timing and amount of synergies, the costs associated with achieving synergies and other factors.
Other Factors
While this summary describes the analysis and factors that Robertson Stephens deemed material in its presentation to the STC board, it is not a comprehensive description of all analysis and factors considered by Robertson Stephens. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process that involves various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of these methods to the particular circumstances. Therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Robertson Stephens did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor. Accordingly, Robertson Stephens believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and of the factors considered by it, without considering all analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the evaluation process underlying its opinion. Several analytical methodologies were employed and no one method of analysis should be regarded as critical to the overall conclusion reached by Robertson Stephens. Each analytical technique has inherent strengths and weaknesses, and the nature of the available information may further affect the value of particular techniques. The conclusion reached by Robertson Stephens is based on all analyses and factors taken as a whole and also on application of Robertson Stephens' own experience and judgment. This conclusion may involve significant elements of subjective judgment and qualitative analysis. Robertson Stephens gives no opinion as to the value or merit standing alone of any one or more parts of the analysis it performed. In performing its analyses, Robertson Stephens made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and other conditions and matters, many of which are beyond the control of STC, Epitope or Robertson Stephens. Any estimates contained in these analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by these analyses. Accordingly, analyses relating to the value of businesses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which these businesses actually may be sold in the future, and these estimates are inherently subject to uncertainty. Furthermore, no opinion is being expressed as to the prices at which shares of the common stock of OraSure Technologies may be traded at any future time.
The engagement letter between Robertson Stephens and STC provides that, for its services, Robertson Stephens is entitled to receive a transaction fee equal to 1.0% of the aggregate transaction value, not to exceed $1.8 million payable upon completion of the mergers and a fee of $100,000 payable upon the delivery of the Robertson Stephens fairness opinion, which fee shall be credited against the transaction fee. STC has also agreed to reimburse Robertson Stephens for its out-of-pocket expenses related to this work, including legal fees, in an amount no greater than $50,000 and to indemnify and hold harmless Robertson Stephens and its affiliates and any other person, director, employee or agent of Robertson Stephens or any of its affiliates, or any person controlling Robertson Stephens or its affiliates, for certain losses, claims, damages, expenses and liabilities relating to or arising out of services provided by Robertson Stephens as financial advisor to STC. The terms of the fee arrangement with Robertson Stephens, which STC and Robertson Stephens believe are customary in transactions of this nature, were negotiated at arm's length between STC and Robertson Stephens, and the STC board was aware of these fee arrangements.
Robertson Stephens was retained based on Robertson Stephens' experience as a financial advisor in connection with mergers and acquisitions and in securities valuations generally. Robertson Stephens may actively trade the securities of Epitope or OraSure Technologies for its own account and for the account of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in these securities.
Robertson Stephens is an internationally recognized investment banking firm. As part of its investment banking business, Robertson Stephens is frequently engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of securities, private placements and other purposes.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following information has been provided to aid you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the merger. The financial information of Epitope was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1997 through 1999 and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended June 30, 2000. The financial information of STC was derived from unaudited financial statements for all periods presented. The information is only a summary and should be read together with the historical financial statements and related notes contained in the annual reports and quarterly reports and other information that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference.
Pooling of Interests Accounting Treatment
The mergers are expected to be accounted for as a "pooling of interests." This means that, for accounting and financial reporting purposes, the companies will be treated as if they had always been combined. We have presented unaudited pro forma financial information that reflects the pooling of interests method of accounting to provide a picture of what the businesses might have looked like had they always been combined. The pro forma statements of operations and pro forma balance sheets were prepared by combining the historical amounts of each company. The companies may have performed differently had they always been combined. You should not rely on the unaudited pro forma financial information as being indicative of the historical results that would have occurred or the future results that will occur after the mergers.
Periods Covered
The following unaudited pro forma balance sheets as of June 30, 2000 and September 30, 1999 are presented as if the mergers had occurred on June 30, 2000 and September 30, 1999. The unaudited pro forma statements of operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, and for the years ended September 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997, are presented as if the companies had always been merged.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended June 30, 2000
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)
Historical Pro Forma
---------------- Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
------- ------- ----------- ---------
Revenues
Product sales........................ $ 8,985 $10,778 $(170) $19,593
Grants and contracts................. 117 249 -- 366
------- ------- ----- -------
9,102 11,027 (170) 19,959
------- ------- ----- -------
Costs and expenses
Product costs........................ 3,484 3,486 (71) 6,899
Operations........................... 1,375 -- -- 1,375
Research and development costs....... 2,210 4,255 -- 6,465
Selling, general and administrative
expenses............................ 4,658 4,240 -- 8,898
------- ------- ----- -------
11,727 11,981 (71) 23,637
------- ------- ----- -------
Income (loss) from operations.......... (2,625) (954) (99) (3,678)
Interest income........................ 390 394 -- 784
Interest expense....................... -- (393) -- (393)
Other income (expense), net............ 596 (39) -- 557
------- ------- ----- -------
Income (loss) before income taxes...... (1,639) (992) (99) (2,730)
Income taxes........................... -- 12 -- 12
Deemed Dividend........................ -- --
------- ------- ----- -------
Net income (loss)...................... $(1,639) $(1,004) $ (99) $(2,742)
======= ======= ===== =======
Basic and diluted loss per share....... $ (0.11) $ (0.42) $ (0.08)
======= ======= =======
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding........................... 15,249 2,389 34,224
======= ======= =======
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Nine Months Ended June 30, 1999
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)
Historical Pro Forma
--------------- Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
------- ------ ----------- ---------
Revenues
Product sales......................... $ 7,005 $8,701 $ (9) $15,697
Grants and contracts.................. -- 591 -- 591
------- ------ ---- -------
7,005 9,292 (9) 16,288
------- ------ ---- -------
Costs and expenses
Product costs......................... 2,596 3,328 (2) 5,922
Operations............................ 1,312 -- -- 1,312
Research and development costs........ 1,692 2,370 -- 4,062
Selling, general and administrative
expenses............................. 3,896 3,362 -- 7,258
------- ------ ---- -------
9,496 9,060 (2) 18,554
------- ------ ---- -------
Income (loss) from operations........... (2,491) 232 (7) (2,266)
Interest income......................... 207 120 -- 327
Interest expense........................ -- (420) -- (420)
Other income (expense), net............. (13) 19 -- 6
------- ------ ---- -------
Income (loss) before income taxes..... (2,297) (49) (7) (2,353)
Income taxes............................ -- -- -- --
Deemed Dividend......................... -- --
------- ------ ---- -------
Net Income (loss)....................... $(2,297) $ (49) $ (7) $(2,353)
======= ====== ==== =======
Basic and diluted loss per share........ $ (0.17) $(0.02) $ (0.08)
======= ====== =======
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding............................ 13,888 2,389 28,332
======= ====== =======
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended September 30, 1999
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)
Historical Pro Forma
---------------- Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
------- ------- ----------- ---------
Revenues
Product sales.................... $10,073 $12,117 $ (42) $22,148
Grants and contracts............. -- 640 640
------- ------- ------- -------
10,073 12,757 (42) 22,788
------- ------- ------- -------
Costs and expenses
Product costs.................... 3,847 4,321 (10) 8,158
Operations....................... 1,895 -- 1,895
Research and development costs... 2,287 3,077 5,364
Acquired in-process technology... -- 1,500 1,500
Selling, general and
administrative expenses......... 5,526 4,664 10,190
------- ------- ------- -------
13,555 13,562 (10) 27,107
------- ------- ------- -------
Loss from operations............... (3,482) (805) (32) (4,319)
Interest income.................... 279 304 583
Interest expense................... (1) (617) (618)
Other income (expense), net........ (2) (45) (47)
------- ------- ------- ------- ---
Net loss........................... $(3,206) $(1,163) $ (32) $(4,401)
======= ======= ======= =======
Basic and diluted loss per share... $ (0.23) $ (0.15)
======= =======
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding....................... 13,957 15,735 29,692
======= ======= =======
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended September 30, 1998
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)
Historical Pro Forma
---------------- Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
------- ------- ----------- ---------
Revenues
Product sales........................ $ 9,779 $10,079 $ (53) $19,805
Grants and contracts................. 13 175 188
------- ------- ------ -------
9,792 10,254 (53) 19,993
------- ------- ------ -------
Costs and expenses
Product costs........................ 3,685 3,953 (20) 7,618
Operations........................... 1,101 -- 1,101
Research and development costs....... 2,116 2,349 4,465
Selling, general and administrative
expenses............................ 5,141 4,282 9,423
------- ------- ------ -------
12,043 10,584 (20) 22,607
------- ------- ------ -------
Loss from operations................... (2,251) (330) (33) (2,614)
Interest income........................ 363 154 517
Interest expense....................... (9) (448) (457)
Other income (expense), net............ (31) 5 (26)
------- ------- ------ -------
Net loss............................... $(1,928) $ (619) $ (33) $(2,580)
======= ======= ====== =======
Basic and diluted loss per share....... $ (0.14) $ (0.10)
======= =======
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding........................... 13,529 13,067 26,596
======= ====== =======
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended September 30, 1997
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)
Historical Pro Forma
----------------- Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
-------- ------- ----------- ---------
Revenues
Product sales...................... $ 8,084 $ 7,297 $ (7) $ 15,374
Grants and contracts............... 1,276 217 1,493
-------- ------- ------ --------
9,360 7,514 (7) 16,867
-------- ------- ------ --------
Costs and expenses
Product costs...................... 3,512 3,097 (1) 6,608
Operations......................... 1,451 -- 1,451
Research and development costs..... 4,028 1,628 5,656
Selling, general and administrative
expenses.......................... 5,333 3,756 9,089
-------- ------- ------ --------
14,324 8,481 (1) 22,804
-------- ------- ------ --------
Loss from operations................. (4,964) (967) (6) (5,937)
Interest income...................... 886 243 1,129
Interest expense..................... (8) (328) (336)
Other income (expense), net.......... 5 -- 5
-------- ------- ------ --------
Net loss from continuing operations.. (4,081) (1,052) (6) (5,139)
-------- ------- ------ --------
Discontinued operations
Loss from discontinued operations,
Agritope.......................... (9,891) -- (9,891)
Income from discontinued
operations, A&W................... 171 -- 171
Estimated loss on disposal of A&W.. (8,639) -- (8,639)
-------- ------- ------ --------
(18,359) -- -- (18,359)
-------- ------- ------ --------
Income taxes......................... -- 30 -- 30
-------- ------- ------ --------
Net loss............................. $(22,440) $(1,082) $ (6) $(23,528)
======== ======= ====== ========
Basic and diluted loss per share from
continuing operations............... $ (0.30) $ (0.20)
======== ========
Basic and diluted loss per share..... $ (1.67) $ (0.91)
======== ========
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding......................... 13,404 12,542 25,946
======== ====== ========
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
June 30, 2000
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
Historical Pro Forma
------------------ Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
--------- ------- ----------- ---------
ASSETS
------
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents......... $ 7,736 $ 955 $ -- $ 8,691
Marketable securities............. 7,828 6,992 -- 14,820
Trade accounts receivable, net.... 1,573 2,508 (63) 4,018
Other accounts receivable......... 368 -- -- 368
Inventories....................... 1,248 1,033 33 2,314
Prepaid expenses.................. 594 642 -- 1,236
Deferred income taxes............. -- 52 -- 52
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total current assets............ 19,347 12,182 (30) 31,499
Property and equipment, net......... 1,724 4,596 -- 6,320
Patents and proprietary technology,
net................................ 353 2,024 -- 2,377
Other assets and deposits........... 173 275 -- 448
--------- ------- ------- ---------
$ 21,597 $19,077 $ (30) $ 40,644
========= ======= ======= =========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Current liabilities
Line of credit.................... $ -- $ 144 $ -- $ 144
Current portion of long-term
debt............................. -- 1,054 -- 1,054
Accounts payable.................. 352 1,187 -- 1,539
Salaries, benefits and other
accrued liabilities.............. 1,505 1,026 5,400 7,931
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total current liabilities....... 1,857 3,411 5,400 10,668
Long-term debt...................... -- 5,302 -- 5,302
Deferred revenue.................... -- 358 -- 358
Deferred income taxes............... -- 82 -- 82
Redeemable convertible preferred
stock.............................. -- 10,102 (10,102) --
Shareholders' equity (deficit)
Common stock, no par value--30,000
shares authorized; 16,709 shares
issued and outstanding,
historical, 35,684 issued and
outstanding, pro forma........... 127,631 -- 13,137 140,768
Additional paid in capital........ -- 3,442 (3,442) --
Treasury stock.................... -- (407) 407 --
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss............................. -- (375) -- (375)
Accumulated deficit............... (107,891) (2,838) (5,430) (116,159)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total shareholders' equity
(deficit)...................... 19,740 (178) 4,672 24,234
--------- ------- ------- ---------
$ 21,597 $19,077 $ (30) $ 40,644
========= ======= ======= =========
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 1999
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
Historical Pro Forma
------------------ Adjustments Pro Forma
Epitope STC (Note 2) Combined
--------- ------- ----------- ---------
ASSETS
------
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents......... $ 1,076 $ 674 $ 1,750
Marketable securities............. 4,533 8,522 13,055
Trade accounts receivable, net.... 1,490 2,151 3,641
Other accounts receivable......... 73 -- 73
Inventories....................... 1,504 1,140 2,644
Prepaid expenses.................. 330 194 524
Deferred income taxes............. -- 143 143
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total current assets............ 9,006 12,824 21,830
Property and equipment, net......... 1,030 3,945 4,975
Patents and proprietary technology,
net................................ 487 2,216 2,703
Other assets and deposits........... 171 469 640
--------- ------- ------- ---------
$ 10,694 $19,454 $ 30,148
========= ======= ======= =========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term
debt............................. $ -- $ 1,001 $ 1,001
Accounts payable.................. 475 942 1,417
Salaries, benefits and other
accrued liabilities.............. 1,643 677 $ 5,400 7,720
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total current liabilities....... 2,118 2,620 5,400 10,138
Long-term debt...................... -- 6,076 6,076
Deferred revenue.................... -- 514 514
Deferred income taxes............... -- 173 173
Redeemable convertible preferred
stock.............................. -- 9,351 (9,351) --
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no part value--
30,000 shares authorized, 14,245
shares issued and outstanding,
historical, 33,220 issued and
outstanding, proforma............ 114,827 -- 13,621 128,448
Additional paid in capital........ -- 4,677 (4,677) --
Treasury stock.................... -- (407) 407 --
Accumulated other comprehensive
loss............................. -- (21) (21)
Accumulated deficit............... (106,251) (3,529) (5,400) (115,180)
--------- ------- ------- ---------
Total shareholders' equity...... 8,576 720 3,951 13,247
--------- ------- ------- ---------
$ 10,694 $19,454 $ -- $ 30,148
========= ======= ======= =========
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
(1) The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements for Epitope and STC give retroactive effect to the proposed mergers, which will be accounted for as a pooling of interests and, as a result, such statements are presented as if the companies had been combined for all periods presented. There were no material differences between the accounting policies of Epitope and STC. Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform the pro forma presentation.
(2) The pro forma condensed combined statements of operations include
adjustments for the elimination of sales and purchases between Epitope and
STC. The pro forma condensed combined balance sheets include adjustments
for the elimination of intercompany balances between Epitope and STC and
the exchange of STC's redeemable preferred stock and common stock into
shares of OraSure Technologies common stock based on an assumed exchange
ratio of 5.47 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock for each share of
STC's redeemable preferred stock and common stock outstanding. Transaction
costs will be incurred to complete the mergers and consist primarily of
financial advisor, legal, accounting and consulting fees, and printing,
mailing, and registration expenses. Due to the non-recurring nature of
these costs, they have not been reflected in the pro forma condensed
combined statements of operations. These expenses will be included in the
results of operations in the quarter the mergers are completed. The pro
forma combined balance sheets include an accrual of $5.4 million in
estimated transaction costs.
(3) Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share has been computed using the pro
forma weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during
the period. Pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share are the same
since common stock equivalents outstanding are antidilutive for all periods
presented. As a result of the mergers, each outstanding share of STC common
stock outstanding will be converted into the right to receive shares of
OraSure Technologies common stock. For purposes of the pro forma financial
statements it is assumed that 5.47 shares of OraSure Technologies common
stock will be exchanged for each outstanding share and outstanding option
of STC stock. See page 40 for a description of the exchange ratio.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETINGS AND VOTING
The Epitope board of directors is using this document to solicit proxies from the holders of Epitope common stock for use at the Epitope meeting. The STC board of directors is also using this document to solicit proxies from the holders of STC common stock and convertible preferred stock for use at the STC meeting. We are first mailing this document and accompanying forms of proxies to Epitope and STC stockholders on or about , 2000.
Matters Relating to the Meetings
Time and Place
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
------------------------- -------------------------
Thursday, August 31, 2000 Thursday, August 31, 2000
10:00 a.m., Local Time 10:00 a.m., Local Time
------------------------- -------------------------
------------------------- -------------------------
|
Purpose of Meeting is to Vote on the Following Items
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
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1. A proposal to approve the agreement and 1. A proposal to adopt the agreement and
plan of merger. plan of merger.
2. Such other matters as may properly come 2. Such other matters as may properly come
before the Epitope meeting, including before the STC meeting, including the
the approval of any adjournment of the approval of any adjournment of the
meeting. meeting.
Record Date
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
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Holders of record of STC common stock and
Holders of record of Epitope common stock STC convertible preferred stock at the
at the close of business on July 24, 2000, close of business on July 24, 2000, will be
will be entitled to vote. entitled to vote.
Outstanding Shares Held on Record Date
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
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As of July 24, 2000, there were As of , 2000, there were approximately
approximately outstanding shares outstanding shares of STC common
of Epitope common stock. stock and approximately outstanding
shares of STC convertible preferred stock.
Shares Entitled to Vote
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Each share of Epitope common stock that you Each share of STC common stock that you own
own as of the record date entitles you to as of the record date entitles you to one
one vote. vote. Each share of STC convertible
preferred stock that you own as of the
record date entitles you to one vote.
Shares held by Epitope in its treasury will Shares held by STC in its treasury will not
not be voted. be voted.
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Quorum Requirement
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to A quorum of stockholders is necessary to
hold a valid meeting. hold a valid meeting.
The presence in person or by proxy at the The presence in person or by proxy at the
meeting of holders of a majority of the meeting of holders of a majority of the
shares of Epitope common stock entitled to shares of STC entitled to vote at the
vote at the meeting is a quorum. meeting is a quorum. Abstentions count as
Abstentions and broker "non-votes" count as present for establishing a quorum.
present for establishing a quorum. Shares
held by Epitope in its treasury do not
count toward a quorum.
A broker non-vote occurs on a proposal when A broker non-vote occurs on a proposal when
a broker is not permitted to vote on that a broker is not permitted to vote on that
proposal without instruction from the proposal without instruction from the
beneficial owner of the shares and no beneficial owner of the shares and no
instruction is given. instruction is given.
Shares Beneficially Owned by Epitope and STC Directors and
Executive Officers as of July 24, 2000
Epitope Meeting STC Meeting
------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Epitope directors and executive officers STC directors and executive officers
beneficially own 1,166,598 shares of beneficially own 2,058,033 shares of STC
Epitope common stock, including 879,079 common stock, including 12,500 shares
shares subject to options exercisable subject to options exercisable within 60
within 60 days. These shares represent days, and 784,706 shares of STC convertible
approximately 7% of the shares of Epitope preferred stock. These shares represent
common stock outstanding as of July 20, approximately 59.3% of the votes entitled
2000. to be cast as of , 2000.
These individuals have indicated that they These individuals have indicated that they
intend to vote all of the above shares intend to vote all of the above shares
which are outstanding as of the record date which are outstanding as of the record date
in favor of the Epitope Proposal. in favor of the STC Proposal.
Vote Necessary to Approve Epitope and STC Proposals
Vote Necessary to Approve Proposals
Epitope STC
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Approval of the agreement and plan of Adoption of the agreement and plan of
merger requires the affirmative vote of the merger requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the total votes holders of a majority of the outstanding
entitled to be cast by holders of Epitope shares of STC common stock and STC
common stock. Abstentions and broker non- convertible preferred stock, voting
votes will have the same effect as votes together as a single class. Abstentions and
against the Epitope proposal. broker non-votes will have the same effect
as votes against the STC proposal. STC
shareholders representing sufficient votes
to adopt the agreement and plan of merger
have executed agreements in which they have
agreed to vote all of their shares of STC
common stock in favor of adoption of the
agreement and plan of merger.
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Voting by Proxy
Voting Your Proxy. You may vote in person at your meeting or by proxy. We recommend you vote by proxy even if you plan to attend your meeting. You can always change your vote at the meeting.
Voting instructions are included on your proxy card. If you properly give your proxy and submit it to us in time to vote, one of the individuals named as your proxy will vote your shares as you have directed. You may vote for or against the proposal submitted at your meeting or abstain from voting.
How to Vote by Proxy
Epitope STC
---------------- -------------------------------------------
Complete, sign, date and return your proxy Complete, sign, date and return your proxy
card in the enclosed envelope. If you wish card in the enclosed envelope. Please
to vote by telephone, call toll-free at contact Richard Hooper at (610) 882-1820 if
or, if outside the U.S., call you have any questions about the meeting.
and follow the instructions. You will
need to give the personal identification
number contained on your proxy card. If you
wish to vote by Internet, go to and
follow the instructions. You will need to
give the personal identification number
contained on your proxy card.
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If you submit your proxy but do not make specific choices, your proxy will follow your board's recommendations and vote your shares for their recommendations.
Epitope's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR approval of the agreement and plan of merger.
STC's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR adoption of the agreement and plan of merger.
Revoking Your Proxy. You may revoke your proxy before it is voted by:
. submitting a new proxy with a later date, including, in the case of Epitope stockholders, a proxy given by telephone or via the Internet,
. notifying your company's Secretary in writing before the meeting that you have revoked your proxy, or
. voting in person at the meeting.
Voting in Person. If you plan to attend a meeting and wish to vote in person, we will give you a ballot at the meeting. However, if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring an account statement or letter from the nominee indicating that you are the beneficial owner of the shares on July , 2000, the record date for voting.
People With Disabilities. We can provide reasonable assistance to help you participate in the meeting if you tell us about your disability and your plan to attend. Please call or write the Secretary of your company at least two weeks before your meeting at the number or address under "Summary--The Companies" on page 2.
Confidential Voting. Independent inspectors count the votes. Your individual vote is kept confidential from us unless special circumstances exist. For example, a copy of your proxy card will be sent to us if you write comments on the card.
Proxy Solicitation. We will pay our own costs of soliciting proxies.
In addition to this mailing, Epitope and STC employees may solicit proxies personally, electronically or by telephone. Epitope is paying D. F. King a customary fee, plus expenses to assist with the solicitation.
The extent to which these proxy soliciting efforts will be necessary depends upon how promptly proxies are submitted. You should submit your proxy by mail, or in the case of Epitope stockholders--by telephone or via the Internet, without delay. We will also reimburse brokers and other nominees for their expenses in sending these materials to you and getting your voting instructions.
Do not send in any stock certificates with your proxy cards. The exchange agent will mail transmittal forms with instructions for the surrender of stock certificates for STC and Epitope common stock to stockholders as soon as practicable after the completion of the mergers.
Other Business; Adjournments
We are not currently aware of any other business to be acted upon at either meeting. If, however, other matters are properly brought before either meeting, or any adjourned meeting, your proxies will have discretion to vote or act on those matters according to their best judgment, including to adjourn the meeting.
Adjournments may be made for the purpose of, among other things, soliciting additional proxies. Any adjournment may be made from time to time by approval of the holders of shares representing a majority of the votes present in person or by proxy at the meeting, whether or not a quorum exists, without further notice other than by an announcement made at the meeting. Neither of us currently intends to seek an adjournment of our meeting.
INFORMATION ABOUT EPITOPE, INC.
Epitope develops, manufactures, and markets oral specimen collection devices and diagnostic products primarily for the detection of antibodies to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS, and for the detection of cocaine and tobacco use. Epitope's lead product is the patented OraSure(R) collection device. OraSure is used in conjunction with an oral specimen diagnostic test. Epitope markets the device for use in screening life insurance applicants and for public health use. The device is sold in the United States and Canada, Japan, Thailand, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. On February 2, 2000, Epitope began marketing OraSure for drugs-of-abuse testing in collaboration with STC, under STC's trademark Intercept(TM) Drugs of Abuse.
The OraSure device consists of a small, treated cotton-fiber pad on a nylon handle that is placed in the patient's mouth for two minutes. The device collects oral mucosal transudate (OMT), a serum-derived fluid that contains higher concentrations of antibodies than saliva, including HIV antibodies in people infected with the virus. As a result, OMT testing is a highly accurate method for detecting HIV infection. Because OraSure uses a noninvasive, needle- free collection method without need for privacy during the collection process, we believe that oral fluid testing has several significant advantages over blood or urine-based tests for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Epitope has developed and introduced other products, including the Orasure HIV-1 Western blot and EPIblot(R) tests used to confirm positive initial screening tests. The OraSure HIV-1 Western blot confirmatory test kit is used in conjunction with oral-specimen based screening tests, while EPIblot is used in conjunction with blood-based screening tests. The Western blot test kits are distributed worldwide under an exclusive agreement with Organon Teknika Corporation. Epitope is developing a new product called OraQuick(R), a rapid- format oral specimen and blood-based test designed to provide results in approximately 20 minutes.
Epitope was incorporated under the laws of the state of Oregon in 1981. Epitope's principal executive offices and laboratories are located at 8505 S.W. Creekside Place, Beaverton, Oregon 97008 and its telephone number is (503) 641- 6115.
Additional information about Epitope is incorporated by reference into this document from the various documents filed by Epitope with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents contain important information about Epitope and its financial condition as well as information on the compensation paid to directors and executive officers and relationships and related transactions between them and Epitope. See "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 119.
INFORMATION ABOUT STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
General
STC Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary diagnostic products and medical devices for use in clinical laboratories, physician offices, hospitals, and workplace point-of-care testing. STC is a supplier of oral fluid tests to the insurance risk assessment testing market and also manufactures and markets other substance abuse testing products. In addition to these activities, STC has made a net investment of more than $10.8 million over the past five years to develop UPT (Up-Converting Phosphor Technology), a proprietary label detection platform technology for the detection of drugs of abuse and other substances.
STC was incorporated in December 1987, as SolarCare Incorporated. STC began operations in the Ben Franklin Technology Incubator at Lehigh University with the original mission to develop and market a sunscreen towelette under their SunSense trademark. Less than 18 months later, STC licensed the product and technology to Schering Plough HealthCare Products, the maker of Coppertone sun care products.
In 1991, STC entered the insurance risk assessment market developing analytical tests known as immunoassays which use antibodies to detect the presence of a target compound in a sample. Its first diagnostic test kit was for cotinine (a nicotine metabolite). Since that time, STC has expanded its diagnostic products to include a mix of drugs-of-abuse test kits for urine, serum, oral fluid, and sweat.
Also in 1991, STC became the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Histofreezer Portable Cryosurgical System. In 1998, STC acquired the rights to Histofreezer from Koninklijke Utermohlen, NV, The Netherlands. As a result of the acquisition, STC established a sales office in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands, and took over a dealer network reaching more than 20 countries worldwide.
In 1994, STC acquired the assets of Enzymatics, Inc. and began to sell the
Q.E.D. Saliva Alcohol Test, a quantitative method for the detection of ethanol,
which has marketing clearance by the FDA and the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
In 1995, STC entered into exclusive worldwide patents, patent applications, and trade secret licenses for UPT for use in all diagnostic applications.
Industry Background--In Vitro Diagnostic Testing Market
In vitro diagnostic testing is the process of analyzing biological specimens to screen for, monitor, and diagnose disease and other medical conditions, or to determine the chemical and/or microbiological constituents of the specimens. In vitro diagnostic tests are performed outside the body, in contrast to in vivo tests which are performed directly on or within the body. The in vitro diagnostic market is large and essentially mature. Worldwide revenues in 1998 were approximately $20 billion and are expected to grow at an annual rate of between 5% and 7% through 2001. The U.S. in vitro diagnostic market has historically accounted for $7.8 billion, or approximately 40% of the total worldwide market. The in vitro diagnostic market can be segmented by:
. the form of the technology being used,
.the market targeted, or
.the type of test performed.
Among the various forms of technology currently utilized, immunoassay and clinical chemistry tests such as those developed by STC account for approximately 50% of the $20 billion market. Commercial and hospital laboratories dominate the end-user market and historically account for nearly 75% of the market.
The industry is facing constant pricing pressure as HMOs pass on cost containment initiatives, the hospital industry consolidates, and reference laboratories compete for a greater share of the clinical laboratory business.
The relative maturity of the industry, in combination with the pressure faced by the clinical laboratories, may continue to lead to consolidation within the diagnostic testing market.
In vitro diagnostics remains an integral part of the overall health care system. In vitro diagnostics represents approximately 4% of the total U.S. health care costs. While the market is relatively mature and highly competitive, certain new technologies currently under development by a number of companies are expected to generate $10 billion in revenue by 2004.
Products
During the past 12 years, STC has established itself as a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of proprietary immunodiagnostics tests and other diagnostic products through the commercialization of niche market diagnostic test kits and novel medical devices. STC's goal is to expand its current in vitro diagnostic and medical device businesses and sustain long-term growth by commercializing Intercept, UPlink and UPT as platform technologies.
Insurance Risk Assessment Products
In 1999, STC sold more than 50 million tests for insurance risk assessment. STC develops and sells immunoassay tests in two formats, MICRO-PLATE and AUTO- LYTE, to meet the specific needs of each customer in the insurance risk assessment market. STC MICRO-PLATE assays are sold as finished kits containing several vials of reagents and 12 strips of 8 plastic reaction containers coated with antibodies. The sample to be tested is placed into a microwell along with the reagents. The result of the test is determined by the color of the microwell upon completion of the reaction. Controlling the reaction involves the use of a variety of reagents by laboratory personnel. Test results are analyzed by any of a variety of commercially available laboratory instruments which are generally not provided by STC. The test kit is commonly used for high sensitivity measurement of substances comprised of both large and small molecules. STC has used this testing format to develop tests that detect substances in urine, serum, and oral fluid specimens. AUTO-LYTE tests are sold as bottles of reagents. The reagents are used with commercially available automated analytical instruments which are manufactured by a variety of third parties. AUTO-LYTE tests provide medium sensitivity to detect substances comprised of small molecules. AUTO-LYTE is typically used in high volume, automated, commercial reference laboratories. Test results are produced faster, allowing for higher throughput.
STC currently markets the MICRO-PLATE oral fluid test for use in screening life insurance applicants to test for two of the most important underwriting risk factors: cocaine and cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine). STC sells the reagents to insurance testing laboratories, which may in turn provide the laboratory testing to insurance companies, often in combination with Epitope's OraSure device.
STC has multi-year purchase agreements and reagent rental agreements with its customers. These agreements generally are entered with a laboratory which has agreed to purchase a minimum number of tests over a two-to-five-year period. STC also offers these customers the option of a reagent rental agreement pursuant to which STC provides the tests as well as analytical laboratory equipment.
As of August 1999, more than 150 U.S. ordinary life insurance companies were using oral fluid to varying degrees for testing applicants for life insurance. These 150 companies included seven of the top ten U.S. life insurance companies.
Drugs-of-Abuse Products
The worldwide drugs-of-abuse market totaled approximately $305 million in 1998. The majority of drugs-of-abuse testing occurs in centralized laboratories as part of routine pre-employment workplace screening. However, on-site testing for drugs-of-abuse is growing rapidly. Testing is concentrated on a set of commonly abused drugs called the NIDA-5, consisting of THC (marijuana), cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and the hallucinogenic drug PCP. Growth in this market has been slowed by a maturation of test volume and increased
price competition. However, there has been growth in the on-site sector of the market for rapid-results products to test for the presence of illicit drugs which produce results in a short period of time. STC develops, manufactures, and sells drugs-of-abuse tests in the MICRO-PLATE format. STC's MICRO-PLATE drugs-of-abuse tests can be performed on commonly used instruments and produce results in approximately one hour. STC has used this testing format for assays that detect drugs-of-abuse in urine, serum, oral fluid, and sweat specimens. STC's drugs-of-abuse products are currently sold in the forensic toxicology market.
Within the drugs-of-abuse testing market, STC believes that an opportunity exists for diagnostic testing for substances in bodily fluids other than the traditional specimens, blood and urine. With respect to blood, the specimen sample is required to be obtained by a trained professional and there exists the possibility of infection from bloodborne pathogens for the person drawing blood. With respect to urine, handling the sample is objectionable to some people, and in some environments there is the risk that the sample may become adulterated between initial collection and receipt by the testing administrator. Therefore, STC has sought out alliances with developers of two different alternative specimen collection systems, Epitope, the supplier of the OraSure(R) oral fluid collection device and PharmChem Laboratories, Inc., the supplier of the PharmChek Sweat Patch.
Forensic Toxicology--The forensic toxicology market is made up of 250-300 laboratories including federal, state and county crime laboratories, medical examiner laboratories and reference laboratories.
In 1999, STC sold more than 1 million MICRO-PLATE drugs-of-abuse tests to the forensic toxicology market. STC has developed products to meet the specific needs of its customers in this market that are provided in easy to use kit formats that run on automated microplate equipment. Kits are offered for many sample types, such as, whole blood, serum urine, hair and sweat.
In the first quarter of 2000, STC entered into a multi-year agreement with a third party to distribute these products outside the U.S.
STC has used this testing format as the basis for the oral fluid MICRO-PLATE tests.
Intercept Oral Fluid Drug Test--STC has entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Epitope and LabOne, Inc. for the Intercept service, STC's oral fluid drugs-of-abuse test. Intercept is a laboratory-based testing service that uses oral fluid as a testing matrix for the screening and confirmation of the commonly used NIDA-5 drugs-of-abuse. This product was launched for workplace testing, public health, and criminal justice markets in February 2000. Each Intercept test kit contains an oral fluid collector developed by Epitope and a series of reagents which are used in connection with a MICRO-PLATE test.
In 1999, STC entered into an exclusive agreement with LabOne, Inc. to collaborate to market and sell a complete solution for laboratory-based oral fluid drugs-of-abuse testing in the workplace testing market in the United States and Canada. The agreement provides for STC to exclusively sell, and for LabOne to exclusively purchase and distribute, Intercept collection devices and associated reagents for drugs-of-abuse testing in the workplace testing market in the United States and Canada. Using Epitope's Intercept collection devices and STC's reagents, LabOne provides all laboratory services necessary to test oral fluid specimens collected by customers including screening and confirmatory studies. The agreement provides for STC to receive marketing assistance fees, per unit transfer fees on both Intercept collection devices and associated reagents, a per specimen confirmation methods fees and profit- sharing fees based upon actual customer pricing. In addition, STC received a warrant to purchase 50,000 shares of LabOne's common stock. LabOne must meet certain annual metrics to retain its exclusive rights under such agreement. The term of the agreement, as amended, is until June 30, 2003 with automatic yearly renewals unless either party gives notice at least 180 days prior to the end of the then current term.
STC has received FDA clearance for all NIDA-5 drugs-of-abuse oral fluid products and for cotinine. STC believes that the Intercept service will be popular for drugs-of-abuse testing because of its non-invasive nature and ease of maintaining a chain-of-custody without embarrassment to the person being tested, as well as the lack of requirement for specially prepared collection facilities. The availability of an oral fluid test is intended
to allow workplace administrators to test for impairment on demand, eliminate scheduling costs, and streamline the testing process. However, there can be no assurances that STC will be able to exploit such opportunities.
PharmChem Laboratories, Inc.--PharmChem's PharmChek sweat patch was designed as a drug collection system for the criminal justice testing market. The collection device is a skin patch which can be worn for up to 14 days. This significantly lengthens the drug use detection period. The patch is also tamper-resistant, indicating that it had been removed during the testing period. With particular applicability to the probation and parole environment, the patch can be applied and removed at an on-site location, eliminating the need for specialized specimen collection services, which STC estimates account for about one-half of the cost of workplace drug testing.
In 1993 STC and PharmChem entered into an agreement that provides that STC would develop and file FDA applications for reagents to be used in conjunction with the PharmChek patch to detect the NIDA-5 in sweat. In exchange for developing the products, PharmChem agreed to purchase its requirements of reagents from STC. STC has received FDA clearance to market tests using reagents to test for all the NIDA-5 drugs-of-abuse products. As of June 30, 2000, sales of reagents to PharmChem were limited.
Q.E.D.(R) Saliva Alcohol Test
The Q.E.D. Saliva Alcohol Test is an on-site, low-cost alternative to breath or blood testing. The test is a quantitative, oral fluid based method for the detection of ethanol, and has been approved for sale by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The product received a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1998 ("CLIA") Waiver in 1997. Each Q.E.D. test kit contains a collection stick which is used to collect a sample of saliva and a disposable detection device which display results in a format similar to a thermometer. The Q.E.D. device is easy to operate and instrumentation is not required to read the result. The product line comes in two testing ranges 0 to 0.145% and 0 to 0.30% blood alcohol and produces results in two to five minutes.
The markets for alcohol testing are relatively small and fragmented with a broad range of legal and procedural barriers to entry. Markets range from law enforcement testing to workplace testing of employees in safety sensitive occupations. The Q.E.D. test has successfully been adopted by end users in the petroleum, heavy construction, trucking, and retail business because it is a low-cost, portable, easy-to-administer, quantitative testing method. Typical usage situations include pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable- cause, and return-to-duty testing.
In 1999, STC enhanced Q.E.D. performance and upgraded the manufacturing line. STC also entered into a contract for a private label distributor in Scandinavia, for 150,000 units of the device. This contract was completed in February 2000.
Histofreezer(R) Portable Cryosurgical Removal System
STC introduced the Histofreezer Portable Cryosurgical Removal System to the U.S. market in 1991, as a low-cost alternative to liquid nitrogen and other eradication methods for removal of benign epidermal lesions. In June 1998, STC acquired the Histofreezer product from Koninklijke, Utermohlen, N.V., The Netherlands. As part of the acquisition, STC established a sales office in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands, and is now integrating a dealer network in more than 20 countries worldwide.
Histofreezer is a mixture of two environmentally friendly cryogenic gases in a small aerosol canister. When released, these gases are delivered to a specially designed foam bud, cooling the bud to -57C. The frozen bud is then applied to the lesion for 20 to 40 seconds creating localized destruction of the target area. Histofreezer is sold in two sizes of canisters. Histofreezer sales have been targeted to primary care physicians such as pediatricians, general and family practitioners, and other physician segments that traditionally referred patients to dermatologists to remove warts. STC has established a national network of distributors to reach the physician's office market in the United States.
Up-Converting Phosphor Technology--UPT
Overview
In 1995, STC entered into exclusive worldwide patents, patent applications, and trade secret licenses for UPT for use in all diagnostic applications and has expended more than $10 million to develop UPT to date. UPT is based on the use of a unique patented technology which is used to detect specific substances in tests designed by STC. UPT utilizes the same particle shell that is coated onto a television screen, but the internal chemistry of the particle has been changed. These changes result in a particle that is excited by infrared light as compared to an ultraviolet light source for television. STC and its research partners have developed phosphorescent particles that up-convert infrared light to visible light which STC intends to use to develop for several applications. UPT is currently in development and STC has not yet brought to market any products which utilize UPT.
This key feature of UPT forms the basis for its use as a detector system. The process of converting infrared light to visible light is called up-conversion.
STC believes that UPT overcomes some of the limitations of other diagnostic detection methods with features not commercially available today. When used in conjunction with antibodies or DNA probes, UPT particles produce zero background interference, which dramatically increases the potential sensitivity of any test system. In addition to zero background interference, these particles are stable in a variety of biological specimens, allow simultaneous detection of multiple biological markers, and can be used to miniaturize the test platform.
Key UPT competitive features are as follows:
. No background interference
. High sensitivity
. Multiplex detection of several substances simultaneously
. No fading permits a permanent record
. Applicability to a variety of instrument platforms
. Low cost, easy-to-use
. Compatible with alternative testing matrices such as oral fluid, blood or others.
STC has reached important milestones in the development of UPT, including improving the manufacturing process to produce UPT particles, working to optimize UPT particle coating techniques, producing four distinct colors of UPT particles to begin experiments on the simultaneous detection of multiple biological markers to permit multiplexing, and demonstrating initial feasibility for the use of UPT particles in drugs-of-abuse, infectious disease, cancer, and limited DNA detection applications. Each of these milestones is an important step in developing commercial products utilizing UPT.
Description
UPT is a proprietary label detection platform technology being developed by STC that can be applied to the detection of minute quantities of various substances such as antigens, proteins, and DNA. High sensitivity is a feature of UPT patented particle technology and compares favorably to small molecule- based detection systems such as fluorescence or enzyme assays. The use of STC's particle-based detection provides a stronger signal for each event detected and thereby enhances sensitivity in diagnostic testing systems.
Phosphor particles have been used for decades in televisions producing colored screens and in fluorescent light bulbs. When ultraviolet light strikes the phosphor-coated area in a screen or bulb, it excites the particles and colored light is produced. STC's patented improvements on this base technology employ chemical changes inside the phosphor particles so that infrared light can be used to produce the colored signal. This use of infrared light rather than ultraviolet light to create a colored signal is called up-conversion as opposed to down-conversion which is the use of ultraviolet light. The use of infrared light to excite the phosphor particles and
produce a colored light signal creates an important competitive advantage for the technology in biological systems, especially human clinical diagnostics. Existing enzyme or fluorescent-based assays employ visible or ultraviolet light to emit the signals from the enzyme substrate or fluorescent molecules used as reporter signals in these systems. The disadvantage of using light in the visible or ultraviolet portion of the spectrum is that often molecules in the cells or samples for analysis can also create colored light from these excitation sources. When this occurs, a non-specific signal is generated which dilutes or obscures the signal of interest for the diagnostic test being administered. Because up-conversion does not exist in nature, biological samples and specimens will not produce light, and therefore, will not cause background interference when excited by infrared light.
The benefit of this "unnatural" detection system is that non-specific background signals are virtually eliminated. Superior detection sensitivity in the UPT system should exist compared to other methodologies.
Competitive Analysis of UPT Labels
Biological tests rely on some reporter method to amplify or transform a limited amount of specimen to be measured into a detectable signal. There are a variety of methods to do this amplification, however, all of them have limitations or problems that narrow their scope and utility. The most common detection labels or reporters are as follows:
Enzymes--are naturally occurring proteins whose biological function is to catalyze the conversion of materials. They are normally used to catalyze the conversion of the target substrate to produce energy which in turn is utilized to produce colored by-products. The color produced is proportional to the amount of target material in the test specimen. Enzymes, however, are easily affected by interferants in biological specimens and often have limited stability.
Fluorescence--is the conversion of light energy to a lower energy wavelength from a molecule excited by light of a higher energy. The problem is that many biological materials also fluoresce, which limits this technology as a label. Fluorophores also fade or bleach when excited for long periods of time; this limits fluorescence usefulness to short detection periods.
Radioisotopes--were the first labels used when testing utilizing antibodies and enzymes was developed nearly thirty years ago. Radioisotopes are very sensitive, however, their radioactivity decays rapidly, making them unstable. Due to safety hazards associated with radioactivity, disposal of the test material becomes problematic, and expensive storage and disposal costs come into play. Additionally they require special handling and licensing. The use of radioisotopes is declining as more stringent laws are enacted for the disposal of radioactive waste.
Chemiluminescence--is the creation of visible light from a chemical reaction. It produces an amount of light proportional to the level of substance being measured. Chemiluminescence has been gaining popularity as a label system. It is relatively easy to use, however, the instrument required for detection is more expensive than in most other label systems.
When these labels are integrated into a traditional test system, a number of common limitations are found. The following table highlights some of these limitations and the potential advantages of UPT:
Competitive Features of Label Limitations
UPT Traditional Testing Systems UPT Advantage
----------------------- --------------------------- -------------
Stability of Label Immediate analysis required Permanent UPT labels are
(Fading)............... for enzyme labels or stable permitting
overdevelopment can occur flexibility in running and
analyzing test samples.
Samples may be repeatedly
analyzed over weeks to years
Loss of signal after Photobleaching is not
exposure to excessive light problematic with UPT labels
known as photobleaching
involving fluorescent labels
prohibits prolonged analysis
Background Blood, tissue and Up-conversion eliminates
Interference........... contaminants can interfere non-specific background
with specific signal signals or noise
creating potential for false
positives
Single vs. Multiple
Sample Processing...... Enzyme methods require Presently, UPT can be used
analysis of a single to detect 4 target
determinant per sample substances per sample,
thereby reducing samples and
processing time
Fluorescence methods require
careful selection of
multiple label combinations
to avoid quenching or energy
transfer resulting in loss
of signal
Sensitivity............. Sensitivity varies from 10- Sensitivity of 10-/18/ for
/18/ for chemiluminescence UPT equals the most
to 10-/12/ for enzymes sensitive detection
technology
Hazards................. Some enzyme-based systems UPT particles are non-
employ hazardous materials hazardous
as part of the test
Radioactive waste creates an
environmental hazard and has
a disposal expense
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As indicated by the above table, current tests indicate that UPT may provide a variety of benefits not possible with other detection methods and may overcome many of their limitations. Consequently, STC believes that UPT is more flexible and broadly applicable than other detection methods commercially available. However, UPT is a new process which has not undergone large scale trials to validate its expected performance nor has it received regulatory approvals required in order to commercialize a product utilizing UPT.
UPT Lateral Flow Applications
Background. In vitro tests of biological compounds have become routine for a variety of applications, including medical diagnosis, forensic toxicology, pre- employment and insurance risk screening, and foodborne pathogen testing. Industrial demands for low-cost, sensitive, rapid tests with the potential for screening multiple
analytes simultaneously or in rapid succession have caused a burgeoning of testing systems and formats. Virtually all such systems can be characterized as having three key components: (1) a probe that recognizes the target substance being tested for with a high degree of specificity; (2) a reporter that gives a signal that is qualitatively or quantitatively related to the presence of the substance tested for; and (3) a detection system capable of relaying information from the reporter to a method of interpretation. The probe which can be an antibody or nucleic acid sequence, should interact uniquely and with high affinity to the analyte but not with non-targets in order to minimize false positive responses. The reporter is often directly or indirectly coupled or conjugated to the probe, providing a signal that is related to the concentration of the substance tested for upon completion of the test. The reporter should not be subject to signal interference from the surrounding matrix, either in the form of signal loss from extinction or by competition from non-specific signal from other materials in the system. This type of interference is also referred to as noise. The detector is usually a device or instrument used to determine the presence of the reporter and therefore substance being tested for in the sample. Ideally, the detector should provide a quantitative scale for the measurement of the substance tested for that is both accurate and precise. In many rapid on-site tests, the detection instrument is the human eye and the test results are reported as a positive or negative result.
Rapid Test Format. Working with SRI International, Menlo Park, California, STC has been able to incorporate UPT labels into an on-site rapid test format which provides results in a short period of time. Similar to a home pregnancy test, these products work by applying fluid to a test strip which has been treated with specific biologicals. Carried by the liquid sample, phosphors labeled with corresponding biologicals flow through the strip and may be captured as they pass into specific zones. The amount of phosphor signal found on the strip will be proportional to the amount of the target substance.
STC believes that there exists increasing demand for point-of-care diagnostic tests which provide results in a short period of time. Many currently marketed rapid, point-of-care technologies are limiting due to their analytical sensitivity or the number of analytes detected in a single test. STC is in the process of developing up-converting phosphors as reporters in point-of-care diagnostic tests using a lateral flow format.
STC has expanded its efforts to pursue point-of-care UPT applications. To understand its potential, a variety of basic feasibility studies have been conducted. These studies demonstrated the potential of the label platform.
These demonstration tests included a variety of drugs, pathogens, proteins, and DNA. The sensitivities demonstrated by these tests ranged from 10 to 1,000 times better than comparable commercial products. Given the wide array of analytes feasible with UPT, STC expects to pursue broad market applications in the future.
Instrument Platform. UPT particles are not visible to the eye and therefore any test employing UPT labels requires an instrument to "read" the test device and show the result on a screen. A prototype device employing UPT has been produced by SRI International as part of a federal grant to demonstrate UPT's potential for detecting biological and chemical warfare agents. Although only in its early stages, it was successful enough to become the prototype for developing a commercial reader. Under the UPlink trademark, STC is pursuing the commercialization of a UPT collector, test strip, and reader intended for multiplexed, high sensitivity diagnostic applications.
Recent developments in laser technology have created the opportunity for advancement in the commercial development of benchtop or hand-held instruments for the detection of up-converting phosphors in diagnostic tests. In cooperation with SRI International, STC has developed both a prototype desktop and a hand-held instrument for use with UPT.
Test Formats
Background. UPT particles are easily conjugated to biomolecules such as antibodies. This creates a sensitive probe-reporter pair that has been successfully adapted to a standard lateral flow format. UPT particles combined with target-specific antibodies are dried into a fleece attached to the strip and in physical contact with both the strip and an overlying sample absorbent pad. Beyond the UPT fleece is a wicking fleece that assists in
driving capillary flow during the test. Once all reagents have been applied, the test strip is dried and assembled into a protective cassette housing. These strips are expected to have a shelf-life of 12 months or greater under appropriate storage conditions.
UPlink Status. STC is pursuing the development of UPlink for on-site drugs- of-abuse testing in oral fluid samples. During 2000, STC will focus its research and development activities on feasibility and development of a NIDA-5 drugs-of-abuse multiplexed oral fluid test. Prior to commercialization, UPlink must undergo additional process and development testing, clinical trials, and receive FDA approval. STC anticipates that a commercial product for use in onsite drugs-of-abuse testing in oral fluid samples may be available in the second half of 2001.
External Development Opportunities. STC is conducting research into additional applications for UPT outside the in vitro diagnostic market which would be exploited by developing strategic relationships with third parties for the potential applications. These relationships would potentially generate revenue streams for STC through research grants, licensing fees, royalties, manufacturing capabilities, and instrument sales.
UPT License Agreements
In April 1995, STC entered into an agreement with SRI International and the David Sarnoff Research Center which was subsequently amended in September 1995. STC received exclusive worldwide rights under patents and know-how owned by SRI to develop and market products relating to up converting phosphor in all diagnostic applications that involve the use of UPT. STC also received non- exclusive worldwide rights under patents and know how owned by Sarnoff to develop and market products relating to up converting phosphor in all diagnostic applications that involve the use of UPT. STC has the right to sublicense these rights under the agreement subject to consent from SRI and Sarnoff Research Center.
Under STC's agreement with SRI, STC is required to make license, maintenance and royalty payments to SRI. STC made an initial license payment to SRI in 1995 as well as research fees in 1995 and 1996 in connection with development projects in which SRI participated. STC is obligated to make annual maintenance payments on each anniversary of the agreement following the completion of the development period until the first commercial sale of a product. STC also must make royalty payments for a period equal to the longer of ten years from the date of the first commercial sale of the products or the term in which licensed patents would infringe the manufacture, use, or sale of a product, but for SRI's license to STC. Royalty payments must be made by STC for any revenues generated from the sale of any test products, instrument products, reagent rentals or sublicenses. A minimum annual royalty commences upon the first commercial sale of products developed using the licensed technology. STC believes that the royalty rates payable by STC are comparable to the rates generally payable by other companies under similar arrangements.
STC's agreement with SRI terminates upon the expiration of STC's obligation to pay royalties to SRI. In addition, SRI has the right to terminate the agreement if STC:
.breaches any material provision of the agreement which has not been cured within thirty days after written notice of the breach;
.files for bankruptcy; or
.has a proceeding commenced or an order, judgement or decree entered against it seeking dissolution, liquidation of STC or similar action which continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty days.
Research and Development
In 1999, research and development activities focused on development of UPT, commercializing the Intercept service, toxicology products, development of monoclonal antibody capabilities, and improving Q.E.D. performance and cost structure. UPT efforts were focused on development of a lateral flow device, particle size reduction,
feasibility studies for on-site drugs-of-abuse, foodborne pathogens, cardiac markers, and preliminary DNA feasibility. STC has expanded the research and development group to 23 scientists/engineers and a system integrator.
STC supplements its own research and development activities by funding external research. STC has been, and will continue to fund research at Leiden University, SRI International, and the David Sarnoff Research Institute, Palo Alto, California. STC also funds various research activities at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Research and development expenses totaled approximately $3.3 million in 1999, of which $468,000 was paid to external consultants for research related primarily to UPT and $2.8 million was spent internally by the company for research related primarily to UPT. Research and development expenses totaled approximately $2.3 million in 1998, $174,000 external and $2.1 million was internal and $1.9 million in 1997, $186,000 external and $1.7 million was internal.
Sales and Marketing
STC's strategy is to reach the major target markets through a combination of direct sales and independent distributors. STC's marketing strategy is to develop a mix of trade shows, print advertising, and distributor promotions to support sales to each target market. At this time, STC's Insurance and Forensic Toxicology products are sold directly to end users; Histofreezer and Q.E.D. product lines are sold through independent distributors; and Intercept is sold to workplace testing through LabOne and to the public health and criminal justice markets on both a direct basis and a co-marketing plan with Epitope.
STC sells the Histofreezer product line to distributors that market to more than 150,000 primary care physicians and podiatrists. Major distributors include McKesson HBOC, Physicians Sales & Service, Bergen Brunswig, and Henry Schein. Sales of Histofreezer totaled approximately $5.7 million in 1999, which represented approximately 41% of STC's revenue in that year. Sales of Histofreezer totaled $4.8 million, or 45% of STC's revenue in 1998 and $3.1 million, or 39% of STC's revenue, in 1997.
Significant Customers, Suppliers Products, and Markets
In 1999, two customers accounted for approximately 24% of total revenues with LabOne accounting for 13% of total revenues and Osborn Labs accounting for 11% of total revenues. In 1998 and 1997, one customer, LabOne, accounted for approximately 14% and 17% of total revenues, respectively. The loss of either of these customers would have a material adverse effect on STC.
Histofreezer is manufactured in the Netherlands by Koninklijeke, Utermohlen, N.V., the company from which STC acquired the product in 1998. STC purchases the product pursuant to an exclusive production agreement between the companies. The production agreement provides that Koninklijeke, Utermohlen, N.V. shall be the exclusive supplier of the Histofreezer product until June 1, 2003. The management of STC believes that additional manufacturers of the Histofreezer product are available on terms no less favorable than the terms of the production agreement with Koninklijeke, Utermohlen, N.V. in the event that Koninklijeke, Utermohlen, N.V. were to be unable to continue manufacturing the Histofreezer product.
STC manufactures and markets its products primarily in the United States and Europe. STC's principal manufacturing facilities are located in the United States and STC operates a sales office in the Netherlands. Product revenues attributable to customers in the United States amounted to $10.8 million, $8.9 million and $7.4 million in the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 respectively. Revenues attributable to customers in Europe amounted to $1.8 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 and $1.2 million during the period from June 1998 through December 1998 in which STC had operations in the Netherlands.
Manufacturing
STC's AUTO-LYTE and MICRO-PLATE assays are manufactured at its Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, facility. STC manufactures the test components and assembles and packages the tests for distribution. More than 50
million tests were produced at STC's facility in 1999. STC's tests require the production of highly specific and sensitive antibodies corresponding to the antigen of interest. Antibodies are produced commercially by injecting a vaccine consisting of a purified, specific antigen into one of a variety of animals. The injected animal's immune system then manufactures antibodies, which are contained in blood samples which are collected on a routine basis, purified through the use of a chemical process, and prepared for use in various diagnostic products. Substantially, all of STC's antibody requirements are produced by a contract supplier. However, in 1999, STC began to develop its own in-house monoclonal and polyclonal antibody capabilities. STC believes that it maintains adequate reserves of antibody supplies and believes it has access to sufficient raw materials for its products.
AUTO-LYTE test kits are manufactured by adding specific antibodies to chemical solutions which are then packaged as a defined volume of liquid in a plastic container for use in laboratory equipment. MICRO-PLATE test kits are produced by placing purified antibodies onto a plastic container which is sent to customers in multiples of ninety-six tests along with a set of reagents necessary to control the reaction. The reaction container is sealed in a foil package and placed in a box with the reagents. The Q.E.D. test is manufactured, packaged, and shipped from STC's Bethlehem facility.
The Q.E.D. test is manufactured, packaged, and shipped from STC's Bethlehem facility.
Employees
As of June 30, 2000, STC had 95 full-time employees, including 25 in sales, marketing, and technical support; 28 in manufacturing; 31 in research and development; and 11 in administration and finance. Ten of STC's employees hold Ph.D. degrees. STC's employees are not represented by a collective bargaining agreement.
STC offers a benefits program to all of its full-time employees. STC contributes 80% of the premium cost for comprehensive health care coverage for employees and their families. Additionally, STC maintains a 401(k) plan with matching contributions for the lesser of 8% of salary or $3,000. STC contributed $113,708 in 1999, $93,607 in 1998 and $88,106 in 1997 to fund its matching commitments.
Competition
The diagnostic industry is a multi-billion dollar international industry and is intensely competitive. Many of STC's competitors are larger with greater financial, research, manufacturing, and marketing resources. Important competitive factors for STC's products include product quality, price, ease of use, customer service, and reputation. Industry competition is based upon scientific and technological capability, proprietary know-how, access to adequate capital, the ability to develop and market products and processes, the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and the availability of patent protection.
A few large corporations produce a wide variety of diagnostic tests and other medical devices and equipment, a larger number of mid-size companies generally compete only in the diagnostic industry, and, finally, a significant number of small companies produce only a few diagnostic products. As a result, the diagnostic test industry is fragmented and segmented.
The future market for diagnostic tests is expected to be characterized by consolidation, greater cost consciousness, and tighter reimbursement policies. The purchaser of diagnostic products will place increased emphasis on lowering costs, automation, service, and volume discounts. The increased complexity of the market is expected to force many competitors to enter into joint ventures or license certain products or technologies.
In the insurance risk assessment market, STC's AUTO-LYTE homogeneous assays for cocaine and cotinine compete with reagents from Microgenics, Inc. STC's AUTO-LYTE homogeneous assays for Beta-Blockers and Thiazide as well as MICRO- PLATE heterogeneous assays for the detection of cocaine, cotinine and IgG in oral fluid are the only assays available in the market place. In urine chemistries, STC's significant competitors include Olympus America and Roche.
STC MICRO-PLATE drugs-of-abuse reagents are targeted to forensic testing laboratories where sensitivity, automation, and "system solutions" are important. With respect to sensitivity, in the past laboratories have typically had to rely on radioimmunoassay. Radioimmunoassay requires radioactive materials, which have short shelf-life and disposal problems. STC's MICRO-PLATE tests run on automated equipment and, uncommon for a company of its size, STC delivers to the laboratory a complete "system package" of reagents, and instrumentation (known as a "reagent rental" transaction) to meet the specific needs of each customer.
In the forensic toxicology market, STC competes with both homogeneous and heterogeneous tests manufactured by a host of companies. Significant competitors in the market for homogeneous assays include those manufactured by Dade/Behring, Abbott Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics and Microgenics.
The Intercept drug testing service competes with a wide variety of drug testing products and services. These competitors can be divided into two groups: 1) rapid tests; and 2) lab based services. Within each product or service group, drug testing can be further divided into testing matrix such as urine, hair, sweat and oral fluids.
Major competitors in the lab-based drug testing are Quest/SmithKline Diagnostics, LabCorp, Psychemedics, and Medtox Laboratories. Major competitors in the rapid testing market include American Biomedica, Roche Diagnostics, and Biosite Diagnostics.
Within the sub-segment of oral fluid drugs-of-abuse testing, Intercept competes with one company, Avitar, Inc, who markets a rapid test called Oral Screen(TM) to the workplace and criminal justice markets. Another development stage company, LifePoint, Inc. has announced plans to introduce a reader-based saliva test panel which will include alcohol testing during 2001.
Q.E.D. has two direct competitors, Roche Diagnostics, Inc. and Chematics. These companies offer semi-quantitative saliva-based alcohol tests and both have received Department of Transportation approval. Indirect competitors who offer breath testing equipment include Intoximeters, Drager, and CMI. Although there are lower priced tests on the market that use oral fluid or breath as a test medium, these tests are qualitative tests that are believed to be substantially lower in quality and scope of benefits than the Q.E.D. test.
The Histofreezer product's patented delivery system and warmer operating temperature than liquid nitrogen, provide STC with the opportunity to target sales to physicians, such as family practitioners, pediatricians, and podiatrists. STC does not target sales to dermatologists because they have the volume of patients required to support the capital costs associated with a liquid nitrogen delivery system. There is limited competition for convenient cryosurgical products for wart removal in the primary care physician market. Consequently, STC has been able to price the product to provide adequate margins for STC, medical product dealers, and physicians.
Competition for Histofreezer includes portable cryosurgical systems from CryoSurgery, Inc. In addition, liquid nitrogen is used by medical professionals to remove warts and other benign skin lesions. Lastly, patients may purchase various over-the-counter products to treat warts at home.
Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information
STC seeks patent and other intellectual property rights to protect and preserve its proprietary technology and its right to capitalize on the results of its research and development activities. STC also relies upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovations, and licensing opportunities to provide it with competitive advantages in its selected markets and to accelerate new product introductions. Respecting the patent and intellectual property rights of others, STC regularly searches for third-party patents in its fields of endeavor to shape its own patent and product commercialization strategies as effectively as possible as well as to identify licensing opportunities.
As part of the UPT license agreements, STC licensed U.S. and foreign patents and/or patent applications which generally relate to the development of up- converting phosphor technology and the use of that technology for diagnostic applications. Since October 7, 1998, the U.S. and European Patent Offices have issued STC's licensors eight patents for methods, compositions, and apparatuses relating to phosphor technologies. Several additional UPT patent applications remain pending in the U.S. and abroad. STC expects to continue to expand its UPT patent portfolio in 2000.
STC has five U.S. patents and numerous foreign patents and patent applications for the analog-to-digital threshold signaling technology used in the Q.E.D. test. These patents are related to the analog-to-digital technology color control systems and methods, systems and devices for the test, and detection of biochemical molecules.
STC has three U.S. patents and numerous foreign patents issued for apparatuses and methods for the topical removal of skin lesions relating to its Histofreezer device. In addition, STC was issued U.S. patent 5,885,789 in May of 1999. This patent relates to STC's method for detecting blood in urine specimens and STC's Auto-Lyte products.
It is STC's policy to require its employees, consultants, outside collaborators, and other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with STC. These agreements provide that all confidential information developed by, or made known to, the individual during the course of the individual's relationship with STC, is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees, the agreement provides that all inventions conceived by the individual during his tenure at STC will be the exclusive property of STC.
UPT(TM) and Up-link(TM) are trademarks of STC and Histofreezer(R) and Auto- Lyte(R) are registered trademarks of STC.
Government Regulation
Most of STC's diagnostic products are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. Prior to entering commercial distribution, all medical devices must undergo FDA review under either a 510(k) or a PMA review procedure depending on the type of test. Compared to a PMA, 510(k) notification is generally a streamlined filing submitted to demonstrate that the device in question is "substantially equivalent" to another legally marketed device. Tests for therapeutic drugs and hormones are included in this category. Approval under this procedure may be granted within 90 days, but in some cases as much as a year or more is required. STC has submitted and gained market clearance for fifty-one 510(k)s since inception for human diagnostic products such as Intercept and other drugs-of-abuse products as well as Histofreezer(R).
Many of the insurance testing products are labeled for "insurance risk assessment only" and many of the DOA products sold to state crime labs are labeled for "forensic use only." The FDA does not currently regulate either of these markets.
Products for physicians' offices and hospital markets are affected by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1998, which is designed to ensure the quality and reliability of medical testing. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act regulations may have the effect of discouraging or increasing the cost of testing in physicians' offices. These regulations establish requirements for laboratories in the area of administration, participation in proficiency testing, patient-test management, quality control, personnel, quality assurance, and inspection. Under these regulations, the specific requirements that a laboratory must meet depend upon the complexity of the tests performed by the laboratory. Laboratory tests are categorized as either: (1) waived tests, (2) tests of moderate complexity, or (3) tests of high complexity. Laboratories that perform either moderate or high complexity tests must meet standards in all areas, with the major difference in requirements between moderate and high complexity testing concerning quality control and personnel qualifications. In general, personnel conducting high complexity testing will require more education and experience than those doing moderate complexity testing. Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act regulations, all laboratories
performing moderately or highly complex tests will be required to obtain either a registration certificate or certificate of accreditation from the Health Care Financing Administration. The Q.E.D. test is considered waived under these regulations. None of STC's other products are currently subject to these regulations.
The U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulates STC's quality and manufacturing procedures for all of its products by requiring STC and its contract manufacturers demonstrate compliance with Quality Systems Regulations. The FDA monitors compliance with these requirements by requiring manufacturers to register with the FDA, which subjects them to periodic FDA inspections of manufacturing facilities. The FDA conducted an unannounced inspection of the operations of STC in June 1996. That investigation was concluded without any disciplinary action.
STC has voluntarily recalled Q.E.D. tests on two occasions. In both instances, the Q.E.D. tests were recalled because STC did not believe that the materials met STC's quality standards. Both recalls were conducted according to FDA guidelines. The FDA investigated the initial recall in December 1996 and did not take any action against STC. The FDA investigated the second recall in March 1998. At the conclusion of that investigation, STC was issued a notice known as a 483 Notice. The notice was issued due to STC's failure to confirm to the FDA that the corrective actions taken by STC to remedy the deficiencies leading to the March 1998 recall had corrected the problems. STC has confirmed with the FDA that its corrective actions addressed the issues that led to the recall. If violations of the applicable regulations are noted during future FDA inspections of STC's manufacturing facility, or the manufacturing facilities of a contract manufacturer, the continued marketing of STC's products may be adversely affected.
STC is currently pursuing ISO certification in connection with its intent to file for CE marks. The European Union has established a requirement that in vitro medical devices must receive a CE mark by December 2003, including many of STC's products. STC will not be permitted to sell its products in Europe if a CE mark is not obtained by this date. STC may continue to sell its products in Europe until this deadline. There are no assurances that STC will obtain these certifications. Preliminary analysis has been completed which disclosed a need for additional documentation and training. Management of STC does not believe any of the areas identified in the report represent a material impediment to receiving certification and has generated an action plan to address areas for improvement. The pre-assessment audit has been scheduled for the third quarter of 2000 with the registrar and the registration audit is planned for the fourth quarter of 2000. If STC fails to obtain these certifications, or is delayed in efforts to obtain these certifications, it could result in the inability of STC or its strategic allies to sell product and may lead to the termination of strategic alliances where that type of effect could occur such as with Drager Sicherheitstechnik GmbH.
STC must also submit evidence of marketing clearance by the FDA to Health Canada's Therapeutic Products Programme prior to commencing sales in Canada. STC has completed this process for all of its current products which require FDA review.
In addition to CE mark certification, FDA approval is pending for two drugs- of-abuse products. Future products will be submitted for regulatory approval based upon intended use. Products which are considered human diagnostic products will be submitted to the FDA as well as appropriate European regulators.
Environmental Regulations
Because of the nature of its current and proposed research, development, and manufacturing processes, STC is subject to stringent federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing the use, generation, manufacture, storage, air emission, effluent discharge, and handling and disposal of certain materials and wastes. STC believes that it has complied with these laws and regulations in all material respects and has not been required to take any action to correct any noncompliance.
Product Liability Insurance
STC's products carry the risk of potential product liability exposure. Consequently, STC maintains product liability insurance to cover any such occurrence. STC believes it has adequate coverage, but there can be no assurance that there is sufficient coverage. There are no claims pending against STC at this time.
Properties
On April 30, 1999, STC signed a five-year lease to rent 25,845 square feet of space at the John M. Cook Technology Center on the south side of Bethlehem located at 150 Webster Street. In March 2000, STC occupied this facility as its main corporate, sales and marketing, and research and development offices. Annual rent for the first five years of this lease is approximately $270,000. The lease also includes a five-year renewal option and a ten-year purchase option. STC's administrative offices and research and development laboratories are located at this Facility.
STC owns 33,500 square feet on 3.4 acres of land at 1745 Eaton Avenue in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania which is used for manufacturing. STC rents additional warehouse space on an as-needed basis. STC leases space for a sales office in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands.
STC believes its manufacturing and laboratory facilities are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and are maintained in a manner consistent with the FDA's Quality Systems Regulations standards.
STC believes that its facilities are in good condition, well maintained, and suitable for its needs.
Legal Proceedings
STC is not a party to any material pending legal proceedings against it.
Recent Developments
In March 2000, STC signed a research and development agreement with Drager Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, a European manufacturer and supplier of medical and safety technology products for health care and industrial applications, to develop and optimize the UPlink system for rapid detection of drugs of abuse in oral fluid. The UPlink system developed with the European partner is expected to be marketed to law enforcement officials as a system for rapidly assessing whether a subject is under the influence of one or more DOA substances. As part of the research and development agreement, STC received a non-refundable fee and will receive additional fees upon achievement of technical milestones. Upon successful completion of such research and development activities, the European partner has the option to become STC's exclusive worldwide distributor of the UPlink drugs of abuse test strip and reader developed under the research and development agreement to law enforcement officials for use in rapidly assessing whether a subject is under the influence of one or more drugs-of-abuse substances.
Executive Compensation
The following table provides historical information on compensation paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 to the named executive officers of STC who will serve as executive officers of OraSure Technologies. See page 40 for a discussion of new executive employment agreements with OraSure Technologies. References to numbers of shares refer to shares of STC prior to the mergers and will convert into a number of shares of OraSure Technologies based upon the exchange ratio.
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Long-term
Compensation Compensation
---------------- ------------
Securities
Underlying All Other
Name and Position Year Salary Bonus Options Compensation(1)
----------------- ---- -------- ------- ------------ ---------------
Michael J. Gausling.......... 1999 $175,000 $70,000 3,000 $3,000
Chief Executive Officer and 1998 175,000 10,000 -- 3,000
President 1997 175,000 -- -- 3,000
R. Sam Niedbala.............. 1999 160,000 48,000 3,000 3,000
Executive Vice President, 1998 160,000 10,000 -- 3,000
Chief Science Officer 1997 160,000 -- -- 3,000
William M. Hinchey........... 1999 135,000 33,750 3,000 3,000
Executive Vice President, 1998 135,000 10,000 -- 3,000
Sales and Marketing 1997 135,000 -- -- 3,000
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(1) Consists of contributions to STC through its profit sharing plan available to all full-time employees after 12 months of employment under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "401(k) Plan"). Under the 401(k) Plan, STC currently matches employee contributions up to the lesser of 8% of an employee's salary or $3,000.
Stock Option Grants
The following table summarizes stock options to acquire shares of STC granted to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. These options vest in four annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The percentage of total options granted is based on an aggregate of 113,102 options granted to employees in 1999, including options granted to STC's named executive officers.
The potential realizable value of each grant, as set forth in the table below, is calculated assuming that the market price of the underlying security appreciates at annualized rates of 5% and 10% over the ten-year term of the option. The results of these calculations are based on rates set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not intended to forecast possible future appreciation of the price of STC common stock. All of the options listed below will convert into options to acquire shares of OraSure Technologies as described under "The Agreement and Plan of Merger--Treatment of Stock Options."
Option Grants in 1999
Individual Grants
----------------------------------------------
Potential
Realizable
Value at
Percent Assumed Annual
of Total Rates of Stock
Options Price
Number of Granted Appreciation
Securities to Exercise of Option Term
Underlying Employees Price per Expiration --------------
Name Options Granted in 1999 Share Date 5% 10%
---- --------------- --------- --------- ---------- ------ -------
Michael J. Gausling..... 3,000 2.7% $4.25 12/15/09 $8,018 $20,320
R. Sam Niedbala......... 3,000 2.7 4.25 12/15/09 8,018 20,320
William M. Hinchey...... 3,000 2.7 4.25 12/15/09 8,018 20,320
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1999 Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table shows 1999 year-end amounts and value of shares of STC's common stock underlying outstanding options for STC's three highest paid executive officers. None of these persons exercised any stock options in 1999.
Number of
Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised In-
Unexercised Options at The-Money Options at
December 31, 1999 December 31, 1999(1)
------------------------- -------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Michael J. Gausling........ -- 3,000 $-- $--
R. Sam Niedbala............ -- 3,000 -- --
William M. Hinchey......... -- 3,000 -- --
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(1) There was no public trading market for STC's common stock as of December 31, 1999. Accordingly, these values have been calculated based on the difference between the estimated fair value per share of $4.25 on December 31, 1999, and the exercise price of the option.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
In order to partially finance the acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights to the Histofreezer product line, STC secured bridge financing of $1,894,000 from Messrs. Gausling, Hinchey and Niedbala to fund approximately 75% of the acquisition. On December 17, 1998, Lafayette Ambassador Bank as part of the bank's $6,756,000 loan package refinanced $750,000 of the subordinated debt. The remaining balance of $1.1 million was refinanced by Lafayette Ambassador Bank in August 1999.
Messrs. Gausling, Niedbala and Hinchey have given personal guarantees as collateral for STC's $1 million line of credit.
Information regarding employment agreements which the named STC executive officers have entered into with OraSure Technologies may be found beginning on page 39 under the heading of "Board of Directors, Management and Agreements with the Combined Company."
Management's Discussion and Analysis of STC's Financial Condition and STC's Results of Operations
Profile
STC develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary diagnostic products and medical devices for use in clinical laboratories, physician offices, hospitals, and workplace point-of-care testing. STC is a supplier of oral fluid assays to the insurance risk assessment testing market and also manufactures and markets other substance abuse testing products. In addition to these activities, STC has made a net investment of more than $12.0 million over the past five years to develop UPT (Up-Converting Phosphor Technology), a proprietary label detection technology for the detection of drugs of abuse and other substances. STC does not expect any revenues from UPT product sales for at least the next twelve months, if at all. STC expects expenses related to the development and commercialization of UPT to increase over historical levels, primarily due to expected increases in research and development and marketing.
Six Months
Ended June
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Year Ended December 31, 30,
--------------------- ------------------------- --------------
1999 1998 1997 2000 1999
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
Revenues:
Product........................... $13,117 $10,467 $ 7,717 $7,304 $5,809
Licensing and product
development...................... 898 185 205 175 506
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
14,015 10,652 7,922 7,479 6,315
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
Cost and expenses:
Cost of goods sold................ 4,500 4,145 3,033 2,355 2,131
Sales and marketing............... 3,705 2,869 2,885 1,992 1,492
Research and development.......... 3,304 2,339 1,870 2,160 1,834
Acquired in-process technology.... 1,500 -- -- -- --
General and administrative........ 1,582 1,294 1,185 909 694
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
14,591 10,647 8,973 7,416 6,151
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
Operating income (loss)......... (576) 5 (1,051) 63 164
Interest expense.................... 544 561 334 253 269
Interest income..................... (316) (105) (235) (255) (103)
Foreign currency (gain) loss........ 142 (5) -- 8 (14)
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
Income (loss) before income
taxes.......................... (946) (446) (1,150) 27 13
Income taxes........................ 50 -- -- 12 --
------- ------- ------- ------ ------
Net income (loss)................... $ (996) $ (446) $(1,150) $ 15 $ 13
======= ======= ======= ====== ======
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Six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999
Total revenues increased 18% to approximately $7.5 million in 2000 from approximately $6.3 million in 1999.
Product revenues increased 26% to approximately $7.3 million in 2000 from approximately $5.8 million in 1999. This increase was the result of increased sales across nearly all business lines, primarily the insurance testing and worldwide Histofreezer(R) markets. International sales increased 60% to $1.4 million in 2000 from $870,000 in 1999.
Licensing and product development revenues decreased to $175,000 in 2000 from $506,000 in 1999. During 2000, licensing and product development revenues primarily consisted of income from STC's
partnership with LabOne related to the Intercept(TM) service. During 1999, licensing and product development revenues consisted of income from research agreement with outside parties to develop specific target substances for point- of-care testing and to conduct a business and technology assessment of UPT(TM).
During the remainder of 2000, STC will focus its UPT(TM) efforts on the development of license revenue from external research and development contracts. STC expects to capitalize on UPT(TM) outside STC's core markets by developing strategic relationships with third parties. These relationships are expected to generate revenue streams for STC through research and development and supply agreements. However, there can be no assurance as to the receipt or timing of these fees, if any.
Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of product revenues, decreased to 32% in 2000 from 37% in 1999. Gross margins improved as a result of favorable product mix primarily as a result of higher insurance and Histofreezer sales, price increases for Histofreezer(R) and toxicology clients, and greater revenues compared to STC's fixed costs.
Sales and marketing expenses increased 34% to approximately $2.0 million in 2000 from approximately $1.5 million in 1999, as a result of STC's national market launch for the Intercept service in February 2000, increased travel, and higher staffing levels. As a result of the Intercept service launch, STC has significantly increased its marketing and sales efforts to create market awareness and demand for these new products, including media and advertising campaigns and the creation of our first website dedicated to the sale of an oral fluid test over the Internet. Sales and marketing expenses, as a percentage of total revenues, were 27% and 24% in 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Research and development expenses increased to approximately $2.2 million in 2000 from approximately $1.8 million in 1999. Research and development efforts were focused on development of Uplink(TM) reader, test strip, and collector for drugs-of-abuse applications and DNA feasibility studies. In an effort to meet UPT(TM)'s aggressive time schedule, STC continues to hire experienced scientists and has contracted with several outside consulting groups to supplement STC's internal work. Additional development activities focused on commercializing the Intercept service, toxicology product improvement projects, and development of antibodies. A portion of 1999 expenses included $300,000 for the renewal of UPT(TM) license agreements. As a result of the termination of this agreement in July 1999, STC did not expend any monies in 2000.
General and administrative expenses increased 31% to $909,000 in 2000 from $694,000 in 1999. This increase was due to the expansion of STC's MIS department, and costs associated with STC's building expansion.
Operating income decreased to $63,000 in 2000 from $164,000 in 1999 as a result of increased research and development costs related to UPT(TM), increased sales and marketing costs, and increased general and administrative expenses which were partially offset by increased product revenues and improvements in gross margins.
Interest expense decreased to $253,000 in 2000 from $269,000 in 1999 as a result of principal loan repayments and the refinancing of subordinated debt.
Interest income increased to $225,000 in 2000 from $103,000 in 1999 as a result of higher cash and cash equivalents available for investment in 2000 from the proceeds of the sale of our Series A convertible preferred stock in 1999.
During 2000, a provision for income taxes of $12,000 was recorded as a result of STC's profitability.
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
Total revenues increased 32% to approximately $14.0 million in 1999 from approximately $10.7 million in 1998.
Product revenues increased 25% to approximately $13.1 million in 1999 from approximately $10.5 million in 1998. This increase was the result of increased sales in the insurance testing market as a result of both price
increases and increased testing volume, the acquisition of Histofreezer in June 1998, and continued growth of toxicology sales. International product sales were 18% of total product revenues in 1999, up from 15% last year, as a result of increased Histofreezer sales and the revenues associated with a one-time private label sale of the Q.E.D.(R) Saliva Alcohol Test in Europe.
Licensing and product development revenues increased 385% to $898,000 in 1999 from $185,000 in 1998. The increase was primarily the result of STC beginning to secure research projects for the evaluation of UPT for a broad range of market applications. During 1999, STC received licensing and product development revenues fees in connection with a research agreement to collaborate on the development of certain analyses for point-of-care testing, licensing and product development revenues to conduct a business and technology assessment of UPT for food pathogen applications, and licensing and product development revenues from STC's partnership with LabOne for the Intercept service. During 1998, licensing and product development revenues consisted primarily of fees from outside parties to develop certain proprietary antibodies and certain product development revenues for the Q.E.D. test.
Costs of goods sold, as a percentage of product revenues, decreased to 34% in 1999 from 40% in 1998. Gross margins improved primarily as a result of increased pricing for various insurance risk assessment products, Q.E.D. and Histofreezer, improvements in manufacturing operating processes, greater capacity utilization, and favorable product mix as a result of insurance risk assessment and domestic Histofreezer sales.
Sales and marketing expenses increased 29% to approximately $3.7 million in 1999 from approximately $2.9 million in 1998 as a result of STC's preparations for a national market launch for the Intercept service in February 2000 and the establishment of its international sales office in the Netherlands. Sales and marketing expenses remained relatively constant at 26% and 27% of total revenues in 1999 and 1998, respectively, despite a $836,000 increase in 1999 spending.
Research and development expenses increased 41% to approximately $3.3 million in 1999 from approximately $2.3 million in 1998, primarily as a result of increasing investment in UPT. Research and development expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 24% and 22% in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Development activities focused on commercializing the Intercept service, toxicology product improvement projects, development of monoclonal antibody capabilities, and improving the performance of the Q.E.D. test. UPT efforts were focused on development of a lateral flow device, particle size reduction, feasibility studies for on-site drugs-of-abuse, foodborne pathogens, cardiac markers, and preliminary DNA feasibility.
In 1999, STC paid $1.5 million to its sublicensor (1) for the termination of
an existing license agreement between the sublicensor and STC with respect to
the sublicense of UPT patents owned by Leiden University, The Netherlands and
(2) to secure a direct research, development, and license arrangement with
Leiden University. STC has accounted for the purchase price as acquired in-
process technology expense because, at the date of the transaction, the
technology rights acquired by STC related to UPT had not progressed to a stage
where it met technological feasibility and there existed a significant amount
of uncertainty as to STC's ability to complete the development of the
technology which would achieve market acceptance within a reasonable timeframe.
In addition, the acquired in-process technology did not have an alternative
future use to STC that had reached technological feasibility.
At the acquisition date, the primary project that related to UPT involved development and testing activities associated with lateral flow testing technology. The project under development at the valuation date represents an advanced technology that is expected to address several shortcomings of traditional immunodiagnostic detection methods. The UPT technology produces less background interference that dramatically increases the potential sensitivity of the test.
At the acquisition date, the UPT technology was in an early phase of development and significant technological challenges remained to commercialize the product. STC expects to spend approximately $3.4 million in 2000 to complete development of the lateral flow technology in combination with the development
of the UPlink reader. Funding is expected to come from internal working capital, and future spending is planned to enhance and maintain the UPT technology in future periods. The anticipated completion date for the UPlink reader, including FDA approval, is estimated at 12 to 18 months, at which time STC expects to begin generating product and product license revenue from the developed product in the second half of 2001.
Due to the early stage of development of the acquired in process technology, significant technological and market risks exist. If these projects are not successfully developed in a timely manner, the sales and profitability of the combined company may be adversely affected in future periods.
General and administrative expenses increased 22% to approximately $1.6 million in 1999 from approximately $1.3 million in 1998, which represented 11% of total revenues in 1999 compared to 12% in 1998. This increase was due to the amortization of patent and product rights associated with the acquisition of worldwide distribution rights to Histofreezer in 1998, the expansion of STC's MIS department, and STC's 1999 Management Bonus Plan.
Operating loss was $576,000 in 1999 compared to income of $5,000 in 1998 primarily as a result of the acquired in-process technology charge of $1.5 million. Excluding this charge, operating income improved $618,000 as a result of the continued increases in profitability of STC's existing product lines.
Interest expense decreased to $544,000 in 1999 from $561,000 in 1998 as a result of loan repayments and the refinancing of $1.1 million of subordinated debt.
Interest income increased to $316,000 in 1999 from $105,000 in 1998 as a result of higher cash and cash equivalents available for investment from the proceeds of the sale of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in the second quarter of 1999.
Foreign currency loss was $142,000 in 1999 as a result of higher guilder rates during 1999 as compared to STC's foreign exchange contract rates.
Years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997
Total revenues increased 34% to approximately $10.7 million in 1998 from approximately $8.0 million in 1997.
Product revenues increased 36% to approximately $10.5 million in 1998 from approximately $7.7 million in 1997. This increase was the result of the acquisition of Histofreezer in June 1998, new sales to an insurance laboratory customer, strong unit volume growth for oral fluid testing of insurance applicants, and continued growth of the domestic Histofreezer product line. As a percentage of product revenues, international product sales increased to 15% in 1998 from 5% in 1997 as a result of the Histofreezer acquisition in 1998 and increased international activities for forensic toxicology drugs-of-abuse.
Licensing and product development revenues decreased 10% to $185,000 in 1998
from $205,000 in 1997. During 1998, licensing and product development revenues
consisted primarily of fees to develop certain proprietary antibodies and
product development fees for the Q.E.D. test. During 1997, licensing and
product development revenues consisted primarily of a Phase I research grant
for the detection of E. coli O157, and certain product development fees for the
Q.E.D. test.
Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of product revenues, increased to 40% in 1998 from 39% in 1997. Lower material costs and favorable product mix were offset by increased labor and quality control costs, lower gross margins on the sale of the Histofreezer international units, and higher depreciation and warranty costs for STC's reagent rental program.
Sales and marketing expenses remained level at $2.9 million, with sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreasing to 27% from 36%. In 1998, higher direct selling expenses were offset by a reduction in non- recurring costs associated with the startup of a project with an insurance laboratory customer and the elimination of certain Histofreezer commissions in 1998.
Research and development expenses increased 25% to approximately $2.3 million in 1998 from approximately $1.9 million in 1997 as a result of increasing investments in our UPT technology. Additional development activities focused on finishing the development of Intercept products, internal product improvement projects, and improving performance of the Q.E.D. test. Partially offsetting these activities was STC's decision to discontinue the development of the AUTO- LYTE(R) drugs-of-abuse panel due to the dependency on certain sole source suppliers and a non-competitive cost structure.
General and administrative expenses increased 9% to approximately $1.3 million in 1998 from $1.2 million in 1997. This increase was due to the amortization of patent and product rights associated with the acquisition of worldwide distribution rights to Histofreezer in 1998, employee training costs, and increased staffing. Excluding the Histofreezer amortization, general and administrative expenses would have declined by approximately $40,000.
Operating income improved by approximately $1.0 million.
Interest expense increased to $561,000 in 1998 from $334,000 in 1997 as a result of approximately $1.9 million of debt incurred to finance the Histofreezer acquisition and one-time expenses associated with STC's refinancing of existing bank debt.
Interest income decreased to $105,000 in 1998 from $235,000 in 1997 as a result of lower cash balances in 1998.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
STC's cash and short-term investment position decreased $1.5 million from approximately $9.4 million at December 31, 1999, to approximately $7.9 million at June 30, 2000, as a result of STC's capital investment into the infrastructure of our facilities, continued principal term debt payments, and prepaid expenses associated with the contemplated mergers. At June 30, 2000, STC's working capital was $8.8 million.
Liquidity is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future, but will continue to be negatively affected by increased UPT(TM) investment for research and development and the design and construction of a fully automated lateral flow manufacturing line, principal loan payments, investment into the commercialization of the Intercept service, and capital expenditure requirements.
The combination of STC's current cash position, available borrowings under STC's credit facilities, and STC's cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations and capital expenditures through at least the fourth quarter of 2001.
Net cash used in operating activities was $32,000, a decline of $509,000 over 1999 as a direct result of the payment of professional and other expenses related to the contemplated merger, lower accrual levels, and increased inventory.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $94,000, primarily as a result of STC's investment into tenant fit-out costs, additional laboratory equipment, and information systems equipment associated with the new facilities offset by the sale of short-term investments of $1.2 million.
During 2000, STC anticipates making capital expenditure investments of up to $2 million. Approximately $1.1 million of this amount represents tenant build- out costs, additional laboratory equipment, furniture, phones, computer equipment, and security systems for the new facilities and renovation of its manufacturing facilities. We expect to invest up to $100,000 for the UPT(TM) lateral flow pilot manufacturing equipment. The balance is represented by planned expenditures for manufacturing equipment and computers and information technology.
At June 30, 2000, STC had a $1.0 million working capital line of credit in place with a bank with an interest rate of the bank's LIBOR rate + 235 basis points. STC had borrowings of $144,000 outstanding at June 30, 2000, under this line of credit. This lending facility expires June 30, 2001.
At June 30, 2000, STC had a $1.0 million equipment line of credit in place with a bank. There were no borrowings under this line of credit outstanding at June 30, 2000. Any future draws on the equipment line will be to purchase equipment and the interest rate will be fixed at prime. The unused portion of this lending facility expires on June 30, 2001.
The credit facilities require, among other items, the maintenance of certain minimum financial ratios, first lien position on all assets, and the personal guarantees of STC's founders and principal stockholders. The personal guarantees of STC's founders and principal stockholders are anticipated to be removed upon the closing of the mergers.
It is anticipated that these credit facilities will remain in effect following the mergers.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements". The bulletin draws on existing accounting rules and provides specific guidance on revenue recognition of up-front non-refundable license fees. STC has followed such principles in its financial statements.
STC STOCK OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of common stock at July 31, 2000, by: (1) each person, entity or group known by STC to own beneficially more than 5% of STC's outstanding common stock; (2) each director; (3) each of the named executive officers; and (4) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person identified is c/o STC Technologies, Inc., 150 Webster Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18015.
The percentages shown are based upon 3,468,859 shares of common stock outstanding assuming conversion of all outstanding convertible preferred stock into common stock. Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, shares of common stock which a person has the right to acquire pursuant to the exercise of stock options and warrants held by that holder that are exercisable within sixty days are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Name of Beneficial Owner Owned Percentage
------------------------ ------------ ----------
HealthCare Ventures V, L.P............................ 588,235 17.0%
44 Nassau Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08542(1)
William M. Hinchey(2)................................. 426,811 12.3
Michael J. Gausling(3)................................ 399,408 11.5
R. Sam Niedbala(4).................................... 401,099 11.5
Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners, L.P................ 176,471 5.1
Building 500, Suite 510
435 Devon Park Drive
Wayne, PA 19087(5)
Michael J. Caruso(6).................................. 57,509 1.7
Jeffrey P. Libson(7).................................. 4,000 *
Michael G. Bolton(8).................................. 177,971 5.1
William W. Crouse(9).................................. 589,735 17.0
Harold R. Werner(10).................................. 589,735 17.0
All directors and executive officers as a group (9
persons)(11)......................................... 2,058,033 59.3
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(1) Consists of shares of common stock to be received upon conversion of 588, 235 shares of Class A Preferred Stock.
(2) Includes 100,000 shares held by The William M. Hinchey 2000 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 27, 2000 of which Mr. Hinchey is the trustee and 4,705 share held by The William M. Hinchey Irrevocable Education Trust Dated April 27, 2000 of which Maureen H. Hinchey is a trustee. Also includes 3,333 shares of Class B common stock.
(3) Includes 100,000 shares held by The Michael J. Gausling Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 28, 2000 of which Mr. Gausling is the trustee and 6,500 shares held by The Mike Gausling Irrevocable Education Trust Dated April 28, 2000 of which Sharon M. Gausling is a trustee. Also includes 88 shares of Class B common stock.
(4) Includes 100,000 shares held by The Raymond S. Niedbala 2000 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Dated April 28, 2000 of which Dr. Niedbala is the trustee and 15,000 shares held by The Raymond S. Niedbala Family Trust Dated April 28, 2000 of which Linda-Lee Niedbala is a trustee. Also includes 3,333 shares of Class B common stock.
(5) Consists of shares of common stock to be received upon conversion of 176,471 shares of Class A Preferred Stock.
(6) Includes 8,000 shares of Class B common stock and 4,000 shares of common stock which Mr. Caruso has the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
(7) Includes 4,000 shares of common stock which Mr. Libson has the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
(8) Includes 176,471 shares held of record by Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners L.P. Mr. Bolton is the managing director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners L.P. Also includes 1,500 shares of common stock which Mr. Bolton has the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
(9) Includes 588,235 shares held of record by HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Mr. Crouse is a general partner of HealthCare Partners V, L.P., the general partner, of HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Mr. Crouse, together with the other general partners of HealthCare Ventures V, LP shares voting and investment control with respect to the shares owned by HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Also includes 1,500 shares of common stock which Mr. Crouse has the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
(10) Includes 588,235 shares held of record by HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Mr. Werner is a general partner of HealthCare Partners V, L.P., the general partner, of HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Mr. Werner, together with the other general partners of HealthCare Ventures V, LP shares voting and investment control with respect to the shares owned by HealthCare Ventures V, LP. Also includes 1,500 shares of common stock which Mr. Werner has the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
(11) Includes 588,235 shares held of record by HealthCare Ventures V, LP, 176,471 shares held of record by Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners L.P. and 12,500 shares of common stock which certain directors have the right to acquire within 60 days of June 1, 2000 upon the exercise of stock options.
INFORMATION ABOUT ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
OraSure Technologies is a newly formed Delaware corporation that has not, to date, conducted any activities other than those incident to its formation, its execution of the agreement and plan of merger and related agreements, and its participation in the preparation of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The financial statements of OraSure Technologies are omitted because OraSure Technologies has nominal assets and no liabilities, as well as no operations to date. There are also no contingent assets or liabilities. OraSure Technologies has 100 shares of its common stock issued and outstanding, all of which are owned by Epitope.
As a result of the mergers of STC and Epitope into OraSure Technologies, the business of OraSure Technologies will be the businesses currently conducted by STC and Epitope. The headquarters of OraSure Technologies will be located at 150 Webster Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by January 1, 2001 and its telephone number at that address will be (610) 882-1820. Until January 1, 2001, the address for OraSure Technologies will be 8505 S.W. Creekside Place, Beaverton, Oregon 97008 and its telephone number will be (503) 641-6115.
MATERIAL DIFFERENCES IN RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Copies of the OraSure Technologies certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the STC certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and the Epitope articles of incorporation and bylaws, in each case as in effect on the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, will be sent to Epitope or STC stockholders upon request. See "Where You Can Find More Information" on page 119. See "The Ability of OraSure Technologies Stockholders to Effect Changes in Control of OraSure Technologies will be Limited" on page 16 for a description of the differences described below that could have the effect of delaying or impeding the removal of incumbent directors and could make more difficult a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest involving OraSure Technologies or could discourage from attempting to acquire control of OraSure Technologies, even if those events would be beneficial to the interests of stockholders.
Summary of Material Differences Between Current Rights of STC and Epitope Stockholders and Rights Those Stockholders Will Have as OraSure Technologies Stockholders Following the Mergers
Authorized Capital Stock
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
The authorized capital The authorized capital The authorized capital
stock of STC consists of stock of Epitope stock of OraSure
6,000,000 shares of consists of 30,000,000 Technologies consists of
common stock and shares of common stock 120,000,000 shares of
2,000,000 shares of and 1,000,000 shares of common stock and
preferred stock, preferred stock. 25,000,000 shares of
including 1,118,000 preferred stock,
shares of Series A including
Convertible Preferred shares of Series A
Stock. Preferred Stock.
As of the date of this As of the date of this As of the date of this
document, no shares of document, no shares of document, no shares of
any series of STC any series of Epitope any series of OraSure
preferred stock are preferred stock are Technologies preferred
outstanding, other than outstanding. stock are outstanding.
1,080,061 shares of
Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock.
Number of Directors
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
The STC board of The Epitope board of The OraSure Technologies
directors currently directors currently board of directors
consists of eight consists of nine currently consists of
directors. directors. nine directors but will
be reduced to seven
directors concurrently
with the mergers.
Following the mergers,
the OraSure Technologies
board of directors will
initially consist of
three members designated
by Epitope, three
members designated by
STC and one member who
will be a person
mutually acceptable to
both STC and Epitope.
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Classification of Board of Directors
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
The STC board of The Epitope board of The OraSure Technologies
directors is not divided directors is divided board of directors is
into classes. Each into three classes, with divided into three
director serves a one- each class serving a classes, designated as
year term. staggered three-year Class I, Class II and
term. This provision may Class III. Concurrently
not be amended or with the mergers, the
repealed unless such size of OraSure
action is approved by Technologies Board will
the affirmative vote of be reduced to seven
not less than 90 percent members and all of its
of the votes then current
entitled to be cast in
the election of
directors.
107
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members will resign
except for Messrs.
Thompson, Pringle and
Hausmann. Mr. Hausmann
and Mr. Bolton will
serve as Class I
directors for a one-year
term, Mr. Pringle and
Mr. Crouse will serve as
Class II directors for a
two-year term and Mr.
Thompson and Mr.
Gausling will serve as
Class III directors for
a three-year term. At
each annual meeting
beginning in 2001,
successors to directors
whose terms are expiring
will be elected for
three-year terms.
Removal of Directors
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
Any or all of the Directors may be removed Directors may be removed
directors may be removed from office with or from office only for
with or without cause by without cause by the cause, and only by the
vote of the holders of a affirmative vote of affirmative vote of the
majority of the shares holders of at least 90% holders of a majority of
then entitled to vote at of the votes then shares of stock entitled
an election of entitled to be cast for to vote in an election
directors. the election of of directors.
directors, only at a
meeting of the
stockholders called
expressly for that
purpose. This provision
may not be amended or
repealed unless such
action is approved by
the affirmative vote of
not less than 90% of the
votes then entitled to
be cast in the election
of directors.
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Stockholder Action by Written Consent
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
STC stockholders may act Epitope stockholders may The stockholders of
by written consent in act by written consent OraSure Technologies may
lieu of a meeting of in lieu of a meeting of not act by written
stockholders. Such stockholders. Such consent in lieu of a
consent must be signed consent must be signed meeting of stockholders,
by the holders of by all stockholders unless such consent is
outstanding stock having entitled to vote. unanimous.
not less than the
minimum number of votes
that would be necessary
to authorize or take
such action at a meeting
at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon
were present and voted.
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Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
The STC bylaws provides The Epitope bylaws The OraSure Technologies
that the president may provide that a special certificate of
call a special meeting meeting of stockholders incorporation provides
of stockholders, and the may be called only by that only the chairman
president or the the president, the board of the board, the
secretary must call such of directors, the president or the board
a meeting at the written holders of not less than of directors (pursuant
request of stockholders one-tenth of all shares to a resolution approved
owning a majority of the entitled to vote at the by a majority of the
entire issued and meeting or as provided whole board) may call a
outstanding voting in the Oregon Business special meeting of
capital stock of STC. Corporation Act. stockholders.
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Amendment of Charter and Bylaws
STC Epitope OraSure Technologies
STC's certificate of The board of directors OraSure Technologies'
incorporation may be of Epitope may amend its certificate of
amended if the change is articles of incorporation may be
proposed by the board of incorporation without amended if the change is
directors and approved stockholder approval to proposed by the board of
by the holders of a make certain directors and approved
majority of the housekeeping amendments, by the holders of a
outstanding stock such as technical majority of the
entitled to vote changes to the corporate outstanding stock
thereon, and a majority name, the deletion of entitled to vote
of the outstanding stock the names and addresses thereon, and a majority
of each class entitled of the initial of the outstanding stock
to vote thereon as a directors, the name and of each class entitled
class. address of the initial to vote thereon as a
registered agent, and class, provided that any
the corporation's change in the provisions
mailing address, and of the certificate of
certain other narrowly incorporation relating
defined matters. to:
However, in general, an
amendment to Epitope's
articles of
incorporation must be
adopted by both the
board of directors and
the stockholders. The
vote of the stockholders
needed to approve an
amendment depends upon
the voting groups
entitled to vote
separately on the
amendment, whether any
of those voting groups
would be entitled to
dissenters' rights if
the amendment were
adopted, any special
requirements contained
in the articles of
incorporation and any
additional voting
requirements imposed by
the board of directors.
In general, if a quorum
exists, action by a
voting group is approved
if the votes cast
favoring the action
exceed the votes cast
opposing the action. If
two or more separate
voting groups are
entitled to vote
. actions by
stockholders or
calling special
meetings of
stockholders;
. the election,
qualifications,
powers, duties, or
removal of the
directors, the
classification of
the board of
directors or the
factors for
directors to
consider upon
receipt of an
acquisition
proposal;
. the amendment of the
bylaws or the
adoption of a
provision of the
certificate of
incorporation
inconsistent with
the bylaws; or
. the amendment of the
charter,
must be approved by the
holders of two-thirds
(66.6%) of the combined
voting power of the then
outstanding shares of
stock of all
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on an amendment, the
votes of each voting classes and series of
group must be counted OraSure Technologies
separately. The holders entitled to vote
of outstanding shares of generally in the
a class or series of election of directors,
shares are entitled to voting together as a
vote as a separate single class.
voting group on a
proposed amendment if
the amendment would:
(1) increase or decrease
the aggregate number
of authorized shares
of the class or
series;
(2) effect an exchange
or reclassification
of all or part of
the shares of the
class or series into
shares of another
class or series;
(3) effect an exchange
or reclassification,
or create a right of
exchange, of all or
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part of the shares of another class or series into shares of the class or series;
(4) change the designation, rights, preferences or limitations of all or part of the class or series;
(5) change the shares of all or part of the class or series into a different number of shares of the same class or series;
(6) create a new class or series of shares having rights or preferences with respect to distributions or to dissolution that are prior, superior or substantially equal to the shares of the class or series;
(7) increase the rights, preferences or number of authorized shares of any class or series that, after giving effect to the amendment, have rights or preferences with respect to distributions or to dissolution that are prior, superior or substantially equal
to the shares of the class or series;
(8) limit or deny an existing preemptive right of all or part of the shares of the class or series; or
(9) cancel or otherwise affect rights to distributions or dividends that have accumulated but that have not yet been declared on all or part of the shares of the class or series.
The right to vote as a
separate voting group
because the class or
series would be affected
in one or more of the
above nine ways is
required even if the
articles of
incorporation provide
that the shares are non-
voting shares. However,
if two or more series of
shares are entitled to
vote as separate voting
groups pursuant to the
above list, and the
proposed amendment would
affect those two or more
series in the same or in
a substantially similar
way, all of the series
so affected must vote
together as a single
voting group on the
proposed amendment.
Classes of shares that
are entitled to vote as
separate voting groups
and that are affected by
a proposed amendment in
the same or a
substantially similar
way are not required to
vote together as a
single voting group.
Each voting group for
which the amendment
would create dissenters'
rights also has the
right to vote as a
separate voting group on
the amendment. The types
of amendments to the
charter that would
create dissenters'
rights are those
amendments that would:
(1) alter or abolish a preemptive right of the holder of the shares to acquire shares or other securities; or
(2) reduce the number of shares owned by the stockholder to a fraction of a share if the fractional share is to be acquired for cash by the corporation.
Where an amendment would
create dissenters'
rights as to a voting
group, it must be
approved by a majority
of the votes entitled to
be cast on the amendment
by the voting group.
Dissenters' rights do
not apply to shares
listed on a national
securities exchange or
quoted on Nasdaq.
The STC bylaws may be The Epitope bylaws may The OraSure Technologies
amended by the holders be amended by the bylaws may be amended by
of a majority of the affirmative vote of a the vote of a majority
shares entitled to vote majority of the of the whole board of
or by a majority of the directors present (when directors or by the
directors at any regular a quorum exists) at any affirmative vote of two-
meeting of the regular or special thirds (66.6%) of the
stockholders or of the meeting of the board of combined voting power of
board of directors or at directors. The bylaws the then outstanding
any special meeting of also may be amended by shares of stock of all
the stockholders or of the shareholders. classes and series of
the board of directors OraSure Technologies
if notice of such entitled to vote
amendment is properly generally in the
given. election of directors,
voting together as a
single class.
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Stockholder Rights Plan
STC currently has no Epitope entered into a On May 6, 2000, the
stockholder rights plan. Rights Agreement, dated board of directors of
as of December 15, 1997, OraSure Technologies
with ChaseMellon adopted a stockholder
Shareholder Services, rights plan, pursuant to
L.L.C., as Rights Agent, which OraSure
pursuant to which Technologies will issue
Epitope issued rights, rights to purchase its
exercisable only upon Series A Preferred Stock
the occurrence of along with the common
events, to purchase its stock to be issued
Series A Junior pursuant to the mergers,
Participating Cumulative which rights will be
Preferred Stock which exercisable only upon
are similar to those the occurrence of the
described under events described under
"Description of OraSure "Description of OraSure
Technologies Capital Technologies Capital
Stock--Description of Stock--Description of
Rights." The purchase Rights." The purchase
price payable upon price payable upon
exercise of each right exercise of each right
is $60. The rights is $85. The rights will
expire on December 26, expire on May 6, 2010.
2007.
The Rights Agreement has The rights will be
been amended to avoid distributed immediately
any argument that the after the Effective Time
Rights would become of the mergers and
exercisable as a result therefore cannot become
of consummation of the exercisable upon
mergers. consummation of the
mergers.
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DESCRIPTION OF ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES CAPITAL STOCK
General
The authorized capital stock of OraSure Technologies consists of 120,000,000 shares of OraSure Technologies common stock, par value $.000001 per share, of which, as of July 20, 2000, there were 100 shares issued and outstanding and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.000001 per share, none of which, as of July 20, 2000, were outstanding and 120,000 shares of which, as of July 20, 2000, have been designated Series A Preferred Stock and reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the rights distributed to the holders of OraSure Technologies common stock pursuant to the rights agreement described below under "Description of Rights." All of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of OraSure Technologies are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and no class is entitled to preemptive rights. As of July 20, 2000, except for OraSure Technologies' Series A Preferred Stock purchase rights distributed pursuant to the rights agreement described below under "Description of Rights", there were no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, contracts or other arrangements or commitments obligating OraSure Technologies to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock.
If the average of the closing price per share of Epitope common stock during a 20 trading day measurement period that ends immediately preceding the third trading day before the vote on the mergers is $8.00 or less, then, based on the number of shares outstanding as of July 20, 2000, OraSure Technologies is expected to have a maximum of 40,497,271 shares of common stock outstanding, and 4,997,580 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of options and warrants, immediately following consummation of the mergers. The number of shares of common stock that OraSure Technologies would have outstanding and reserved for issuance upon exercise of options and warrants immediately following consummation of the mergers would decrease if this average closing price increases as described under "Merger Consideration" on page 44.
OraSure Technologies Common Stock
Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding OraSure Technologies preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of OraSure Technologies common stock are entitled to share ratably in dividends declared out of assets legally available therefor at such time and in such amounts as the OraSure Technologies board of directors may from time to time lawfully determine.
Each holder of OraSure Technologies common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held and, except as otherwise provided by law or by the OraSure Technologies board of directors with respect to any series of OraSure Technologies preferred stock, the holders of OraSure Technologies common stock will exclusively possess all voting power. Holders of OraSure Technologies common stock are not entitled to accumulate votes for the election of directors. The OraSure Technologies common stock is not entitled to conversion or preemptive rights and is not subject to redemption or assessment. Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding OraSure Technologies preferred stock, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of OraSure Technologies, any assets legally available for distribution to stockowners as such are to be distributed ratably among the holders of the OraSure Technologies common stock at that time outstanding.
Following the consummation of the mergers, shares of OraSure Technologies will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol "OSUR".
OraSure Technologies Preferred Stock
The OraSure Technologies board of directors has the authority to issue OraSure Technologies preferred stock in one or more series with such distinctive serial designations, at such price or prices and for such other consideration as may be fixed by the OraSure Technologies board of directors. OraSure Technologies preferred stock of all series shall be in all respects entitled to the same preferences, rights and privileges and subject to
the same qualifications, limitations and restrictions; provided, however, that different series of OraSure Technologies preferred stock may vary with respect to, among other things, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting each such series as shall be determined and fixed by resolution or resolutions of the OraSure Technologies board of directors providing for the issuance of such series, without any further vote or action by the stockholders of OraSure Technologies. All the shares of any one series will be alike in every particular. OraSure Technologies' charter currently provides that no share of any series of preferred stock may be entitled to more than one vote. The ability of the OraSure Technologies board of directors to issue OraSure Technologies preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority of the outstanding voting stock of OraSure Technologies. As of the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, no shares of OraSure Technologies preferred stock are issued and outstanding and 120,000 shares have been designated as Series A Preferred Stock and reserved for issuance as described below under "Description of Rights."
Description of Rights
On May 6, 2000, the OraSure Technologies board of directors adopted a Rights Plan which is summarized under this "Rights Plan" section. Pursuant to the Rights Plan, OraSure Technologies will distribute a dividend of one right to purchase certain shares of capital stock of OraSure Technologies under certain circumstances, for each outstanding share of common stock. We refer to these purchase rights as the "Rights." The Rights will trade with the common stock and detach and become exercisable only if, in a transaction not approved by the OraSure Technologies board of directors, ten business days elapse after either a person (together with such person's affiliates or associates) acquires 15% or more of the outstanding shares of OraSure Technologies common stock, or announces a tender offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person (together with such person's affiliates or associates) of 15% or more of such shares.
If the Rights detach and become exercisable as a result of the commencement of a tender offer, unless subsequently redeemed, each Right then would entitle its holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of the Series A Preferred Stock for an exercise price specified in the Rights Plan (which is intended to equal the estimated value of OraSure Technologies common stock at the end of the ten-year life of the Rights). If OraSure Technologies were to be involved in a merger or other business combination transaction after the Rights become exercisable, each Right would entitle its holder to purchase, for the Right's exercise price, a number of the acquiring or surviving company's shares of common stock having a market value equal to twice the exercise price. If, in a transaction not approved by the OraSure Technologies board of directors, a person (together with such person's affiliates or associates) acquires 15% or more of the outstanding shares of OraSure Technologies common stock, each Right would entitle its holder (other than the acquiring person and its affiliates and associates, all of whose Rights become automatically void) to purchase, for the Right's exercise price, a number of shares of OraSure Technologies common stock having a market value equal to twice the exercise price. At any time after a person (together with such person's affiliates or associates) acquires at least 15%, but not more than 50%, of the outstanding shares of OraSure Technologies common stock, the OraSure Technologies board of directors can elect to exchange one share of common stock for each Right (other than Rights held by such acquiring person and its affiliates and associates). OraSure Technologies would be entitled to redeem the Rights at $.01 per Right at any time until ten business days following a public announcement that a person (together with such person's affiliates or associates) has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock. Following such an announcement, or, subject to certain exceptions, the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock by the acquiror (together with such person's affiliates or associates), the Rights acquired by such person or persons would be null and void. Prior to the date upon which the Rights detach, the terms of the Rights Plan could be amended by the OraSure Technologies board of directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights. The Rights expire on May 6, 2010, unless earlier redeemed by OraSure Technologies. The Rights Plan will not be intended to deter all takeover bids for OraSure Technologies. To the extent an acquiror would be
discouraged by the Rights Plan from acquiring an equity position in OraSure Technologies, stockholders may be deprived from receiving a premium for their shares. The issuance of additional shares of common stock prior to the time the Rights become exercisable would result in an increase in the number of Rights outstanding.
We anticipate that the Series A Preferred Stock, if issued, would rank junior to all other series of preferred stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in liquidation, unless the terms of any such other series provide otherwise. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock would have a quarterly dividend rate per share equal to 1,000 times the per share amount of any dividend (other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock or a subdivision of the common stock) declared from time to time on the common stock, subject to certain adjustments. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive a preferred liquidation payment per share of $1,000 (plus accrued and unpaid dividends) or, if greater, an amount equal to 1,000 times the payment to be made per share of common stock. Generally, the holder of each share of Series A Preferred Stock would vote together with the common stock (and any other series of preferred stock entitled to vote on such matter) on any matter as to which the common stock is entitled to vote, including the election of directors. The holder of each share of Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled to 1,000 votes, or one vote for each one one- thousandth of a share. In the event of any merger, consolidation, combination or other transaction in which shares of common stock are exchange for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or property, the holder of each share of Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or property into which or for which each share of common stock is changed or exchanged.
The foregoing dividend, voting and liquidation rights of the Series A Preferred Stock would be protected against dilution in the event that additional shares of common stock are issued pursuant to a stock split or stock dividend. Because of the nature of the Series A Preferred Stock's dividend, voting, liquidation and other rights, the value of the one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock purchasable with each Right is intended to approximate the value of one share of common stock.
Statutory Business Combination Provision
OraSure Technologies will be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the time that the person became an interested stockholder, unless (i) prior to such time the Board of Directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and by certain employee stock plans, or (iii) at or after such time the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors of the corporation and by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation that is not owned by the interested stockholder. A "business combination" generally includes mergers, asset sales and similar transactions between the corporation and the interested stockholder, and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. An "interested stockholder" is a person who owns 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and, together with his or her affiliates and associates, has owned 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock within three year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder.
Other Matters
The certificate of incorporation of OraSure Technologies provides that the number of directors shall be as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time, but shall be at least three and not more than twelve. It also provides that directors may be removed only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least a majority of all outstanding voting stock entitled to vote in an election of directors. This provision, in conjunction with the provision of the certificate of incorporation authorizing the Board of Directors to fill vacant directorships, will prevent stockholders from removing incumbent directors without cause and filling the resulting vacancies with their own nominees.
The Certification of Incorporation of OraSure Technologies provides that stockholders may act only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not act by written consent unless such consent is unanimous. The certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of the stockholders can be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
The certificate of incorporation of OraSure Technologies authorizes the Board of Directors to take into account (in addition to any other considerations which the Board of Directors may lawfully take into account) in determining whether to take or to refrain from taking corporate action on any possible acquisition proposals, including proposing any related matter to the stockholders of OraSure Technologies, the long-term as well as short-term interests of OraSure Technologies and its stockholders, including the possibility that these may be best served by the continued independence of OraSure Technologies, customers, employees and other constituencies of OraSure Technologies and any subsidiaries, as well as the effect upon communities in which OraSure Technologies and any subsidiaries do business. In considering the foregoing and other pertinent factors, the Board of Directors is not required, in considering the best interests of OraSure Technologies, to regard any particular corporate interest or the interest of any particular group affected by such action as a controlling interest.
Stockholder Proposals
The bylaws of OraSure Technologies contain provisions (i) requiring that advance notice be delivered to OraSure Technologies of any business to be brought by a stockholder before any meeting of stockholders and (ii) establishing certain procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating persons for election to the Board of Directors. Generally, such advance notice provisions provide that written notice must be given to the Secretary of OraSure Technologies by a stockholder, with respect to director nominations or stockholder proposals, not less than 50 nor more than 75 days prior to the meeting (except that if less than 65 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, then notice by the stockholder, to be timely, must be received within 15 days of the date on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs). Such notice must set forth specific information regarding such stockholder and such business or director nominee, as described in the bylaws. The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the bylaws of OraSure Technologies, which are included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this document is a part.
Limitations on Director/Officer Liability
Delaware law authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a director's fiduciary duty of care. The duty of care requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors must exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Absent the limitations authorized by Delaware law, directors are accountable for monetary damages for conduct constituting gross negligence in the exercise of their duty of care. Delaware law enables corporations to limit available relief to equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission. The certificate of incorporation of OraSure Technologies limits the liability of directors to OraSure Technologies or its stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Specifically, directors of OraSure Technologies will not be personally liable to OraSure Technologies or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a director's fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for breach of the duty of loyalty, for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or for any transaction in which a director has derived an improper personal benefit.
The bylaws require OraSure Technologies to indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law any person who is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of OraSure Technologies, or is serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise at OraSure Technologies' request. Indemnification is not, however, permitted under the bylaws unless the person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to OraSure Technologies' best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. The bylaws further provide that OraSure Technologies shall not indemnify any person for any liabilities or expenses incurred by such person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of OraSure Technologies in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to OraSure Technologies, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action, suit or proceeding is brought determines that the person is entitled to indemnity for such expenses. The indemnification provided by the bylaws is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be otherwise entitled.
OraSure Technologies has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers. The indemnification agreements provide that OraSure Technologies will indemnify the directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (including an action by or in the right of OraSure Technologies) to which any of them is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of their status as a director or officer of OraSure Technologies, or by reason of their serving or having served at the request or on behalf of OraSure Technologies as a director, officer, trustee or in any other comparable position of any other enterprise to the fullest extent allowed by law. No indemnity will be provided under the indemnification agreements for any amounts for which indemnity is provided by any other indemnification obligation or insurance maintained by OraSure Technologies or another enterprise or otherwise. Nor will indemnity be provided to any director or officer on account of conduct which is finally adjudged by a court to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct. In addition, no indemnification will be provided if a final court adjudication determines that such indemnification is not lawful, or in respect to any suit in which judgment is rendered against any director or officer for an accounting of profits made from a purchase or sale of securities of OraSure Technologies in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or of any similar law, or on account of any remuneration paid to any director or officer which is adjudicated to have been paid in violation of law.
OraSure Technologies also intends to obtain director's and officer's liability insurance.
The foregoing limitations on liability and indemnification obligations may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited OraSure Technologies and its stockholders.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for OraSure Technologies common stock is ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the OraSure Technologies common stock to be issued to STC stockholders and Epitope stockholders in the mergers will be passed upon by Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. It is a condition to the completion of the mergers that Epitope and STC receive opinions from their respective tax counsel that the
mergers will qualify as tax-free reorganizations for United States federal income tax purposes. Jeffrey Libson, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, which is counsel to STC, and a member of the STC board of directors, beneficially owns 4,000 shares of STC common stock.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Epitope, Inc. incorporated into this joint proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Epitope's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1999 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The audited financial statements of STC as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999 included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
OraSure Technologies
It is anticipated that OraSure Technologies' 2001 annual meeting of stockholders will be held on May 15, 2001. Any OraSure Technologies stockholder who intends to present a proposal at the annual meeting must deliver the proposal to OraSure Technologies at 150 Webster Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, Attention: Secretary by the applicable deadline below:
. If the stockholder proposal is intended for inclusion in OraSure Technologies' proxy materials for that meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, OraSure Technologies must receive the proposal by March 16, 2000. Such proposal must also comply with the other requirements of the proxy solicitation rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
. If the stockholder proposal is to be presented without inclusion in OraSure Technologies' proxy materials for that meeting, OraSure Technologies must receive the proposal by March 26, 2001 in accordance with the advance notice provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of OraSure Technologies. See " Description of OraSure Technologies Capital Stock--Stockholder Proposals" beginning on page 116.
Proxies solicited in connection with the 2001 annual meeting of stockholders will confer on the appointed proxies discretionary voting authority to vote on stockholder proposals that are not presented for inclusion in the proxy materials unless the proposing stockholder notifies OraSure Technologies by March 26, 2001 that such proposal will be made at the meeting.
Epitope
Epitope has already held its 2000 annual meeting of stockholders. Epitope will hold an annual meeting in 2001 only if the mergers have not already been completed. Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2001 annual meeting and who wishes to include the proposal in Epitope's proxy materials for that meeting must deliver the proposal to Epitope at 8505 S.W. Creekside Place, Beaverton, Oregon 97008, Attention: Secretary, by September 13, 2000. Such proposal must also comply with the other requirements of the proxy solicitation rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Proxies solicited in connection with the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders will confer on the appointed proxies discretionary voting authority to vote on shareholder proposals that are not presented for inclusion in the proxy materials unless the proposing shareholder notifies Epitope by November 27, 2000 that such proposal will be made at the meeting.
STC
STC will hold an annual meeting in the year 2000 only if the merger has not already been completed.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Epitope files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information Epitope files at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Epitope's SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
OraSure Technologies filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (333-39210) to register with the SEC the shares of common stock to be issued to stockholders of STC and of Epitope in the mergers. This document is a part of that registration statement and constitutes a prospectus of OraSure Technologies in addition to being a proxy statement of Epitope and STC for their respective meetings. As allowed by SEC rules, this document does not contain all the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement.
The SEC allows Epitope to "incorporate by reference" information into this document, which means that Epitope can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this document, except for any information superseded by information in, or incorporated by reference in, this document. This document incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that Epitope has previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about Epitope and its finances.
Epitope SEC Filings (File No. 1-10492) Period
-------------------------------------- ------
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 31, Fiscal year ended September 30, 1999
1999
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed on February 11, Quarters ended December 31, 1999,
May 10, and August 8, 2000 March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000
Current Reports on Form 8-K dated October 1, 1999 Filed on October 4, 1999 and May 10,
and May 6, 2000 2000
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for Annual Meeting Filed on January 11, 2000
of Stockholders on February 15, 2000
The description of Epitope common stock set forth in Filed on December 30, 1997
the Registration Statement on Form 8-A as amended by
Exhibit 99.1 to Epitope's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated December 24, 1997
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Epitope also is incorporating by reference additional documents that Epitope files with the SEC between the date of this document and the date of the Epitope meeting.
Epitope has supplied all information contained or incorporated by reference in this document relating to Epitope and STC has supplied all such information relating to STC.
If you are an Epitope stockholder, Epitope may have sent you some of the documents incorporated by reference, but you can obtain any of them through Epitope or the SEC. Documents incorporated by reference are available from Epitope without charge, excluding all exhibits unless Epitope has specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in this document. Epitope stockholders may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this document by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the Secretary of Epitope at the following address:
EPITOPE, INC.
8505 S.W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
(503) 641-6115
If you would like to request documents from us, please do so by August 24, 2000 to receive them before the meetings.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this document to vote on the Epitope proposal and the STC proposal, as the case may be. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained in this document. This document is dated , 2000. You should not assume that the information contained in this document is accurate as of any date other than that date, and neither the mailing of this document to stockholders nor the issuance of common stock in the mergers shall create any implication to the contrary.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pages
-----
Report of Independent Public Accountants................................ F-2
Balance Sheets.......................................................... F-3
Statements of Operations................................................ F-4
Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders'
Equity................................................................. F-5
Statements of Cash Flows................................................ F-6
Notes to the Financial Statements....................................... F-7
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To STC Technologies, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of STC Technologies, Inc. (a Delaware corporation), as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of operations, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of STC Technologies, Inc. as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Philadelphia, Pa.,
January 26, 2000
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
------------------------ June 30,
1999 1998 2000
----------- ----------- -----------
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents............ $ 1,254,475 $ 1,206,194 $ 954,714
Short-term investments............... 8,163,449 -- 6,992,204
Accounts receivable, net of allowance
for doubtful accounts of $68,954,
$60,590 and $65,638................. 2,506,929 1,517,629 2,508,277
Inventories.......................... 941,742 1,020,333 1,033,181
Prepaid expenses and other........... 175,987 151,405 641,381
Deferred income taxes................ 52,000 143,497 52,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Total current assets............... 13,094,582 4,039,058 12,181,757
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net............ 3,972,397 3,917,230 4,596,350
PATENTS AND PRODUCT RIGHTS, net........ 2,148,905 2,394,368 2,023,978
OTHER ASSETS........................... 340,541 75,457 274,573
----------- ----------- -----------
$19,556,425 $10,426,113 $19,076,658
=========== =========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(DEFICIT)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Line of credit....................... $ -- $ -- $ 144,000
Current portion of long-term debt.... 1,054,462 526,851 1,054,462
Accounts payable..................... 884,390 744,305 1,187,401
Accrued expenses..................... 1,269,592 553,389 1,025,132
----------- ----------- -----------
Total current liabilities.......... 3,208,444 1,824,545 3,410,995
----------- ----------- -----------
LONG-TERM DEBT......................... 5,819,980 6,000,633 5,301,734
----------- ----------- -----------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES.................. 82,000 173,497 82,000
----------- ----------- -----------
DEFERRED REVENUE....................... 430,000 -- 358,334
----------- ----------- -----------
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
(liquidation preference of $10,328,083
at June 30, 2000)..................... 9,601,609 -- 10,101,781
----------- ----------- -----------
COMMITMENTS (Note 11)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT):
Class A common stock (voting), par
value $.000001; 5,000,000 shares
authorized; 2,783,548 shares issued
and 2,000,000 shares outstanding.... 3 3 3
Class B common stock (nonvoting), par
value $.000001; 1,000,000 shares
authorized; 389,338 shares issued
and outstanding..................... -- -- --
Additional paid-in capital........... 3,933,874 4,677,040 3,441,802
Treasury stock, at cost.............. (407,242) (407,242) (407,242)
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss)....................... (259,218) 15,042 (375,199)
Accumulated deficit.................. (2,853,025) (1,857,405) (2,837,550)
----------- ----------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity
(deficit)......................... 414,392 2,427,438 (178,186)
----------- ----------- -----------
$19,556,425 $10,426,113 $19,076,658
=========== =========== ===========
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Six Months Ended
For the Year Ended December 31, June 30,
------------------------------------- ----------------------
1999 1998 1997 2000 1999
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
(unaudited)
REVENUES:
Product............... $13,116,847 $10,467,444 $ 7,716,541 $7,303,605 $5,809,004
Licensing and product
development.......... 898,154 185,000 205,000 175,110 505,733
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
14,015,001 10,652,444 7,921,541 7,478,715 6,314,737
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of goods sold.... 4,500,152 4,145,070 3,032,641 2,354,747 2,131,064
Sales and marketing... 3,704,635 2,868,469 2,884,958 1,991,781 1,491,630
Research and
development.......... 3,304,295 2,339,329 1,870,102 2,159,666 1,834,458
Acquired in-process
technology........... 1,500,000 -- -- -- --
General and
administrative....... 1,582,237 1,294,278 1,184,388 909,453 693,573
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
14,591,319 10,647,146 8,972,089 7,415,647 6,150,725
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Operating income
(loss)............. (576,318) 5,298 (1,050,548) 63,068 164,012
INTEREST EXPENSE........ 543,654 561,215 334,365 252,572 268,976
INTEREST INCOME......... (316,039) (104,974) (234,527) (225,337) (103,031)
FOREIGN CURRENCY (GAIN)
LOSS................... 141,687 (4,805) -- 8,668 (14,487)
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes....... (945,620) (446,138) (1,150,386) 27,165 12,554
INCOME TAXES............ 50,000 -- -- 11,690 --
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS)....... (995,620) (446,138) (1,150,386) 15,475 12,554
DEEMED DIVIDEND ON
PREFERRED STOCK........ (750,258) -- -- (500,172) (250,086)
----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) TO
COMMON STOCKHOLDERS.... $(1,745,878) $ (446,138) $(1,150,386) $ (484,697) $ (237,532)
=========== =========== =========== ========== ==========
BASIC AND DILUTED NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
TO COMMON
STOCKHOLDERS........... $ (0.73) $ (0.19) $ (0.48) $ (0.20) $ (0.10)
=========== =========== =========== ========== ==========
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING
BASIC AND DILUTED NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
TO COMMON
STOCKHOLDERS........... 2,388,798 2,388,798 2,388,688 2,388,843 2,388,798
=========== =========== =========== ========== ==========
PRO FORMA BASIC AND
DILUTED NET INCOME
(LOSS) PER SHARE
(Unaudited)............ $ (0.32) $ --
=========== ==========
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING
PRO FORMA BASIC AND
DILUTED NET INCOME
(LOSS) PER SHARE
(Unaudited)............ 3,142,064 3,468,904
=========== ==========
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Stockholders' Equity
-------------------------------
Redeemable Common Stock
------------------------ -------------------------------
Series A Preferred Stock Class A Class B
------------------------ ---------------- --------------
Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount
------------------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1996.......... -- $ -- 2,783,548 $ 3 368,800 $ --
Cash receipt of
subscription
receivable........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Issuance of Class
B common stock in
connection with
purchase of
building.......... -- -- -- -- 19,998 --
Net loss.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
----------- ------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1997.......... -- -- 2,783,548 3 388,798 --
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Currency
translation
adjustment....... -- -- -- -- -- --
Total
comprehensive
loss............
----------- ------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1998.......... -- -- 2,783,548 3 388,798 --
Issuance of stock
options to a
consultant........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Sale of Series A
Preferred Stock,
net of expense.... 1,080,061 8,851,351 -- -- -- --
Accretion of
redemption premium
on preferred
stock............. -- 750,258 -- -- -- --
----------- ------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Currency
translation
adjustment........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Unrealized loss on
marketable
securities........ -- -- -- -- -- --
Total
comprehensive
loss............
----------- ------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1999.......... 1,080,061 9,601,609 2,783,548 3 388,798 --
Accretion of
redemption premium
on preferred stock
(unaudited)....... -- 500,172 -- -- -- --
Exercise of stock
options
(unaudited)....... -- -- -- -- 540 --
Comprehensive
loss:
Net income
(unaudited)...... -- --
Currency -- -- -- --
translation
adjustment
(unaudited)...... -- -- -- -- -- --
Unrealized loss
on marketable
securities
(unaudited)...... -- -- -- -- -- --
Total
comprehensive
income
(unaudited).....
----------- ------------ --------- ------ ------- ------
BALANCE, JUNE 30,
2000 (unaudited).. 1,080,061 $ 10,101,781 2,783,548 $ 3 389,338 $ --
=========== ============ ========= ====== ======= ======
|
Stockholders' Equity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated
Additional Treasury Stock Other Total
Paid-in ------------------- Subscription Comprehensive Accumulated Stockholders'
Capital Shares Amount Receivable Income (Loss) Deficit Equity
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1996.......... $4,427,065 783,548 $ (407,242) $(50,000) $-- $(260,881) $3,708,945
Cash receipt of
subscription
receivable........ -- -- -- 50,000 -- -- 50,000
Issuance of Class
B common stock in
connection with
purchase of
building.......... 249,975 -- -- -- -- -- 249,975
Net loss.......... -- -- -- -- -- (1,150,386) (1,150,386)
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1997.......... 4,677,040 783,548 (407,242) -- -- (1,411,267) 2,858,534
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss......... -- -- -- -- -- (446,138) (446,138)
Currency
translation
adjustment....... -- -- -- -- 15,042 -- 15,042
-------------
Total
comprehensive
loss............ (431,096)
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1998.......... 4,677,040 783,548 (407,242) -- 15,042 (1,857,405) 2,427,438
Issuance of stock
options to a
consultant........ 7,092 -- -- -- -- -- 7,092
Sale of Series A
Preferred Stock,
net of expense.... -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Accretion of
redemption premium
on preferred
stock............. (750,258) -- -- -- -- -- (750,258)
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss.......... -- -- -- -- -- (995,620) (995,620)
Currency
translation
adjustment........ -- -- -- -- (74,260) -- (74,260)
Unrealized loss on
marketable
securities........ -- -- -- -- (200,000) -- (200,000)
-------------
Total
comprehensive
loss............ (1,269,880)
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER
31, 1999.......... 3,933,874 783,548 (407,242) -- (259,218) (2,853,025) 414,392
Accretion of
redemption premium
on preferred stock
(unaudited)....... (500,172) -- -- -- -- -- (500,172)
Exercise of stock
options
(unaudited)....... 8,100 -- -- -- -- -- 8,100
Comprehensive
loss:
Net income
(unaudited)...... -- -- -- -- -- 15,475 15,475
Currency
translation
adjustment
(unaudited)...... -- -- -- -- (59,731) -- (59,731)
Unrealized loss
on marketable
securities
(unaudited)...... -- -- -- -- (56,250) -- (56,250)
-------------
Total
comprehensive
income
(unaudited)..... (100,506)
------------ ------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, JUNE 30,
2000 (unaudited).. $ 3,441,802 783,548 $ (407,242) $ -- $(375,199) $ (2,837,550) $ (78,186)
============ ======= =========== ============ ============= ============= =============
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months
For the Year Ended December 31, Ended June 30,
------------------------------------- ------------------------
1999 1998 1997 2000 1999
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(unaudited)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)...... $ (995,620) $ (446,138) $(1,150,386) $ 15,475 $ 12,554
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash
provided by (used in)
operating activities:
Stock based
compensation
expense.............. 7,092 -- -- -- --
Amortization of
deferred revenue..... (107,500) -- -- (71,666) (23,888)
Depreciation and
amortization......... 1,192,091 1,069,625 854,492 577,742 617,321
Amortization of debt
discount............. -- -- 126,573 -- --
Gain on sale of
property and
equipment............ (44,033) -- -- -- --
Changes in assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable.. (989,300) (220,816) (181,550) (1,348) (389,144)
Inventories.......... 78,591 (115,230) (120,874) (91,439) (60,815)
Prepaid expenses and
other............... 47,834 (50,530) (29,903) (455,678) 73,183
Accounts payable..... 140,085 209,200 62,886 303,011 166,753
Accrued expenses..... 716,203 (63,029) 149,896 (244,458) 145,080
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by
(used in) operating
activities......... 45,443 383,082 (288,866) 31,639 541,044
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property
and equipment........ (1,056,012) (722,154) (1,101,281) (1,076,768) (591,621)
Proceeds from the sale
of property and
equipment............ 98,250 -- -- -- --
Purchase of patents
and product rights... -- (2,548,690) -- -- --
Purchase of short-term
investments.......... (8,163,449) -- -- -- (8,063,311)
Proceeds from sale of
short-term
investments.......... -- 315,963 297,236 1,171,245 --
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by
(used in) investing
activities......... (9,121,211) (2,954,881) (804,045) 94,477 (8,654,932)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings under
line of credit........ -- -- -- 144,000 --
Proceeds from term
debt................. 2,219,433 6,650,000 3,800,000 -- 74,070
Repayment of term
debt................. (1,872,475) (4,905,166) (4,810,070) (518,246) (283,384)
Net proceeds from
issuance of preferred
and common stock..... 8,851,351 -- 50,000 8,100 8,851,351
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by
(used in) financing
activities......... 9,198,309 1,744,834 (960,070) (366,146) 8,642,037
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
EFFECT OF FOREIGN
EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES
ON CASH................ (74,260) 15,042 -- (59,731) (38,082)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)
IN CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS............ 48,281 (811,923) (2,052,981) (299,761) 490,067
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING
OF PERIOD.............. 1,206,194 2,018,117 4,071,098 1,254,475 1,206,194
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS, END OF
PERIOD................. $ 1,254,475 $ 1,206,194 $ 2,018,117 $ 954,714 $ 1,696,261
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
1. BACKGROUND:
STC Technologies, Inc. ("the Company") develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary medical devices and products including in vitro diagnostic tests and other medical devices for use in commercial labs, physicians' offices, hospitals, and for point-of-care testing. In addition, the Company has focused on developing UPT, a proprietary label detection technology.
On May 6, 2000, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Epitope, Inc. ("Epitope"). The agreement is subject to approval by Epitope and the Company's shareholders and other closing conditions.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Interim Financial Statements
The financial statements as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the entire year.
Pervasiveness of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Short-term Investments
Short-term investments consist of treasury notes, certificates of deposits and other government obligations with original maturities greater than ninety days and less than one year. Such investments are recorded at fair value due to the nature of the maturities.
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
For the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company paid interest of $564,036, $486,799, and $233,887, respectively.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market determined on a first- in, first-out basis.
The Company currently buys one of its medical products from a foreign vendor. Purchases are payable in foreign currency. Changes in the exchange rate would impact the Company's product cost. The Company attempts to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates by maintaining an operating balance of guilders and creating offsetting positions through the purchase of futures contracts. As of December 31, 1999, the Company did not have any open future contracts. Future changes in foreign exchange rates or changes in actual purchases could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Property and equipment capitalized under capital leases are recorded at the present value of the minimum lease payments due over the lease term. Additions or improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense. Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Buildings are depreciated over 20 years, while computer equipment, machinery and equipment, and furniture and fixtures are depreciated over 3 to 7 years. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the related property amounts are relieved from the accounts, and any gain or loss is recorded in the statement of operations.
Long-term Investments
Included in other assets is an investment in a warrant to purchase shares in LabOne common stock which is classified as available-for-sale securities in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." Available- for-sale securities are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. As of December 31, 1999, the Company had $200,000 of unrealized losses.
Accrued Expenses
December 31,
------------------- June 30,
1999 1998 2000
---------- -------- ----------
Payroll and related benefits................. $ 380,245 $ 83,504 $ 195,838
Legal........................................ 216,440 25,000 13,913
Deferred revenue............................. -- -- 251,338
Other........................................ 672,907 444,885 564,043
---------- -------- ----------
$1,269,592 $553,389 $1,025,132
========== ======== ==========
|
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes product revenues when products are shipped. The Company does not grant price protection or product return rights to its customers. Licensing and product development revenues are recognized when the related technology is licensed or the product development efforts are performed. Amounts received prior to the performance of product development efforts are recorded as deferred revenues.
In December 1999, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" ("SAB 101"). The bulletin draws on existing accounting rules and provides specific guidance on revenue recognition of up-front non-refundable license fees. The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 101 in the accompanying financial statements.
Significant Customers and Supplier Concentrations
The Company is dependent on several large customers for a significant portion of its revenues. In 1999, two customers accounted for approximately 24% of total revenues. In 1998 and 1997, one customer accounted for approximately 14% and 17% of total revenues, respectively. A loss of one or more of the Company's major customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.
For the year ended December 31, 1999, one vendor accounted for approximately 33% of total materials purchased. In 1998, two vendors accounted for approximately 41% of total materials purchased.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
Research and Development
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company follows SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." Under SFAS No. 109, the liability method is used in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse.
Foreign Currency Translation
Pursuant to SFAS No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," the assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates as of the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the period. Resulting translation adjustments are reflected as a separate component of stockholders' equity. All foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recorded on the accompanying statements of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation to employees using the intrinsic value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." The Company accounts for stock-based compensation to nonemployees using the fair value method in accordance with SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and Emerging Issues Task Force 96-18.
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share
The Company has presented basic and diluted net income (loss) per share pursuant to SFAS No. 128, "Earnings per Share," and the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 98. In accordance with SFAS 128, basic and diluted net income (loss) per share has been computed using the weighted- average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The Company has excluded all redeemable convertible preferred stock and outstanding stock options from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share because such securities are antidilutive for all periods presented. Pro forma basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share, as presented in the statements of operations, has been computed for the year ended December 31, 1999 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 as described above, and also gives effect to the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock which will convert to common stock prior to closing of the planned merger with Epitope (See Note 1) from the original date of issuance.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of," if indicators of impairment exist, the Company assesses the recoverability of the affected long- lived assets, which include property and equipment and patents and product rights, by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If impairment is indicated, the Company measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the assets to the present value of the expected future cash flows associated with the use of the asset. The Company believes the future cash flows to be received from the long-lived assets will exceed the assets' carrying value, and accordingly the Company has not recognized any impairment losses through December 31, 1999.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
Other Comprehensive Income
The Company follows SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income." This statement requires the classification of items of other comprehensive income by their nature in a financial statement and display the accumulated balance of other comprehensive income separately from retained earnings and additional paid-in capital in the equity section of the balance sheet.
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
3. INVENTORIES:
December 31,
------------------- June 30,
1999 1998 2000
-------- ---------- ----------
Raw materials................................. $251,557 $ 257,656 $ 331,931
Work in process............................... 284,185 381,707 311,512
Finished goods................................ 406,000 380,970 389,738
-------- ---------- ----------
$941,742 $1,020,333 $1,033,181
======== ========== ==========
|
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
December 31,
------------------------ June 30,
1999 1998 2000
----------- ----------- -----------
Building and leasehold improve-
ments.............................. $ 2,614,526 $ 2,567,739 $ 3,212,080
Machinery and equipment............. 4,362,377 4,052,482 3,937,026
Computer equipment.................. 795,613 520,929 909,490
Furniture and fixtures.............. 464,475 420,985 511,728
Vehicles............................ 108,997 15,189 128,453
----------- ----------- -----------
8,345,988 7,577,324 8,698,777
Less--Accumulated depreciation and
amortization....................... (4,373,591) (3,660,094) (4,102,427)
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 3,972,397 $ 3,917,230 $ 4,596,350
=========== =========== ===========
|
5. ACQUISITION OF PRODUCT RIGHTS:
On June 9, 1998, the Company acquired the patents and exclusive worldwide distribution rights to one of its medical products. The purchase price of $2,548,690, including transaction costs, has been recorded as patents and product rights and is being amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 10 years. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 was $245,463 and $154,322, respectively. In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into a five-year production agreement with the seller of this medical product. In addition, the Company entered into a royalty agreement with a separate party (see Note 11).
6. LINE OF CREDIT:
The Company has established a $1 million line of credit with a bank, which bears interest at the LIBOR rate plus 235 basis points. Borrowings under this line are collateralized by the Company's accounts receivable and the personal guarantees of certain principal stockholders of the Company. The line expires on April 30, 2000. There were no borrowings against the line at December 31, 1999 and 1998 (See Note 7).
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
7. LONG-TERM DEBT:
December 31,
-----------------------
1999 1998
----------- ----------
Note payable to bank, interest at 8%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $59,219
through December 2003, and monthly installments of
remaining principal and interest based on prime rate
plus 1% through December 2005, secured by certain
property and equipment, inventory, intangible assets
and the personal guarantees of certain principal
stockholders of the Company.......................... $ 3,379,663 $3,786,000
Note payable to bank, interest at 8%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $8,181
through December 2003, secured by the Company's
building and the personal guarantees of certain
principal stockholders of the Company................ 949,750 970,000
Note payable to Pennsylvania Industrial Development
Authority, interest at 2%, monthly installments of
principal and interest of $4,895 through March 2010,
secured by a second lien on the Company's building
and the personal guarantees of certain principal
stockholders of the Company.......................... 539,885 587,295
Note payable to bank, interest at 7.8%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $23,146
through July 2004, secured by certain property and
equipment, inventory, intangible assets and the
personal guarantees of certain principal stockholders
of the Company....................................... 1,065,410 --
Note payable to bank, interest at 7.75%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $31,271
through July 2002, secured by certain property and
equipment, inventory, intangible assets and the
personal guarantees of certain principal stockholders
of the Company....................................... 875,168 --
Note payable to bank, interest at 7.49%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $747
through February 2004, secured by automobiles........ 32,010 --
Note payable to bank, interest at 7.75%, monthly
installments of principal and interest of $747
through March 2004, secured by automobiles........... 32,556 --
Note payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Sunny
Day Fund, secured by certain equipment, monthly
installments of principal and interest (interest at
3%) of $6,752 through June 1999...................... -- 40,189
Subordinated notes payable to certain principal
stockholders, interest payable monthly at prime plus
6%, repaid in 1999................................... -- 1,144,000
----------- ----------
6,874,442 6,527,484
Less--Current portion................................. (1,054,462) (526,851)
----------- ----------
$ 5,819,980 $6,000,633
=========== ==========
|
Long-term debt maturities as of December 31, 1999, are as follows:
2000.............................. $1,054,462
2001.............................. 1,139,825
2002.............................. 1,073,249
2003.............................. 928,083
2004.............................. 820,463
Thereafter........................ 1,858,360
----------
$6,874,442
==========
|
The Company has established a $1 million equipment facility with a bank (see Note 6), with interest fixed at the bank's prime rate on the date of commencement. Borrowings under this line are collateralized by the equipment financed and the personal guarantees of the Company's principal stockholders. There were no outstanding borrowings under this facility as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The unused portion of the equipment facility expires on April 30, 2000.
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
8. INCOME TAXES:
At December 31, 1999, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $130,000 that begins to expire in 2011. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions that may limit the net operating loss carryforward available to be used in any given year in the event of significant changes in ownership. Given the Company's losses in recent years, the Company believes a valuation allowance is needed as of December 31, 1999.
The tax effect of temporary differences as established in accordance with SFAS No. 109 that give rise to deferred income taxes are as follows:
December 31,
----------------------
1999 1998
----------- ---------
Gross deferred tax asset:
Accruals and reserves currently not deductible.... $ 230,000 $ 45,000
Patent costs...................................... 526,000 --
Research and development credit carryforwards..... 306,000 142,000
Net operating loss carryforwards.................. 44,000 465,800
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets........ (1,027,000) (489,500)
----------- ---------
$ 79,000 $ 163,300
=========== =========
Gross deferred tax liability:
Depreciation...................................... $ (82,000) $(164,800)
Other............................................. (27,000) (28,500)
----------- ---------
$ (109,000) $(193,300)
=========== =========
|
9. PREFERRED STOCK
In March and June 1999, the Company completed the closing of a private placement of 1,080,061 shares of its Series A Convertible Preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") at $8.50 per share, which generated net proceeds of $8,851,351. Each share of the Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of the Company's Class A common stock, subject to certain antidilution rights, and automatically converts upon the closing of a qualified initial public offering. Beginning March 2003, each year 25% of the Preferred Stock are redeemable at the option of the majority of the holders of Preferred Stock at $8.50 per share, plus a dividend of 10% per year compounded annually since the date of issuance. Dividends are accrued as an increase to the carrying value of the Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock is carried at its current redemption value in the accompanying balance sheet outside of stockholders' equity since the redemption of the Preferred Stock is outside the control of the Company.
10. STOCK OPTIONS
In May 1996, the Company adopted a stock option plan that provides for the grant of options to purchase up to 240,000 shares of Class B common stock to employees, consultants, and advisors. In April 1999, the Company amended the 1996 stock option plan to increase the number of shares to 327,281. Options are granted with exercise prices equal to or greater than the fair value of the Class B common stock on the date of grant. Options vest and are exercisable over a period determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors, but no longer than 10 years.
The Company applies Accounting Principal Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and the related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. As the exercise price of the stock options exceeded the fair value of the Class B common stock at the date of option issuance, no
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and
1999 is unaudited)
compensation cost has been recorded in the accompanying statement of
operations. The Company follows the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Had compensation cost for the
Company's common stock option plan been determined based upon the fair value of
the options at the date of grant, as prescribed under SFAS No. 123, the
Company's net loss for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 would
have been as follows:
December 31,
-----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
----------- --------- -----------
Net loss--as reported................. $ (995,620) $(446,138) $(1,150,386)
=========== ========= ===========
Net loss--pro forma................... $(1,054,003) $(483,046) $(1,226,083)
=========== ========= ===========
Basic and diluted net loss per share--
as reported.......................... $ (0.42) $ (0.19) $ (0.48)
=========== ========= ===========
Basic and diluted net loss per share--
pro forma............................ $ (0.44) $ (0.20) $ (0.51)
=========== ========= ===========
|
The weighted average fair value of the options granted during 1999, 1998 and 1997 is estimated at $1.55, $2.37 and $2.87, respectively per share, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of zero; volatility of zero; weighted average risk-free interest rate of 6.37%, 5.61% and 6.33%, respectively, and an expected life of 7 years.
Information with respect to the options granted under the stock option plan is as follows:
Aggregate Price Per
Shares Price Share
------- ---------- ------------
Outstanding, December 31, 1996............ -- $ -- $ --
Granted................................. 78,015 1,170,225 15.00
Canceled................................ (4,690) (70,350) 15.00
------- ---------- ------------
Outstanding, December 31, 1997............ 73,325 1,099,875 15.00
Granted................................. 2,000 30,000 15.00
Canceled................................ (4,050) (60,750) 15.00
------- ---------- ------------
Outstanding, December 31, 1998............ 71,275 1,069,125 15.00
Granted................................. 128,602 546,559 4.25
Canceled................................ (7,794) (112,707) 4.25-15.00
------- ---------- ------------
Outstanding, December 31, 1999............ 192,083 1,502,977 4.25-15.00
Exercised............................... (540) (8,100) 15.00
Canceled................................ (4,464) (21,122) 4.25-15.00
------- ---------- ------------
Outstanding, June 30, 2000................ 187,079 $1,473,755 $4.25-$15.00
======= ========== ============
|
At December 31, 1999, there were outstanding presently exercisable options to purchase an aggregate of 58,112 shares at an average exercise price of $12.13 per share, with an aggregate exercise price of $705,055. At December 31, 1999, 135,198 shares were available for future grants under the plan.
11. COMMITMENTS:
Royalty Agreements
As part of the acquisition of the assets of Enzymatics, Inc., the Company entered into royalty agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a related state agency. The agreement with the Commonwealth requires a 3% royalty to be paid on the net sales of the Q.E.D. test up to a maximum of $2.2 million. The agreement with the related state agency requires a 2% royalty to be paid on the net sales of the Q.E.D. test up to a maximum of $300,000. Total Q.E.D. royalty expense was $54,160, $42,267 and $43,962 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Total royalty payments under the terms of these
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and
1999 is unaudited)
agreements were $34,621, $31,015 and $37,859 for the years ended December 31,
1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
As part of the termination agreement with Orion Diagnostica, the Company entered into a royalty agreement with Orion Diagnostica for AlcoScreen(TM) unit sales. The agreement requires a royalty of $.20 per AlcoScreen(TM) unit delivered to a European distributor by the Company up to a maximum of $300,000 through April 25, 2000. Effective April 26, 2000, the royalty is reduced to $.10 per AlcoScreen(TM) unit delivered to the European distributor. The royalty agreement expires on April 26, 2004. Total AlcoScreen(TM) royalty expense was $20,028 for the year ended December 31, 1999. Total royalty payments under the terms of this agreement were zero for the year ended December 31, 1999.
In connection with the acquisition of the exclusive distribution rights to the Histofreezer product in 1998, the Company entered into a royalty agreement with the inventor of Histofreezer. Royalties are payable in Netherlands Guilders ("NG"), converted to U.S. dollars using the year-end currency exchange rate, and are based on annual treatment sales of the Histofreezer product. For the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, Histofreezer royalty expense was $95,448 and $64,117, respectively, based on the average exchange rate during the years.
Phosphor Agreements
In April 1995, the Company entered into several research, licensing and royalty agreements (collectively the "Phosphor Agreements") related to the development of its UPT label detection technology. The Phosphor Agreements require, among other things, the Company to make annual license payments of $50,000 until commercial sale of product, pay royalties ranging from 4% to 6% of net sales of related product as defined, and pay 20% of sublicensing revenues.
In July 1999, the Company acquired the patent rights (the "Rights") to such phosphor technology thus amending the Company's requirements to make annual license payments, pay royalties, and pay sublicensing fees. The Company paid approximately $1,400,000 for the Rights and incurred approximately $100,000 of expenses related to the buyout of the Rights. The Company has accounted for the purchase price of the Rights as acquired in-process technology expense because, at the date of the transaction, the technology rights acquired by the Company related to UPT had not progressed to a stage where it met technological feasibility and there existed a significant amount of uncertainty as to the Company's ability to complete the development of the technology which would achieve market acceptance within a reasonable timeframe. In addition, the acquired in-process technology did not have an alternative future use to the Company that had reached technological feasibility. In connection with the buyout, the Company is required to pay royalties of $25,000 per year until the Rights expire. The Company must also pay sponsored research funds of $125,000 per year through July 2002, and $50,000 per year thereafter until the Rights expire.
For the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, net investments related to the Phosphor Agreements and the Rights were $3,699,207, $2,100,688 and $1,625,832, respectively.
Leases
The Company entered into a 5 year noncancellable building lease in 1999. The Company anticipates occupancy of the new building in early 2000. Future payments required under this lease are as follows:
2000.............................. $ 201,121
2001.............................. 268,161
2002.............................. 268,161
2003.............................. 268,161
2004 and thereafter............... 335,201
----------
$1,340,805
==========
|
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
(information as of June 30, 2000 and for the six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 is unaudited)
Automobile lease expense during 1999, 1998 and 1997 was $25,536, $26,534 and $29,635, respectively. The Company is required to pay $10,334 on these leases in 2000.
12. RETIREMENT PLAN:
Effective January 1, 1994, the Company adopted a profit sharing plan that includes provisions under Section 401(k) (salary deferral) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the profit sharing plan are determined annually by the Board of Directors. Employee contributions are made at the election of the participants on a monthly basis. The Company may then elect to match the employee contributions to limits specified within the plan agreement. Company contributions to the plan were $113,708, $93,607 and $88,106 for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
13. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
Under the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 131, "Segment Disclosures and Related Information," the Company operates within one segment, medical devices and products. The Company's products are sold principally in the United States and Europe. Operating income and identifiable assets are not applicable since all of the Company's revenues outside the United States are export sales.
The following table represents total revenues by geographic area:
For the Year ended December 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
----------- ----------- ----------
United States............................. $11,653,000 $9,030,000 $7,567,000
Europe.................................... 1,787,000 1,179,000 272,000
Other regions............................. 575,000 443,000 83,000
----------- ----------- ----------
$14,015,000 $10,652,000 $7,922,000
=========== =========== ==========
|
ANNEX A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
dated as of
May 6, 2000
among
EPITOPE, INC.
EDWARD MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC.*
and
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS................................................... A-2
ARTICLE II THE MERGERS.................................................. A-2
SECTION 2.1. STC MERGER........................................... A-2
SECTION 2.2. EPITOPE MERGER....................................... A-5
SECTION 2.3. EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES............................. A-7
SECTION 2.4. AFFILIATES........................................... A-9
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EPITOPE................... A-9
SECTION 3.1. CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER........................ A-9
SECTION 3.2. CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION.............................. A-9
SECTION 3.3. GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION........................... A-9
SECTION 3.4. NON-CONTRAVENTION.................................... A-9
SECTION 3.5. CAPITALIZATION....................................... A-10
SECTION 3.6. SUBSIDIARIES......................................... A-10
SECTION 3.7. EPITOPE SEC DOCUMENTS................................ A-11
SECTION 3.8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL UNDISCLOSED
LIABILITIES.......................................... A-11
SECTION 3.9. INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED........................... A-12
SECTION 3.10. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES........................... A-12
SECTION 3.11. LITIGATION........................................... A-12
SECTION 3.12. TAXES................................................ A-12
SECTION 3.13. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.................................... A-13
SECTION 3.14. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; LICENSES, PERMITS AND
REGISTRATIONS........................................ A-14
SECTION 3.15. TITLE TO PROPERTIES.................................. A-14
SECTION 3.16. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY................................ A-14
SECTION 3.17. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS................................ A-15
SECTION 3.18. FINDERS' FEES; OPINIONS OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR......... A-16
SECTION 3.19. REQUIRED VOTE; BOARD APPROVAL........................ A-16
SECTION 3.20. STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES.............................. A-17
SECTION 3.21. POOLING MATTERS; TAX TREATMENT....................... A-17
SECTION 3.22. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS................................... A-17
SECTION 3.23. EPITOPE RIGHTS AGREEMENT............................. A-17
SECTION 3.24. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS................................ A-17
SECTION 3.25. TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND
AFFILIATES........................................... A-18
SECTION 3.26. MATERIAL CONTRACTS................................... A-18
SECTION 3.27. CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES........................... A-19
SECTION 3.28. INSURANCE............................................ A-19
SECTION 3.29. PRODUCT INFORMATION.................................. A-19
SECTION 3.30. PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS............................. A-20
|
Page
----
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STC........................ A-20
SECTION 4.1. CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER........................ A-20
SECTION 4.2. CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION.............................. A-20
SECTION 4.3. GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION........................... A-20
SECTION 4.4. NON-CONTRAVENTION.................................... A-21
SECTION 4.5. CAPITALIZATION....................................... A-21
SECTION 4.6. SUBSIDIARIES......................................... A-21
SECTION 4.7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL UNDISCLOSED
LIABILITIES.......................................... A-21
SECTION 4.8. INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED........................... A-22
SECTION 4.9. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES........................... A-22
SECTION 4.10. LITIGATION........................................... A-22
SECTION 4.11. TAXES................................................ A-22
SECTION 4.12. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.................................... A-23
SECTION 4.13. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; LICENSES, PERMITS AND
REGISTRATIONS........................................ A-24
SECTION 4.14. TITLE TO PROPERTIES.................................. A-24
SECTION 4.15. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY................................ A-25
SECTION 4.16. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS................................ A-25
SECTION 4.17. FINDERS' FEES; OPINIONS OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR......... A-26
SECTION 4.18. REQUIRED VOTE AND WAIVER; BOARD APPROVAL............. A-26
SECTION 4.19. STATE TAKEOVER STATUTES.............................. A-26
SECTION 4.20. POOLING MATTERS; TAX TREATMENT....................... A-27
SECTION 4.21. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS................................... A-27
SECTION 4.22. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS................................ A-27
SECTION 4.23. TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND
AFFILIATES........................................... A-27
SECTION 4.24. MATERIAL CONTRACTS................................... A-27
SECTION 4.25. CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES........................... A-28
SECTION 4.26. INSURANCE............................................ A-28
SECTION 4.27. PRODUCT INFORMATION.................................. A-28
SECTION 4.28. PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS............................. A-29
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERGER SUB.................. A-29
SECTION 5.1. ORGANIZATION......................................... A-29
SECTION 5.2. CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION.............................. A-30
SECTION 5.3. NON-CONTRAVENTION.................................... A-30
SECTION 5.4. NO BUSINESS ACTIVITIES............................... A-30
SECTION 5.5. TAXES................................................ A-30
|
Page
----
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF EPITOPE......................................... A-30
SECTION 6.1. EPITOPE INTERIM OPERATIONS........................... A-30
SECTION 6.2. ACQUISITION PROPOSALS; BOARD RECOMMENDATION.......... A-32
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF STC............................................ A-34
SECTION 7.1. STC INTERIM OPERATIONS............................... A-34
SECTION 7.2. ACQUISITION PROPOSALS; BOARD RECOMMENDATION.......... A-35
ARTICLE VIII COVENANTS OF STC AND EPITOPE............................... A-36
SECTION 8.1. REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS.............................. A-36
SECTION 8.2. CERTAIN FILINGS; COOPERATION IN RECEIPT OF CONSENTS;
LISTING.............................................. A-36
SECTION 8.3. HEADQUARTERS......................................... A-37
SECTION 8.4. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS................................. A-37
SECTION 8.5. ACCESS TO INFORMATION; NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN
MATTERS.............................................. A-37
SECTION 8.6. FURTHER ASSURANCES................................... A-38
SECTION 8.7. TAX AND ACCOUNTING TREATMENT......................... A-38
SECTION 8.8. AFFILIATES........................................... A-39
SECTION 8.9. CONFIDENTIALITY...................................... A-39
SECTION 8.10. BENEFIT MATTERS...................................... A-40
SECTION 8.11. ANTITRUST MATTERS.................................... A-40
SECTION 8.12. EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 16(B)......... A-41
SECTION 8.13. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE........................ A-41
ARTICLE IX CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER..................................... A-42
SECTION 9.1. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY.......... A-42
SECTION 9.2. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF EPITOPE AND MERGER
SUB.................................................. A-43
SECTION 9.3. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF STC................. A-44
ARTICLE X TERMINATION................................................... A-45
SECTION 10.1. TERMINATION.......................................... A-45
SECTION 10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION................................ A-46
SECTION 10.3. FEES AND EXPENSES.................................... A-47
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS................................................ A-47
SECTION 11.1. NOTICES.............................................. A-47
SECTION 11.2. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE TIME............................. A-47
SECTION 11.3. AMENDMENTS; NO WAIVERS............................... A-48
SECTION 11.4. ASSIGNMENT........................................... A-48
SECTION 11.5. GOVERNING LAW........................................ A-48
SECTION 11.6. COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS.......................... A-48
SECTION 11.7. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES......................... A-48
SECTION 11.8. INTERPRETATION....................................... A-48
SECTION 11.9. ENFORCEMENT.......................................... A-48
SECTION 11.10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT..................................... A-48
SECTION 11.11. SEVERABILITY......................................... A-49
|
APPENDICES
Appendix I--Definitions
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A--Epitope Stockholders Agreement
Exhibit B--STC Stockholders Agreement
Exhibit C--Certificate of Merger for STC Merger
Exhibit D--Articles of Merger for Epitope Merger
Exhibit E--Certificate of Merger for Epitope Merger
Exhibit F--Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub
Exhibit G--Bylaws of Merger Sub
Exhibit H--Principal Officers of Surviving Corporation
Exhibit I--Epitope Representation Letter
Exhibit J--STC Representation Letter
Exhibit K--Form of STC Affiliate Agreement
Exhibit L--Form of Epitope Affiliate Agreement
Exhibit M--Indemnification Agreements
Exhibit N--List of Employees
Exhibit O--Merger Sub Representation Letter
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Agreement"), by and among Epitope, Inc., an Oregon corporation ("Epitope"), Edward Merger Subsidiary, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Epitope ("Merger Sub") and STC Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("STC").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Epitope and STC deem it advisable and in the best interests of each corporation and its respective stockholders that Epitope and STC engage in a business combination as peer firms in a combination of equals in order to advance the long-term strategic business interests of Epitope and STC;
WHEREAS, the combination of Epitope and STC shall be effected by the terms of this Agreement through the mergers as outlined below;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of STC and Merger Sub have each
(i) determined that the merger of STC with and into Merger Sub (the "STC
Merger") is fair to, and in the best interests of, their respective companies
and stockholders, (ii) have approved and declared the advisability of this
Agreement and (ii) have approved the STC Merger, and (iii) have recommended the
approval and adoption of this Agreement by their respective company's
stockholders;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Epitope and Merger Sub have each (i) determined that the merger of Epitope with and into Merger Sub (the "Epitope Merger"; the Epitope Merger and the STC Merger are referred to collectively as the "Mergers") is fair to, and in the best interests of, their respective companies and stockholders, (ii) have approved and declared the advisability of this Agreement and the Epitope Merger, and (iii) have recommended the approval and adoption of this Agreement by their respective company's stockholders;
WHEREAS, for Federal income tax purposes, it is intended that each of the Mergers shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (a "368 Reorganization"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
WHEREAS, for accounting purposes, it is intended that each of the Mergers shall be accounted for as a pooling of interests transaction under United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis ("GAAP"); and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement:
(i) STC has entered into an agreement (the "STC Stockholders Agreement") with
certain stockholders of Epitope pursuant to which such Epitope stockholders
have agreed to vote the shares of Epitope Common Stock owned by them in favor
of the Epitope Merger under certain circumstances, which agreement is
accompanied by irrevocable proxies to vote such shares in accordance therewith;
and (ii) Epitope has entered into an agreement (the "Epitope Stockholders
Agreement" and, together with the STC Stockholders Agreement, the "Stockholders
Agreements," in the respective forms attached as Exhibits A and B hereto) with
certain stockholders of STC pursuant to which such STC stockholders have agreed
to vote the shares of STC Common Stock owned by them in favor of the STC Merger
under certain circumstances, which agreement is accompanied by irrevocable
proxies to vote such shares in accordance therewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, which are incorporated into and made part of this Agreement, and of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified or referred to in Appendix I hereto which is incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGERS
Section 2.1. STC Merger.
(a) The STC Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Law"), at the STC Effective Time (as defined below), STC shall be merged with and into Merger Sub. As a result of the STC Merger, the separate corporate existence of STC shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation of the STC Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
(b) STC Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the Closing of the STC Merger, the Certificate of Merger for the STC Merger ("STC Certificate of Merger"), in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Delaware Law, shall be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware. The parties hereto agree to take all such further actions as may be required by law to make the Merger effective. The Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the STC Certificate of Merger at the time and date contemplated therein (such time and date being referred to herein as the "STC Effective Time").
(c) The Closing. The Closing of the Mergers and transactions contemplated by this Agreement will take place at 11:00 a.m. on a date mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which shall be no later than the third Business Day following the date on which all of the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereunder set forth in Article VIII hereof have been satisfied or waived. The place of Closing shall be at such place as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto.
(d) Effects of the STC Merger. At and after the STC Effective Time, the STC Merger will have the effects set forth in the Delaware Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Merger Sub and STC shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of Merger Sub and STC shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation. In addition, the STC Merger shall have the following effects:
(i) Articles of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect as of the date hereof shall be amended to change the name of Merger Sub to OraSure Technologies, Inc., but otherwise shall read as set forth in Exhibit F and such Certificate of Incorporation, as so amended, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (as set forth in Exhibit F hereto) and the Certificate of Incorporation shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.
(ii) Bylaws. The Bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect as of the date hereof shall be amended to reflect the change of Merger Sub's name to OraSure Technologies, Inc., but otherwise shall read as set forth in Exhibit G and shall, as so amended, be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
(iii) Board of Directors. At the STC Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist of seven (7) persons. Of the seven persons initially elected to the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation, three (3) (the "STC Designees") shall be persons named by the Board of Directors of STC and three (3) (the "Epitope Designees") shall be persons named by the Board of Directors of Epitope and one (1) shall be a person mutually acceptable to both the Boards of Directors
of STC and Epitope. The Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be divided into three classes, with the initial terms of office of the first, second and third classes expiring at the first, second and third annual meetings of the stockholders of the Surviving Corporation, respectively. One STC Designee and one Epitope Designee shall be placed in each class of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation. If, prior to the STC Effective Time, (i) any of the individuals named by STC or Epitope to serve on the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation following the STC Effective Time resigns, retires or otherwise ceases to serve as a director of STC or Epitope, as the case may be, or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling to serve as a director of the Surviving Corporation, or (ii) STC or Epitope shall determine to replace an individual named by such party to serve on the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation, the party that designated such individual may name a replacement to become a director of the Surviving Corporation. The persons named as members of the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.1.(d)(iii) shall be named in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement, subject to receipt of the consent of such individuals to be so named.
(iv) Management. The principal officers of the Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time shall be as listed on Exhibit H. All other management positions of the Surviving Corporation shall be determined jointly by the Surviving Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer.
(e) Effect on Capital Stock. At the STC Effective Time, by virtue of the STC Merger and without any action on the part of the parties hereto or their respective stockholders:
(i) STC Common Stock. Each share of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time (except for shares of STC Common Stock held by persons who object to the STC Merger and comply with all provisions of the Delaware Law concerning the right of such holders to dissent from the STC Merger and demand appraisal for their shares) shall be converted into and become shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock at an exchange ratio (the "Exchange Ratio") determined as follows (together with any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be paid pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(iv) (the "Merger Consideration") which fraction of a share shall be rounded to four decimal places):
(A) If the Average Epitope Stock Price is greater than $13.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of (i) the quotient of (x) $260 million divided by (y) the Average Epitope Stock Price, divided by (ii) the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; or
(B) If the Average Epitope Stock Price is equal to or less than $13.00, but equal to or more than $10.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of 20 million shares divided by the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; or
(C) If the Average Epitope Stock Price is less than $10.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of (i) the quotient of (x) $200 million divided by (y) the Average Epitope Stock Price, divided by (ii) the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; provided however, that in the event the quotient in clause (i) of this subsection (C) exceeds 25 million shares, such quotient shall be deemed to be 25 million shares for the purposes of completing the calculation set forth in this subsection (C), and; provided further, that in the event that the Average Epitope Stock Price is less than $6.00, STC shall have the termination rights provided in Section 10.1(h).
(ii) STC Stock held by Merger Sub and STC. Each share of STC Common Stock or STC Preferred Stock held by STC as treasury stock or owned by Merger Sub immediately prior to the STC Effective Time shall be cancelled without payment of any consideration therefor and shall cease to exist.
(iii) Merger Sub Common Stock. Each share of common stock of Merger Sub outstanding and each share held in treasury immediately prior to the STC Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock.
(iv) Fractional Shares. No fraction of a share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the conversion of STC Common Stock in the STC Merger and the distribution of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in respect thereof, but in lieu of such fraction, the Exchange Agent shall make a cash payment (without interest and subject to the payment of any applicable withholding Taxes) equal to the same fraction of the market value of a full share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock, computed on the basis of the mean of the high and low sales prices of Surviving Corporation Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the first full day on which Surviving Corporation Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market after the STC Effective Time.
(f) Stock Options and Other Stock Compensation.
(i) On or prior to the STC Effective Time, STC will take all action necessary such that each stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation that was granted pursuant to the STC Employee Plans (as defined in Section 4.12(a)) prior to the STC Effective Time and which remains outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time shall cease to represent a right with respect to shares of STC Common Stock and shall be converted, at the STC Effective Time, into a right, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation, as applicable (but taking into account any changes thereto (except that there shall be no acceleration in the vesting or exercisability of such option, right or incentive compensation by reason of this Agreement, the STC Merger, the Epitope Merger or the other matters contemplated by this Agreement), provided for in the STC Employee Plans or in the terms of such right by reason of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), with respect to that number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of shares of STC Common Stock subject to such stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation, as applicable, by the Exchange Ratio, rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock, at (in the case of a stock option or stock appreciation right) a price per share (rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) equal to the per-share exercise price specified in such stock option or stock appreciation right, as applicable, divided by the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in the case of any stock option to which Section 421 of the Code applies by reason of its qualification under Section 422 of the Code, the option price, the number of shares subject to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code.
(ii) As soon as practicable after the STC Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall deliver to the holders of stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation appropriate notices setting forth such holders' rights pursuant to the STC Employee Plans (except that there shall be no acceleration in the vesting or exercisability of such option, right or incentive compensation by reason of this Agreement, the STC Merger, the Epitope Merger or the other matters contemplated by this Agreement) and the agreements evidencing the grants of such stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions (subject to the adjustments required by this Section 2.1(f)(ii) after giving effect to the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger and the terms of the STC Employee Plans (except that there shall be no acceleration in the vesting or exercisability of such option, right or incentive compensation by reason of this Agreement, the STC Merger, the Epitope Merger or the other matters contemplated by this Agreement)). To the extent permitted by law, the Surviving Corporation shall comply with the terms of the STC Employee Plans and shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary or required by, and subject to the provisions of, such STC Employee Plans, to have the stock options which qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time continue to qualify as incentive stock options of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time.
(iii) The Surviving Corporation shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation in
accordance with this Section 2.1(f). Promptly after the STC Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation
shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case may be
(or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock subject to such stock options or other stock
related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred
compensation, and shall use commercially reasonable 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 stock options or other stock related rights or
other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation remain
outstanding. With respect to those individuals who subsequent to the Mergers
will be subject to the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act, where applicable, the Surviving Corporation shall administer the
STC Employee Plans in a manner consistent with the exemptions provided by Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(g) Certain Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the outstanding STC Common Stock or Epitope Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or different class by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, or a stock dividend or dividend payable in any other securities shall be declared with a record date within such period, or any similar event shall have occurred, the Exchange Ratio shall each be appropriately adjusted to provide to the holders of STC Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
(h) Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding Section 2.1(e), shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the STC Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of the Mergers or consented thereto in writing and who has demanded appraisal for such shares of STC Common Stock, as the case may be, in accordance with the Delaware Law shall not be converted into the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock unless such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his right to appraisal. If after the STC Effective Time such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses his right to appraisal, such shares of STC Common Stock shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the STC Effective Time into the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.1(e). STC shall give the Surviving Corporation prompt notice of any demands received by STC for appraisal of shares of STC Common Stock, and the Surviving Corporation shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. STC shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Surviving Corporation, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.
Section 2.2. Epitope Merger.
(a) The Epitope Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the Business Corporation Act of the State of Oregon (the "Oregon Law"), and the Delaware General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Law"), at the Epitope Effective Time (as defined below), which shall be immediately following the STC Effective Time, Epitope shall be merged with and into Merger Sub. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Epitope shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Epitope Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
(b) Epitope Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the Closing of the Mergers, the Articles of Merger for the Epitope Merger in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Oregon Law, shall be filed with the Secretary of State of Oregon, and the Certificate of Merger for the Epitope Merger, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Delaware Law, shall be filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware. The parties hereto agree to take all such further actions as may be required by law to make the Epitope Merger effective. The Epitope Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Articles of Merger and the Certificate of Merger at the time and date contemplated therein (such time and date being referred to herein as the Epitope Effective Time or "Effective Time").
(c) Effects of the Epitope Merger. At and after the Epitope Effective Time, the Epitope Merger will have the effects set forth in the Delaware Law and the Oregon Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
and subject thereto, at the Epitope Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Epitope and Merger Sub shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of Epitope and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation. In addition, the Epitope Merger shall have the following effects:
(i) Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect as of the date hereof shall be amended to change the name of Merger Sub to OraSure Technologies, Inc., but otherwise shall read as set forth in Exhibit F and such Certificate of Incorporation, as so amended, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.
(ii) Bylaws. The Bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect as of the date hereof shall be amended to reflect the change of Merger Sub's name to OraSure Technologies, Inc., but otherwise shall read as set forth in Exhibit G and shall, as so amended, be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
(iii) Board of Directors. At the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation shall consist of the seven (7) persons and be divided into the classes specified in Section 2.1(d)(iii).
(iv) Management. The principal officers of the Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time shall be as listed on Exhibit H. All other management positions of the Surviving Corporation shall be determined jointly by the Surviving Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer.
(d) Effect on Capital Stock. At the Epitope Effective Time, by virtue of the Epitope Merger and without any action on the part of the parties hereto or their respective stockholders:
(i) Epitope Common Stock. Each share of Epitope Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Epitope Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share (the "Epitope Exchange Ratio") of Surviving Corporation Common Stock (the "Epitope Merger Consideration").
(ii) Epitope Stock held by Epitope and Merger Sub. Each share of Epitope Common Stock held by Epitope as treasury stock or owned by Merger Sub immediately prior to the Epitope Effective Time shall be cancelled without payment of any consideration therefor and shall cease to exist.
(iii) Merger Sub Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock of Merger Sub outstanding and each share held in treasury immediately prior to the Epitope Effective Time shall be converted into and become one share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock.
(e) Stock Options and Other Stock Compensation.
(i) On or prior to the Epitope Effective Time, Epitope will take all action necessary such that each stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation that was granted pursuant to the Epitope Employee Plans (as defined in Section 4.12(a)) prior to the Epitope Effective Time and which remains outstanding immediately prior to the Epitope Effective Time shall cease to represent a right with respect to shares of Epitope Common Stock and shall be converted, at the Epitope Effective Time, into a right, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation, as applicable (but taking into account any changes thereto, provided for in the Epitope Employee Plans or in the terms of such right by reason of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), with respect to that number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of shares of Epitope Common Stock subject to such stock option or other stock related right or other form of stock related incentive or deferred compensation, as applicable, by the Epitope Exchange Ratio, at a price per share equal to the per-share exercise price specified in such stock option or stock appreciation right, as applicable.
(ii) As soon as practicable after the Epitope Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall deliver to the holders of stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation appropriate notices setting forth such holders' rights pursuant to the Epitope Employee Plans and the agreements evidencing the grants of such stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation shall continue in effect on the
same terms and conditions (after giving effect to the Merger and the terms of the Epitope Employee Plans. To the extent permitted by law, the Surviving Corporation shall comply with the terms of the Epitope Employee Plans and shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary or required by, and subject to the provisions of, such Epitope Employee Plans, to have the stock options which qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time continue to qualify as incentive stock options of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time.
(iii) The Surviving Corporation shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation in accordance with this Section 2.2(d)(ii). Promptly after the Epitope Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock subject to such stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation, and shall use commercially reasonable 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 stock options or other stock related rights or other forms of stock related incentive or deferred compensation remain outstanding. With respect to those individuals who subsequent to the Merger will be subject to the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, where applicable, the Surviving Corporation shall administer the Epitope Employee Plans in a manner consistent with the exemptions provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(f) Certain Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the Epitope Effective Time, the outstanding common stock of Merger Sub or Epitope Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or different class by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, or a stock dividend or dividend payable in any other securities shall be declared with a record date within such period, or any similar event shall have occurred, the Epitope Exchange Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted to provide to the holders of STC Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
Section 2.3. Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, Epitope and STC shall cause the Surviving Corporation, and the Surviving Corporation agrees, to appoint the Exchange Agent to act as the exchange agent in connection with the Mergers. Except as otherwise provided in this Article II, from and after the Effective Time, each holder of a certificate that immediately prior to the STC Effective Time or Epitope Effective Time, as the case may be, represented outstanding shares of STC Common Stock or Epitope Common Stock (collectively, the "Certificates") shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, upon surrender thereof to the Exchange Agent, a certificate or certificates representing the number of whole shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock into which such holder's shares were converted in the STC Merger or Epitope Merger, as the case may be. Prior to the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will deliver to the Exchange Agent, in trust for the benefit of the holders of STC Common Stock and Epitope Common Stock, (i) certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock (such shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund") and (ii) cash in an amount sufficient for payment in lieu of fractional shares necessary to make the exchanges contemplated by this Article II on a timely basis.
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each record holder of STC Common Stock and Epitope Common Stock as of the Effective Time, a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Certificates in exchange for certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock. Upon
surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with such letter of transmittal duly executed, and any other required documents, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock as set forth in this Article II, and such Certificate shall forthwith be canceled. No holder of a Certificate or Certificates shall be entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution from the Surviving Corporation until the surrender of such holder's Certificate for a certificate or certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock. Upon such surrender, there shall be paid to the holder the amount of any dividends or other distributions (without interest) that theretofore became payable, but that were not paid by reason of the foregoing, with respect to the number of whole shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock represented by the certificates issued upon surrender, which amount shall be delivered to the Exchange Agent by the Surviving Corporation from time to time as such dividends or other distributions are declared. If delivery of certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate surrendered is registered or if any certificate for shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock as the case may be, is to be issued in a name other than that in which the Certificate surrendered therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of such delivery or issuance that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such delivery or issuance shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of such delivery or issuance to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such Tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.4, each Certificate shall represent for all purposes only the right to receive shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock (and, in the case of Certificates theretofore representing STC Common Stock, cash in lieu of fractional shares) as provided in this Article II without any interest thereon.
(c) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of STC Common Stock or Epitope Common Stock that were outstanding prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for transfer, they shall be canceled and exchanged for shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock as provided in this Article II, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.3.
(d) Any portion of the Exchange Fund and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock made available to the Exchange Agent which remains undistributed to the former stockholders of STC for one year after the STC Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand, and any stockholders of STC who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of their claim for Surviving Corporation Common Stock, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock and any dividends or distributions with respect to Surviving Corporation Common Stock. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the former stockholders of Epitope for one year after the Epitope Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand, and any stockholders of Epitope who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of their claim for Surviving Corporation Common Stock, and any dividends or distributions with respect to Surviving Corporation Common Stock.
(e) None of STC, Epitope, or the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any holder of shares of STC Common Stock or Epitope Common Stock, as the case may be, for such shares (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash in lieu of fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of any such shares two years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.
Section 2.4. Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to
the fullest extent permitted by law and pooling of interests accounting
treatment, no certificates representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock or cash shall be delivered to a Person who may be deemed an "affiliate"
of STC or Epitope in accordance with Section 8.8 hereof for purposes of Rule
145 under the Securities Act and, for purposes of qualifying the Merger for
pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting
Principles Board and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, until such
Person has executed and delivered a STC Affiliate Agreement (as defined in
Section 8.8(a)) or an Epitope Affiliate Agreement (as defined in Section
8.8(b)), as the case may be, pursuant to Section 8.8.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EPITOPE
Except as disclosed in (i) the Epitope Disclosure Schedule delivered to STC separately prior to, or contemporaneously with, the date hereof (each section or subsection of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant to the extent specified therein) or (ii) the Epitope SEC Documents filed on or prior to the date hereof, Epitope represents and warrants to STC that:
Section 3.1. Corporate Existence and Power. Epitope is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Oregon, and has all corporate powers required to carry on its business as now conducted. Epitope is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect. Epitope has heretofore made available to STC true and complete copies of Epitope's articles of incorporation and bylaws as currently in effect.
Section 3.2. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by Epitope of this Agreement and the consummation by Epitope of the transactions contemplated hereby are within Epitope's corporate powers and, except for the Epitope Stockholder Approval (as defined herein), have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. Assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of STC, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Epitope, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 3.3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by Epitope of this Agreement and the consummation by Epitope of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity other than (a) the filing of (i) Articles of Merger in accordance with the Oregon Law, (ii) a Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Delaware Law, and (iii) appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states or jurisdictions in which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is qualified to do business; (b) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") by stockholders of STC who will acquire the Surviving Corporation Common Stock with a value in excess of $15 million as a result of the Mergers and who do not have an exemption from the HSR Act therefor; (c) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (d) such as may be required under any applicable state securities or blue sky laws; and (e) such other consents, approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings that, if not obtained or made, would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect or (assuming for this purpose that the Effective Time had occurred) a Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect, or (y) prevent or materially impair the ability of Epitope to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by Epitope of this Agreement and the consummation by Epitope of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or
conflict with Epitope's articles of incorporation or bylaws, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.3, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any law, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, (c) constitute a default under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary or to a loss of any benefit or status to which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is entitled under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument binding upon Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization held by Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary other than, in the case of each of (b), (c) and (d), any such items that would not, individually or in the aggregate (x) be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect or (y) prevent or materially impair the ability of Epitope to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.5. Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Epitope consists of 30,000,000 shares of Epitope Common Stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share, of Epitope ("Epitope Preferred Stock"). At the close of business on April 30, 2000, (i) 16,393,495 shares of Epitope Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) stock options ("Epitope Stock Options") and warrants ("Epitope Warrants") to purchase an aggregate of 4,136,571 shares of Epitope Common Stock were issued and outstanding (of which options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,012,999 shares of Epitope Common Stock were exercisable), (iii) no shares of Epitope Common Stock were held in its treasury, (iii) no shares of Epitope Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, and (iv) no shares of Epitope Series A Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Epitope Stock Purchase Rights. All outstanding shares of capital stock of Epitope have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) As of the date hereof, except (i) as set forth in this Section 3.5, and
(ii) for changes since September 30, 1999, resulting from the exercise of stock
options or warrants outstanding on such date, there are no outstanding (x)
shares of capital stock or other voting securities of Epitope, (y) securities
of Epitope convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
voting securities of Epitope, or (z) options or other rights to acquire from
Epitope, and no obligation of Epitope to issue, any capital stock, voting
securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or
voting securities of Epitope (the items in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being
referred to collectively as the "Epitope Securities"). There are no outstanding
obligations of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any Epitope Securities. There are no outstanding contractual
obligations of Epitope to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form
of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person. There are
no stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings
to which Epitope is a party, or of which Epitope is aware, relating to voting,
registration or disposition of any shares of capital stock of Epitope or
granting to any person or group of persons the right to elect, or to designate
or nominate for election, a director to the board of directors of Epitope.
Section 3.6. Subsidiaries.
(a) Each Significant Subsidiary of Epitope is a corporation duly incorporated or an entity duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, has all powers and authority and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, in each case with such exceptions as, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have, an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(b) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other ownership interest in, each Epitope Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable. All of the outstanding capital stock of,
or other ownership interest in, each of Epitope's Subsidiaries, is owned, directly or indirectly, by Epitope, is owned free and clear of any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any limitation or restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other ownership interests) with such exceptions as, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have, an Epitope Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding (i) securities of Epitope or any of the Epitope Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any of the Epitope Subsidiaries, (ii) options, warrants or other rights to acquire from Epitope or any of the Epitope Subsidiaries, and no other obligation of Epitope or any of the Epitope Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any capital stock, voting securities or ownership interests in, any of the Epitope Subsidiaries or (iii) obligations of Epitope or any of the Epitope Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding securities of any of the Epitope Subsidiaries or any capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, any of the Epitope Subsidiaries.
Section 3.7. Epitope SEC Documents.
(a) Epitope has made available to STC the Epitope SEC Documents. Epitope has filed all reports, filings, registration statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since September 30, 1997. No Epitope Subsidiary is required to file any form, report, registration statement or prospectus or other document with the SEC.
(b) As of its filing date, each Epitope SEC Document complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, as the case may be.
(c) No Epitope SEC Document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act contained, as of its filing date, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Epitope SEC Document, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed pursuant to the Securities Act contained, as of the date such document or amendment became effective, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
Section 3.8. Financial Statements; No Material Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Epitope included in the Epitope 10-K and the Epitope 10-Q fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and except that financial statements on Form 10-Q do not contain all GAAP notes to such financial statements), the consolidated financial position of Epitope and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their consolidated results of operations, consolidated cash flows and changes in stockholders' equity for the periods then ended (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements).
(b) There are no liabilities of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, in each case, that are required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of Epitope, other than:
(i) liabilities or obligations disclosed or provided for in the Epitope Balance Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto;
(ii) liabilities or obligations under this Agreement or incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(iii) other liabilities or obligations that individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries keep proper accounting records in which all material assets and liabilities, and all material transactions, of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries are recorded in conformity with GAAP. No part of Epitope's or any Epitope Subsidiary's accounting system or records, or access thereto, is under the control of a Person who is not an employee of Epitope or such Subsidiary.
Section 3.9. Information to be Supplied.
(a) The information to be supplied by Epitope expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will (i) in the case of the Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) in the case of the remainder of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, at the time of the mailing thereof, and at the time of the Special Meetings, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply (with respect to information relating to Epitope) as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Epitope makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements made or incorporated by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by STC.
Section 3.10. Absence of Certain Changes. Since September 30, 1999, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and there has not been (a) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the business or assets of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect, (b) any action, event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect or (c) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by Epitope of any material indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the ordinary course and in amounts and on terms consistent with past practices.
Section 3.11. Litigation. Section 3.11 of the Epitope Disclosure Schedule contains a list and description of each action, suit, investigation, arbitration or proceeding pending against, or to the Knowledge of Epitope threatened against, Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary or any of their respective assets or properties before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity. None of such actions, suits, investigations, arbitrations or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have, an Epitope Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding judgments, decrees, injunctions, awards or orders against Epitope that would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12. Taxes.
(a) All Tax returns, statements, reports and forms (collectively, the "Epitope Returns") required to be filed with any taxing authority by, or with respect to, Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries have been filed in substantial compliance with all applicable laws.
(b) Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries have timely paid all Taxes shown as due and payable on the Epitope Returns that have been so filed, and all other Taxes not subject to reporting obligations, and, as of the time of filing, the Epitope Returns correctly reflected the facts regarding the income, business, assets, operations, activities and the status of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries (other than Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves are reflected on the Epitope Balance Sheet).
(c) Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries have made provision for all Taxes payable by them for which no Epitope Return has yet been filed.
(d) The charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect to Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries reflected on the Epitope Balance Sheet are adequate under GAAP to cover the Tax liabilities accruing through the date thereof.
(e) There is no action, suit, proceeding, audit or claim now proposed or pending against or with respect to Epitope or any of the Epitope Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax that would be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Neither Epitope nor any of the Epitope Subsidiaries has been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group other than one of which Epitope was the common parent.
(g) Neither Epitope nor any of the Epitope Subsidiaries holds any asset subject to a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code.
(h) The representations and warranties contained in the Epitope Representation Letter, attached hereto as Exhibit I, are true and correct.
Section 3.13. Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Epitope Disclosure Schedule contains a correct and
complete list identifying each material "employee benefit plan", as defined in
Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"),
each employment, severance or similar contract, plan, arrangement or policy and
each other plan or arrangement (written or oral) providing for compensation,
bonuses, profit-sharing, stock option or other stock related rights or other
forms of incentive or deferred compensation, vacation benefits, insurance
coverage (including any self-insured arrangements), health or medical benefits,
disability benefits, workers' compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits,
severance benefits and post-employment or retirement benefits (including
compensation, pension, health, medical or life insurance benefits) that is
maintained, administered or contributed to by Epitope or any ERISA Affiliate
(as defined below) of Epitope and covers any employee or former employee of
Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary. Copies of such plans (and, if applicable,
related trust agreements) and all amendments thereto and written
interpretations thereof have been furnished, or will be made available upon
request, to STC together with the most recent annual report (Form 5500
including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto) and summary plan description
prepared in connection with any such plan. Such plans are referred to
collectively herein as the "Epitope Employee Plans". For purposes of this
Section 3.13, "ERISA Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person which,
together with such Person, would be treated as a single employer under Section
414 of the Code.
(b) No Epitope Employee Plan is now or at any time has been subject to Part 3, Subtitle B of Title I or ERISA or Title IV of ERISA. At no time has Epitope or any of its ERISA Affiliates contributed to, or been required to contribute to, any "multiemployer plan," as defined in Section 3(37) or ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan"), and neither Epitope nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has, or ever has had, any liability (contingent or otherwise) relating to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from a multiemployer Plan. To the Knowledge of Epitope, no condition exists and no event has occurred that would be reasonably likely to constitute grounds for termination of any Epitope Employee Plan that is a Retirement Plan. To the Knowledge of Epitope, nothing has been done or omitted to be done and no transaction or holding of any asset under or in connection with any Epitope Employee Plan has occurred that will make Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, or any officer or director of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, subject to any liability under Title I of ERISA or liable for any tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code (assuming the taxable period of any such transaction expired as of the date hereof) that would be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Each Epitope Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code now meets, and at all time since its inception have met, the
requirements for such qualification, and each trust forming a part thereof is
now, and at all times since its inception has been, exempt from tax pursuant to
Section 501(a) of the Code. Each such plan has received a determination letter
from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such plan is qualified and
its related trust is exempt from federal income taxes. Epitope has furnished,
or will make available upon request, to STC copies of the most recent Internal
Revenue Service determination letters with respect to each such Epitope
Employee Plan. Each Epitope Employee Plan has been maintained and administered
in substantial compliance with its terms (except that in any case in which any
Epitope Employee Plan is currently required to comply with a provision of ERISA
or of the Code, but is not
yet required to be amended to reflect such provision, such plan has been maintained and administered in accordance with the provision) and with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such Epitope Employee Plan. All material reports, returns and similar documents with respect to each Epitope Employee Plan required to be filed with any government agency or distributed to any Epitope Employee Plan participant have been duly timely filed and distributed.
(d) There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement that, as a result of the Mergers, would be reasonably likely to obligate Epitope to make any payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to the terms of Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code.
(e) Except as disclosed in writing to STC prior to the date hereof, there has been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not written) relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Epitope Employee Plan that would increase materially the expense of maintaining such Epitope Employee Plan above the level of the expense incurred in respect thereof for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999.
(f) No Epitope Employee Plan promises or provides post-retirement medical, life insurance or other benefits due now or in the future to current, former or retired employees of Epitope or any Subsidiary.
Section 3.14. Compliance with Laws; Licenses, Permits and Registrations.
(a) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, judgments, injunctions, orders or consent decrees, except for any such violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations of and registrations with and under all federal, state, local and foreign laws, and from all Governmental Entities required by Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries to carry on their respective businesses as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations or registrations, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.15. Title to Properties.
(a) Epitope and each Epitope Subsidiary have good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all their properties and assets except for such as are no longer used or useful in the conduct of their businesses or as have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business and except for defects in title, easements, restrictive covenants and similar Liens, encumbrances or impediments that do not materially interfere with the ability of Epitope and its Subsidiaries to use their respective assets and conduct their businesses, as currently used or conducted. All such assets and properties, other than assets and properties in which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary has leasehold interests, are free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens that, in the aggregate, do not and will not materially interfere with the ability of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries to use their respective assets and conduct their businesses, as currently conducted.
(b) Epitope and each Epitope Subsidiary (i) are in substantial compliance with the terms of all leases to which they are a party and under which they are in occupancy, and all such leases are in full force and effect and (ii) enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases.
Section 3.16. Intellectual Property.
(a) Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries own or have a valid license to use
(i) all fictional business names, trading names, registered and unregistered
trademarks, service marks, domain names and applications (collectively,
"Marks"); (ii) all patents, patent applications, and inventions and discoveries
that may be
patentable (collectively, "Patents"); (iii) all copyrights in both published works and unpublished works (collectively, "Copyrights"); (iv) all rights in mask works (collectively, "Rights in Mask Works"); and (v) all know-how, trade secrets, and confidential information, (such as, customer lists, software, technical information, data, process technology, and plans) (collectively, "Trade Secrets"); necessary to (x) carry on the business of Epitope as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by the Surviving Corporation, to (y) make, have made, use, distribute and sell all products currently sold by Epitope and all products in development, including all products proposed to be sold under the "OraSure" or "OraQuick" trade names.
(b) There are no outstanding and, to Epitope's Knowledge, no Threatened disputes or disagreements with respect to any agreement to which Epitope or an Epitope subsidiary is a party, relating to any of Epitope's Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Rights in Mask Works, or Trade Secrets (collectively, "Epitope Intellectual Property").
(c) Epitope is the owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the Epitope Intellectual Property, free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges, encumbrances, equities, and other adverse claims.
(d) All former and current employees of Epitope have executed written contracts with Epitope that assign to Epitope all rights to any inventions, improvements, discoveries, or information relating to the business of Epitope. To Epitope's knowledge, no employee of Epitope has entered into any contract that restricts or limits in any way the scope or type of work in which the employee may be engaged or requires the employee to transfer, assign, or disclose information concerning his work to anyone other than Epitope.
(e) All of the Patents are currently in compliance in all material respects with formal legal requirements (including payment of filing, examination, and maintenance fees and proofs of working or use), are valid and enforceable, and are not subject to any maintenance fees or taxes or actions that have not been paid when due.
(f) Epitope uses reasonable procedures to keep its Trade Secrets confidential. Epitope's Trade Secrets have been disclosed only under written agreements that require the recipient to hold such Trade Secrets confidential.
(g) No Patent has been or is now involved in any interference, reissue, reexamination, or opposition proceeding. To Epitope's Knowledge, there is no potentially interfering patent or patent application of any third party.
(h) No Patent is infringed or, to Epitope's Knowledge, has been challenged or threatened in any way. To Epitope's Knowledge, none of the products manufactured and sold or proposed to be sold, nor any process or know-how used, by Epitope infringes or is alleged to infringe any Patent or other proprietary right of any other Person.
(i) Epitope is not required to make any payments to any third parties in connection with its use of Epitope Intellectual Property.
(j) All products made, used, or sold under the Patents have been marked with the proper patent notice.
Section 3.17. Environmental Matters.
(a) To the Knowledge of Epitope, there has not been, as of the date hereof, any (i) "release" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(22)) or threat of a "release" of any "hazardous substances" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(14)) or oil or other petroleum related products on or about any of the real property owned, operated or leased by Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary ("Epitope Real Property"), or (ii) release or presence of any pollutant, contaminant or condition giving rise to a cause of action under federal, state or local statutory or common law on or about any of the Epitope Real Property other than such as would not reasonably be expected to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has any contract, agreement or otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances at any "facility" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(9)) owned or operated by another Person.
(c) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal or treatment facilities or sites selected by Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary.
(d) To the Knowledge of Epitope, the Epitope Real Property and the use thereof is in material compliance with, and each Epitope and each Epitope Subsidiary is in compliance with, all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity relating to environmental protection, underground storage tanks, toxic waste, hazardous waste, oil or hazardous substance handling, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation, or arranging therefor, respecting any products or materials previously or now located on, or in transit from the Epitope Real Property, including without limitation the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.
(e) The past disposal practices relating to hazardous substances and hazardous wastes of Epitope and each Epitope Subsidiary (and their respective predecessors, if any) have been accomplished in accordance with all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and ordinances.
(f) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has been notified of, nor, to the Knowledge of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is there, any basis for any potential liability of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary with respect to the cleanup of any waste disposal site or facility. Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has received any notification to the effect that any site at which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary has disposed of hazardous substances or oil has been or is under investigation by any Governmental Entity.
(g) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has received any notification of releases or hazardous substances or oil from any Governmental Entity.
Section 3.18. Finders' Fees; Opinions of Financial Advisor.
(a) Except for Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (also operating as Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown), there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been retained by, or is authorized to act on behalf of, Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary who might be entitled to any fee or commission from STC or any of its Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The Board of Directors of Epitope has received the opinion of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., dated as of the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to Epitope.
Section 3.19. Required Vote; Board Approval.
(a) The only votes of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of Epitope required by law, rule, regulation or rule of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. to approve and adopt this Agreement and/or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers, are the affirmative vote of the holders of more than fifty percent of all votes entitled to be cast on the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger (the "Epitope Stockholder Approval").
(b) Epitope's Board of Directors has unanimously (i) determined and declared that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are advisable and in the best interests of Epitope and its stockholders, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) resolved to recommend to such stockholders that they vote in favor of adopting and approving this Agreement and the Mergers in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to the Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law, at a special meeting of the stockholders of Epitope duly held for such purpose (the "Epitope Stockholders Meeting").
Section 3.20. State Takeover Statutes.
(a) Epitope has taken all actions required to be taken by it in order to exempt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby from the provisions of Sections 60.801 through 60.845 of the Oregon Law, and accordingly, such Sections do not apply to the Mergers or any of such transactions. No other "control share acquisition," "business combination," "fair price" or other anti-takeover laws or regulations enacted under state or federal laws in the United States apply to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.21. Pooling Matters; Tax Treatment.
(a) Epitope intends that the Mergers be accounted for under the "pooling of interests" method under the requirements of Opinion No. 16 (Business Combinations) of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Epitope will request a letter addressed to it from PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP, dated as of the Closing Date, and (if and when obtained) a copy of it will be delivered to STC. Such letter (which may contain customary qualifications and assumptions) shall state that PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP concurs with Epitope's management's conclusion that no conditions exist that would preclude the Surviving Corporation from accounting for the Mergers as a "pooling of interests," as described in the first sentence of this Section 3.21(a).
(b) Neither Epitope nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to take, or will take, any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent or impede the Mergers from qualifying (i) for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment as described in Section 3.21(a) above or (ii) as a 368 Reorganization or that would make untrue any representation or warranty contained in the Representation Letter attached as Exhibit I.
Section 3.22. Certain Agreements. None of Epitope, any Epitope Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates (i) are parties to or otherwise bound by any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts Epitope, any Epitope Subsidiary, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any locations, and (ii) except in the ordinary course of business, have amended, modified or terminated any material contract, agreement or arrangement of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary or otherwise waived, released or assigned any material rights, claims or benefits of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary thereunder.
Section 3.23. Epitope Rights Agreement. Merger Sub will, prior to the Effective Time, take or cause to be taken all action so that each issued and outstanding share of STC Common Stock (other than shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(e)(iii)), upon conversion of such shares into Surviving Corporation Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.1(e)(i), shall have associated rights to purchase the appropriate number of shares of Surviving Corporation Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Merger Sub Rights Agreement. Epitope has amended the Epitope Rights Agreement in accordance with its terms to render it inapplicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement so that the entering into of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will enable or require the Rights granted thereunder (the "Epitope Stock Purchase Rights") to be exercised, distributed or triggered. Epitope has delivered to STC a true and complete copy of the Epitope Rights Agreement, as amended, in effect as of the date of the execution of this Agreement.
Section 3.24. Employment Agreements. There exists (i) no union, guild or collective bargaining agreement to which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is a party, (ii) no employment, consulting or severance agreement between Epitope or any Subsidiary of Epitope and any Person (except for consulting agreements that individually, and in the aggregate, are not material to Epitope), and (iii) no employment, consulting, severance or indemnification agreement or other agreement or plan to which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is a party that would be altered or result in any bonus, golden parachute, severance or other payment or obligation to any Person, or result in any acceleration of the time of payment or in the provision or vesting of any benefits, as a result of the execution or performance of this Agreement or as a result of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.25. Transactions With Directors, Officers and Affiliates. Except for any of the following matters which would not be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 402 or Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), since September 30, 1999, there have been no transactions between Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries and any director, officer, employee, stockholder or "Affiliate" (as identified pursuant to Section 8.8 hereof) of Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, loans, guarantees or pledges to, by or for Epitope or any of Epitope's Subsidiaries from, to, by or for any of such Persons. Since September 30, 1999, none of the officers or directors of Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries, and no spouse or relative of any of such Persons, has been a director or officer of, or has had any material direct or indirect interest in, any Person which during such period has been a supplier, customer or sales agent of Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries or has competed with or been engaged in any business of the kind being conducted by Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.26. Material Contracts. Schedule 3.26 delivered to STC by Epitope prior to the execution of this Agreement lists all material contracts and agreements to which, as of the date hereof, Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is a party or by which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary is bound or under which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary has or may acquire any rights, which were not filed prior to the date hereof as exhibits to Epitope Commission Filings, which involve or relate to (i) obligations of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary for borrowed money or other indebtedness where the amount of such obligations exceeds $250,000 individually, (ii) the lease by Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, as lessee or lessor, of real property for rent of more than $250,000 per annum, (iii) the purchase or sale of goods (other than raw material to be purchased by Epitope on terms that are customary and consistent with the past practice of Epitope and in amounts and at prices substantially consistent with past practices of Epitope) or services with an aggregate minimum purchase price of more than $250,000 per annum, (iv) rights to manufacture and/or distribute any product which accounted for more than $250,000 of the consolidated revenues of Epitope and its Subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 or under which Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary received or paid license or other fees in excess of $250,000 during any year, (v) the purchase or sale of assets or properties not in the ordinary course of business having a purchase price in excess of $250,000, (vi) the right (whether or not currently exercisable) to use, license (including any "in-license" or "outlicense"), sublicense or otherwise exploit any intellectual property right or other proprietary asset of Epitope or of any of Subsidiary of Epitope or any other Person which, when considered together with all such other rights, is material to Epitope; (vii) any material collaboration or joint venture or similar arrangement; (viii) the restriction on the right or ability of Epitope or any Subsidiary of Epitope (A) to compete with any other Person, (B) to acquire any product or other asset or any services from any other Person, (C) to solicit, hire or retain any Person as an employee, consultant or independent contractor, (D) to develop, sell, supply, distribute, offer, support or service any product or any technology or other asset to or for any other Person, (E) to perform services for any other Person, or (F) to transact business or deal in any other manner with any other Person; (ix) any currency hedging; or (x) individual capital expenditures or commitments in excess of $250,000. All such contracts and agreements are duly and validly executed by Epitope or such Epitope Subsidiary, and are in full force and effect. Neither Epitope nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any contract or agreement, and, to the knowledge of Epitope, no other Person has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any contract or agreement, which violation, breach or default (alone or in combination with other violations, breaches or defaults under such contract or agreement or under other contracts or agreements) has had or may reasonably be expected to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which, after notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a default by Epitope or any Subsidiary of Epitope under any contract or agreement or give any Person the right to (A) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any contract or agreement, (B) receive or require a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any contract or agreement, (C) accelerate the maturity or performance of any contract or agreement, or (D) cancel, terminate or modify any contract or agreement, in each case which, together with all other events of the types referred to in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of this sentence has had or may reasonably be expected to have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect. All such contracts and agreements will continue, after the Effective Time, to be binding in all material respects in accordance with their respective terms until their respective expiration dates.
Section 3.27. Certain Business Practices. Neither Epitope, nor to the
Knowledge of Epitope any director, officer, agent or employee of Epitope, has
(i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful
payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign
or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (iii) made any other
unlawful payment.
Section 3.28. Insurance. Epitope has made available to STC a summary of all
material insurance policies and all material self insurance programs and
arrangements relating to the business, assets and operations of Epitope and its
Subsidiaries. Each of such insurance policies is in full force and effect.
Since September 30, 1999, neither Epitope nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible (i)
cancellation or invalidation of any material insurance policy, (ii) refusal of
any coverage or rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy, or
(iii) material adjustment in the amount of the premiums payable with respect to
any insurance policy. There is no pending workers' compensation or other claim
under or based upon any insurance policy of Epitope or any of its Subsidiaries
other than claims incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Section 3.29. Product Information.
(a) Non-Exempt Products. The products of Epitope listed on Section 3.29(a) of the Disclosure Schedule (the "Epitope Non-Exempt Products") are subject to the premarket approval requirements of the Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and all premarketing approval letters received from Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") are identified on Section 3.29(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(i) All Epitope Non-Exempt Products and all modifications or changes to any Non-Exempt Product are in compliance in all material respects with the premarketing and postmarking regulatory controls of the Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
(ii) All pre-market notification submissions and any supplementary materials submitted therewith are accurate in all material respects and each of the Epitope Non-Exempt Products is suitable for its intended use.
(iii) During the five-year period prior to the date hereof, there have been no adverse actions taken by the FDA or any other Governmental Entity involving Non-Exempt Products including, without limitation any recalls of any Epitope Non-Exempt Product. For Epitope Non-Exempt Products, Epitope maintains a system designed to keep records of complaints. There are no current recalls or, to Epitope's or Epitope Knowledge, threatened recalls of any Epitope Non-Exempt Product.
(iv) All Epitope Non-Exempt Products are manufactured in all material respects in accordance with the good manufacturing practices regulations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. All contract manufacturers and contract sterilizers have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, and are now registered with the Food and Drug Administration and all facilities used in the manufacture and sterilization of Epitope Non-Exempt Products have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, and are now in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Food and Drug Administration.
(v) No Epitope Non-Exempt Products have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, or are now misbranded.
(vi) During the five-year period prior to the date hereof, for all Epitope Non-Exempt Products, Epitope has either submitted to the Food and Drug Administration all written information disseminated on new uses in a supplemental application or submitted an application for an exemption from submission of a supplemental application.
(b) Neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has any Knowledge of any current investigations by any Governmental or Regulatory including, without limitation, the Food and Drug Administration regarding Epitope or any products of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary.
Section 3.30. Product Liability Claims. During the three-year period preceding the date hereof, neither Epitope nor any Epitope Subsidiary has ever been notified of or received a claim, informally or in a legal action filed with a court, arbitrator, mediator or with any other adjudicatory body or incurred any uninsured or insured liability, in the form of a judgment, settlement or other payment or required activity or inactivity, for or based upon breach of product warranty (other than warranty service and repair claims in the ordinary course of business not material in amount of significance), strict liability in tort, negligent design or manufacture of product, negligent provision of instructions, warnings or services, fraudulent representations, deceptive trade practices or any other allegation of liability, concerning a personal injury (whether physical or emotional distress) or resulting in product recalls, arising from the materials, design, testing, manufacture, packaging, labeling (including instructions for use) or sale of its products or from the provision of services (hereafter collectively referred to as "Product Liability"). To the knowledge of Epitope, no basis for any claim based upon alleged Product Liability exists which would have an Epitope Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STC
Except as disclosed in the STC Disclosure Schedule delivered to Epitope separately prior to, or contemporaneously with, the date hereof (each section or subsection of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant to the extent specified therein), STC represents and warrants to Epitope that:
Section 4.1. Corporate Existence and Power. STC is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all corporate powers required to carry on its business as now conducted. STC is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect. STC has heretofore made available to Epitope true and complete copies of STC's certificate of incorporation and bylaws as currently in effect.
Section 4.2. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by STC of this Agreement and the consummation by STC of the transactions contemplated hereby are within STC's corporate powers and, except for the STC Stockholder Approval (as defined herein), have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action. Assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Epitope, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of STC, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to or affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 4.3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by STC of this Agreement and the consummation by STC of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity other than (a) the filing of (i) the Articles of Merger in accordance with the Oregon Law, (ii) the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the Delaware Law, and (iii) appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states or jurisdictions in which STC or any STC Subsidiary is qualified to do business; (b) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act by stockholders of STC who will acquire the Surviving Corporation Common Stock with a value in excess of $15 million as a result of the Mergers and who do not have an exemption from the HSR Act therefor; (c) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (d) such as may be required under any applicable state securities or blue sky laws; and (e) such other consents, approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings that, if not obtained or made, would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect or (assuming for this purpose that the Effective Time had occurred) a Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect, or (y) prevent or materially impair the ability of STC to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by STC of this Agreement and the consummation by STC of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with STC's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.3, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any law, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to STC, (c) constitute a default under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of STC or any STC Subsidiary or to a loss of any benefit or status to which STC is entitled under any provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument binding upon STC or any STC Subsidiary or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization held by STC, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of STC other than, in the case of each of (b), (c) and (d), any such items that would not, individually or in the aggregate (x) be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect or (y) prevent or materially impair the ability of STC to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.5. Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of STC consists of 6,000,000 shares of STC Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares of STC Preferred Stock. At the close of business on May 5, 2000, (i) 2,388,798 shares of STC Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) stock options ("STC Stock Options") and warrants ("STC Warrants") to purchase an aggregate of 187,477 shares of STC Common Stock were issued and outstanding (of which options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 60,060 shares of STC Common Stock were exercisable), (iii) 783,548 shares of STC Common Stock were held in its treasury, (iv) 1,080,061 shares of STC Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, and (v) stock options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 0 shares of STC Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding (of which options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 0 shares of STC Preferred Stock were exercisable). All outstanding shares of capital stock of STC have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) As of the date hereof, except (i) as set forth in this Section 4.5, (ii) and (ii) for changes since December 31, 1999, resulting from the exercise of stock options outstanding on such date, there are no outstanding (x) shares of capital stock or other voting securities of STC, (y) securities of STC convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of STC, or (z) options or other rights to acquire from STC, and no obligation of STC to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of STC (the items in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being referred to collectively as the "STC Securities"). There are no outstanding obligations of STC or any STC Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any STC Securities. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of STC to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person. There are no stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which STC is a party, or of which STC is aware, relating to voting, registration or disposition of any shares of capital stock of STC or granting to any person or group of persons the right to elect, or to designate or nominate for election, a director to the board of directors of STC.
Section 4.6. Subsidiaries. STC does not have any subsidiaries and does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any stock or equity interest in any corporation or other Person.
Section 4.7. Financial Statements; No Material Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The audited consolidated balance sheets of STC as of December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, together with the related audited statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended and the notes thereto and the unaudited balance sheet of STC as of February 29, 2000, together with the related unaudited statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the period then ended (the "STC Financial Statements") fairly present in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and except that the unaudited interim financial statements do not contain all GAAP notes to such financial statements), the financial position of STC as of the dates thereof and its results of operations, stockholders' equity and consolidated cash flows for the periods then ended (subject to normal year-end adjustments in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements).
(b) There are no liabilities of STC of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, in each case, that are required by GAAP to be set forth on a balance sheet of STC, other than:
(i) liabilities or obligations disclosed or provided for in the STC Balance Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto;
(ii) liabilities or obligations under this Agreement or incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(iii) other liabilities or obligations that individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect.
(c) STC keeps proper accounting records in which all material assets and liabilities, and all material transactions, of STC are recorded in conformity with GAAP. No part of STC's accounting system or records, or access thereto, is under the control of a Person who is not an employee of STC.
Section 4.8. Information to be Supplied.
(a) The information to be supplied by STC expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will (i) in the case of the Registration Statement, at the time it becomes effective, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) in the case of the remainder of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, at the time of the mailing thereof, and at the time of the Special Meetings, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply (with respect to information relating to STC) as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, STC makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements made or incorporated by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus based on information supplied by Epitope.
Section 4.9. Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 1999, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, STC has conducted its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and there has not been (a) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the business or assets of STC that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect, (b) any action, event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect or (c) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by STC of any material indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the ordinary course and in amounts and on terms consistent with past practices.
Section 4.10. Litigation. Section 4.10 of the STC Disclosure Schedule contains a list of each action, suit, investigation, arbitration or proceeding pending against, or to the Knowledge of STC threatened against, STC or any of its assets or properties before any arbitrator or Governmental Entity. None of such actions, suits, investigations, arbitrations or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding judgments, decrees, injunctions, awards or orders against STC that would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a STC Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.11. Taxes.
(a) All Tax returns, statements, reports and forms (collectively, the "STC Returns") required to be filed with any taxing authority by, or with respect to, STC have been filed in substantial compliance with all applicable laws.
(b) STC has timely paid all Taxes shown as due and payable on the STC Returns that have been so filed, and all other Taxes not subject to reporting obligations, and as of the time of filing, the STC Returns correctly reflected the facts regarding the income, business, assets, operations, activities and the status of STC (other than Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves are reflected on the STC Balance Sheet).
(c) STC has made provision for all Taxes payable by them for which no STC Return has yet been filed.
(d) The charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect to STC reflected on the STC Balance Sheet are adequate under GAAP to cover the Tax liabilities accruing through the date thereof.
(e) There is no action, suit, proceeding, audit or claim now proposed or pending against or with respect to STC in respect of any Tax that would be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect.
(f) STC has not been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group other than one of which STC was the common parent.
(g) STC does not hold any asset subject to a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code.
(h) The representations and warranties contained in the STC Representation Letter, attached hereto as Exhibit J are true and correct.
Section 4.12. Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 4.12(a) of the STC Disclosure Schedule contains a correct and
complete list identifying each material "employee benefit plan", as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, each employment, severance or similar contract, plan,
arrangement or policy and each other plan or arrangement (written or oral)
providing for compensation, bonuses, profit-sharing, stock option or other
stock related rights or other forms of incentive or deferred compensation,
vacation benefits, insurance coverage (including any self-insured
arrangements), health or medical benefits, disability benefits, workers'
compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits, severance benefits and post-
employment or retirement benefits (including compensation, pension, health,
medical or life insurance benefits) that is maintained, administered or
contributed to by STC or any of its ERISA Affiliates and covers any employee or
former employee of STC or any STC Subsidiary. Copies of such plans (and, if
applicable, related trust agreements) and all amendments thereto and written
interpretations thereof have been furnished, or will be made available upon
request, to Epitope together with the most recent annual report (Form 5500
including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto) and summary plan description
prepared in connection with any such plan. Such plans are referred to
collectively herein as the "STC Employee Plans". For purposes of this Section
4.12, "ERISA Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person which, together
with such Person, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of
the Code.
(b) No STC Employee Plan is now or at any time has been subject to Part 3, Subtitle B of Title I or ERISA or Title IV of ERISA. At no time has STC or any of its ERISA Affiliates contributed to, or been required to contribute to, any "multiemployer plan," as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA (a "Multiemployer Plan"), and neither STC nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has, or ever has had, any liability (contingent or otherwise) relating to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan. To the Knowledge of STC, no condition exists and no event has occurred that would be reasonably likely to constitute grounds for termination of any STC Employee Plan that is a Retirement Plan. To the Knowledge of STC, nothing has been done or omitted to be done and no transaction or holding of any asset under or in connection with any STC Employee Plan has occurred that will make STC or any STC Subsidiary, or any officer or director of STC or any STC Subsidiary, subject to any liability under Title I of ERISA or liable for any tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code (assuming the taxable period of any such transaction expired as of the date hereof) that would be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Each STC Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code now meets, and at all times since its inception have met, the requirements for such qualification, and each trust forming a part thereof is now, and at all times since its inception has been, exempt from tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code. Each such plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such plan is qualified and its related trust is exempt from federal income taxes. STC has furnished, or will make available upon request, to Epitope copies of the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letters with respect to each such STC Employee Plan. Each STC Employee Plan has been maintained and administered in substantial compliance with its terms (except that in any case in which any STC Employee Plan is currently required to comply with a provision of ERISA or of the Code, but is not yet to be amended to reflect such provision, such plan has been maintained and administered in accordance with the provision) and with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such STC Employee Plan. All material reports, returns and similar documents with respect to each STC Employee Plan required to be filed with any governmental agency or distributed to any STC Employee Plan participant have been duly timely filed and distributed.
(d) There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement that, as a result of the Mergers, would be reasonably likely to obligate STC to make any payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to the terms of Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code.
(e) Except as disclosed in writing to Epitope prior to the date hereof, there has been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not written) relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any STC Employee Plan that would increase materially the expense of maintaining such STC Employee Plan above the level of the expense incurred in respect thereof for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.
(f) No STC Employee Plan promises or provides post-retirement medical, life insurance or other benefits due now or in the future to current, former or retired employees of STC or any Subsidiary.
Section 4.13. Compliance with Laws; Licenses, Permits and Registrations.
(a) STC is not in violation of, nor has STC violated, any applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, judgments, injunctions, orders or consent decrees, except for any such violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect.
(b) STC has all permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations of and registrations with and under all federal, state, local and foreign laws, and from all Governmental Entities required by STC to carry on its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to have any such permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations or registrations, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a STC Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14. Title to Properties.
(a) STC has good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its properties and assets except for such as are no longer used or useful in the conduct of its business or as have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business and except for defects in title, easements, restrictive covenants and similar Liens, encumbrances or impediments that do not materially interfere with the ability of STC to conduct its business as currently conducted. All such assets and properties, other than assets and properties in which STC has leasehold interests, are free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens that do not and will not materially interfere with the ability of STC to conduct its business as currently conducted.
(b) STC (i) is in substantial compliance with the terms of all leases to which it is a party and under which it is in occupancy, and all such leases are in full force and effect and (ii) enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases.
Section 4.15. Intellectual Property.
(a) STC owns or has a valid license to use (i) all Marks; (ii) all Patents;
(iii) all Copyrights; (iv) all Rights in Mask Works' and (v) all Trade Secrets;
necessary to (x) carry on the business of STC as currently conducted or as
proposed to be conducted by the Surviving Corporation, to (y) make, have made,
use, distribute and sell all products currently sold by STC and all products in
development.
(b) There are no outstanding and, to STC's Knowledge, no threatened disputes or disagreements with respect to any agreement to which STC is a party, relating to any of STC's Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Rights in Mask Works, or Trade Secrets (collectively, "STC Intellectual Property").
(c) STC is the owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the STC Intellectual Property, free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges, encumbrances, equities, and other adverse claims.
(d) All former and current employees of STC have executed written contracts with STC that assign to STC all rights to any inventions, improvements, discoveries, or information relating to the business of STC. To STC's knowledge, no employee of STC has entered into any contract that restricts or limits in any way the scope or type of work in which the employee may be engaged or requires the employee to transfer, assign, or disclose information concerning his work to anyone other than STC.
(e) All of the Patents are currently in compliance with formal legal requirements (including payment of filing, examination, and maintenance fees and proofs of working or use), are valid and enforceable, and are not subject to any maintenance fees or taxes or actions that have not been paid when due.
(f) STC uses reasonable procedures to keep its Trade Secrets confidential, STC's Trade Secrets have been disclosed only under written agreements that require the recipient to hold such Trade Secrets confidential.
(g) No Patent has been or is now involved in any interference, reissue, reexamination, or opposition proceeding. To STC's Knowledge, there is no potentially interfering patent or patent application of any third party.
(h) No Patent is infringed or, to STC's Knowledge, has been challenged or threatened in any way. To STC's knowledge, none of the products manufactured and sold or proposed to be sold, nor any process or know-how used, by STC infringes or is alleged to infringe any Patent or other proprietary right of any other Person.
(i) STC is not required to make any payments to any third parties in connection with its use of the STC Intellectual Property.
(j) All products made, used, or sold under the Patents have been marked with the proper patent notice.
Section 4.16. Environmental Matters.
(a) To the Knowledge of STC, there has not been, as of the date hereof, any
(i) "release" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(22)) or threat of a "release" of
any "hazardous substances" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(14)) or oil or
other petroleum related products on or about any of the real property owned,
operated or leased by STC ("STC Real Property"), or (ii) release or presence of
any pollutant, contaminant or condition giving rise to a cause of action under
federal, state or local statutory or common law on or about any of the STC Real
Property other than such as would not reasonably be expected to have an STC
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) STC has no contract or agreement or has not otherwise arranged for disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment, of hazardous substances at any "facility" (as defined in 42 U.S.C. (S)9601(9)) owned or operated by another Person.
(c) STC has not accepted any hazardous substances for transport to disposal or treatment facilities or sites selected by STC.
(d) To the Knowledge of STC, the STC Real Property and the use thereof is in material compliance with, and STC is in compliance with, all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity relating to environmental protection, underground storage tanks, toxic waste, hazardous waste, oil or hazardous substance handling, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation, or arranging therefor, respecting any products or materials previously or now located on, or in transit from the STC Real Property, including without limitation the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.
(e) The past disposal practices relating to hazardous substances and hazardous wastes of STC (and its predecessors, if any) have been accomplished in accordance with all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and ordinances.
(f) STC has not been notified of nor, to the Knowledge of STC, is there any basis for any potential liability of STC with respect to the clean-up of any waste disposal site or facility. STC has received no notification to the effect that any site at which STC has disposed of hazardous substances or oil has been or is under investigation by any Governmental Entity.
(g) STC has not received any notification of releases of hazardous substances or oil from any governmental or quasi-governmental agency.
Section 4.17. Finders' Fees; Opinions of Financial Advisor.
(a) Except for BancBoston Robertson Stephens, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary that has been retained by, or is authorized to act on behalf of, STC or who might be entitled to any fee or commission from Epitope or any of its Affiliates upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) STC has received the opinion of BancBoston Robertson Stephens dated as of the date hereof, to the effect that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to STC and the holders of shares of STC Common Stock (other than Merger Sub, any affiliates of Epitope or Merger Sub, or any holders of STC Common Stock who are officers or directors (or who have representatives serving as directors) of STC).
Section 4.18. Required Vote and Waiver; Board Approval.
(a) Assuming satisfaction of the condition set forth in Section 9.3(g), the only vote or waiver of rights of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of STC required by law, rule or regulation to approve and adopt this Agreement and/or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers (collectively, the "STC Stockholder Approval") is the affirmative vote of the holders of more than fifty percent of the outstanding shares of STC Common Stock in favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement and approval of the STC Merger.
(b) STC's Board of Directors has unanimously (i) determined and declared that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Mergers, are advisable and in the best interests of STC and its stockholders, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) resolved to recommend to such stockholders that they vote in favor of adopting and approving this Agreement and the Mergers in accordance with the terms hereof at a special meeting of the stockholders of STC duly held for such purpose (the "STC Stockholders Meeting").
Section 4.19. State Takeover Statutes. STC has taken all actions required to be taken by it in order to exempt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby from the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware Law, and accordingly, such Section does not apply to the Mergers or any of such transactions. No other "control share acquisition," "business combination," "fair price" or other anti-takeover laws or regulations enacted under state or federal laws in the United States apply to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.20. Pooling Matters; Tax Treatment.
(a) STC intends that the Mergers be accounted for under the "pooling of interests" method under the requirements of Opinion No. 16 (Business Combinations) of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and the rules and regulations of the SEC. STC will request a letter addressed to it from Arthur Andersen LLP dated as of the Closing Date, and (if and when obtained) a copy of it will be delivered to Epitope. Such letter (which may contain customary qualifications and assumptions) shall state that Arthur Andersen LLP concurs with STC's management's conclusion that no conditions exist with respect to STC that would preclude the Surviving Corporation from accounting for the Mergers as a "pooling of interests" as described in the first sentence of Section 4.20(a).
(b) Neither STC nor any of its Affiliates has taken or agreed to take, or will take, any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent or impede the Mergers from qualifying (i) for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment as described in Section 4.20(a) above or (ii) as a 368 Reorganization or that would make untrue any representation or warranty contained in the Representation Letter attached as Exhibit J.
Section 4.21. Certain Agreements. Neither STC nor any of its Affiliates (i) are parties to or otherwise bound by any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts STC, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Affiliates from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any locations, and (ii) except in the ordinary course of business, have amended, modified or terminated any material contract, agreement or arrangement of STC or otherwise waived, released or assigned any material rights, claims or benefits of STC thereunder.
Section 4.22. Employment Agreements. There exists (i) no union, guild or collective bargaining agreement to which STC is a party, (ii) no employment, consulting or severance agreement between STC and any Person (except for consulting agreements that individually, and in the aggregate, are not material to STC), and (iii) no employment, consulting, severance or indemnification agreement or other agreement or plan to which STC is a party that would be altered or result in any bonus, golden parachute, severance or other payment or obligation to any Person, or result in any acceleration of the time of payment or in the provision or vesting of any benefits, as a result of the execution or performance of this Agreement or as a result of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.23. Transactions With Directors, Officers and Affiliates. Except for any of the following matters which would not be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 402 or Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Commission (assuming STC was subject to such Items), since December 31, 1999, there have been no transactions between STC or any of its Subsidiaries and any director, officer, employee, stockholder or "Affiliate" (as identified pursuant to Section 8.8 hereof) of STC, including, without limitation, loans, guarantees or pledges to, by or for STC, from, to, by or for any of such Persons. Except for any of the following matters which would not be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 402 or Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Commission (assuming that STC was subject to such Items), since September 30, 1999, none of the officers or directors of STC, and no spouse or relative of any of such Persons, has been a director or officer of, or has had any material direct or indirect interest in, any Person which during such period has been a supplier, customer or sales agent of STC or has competed with or been engaged in any business of the kind being conducted by STC.
Section 4.24. Material Contracts. Schedule 4.24 delivered to Epitope by STC prior to the execution of this Agreement lists all material contracts and agreements to which, as of the date hereof, STC is a party or by which it is bound or under which STC has or may acquire any rights, which involve or relate to (i) obligations of STC for borrowed money or other indebtedness where the amount of such obligations exceeds $250,000 individually, (ii) the lease by STC, as lessee or lessor, of real property for rent of more than $250,000 per annum, (iii) the purchase or sale of goods (other than raw material to be purchased by STC on terms that are customary and consistent with the past practice of STC and in amounts and at prices substantially consistent
with past practices of STC) or services with an aggregate minimum purchase price of more than $250,000 per annum, (iv) rights to manufacture and/or distribute any product which accounted for more than $250,000 of the consolidated revenues of STC during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 or under which STC received or paid license or other fees in excess of $250,000 during any year, (v) the purchase or sale of assets or properties not in the ordinary course of business having a purchase price in excess of $250,000, (vi) the right (whether or not currently exercisable) to use, license (including any "in-license" or "outlicense"), sublicense or otherwise exploit any intellectual property right or other proprietary asset of STC or any other Person which, when considered together with all such other rights, is material to STC; (vii) any material collaboration or joint venture or similar arrangement; (viii) the restriction on the right or ability of STC (A) to compete with any other Person, (B) to acquire any product or other asset or any services from any other Person, (C) to solicit, hire or retain any Person as an employee, consultant or independent contractor, (D) to develop, sell, supply, distribute, offer, support or service any product or any technology or other asset to or for any other Person, (E) to perform services for any other Person, or (F) to transact business or deal in any other manner with any other Person; (ix) any currency hedging; or (x) individual capital expenditures or commitments in excess of $250,000. All such contracts and agreements are duly and validly executed by STC and are in full force and effect. STC has not violated or breached, or committed any default under, any contract or agreement, and, to the Knowledge of STC, no other Person has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any contract or agreement, which violation, breach or default (alone or in combination with other violations, breaches or defaults under such contract or agreement or under other contracts or agreements) has had or may reasonably be expected to have a STC Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which, after notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a default by STC under any contract or agreement or give any Person the right to (A) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any contract or agreement, (B) receive or require a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any contract or agreement, (C) accelerate the maturity or performance of any contract or agreement, or (D) cancel, terminate or modify any contract or agreement, in each case which, together with all other events of the types referred to in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) of this sentence has had or may reasonably be expected to have a STC Material Adverse Effect. All such contracts and agreements will continue, after the Effective Time, to be binding in all material respects in accordance with their respective terms until their respective expiration dates.
Section 4.25. Certain Business Practices. Neither STC nor to the knowledge of STC any director, officer, agent or employee of STC has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, (assuming for purposes of this Section 4.25 that STC is subject to Section 30A of the Exchange Act) or (iii) made any other unlawful payment.
Section 4.26. Insurance. The Company has made available to Epitope a summary
of all material insurance policies and all material self insurance programs and
arrangements relating to the business, assets and operations of STC. Each of
such insurance policies is in full force and effect. Since December 31, 1999,
STC has not received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or
possible (i) cancellation or invalidation of any material insurance policy,
(ii) refusal of any coverage or rejection of any material claim under any
insurance policy, or (iii) material adjustment in the amount of the premiums
payable with respect to any insurance policy. There is no pending workers'
compensation or other claim under or based upon any insurance policy of STC
other than claims incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Section 4.27. Product Information.
(a) Non-Exempt Products. The products of STC listed in Section 4.27(a) of the Disclosure Schedule (the "STC Non-Exempt Products") are subject to the premarket notification (510(k)) requirements of the Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and all marketing clearance/substantial equivalence letters received from the FDA are identified in Section 4.27(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(i) All STC Non-Exempt Products and all modifications or changes to any Non-Exempt Product are in compliance in all material respects with the premarketing and postmarking regulatory controls of the Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
(ii) All pre-market notification submissions and any supplementary materials submitted therewith are accurate in all material respects and each of the STC Non-Exempt Products is suitable for its intended use.
(iii) During the five-year period prior to the date hereof, there have been no adverse actions taken by the FDA or any other Governmental Entity involving Non-Exempt Products including, without limitation any recalls of any STC Non-Exempt Product. For STC Non-Exempt Products, STC maintains a system designed to keep records of complaints. There are no current recalls or, to STC or STC's Knowledge, threatened recalls of any STC Non-Exempt Product.
(iv) All STC Non-Exempt Products are manufactured in all material respects in accordance with the good manufacturing practices regulations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. All contract manufacturers and contract sterilizers have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, and are now registered with the Food and Drug Administration and all facilities used in the manufacture and sterilization of STC Non- Exempt Products have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, and are now in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Food and Drug Administration.
(v) No STC Non-Exempt Products have been, during the five-year period prior to the date hereof, or are now misbranded in any material respect.
(vi) During the five-year period prior to the date hereof, for all STC Non-Exempt Products, STC has either submitted to the Food and Drug Administration all written information disseminated on new uses in a supplemental application or submitted an application for an exemption from submission of a supplemental application.
(b) STC has no Knowledge of any current investigations by any Governmental Entity including, without limitation, the Food and Drug Administration regarding STC or any products of STC.
Section 4.28. Product Liability Claims. During the three-year period preceding the date hereof, STC has never been notified of or received a claim, informally or in a legal action filed with a court, arbitrator, mediator or with any other adjudicatory body or incurred any uninsured or insured liability, in the form of a judgment, settlement or other payment or required activity or inactivity, for or based upon breach of product warranty (other than warranty service and repair claims in the ordinary course of business not material in amount of significance), strict liability in tort, negligent design or manufacture of product, negligent provision of instructions, warnings or services, fraudulent representations, deceptive trade practices or any other allegation of liability, concerning a personal injury (whether physical or emotional distress) or resulting in product recalls, arising from the materials, design, testing, manufacture, packaging, labeling (including instructions for use) or sale of its products or from the provision of services (hereafter collectively referred to as "Product Liability"). To the Knowledge of STC, no basis for any claim based upon alleged Product Liability exists which would have an STC Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERGER SUB
Merger Sub represents and warrants to STC as follows:
Section 5.1. Organization. Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware. Merger Sub is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Epitope. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 120,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.000001 per share. As of the date hereof, 100 shares of Merger Sub common stock are outstanding, all of which are held beneficially and of record by Epitope. There are not now, and immediately prior to the Sam Effective Time, there will be no, options, warrants or other rights to purchase common stock of Merger Sub.
Section 5.2. Corporate Authorization. Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated by this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by each of Merger Sub 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 Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Merger Sub and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Merger Sub, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles.
Section 5.3. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not contravene or conflict with its certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Section 5.4. No Business Activities. Merger Sub has not conducted any activities other than in connection with the organization of Merger Sub, the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Merger Sub has no subsidiaries.
Section 5.5. Taxes.
(a) The representations and warranties contained in the Merger Sub Representation Letter attached hereto as Exhibit O are true and correct.
(b) Merger Sub has not taken or agreed to take, will not take, and is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent or impede the Mergers from qualifying as 368 Reorganizations or that would make untrue any representation or warranty contained in the Officer's Certificate referred to in Section 5.5(a) hereof.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF EPITOPE
Epitope agrees that:
Section 6.1. Epitope Interim Operations. Except as expressly contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement, or as required by any Governmental Entity of
competent jurisdiction, without the prior consent of STC (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), from the date hereof until the
Effective Time, Epitope shall, and shall cause each of the Epitope Subsidiaries
to, conduct their business in all material respects in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
(i) preserve intact its present business organization, (ii) maintain in effect
all material foreign, federal, state and local licenses, approvals and
authorizations, including, without limitation, all material licenses and
permits that are required for Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary to carry on its
business and (iii) preserve existing relationships with its material customers,
lenders, suppliers and others having material business relationships with it.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, or as required by a Governmental
Entity of competent jurisdiction, from the date hereof until the Effective
Time, without the prior consent of STC (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), Epitope shall not, nor shall it permit any Epitope
Subsidiary to:
(a) amend its articles of incorporation or by-laws;
(b) split, combine or reclassify any shares of capital stock of Epitope or any less-than-wholly-owned Epitope Subsidiary or declare, set aside or pay any dividend (except for dividends by any wholly-owned Epitope Subsidiary) or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its securities or any securities of any Epitope Subsidiary;
(c) (i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of its capital stock of any class or any securities convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such capital stock or any such convertible securities, other than (A) a number of shares of capital stock equal to that number of shares underlying options forfeited prior to the Closing by former Epitope employees, pursuant to the Epitope Employee Plans; or (B) Epitope Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options or warrants in accordance with their present terms or upon exercise of options issued pursuant to clause (A) above of this Section 6.1(c)(i); or (ii) amend in any respect any term of any outstanding security of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary;
(d) other than in connection with transactions not prohibited by Section 6.1(e), incur any capital expenditures or any obligations or liabilities in respect thereof, except for those (i) contemplated by the capital expenditure budgets for Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries made available to STC, or (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries and consistent with past practice;
(e) acquire (whether pursuant to cash merger, stock or asset purchase or otherwise) in one transaction or series of related transactions (i) any assets (including any equity interests) having a fair market value in excess of $100,000, or (ii) all or substantially all of the equity interests of any Person or any business or division of any Person having a fair market value in excess of $100,000, but in no event shall the expenditures, commitments, obligations or liabilities made, incurred, or assumed, as the case may be, by Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6.1(d) and 6.1(e) exceed $500,000 in the aggregate;
(f) sell, lease, out-license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any assets, other than (i) sales of finished goods in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) equipment and property no longer used in the operation of Epitope's business and (iii) assets related to discontinued operations of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary;
(g) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness, (ii) issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, (iii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in, any other Person, or (iv) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (which shall include, without limitation, borrowings under Epitope's existing credit agreements and overnight borrowings and loans and advances to wholly-owned Epitope Subsidiaries) guarantee any debt securities or indebtedness of others, in any such case in an amount in excess of $100,000;
(h) (i) enter into any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts Epitope, any Epitope Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates or any successor thereto or that would, after the Effective Time, limit or restrict Epitope, any Epitope Subsidiary or the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Affiliates, from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any location, or (ii) enter into, amend, modify or terminate any material contract, agreement or arrangement of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary or otherwise waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary thereunder; provided, however, that this Section 6.1(h) shall not prevent Epitope from entering into material contracts with customers, suppliers or distributors, so long as such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course and consistent with Epitope's past practice;
(i) (i) except as required by law or a written agreement existing on or prior to the date hereof, increase the amount of compensation of any director or executive officer or make any increase in or commitment to increase any employee benefits, (ii) except as required by law, or a written agreement existing on or prior to the date hereof or a written Epitope severance policy existing as of the date hereof, grant any severance or termination pay to any director, officer or employee of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, (iii) adopt any additional employee benefit plan or, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and containing only normal and customary terms, make any contribution to any such existing plan or (iv) except as may be required by law or a written agreement or written employee benefit plan existing on or prior to the date hereof, or as contemplated by this Agreement, enter into or amend in any respect or accelerate the vesting under any Epitope Employee Plan employment
agreement, option, license agreement or retirement agreements, or (v) hire any employee with an annual base salary in excess of $75,000;
(j) change (x) Epitope's methods of accounting in effect at September 30, 1999, except as required by changes in GAAP or by Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act, as concurred with by its independent public accountants, (y) Epitope's fiscal year, or (z) make any material Tax election, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and containing only normal and customary terms;
(k) (i) settle, propose to settle, or commence any litigation, investigation, arbitration, proceeding or other claim that is material to the business of Epitope and the Epitope Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice of liabilities (x) recognized or disclosed in the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of Epitope included in the Epitope SEC Documents or (y) incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) make any tax election or enter into any settlement or compromise of any tax liability; or
(l) Epitope shall not, and shall not permit any of the Epitope Subsidiaries to, enter into any new line of business;
(m) except to the extent required to comply with its obligations hereunder, or required by law, Epitope shall not amend or propose to so amend its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing documents;
(n) Epitope shall not amend, modify or waive (other than any amendment or waiver required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) any provision of the Epitope Rights Agreement, and shall not take any action to redeem the Epitope Stock Purchase Rights or render the Epitope Stock Purchase Rights inapplicable to any transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement); or
(o) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.
Section 6.2. Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation.
(a) Epitope agrees that it shall not, nor shall it permit any Epitope Subsidiary to, and it shall direct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause any officer, director, employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant, agent or other advisor or representative of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiary, not to directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage the submission of any Acquisition Proposal for Epitope, (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to or take any other action knowingly to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal for Epitope, (iii) grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of Epitope's equity securities or (iv) enter into any agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal for Epitope. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Epitope or its Board of Directors shall be permitted to (A) to the extent applicable, comply with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal for Epitope, (B) in response to an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal for Epitope by any Person, recommend approval of such an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal for Epitope to its stockholders or effect an Adverse Change in the Epitope Recommendation, or (C) engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person in response to an unsolicited bona fide Acquisition Proposal for Epitope by any such Person, if and only to the extent that Epitope (including for this purpose, if authorized by Epitope, all Epitope Subsidiaries or any officer, director, employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant, agent or other advisor or representative of Epitope or any Epitope Subsidiaries) have not violated in any material respect any of the restrictions contained in Section 6.2(a) and, in any such case as is referred to in clause (B) or (C), (i) the Epitope Stockholders Meeting shall not have occurred, (ii) the Epitope Board of Directors (x) in the case of clause (B) above, concludes in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and counsel, and taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Acquisition Proposal, and the nature of the Person making the Acquisition Proposal, that such written Acquisition Proposal for
Epitope constitutes a Superior Proposal, and provides written notice of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(e) (provided that such termination shall not be effective until such time as Epitope makes the payment to STC contemplated by Section 10.2(b))or (y) in the case of clause (C) above concludes in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and counsel, and taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Acquisition Proposal, and the nature of the Person making the Acquisition Proposal, that such Acquisition Proposal for Epitope would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, (iii) prior to providing any information or data to any Person in connection with an Acquisition Proposal for Epitope by any such Person, the Epitope Board of Directors receives from such Person an executed confidentiality agreement containing confidentiality terms at least as stringent as those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Epitope and STC dated as of March 23, 2000 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), and (iv) prior to providing any information or data to any Person or entering into discussions or negotiations with any Person, Epitope notifies STC promptly of such inquiries, proposals or offers received by, any such information requested from, or any such discussions or negotiations sought to be initiated or continued with, it, its subsidiaries, its or its subsidiaries' officers or directors, or any of its agents or representatives indicating, in connection with such notice, the name of such Person and the material terms and conditions of any inquiries, proposals or offers and shall furnish only information and data that has been previously furnished to STC. Epitope will provide STC with a copy of any written Acquisition Proposal or amendments or supplements thereto, and shall thereafter inform STC on a prompt basis of any changes to the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal. Epitope will take the necessary steps to inform promptly the individuals or entities referred to in the first sentence of this Section 6.2(a) of the obligations undertaken in this Section 6.2.
(b) "Superior Proposal" means a written proposal made by a Person other than
STC which is for (I)(i) a merger, reorganization, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or
similar transaction involving Epitope as a result of which either (A) Epitope's
stockholders prior to such transaction (by virtue of their ownership of
Epitope's shares) in the aggregate cease to own at least 50% of the voting
securities of the entity surviving or resulting from such transaction (or if
there is an ultimate parent entity of such surviving or resulting entity, then
of such ultimate parent entity) or (B) the individuals comprising the board of
directors of Epitope prior to such transaction do not constitute a majority of
the board of directors of the surviving or resulting entity (or, if there is an
ultimate parent entity of such surviving or resulting entity, then of such
ultimate parent entity), (ii) a sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other
disposition of at least 50% of the assets of Epitope and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,
or (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by a Person of beneficial
ownership of 50% or more of the Epitope Common Stock whether by merger,
consolidation, share exchange, business combination, tender or exchange offer
or otherwise (other than a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business
combination, tender or exchange offer or other transaction upon the
consummation of which Epitope's stockholders would in the aggregate
beneficially own greater than 60% of the voting securities of such Person), and
which is (II) otherwise on terms which the board of directors of Epitope in
good faith concludes (after consultation with its financial advisors and
outside counsel and upon receipt of advice from its financial advisors), taking
into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other
aspects of the proposal and the nature of the Person making the proposal, (i)
would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to its
stockholders (in their capacities as stockholders), from a financial point of
view, than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (after giving
effect, for purposes of clause (ii) of Section 10.1(e), to any revised proposal
made by STC prior to the end of the three Business-Day period referred to in
Section 10.1(e)), and (ii) is reasonably capable of being completed; provided,
however, that any such Acquisition Proposal shall not be deemed a Superior
Proposal if any financing required to consummate the transaction contemplated
by such Acquisition Proposal is not committed in writing as of the time the
Epitope Board makes its determination that it is a Superior Proposal.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF STC
STC agrees that:
Section 7.1. STC Interim Operations. Except as expressly contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement, or as required by any Governmental Entity of
competent jurisdiction, without the prior consent of Epitope (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), from the date hereof until the
Effective Time, STC shall conduct its business in all material respects in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to (i) preserve intact its present business organization,
(ii) maintain in effect all material foreign, federal, state and local
licenses, approvals and authorizations, including, without limitation, all
material licenses and permits that are required for STC to carry on its
business and (iii) preserve existing relationships with its material customers,
lenders, suppliers and others having material business relationships with it.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, or as required by a Governmental
Entity of competent jurisdiction, from the date hereof until the Effective
Time, without the prior consent of Epitope (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), STC shall not:
(a) amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws;
(b) split, combine or reclassify any shares of capital stock of STC or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property, or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its securities;
(c) (i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize the issuance, delivery or
sale of, any shares of its capital stock of any class or any securities
convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to
acquire, any such capital stock or any such convertible securities, other
than (A) a number of shares of capital stock equal to that number of shares
underlying options forfeited prior to the Closing by former STC employees,
pursuant to the STC Employee Plans, (B) STC Common Stock upon the exercise
of stock options or warrants in accordance with their present terms or upon
exercise of options issued pursuant to clause (A) of this Section
7.1(c)(i); or (C) STC Common Stock upon the conversion of the STC Notes; or
(ii) amend in any respect any term of any outstanding security of STC;
(d) other than in connection with transactions not prohibited by Section 7.1(e), incur any capital expenditures or any obligations or liabilities in respect thereof, except for those (i) contemplated by the capital expenditure budgets for STC made available to Epitope, or (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business of STC and consistent with past practice;
(e) acquire (whether pursuant to cash merger, stock or asset purchase or otherwise) in one transaction or series of related transactions (i) any assets (including any equity interests) having a fair market value in excess of $100,000, or (ii) all or substantially all of the equity interests of any Person or any business or division of any Person having a fair market value in excess of $100,000, but in no event shall the expenditures, commitments, obligations or liabilities made, incurred or assumed, as the case may be, by STC pursuant to Sections 7.1(d) and 7.1(e) exceed $500,000 in the aggregate;
(f) sell, lease, out-license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any assets, other than (i) sales of finished goods in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) equipment and property no longer used in the operation of STC's business and (iii) assets related to discontinued operations of STC or any STC Subsidiary;
(g) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness, (ii) issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of STC, (iii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in, any other Person, or (iv) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (which exception shall include, without limitation, borrowings under STC's existing credit agreements and overnight borrowings) guarantee any debt securities or indebtedness of others in any such case in an amount in excess of $100,000;
(h) (i) enter into any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts STC or any of its Affiliates or any successor thereto or that would, after the Effective Time, limit or restrict STC or the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Affiliates, from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any location, or (ii) enter into, amend, modify or terminate any material contract, agreement or arrangement of STC or otherwise waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of STC thereunder; provided, however, that this Section 7.1(h) shall not prevent STC from entering into material contracts with customers, suppliers or distributors, so long as such contracts are entered into in the ordinary course and consistent with STC's prior practice;
(i) (i) except as required by law or a written agreement existing on or prior to the date hereof, increase the amount of compensation of any director or executive officer or make any increase in or commitment to increase any employee benefits, (ii) except as required by law, a written agreement existing on or prior to the date hereof, or a written STC severance policy existing as of the date hereof, grant any severance or termination pay to any director, officer or employee of STC or, (iii) adopt any additional employee benefit plan or, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and containing only normal and customary terms, make any contribution to any existing such plan or (iv) except as may be required by law or a written agreement or written employee benefit plan existing on or prior to the date hereof, or as contemplated by this Agreement, enter into, amend in any respect, or accelerate the vesting under any STC Employee Plan, employment agreement, option, license agreement or retirement agreements, or (v) hire any employee with an annual base salary in excess of $75,000;
(j) change (x) STC's methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 1999 except as required by changes in GAAP, as concurred with by its independent public accountants, (y) STC's fiscal year, or (z) make any material Tax election, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and containing only normal and customary terms;
(k) (i) settle, propose to settle or commence, any litigation, investigation, arbitration, proceeding or other claim that is material to the business of STC, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice of liabilities (x) recognized or disclosed in the STC Financial Statements (or the notes thereto) or (y) incurred since the date of such Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) make any Tax election or enter into any settlement or compromise of any Tax liability;
(l) enter into any new material line of business;
(m) except to the extent required to comply with its obligations hereunder or required by law, STC shall not amend or propose to so amend its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing documents; or
(n) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.
Section 7.2. Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation. STC agrees that it shall not, and it shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any officer, director, employee, investment banker, attorney, accountant, agent or other advisor or representative of STC, not to directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage the submission of any Acquisition Proposal for STC, (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or take any other action knowingly to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal for STC, (iii) grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of STC equity securities or (iv) enter into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal for STC.
ARTICLE VIII
COVENANTS OF STC AND EPITOPE
The parties hereto agree that:
Section 8.1. Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each party will use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
Section 8.2. Certain Filings; Cooperation in Receipt of Consents; Listing. As promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, STC and Epitope shall prepare and Epitope shall file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included as Epitope's prospectus. Each of STC and Epitope shall use all reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby. Each of STC and Epitope shall mail the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to their respective stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act and, if necessary, after the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall have been so mailed, promptly circulate amended, supplemental or supplemented proxy material, and, if required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies. Epitope and STC shall take any action (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or to file a general consent to service of process) required to be taken under any applicable state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in the Mergers.
(a) No amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be made by STC or Epitope without the approval of the other party, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each party will advise the other party, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of (i) the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, (ii) the issuance of any stop order, (iii) the suspension of the qualification of the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock issuable in connection with the Mergers for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or (iv) any request by the SEC for amendment of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information, in each case, whether orally or in writing. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, STC or Epitope discovers any information relating to either party, or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or directors, that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, so that such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other party hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with respect thereto, and with respect to the Registration Statement, as the case may be, with the SEC and, to the extent required by law or regulation, disseminated to the stockholders of STC or Epitope.
(b) STC and Epitope shall cooperate with one another in (i) determining whether any other action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required, or any actions, consents, approvals or waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any material contracts, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) seeking any such other actions, consents, approvals or waivers or making any such filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith and seeking promptly to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers, (iii) setting a mutually acceptable date for the Special Meetings, so as to enable them to occur, to the extent practicable, on the same date, and (iv) taking all lawful action to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the requisite votes to approve and adopt this Agreement, the Mergers and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement. The Board of Directors of Epitope shall, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, declare the
advisability of and recommend adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement by the stockholders of Epitope, and shall not, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, withdraw, modify or materially qualify in any manner adverse to STC such recommendation or take any action or make any statement in connection with the Epitope Stockholder Meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation (any such withdrawal, modification, qualification or statement (whether or not required), an "Adverse Change in the Epitope Recommendation"). The Board of Directors of STC shall, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, declare the advisability of and recommend adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement by the stockholders of STC, and shall not, subject to its fiduciary duties under applicable law, withdraw, modify or materially qualify in any manner adverse to Epitope to such recommendation or take any action or make any statement in connection with the STC Stockholders Meeting materially inconsistent with such recommendation (any such withdrawal, modification, qualification or statement (whether or not required), an "Adverse Change in the STC Recommendation").
(c) Each party shall permit the other party to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Entity or, in connection with any proceeding by a private party, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by the applicable Governmental Entity or other Person, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences, in each case in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Epitope and STC agree to use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of shares of Epitope Common Stock and STC Common Stock in accordance with this Agreement, the Articles of Merger and the Certificates of Merger to be approved for listing upon issuance on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Section 8.3. Headquarters. The parties intend that, by January 1, 2001, the Surviving Corporation shall maintain its principal corporate offices and headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Section 8.4. Public Announcements. Epitope and STC shall use reasonable best efforts to develop a joint communications plan and each party shall use reasonable best efforts (i) to ensure that all press releases and other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consistent with such joint communications plan, and (ii) unless otherwise required by applicable law or by obligations pursuant to any rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, to consult with each other before issuing any press release or, to the extent practical, otherwise making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 8.5. Access to Information; Notification of Certain Matters.
(a) From the date hereof until the Effective Time and subject to applicable
law, STC and Epitope shall (i) give to the other party, its counsel, financial
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives reasonable access
during normal business hours to the offices, properties, books, records,
contracts, commitments, officers and employees and all other information
concerning it and its business, properties, assets, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of such party, (ii) consistent with its legal
obligations, furnish or make available to the other party, its counsel,
financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives such
financial and operating data and other information as such Persons may
reasonably request and (iii) instruct its employees, counsel, financial
advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives to cooperate with the
reasonable requests of the other party in its investigation. Any investigation
pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be conducted in such manner as not to
interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the other party.
Unless otherwise required by law, each of Epitope and STC will hold, and will
cause its respective officers, employees, counsel, financial advisors, auditors
and other authorized representatives to hold, any nonpublic information
obtained in any such investigation in confidence in accordance with Section
8.9. No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this
Section 8.5 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty
made by any party hereunder.
(b) Each party hereto shall give prompt notice to each other party hereto of:
(i) the receipt by such party or any of such party's Subsidiaries of any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(ii) the receipt by such party or any of such party's Subsidiaries of any notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iii) such party's obtaining Knowledge of any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting any of STC or Epitope, as the case may be, or any Epitope Subsidiary which relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iv) such party's obtaining Knowledge of the occurrence, or failure to
occur, of any event which occurrence or failure to occur will be likely to
cause (A) any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement o be
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect, or (B) any material failure
of any party to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement
o be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided,
however, that no such notification shall limit or otherwise affect the
representations, warranties, obligations or remedies of the parties to the
conditions to the obligations of the parties hereunder.
Section 8.6. Further Assurances. At and after the STC Effective Time or Epitope Effective Time, as the case may be, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Epitope, STC or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of Epitope, STC or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of STC, Epitope or Merger Sub acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with the Mergers.
Section 8.7. Tax and Accounting Treatment.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, each party shall cooperate with the other party and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Mergers to qualify as 368 Reorganizations, and will not take any action reasonably likely to cause the Mergers not so to qualify. The Surviving Corporation shall not take any action after the Effective Time that would cause the Mergers not to qualify as 368 Reorganizations.
(b) Each party shall cooperate with the other party and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Mergers to qualify for "pooling of interest" accounting treatment as described in Section 3.21 and Section 4.20, and shall not take any action reasonably likely to cause the Mergers not so to qualify. Epitope shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to STC two letters from Epitope's independent public accountants, one dated approximately the date on which the Registration Statement shall become effective and one dated the Closing Date, each addressed to Epitope and STC, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to STC and customary in scope and substance for comfort letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement. STC shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to Epitope two letters from STC's independent public accountants, one dated approximately the date on which the Registration Statement shall become effective and one dated the Closing Date, each addressed to Epitope and STC, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Epitope and customary in scope and substance for comfort letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.
(c) Each party shall cooperate with the other party and shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the opinions referred to in Sections 9.2(b) and 9.3(b) and in connection therewith, each of Epitope, STC and Merger Sub shall deliver to such counsel customary representation letters substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit I, Exhibit J and Exhibit O (the "Epitope Representation Letter", the "STC Representation Letter", and the "Merger Sub Representation Letter" respectively) or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such counsel.
Section 8.8. Affiliates.
(a) Not less than 45 days prior to the Effective Time, STC shall deliver to Epitope a letter identifying all persons who, in the reasonable judgment of STC, may be deemed at the time this Agreement is submitted for adoption by the stockholders of STC, "affiliates" of STC for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act or for purposes of qualifying the Mergers for pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and such list shall be updated as necessary to reflect changes from the date hereof. STC shall use reasonable best efforts to cause each Person identified on such list to deliver to Epitope not less than 30 days prior to the STC Effective Time, a written agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit K hereto (a "STC Affiliate Agreement").
(b) Not less than 45 days prior to the Effective Time, Epitope shall deliver to STC a letter identifying all persons who, in the reasonable judgment of Epitope, may be deemed at the time this Agreement is submitted for adoption by the stockholders of Epitope, "affiliates" of Epitope for purposes of qualifying the Mergers for pooling of interests accounting treatment under Opinion 16 of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations, and such list shall be updated as necessary to reflect changes from the date hereof. Epitope shall use reasonable best efforts to cause each person identified on such list to deliver to Epitope not less than 30 days prior to the Effective Time, a written agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit L (an "Epitope Affiliate Agreement").
(c) The Surviving Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to publish no later than 90 days after the end of the first month after the Effective Time in which there are at least 30 days of combined operations following the Mergers (which month may be the month in which the Effective Time occurs), combined sales and net income figures as contemplated by and in accordance with the terms of SEC Accounting Series Release No. 135.
Section 8.9. Confidentiality.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time and after any termination of this Agreement each party hereto will hold, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors, affiliates (as such term is used in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and representatives (collectively, the "Representatives"), to hold, in confidence all confidential documents and information concerning the other parties hereto and its Subsidiaries furnished to such party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, all analyses, compilations, studies or records prepared by the party receiving the information or by such party's Representatives, that contain or otherwise reflect or are generated from such information (collectively, the "Confidential Material"). The party furnishing any Confidential Material is herein referred to as the "Delivering Company" and the party receiving any Confidential Material is herein referred to as the "Receiving Company."
(b) The Receiving Company agrees that the Confidential Material will not be used other than for the purpose of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that such information will be kept confidential by the Receiving Company and its Representatives; provided, however, that (i) any of such information may be disclosed to the Representatives who need to know such information for the purpose described above (it being understood that (a) each such Representative shall be informed by the Receiving Company of the confidential nature of such information, shall be directed by the Receiving Company to treat such information confidentially and not to use it other than for the purpose described above and shall agree to be bound by the terms of this Section 8.9, and (b) in any event, the Receiving Company shall be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by any of its Representatives), and (ii) any other disclosure of such information may be made if the Delivering Company has, in advance, consented to such disclosure in writing. The Receiving Company will make all reasonable, necessary and appropriate efforts to safeguard the Confidential Material from disclosure to anyone other than as permitted hereby.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Receiving Company or any of its Representatives is requested or required (by oral question or request for information or documents in legal proceedings, interrogatories, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any Confidential Material, the Receiving
Company will promptly notify the Delivering Company of such request or requirement so that the Delivering Company may seek an appropriate protective order and/or waive the Receiving Company's compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the Receiving Company or any of its Representatives is nonetheless, in the reasonable written opinion of the Receiving Company's counsel, compelled to disclose Confidential Material to any tribunal, the Receiving Company or such Representative, after notice to the Delivering Company, may disclose such information to such tribunal. The Receiving Party shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Material so disclosed. The Receiving Company or such Representative shall not be liable for the disclosure of Confidential Material hereunder to a tribunal compelling such disclosure unless such disclosure to such tribunal was caused by or resulted from a previous disclosure by the Receiving Company or any of its Representatives not permitted by this Agreement.
(d) This Section 8.9 shall be inoperative as to particular portions of the
Confidential Material if such information (i) is or becomes generally available
to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Receiving Company
or its Representatives, (ii) was available to the Receiving Company on a non-
confidential basis prior to its disclosure to the Receiving Company by the
Delivering Company or the Delivering Company's Representatives, or (iii)
becomes available to the Receiving Company on a non-confidential basis from a
source other than the Delivering Company or the Delivering Company's
Representatives, provided that such source is not known by the Receiving
Company, after reasonable inquiry, to be bound by a confidentiality agreement
with the Delivering Company or the Delivering Company's Representatives and is
not otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information to the Receiving
Company by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation. The fact that
information included in the Confidential Material is or becomes otherwise
available to the Receiving Company or its Representatives under clauses (i)
through (iii) above shall not relieve the Receiving Company or its
Representatives of the prohibitions of the confidentiality provisions of this
Section 8.9 with respect to the balance of the Confidential Material.
(e) If this Agreement is terminated, each party hereto will, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents to, destroy or deliver to the party from whom such Confidential Material was obtained, upon request, all documents and other materials, and all copies thereof, obtained by such party or on its behalf from any such other parties in connection with this Agreement that are subject to such confidence.
Section 8.10. Benefit Matters. Epitope and STC will work together to design benefit plans to be adopted by the Surviving Corporation for the benefit of its employees as soon as practicable following the Mergers. Until such adoption, the Surviving Corporation shall cause all Epitope Employee Plans and all STC Employee Plans to be maintained in full force and effect.
Section 8.11. Antitrust Matters.
(a) The parties hereto promptly will complete all documents required to be filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in order to permit stockholders who will acquire Surviving Corporation Common Stock with a value in excess of $15 million as a result of the Mergers and who do not have exemption from the HSR Act therefor to comply with the HSR Act and, together with the Persons who are required to join in such filings, will file the same with the appropriate Governmental Entities. The parties hereto promptly will furnish all materials thereafter required by any of the Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over such filings and will take all reasonable actions and file and use all reasonable efforts to have declared effective or approved all documents and notifications with any such Governmental Entities, as may be required under the HSR Act for the consummation of the Mergers.
(b) The parties hereto will use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any antitrust, competition or trade regulatory laws, rules or regulations of any domestic or foreign Governmental Entity ("Antitrust Laws"). If any suit is threatened or instituted challenging the Mergers as violating any Antitrust Law, the parties hereto
will take such action as may be reasonably required (i) by the applicable Governmental Entity in order to resolve such objections as such Governmental Entity may have to such transaction under such Antitrust Law or (ii) by any domestic or foreign court or similar tribunal, in any suit brought by a private party or governmental authority challenging the Merger as violating any Antitrust Law, in order to avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order that has the effect of preventing the consummation of the Merger. Nothing in this Section 8.11 shall require any of Epitope and its Subsidiaries or STC to sell, hold separate or otherwise dispose of or conduct their business in a specified manner, or agree to sell, hold separate or otherwise dispose of or conduct their business in a specified manner, or permit the sale, holding separate or other disposition of, any assets of Epitope, STC or any Epitope Subsidiary or the conduct of their business in a specified manner, whether as a condition to obtaining any approval from a Governmental Entity or any other Person or for any other reason, if such sale, holding separate or other disposition or the conduct of their business in a specified manner is not conditioned on the Closing or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken together, after giving effect to the Mergers.
(c) Each party promptly will inform the others of any material communication from the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice or any other domestic or foreign Governmental Entity regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If any party or any Affiliate thereof receives a request for additional information or documentary material from any such government or authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such party will endeavor in good faith to make, as soon as reasonably practicable and after consultation with the other parties, an appropriate response to such request. Each party hereto promptly will advise the other parties hereto in respect of any understandings, undertakings or agreements which the advising party proposes to make or enter into with the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice or any other domestic or foreign Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 8.12. Exemption From Liability Under Section 16(b).
(a) Provided that STC delivers to the Surviving Corporation the Section 16 Information with respect to STC prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation, or a committee of Non-Employee Directors thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3(d) under the Exchange Act), shall adopt a resolution in advance of the STC Effective Time providing that the receipt by the STC Insiders of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in exchange for shares of STC Common Stock, and of options to purchase Surviving Corporation Common Stock upon assumption and conversion by the Surviving Corporation of options to purchase STC Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in the Section 16 Information, are intended to be exempt from liability pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(b) "Section 16 Information" shall mean information accurate in all respects regarding the STC Insiders, the number of shares of STC Common Stock, or other STC equity securities, deemed to be beneficially owned by each such STC Insider and expected to be exchanged for Surviving Corporation Common Stock in connection with the Mergers.
(c) "STC Insiders" shall mean those officers and directors of STC who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act who are listed in the Section 16 Information.
Section 8.13. Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) The Surviving Corporation agrees to assume the agreements listed in Exhibit M, which agreements will survive the Mergers and will continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time. In the event any claim is asserted or made within such six-year period, all rights to indemnification in respect of any such claim will continue until final disposition thereof. An "Indemnified Party" shall mean any Person who is at the Effective Time or prior thereto has been an employee, agent, director or officer of either STC or Epitope as provided in their respective charters, bylaws or resolutions.
(b) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall indemnify all Indemnified Parties to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law with respect to all acts and omissions arising out of such individuals' services as officers, directors, employees or agents of either STC or Epitope or as trustees or fiduciaries of any plan for the benefit of employees, or otherwise on behalf of, either STC or Epitope, occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In the event any Indemnified Party is or becomes involved in any capacity in any action, proceeding or investigation in connection with any such matter occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will pay as incurred such Indemnified Party's legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) incurred in connection therewith. The Surviving Corporation will pay all expenses, including attorneys' fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided for in this Section 8.13.
(c) The Surviving Corporation will cause to be maintained in effect for not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time directors' and officers' liability insurance covering the directors and officers of STC and Epitope similar in scope and coverage to the directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by STC and Epitope for their directors and officers.
(d) The provisions of this Section 8.13 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Section 9.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The respective obligations of STC, Epitope and Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. Each of the Epitope Stockholder Approval and the STC Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained;
(b) Securities Laws. (i) The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not concluded or withdrawn and (ii) all state securities or blue sky authorizations necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in effect;
(c) Nasdaq Stock Market Listing. The shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued in the Mergers shall have been approved for listing upon issuance on the Nasdaq Stock Market, subject to official notice of issuance;
(d) Antitrust. (i) Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act contemplated by Section 8.11 hereof shall have expired or been earlier terminated and (ii) if required by applicable law, the parties shall have received a decision from the Commission on the European Communities (the "European Commission") under Regulation 4064/89 (with or without the initiation of proceedings under Article 6(1)(c) thereof) that the proposed Mergers and any matters arising therefrom fall within either Article 6.l(a) or Article 6. l(b) of such Regulation and that, in any event, the Mergers will not be referred to any competent authority or dealt with by the European Commission pursuant to Article 9.3 of such Regulation;
(e) Other Regulatory Approvals. Other than the filings provided for by Article II, 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 would have a STC Material Adverse Effect, an Epitope Material Adverse Effect or a Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect, shall have been filed, occurred or been obtained;
(f) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No Laws shall have been adopted or promulgated, and no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by a court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall be in effect, (i) having the effect of making the Mergers illegal or otherwise prohibiting, enjoining or restraining consummation of the Mergers or (ii) which otherwise would reasonably be expected to have a Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect after giving effect to the Mergers; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 9.1(f) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill its obligations pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 8.2 shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, such order or injunction.
(g) Pooling. (i) Epitope shall have received a letter (which may contain customary qualifications and assumptions) from PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to Epitope, stating that PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP concurs with Epitope's management's conclusion that no conditions exist that would preclude the Surviving Corporation from accounting for the Mergers as a "pooling of interests" in conformity with GAAP as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16 and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and such letter shall not have been withdrawn or modified in any material respect and (ii) STC shall have received a letter (which may contain customary qualifications and assumption) from Arthur Andersen LLP dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to STC, stating that Arthur Andersen LLP concurs with STC's management's conclusion that no conditions exist with respect to STC that would preclude the Surviving Corporation from accounting for the Mergers as a "pooling of interests" in conformity with GAAP as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16 and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and such letter shall not have been withdrawn or modified in any material respect.
Section 9.2. Conditions to the Obligations of Epitope and Merger Sub. The obligations of Epitope and Merger Sub to consummate the Mergers are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Epitope and Merger Sub, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following further conditions:
(a) Representations and Covenants. (i) STC shall have performed in all
material respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed
by it at or prior to the time of the filing of the Articles of Merger and
the Certificates of Merger; (ii) the representations and warranties of STC
in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality, STC Material
Adverse Effect or Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect shall be
accurate, and any such representations and warranties that are not so
qualified shall be accurate, in all material respects, as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Effective Time (except for representations and
warranties that address matters only as of a specific date, in which case
such representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, STC
Material Adverse Effect or Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect
shall be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall be true and
correct in all material respects, on and as of such earlier date); and
(iii) Epitope shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief
Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of STC to the foregoing
effect;
(b) Tax Opinion. Epitope shall have received an opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Epitope, on the basis of certain facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, dated as of the date of the filing of the Articles of Merger and the Certificates of Merger, to the effect that the Mergers will qualify for federal income tax purposes as 368 Reorganizations and that each of Epitope, STC and Merger Sub will be a party to a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall be entitled to rely upon representations of officers of Epitope, STC and Merger Sub;
(c) Employment Agreements. The employees identified in Exhibit N hereto shall have executed and delivered to the Surviving Corporation employment agreements in the respective forms delivered to Epitope and Merger Sub on or prior to the date hereof;
(d) Affiliate Agreements. Epitope shall have received from each Person named in the letter referred to in Section 8.8(b) an executed copy of an Epitope Affiliate Agreement and a STC Affiliate Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L and Exhibit M, respectively, to this Agreement;
(e) Fairness Opinion. The opinion described in Section 3.18(b) shall not have been withdrawn or materially modified in an adverse manner;
(f) No Material Adverse Change. There shall have been (i) no material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows or assets, liabilities, business or prospects of STC from the date of the STC Balance Sheet through the Closing Date and (ii) no action taken by the FDA with respect to STC's products, operations or facilities that would be reasonably expected to have a STC Material Adverse Effect;
(g) FDA Action. There shall have been no adverse action taken by the Food and Drug Administration that would, or would be reasonably expected to, prohibit or significantly limit the manufacture, sale, promotion or distribution of any products of STC or the operation of STC; and
(h) Epitope Rights Agreement. The Epitope Stock Purchase Rights shall not have become exercisable or been distributed or triggered.
Section 9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of STC. The obligations of STC to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by STC, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following further conditions:
(a) Representations and Covenants. (i) Epitope shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or prior to the time of the filing of the Articles of Merger and the Certificates of Merger; (ii) the representations and warranties of Epitope and Merger Sub in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality, Epitope Material Adverse Effect or Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect shall be accurate, and any such representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall be accurate, in all material respects, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time (except for representations and warranties which address matters only as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, Epitope Material Adverse Effect or Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct, and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, on and as of such earlier date); and (iii) STC shall have received a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Epitope and Merger Sub to the foregoing effect;
(b) Tax Opinion. STC shall have received an opinion of Pepper Hamilton LLP in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to STC, on the basis of certain facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, dated as of the date of the filing of the Articles of Merger and the Certificates of Merger, to the effect that the Mergers will qualify for federal income tax purposes as 368 Reorganizations and that each of Epitope, STC and Merger Sub will be a party to a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall be entitled to rely upon representations of officers of Epitope, STC and Merger Sub;
(c) Employment Agreements. The employees identified in Exhibit N hereto shall have executed and delivered to the Surviving Corporation employment agreements in the respective forms delivered to STC on or prior to the date hereof;
(d) No Material Adverse Change. There shall have been no material adverse change in the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows or assets, liabilities, business or prospects of Epitope from the date of the Epitope Balance Sheet through the Closing Date;
(e) FDA Action. There shall have been no adverse action taken by the Food and Drug Administration that would, or would reasonably be expected to, prohibit or significantly limit the manufacture, sale, promotion or distribution of any products of Epitope or the operations of Epitope;
(f) Epitope Rights Agreement. The Epitope Stock Purchase Rights shall not have become exercisable or been distributed or triggered; and
(g) STC Preferred Stock. The holders of all shares of STC Preferred Stock shall have converted all of their shares into STC Common Stock.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
Section 10.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by written notice by the terminating party to the other party (except if such termination is pursuant to Section 10.1(a)), notwithstanding approval thereof by the respective stockholders of Epitope and STC:
(a) by mutual written agreement of Epitope and STC;
(b) by either STC or Epitope, if
(i) the Mergers shall not have been consummated by October 31, 2000 (the "Expiration Date"); provided, however, that (x) the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any provision of this Agreement has resulted in the failure of the Mergers to occur on or before the Expiration Date, and (y) such termination shall not limit any obligation to make any payment or reimbursement required under Section 10.2(b);
(ii) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the Mergers illegal or otherwise prohibited or any judgment, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Entity having competent jurisdiction enjoining Epitope, STC or the Merger Sub from consummating the Mergers is entered and such judgment, injunction, judgment or order shall have become final and nonappealable and, prior to such termination, the parties shall have used reasonable best efforts to resist, resolve or lift, as applicable, such law, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree; or
(iii) the holders of Epitope Common Stock do not approve this Agreement.
(c) by Epitope, (i) if there shall have occurred an Adverse Change in the STC Recommendation (or the Board of Directors of STC have resolved or publicly proposed to take such action); (ii) if there shall have occurred a willful and material breach of Section 7.2 by STC or any of its officers, directors, employees, advisors or agents; (iii) if a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of STC set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would cause the condition set forth in Section 9.2(a) not to be satisfied, and such condition shall be incapable of being satisfied or, if capable of being satisfied, shall not have been satisfied within 20 days after written notice thereof shall have been received by STC; (iv) STC shall have failed to include in the Joint Proxy Statement the recommendation of the Board of Directors of STC in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger; (v) the Board of Directors of STC shall have approved, endorsed or recommended any Acquisition Proposal; (vi) a tender or exchange offer relating to securities of STC shall have been commenced and STC shall not have sent to its security holders, within ten business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that STC recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer; or (vii) STC or STC's Board of Directors or any committee thereof shall have resolved to do or permit any of the foregoing;
(d) by STC, (i) if there shall have occurred an Adverse Change in the
Epitope Recommendation (or the Board of Directors of Epitope have resolved
or publicly proposed to take such action); (ii) if there shall have
occurred a willful and material breach of Section 6.2 by Epitope, any
Epitope Subsidiary or any of their respective officers, directors,
employees, advisors or agents; or (iii) if a breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Epitope set forth in this
Agreement shall have occurred that would cause the condition set forth in
Section 9.3(a) not to be satisfied, and such condition is incapable of
being satisfied or, if capable of being satisfied, shall not have been
satisfied within 20 days after written notice thereof shall have been
received by Epitope; (iv) Epitope shall have failed to include in the Joint
Proxy Statement the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Epitope in
favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the approval of
the Merger; (v) the Board of Directors of Epitope shall have approved,
endorsed or recommended any Acquisition Proposal; (vi) a tender or exchange
offer relating to securities of Epitope shall have been commenced and
Epitope shall not have sent to its security holders, within ten business
days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement
disclosing that Epitope recommends rejection of such tender or exchange
offer; or (vii) Epitope or Epitope's Board of Directors or any committee
thereof shall have resolved to do or permit any of the foregoing;
(e) by Epitope at any time prior to its required stockholders approval,
upon three Business Days' prior notice to STC, if the Epitope Board of
Directors shall have determined as of the date of such notice that an
Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal and has entered into (subject
to termination of this Agreement) a definitive agreement for such Superior
Proposal; provided, however, that (i) Epitope shall have complied with
Section 6.2, (ii) the Board of Directors of Epitope shall have concluded in
good faith, as of the effective date of such termination, after taking into
account any revised proposal by STC during such three Business Day period,
that an Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal and (iii) Epitope shall
have made the payment and reimbursement set forth in Section 10.2(b);
(f) automatically if the transactions contemplated herein are enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction for a period extending beyond 90 days;
(g) by STC, if a Share Acquisition Date shall have occurred pursuant to the Epitope Rights Agreement;
(h) by STC, if the Epitope Average Price shall be less than $6.00; or
(i) by STC, if the Epitope meeting of stockholders is canceled or is otherwise not held or if a final vote of Epitope's stockholders has not been taken with respect to the Mergers prior to October 31, 2000, except as a result of a judgment, injunction, order or decree of any competent authority or events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Epitope.
Section 10.2. Effect of Termination.
(a) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Epitope or STC or their respective officers or directors except with respect to the provisions of Sections 8.9, 10.2, 12.1, 12.4, 12.5, 12.10 and 12.11 of this Agreement which provisions shall remain in full force and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement, and except that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither Epitope nor STC shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out of its willful material breach of this Agreement or any obligations under Section 10.2(b).
(b) Epitope agrees to pay STC (A) a fee in immediately available funds equal
to $3,000,000 in the event that this Agreement is terminated by STC pursuant to
clauses (i), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of Section 10.1(d) or pursuant to Section
10.1(i), (B) together with an additional payment of $2,000,000 plus
reimbursement to STC of its reasonable Expenses (as defined in Section 10.3) up
to a maximum amount of $1,000,000, if (x) an Acquisition Proposal had been made
prior to the actions referenced in clauses (i), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of
Section 10.1(d) or Section 10.1(i), and (y) within twelve months following such
termination by STC, Epitope enters into a definitive agreement with the party
that made such Acquisition Proposal. Epitope agrees to (i) pay STC a fee in
immediately available funds equal to $5,000,000, and (ii) to reimburse STC for
its reasonable Expenses (as defined in Section 10.3) up to a maximum amount of
$1,000,000, in the event this Agreement is terminated by Epitope pursuant to
Section 10.1(e), which payment and reimbursement shall be reduced by the amount
of all payments, and reimbursements made by Epitope pursuant to the first
sentence of this Section 10.2(b). The payment of the first $3,000,000 required
by clause (A) of the first sentence of this Section 10.2(b) shall be made not
later than the close of business on the second Business Day after STC has
terminated this Agreement pursuant to the provisions referred to in such
sentence. The combined payment and reimbursement of up to an additional
$3,000,000 required by clause (B) of the first sentence of this Section 10.2(b)
shall be made contemporaneously with entering into a definitive agreement with
the third party that made the Acquisition Proposal referred to in that
sentence. The termination of this Agreement, and the payment and reimbursement
required by the second sentence of this Section 10.2(b) shall be made
contemporaneously with a termination of this Agreement by Epitope.
(c) The remedy provided for in Section 10.2(b) shall be the exclusive remedy
at law or in equity that STC shall have in the event of a termination of this
Agreement (A) by STC pursuant to clauses (i), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of
Section 10.1(d) or Section 10.1(i), or (B) by Epitope pursuant to Section
10.1(e).
(d) Epitope acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 10.2 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements STC would not have entered into this Agreement.
Section 10.3. Fees and Expenses. Except as set forth in this Section 10.2(b), all fees and expenses incurred in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Mergers are consummated. As used in this Agreement, "Expenses" includes all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a party hereto and its affiliates) incurred by a party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the solicitation of stockholder approvals and all other matters related to the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by telecopy or telefacsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, in each case, if on a Business Day, and otherwise on the next Business Day, (b) on the first service, or (c) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:
if to the Surviving Corporation, to the address set forth below for Epitope and STC, including copies;
if to Epitope, to:
Epitope, Inc.
8505 SW Creekside Place
Beaverton, OR 97008
Attention: Robert Thompson, President
and Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to:
Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.
1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2800
Kansas City, MO 64106
Attention: John A. Granda, Esq.
if to STC to:
STC Technologies, Inc.
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Attention: Mike Gausling, President
and Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to:
Pepper Hamilton LLP
1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 400
Berwyn, PA 19312
Attention: Jeffrey P. Libson, Esq.
Section 11.2. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants After the Effective Time. The representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements contained herein and in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements, shall not survive the Effective Time.
Section 11.3. Amendments; No Waivers.
(a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the
Effective Time if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and
signed, in the case of an amendment, by Epitope and STC or in the case of a
waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided that
(i) after the Epitope Stockholder Approval, no such amendment or waiver shall,
without the further approval of such stockholders, be made that would require
such approval under any applicable law, rule or regulation and (ii) after the
STC Stockholder Approval, no such amendment or waiver shall, without the
further approval of such stockholders, be made that would require such approval
under any applicable law, rule or regulation.
(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
Section 11.4. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto, in whole or in part (whether by operation of law or otherwise), without the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempt to make any such assignment 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.
Section 11.5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any principles of conflicts or choice of law.
Section 11.6. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
Section 11.7. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than Section 8.13 (which is intended to be for the benefit of the Persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such Persons).
Section 11.8. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to 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."
Section 11.9. Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 11.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the exhibits and schedules hereto) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 11.11. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction set forth in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not deemed by a party (acting reasonably and in good faith) to be materially adverse to that party. Upon such a determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in order that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
Epitope, Inc.
/s/ Robert D. Thompson By: _________________________________ Name: Robert D. Thompson Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
STC Technologies, Inc.
/s/ Michael J. Gausling By: _________________________________ Name: Michael J. Gausling Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
Edward Merger Subsidiary, Inc.
/s/ Robert D. Thompson By: _________________________________ Name: Robert D. Thompson Title: Chief Executive Officer |
APPENDIX I
DEFINITIONS
"Acquisition Proposal for Epitope" means any offer or proposal for a merger, consolidation, share, exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, liquidation, dissolution, tender offer or exchange offer or other similar transaction or series of transactions involving, or any purchase of 10% or more of the assets, or directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership of securities representing, or exchangeable for or convertible into, more than 10% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of, Epitope or any Significant Subsidiary of Epitope or in which Epitope or any Significant Subsidiary of Epitope issues securities representing 10% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of Epitope or any significant subsidiary of Epitope, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Acquisition Proposal for STC" means any offer or proposal for a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, issuance of securities, liquidation, dissolution, tender offer or exchange offer or other similar transaction or series of transactions involving, or any purchase of 10% or more of the assets, or directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership of securities representing, or exchangeable for or convertible into, more than 10% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of STC or in which STC issues securities representing 10% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of STC, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
"Action" means any action, suit, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity or arbitrator.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including the correlative terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract, or otherwise.
"Articles of Merger" means the Articles of Merger of Epitope with and into Merger Sub, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
"Average Epitope Stock Price" means the average of the closing sales price per share of Epitope Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ on each of the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the third trading day prior to the Determination Date.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or one on which banks are authorized by law to close in the City of New York.
"Certificate of Merger" means either (i) the Certificate of Merger of STC with and into Merger Sub, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, or (ii) the Certificate of Merger of Epitope with and into Merger Sub, in substantially the form of Exhibit E, as the case may be.
"Certificates of Merger" includes both of such Certificates.
"Closing" means the closing of the Mergers contemplated in this Agreement.
"Closing Date" means the date on which the Closing occurs.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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"Consequential Damages" means Damages arising out of any interruption of business, loss of profits, loss of use of facilities, claims of customers, loss of goodwill or any indirect, incidental or special Damages.
"Damages" means all losses, claims, damages, costs, fines, penalties, obligations, payments and liabilities (including those arising out of any Action), together with all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable outside attorneys' fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses) incurred in connection with any of the foregoing.
"Determination Date" means the date on which the last of the following occurs: (i) the effective date (including the expiration of any applicable waiting period by law) of the last required consent or order of any Governmental Entity having authority over and approving or exempting the Merger, and (ii) the date on which the stockholders of both Epitope and STC have approved the Merger.
"Epitope Balance Sheet" means Epitope's consolidated balance sheet included in the Epitope 10-K relating to its fiscal year ended on September 30, 1999.
"Epitope Common Stock" means the common stock of Epitope, no par value per share, including the associated rights (the "Epitope Stock Purchase Rights") to purchase shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of Epitope (the "Epitope Series A Preferred Stock") pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of December 15, 1997, between Epitope and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, as proposed to be amended as contemplated by Section 3.23 hereof (the "Epitope Rights Agreement"). All references in this Agreement to Epitope Common Stock to be received pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed to include the Epitope Stock Purchase Rights.
"Epitope Disclosure Schedule" means the schedule delivered to STC by Epitope pursuant to Article III hereof containing exceptions to the representations and warranties of Epitope set forth in such Article III.
"Epitope SEC Documents" means (i) Epitope's annual report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 (the "Epitope 10-K"), (ii) Epitope's quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the "Epitope 10-Q") for its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1999, (iii) Epitope's proxy or information statements relating to meetings of, or actions taken without a meeting by, Epitope's stockholders held since September 30, 1999, and (iv) all other reports, filings, registration statements and other documents filed by it with the SEC since September 30, 1999.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Agent" means the agent to be agreed upon by Epitope and STC and engaged by the Surviving Corporation to effect the exchange of the Certificates pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
"Governmental Entity" means any federal, state or local governmental authority, any transgovernmental authority or any court, tribunal, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign.
"Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus" means the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement relating to the Special Meetings, together with any amendments or supplements thereto.
"Knowledge" means, with respect to the matter in question, if any of (i) in the case of Epitope or Merger Sub, Robert Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Bergeron, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Andrew S. Goldstein, Senior Vice President, Richard George, Vice President and Chief Science Officer, William D. Block, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and Rob Ngungu, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, and (ii) in the case of STC, Michael J. Gausling, President and Chief Executive Officer, William M. Hinchey, Executive Vice President, R. STC Niedbala, Executive Vice President, and Richard D. Hooper, Chief Financial Officer, has actual knowledge of such matter.
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"Law" means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational, or other judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, constitution, statute, rule, regulation, treaty, ordinance or principle of common law.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, results of operations or prospects of a Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, but shall exclude any material adverse effect arising out of any change or development relating to (i) U.S. or global economic or industry conditions (including, without limitation, conditions applicable generally to the oral specimen collection business), (ii) changes in U.S. or global financial markets or conditions, and/or (iii) any generally applicable change in Law or GAAP or interpretation of any thereof. "Epitope Material Adverse Effect" means a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Epitope, "STC Material Adverse Effect" means a Material Adverse Effect in respect of STC and "Surviving Corporation Material Adverse Effect" means a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Surviving Corporation.
"Merger" or "Mergers" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this Agreement.
"Merger Consideration" means the total number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock issued pursuant to the STC Merger or the Epitope Merger, as the case may be, issued pursuant to Article II, together with any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be paid pursuant to Section 2.1(d)(iv).
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including any Governmental Entity.
"Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement on Form S-4 registering under the Securities Act the Surviving Corporation Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger.
"STC Balance Sheet" means STC's audited balance sheet relating to its fiscal year ended on December 31, 1999.
"STC Common Stock" means the common stock of STC, $0.000001 par value per share, and all references in this Agreement to STC Common Stock shall be deemed to include both the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock of STC.
"STC Common Stock Equivalent" means all rights and options to purchase or acquire STC Common Stock.
"STC Disclosure Schedule" means the schedule delivered to Epitope by STC pursuant to Article IV hereof containing exceptions to the representations and warranties of STC set forth in such Article IV.
"STC Preferred Stock" means the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of STC, $0.000001 par value per share.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that constitutes a "significant subsidiary" of such Person with the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions are directly or indirectly owned by such Person. "Epitope Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of Epitope.
AI-3
"Surviving Corporation Common Stock" means the common stock of Merger Sub, $0.000001 par value per share, including the associated rights (the "Surviving Corporation Stock Purchase Rights") to purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Surviving Corporation (the "Surviving Corporation Series A Preferred Stock") pursuant to the Rights Agreement between the Surviving Corporation and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Surviving Corporation Rights Agreement"). All references in this Agreement to Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be received pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed to include the Surviving Corporation Stock Purchase Rights.
"Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, county, local or foreign taxes, charges, levies, imposts, duties, other assessments or similar charges of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalties and addition imposed thereon or with respect thereto.
In addition to the definitions set forth above, each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:
TERMS Section ----- -------- Adverse Change in the Epitope Recommendation 8.2(b) Adverse Change in the STC Recommendation 8.2(b) Certificates 2.3(a) Confidentiality Agreement 6.2(a) Confidential Material 8.9(a) Delaware Law 2.1(a) Delivering Company 8.9(a) Effective Time 2.2(b) Epitope Preamble Epitope Designees 2.4(d) Epitope Employee Plans 3.13(a) Epitope Intellectual Property 3.16(b) Epitope Preferred Stock 3.5 Epitope Representation Letter 8.7(c) Epitope Returns 3.12 Epitope Securities 3.5(b) Epitope Stockholder Approval 3.19(a) Epitope Stockholders Agreement Recitals Epitope Stockholders Meeting 3.19(b) Epitope Stock Options 3.5(a) Epitope Warrants 3.5(a) ERISA 3.13(a) ERISA Affiliate 3.13(a) European Commission 9.1(d) Exchange Ratio 2.1(e) Expenses 10.3 Expiration Date 10.1(b) GAAP Recitals HSR Act 3.3 Mergers Recitals Merger Consideration 2.1(e) Multiemployer Plan 3.13(b) Oregon Law 2.2(a) Receiving Company 8.9(a) Representatives 8.9(a) STC Preamble |
AI-4
STC Designees 2.4(d) STC Financial Statements 4.7(a) STC Insiders 8.12(c) STC Intellectual Property 4.15(b) STC Representation Letter 8.7(c) STC Returns 4.11(a) STC Securities 4.5(b) STC Stockholder Approval 4.18(a) STC Stockholders Agreement Recitals STC Stockholders Meeting 4.18(b) STC Stock Options 4.5(a) STC Warrants 4.5(a) Section 16 Information 8.12(b) Stockholders Agreements Recitals Superior Proposal 6.2(b) Surviving Corporation 2.1(a) 368 Reorganization Recitals |
AI-5
ANNEX B
[LETTERHEAD OF DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.]
May 6, 2000
The Board of Directors
Epitope, Inc.
8505 SW Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7108
Members of the Board:
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ("Deutsche Bank") has acted as financial
advisor to Epitope, Inc. ("Epitope") in connection with the proposed
transaction involving Epitope and STC Technologies, Inc. ("STC") pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Agreement"), by and
among Epitope, Edward Merger Subsidiary, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Epitope ("Sub"), and STC. As set forth more fully in the Agreement, (i) Epitope
will be merged with and into Sub (the "Epitope Merger") pursuant to which each
outstanding share of the common stock, no par value per share, of Epitope
("Epitope Common Stock") will be converted into one share of the common stock,
par value $0.000001 per share, of Sub ("Sub Common Stock") and (ii) STC will be
merged with and into Sub (the "STC Merger" and, together with the Epitope
Merger, the "Mergers") pursuant to which each outstanding share of the Class A
common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, and Class B common stock, par
value of $0.000001 per share, of STC (collectively, "STC Common Stock") will be
converted into the right to receive that number of shares of Sub Common Stock
determined as follows (the total number of shares of Sub Common Stock to be so
determined and issuable in the STC Merger, the "Exchange Ratio"): (A) if the
Average Epitope Stock Price (as defined in the Agreement) is greater than
$13.00, the quotient of (i) the quotient of (x) $260 million divided by (y) the
Average Epitope Stock Price, divided by (ii) the sum of the number of shares of
STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the STC
Merger and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying outstanding
rights and options to purchase or acquire STC Common Stock ("STC Common Stock
Equivalents"), (B) if the Average Epitope Stock Price is equal to or less than
$13.00, but equal to or more than $10.00, the quotient of 20 million shares
divided by the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the STC Merger and the number of
shares of STC Common Stock underlying outstanding STC Common Stock Equivalents
or (C) if the Average Epitope Stock Price is less than $10.00, the quotient of
(i) the quotient of (x) $200 million divided by (y) the Average Epitope Stock
Price divided by (ii) the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the STC Merger and the
number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying outstanding STC Common Stock
Equivalents; provided that the quotient in clause (C)(i), if in excess of 25
million, will be deemed to be 25 million.
You have requested Deutsche Bank's opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Exchange Ratio to Epitope.
In connection with Deutsche Bank's role as financial advisor to Epitope, and
in arriving at its opinion, Deutsche Bank has reviewed certain publicly
available financial and other information concerning Epitope, certain financial
and other information concerning STC, and certain internal analyses and other
information furnished to or discussed with it by Epitope, STC and their
respective advisors. Deutsche Bank also has held discussions with members of
the senior managements of Epitope and STC regarding the business and prospects
of their respective companies and the joint prospects of a combined company. In
addition, Deutsche Bank has (i) reviewed the reported prices and trading
activity for Epitope Common Stock, (ii) compared certain financial and stock
market information for Epitope and STC with similar information for certain
other companies whose securities are publicly traded, (iii) reviewed the
financial terms of certain recent business combinations which it deemed
comparable in whole or in part, (iv) reviewed the terms of the Agreement and
(v) performed such other studies and analyses and considered such other factors
as it deemed appropriate.
Board of Directors
Epitope, Inc.
May 6, 2000
Deutsche Bank has not assumed responsibility for independent verification of, and has not independently verified, any information, whether publicly available or furnished to it, concerning Epitope, STC or Sub, including, without limitation, any financial information, forecasts or projections considered in connection with the rendering of its opinion. Accordingly, for purposes of its opinion, Deutsche Bank has assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information and Deutsche Bank has not conducted a physical inspection of any of the properties or assets, and has not prepared or obtained any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise), of Epitope or STC. With respect to the financial forecasts and projections relating to Epitope and STC that were made available to Deutsche Bank and used in its analyses, including forecasts of certain synergies expected to be achieved as a result of the Mergers, Deutsche Bank has been advised by the managements of Epitope and STC and has assumed that they have been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the managements of Epitope and STC. Deutsche Bank's opinion is necessarily based upon economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to it as of, the date hereof.
For purposes of rendering its opinion, Deutsche Bank has assumed that, in all respects material to its analysis, the representations and warranties of Epitope, STC and Sub contained in the Agreement are true and correct, Epitope, STC and Sub will each perform all of the covenants and agreements to be performed by it under the Agreement and all conditions to the obligations of each of Epitope, STC and Sub to consummate the Mergers will be satisfied without any waiver thereof. Deutsche Bank also has assumed that all material governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents required in connection with the consummation of the Mergers will be obtained and that in connection with obtaining any necessary governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents, or any amendments, modifications or waivers to any agreements, instruments or orders to which either Epitope or STC is a party or is subject or by which it is bound, no limitations, restrictions or conditions will be imposed or amendments, modifications or waivers made that would have a material adverse effect on Epitope, STC or Sub or materially reduce the contemplated benefits of the Mergers to Epitope. In addition, representatives of Epitope have informed Deutsche Bank, and accordingly for purposes of rendering its opinion Deutsche Bank has assumed, that the Mergers are expected to qualify as tax-free reorganizations for federal income tax purposes and be accounted for as poolings of interests. Deutsche Bank is expressing no opinion as to the price at which Sub Common Stock will trade at any time.
This opinion is addressed to, and for the use and benefit of, the Board of Directors of Epitope and is not a recommendation to any stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote with respect to matters relating to the proposed Mergers. This opinion is limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Exchange Ratio to Epitope. Deutsche Bank expresses no opinion as to the merits of the underlying decision by Epitope to engage in the Mergers.
Deutsche Bank, as a customary part of its investment banking business, is engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. We have acted as financial advisor to Epitope in connection with the Mergers and will receive a fee for our services, a significant portion of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Mergers and a portion of which is payable upon delivery of this opinion. In the ordinary course of business, Deutsche Bank and its affiliates also may actively trade or hold the securities and other instruments and obligations of Epitope for their own account and for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities, instruments or obligations.
Board of Directors
Epitope, Inc.
May 6, 2000
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is Deutsche Bank's opinion that, as of the date of this letter, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of view, to Epitope.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. |
ANNEX C
May 9, 2000
Board of Directors
STC Technologies, Inc.
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018-1799
Members of the Board:
We understand that STC Technologies, Inc. ("STC"), Epitope, Inc. ("Epitope"), and Edward Merger Subsidiary, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Epitope, "Merger Sub") have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement"), dated May 6, 2000, which provides, among other things, for (i) the merger (the "STC Merger") of STC with and into Merger Sub and (ii) the merger (the "Epitope Merger", and together with the STC Merger, the "Merger") of Epitope with and into Merger Sub. Upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"). All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
Under the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock of STC, par value $0.000001 per share ("STC Common Stock") other than certain shares to be canceled pursuant to the Agreement and shares held by stockholders who properly exercise dissenters' rights ("Dissenting Shares"), will be converted into the right to receive shares of the common stock of Surviving Corporation, par value $0.000001 per share ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock") determined by the exchange ratio (the "Exchange Ratio") as follows: (i) if the Average Epitope Stock Price is greater than $13.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of (a) the quotient of (x) $260 million divided by (y) the Average Epitope Stock Price, divided by (b) the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; or (ii) if the Average Epitope Stock Price is equal to or less than $13.00, but equal to or more than $10.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of 20 million shares divided by the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; or (iii) if the Average Epitope Stock Price is less than $10.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be the quotient of (a) the quotient of (x) $200 million divided by (y) the Average Epitope Stock Price, divided by (b) the sum of the number of shares of STC Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger and the number of shares of STC Common Stock underlying STC Common Stock Equivalents; provided, however, that in the event that the quotient in clause (a) of this subsection (iii) exceeds 25 million shares, such quotient shall be deemed to be 25 million shares for the purposes of completing the calculation set forth in this subsection (iii) and; provided further, that in the event that the Average Epitope Stock Price is less than $6.00, STC shall have the right to terminate the Agreement.
The terms and conditions of the Merger are set out more fully in the Agreement.
You have asked us whether, in our opinion, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view and as of the date hereof to STC and the "Holders of STC Common Stock." The "Holders of STC Common Stock" shall be defined as all holders of STC Common Stock other than Epitope, Merger Sub, any affiliates of Epitope or Merger Sub, holders of Dissenting Shares or any holders of STC Common Stock who are officers or directors (or who have representatives serving as directors) of STC.
For purposes of this opinion we have, among other things:
(i) reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other business and financial information of Epitope;
Board of Directors
STC Technologies, Inc.
May 9, 2000
(ii) reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data, including certain financial forecasts and other forward looking information, concerning (a) STC prepared by the management of STC and (b) Epitope prepared by the management of Epitope;
(iii) reviewed certain publicly available estimates of research analysts relating to Epitope;
(iv) held discussions with the respective managements of STC and Epitope concerning the businesses, past and current operations, financial condition and future prospects of both STC and Epitope, independently and combined, including discussions with the managements of STC and Epitope concerning cost savings and other synergies that are expected to result from the Merger as well as their views regarding the strategic rationale for the Merger;
(v) reviewed the financial terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement;
(vi) reviewed the stock price and trading history of Epitope Common Stock;
(vii) compared the financial performance of Epitope and the prices and trading activity of Epitope Common Stock with that of certain other publicly traded companies comparable with Epitope;
(viii) compared the financial performance of STC with that of certain publicly traded companies comparable to STC;
(ix) reviewed the pro forma impact of the Merger on Epitope's earnings per share;
(x) prepared an analysis of the relative contributions of STC and Epitope to the combined company;
(xi) prepared a discounted cash flow analysis of STC and Epitope;
(xii) participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of STC and Epitope and their financial and legal advisors; and
(xiii) made such other studies and inquiries, and reviewed such other data, as we deemed relevant.
In our review and analysis, and in arriving at our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information provided to us (including information furnished to us orally or otherwise discussed with us by managements of STC and Epitope) or publicly available and have neither attempted to verify, nor assumed responsibility for verifying, any of such information. We have relied upon the assurances of the managements of STC and Epitope that they are not aware of any facts that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. Furthermore, we did not obtain or make, or assume any responsibility for obtaining or making, any independent evaluation or appraisal of the properties, assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of STC or Epitope, nor were we furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. With respect to the financial forecasts and projections (and the assumptions and bases therefor) for each of STC and Epitope that we have reviewed, we have assumed that such forecasts and projections have been reasonably prepared in good faith on the basis of reasonable assumptions and reflect the best currently available estimates and judgments as to the future financial condition and performance of STC and Epitope, respectively, and we have further assumed that such projections and forecasts will be realized in the amounts and in the time periods currently estimated. We have assumed that the Merger will be consummated upon the terms set forth in the Agreement without material alteration thereof, including, among other things, that the Merger will be accounted for as a "pooling-of-interests" business combination in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and that the Merger will be treated as a tax-free reorganization pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition, we have assumed that the historical financial statements of each of STC and Epitope reviewed by us have been prepared and fairly presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP consistently applied. We have relied as to certain legal matters relevant to rendering our opinion on the advice of counsel to STC.
Board of Directors
STC Technologies, Inc.
May 9, 2000
This opinion is necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions as in effect on, and information made available to us as of, the date hereof. It should be understood that subsequent developments may affect the conclusion expressed in this opinion and that we disclaim any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting this opinion which may come or be brought to our attention after the date of this opinion. Our opinion is limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as to the date hereof, to STC and the Holders of STC Common Stock of the Exchange Ratio. We do not express any opinion as to (i) the value of any employee agreement or other arrangement entered into in connection with the Merger, (ii) any tax or other consequences that might result from the Merger or (iii) what the value of Surviving Corporation Common Stock will be when issued to STC's stockholders pursuant to the Merger or the price at which the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock that are issued pursuant to the Merger may be traded in the future. Our opinion does not address the relative merits of the Merger and the other business strategies that STC's Board of Directors has considered or may be considering, nor does it address the decision of STC's Board of Directors to proceed with the Merger.
In connection with the preparation of our opinion, we were not authorized to solicit, and did not solicit, third-parties regarding alternatives to the Merger.
We are acting as financial advisor to STC in connection with the Merger and will receive (i) a fee contingent upon the delivery of this opinion and (ii) an additional fee contingent upon the consummation of the Merger. In addition, STC has agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities that may arise out of our engagement. In the ordinary course of business, we may trade in Epitope's or Surviving Corporation's securities for our own account and the account of our customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in Epitope's securities or Surviving Corporation's securities.
Our opinion expressed herein is provided for the information of the Board of Directors of STC in connection with its evaluation of the Merger. Our opinion is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of STC or Epitope as to how such stockholder should vote, or take any other action, with respect to the Merger. This opinion may not be summarized, described or referred to or furnished to any party except with our express prior written consent.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing considerations, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Exchange Ratio is fair to STC and the Holders of STC Common Stock from a financial point of view.
Very truly yours,
FLEETBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
/s/ FLEETBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. ------------------------------------- |
ANNEX D
Delaware General Corporation Law
(S) 262. Appraisal Rights
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to (S) 228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the fair value of the stockholder's shares of stock under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section, the word "stockholder" means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words "stock" and "share" mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and the words "depository receipt" mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to (S) 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to (S) 251(g) of this title), (S) 252, (S) 254, (S) 257, (S) 258, (S) 263 or (S) 264 of this title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation
as provided in subsection (f) of (S) 251 of this title. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to (S)(S) 251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such stock anything except: |
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a. and b. of this paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a., b. and c. of this paragraph.
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation party to a merger effected under (S) 253 of this title is not owned by the parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision, the procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholder's shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for appraisal of such stockholder's shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholder's shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that the merger or consolidation has become effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to (S) 228 or
(S) 253 of this title, each consitutent corporation, either before the
effective date of the merger or consolidation or within ten days
thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of
stock of such constitutent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights
of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights
are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of
such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of
this section; provided that, if the notice is given on or after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, such notice shall be given
by the surviving or resulting corporation to all such holders of any class
or series of stock of a constituent corporation that are entitled to
appraisal rights. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective
date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders
of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder
entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of mailing
of such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting
corporation the appraisal of such holder's shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the
stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
appraisal of such holder's shares. If such notice did not notify
stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, either
(i) each such constitutent corporation shall send a second notice before
the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the
holders of any class or series of stock of such constitutent corporation
that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger
or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation shall send
such a second notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such
effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more
than 20 days following the sending of the first notice, such second notice
need only be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights
and who has demanded appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with
this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of
the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either
notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be
prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of
determining the stockholders entitled to receive either notice, each
constitutent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall be
not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given, provided, that
if the notice is given on or after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, the record date shall be such effective date. If no record
date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the effective date, the
record date shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the
day on which the notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to withdraw such stockholder's demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d) hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the stockholder within 10 days after such stockholder's written request for such a statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) hereof, whichever is later.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such stockholder.
(h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the fair rate of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors, including the rate of interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have had to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion, permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholder entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such stockholder's certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as
the Court may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock. The Court's decree may be enforced as other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholder's demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Delaware General Corporation Law
Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person's conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the DGCL states that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection therewith.
Section 145(d) of the DGCL states that any indemnification under subsections
(a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the
corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent
is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such
determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or
officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the
directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though
less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by
majority vote of such directors, even though less than a, or (3) if there are
no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
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Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys' fees)
incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or
officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the
person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in
Section 145. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former
directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such
terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
Section 145(f) of the DGCL states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in the person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145.
Section 145(j) of the DGCL states that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a certificate of incorporation
may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a
director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director provided that shall not eliminate or limit the
liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and Indemnification Agreements
The Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors of the Registrant to the Registrant or its stockholders to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Specifically, directors of the Registrant will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a director's fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for breach of the duty of loyalty, for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL or for any transaction in which a director has derived an improper personal benefit.
The Registrant's Bylaws require the Registrant to indemnify any person who is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or is serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise at the Registrant's request. Indemnification is not, however, permitted under the Bylaws unless the person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the Registrant's best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. The Registrant's Bylaws further provide that the Registrant shall not indemnify any person for any liabilities or expenses incurred by such person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Registrant in respect of any claim, issue
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or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action, suit or proceeding is brought determines that the person is entitled to indemnity for such expenses. The indemnification provided by the Bylaws is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be otherwise entitled.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements (the "Agreements") with each of the Registrant's directors and officers. The Agreements provide that the Registrant will indemnify the directors and officers against all liabilities and expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (including an action by or in the right of the Registrant) to which any of them is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of their status as a director or officer of the Registrant, or by reason of their serving or having served at the request or on behalf of the Registrant as a director, officer, trustee or in any other comparable position of any other enterprise to the fullest extent allowed by law. No indemnity is provided under the Agreements for any amounts for which indemnity is provided by any other indemnification obligation or insurance maintained by the Registrant or another enterprise or otherwise. Nor is indemnity provided to any director or officer on account of conduct which is finally adjudged by a court to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or a knowing violation of law. In addition, no indemnification is provided if a final court adjudication shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful, or in respect to any suit in which judgment is rendered against any director or officer for an accounting of profits made from a purchase or sale of securities of the Registrant in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or of any similar law, or on account of any remuneration paid to any director or officer which is adjudicated to have been paid in violation of law.
Insurance
The Registrant intends to maintain liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit
Number
-------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2000, by and
among Epitope, Inc., the Registrant and STC Technologies, Inc.
("Merger Agreement"), including the Epitope Stockholders Agreement
and the STC Stockholders Agreement attached as Exhibits A and B
thereto and the other exhibits attached thereto (filed as Exhibit
2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Epitope, Inc. dated May 9,
2000 and incorporated by reference herein)*
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant*
3.1.1 Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation dated May
23, 2000*
3.1.2 Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of
Registrant (filed as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement, Exhibit
4.2)
3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant*
4.1 Specimen certificate representing shares of the Registrant's
$.00001 par value common stock
4.2 Rights Agreement dated as of May 6, 2000 between the Registrant
and ChaseMellon Shareholder Service, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
4.3 Stockholders Agreement among STC Technologies, Inc., Health Care
Ventures V, L.P., RHO Management Trust II, Hudson Trust and
Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners, L.P., dated March 30, 1999 (to
be filed by amendment)
4.4 Amendment to Stockholders Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.3 dated
, 2000 (to be filed by amendment)
5.1 Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C
8.1 Opinion of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C.
8.2 Opinion of Pepper Hamilton LLP
10.1 Form of Indemnification Agreement (and list of parties to such
agreement)
10.2 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and Robert D. Thompson
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Exhibit
Number
-------
10.3 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and Michael J. Gausling
10.4 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and William Hinchey
10.5 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and Dr. R. Sam Niedbala
10.6 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and William D. Block
10.7 Form of Employment Agreement dated as of the closing date for the
mergers between the Registrant and J. Richard George
10.8+ Production Agreement with Koninklinjke Utermohlen, N.V. dated June
9, 1998
10.9+ Research and License Agreement with SRI International and David
Sarnoff Research Center dated April 26, 1995
10.10+ First Amendment to Research and License Agreement dated September
1, 1995
10.11 Commercial Lease between Northampton County New Jobs Corp. as
Landlord and STC Technologies, Inc. as Tenant dated April 30, 1999
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.3 Consent of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. (included in Exhibits 5.1
and 8.1)
23.4 Consent of Pepper Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 8.2)
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page to this
registration statement)
99.1 Consent of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.*
99.2 Consent of FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
99.3 Form of Proxy of Epitope, Inc.*
99.4 Form of Proxy of STC Technologies, Inc.*
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*Previously filed
+Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment.
(b) Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they either are not required or are not applicable or because equivalent information has been included in the financial statements, the notes thereto or elsewhere herein.
Item 22. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) ((S) 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.
II-4
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(5) That, prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other Items of the applicable form.
(6) That, every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (2) immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415 (section 230.415 of this chapter), will be filed as part of an amendment of the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post- effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement through the date of responding to the request.
(8) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Beaverton, State of Oregon, on August 8, 2000.
Orasure Technologies, Inc.
/s/ Robert D. Thompson
By: _________________________________
Robert D. Thompson,
President
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Know all men by these presents, that we, the undersigned directors of OraSure Technologies, Inc., hereby severally constitute Robert D. Thompson and Charles E. Bergeron, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement filed herewith and any and all amendments to said registration statement, and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as directors to enable OraSure Technologies, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signature as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert D. Thompson President, Chief Executive August 8, 2000
____________________________________ Officer and Director
Robert D. Thompson (Principal Executive
Attorney-in-fact Officer)
* Vice President and Chief August 8, 2000
____________________________________ Financial Officer
Charles E. Bergeron (Principal Financial
Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
W. Charles Armstrong
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
Andrew S. Goldstein
* Director August 8, 2000
________________________________
Frank G. Hausmann
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
Margaret H. Jordan
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
Michael J. Paxton
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
Roger L. Pringle
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
G. Patrick Sheaffer
* Director August 8, 2000
____________________________________
Robert J. Zollars
|
* Signed by Robert D. Thompson, Attorney-in-fact
II-6
EXHIBIT 4.1
NUMBER SHARES
0S_______ _______
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS AND
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF STATEMENTS
THE STATE OF DELAWARE RELATING TO RIGHTS,
PREFERENCES,
PRIVILEGES AND
RESTRICTIONS, IF
ANY
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
This Certifies That CUSIP 68554V 108
|
is the owner of
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.000001 PER SHARE, OF
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
(hereinafter and on the back hereof called the "Corporation") transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, the Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, and the laws of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time, all of which are by reference incorporated herein and to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents and agrees to be bound. This certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
WITNESS the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.
Dated ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CORPORATE SEAL
DELAWARE
____________________ _________________________
SECRETARY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
(New York, NY)
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
BY: _______________________________
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
|
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
The Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between OraSure Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT ________ Custodian _________
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to Minors
survivorship and not as tenants Act ____________________
in common (State)
TOD - transfer on death direction in UNIF TRF MIN ACT ______ Custodian (until age ___)
the event of owner's death (Cust)
to person named on face and _______ under Uniform Transfers
subject to TOD rules referenced (Minor)
to Minors Act _____________
(State)
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Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
______________________________________________________________________ Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated ______________________ X __________________________________
X ___________________________________
NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT
MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME(S) AS
WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE
CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR
ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
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Signature(s) Guaranteed
By ______________________________
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS,
STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND
LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT
UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN
APPROVED SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE MEDALLION
PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C.
RULE 17Ad-15.
EXHIBIT 4.2
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
between
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
Dated as of May 6, 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Section 1. Definitions........................................................................... 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent........................................................... 7
Section 3. Evidence of Rights; Issuance of Rights Certificates................................... 7
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates........................................................... 9
Section 5. Execution, Countersignature and Registration of Rights Certificates................... 10
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Lost,
Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Rights Certificates.................................... 11
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Expiration Date of Rights; Purchase Price......................... 12
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates................................... 14
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock......................................... 15
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date........................................................... 16
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares and Number of Rights.......... 17
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares............................ 25
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.................. 26
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares............................................... 29
Section 15. Rights of Action...................................................................... 31
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders........................................................... 31
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.................................... 32
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent........................................................... 32
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................. 33
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent................................................................ 33
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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Section 21. Change of Rights Agent................................................................ 36
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates................................................... 37
Section 23. Redemption and Termination............................................................ 37
Section 24. Exchange.............................................................................. 38
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................................. 39
Section 26. Notices............................................................................... 40
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments............................................................ 41
Section 28. Successors............................................................................ 41
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.................................. 41
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement............................................................ 42
Section 31. Severability.......................................................................... 42
Section 32. Governing Law......................................................................... 42
Section 33. Counterparts.......................................................................... 42
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................................. 43
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Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights
Exhibit B - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C - Form of Summary of Rights
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
(iii) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (f)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company;
Agreement.
becoming an Acquiring Person.
determined by action of the Board of Directors. The Company shall provide the Rights Agent with prompt notice of any such deferral.
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between OraSure Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and record holders of Common Stock shall also be the record holders of the associated Rights, and
the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. In the event the Company purchases or acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with Common Stock that is no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3(c), the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights.
beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible and to the extent the Rights Agent has knowledge of the applicability of this Section) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially owned by a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement between OraSure Technologies, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement")). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become, or may have already become, null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative whether or not the foregoing legend is contained in any such Rights Certificate.
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
governmental charges unless and until the Rights Agent is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock or other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount
equal to any applicable U.S. federal or state transfer tax or governmental
charge required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in
accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any
transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the
Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the
total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be
purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent
to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected
to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from
the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in
which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by
such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary
agent), and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with
such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14
hereof, (iii) promptly after receipt of such aforementioned certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of
the record holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof,
promptly deliver such aforementioned cash, if any, to or upon the order of
the record holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase
Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof)
shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to
the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to
issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash
and/or distribute other property upon exercise of the Rights pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so
that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this
Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require, prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock
would be issued.
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action, and no record holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall notify the Rights Agent as soon as practicable after the Company obtains knowledge that this Section 7(e) has become applicable and shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall have any liability to any record holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of the Company's failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. The Company may require (or cause the Rights Agent or any transfer agent of the Company to require) any Person who submits a Rights Certificate (or a certificate representing shares of Common Stock that evidences, or but for the provisions of this Section 7(e) would evidence, Rights) for transfer on the registry books or to exercise the Rights represented thereby, to establish to the satisfaction of the Company in its sole discretion that such Rights have not become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7(e).
Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have been declared effective.
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the record holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the record holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be), which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such record holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth for the Common Stock in Section 11(d)(i) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in Section 11(d)(i), the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 1000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the
Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Market Price of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the Current Market Price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 1000.
of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, or other shares of capital stock, as the case may be, at such adjusted Purchase Price. If upon any exercise of the Rights, a holder is to receive a combination of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents, a portion of the consideration paid upon such exercise, equal to at least the then par value of a share of Common Stock, shall be allocated as the payment for each share of Common Stock so received.
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any certificate of incorporation or bylaw provisions or any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect or other actions taken which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates. The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such other Person shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance with this Section 11(n).
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a): (A) the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, or if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer that has the greatest aggregate market value of shares of its Common Stock outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (1) the Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person that has the greatest aggregate market value of shares of its Common Stock outstanding or (2) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (3) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons has the greatest aggregate market value of shares of its Common Stock outstanding;
venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint venturers and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests.
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the Expiration Date and similarly comply with applicable state
securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or NASDAQ to list or admit to trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on such securities exchange or NASDAQ and, if the shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or NASDAQ, to cause the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by such other system then in use;
(iii) deliver to record holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a
Section 13 Event shall occur
at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a). If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common Stock of the Company or such Principal Party, then a holder of Rights will have the right to exchange such Rights for cash from the Company or such Principal Party in an amount equal to the number of shares of such Common Stock such holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase times 50% of the then Current Market Price, as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of such stock of such Principal Party or the Company. If, for any reason, including, without limitation, such Principal Party is an individual, private partnership or private company, the foregoing formulation cannot be applied to determine the cash amount into which the Rights are exchangeable, then the Board of Directors, based upon advice from one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms, shall determine such amount reasonably and with utmost good faith to the holders of Rights. Any such determination shall be binding and final.
last sale price or, if such last sale price is not reported, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used to determine the current market value of the whole Right.
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the transfer books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered on the transfer books of the Rights Agent as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of "Current Market Price") be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, each as may be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Any liability of the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement will be limited to the amount of fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for or be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities, will when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chairman of the Board,
the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith (each as may be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(l) The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any holders of Rights or any holders of shares of Common Stock for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(m) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event or condition hereunder, including, but not limited to, a Distribution Date, a Redemption Date, any adjustment of the Purchase Price of the Common Stock, and adjustment to the Purchase Price of the Preferred Stock, the existence of an Acquiring Person or any other event or condition that may require action by the Rights Agent, unless the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or
condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Rights Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Rights Agent as specified in Section 26 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Rights Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.
(provided that the failure to provide, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption). Any notice that is provided in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the record holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
authorized and issued shares of the applicable class or series of Common Stock held in its treasury sufficient to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of the applicable class or series of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of the applicable class or series of Common Stock, the Company shall substitute, for each share of such class or series of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of the applicable series of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (subject to Section 14(b) hereof) such that the Current Market Price per share of the applicable series of Preferred Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the Current Market Price per share of such class or series of Common Stock as of the date of issuance of such shares of such series of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof.
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
OraSure Technologies, Inc. 8505 S.W. Creekside Place Beaverton, Oregon 97008 Attention: Chief Executive Officer Facsimile No.: (503) 520-6196
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made upon receipt by the Rights Agent, if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company), or by facsimile transmission, as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
400 South Hope Street, 4/th/ Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Relationship Manager
Facsimile No.: (213) 553-9735
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first- class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder
as shown on the registry books of the Rights Agent (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company).
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, record holders of the Common Stock) and all other Persons, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights. With respect to the immediately preceding sentence, the Rights Agent shall always be entitled to assume that the Board of Directors acted in good faith and shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability in reliance thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
[SEAL]
By: __________________________________ Name: Robert D. Thompson Title: Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
By: ____________________
Name:
Title:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title:
ATTEST:
By:____________________
Name:
Title:
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
We, Robert D. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, and Charles E. Bergeron, Secretary of OraSure Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), in accordance with the provisions of Sections 103 and 151(g) thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors on May 6, 2000, adopted the following resolution creating a series of One Hundred Twenty Thousand (120,000) shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Preferred Stock, $0.000001 par value:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), a series of Preferred Stock, $0.000001 par value, of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $0.000001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation and of any other class of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock (together with the Common Stock, the "Junior
Stock"), shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, dividends payable in cash in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent), equal to the product of the Series A Multiple (as defined below) then in effect times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends declared (but not withdrawn) on the Common Stock, plus the product of the Series A Multiple then in effect times the aggregate per share amount (payable in cash, based upon the fair market value at the time the non-cash dividend or other distribution is declared as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise)), declared (but not withdrawn) on the Common Stock.
(B) As used herein, the Series A Multiple shall initially be 1,000. In the event the Corporation shall (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Series A Multiple shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(C) The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall not declare a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) unless it shall concurrently therewith declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock. Payment of a dividend or distribution determined on the Series A Preferred Stock shall be in preference to payment of any dividend or distribution on any Junior Stock.
(D) The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
(A) Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes on all matters submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation equal to the product of the Series A
Multiple then in effect times the number of votes that each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to vote at a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(B) The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) The holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
(A) Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Junior Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock ("Parity Stock"), except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any Parity Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such Parity Stock in exchange for shares of any Junior Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of Parity Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
(A) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, in preference to the holders of any Junior Stock, the greater of (a) $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued dividends to the date of distribution, whether or not earned or declared, or (b) an amount per share equal to the product of the Series A Multiple then in effect times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock.
(B) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Parity Stock shall not receive any distributions except for distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such Parity Stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its president and attested by it Secretary this 21/st/ day of July, 2000.
Robert D. Thompson
Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
STATE OF OREGON )
) ss.
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON )
|
BE IT REMEMBERED, that before me, a notary public in and for the aforesaid county and state, personally appeared Robert D. Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, and Charles E. Bergeron, Secretary, of OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, who are known to me to be the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument, and duly acknowledged the execution of the same this 21/st/ day of July, 2000.
My commission expires:
Certificate No. R- Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MAY 6, 2010 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO IS OR WAS AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
This certifies that _____________________________________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of ___________, 2000, as may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 6, 2010 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $85.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certification duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock that may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of _________, 2000, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events including a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement, and as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement). In addition, subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by this Certificate may be exchanged by the Company at its option for one share of Common Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction) following the Stock Acquisition Date and prior to the time an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or other securities will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the
Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______________, ____.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
ATTEST:
Countersigned:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. as Rights Agent
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the record holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto_____
______________ (______) of the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________________________________________ its attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within- named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: __________________, ___.
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution as defined by SEC Rule 17Ad-15 (12 C.F.R. 240.17Ad-15) or any similar rule which the Rights Agent deems applicable.
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate (continued)]
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________________, ___.
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution as defined by SEC Rule 17Ad-15 (12 C.F.R. 240.17Ad-15) or any similar rule which the Rights Agent deems applicable.
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certification must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above is not or cannot be completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment will not be honored.
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate (continued)]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To: OraSure Technologies, Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___________________ (____) Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Dated: __________________, ___.
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution as defined by SEC Rule 17Ad-15 (12 C.F.R. 240.17Ad-15) or any similar rule which the Rights Agent deems applicable.
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate (continued)]
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: __________________, ___.
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution as defined by SEC Rule 17Ad-15 (12 C.F.R. 240.17Ad-15) or any similar rule which the Rights Agent deems applicable.
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certification must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above is not or cannot be completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Election to Purchase will not be honored.
FORM OF
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On May 6, 2000, the Board of Directors of OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("OraSure"), adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan providing for the distribution of one Right to purchase its Series A Preferred Stock for each outstanding share of its Common Stock. The Rights will be distributed together with the Common Stock issued upon the consummation of the mergers of STC Technologies, Inc. ("STC") with and into OraSure and Epitope, Inc. ("Epitope") with and into OraSure, pursuant to that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2000 among Epitope, STC and OraSure. No income will be recognized by stockholders for tax purposes on payment of the dividend. The Rights are not now exercisable, and it is not known at this time whether they ever will be exercisable. No action can be taken by holders of Rights at this time. Until a Right is exercised, the Right does not create any rights as a stockholder of OraSure, including the right to vote or receive dividends.
The Rights will trade with the Common Stock of OraSure. In general, the Rights detach from the Common Stock of OraSure and become exercisable on the tenth business day after the earlier of either of the following two events occurs:
. a person or entity, together with its Affiliates or Associates, becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of OraSure, or
. a person or entity, together with its Affiliates or Associates, announces or commences a tender offer that, if consummated, would result in them becoming the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of OraSure.
An "Affiliate" of a person or entity is a person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person or entity specified. An "Associate" of a person or entity is (a) any corporation or organization (other than OraSure or any majority-owned subsidiary of OraSure) of which such person or entity is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (b) any trust or other estate in which such person or entity has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such person or entity serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, and (c) any relative or spouse of such person or entity, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such person or entity or who is a director or officer of such person or entity or any of its parents or subsidiaries.
If the Rights detach and become exercisable as a result of the commencement of a tender offer, each Right entitles its holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock for an exercise price of $85.00 unless the Rights are redeemed by OraSure. This exercise price and the number of shares, or fraction of a share, of Series A Preferred Stock that can be purchased are both subject to adjustment to prevent dilution in the event of a stock
dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Series A Preferred Stock or if OraSure distributes certain rights, options, warrants, evidences of indebtedness or assets to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.
Because of the nature of the Series A Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock that may be purchased upon the exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock. In the event of the liquidation of OraSure, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to the greater of
. a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $1,000 per share, plus accrued dividends, or
. 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share of Common Stock.
Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes and will vote together with the Common Stock as a single class. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction involving OraSure (other than the Merger) in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock, securities, cash and/or other property, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. The dividend, liquidation, voting and other rights of the Series A Preferred Stock will be proportionately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction involving the Common Stock.
After a person or entity (referred to as an Acquiring Person), together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of OraSure in one or more transactions that do not constitute a Qualifying Offer, each Right entitles its holder to purchase, for the Right's exercise price, a number of shares of Common Stock (or in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of OraSure) having a value equal to two times the then current exercise price of the Right. All Rights that are, or under certain circumstances were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person, or Affiliates or Associates of that person or entity, will be null and void. A "Qualifying Offer" is an offer for outstanding shares of Common Stock that a majority of the directors of OraSure who are not Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person determine, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be fair to the stockholders and otherwise in the best interests of OraSure and its stockholders.
If OraSure is involved in a merger or other business combination transaction after the Rights become exercisable, each Right entitles its holder to purchase, for the Right's exercise price, a number of the acquiring or surviving company's shares of common stock having a market value equal to twice the exercise price of the Right. Similarly, if OraSure sells or transfers 50% or more of its assets or earning power after the Rights become exercisable, each Right entitles its holder to purchase, for the Right's exercise price, a number of the acquiring company's shares of common stock having a market value equal to twice the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or entity becomes an Acquiring Person and before the acquisition by such person or entity, together with that person's Affiliates or Associates, of 50% or more of the Common Stock of OraSure, the OraSure Board may exchange Common Stock for all or any part of the Rights other than any Rights that have become null and void. The exchange rate is one share of Common Stock for each Right. This exchange rate is subject to adjustment to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction involving the Common Stock.
OraSure is entitled to redeem the Rights at $.01 per Right at any time until ten business days following a public announcement that a person, together with that person's Affiliates or Associates, has become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of OraSure. The terms of the Rights expire on May 6, 2010, unless OraSure redeems the Rights before then or unless the OraSure Board extends the Rights by amending the Rights Agreement.
Until the Rights are no longer redeemable, the OraSure Board of Directors may amend the Rights Agreement and Rights in any respect. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the OraSure Board of Directors may amend the Rights Agreement and the Rights to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (excluding the interests of the Acquiring Person or its Affiliates and Associates) or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement (except for the time period governing redemption of the Rights). No amendment of the Rights Agreement or Rights by the OraSure Board of Directors is permitted to change the redemption price of the Rights, regardless of whether the amendment occurs before or after the time the Rights cease to be redeemable.
The terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to this Registration Statement on Form S-4. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
EXHIBIT 5.1
August 8, 2000
Board of Directors
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
8505 S. W. Creekside Place
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
Re: OraSure Technologies, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-4
(Commission File No. 333-39210)
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("OraSure"), and, at the request of OraSure, have examined the above-referenced registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), filed by OraSure with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
The Registration Statement relates to, among other things, the registration under the Act of 38,858,495 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.000001 par value per share, of OraSure, which is the maximum number of Shares likely to be issued in connection with the proposed mergers (the "Mergers") of STC Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("STC Technologies"), with and into OraSure and of Epitope, Inc., an Oregon corporation ("Epitope"), with and into OraSure, each pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 6, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Epitope, OraSure and STC Technologies, all as described in the Registration Statement.
In the preparation of this opinion letter, we have examined originals
or copies identified to our satisfaction of (i) the Certificate of Incorporation
of OraSure, as filed with the State of Delaware; (ii) the Bylaws of OraSure;
(iii) all resolutions of the Board of Directors of OraSure relating to the
Mergers and the issuance of the Shares being registered under the Registration
Statement; (iv) the Merger Agreement; and (v) the Registration Statement,
including the exhibits thereto. We also have examined originals or copies of
such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other
instruments, and have conducted such other
OraSure Technologies, Inc.
August 8, 2000
investigations of law and fact, as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of our opinion.
As to the matters of fact, we have relied upon the respective representations of OraSure, STC Technologies and Epitope contained in the Merger Agreement, and, where we have deemed appropriate, representations or certificates of officers of OraSure or public officials. In our examinations, we have assumed, without investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents and instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents and instruments submitted to us as certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, the correctness of all certificates, and the accuracy and completeness of all records, documents, instruments and materials made available to us by OraSure.
Our opinion is limited to the matters set forth herein and we express no opinion other than as expressly set forth herein. In rendering the opinion set forth below, we do not express any opinion concerning law other than the federal law of the United States and the corporate law of the State of Delaware. Our opinion is expressed as of the date hereof and is based on laws currently in effect. Accordingly, the conclusions set forth in this opinion letter are subject to change in the event that any laws should change or be enacted in the future. We are under no obligation to update this opinion letter or to otherwise communicate with you in the event of any such change.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that, upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the approval of the Merger Agreement by the respective stockholders of STC Technologies and Epitope, the Shares, when issued upon consummation of the Mergers in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement (including compliance with all conditions of the Mergers set forth therein that are not waived by the parties thereto), will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we are experts or otherwise within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, P.C. STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C. |
EXHIBIT 8.1
August 8, 2000
Epitope, Inc. and its Stockholders
8505 SW Creekside Place
Beaverton, OR 97008
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Epitope, Inc., an Oregon corporation ("Epitope"), in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 6, 2000 among Epitope, OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("Merger Sub") and STC Technologies, Inc. ("STC") (the "Agreement").
Pursuant to the Agreement, STC will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving corporation (the "STC Merger"). In the STC Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.000001 per share, of STC ("STC Common Stock"), other than shares owned by dissenters who perfect their rights, will be exchanged for fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock, par value $.000001 per share, of Merger Sub ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock"). In addition, pursuant to the Agreement, Epitope will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving corporation (the "Epitope Merger"). In the Epitope Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock, no par value per share, of Epitope ("Epitope Common Stock") will be exchanged for fully paid and nonassessable shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock.
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, Merger Sub is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued in the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger. This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Agreement and (iii) such documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In addition, we have assumed that the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger will be consummated in the manner contemplated by the Registration
Epitope and its Stockholders
August 8, 2000
Statement and in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. We have also assumed that the shares of STC Common Stock are held as capital assets by the stockholders of STC, and the shares of Epitope Common Stock are held as capital assets by the stockholders of Epitope.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the completeness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the completeness and authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than Epitope, we have assumed that such parties had the power and authority to enter into and perform their obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery by such parties of such documents. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers of Epitope, Merger Sub, STC and others.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and exceptions heretofore and hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:
1. The STC Merger of STC with and into Merger Sub will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, and STC and Merger Sub will be parties to the reorganization within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;
2. No gain or loss will be recognized by the stockholders of STC who exchange all of their STC Common Stock solely for Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to the STC Merger. Gain or loss may be recognized by stockholders of STC with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share interest in Surviving Corporation Common Stock;
3. The adjusted tax basis of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of STC will equal the adjusted tax basis of the STC Common Stock exchanged therefor, adjusted to reflect the impact of payments of cash for fractional share interests in Surviving Corporation Common Stock;
4. The holding period of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of STC in the STC Merger will include the holding period of the STC Common Stock exchanged therefor;
5. The Epitope Merger of Epitope with and into Merger Sub will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Epitope and Merger Sub will be parties to the reorganization within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;
6. No gain or loss will be recognized by the stockholders of Epitope who exchange all of their Epitope Common Stock solely for Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to the Epitope Merger;
Epitope and its Stockholders
August 8, 2000
7. The adjusted tax basis of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of Epitope will equal the adjusted tax basis of the Epitope Common Stock exchanged therefor; and
8. The holding period of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of Epitope in the Epitope Merger will include the holding period of the Epitope Common Stock exchanged therefor.
Our opinion is limited to the federal income tax matters described above and does not address any other federal income tax considerations or any state, local, foreign, or other tax considerations.
If any of the information on which we have relied is incorrect, or if changes in the relevant facts occur after the date hereof, our opinion could be affected thereby. Moreover, our opinion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and Internal Revenue Service rulings, procedures, and other pronouncements, published by the United States Internal Revenue Service. These authorities are all subject to change, and such change may be made with retroactive effect. We can give no assurance that, after such change, our opinion would not be different. This opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, and there can be no assurance, and none is hereby given, that the Internal Revenue Service will not take a position contrary to one or more of the positions reflected in the foregoing opinion, or that our opinion will be upheld by the courts if challenged by the Internal Revenue Service.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the reference to this opinion letter under the heading "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers" in the Proxy Statement--Prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement and the reference to our firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in such Proxy Statement--Prospectus. In giving such consent we do not thereby admit or imply that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C. -------------------------------- STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C. |
EXHIBIT 8.2
August 8, 2000
STC Technologies, Inc. and its Stockholders
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to STC Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("STC"), in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 6, 2000 among Epitope, Inc. ("Epitope"), OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("Merger Sub") and STC (the "Agreement").
Pursuant to the Agreement, STC will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving corporation (the "STC Merger"). In the STC Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock par value $.000001 per share, of STC ("STC Common Stock"), other than shares owned by dissenters who perfect their rights, will be exchanged for fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock, par value $.000001 per share, of Merger Sub ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock"). In addition, pursuant to the Agreement, Epitope will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving corporation (the "Epitope Merger"). In the Epitope Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock, no par value per share, of Epitope ("Epitope Common Stock") will be exchanged for fully paid and nonassessable shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock.
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, Merger Sub is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued in the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger. This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement, the Agreement (together with the Registration Statement, the "Transaction Documents") and such
STC and its Stockholders
August 8, 2000
other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the
opinions set forth herein. In addition, we have assumed that (i) the STC Merger
and the Epitope Merger will be consummated in the manner contemplated by the
Registration Statement and in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement;
(ii) the statements concerning the transaction set forth in the Transaction
Documents are true, correct and complete and will continue to be true, correct
and complete at all times; (iii) the representations made to us by STC, Epitope
and Merger Sub in their letters to us dated the date hereof, upon which we are
relying for purposes of this opinion (such letters, the "Representation
Letters"), are true, correct and complete; and (iv) any representations made in
the Agreement or the Representation Letters that are "to the best knowledge of"
or similarly qualified are correct, in each case without such qualification. We
have also assumed that the shares of STC Common Stock are held as capital assets
by the stockholders of STC, and the shares of Epitope Common Stock are held as
capital assets by the stockholders of Epitope.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the completeness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the completeness and authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than STC, we have assumed that such parties had the power and authority to enter into and perform their obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery by such parties of such documents.
If any of the above-described assumptions is untrue in any pertinent respect or if the STC Merger and the Epitope Merger are consummated in a manner that is inconsistent with the manner in which they are described in the Transaction Documents, our opinions as expressed below may be adversely affected and may not be relied upon.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and exceptions heretofore and hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:
1. The STC Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, and STC and Merger Sub will be parties to the reorganization within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;
2. No gain or loss will be recognized by the stockholders of STC who exchange all of their STC Common Stock solely for Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to the STC Merger. Gain or loss may be recognized by stockholders of
STC and its Stockholders
August 8, 2000
STC with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share interest in Surviving Corporation Common Stock;
3. The adjusted tax basis of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of STC will equal the adjusted tax basis of the STC Common Stock exchanged therefor, adjusted to reflect the impact of payments of cash for fractional share interests in Surviving Corporation Common Stock;
4. The holding period of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of STC in the STC Merger will include the holding period of the STC Common Stock exchanged therefor;
5. The Epitope Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, and Epitope and Merger Sub will be parties to the reorganization within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;
6. No gain or loss will be recognized by the stockholders of Epitope who exchange all of their Epitope Common Stock solely for Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to the Epitope Merger;
7. The adjusted tax basis of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of Epitope will equal the adjusted tax basis of the Epitope Common Stock exchanged therefor; and
8. The holding period of Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the stockholders of Epitope in the Epitope Merger will include the holding period of the Epitope Common Stock exchanged therefor.
Our opinion is limited to the federal income tax matters described above and does not address any other federal income tax considerations or any state, local, foreign, or other tax considerations.
If any of the information on which we have relied is incorrect, or if changes in the relevant facts occur after the date hereof, our opinion could be affected thereby. Moreover, our opinion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and Internal Revenue Service rulings, procedures, and other pronouncements, published by the United States Internal Revenue Service. These authorities are all subject to change, and such change may be made with retroactive effect. We can give no assurance that, after such change, our opinion would not be different. This opinion is not binding
STC and its Stockholders
August 8, 2000
on the Internal Revenue Service, and there can be no assurance, and none is hereby given, that the Internal Revenue Service will not take a position contrary to one or more of the positions reflected in the foregoing opinion, or that our opinion will be upheld by the courts if challenged by the Internal Revenue Service.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the reference to this opinion letter under the heading "Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Mergers" in the Proxy Statement--Prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement and the reference to our firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in such Proxy Statement--Prospectus. In giving such consent we do not thereby admit or imply that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ PEPPER HAMILTON LLP ----------------------- PEPPER HAMILTON LLP |
EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this ____ day of _________, 2000, between OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and _________________________ ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, it is important to the Company to attract and retain as directors and officers the most capable persons available; and
WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws") provide for the indemnification of the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company as authorized by Delaware General Corporation Law Section 145 (the "State Statute"); and
WHEREAS, such Bylaws and the State Statute specifically provide that they are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification of such directors and officers; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization provided by the State Statute and the Bylaws, the Company may purchase a policy or policies of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance ("D&O Insurance"), covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers in the performance of their services for the Company; and
WHEREAS, recent developments with respect to the terms and availability of D&O Insurance and with respect to the application, amendment and enforcement of statutory and bylaw indemnification provisions generally have raised questions concerning the adequacy and reliability of the protection afforded to directors and officers thereby; and
WHEREAS, in order to resolve such questions and thereby induce Indemnitee to agree to serve or continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract with Indemnitee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee's agreeing to serve or continuing to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, the parties hereto agree as follows:
(a) Against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including, without limitation, all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection therewith) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity, whether prior to or subsequent to the date of this Agreement; and
(b) Against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in serving or preparing to serve as a witness or other participant in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if Indemnitee is such a witness or participant by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or enterprise.
(a) In respect to remuneration paid to or advantage gained by Indemnitee if it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that Indemnitee was not legally entitled to such remuneration or advantage;
(b) On account of Indemnitee's conduct which is determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct;
(c) Prior to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 4(e)), in respect of any action, suit or proceeding initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company (unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding), except (i) as set forth in Section 12(b) hereof, (ii) in respect of any counterclaims made against Indemnitee in any such action, suit or proceeding, and (iii) to the extent Indemnitee seeks contribution or apportionment of an award or settlement against Indemnitee and against the Company and/or any other director or officer of the Company;
(d) On account of any matter determined by a final judgment or other
final adjudication to be a violation by Indemnitee of the provisions of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"),
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time
to time; or
(e) With respect to any matter if it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such indemnification is not lawful.
indemnification under this Agreement and for which indemnification is requested. Written request shall be deemed received three days after the date postmarked if sent by prepaid mail properly addressed to the Company at the address set forth in Section 11 hereof.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (i) the
obligations of the Company under Section 1 shall be subject to the condition
that the Reviewing Party (as defined in Section 4(f)) shall have determined (in
a written opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal Counsel (as
defined in Section 4(g)) is involved) that Indemnitee would be permitted to be
indemnified under this Agreement, (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an
expense advance pursuant to Section 3 shall be subject to the condition that,
if, when and to the extent that it is finally determined that Indemnitee would
not be permitted to be indemnified for such expenses under this Agreement, the
Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees and
undertakes to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid, and
(iii) the obligation of the Company to make an expense advance pursuant to
Section 3 shall be made without regard to Indemnitee's ability to repay the
amount advanced and without regard to Indemnitee's ultimate entitlement to
indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee's obligation to
reimburse the Company for expense advances shall be unsecured and no interest
shall be charged thereon.
(b) The Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors, provided, however, that if there has been a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party within the sixty (60) day period referred to in Section 3, the Reviewing Party shall be deemed to have made a determination that it is permissible to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement.
(c) The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not unreasonably be withheld) and such Independent Legal Counsel shall determine whether the director or officer is entitled to indemnification for expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including, without limitation, all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection therewith) under this Agreement or any other agreement or the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification. Such Independent Legal Counsel shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee will be permitted to be indemnified for expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including, without limitation, all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection therewith). The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel and to indemnify fully such Independent Legal Counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the engagement of Independent Legal Counsel pursuant hereto.
(d) If a determination denying Indemnitee's claim is made by a Reviewing Party (other than Independent Legal Counsel), notice of such determination shall disclose with particularity the reasons for such determination. If a determination denying Indemnitee's claim is made by Independent Legal Counsel, the notice shall include a copy of the related legal opinion of such counsel.
(e) "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities (as defined in Section 4(h)), or (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two- thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 85% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
(f) "Reviewing Party" shall mean any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Board of Directors of the Company or any other person or body appointed by the Board who is not a party to the particular action, suit or proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel.
(g) "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(c), who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last five years (other than in connection with seeking indemnification under this Agreement). Independent Legal Counsel shall not be any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement, nor shall Independent Legal Counsel be any person who has been sanctioned or censured for ethical violations of applicable standards of professional conduct.
(h) "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors.
criminal or investigative, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was a director or officer of the Company or serving in any other capacity referred to herein.
(a) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof. Notice shall be in writing and shall be addressed as follows:
OraSure Technologies, Inc. 8505 S.W. Creekside Place Beaverton, OR 97008 Attention: President
Such notice shall be deemed received if sent by prepaid mail properly addressed. Indemnitee and the Company shall cooperate fully with each other in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding and each shall provide the other with such information as the other may reasonably require. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit or proceeding effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld).
(b) The Company shall be entitled to participate in the action, suit or proceeding at its own expense.
(c) Except as otherwise provided below, the Company may, at its option, assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding with legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee for expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding under this Agreement, including Section 3 hereof, other than Indemnitee's reasonable costs of investigation or participation in such action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, travel expenses) and except as provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee's own counsel in any such action, suit or proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense of such action, suit or proceeding shall be at the expense of Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel shall be advanced by the Company as provided in Section 3 hereof. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company.
(d) If two or more persons, including Indemnitee, may be entitled to indemnification from the Company as parties to any action, suit or proceeding, the Company may require Indemnitee to use the same legal counsel as the other parties. Indemnitee shall have the right to
use separate legal counsel in such action, suit or proceeding, but the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including Section 3 hereof, for the fees and expenses of separate legal counsel incurred after notice from the Company of the requirement to use the same legal counsel as the other parties, unless Indemnitee reasonably concludes that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and any of the other parties required by the Company to be represented by the same legal counsel.
(e) Indemnitee shall permit the Company to settle any action, suit or proceeding that the Company assumes the defense of, except that the Company shall not, without Indemnitee's written consent, settle any action, suit or proceeding unless such settlement includes a provision whereby the parties to the settlement unconditionally release Indemnitee from all liabilities, damages, fines, penalties, costs and expenses in respect of claims by reason of the settlement or release of the parties in such action, suit or proceeding.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to agree to serve or to continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company and acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in agreeing to serve or continuing to serve in such capacity.
(b) The right to indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be enforceable by Indemnitee in any court in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper. Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any such court challenging any determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, or the legal or factual bases therefor. The Company shall reimburse Indemnitee for any and all reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any claim asserted or action brought by Indemnitee to enforce rights or to collect moneys due under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company or any other agreement with the Company nor or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification, or any D&O Insurance purchased and maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance coverage, as the case may be, unless the court determines that the claim or action is frivolous or that assertions made therein were made with no reasonable basis.
(c) In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
(a) This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon Indemnitee and upon the Company, its successors and assigns (including any transferee of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and any successor by merger or operation of law), and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee, his or her heirs, personal representatives and assigns and to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns. The Company shall require and cause any successor to all or substantially all of its assets, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no succession had taken place.
(c) No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof, and no such waiver shall constitute a continuing waiver.
previously authorized to be paid to Indemnitee hereunder, such amounts to be used to discharge the Company's obligations to Indemnitee hereunder. Any amount in such trust not required for such purpose shall be returned to the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: ______________________________
President
LIST OF PARTIES WHO WILL EXECUTE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
Name Title
---- -----
Robert D. Thompson Director and Chief Executive Officer
Michael J. Gausling Director, President and Chief Operating
Officer
R. Sam Niedbala, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Chief Science
Officer
J. Richard George, Ph.D. Senior Vice President of Research and
Development, Infectious Disease
William D. Black Senior Vice President of Sales
William Hinchey Vice President of Marketing
Michael G. Bolton Director
William W. Crouse Director
Frank G. Hausmann Director
Roger L. Pringle Director
Joint Director Designee Director
|
Exhibit 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between Robert D. Thompson ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the chairman of the board of directors, and shall not be required to report to any other person.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the third anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 6 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term, or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $22,916.67 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses.
3.5.1 Job-Related. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.5.2 House Purchase. The Company shall purchase, or arrange for a third party to purchase, Employee's house located in Portland, Oregon, at a purchase price of $672,000. The Company shall further pay all mortgage payments on the house, if any, that become due between the date of the relocation of the Company's headquarters to Pennsylvania and the closing date of the purchase of Employee's Portland, Oregon, house.
3.5.3 Relocation Allowance. The Company shall pay Employee a one-time relocation allowance of $30,000 upon relocation of his residence to Pennsylvania.
3.5.4 Tax Provision. To the extent mortgage payments under Section 3.5.2 or the payment under Section 3.5.3 is includable in Employee's net taxable income, after taking into account the deductability of mortgage interest, the Company shall pay Employee an additional amount so that the amount paid to him, less taxes at Employee's effective marginal tax rate, equals the amount required to be paid to or for him under those sections.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings, or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject
matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. In consideration of the stock grant described in Section 4, and other good and valuable consideration, Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A requirement by the Company that Employee regularly report other than to the chairman of the board.
6.4.4 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); provided that, without
limitation, such a change of control shall be deemed to have occurred at such
time as (i) any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 30
percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting Securities; (ii) during
any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constitute the board of directors cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof unless the election, or the nomination
for election, by the Company's shareholders of each new director was approved by
a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) there shall be consummated (a)
any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the
continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which Voting Securities would
be converted into cash, securities, or other property, other than a merger of
the Company in which the holders of Voting Securities immediately prior to the
merger have the same, or substantially the same, proportionate ownership of
common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger, or (b)
any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the
Company; or (iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of any plan or
proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Acquiring Person" means any person or related persons which
constitute a "group" for purposes of Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule are in effect as of the date of this
Agreement; provided, however, that the term Acquiring Person shall not include:
(i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) any entity holding voting capital
stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit
plan; or (iv) any person or group solely because such person or group has voting
power with respect to capital stock of the Company arising from a revocable
proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation
made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For purposes of this Agreement, "Voting
Securities" means the Company's
issued and outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 6.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 6.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 36 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 6.4.4
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 6.4.1, 6.4.2, 6.4.3, or 6.4.4 as a termination without cause but
continues to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts
Employee receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against
the amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect shall
the amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any
compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his
termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the
first sentence of this Section 6.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release
agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee,
releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation
to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to
comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period
stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those excluded by Section 11.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be resolved as provided in this Section 11. Claims covered by this Section 11 include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in Section 11.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 11. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders, upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
__________________ ________________________
Robert D. Thompson
Title:
_____________________
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EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as Chief Executive Officer
Employee as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall be responsible for directing all phases of the operations and the overall management of the Company, subject to direction by the chairman of the board of directors. As Chief Executive Officer, Employee shall report directly to the chairman of the board. In such capacity, Employee shall be the key executive responsible for formulating and directing execution of Company strategy in all phases of operations, development, and planning. As Chief Executive Officer, Employee shall be the Company's principal spokesperson and will serve as operating management's principal liaison to the board of directors.
EXHIBIT 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between Michael J. Gausling ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the third anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 5 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $18,750.00 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings, or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement
6. Termination.
6.1 Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
provided that, without limitation, such a change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred at such time as (i) any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting
Securities; (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of
directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless
the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company's shareholders of
each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii)
there shall be consummated (a) any consolidation or merger of the Company in
which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to
which Voting Securities would be converted into cash, securities, or other
property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Voting
Securities immediately prior to the merger have the same, or substantially the
same, proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquiring Person"
means any person or related persons which constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule
are in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the term
Acquiring Person shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii)
any entity holding voting capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan; or (iv) any person or group solely
because such person or group has voting power with respect to capital stock of
the Company arising from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" means the Company's issued and
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the
Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 5.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 5.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 36 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 5.4.3
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 5.4.1, 5.4.2, or 5.4.3 as a termination without cause but continues
to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts Employee
receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against the
amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect
shall the amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the first sentence of this Section 5.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee, releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those excluded by Section 9.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be resolved as provided in this Section 9. Claims covered by this Section 9 include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in Section 9.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 9. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders,
upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
_________________________________ By:________________________________
Michael J. Gausling
Title:_____________________________
|
EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as President and Chief Operating Officer
EXHIBIT 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between William Hinchey ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as Vice President of Marketing of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such other officer as the Chief Executive Officer or the board of directors may designate.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the second anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term, or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 5 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $12,500.00 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings, or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
provided that, without limitation, such a change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred at such time as (i) any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting
Securities; (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of
directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless
the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company's shareholders of
each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii)
there shall be consummated (a) any consolidation or merger of the Company in
which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to
which Voting Securities would be converted into cash, securities, or other
property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Voting
Securities immediately prior to the merger have the same, or substantially the
same, proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquiring Person"
means any person or related persons which constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule
are in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the term
Acquiring Person shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii)
any entity holding voting capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan; or (iv) any person or group solely
because such person or group has voting power with respect to capital stock of
the Company arising from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" means the Company's issued and
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the
Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 5.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 5.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 24 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 5.4.3
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 5.4.1, 5.4.2, or 5.4.3 as a termination without cause but continues
to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts Employee
receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against the
amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect
shall the amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the first sentence of this Section 5.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee, releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those excluded by Section 9.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be resolved as provided in this Section 9. Claims covered by this Section 9 include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in Section 9.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 9. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders,
upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
__________________________ By:________________________________
William Hinchey
Title:_____________________________
|
EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as Vice President of Marketing
EXHIBIT 10.5
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between R. Sam Niedbala ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such other person as the Chief Executive Officer or the board of directors may designate.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the third anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 5 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term, or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 5 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $15,416.67 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings, or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
provided that, without limitation, such a change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred at such time as (i) any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting
Securities; (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of
directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless
the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company's shareholders of
each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii)
there shall be consummated (a) any consolidation or merger of the Company in
which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to
which Voting Securities would be converted into cash, securities, or other
property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Voting
Securities immediately prior to the merger have the same, or substantially the
same, proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquiring Person"
means any person or related persons which constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule
are in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the term
Acquiring Person shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii)
any entity holding voting capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan; or (iv) any person or group solely
because such person or group has voting power with respect to capital stock of
the Company arising from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" means the Company's issued and
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the
Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 5.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 5.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 24 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 5.4.3
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 5.4.1, 5.4.2, or 5.4.3 as a termination without cause but continues
to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts Employee
receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against the
amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect
shall the amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the first sentence of this Section 5.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee, releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those excluded by Section 9.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be resolved as provided in this Section 9. Claims covered by this Section 9 include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in Section 9.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 9. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders,
upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
_______________ __________________________
R. Sam Niedbala
Title:
__________________________
|
EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer
Employee as the Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer of the Company shall be responsible for ___________________________________________
EXHIBIT 10.6
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between William D. Block ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as Senior Vice President of Sales of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such other officer as the Chief Executive Officer or the board of directors may designate.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the second anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 6 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $12,500.00 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses.
3.5.1 Job-Related. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.5.2 House Purchase. The Company shall purchase, or arrange for a third party to purchase, Employee's house located in Portland, Oregon, at a purchase price equal to the average of three independent appraisals of the value of Employee's house or such other price as agreed to in writing by the Company and Employee. The Company shall pay the cost of the appraisals. The Company shall further pay all mortgage payments on the house, if any, that become due between the date of the relocation of the Company's headquarters to Pennsylvania and the closing date of the purchase of Employee's Portland, Oregon, house.
3.5.3 Relocation Allowance. The Company shall pay Employee a one-time relocation allowance of $30,000 upon relocation of his residence to Pennsylvania.
3.5.4 Tax Provision. To the extent mortgage payments under
Section 3.5.2 or the payment under Section 3.5.3 is includable in Employee's net
taxable income, after taking into account the deductibility of mortgage
interest, the Company shall pay Employee an additional amount so that the amount
paid to him, less taxes at Employee's effective marginal tax rate, equals the
amount required to be paid to or for him under those sections.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings,
or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. In consideration of the stock option grant described in Section 4, and other good and valuable consideration, Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that his employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a nature that
would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"); provided that, without limitation,
such a change of control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i)
any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 30 percent or
more of the combined voting power of Voting Securities; (ii) during any period
of 12 consecutive calendar months, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the board of directors cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority thereof unless the election, or the nomination for election, by
the Company's shareholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at
least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the
beginning of the period; (iii) there shall be consummated (a) any consolidation
or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving
corporation or pursuant to which Voting Securities would be converted into cash,
securities, or other property, other than a merger of the Company in which the
holders of Voting Securities immediately prior to the merger have the same, or
substantially the same, proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving
corporation immediately after the merger, or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, or
other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all,
or substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquiring Person"
means any person or related persons which constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule
are in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the term
Acquiring Person shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii)
any entity holding voting capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan; or (iv) any person or group solely
because such person or group has voting power with respect to capital stock of
the Company arising from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" means the Company's issued and
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the
Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 6.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 6.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 24 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 6.4.3
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 6.4.1, 6.4.2, or 6.4.3 as a termination without cause but continues
to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts Employee
receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against the
amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect shall the
amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any
compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his
termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the
first sentence of this Section 6.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release
agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee,
releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation
to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to
comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period
stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those
excluded by Section 10.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's
employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee
or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers,
directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be
resolved as provided in this Section 10. Claims covered by this Section 10
include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due;
claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims;
claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual
orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability);
claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies
that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different
from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other
governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in
Section 10.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 10. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders, upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
_______________________________ By: ______________________________
William D. Block
Title: ___________________________
|
EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as Senior Vice President of Sales
EXHIBIT 10.7
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement is entered into as of ___________ __, 2000 [insert effective date of merger], between J. Richard George, Ph.D. ("Employee") and OraSure Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
1. Services.
1.1 Employment. The Company agrees to employ Employee as Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Infectious Disease, of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
1.2 Duties. Employee shall have the position named in Section 1.1 with such powers and duties appropriate to that office (a) as may be provided by the bylaws of the Company, (b) as otherwise set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, and (c) as determined by the board of directors from time to time. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, Employee's position and duties may be changed from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Employee's place of work shall be the Company's headquarters, at its present location or as it may be relocated.
1.3 Outside Activities. Employee shall obtain the consent of the board of directors before he engages, either directly or indirectly, in any other professional or business activities that may require an appreciable portion of Employee's time or effort to the detriment of the Company's business.
1.4 Direction of Services. Employee shall at all times discharge his duties in consultation with and under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or such other officer as the Chief Executive Officer or the board of directors may designate.
2. Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall begin as of the date first written above and end on the second anniversary of that date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 6 below. Thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew from year to year for successive one-year terms (a) unless either party gives the other party written notice of that party's intent not to renew this Agreement at least 120 days before the expiration of its current term, or (b) the Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6 below.
3. Compensation and Expenses.
3.1 Salary. As compensation for services under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a regular salary of $12,500.00 per month. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 hereof, such salary may be adjusted from time to time in the discretion of the board of directors. Payment shall be made on a bi-weekly basis, less all amounts required by law or authorized by Employee to be withheld or deducted.
3.2 Bonus. The Company shall establish an executive bonus plan, on such terms as may be approved by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee. In addition to the salary described in Section 3.1 above, Employee shall be entitled to participate in the executive bonus plan.
3.3 Long-Term Incentive. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to participate in accordance with the terms of the plan in any long-term incentive plan that may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee, in its sole discretion.
3.4 Additional Employee Benefits. To the extent otherwise eligible, Employee shall be entitled to receive or participate in any additional benefits, including without limitation medical and dental insurance programs, profit sharing or pension plans, and medical reimbursement plans, which may from time to time be made available by the Company to corporate officers. The Company may change or discontinue such benefits at any time in its sole discretion.
3.5 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out his duties under this Agreement, subject to compliance with the Company's reasonable policies relating to expense reimbursement.
3.6 Fees. All compensation earned by Employee, other than pursuant to this Agreement, as a result of services performed on behalf of the Company or as a result of or arising out of any work done by Employee in any way related to the scientific or business activities of the Company shall belong to the Company. Employee shall pay or deliver such compensation to the Company promptly upon receipt. For the purposes of this provision, "compensation" shall include, but is not limited to, all professional and nonprofessional fees, lecture fees, expert testimony fees, publishing fees, royalties, and any related income, earnings, or other things of value; and "scientific or business activities of the Company" shall include, but not be limited to, any project or projects in which the Company is involved and any subject matter that is directly or indirectly researched, tested, developed, promoted, or marketed by the Company.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Company stock option plan. The number of stock options that are granted to Employee under the plan shall be determined by the board of directors or its executive compensation committee.
5. Business Protection Agreement. In consideration of the stock option grant described in Section 4, and other good and valuable consideration, Employee and the Company are concurrently entering a Business Protection Agreement. Employee's compliance with the terms of the Business Protection Agreement, including without limitation the noncompetition provisions of the Business Protection Agreement, is a material requirement of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that his employment on the terms stated in this Agreement constitutes a bona fide advancement.
6. Termination.
6.1 Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon Employee's death.
6.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may terminate his employment under this Agreement by 60 days' written notice to the Company.
6.3 Termination by the Company for Cause. Employee's employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time for cause. Only the following actions, failures, or events by or affecting Employee shall constitute "cause" for termination of Employee by the Company: (i) willful and continued failure by Employee to substantially perform his duties provided herein after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Employee by the chairman of the board of the Company, which demand identifies with reasonable specificity the manner in which Employee has not substantially performed his duties, and Employee's failure to comply with such demand within a reasonable time; (ii) the engaging by Employee in gross misconduct or gross negligence materially injurious to the Company; (iii) the commission of any act in direct competition with or materially detrimental to the best interests of the Company; or (iv) Employee's conviction of having committed a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated by the Company for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the board of directors of the Company finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors, the Company has cause for the termination of the employment of Employee as set forth in any of clauses (i) through (iv) above and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. The findings of the board of directors shall not be binding on the arbitrators or other finders of fact in connection with any litigation or dispute arising out of this Agreement.
6.4 Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement without cause by written notice to Employee. Employee may (but shall not be required to) elect to treat any of the following events as a termination without cause, provided Employee acts within 60 days of the event:
6.4.1 A material breach of this Agreement by the Company and a failure by the Company to cure the breach within 30 days after Employee has given written notice of the breach to the board of directors.
6.4.2 A reduction in Employee's salary below the amount stated in Section 3.1 (except as part of and in proportion to a reduction in all executive officers' salaries) or a change in Employee's title or a substantial diminution in Employee's duties below those stated in this Agreement.
6.4.3 A "Change of Control" of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A as in effect on the date hereof pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
provided that, without limitation, such a change of control shall be deemed to
have occurred at such time as (i) any Acquiring Person hereafter becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of 30 percent or more of the combined voting power of Voting
Securities; (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of
directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof unless
the election, or the nomination for election, by the Company's shareholders of
each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii)
there shall be consummated (a) any consolidation or merger of the Company in
which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to
which Voting Securities would be converted into cash, securities, or other
property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of Voting
Securities immediately prior to the merger have the same, or substantially the
same, proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) approval by the
shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquiring Person"
means any person or related persons which constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Section and Rule
are in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the term
Acquiring Person shall not include: (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii)
any entity holding voting capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such employee benefit plan; or (iv) any person or group solely
because such person or group has voting power with respect to capital stock of
the Company arising from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" means the Company's issued and
outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections for the
Company's board of directors.
6.5 Compensation Upon Termination.
6.5.1 Termination Under Section 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3. In the event of a termination of Employee's employment under Sections 6.1, 6.2, or 6.3, Employee's regular compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be prorated and payable until the date of termination and Employee shall be paid any bonus that has been approved but not yet paid.
6.5.2 Termination Under Section 6.4. In the event of a
termination of Employee's employment by the Company without cause as provided in
Section 6.4, Employee shall continue to be paid the salary provided in Section
3.1 for the greater of (a) 12 months, (b) the remaining term of this Agreement,
or (c) 24 months if Employee elects to treat an event described in Section 6.4.3
as a termination without cause, from the date of notice of such termination of
employment or the date of such event, in the manner and at the times at which
regular compensation was paid to Employee during the term of his employment
under this Agreement, except that if Employee elects to treat an event described
in Sections 6.4.1, 6.4.2, or 6.4.3 as a termination without cause but continues
to work for the Company or any of its subsidiaries, then any amounts Employee
receives as compensation following the event shall be credited against the
amounts payable to Employee under this section. In no other respect
shall the amount of any payment provided for in this section be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by employee as a result of employment after his termination. As a condition to receipt of the compensation described in the first sentence of this Section 6.5.2, Employee shall sign and deliver a release agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and Employee, releasing all claims related to Employee's employment. The Company's obligation to pay the amounts stated in this section shall terminate if Employee fails to comply with the Business Protection Agreement within the applicable time period stated in the first sentence of this section.
7. Remedies. The respective rights and duties of the Company and Employee under this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, those rights and duties afforded to and imposed upon them by law or at equity.
8. Severability of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any provision hereof is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
9. Nonwaiver. Failure by either party at any time to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not limit the right of the party failing to require performance to enforce the provision. No provision of this Agreement may be waived by either party except by a writing signed by that party. A waiver of any breach of a provision of this Agreement shall be construed narrowly and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of that provision or a waiver of that provision itself or of any other provision.
10. Arbitration.
10.1 Claims Covered. All claims or controversies, except for those excluded by Section 10.2 ("claims"), whether or not arising out of Employee's employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against the Employee or that Employee may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents, in their capacity as such or otherwise, shall be resolved as provided in this Section 10. Claims covered by this Section 10 include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except as provided in Section 10.2.
10.2 Non-Covered Claims. Claims arising out of the Business Protection Agreement and workers' compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Section 10. Non-covered claims include but are not limited to claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Employee understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
10.3 Required Notice of All Claims and Statute of Limitations. Company and Employee agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim. The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based.
10.4 Arbitration Procedures. Any arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), modified to substitute for AAA actions, the United States Arbitration and Mediation Service ("USA&MS"), before an arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the state where arbitration occurs (the "Arbitrator"). The arbitration shall take place in or near the metropolitan area in or near which Employee is employed.
10.4.1 Selection of Arbitrator. The USA&MS shall give each party a list of 11 arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the USA&MS shall furnish an additional list or lists until an Arbitrator is selected.
10.4.2 Applicable Law. The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) specified in this Agreement or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties, except as provided in this Agreement.
10.4.3 Authority. The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
10.4.4 Representation. Any party may be represented by an attorney or other representative selected by the party.
10.4.5 Discovery. Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to make requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders,
upon a showing of substantial need. At least 30 days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any experts, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration. Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
10.4.6 Reporter. Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
10.4.7 Post-Hearing Briefs. Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
10.5 Enforcement. Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, both the Company and Employee agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit (other than for a non-covered claim) in any way related to any claim covered by this Agreement. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
10.6 Arbitration Fees and Costs. Company and Employee shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator's fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys' fees, if any, provided that the Arbitrator, in its sole discretion, may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party in a proceeding.
11. General Terms and Conditions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties relating to the employment of Employee by the Company, and supersedes and replaces all written and oral agreements heretofore made or existing by and between the parties relating thereto. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, without regard to any contrary conflicts of laws rules thereof. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company. All captions used herein are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall in no way limit any of the provisions of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that he signed this Agreement upon his initial employment with the Company.
The parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date stated above.
ORASURE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
_______________________________ By:________________________________
J. Richard George
Title:_____________________________
|
EXHIBIT A to Employment Agreement
Specific Duties of Employee as Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Infectious Disease
EXHIBIT. 10.8
Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933. Such portions are marked by a series of asterisks.
PRODUCTION AGREEMENT
This agreement including the Exhibits attached hereto (this "Agreement"), dated June 9, 1998, is between
Koninklijke Utermohlen N.V., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, with its registered office at Wolvega, the Netherlands ("Seller")
and
STC Technologies, Inc., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its registered offices at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018, the United States of America ("Purchaser");
WHEREAS:
The Seller carries on the business of the production, sale and distribution of a cryogenic product for the treatment of warts, marketed and sold under the name and trademark Histofreezer (the "Histofreezer Business");
Pursuant to an agreement (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") the same date as this Agreement, the Purchaser has purchased and accepted, and the Seller has sold and transferred to the Purchaser certain assets belonging to the Histofreezer Business. A copy of the Asset Purchase Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A;
The Purchaser and the Seller wish to enter into a separate agreement, set out below, to govern the production by the Seller, for the Purchaser, of products for the Histofreezer Business;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties here to agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS
In this Agreement, the following expressions have, except where the context otherwise requires, the following meanings:
ARTICLE 2 - PRODUCTION, ORDERS, PACKAGING
2.1. The Purchaser appoints the Seller to be its exclusive manufacturer of the Products on a worldwide basis for the duration of this Agreement and the Seller shall exclusively produce and the Purchaser will purchase Products in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
2.2. In the first week of each calendar month the Purchaser will provide the Seller with a production schedule (the "Production Schedule") setting out the Purchaser's anticipated requirements for the production of Products by the Seller for the next two (2) calendar months.
2.3. Within five (5) Working Days after receipt by the Seller of the Production Schedule (supplied pursuant to Section 2.2 above), the Seller shall confirm this Production Schedule to the Purchaser. If the Seller has insufficient Materials, the Seller will take all reasonable action to obtain sufficient Materials to fulfill this Production Schedule.
2.4. (i) The Seller shall not hold or order Materials for more than
six (6) months production of Products under this Agreement without the written
consent of the Purchaser. If the Seller shall hold or order Materials for more
than six months production of Products without the written consent of the
Purchaser, then it shall do so at its own risk and the Purchaser will not be
obliged to buy any such Materials from the Seller as set forth in subsection
(ii) of this Section 2.4. For the avoidance of doubt the calculation of the
likely demand for Materials shall be reasonable and based upon the preceding six
months demand for Materials.
(ii) If the Purchaser gives the Seller less than six (6) months notice of a change to the Products and certain of the Sellers stock of Materials are therefore no longer required, the Purchaser shall, at its option, purchase such Materials from the Seller at their Cost to the Seller or shall permit the Seller to continue to use such Materials until they are fully used. Such purchase shall be for such Materials required for up to a maximum of six months production of Products or more if written consent has been given by the Purchaser to the Seller in respect of the ordering of the same.
2.5. The Seller will at all times maintain a minimum stock of Products equal to an average of two (2) calendar months sales of Products based upon the preceding twelve (12) months sales.
2.6. (i) The Purchaser shall place order for Products in writing by facsimile to the Seller. Such order shall specify the quantity of the Products and the information specified in Article 5 of this Agreement,
(ii) If the order is:
(a) received by the Seller during a Working Day, the Seller shall immediately confirm the order to the Purchaser and shall within five (5) Working Days (or a longer period if specified in the relevant order) dispatch the relevant Products to the Purchaser's customer as specified in the relevant order.
(b) not received by the Seller during a Working Day, the Seller shall confirm the order to the Purchaser on the first Working Day following receipt of the facsimile by the Seller and shall within five (5) Working Days (or a longer period if specified in the relevant order) from this date dispatch the relevant Products to the Purchaser's customer as specified in the relevant order.
2.7. The Seller shall be responsible for completing all the relevant paperwork required for the dispatch of the Products to the Purchaser's customers and the Seller shall dispatch goods to such customers in accordance with Article 5 hereof.
2.8. Subject to Section 16.7, the Seller has the right to have the Products manufactured by the Seller by a third party and the Seller may subcontract its obligations to manufacture Products or any part of them under this Agreement provided always that the Seller must obtain the written consent of the Purchaser in respect to the appointment of any new subcontractor for the manufacture of the Products or any part of them (for the avoidance of doubt not being a subcontractor at the date of this Agreement), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
2.9. The Seller shall during the continuance of the agreement maintain for its own risk and account such facilities and employ sufficient qualified personnel as are necessary to manufacture the Products in accordance with obligations imposed upon it by this Agreement in quantities sufficient to meet the demands of the market or make arrangements with subcontractors in order to effect the same.
ARTICLE 3 - SPECIFICATIONS AND QUALITY CONTROL
3.1. The Seller will produce, package and label the Products in conformity with the Specifications. The Purchaser reserves the right to amend the Specification and quality control procedures relating to the Products at any time and shall notify the Seller of the same in writing upon reasonable notice or shorter notice if required by law or any other regulatory body. For the avoidance of doubt the Purchaser shall solely be responsible for the Specification of the Products and any changes to the Specification of the Products shall only be made on the written instruction of the Purchaser to the Seller.
3.2. The Seller shall procure that such notices as the Purchaser may require concerning the Intellectual Property Rights are affixed to or used in connection with the Products.
3.3. The Seller shall not without Purchaser's written consent effect or permit the removal or alteration of, or the making of any addition to, any trademark, the trade name, notice, nameplate, serial number or patent number or other reference to Intellectual Property Rights to be referred to or to be affixed to any of the Products or in any accompanying documentation as per the instructions of the Purchaser or to any packaging or other material supplied by the Purchaser.
3.4. The Seller shall produce the Products in accordance with the then current ISO9002/46002 and CE standards. Copies of all relevant documents related to the production of the Products including, but without limitation, those documents required to complete the CE mark file as approved by KEMA, will be made available to the Purchaser upon signing this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Seller will be responsible for maintaining the CE mark files and shall ensure they are kept up to date and in accordance with good practice for as long as the Purchaser has not obtained the CE registration in its own name. The Seller shall supply the Purchaser with copies of all additions to the CE file and ISO file which relate to the quality control aspects of production of the Product(s) immediately upon their receipt by the Seller.
3.5. The Purchaser or its designated representative shall have the right to inspect the Seller's facilities used for the manufacturing and warehousing of the Products and the Purchaser or its designated representative shall have the right to examine the Products manufactured by the Seller in order to ensure that the Projects are being manufactured in accordance with the Specifications and procedures provided for in this Agreement.
3.6. The Seller expressly agrees to inspect the fitness, safety and good condition of the Products prior to their delivery to the Purchaser's customers. Further, the Products shall be delivered only with those instructions, and warnings to accompany each individual Product as the Purchaser consents to in writing.
ARTICLE 4 - PURCHASE PRICE AND INVOICING
4.1. The Purchaser shall purchase the Products from the Seller at the prices set out in Exhibit 4.1 to this Agreement and shall pay for them within 45 days of the date of the relevant invoice.
4.2. The Seller shall only invoice the Purchaser for Products when they have been dispatched to the Purchaser's customer in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 below.
4.3. If the Cost to the Seller of Materials shall increase by more than 30 percent, then the parties shall use their best endeavors to agree revised prices for the Products taking into account such changes. Any such variation shall ensure that the difference between the Seller's reasonable and proper Cost of production of the Products and the price of the Products to the Purchaser shall remain substantially the same as at the date of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5 - DELIVERY
5.1. Unless otherwise instructed, the Seller will deliver the Products directly to the customers designated by the Purchaser in the Purchaser's order. The Purchaser's order shall indicate the time of delivery, the destination and the customer to whom and where the delivery has to take place and whether the Costs of transportation of the Products is for the account of the Purchaser or the Purchaser's customer. The Seller shall inform the relevant carrier to invoice either the Purchaser or the Purchaser's customer for the Cost of such transportation as appropriate. It is agreed that such destination may be world wide and the Seller hereby confirms to be able to deliver to any world-wide destination as designated in such orders. The Seller will ensure all appropriate and necessary documentation and other regulatory requirements are fulfilled including transportation in order to ensure the delivery of Products to the relevant Purchaser's customer. The costs of such documentation and compliance with regulatory requirements are for the account of the Seller save for the Cost of transportation which shall be borne by the Purchaser or the Purchaser's customer.
5.2. The Purchaser shall indicate the means of transport in the requests, mentioned under Section 5.1 and furthermore under which conditions transport shall take place in accordance with the Incoterms 1990 of the International Chamber of Commerce.
5.3. Products shall be at the Purchaser's risk from the moment of their dispatch by the Seller (Ex Works Wolvega as defined in Inctoterms 1990 of the International Chamber of Commerce, subject to the obligations on the Seller set out in Section 5.1 above) to the Purchaser's customer.
5.4. Immediately after the dispatch of Products to the Purchaser's customer, the Seller shall inform the Purchaser of the same in writing together with the estimated time and date of arrival of such Products to the Purchaser's customer.
ARTICLE 6 - NEW PRODUCTS
6.1. If the Purchaser requests the Seller to produce a New Product, then the procedure between the parties shall be:
(i) First, the Purchaser shall define the specifications for the New Product together with a proposed purchase price for the same.
(ii) Second, within 20 Working Days the Seller shall notify the
Purchaser of the cost of supplying such New Products to the Purchaser and of any
additional costs to the Purchaser under its obligation to buy Materials under
Section 2.4 The Seller shall calculate the cost and price of supplying New
Products to the Purchaser upon a similar basis to the calculations used for the
existing cost structure and any such cost calculation shall be reasonable.
(iii) Third, the Parties using their reasonable endeavors, shall attempt to agree a price for supply for New Products.
ARTICLE 7 - CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
7.1. Each party shall handle all Confidential Information provided by the other party as business secrets and shall handle Confidential Information in strict confidence. Each party is further required to take all necessary precautions to ensure that the information and material will not be disclosed to any third party without the written consent of the other party.
7.2. This obligation of confidentiality applies to all employees and other persons, including any subcontractor without limitation, acting for and on behalf of any of the Parties and each of the Purchaser and the Seller shall ensure that such persons are placed under the same duty of confidence that the Purchaser and the Seller have agreed to in this Agreement.
7.3. This Article 7 shall remain in force for a period of 5 years after this Agreement has terminated.
ARTICLE 8 - R&D AND SUPPORT
8.1. The Seller will assist the Purchaser with respect to any further research and development for the Products and will use its best endeavors to provide the Purchaser with know-how and feedback in respect thereof.
8.2. The Seller shall pass on to the Purchaser, without any compensation and for the avoidance of doubt on a royalty free basis and non- exclusive basis any technical improvements which he has made during the duration of this Agreement, or, where a patentable invention has been discovered by the Seller, to grant non-exclusive licenses (with rights to assign and sublicense) in respect of inventions relating to improvements and new applications of the original invention, to the Purchaser for the term of the patent held by the latter. Insofar as improvements and inventions made by the Seller during the duration of this Agreement are incapable of being used independently of the Purchaser's secret know-how or patent, the Seller's undertaking as referred to in the first sentence shall be exclusive in favor of the Purchaser.
8.3. For the avoidance of doubt any improvements in and/or additions to know-how related to the Production process for Products created by the Seller shall belong to the Seller.
8.4. Immediately after it has come to its attention the Seller shall report to the Purchaser any and all cases of unfair practice in connection with the Products and of any violation of Intellectual Property Rights. The Seller shall upon request of the Purchaser provide the Purchaser with any and all possible assistance and cooperation in defending and securing such rights of the Purchaser. At the request of the Purchaser, the Seller will participate in actions including legal action before the competent courts against any third party infringing the Purchaser's rights.
8.5. In the case of an event as referred to in Section 8.4 the Purchaser will use its best endeavors to resolve the issue.
ARTICLE 9 - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
9.1. Except as provided hereafter, nothing contained herein shall be construed as a transfer or a license or any patent, industrial designs, trademark, trade names, know-how or any other intellectual property right, in any of the Products; all such rights are to be expressly reserved to the Purchaser as the exclusive true and lawful owner thereof.
9.2. The Purchaser herewith grants to the Seller a limited non- exclusive license to use the Intellectual Property Rights as follows:
(i) The use is limited to the effect that the Seller may use the Intellectual Property Rights only in direct connection with the manufacturing, packaging and warehousing of the Products under this Agreement only for sale to the Purchaser. This does not include the use thereof on stationery, in advertising, at trade fairs, on radio and television, or as part of the Seller's firm name. The Seller may only assign or sub-license the Intellectual Property Rights with the written consent of the Purchaser.
(ii) The Seller may not use the Intellectual Property Rights for any of the Products that have been altered or changed without the Purchaser's prior written consent nor for other products or services which are not the Purchaser's.
(iii) The Purchaser reserves the right to impose additional directions or limitations concerning the use of the Intellectual Property Rights and such directions or limitations shall automatically become a binding part of this Agreement upon the Purchaser having given the Seller written notice of the same without prejudice to the rights granted to the Seller under Section 9.2 subsection (i).
9.3. The limited license granted by this Article 9 shall automatically expire upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the Seller shall have no right to whatsoever nature to use the Intellectual Property Rights following the termination of this Agreement.
9.4. Products to be delivered under this Agreement will bear the Trademarks.
9.5. Without prejudice to any rights which the Purchaser may have against the Seller under the Asset Purchase Agreement if the manufacturer of Products by the Seller or its subcontractors (collectively, the "Group") (i) results in any claim for patent infringement against the Group or (ii) if a member of the Group shall be sued by a third party for infringement of a third party's patent rights, and the alleged infringing process, method or composition is claimed under the Purchaser's Patents, the Seller shall immediately notify the Purchaser in writing setting forth the facts in reasonable detail. The Purchaser shall have the right in its sole discretion, to control the defense of such claim or suit with counsel of its choice at its expense, in which event the Seller shall have the right to be represented by advisory counsel of its own selection at its own expense, and the Seller shall cooperate fully in the defense of such suit, and shall furnish to the Purchaser all evidence and assistance in its control. If the Purchaser does not elect within thirty (30) days after such notice to so control the defense of such suit, the Seller may undertake such control at its own expense. The Purchaser shall then have the right to be represented by advisory counsel of its own selection at its own expense, shall cooperate fully in the defense of such suit, and shall furnish to the Seller all evidence and assistance in its control. The party that does not control the defense shall be enabled to join the suit to file any counter claims for damages in respect of the third party, provided always that it accepts the control of and shall act in line with the defense by the other party. The Seller shall not settle the suit or otherwise consent to an adverse judgment in such suit that diminishes the rights or interests of the Purchaser or imposes additional obligations on the Purchaser, without the express written consent of the Purchaser, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. Without prejudice to any rights which the Purchaser may have against the Seller under the Asset Purchase Agreement any judgments, settlements or damages payable with respect to legal proceedings covered by this Article 9.5 shall be paid by or to the party which controls the defense.
ARTICLE 10 - PENALTY CLAUSE
10.1. Any breach of:
(i) Articles 7 and 9 of this Agreement and Article 11 of the Asset Purchase Agreement shall be considered by the Parties hereto as an event of gross default ("Gross Default"); and
(ii) any other Article of this Agreement shall, provided that such breach is not remedied with 30 (thirty) days of notice to the other Party in default, from the Party not being in default, also be considered by the Parties hereto as an event of gross default ("Gross Default").
10.2. In the event of Gross Default, the defaulting party shall without any prior notice or court action being required forfeit to the benefit of the other party a penalty immediately payable amounting to ** for each violation and for ** each day that such default will continue up to an aggregate maximum of ** without any damage or loss required to be proven, the foregoing without prejudice to the right of the non-defaulting Party to claim full damages and to exercise any other right available to it in addition thereto. It is agreed that article 6:92 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code are not applicable.
ARTICLE 11 - REPLACEMENT AND RECALL OF PRODUCTS
11.1. The Seller shall recall and replace, at its expense (including, without limitation, all indirect costs such as transportation, documentation, customs formalities and other regulatory compliance), any Products that are not produced in accordance with the Specifications or any variation of them ("Faulty Products"), or at the option of the Purchaser the Seller shall refund to the Purchaser the price paid for the same in which case the Seller will acquire the Faulty Products. The Seller's obligation to recall and to replace Faulty Products pursuant to this Article 11 shall not apply to Products that after delivery to the Purchaser's customer have been subjected to misuse, mishandling, or to neglect or unusual physical or chemical stress. The Seller shall inform the Purchaser in writing of the existence of Faulty Products as soon as it is aware of the same, and shall recall or replace or refund Faulty Products within 5 Working Days of becoming aware of the same.
11.2. If the Seller fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to
Section 11.1 within five Working Days from the Purchaser informing the Seller in
writing of its failure the Purchaser may also recall or replace Faulty Products
and the provisions of Article 11.1 shall apply as relevant. For the avoidance of
doubt the cost of such recall and replacement or refund of Faulty Products shall
be at the Seller's expense and the Purchaser shall charge the costs of the same
to the Seller.
ARTICLE 12 - INDEMNITIES
of this Agreement or caused by the negligence of the Seller or any person for whose actions the Seller is legally liable provided, however, that the Seller shall have no liability to the Purchaser for any Losses to the extent that such Losses resulted from or arose out of (i) the negligence or misconduct or (ii) breach of this Agreement of/by the Purchaser or any person for whose actions the Purchaser is liable or (iii) any occurrence for which the Purchaser has liability to the Seller pursuant to Article 12.2 below or (iv) any occurrence for which the Purchaser has liability to the Seller pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement.
ARTICLE 13 - DURATION AND TERMINATION
13.1. This Agreement shall be in force as from June 1, 1998 for a period of 5 (five) years. Early termination of this Agreement will be possible only as provided below and such termination shall not include the termination of rights and obligations which are expressed herein to continue. Without prejudice to any rights and obligations the parties may have in the
event of breach of this Agreement, no compensation shall be due by the terminating party in connection with any termination hereof.
13.2. Each party may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by giving written notice to the other party (i) in the event of Gross Default by the other party, (ii) in the event of receivership ("faillissement") or moratorium ("surseance van betaling") of such other party or of direct or indirect owners of at least half of such other party's share capital and (iii) in the event the performance of this Agreement has been suspended due to force majeure (as specified in Article 17 below) for at least 30 (thirty) consecutive days.
13.3. The Purchaser may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Seller:
(a) if there are changes to the direct or indirect control or ownership of (the shares in the capital of) the Seller and the Purchaser does not provide its consent for the same, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld;
(b) in the event that the Seller cannot or does not comply with its obligations under Article 3 of this Agreement.
13.4. Upon the termination of this Agreement
(a) all unfilled orders for the manufacturing of Products may be cancelled at the discretion of the Purchaser;
(b) the Seller shall remove and discontinue with immediate effect, the use of the Intellectual Property Rights and the use of all signs, stationery, advertising and other material that would make it appear to the public that Seller is still manufacturing the Products or has any connection with the Purchaser;
(c) save in the event of Gross Default of the Seller the Seller shall within 10 Working Days of termination supply the Purchaser with a list of its inventory of Products and New Products (if any). The Purchaser shall buy all such Products for the prices referred to in Section 4.1 up to a maximum of the value of 2 months inventory of Products based upon sales of Products for the preceding 6 months except for any Products older than 6 months and damaged Products, which shall be transferred to the Purchaser at no cost. The Seller shall deliver these Products in accordance with the Purchaser's instructions to the Purchaser or to a third party;
(d) save in the event of Gross Default of the Seller the Seller shall within 10 Working Days of termination supply the Purchaser with a list of its inventory of Materials. The Purchaser shall buy all such Materials for a price equal to their cost to the Seller up to a maximum value of 6 months inventory of Materials, based upon sales of Products for the preceding 6 months. In such circumstances the Purchaser shall also buy any additional Materials for which the Purchaser has given consent to the Seller in accordance with Section 2.4 for a price equal to their cost to the Seller;
(e) in the case of Gross Default of the Seller the Seller shall immediately transfer all the Products and Materials in its inventory at no cost to the Purchaser;
(f) the Seller shall forthwith return all packaging, literature, manuals and other material supplied by Purchaser or related to the Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information to the Purchaser, together with all copies thereof;
(g) the Seller shall refrain from using the Intellectual Property Rights and any other proprietary rights of Purchaser for any business and manufacturing purposes whatsoever.
ARTICLE 14 - NOTICES
14.1. Any notice or other communications required or permitted hereunder, shall be in writing and given by any of the following methods: (i) personal delivery; (ii) facsimile transmission and in the case of a facsimile transmission a fax confirmation receipt report shall evidence receipt of such facsimile transmission; (iii) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested; or (iv) overnight delivery service. Notices shall be sent to the appropriate party at its address or facsimile number given below (or at such other address or facsimile number for such party as shall be specified by notice given hereunder):
If to the Purchaser:
STC Technologies, Inc.
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018-1799
USA
to the attention of Mr. Michael Gausling
If to the Seller:
Koninklijke Utermohlen N.V.
Frisaxstraat 1
8471 ZW Wolvega
The Netherlands
to the attention of Mr. D.T. van der Vat
ARTICLE 15 - APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION
15.1. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands.
15.2. Any disputes arising between the parties under or in connection with the Agreement or any further agreements resulting herefrom, shall be resolved by the court of competent jurisdiction of Amsterdam.
ARTICLE 16 - MISCELLANEOUS
ARTICLE 17 - FORCE MAJEURE
17.1. No party shall be held liable or responsible to the other parties nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement for failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of the Agreement to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by or results from causes beyond the control of the affected party including but not limited to fires, earthquakes, floods, embargoes, wars, acts of war, insurrections, riots, civil commotions and acts of God.
SIGNED AND AGREED at ___________ in two original copies on the date and year first above written.
/s/ Mr. D.T. van der Vat /s/ Michael Gausling
______________________________ _____________________________
Koninklikje Utermohlen N.V. STC Technologies, Inc.
By: Mr. D.T. van der Vat By: Michael Gausling
its: Managing Director its: President and CEO
14
|
Exhibit 4.1
|
The Prices
Table A
Product Price per unit
------- --------------
|
* * * * * * * *
For sales to the distributer in Belgium it has been agreed upon separately that the Products in Table A will be priced to STC at **
Other products that are part of this agreement are defined and priced as follows:
* * * *
EXHIBIT 10.9
Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933Financial Printing GroupFinancial Printing GroupPortions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933. Such portions are marked by a series of asterisks.
This Research and License Agreement, dated April 26, 1995 (the "Agreement"), is entered into among SRI International, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation ("SRI"), having a place of business located at 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025-3493, the David Sarnoff Research Center (a wholly owned subsidiary of SRI), a Delaware corporation ("Sarnoff"), having a place of business located at 201 Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 and SolarCare Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("STC"), having a place of business located at 1745 Eaton Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018.
W I T N E S S E T H :
Whereas, SRI and Sarnoff own or have rights in certain patent rights and know-how relating to Up-converting phosphor reporters (Labels), Probes and instrumentation for use in Diagnostics applications.
Whereas, STC has licensed certain patent rights and know-how relating to Up-converting phosphor reporters for use in diagnostics applications.
Whereas, STC desires to financially support certain research by SRI and Sarnoff regarding Up-converting phosphor reporters (Labels), Probes and instrumentation, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Agreement.
Whereas, SRI and Sarnoff are willing to grant a license to STC under SRI's and Sarnoff's rights in such patent rights and know-how, together with the inventions and other results of such research, to Up-converting phosphor reporters (Labels), Probes and instrumentation, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Agreement.
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto, agreeing to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
For purposes of the Agreement, the terms defined in this article shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
1.1. "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be regarded as in control of another Person if it owns, or directly or indirectly controls, at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock or other ownership interest of the other Person, or if it directly or indirectly possesses the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person by any means whatsoever. For purposes of this Agreement, Sarnoff shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of SRI.
1.2. "Blocking Patent" shall mean any patent rights owned or controlled by a Third Party, which are claimed to be infringed by the exercise of the rights granted hereunder to practice any process or method, or to make, use or sell any composition or apparatus under the Licensed Patents or Licensor Improvements.
1.3. "Commercial Sale" shall mean, with respect to any Product, the sale for use or consumption by the general public of such Product, provided, however, that sales of Product for research, development, investigation, clinical trials and or evaluation shall not be deemed sales for use or consumption by the general public, unless the price for such Product is in excess of Cost plus twenty percent (20%).
1.4. "Cost" shall mean the full value of all direct and indirect expenses relating to the manufacture of a Product, plus thirty percent (30%) allocation (based on sale price) for overhead expenses.
1.5. "Development Period" shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and expiring on the ****************** of the Effective Date, unless extended pursuant to Section 3.4 or terminated sooner pursuant to Sections 13.3 and 13.6.
1.6. "Development Program" shall mean the research and development program described generally in Article 3 and defined, in particular, in the Task Orders attached hereto as Exhibit A, as amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
1.7. "Diagnostic(s)" shall mean the detection of soluble, suspended or particulate substances, cells, biological macromolecules and/or other analytes, including but not limited to proteins, carbohydrates, pharmaceuticals, nucleic acids, bacteria, viruses and eukaryotic cells.
1.8. "Effective Date" shall mean the date of this Agreement, as first written above.
1.9. "FDA" shall mean the United States Food and Drug Administration, or the successor thereto.
1.10. "Field" shall mean any and all Diagnostic applications that involve the use of Up-converting phosphor reporter (Label), Probe and/or Labelled Probe compositions, materials, combinations, methods and/or processes and the development, manufacture and sale of apparatus and compositions for use in such Diagnostic applications.
1.11. "First Commercial Sale" shall mean the first Commercial Sale by STC, its Affiliates or licensees.
1.12. "Government Program(s)" shall mean grants, contracts and/or other arrangements sought from or awarded directly or indirectly by various departments, agencies or instrumentalities of the United States Government or the several states in connection with Diagnostics applications within the Field.
1.13. "Improvements" shall mean any and all inventions, discoveries, ideas, processes, methods, compositions, formulae, techniques, information and data, whether or not patentable, conceived, developed or reduced to practice during the term of this Agreement that beneficially change or enhance the economic and/or technical attributes of the Products, the use of the Products and/or the manufacture of the Products arising out of or in connection with (a) the Development Program, (b) any activity otherwise funded by STC under this Agreement, (c) any activity in connection with the use of the STC Patent Rights or STC Know-How, (d) any activity in connection with the use of the Licentec Rights and/or (e) as set forth in Section 5.1, any activity in connection with any Government Program.
1.14. "Instrument Product" shall mean a light emitting apparatus for use in the Field, which if made, used or sold would infringe one or more Valid Patent Claims of a Licensed Patent, but for the license granted by this Agreement, or which otherwise uses or incorporates Licensed Know-How.
1.15. "Label" shall mean any chemical substituent that produces, under appropriate excitation conditions, a detectable optical signal.
1.16. "Labelled Probe" shall mean a combination comprising one or more Labels attached to a Probe or one or more Probes attached to a Label.
1.17. "Licensed Know-How" shall mean the SRI Know-How and the Phosphor Know-How.
1.18. "Licensed Patents" shall mean the SRI Patents and the Phosphor Patent.
1.19. "Licensors" shall mean Sarnoff and SRI, jointly and severally.
1.20. "Licensor Improvements" shall mean any and all Improvements either (i) conceived or reduced to practice by employees or others acting by or on behalf of SRI and/or Sarnoff, either alone or jointly with others or (ii) acquired by SRI and/or Sarnoff by acquisition, license or otherwise.
1.21. "Licentec Rights" shall mean the rights granted to STC pursuant to that certain Research and License Agreement being entered into contemporaneously herewith, among STC, TPM Europe Holding B.V. ("TPM") and Rijksuniversiteit Leiden ("Leiden") to practice certain processes or methods, and to make, have made, use or sell certain compositions.
1.22. "Materials" shall mean phosphor particles and compositions, biological reagents and other matter, laser diodes and other electronic and optical devices to be supplied by SRI or Sarnoff to STC under this Agreement.
1.23. "Net Sales" shall mean, with respect to any Product, the proceeds received by STC from the Commercial Sales of Product to independent customers who are not Affiliates, less (a) credits, allowances, discounts and rebates to, and chargebacks from the account of, such independent customers for spoiled, damaged, out-dated, rejected or returned Product; (b) actual freight and insurance costs incurred in transporting such Product in final form to such customers; (c) cash, quantity and trade discounts; and (d) sales, use, value- added and other taxes or governmental charges incurred in connection with the exportation or importation of such Product in final form.
1.24. "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, government, governmental agency, authority or instrumentality, or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.
1.25. "Phosphor Know-How" shall mean all technology, information and data, which is not generally known, including but not limited to discoveries, formulae, procedures, protocols, techniques, methods and results of experimentation and testing, which are necessary or useful for STC (i) to make use or sell in the Field, any composition, which is described in or related to the Phosphor Patent, in which Sarnoff or SRI has an ownership or licensed interest as of the date or during the term of this Agreement or (ii) to practice any process related to any such compositions which are described in or related to the Phosphor Patent.
1.26. "Phosphor Patent" shall mean (a) pending ******************** ****************************************************************************** *************************************, and all corresponding foreign patent applications heretofore or hereafter filed or having legal force in any country owned by or licensed to Sarnoff, (b) all patent applications that claim any Improvement heretofore or hereafter filed or having legal force in any country owned by or licensed to Sarnoff, (c) all patents that have issued or in
the future issue from the patent applications described in clauses (a) and (b) above, including utility, model and design patents and certificates of invention, and (d) all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions or additions to any such patent applications and patents; all to the extent and only to the extent that Sarnoff has the right to grant licenses, immunities or other rights thereunder as of the date or during the term of the Agreement.
1.27. "Probe" shall mean a binding component which binds preferentially to one or more targets with an affinity sufficient to permit discrimination of Labelled Probe bound to a target from non-specifically bound Labelled Probe (i.e., background).
1.28. "Product(s)" shall mean the Instrument Product and the Test Product.
1.29. "Royalty Term" shall mean, with respect to each Product in each country, the period of time equal to the longer of (a) ************** from the date of the First Commercial Sale of such Product in such country or (b) the term that one or more Valid Patent Claims of a Licensed Patent would infringe the manufacture, use or sale of a Product, but for the license granted by this Agreement.
1.30. "SRI Know-How" shall mean all technology, information and data, which is not generally known, including but not limited to discoveries, formulae, procedures, protocols, techniques, methods and results of experimentation and testing, which are necessary or useful for STC to practice in the Field any process or method, or to make use or sell in the Field, any composition, which is described in or related to (i) the SRI Patents or (ii) ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* *****************, in all cases, in which Sarnoff or SRI has an ownership or licensed interest as of the date or during the term of this Agreement.
1.31. "SRI Patents" shall mean (a) pending ************************** ******************************************************************************** ***********************************************************************, and all corresponding foreign patent applications heretofore or hereafter filed or having legal force in any country owned by or licensed to SRI or Sarnoff, (b) all patent applications that claim any Improvement heretofore or hereafter filed or having legal force in any country owned by or licensed to SRI or Sarnoff, (c) all patents that have issued or in the future issue from the patent applications described in clauses (a) and (b) above, including utility, model and design patents and certificates of invention, and (d) all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions or additions to any such patent applications and patents; all to the extent and only to the extent that SRI or Sarnoff has the right to grant licenses, immunities or other rights thereunder as of the date or during the term of the Agreement.
1.32. "STC Know-How" shall mean all technology, information and data, which is not generally known, including, but not limited to, formulae, procedures, protocols, techniques
and results of experimentation and testing, which constitute an Improvement conceived and reduced to practice during the term of this Agreement by employees or others acting on behalf of STC, either alone or jointly with others (but not including Improvements conceived by employees or others acting on behalf of Licensors, either alone or jointly with others), in which STC has an ownership or licensed interest, but shall not include any Licentec Rights.
1.33. "STC Patent Rights" shall mean (a) all patent applications that claim any Improvement filed or having legal force in any country during the term of this Agreement, owned by or licensed to STC, (b) all patents that have issued or in the future issue therefrom, including utility, model and design patents and certificates of invention and (c) all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions or additions to any such patent applications and patents; all to the extent and only to the extent that STC has the right to grant licenses, immunities or other rights thereunder as of the date or during the term of the Agreement, but shall not include any Licentec Rights.
1.34. "Territory" shall mean world-wide.
1.35. "Test Product" shall mean a composition for use in the Field, which if made, used or sold would infringe one or more Valid Patent Claims of a Licensed Patent, but for the license granted by this Agreement, or which otherwise uses or incorporates Licensed Know-How.
1.36. "Third Party" shall mean any Person other than SRI, Sarnoff, STC, TPM, Leiden, GIB (as such term is defined in Section 17.5) and their respective Affiliates and employees.
1.37. "Up-converting" shall mean the excitation of any phosphor particle by light, which produces emission resulting light having a shorter wavelength than the wavelength of the excitation light.
1.38. "Valid Patent Claim" shall mean a claim of an issued and unexpired patent, which has not been held revoked, unenforceable or invalid by a decision of a court or other governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal, or which has not been admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue or disclaimer or otherwise.
ARTICLE 2
2.1. Licensors represent and warrant to STC, as follows:
2.1.1. Licensors own and hold good, marketable and legal title to the Licensed Patents and Licensed Know-How.
2.1.2. Licensors have not previously granted any rights (and are not bound by any agreement to grant any rights) in the Licensed Patents or Licensed that conflict with the rights granted to STC hereunder.
2.1.3. Each of Licensors is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, with the power and authority to own the Licensed Patents and the Licensed Know-How and to sign, deliver and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement.
2.1.4. Each of Licensors has taken all necessary actions on its part to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the obligations undertaken in this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly, executed and delivered by and on behalf of each of Licensors and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of Licensors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms.
2.1.5. All consents, approvals, licenses and authorizations of United States government agencies and other persons required to be obtained in connection with this Agreement have been properly obtained and are in full force and effect.
2.1.6. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (A)
does not, in any material respect, conflict with or violate any applicable
statute, law, rule or regulation (B) does not conflict with or violate any
organizational, charter or internal governance document of each of Licensors and
(C) does not conflict with or constitute a default under any contract, agreement
or obligation of each of Licensors.
2.1.7. As of the Effective Date, there is no litigation, other legal action or claim pending, threatened or reported contesting the validity of or right to use the Licensed Patents and/or Licensed Know-How and there has been no notice of any infringement upon or conflict with any asserted rights of Third Parties.
2.1.8. To the best knowledge of Sarnoff and SRI, each of Licensors has delivered to STC all information and documents in their possession or under their control prior to December 31, 1994 relating to the Licensed Patents and Licensed Know-How.
2.2. STC represents and warrants to Licensors, as follows:
2.2.1. STC has the legal right to use and sublicense the Licentec Rights, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
2.2.2. STC is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the power and authority to sign, deliver and perform all of its obligations under this Agreement.
2.2.3. STC has taken all necessary actions on its part to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the obligations undertaken in this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by and on behalf of STC and constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against STC in accordance with its terms.
2.2.4. All consents, approvals, licenses and authorizations of United States governmental agencies and other persons required to be obtained in connection with this Agreement have been properly obtained and are in full force and effect.
2.2.5. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (A) does not, in any material respect, conflict with or violate any applicable statute, law, rule or regulation, (B) does not conflict with or violate any organizational, charter or internal governance document of STC and (C) does not conflict with or constitute a default under any contract, agreement or obligation of STC.
ARTICLE 3
3.1.1. From time to time during the term of the Development Period, (i) STC and Sarnoff may mutually agree on the scope of new Tasks to be conducted by Sarnoff to be included in the Development Program and (ii) STC and SRI may mutually agree on the scope of new Tasks to be conducted by SRI to be included in the Development Program.
3.1.2. Each new Task shall be in writing ("Task Order") and shall reference the Agreement and describe in reasonably sufficient detail (a) the research activities to be conducted and the objectives thereof, (b) the responsibilities of the parties, the principal researchers (if any) and any specific resources required to conduct the research activities, (c) the total funding and the payment schedule therefor and (d) an estimated schedule for such activities.
3.1.3. STC and SRI or Sarnoff, as the case may be, shall execute a copy of each mutually acceptable Task Order which thereafter shall be incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement.
3.1.4. Upon Sarnoff's receipt of a fully-executed copy of the Task Order and any initial research payment required for such Task, Sarnoff and/or SRI shall initiate each new Task under the Development Program.
3.1.5. Licensors shall ensure that all of their respective employees and independent contractors have executed and delivered binding agreements agreeing to assign all intellectual property rights to Sarnoff or SRI, as the case may be, and to promptly report the conception and reduction to practice of all discoveries and inventions to the Sarnoff or SRI Intellectual Property Office, as the case may be.
Program. In such case, a new Development Program for the second year may be entered into by written consent of the Parties. The Year 2 Fee is non-refundable and non-creditable against future royalties. The payment by STC of the Year 2 Fee will be in accordance with the terms of the Task Orders for the second year of the Development Program.
3.9.1. From time to time, by Task Order, during the Development Period, upon the request of STC, Sarnoff and SRI shall provide STC with reasonable research quantities of Materials for use by STC solely to develop and commercialize Products in the Field. The cost of such Materials is included within the total amount of Year 1 Fees and Year 2 Fees described above.
3.9.3. ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED BY SARNOFF OR SRI UNDER THE AGREEMENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE MATERIALS WILL NOT INFRINGE OR VIOLATE ANY PATENT OR OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF ANY OTHER PERSON.
ARTICLE 4
4.2.1. Sarnoff hereby grants to STC a non-exclusive license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to practice the methods, and to make, have made, use and sell the Products under the Phosphor Patent and the Phosphor Know- How within the Field and throughout the Territory. STC shall deliver a copy of each sublicense under this Agreement to SRI promptly after execution of the same. Each sublicense shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
4.2.2. Sarnoff and SRI hereby grant and agree to grant to STC, for no additional royalty or other consideration, a non-exclusive, worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to make, have made, use and sell the Products under any patent rights of Licensors not included within the scope of the Licensed Patents or Licensed Know-How, but only to the extent necessary, within the Field, to make, have made, use and sell the Products under the Licensed Patents and Licensed Know-How; all to the extent and only to the extent that SRI or Sarnoff have the right to grant licenses, immunities or other rights thereunder as of the date or during the term of this Agreement. Each sublicense shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, STC, its Affiliates or assigns shall have no right, title, interest or license, either express or implied, in the Sarnoff technology known as "********," as described in U.S. Patent application************************************************************** ******************************************************************************** **************** and any improvements, enhancements or further developments to any of the foregoing (collectively, the "****************"). Sarnoff represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has not utilized and will not utilize, in connection with the ****************, any rights in the Licensed Patents, Licensed Know-How and/or Improvements (including Licensor Improvements) exclusively licensed to STC and (ii) the scope of the **************** is, and will remain, outside of the scope of the exclusive licenses granted to STC hereunder, except that, for purposes of the representation, warranty and agreement set forth in this clause (ii), the word "useful" appearing in the fifth line of the definition of the term "SRI Know-How" set forth in Section 1.30 hereof shall be deemed to be deleted.
4.3.1. Licensors shall each, independently, disclose to STC,
within forty-five (45) days after (i) receipt by such Licensor's Intellectual
Property Office of both the reported conception and reduction to practice or
(ii) the acquisition, by assignment, license or otherwise, of any Licensor
Improvements.
4.3.2.
(a) Subject to Section 4.3.2(c) relating to Improvements conceived, developed or reduced to practice solely by employees of Sarnoff in connection with
activities relating to the Phosphor Patent and the Phosphor Know-How, SRI and Sarnoff hereby grant and agree to grant to STC,**************************** ********************, an exclusive license, with the right to grant sublicenses (in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 4.1), to practice the methods, and to make, have made, use and sell the Products under the Licensor Improvements relating to clauses (a), (b) (d) and (e) of the definition of Improvements set forth in Section 1.13 hereof, and the Joint Inventions described in Section 12.1 (including patents and patent applications) within the Field and throughout the Territory.
(b) SRI and Sarnoff hereby grant and agree to grant to STC,
************************************************, a non-exclusive license, with
the right to grant sublicenses (in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4.1), to practice the methods, and to make, have made, use and sell the
Products under the Licensor Improvements relating to clause (c) of the
definition of Improvements set forth in Section 1.13 hereof within the Field and
throughout the Territory.
(c) Sarnoff hereby grants and agrees to grant to STC,
***********************************************, a non-exclusive license, with
the right to grant sublicenses (in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4.2.1), to practice the methods, and to make, have made, use and sell
the Products under the Licensor Improvements relating to those Improvements
conceived, developed or reduced to practice solely by employees of Sarnoff in
connection with activities relating to the Phosphor Patent and the Phosphor
Know-How, within the Field and throughout the Territory.
compositions, claimed in the Licentec Rights, royalty-free (without the right to grant sublicenses to any Person), for non-commercial internal research purposes under this Agreement within the Field and within the Territory, to the extent permitted under the Agreement described in Section 1.21.
4.7.1. Upon execution of the Agreement and from time to time during the term of this Agreement, promptly upon the request of STC (unless disclosed by SRI and Sarnoff previously under the terms of this Agreement), SRI and Sarnoff shall disclose and make available to STC all information available to SRI and Sarnoff and not previously disclosed to STC regarding use within the Field of the Licensed Patents, Licensed Know-How and Licensor Improvements.
4.7.2. Upon execution of the Agreement and from time to time during the term of this Agreement, promptly upon the request of Licensors, STC shall disclose and make available to Licensors all information available to STC and not previously disclosed to Licensors regarding the STC Patent Rights, STC Know-How and the Licentec Rights.
4.7.3. During the term of the Agreement, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, SRI and Sarnoff (a) shall provide such technical assistance regarding the Licensed Patents, Licensed Know-How and Licensor Improvements, as STC reasonably requests, to conduct its activities contemplated by the Agreement, and (b) shall make available to STC such technical personnel of SRI and Sarnoff as reasonably necessary to provide the foregoing technical assistance. STC shall reimburse SRI and Sarnoff its standard research or consulting costs for any such technical assistance, determined in accordance with SRI's and Sarnoff's normal business practice applied on a consistent basis, together with all reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other expenses incurred by SRI and Sarnoff in providing such technical assistance. At the request of STC, SRI and Sarnoff shall provide STC with estimates of the anticipated costs of any requested technical assistance prior to undertaking such technical assistance.
4.7.4. During the term of the Agreement, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, STC (a) shall provide such technical assistance regarding the STC Patent Rights, STC Know-How, Improvements owned by STC and Licentec Rights, as Licensors reasonably request to conduct their activities contemplated by the Agreement, and (b) shall make available to Licensors such technical personnel of STC as reasonably necessary to provide the foregoing technical assistance. SRI and Sarnoff, as the case may be, shall reimburse STC its standard research or consulting costs for any such technical assistance, determined in accordance with STC's normal business practice applied on a consistent basis, together with all reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other expenses incurred by STC in providing such technical assistance. At the request of Licensors, STC shall provide Licensors with estimates of the anticipated costs of any requested technical assistance prior to undertaking such technical assistance.
4.7.5. In the event that STC desires to enter into an agreement with any Third Party (which, for purposes of this Section 4.7.5 shall not include GIB and its Affiliates) to provide any contract research and development services in connection with the research and development of the Products, STC shall give SRI and Sarnoff first consideration to provide such research or development services, provided that after discussions concerning the provision of such contract research and development services, STC shall have no obligation to enter into such agreement with Sarnoff or SRI.
ARTICLE 5
5.2.1. Certain Government Programs will require the participation of a for-profit company to commercialize the products developed under such programs. Licensors shall inform STC of such Government Programs as soon as practicable after becoming aware of or acquiring an interest in pursuing such Government Programs. SRI and Sarnoff shall grant STC a right of first offer to become the commercialization partner in connection with such Government Program and shall provide to STC, both with such offer and during the period from
the date STC receives such offer through the date that is the later to occur of
(i) 15 days prior to the submission of a proposal in response to a request for
proposal by SRI or Sarnoff or (ii) 45 days after notification of the award of a
contract to SRI or Sarnoff under such Government Program (the "Evaluation
Period"), all of the written information in its possession or under its control
and access to SRI and Sarnoff personnel so as to enable STC to evaluate and
respond to such offer. During the Evaluation Period, in the event that STC
expresses any preliminary interest in the offer, STC, SRI and Sarnoff shall
conduct good faith discussions and negotiations with respect to such Government
Program and neither SRI or Sarnoff shall be permitted to solicit or conduct
discussions or negotiations with any Third Party with respect to such Government
Program. STC agrees to respond within the Evaluation Period as to whether it
will accept or reject such offer of participation in such Government Program,
and in any event, as promptly as it determines that it has no interest in
participating in such Government Program. In the event that STC does not respond
within the Evaluation Period it will be deemed to have rejected such offer. In
the event that such offer is rejected or deemed rejected, SRI and Sarnoff shall
be permitted to enter into an arrangement with a Third Party (subject to and
only in accordance with Section 5.3 hereof), provided that such arrangement, as
a whole, is on terms no more or less favorable to SRI or Sarnoff and no more
favorable to such Third Party than the arrangement last offered to STC. In
connection with such Government Program and in the event that STC is the prime
contractor, STC shall provide any subcontract research or development services
under the Government Program in the areas that are not areas of expertise of
STC, to SRI or Sarnoff, provided that the terms of such subcontract are
reasonably satisfactory to STC.
5.2.2. Rights to subject inventions made with STC in connection with or arising out of such Government Program shall be deemed Improvements, subject to this Agreement.
ARTICLE 6
upon the execution of this Agreement. During the term hereof, STC shall also pay to SRI an annual maintenance fee of ******* on each anniversary after the completion of the Development Period until the First Commercial Sale of a Product. Such license and maintenance fees are non-refundable and non-creditable against future royalties.
6.5.1. Except as set forth in Section 6.5.2, during the Royalty Term, STC shall pay to SRI a sublicense fee of the lesser of (i) ************** ****** or (ii) the percent payable by STC in respect of sublicenses to TPM Europe Holding B.V. in connection with the Licentec Rights, of those certain payments received by STC from the grant of sublicense rights to Third Parties to make, use or sell Products within the Field and within the Territory. No sales of Products by Third Parties shall be included in the Net Sales of STC and its Affiliates. All payments made to SRI in respect of sublicense rights shall be credited against the minimum royalty obligation of STC set forth in Section 6.4.
6.5.2. In the event that, in connection with a Government Program identified to STC by SRI, STC sublicenses its rights granted hereunder to a Third Party for-profit entity identified by SRI, STC shall pay to SRI a sublicense fee of ******************** of any consideration received by STC from the grant of sublicense rights to such Third Parties to make, use or sell Products within the Field and within the Territory. No sales of Products by such Third Parties shall be included in the Net Sales of STC and its Affiliates. All payments made to SRI in respect of sublicense rights shall be credited against the minimum royalty obligation of STC set forth in Section 6.4.
ARTICLE 7
of payments received by STC from the grant of sublicense rights to Third Parties and (g) the aggregate royalties accrued on Net Sales and the aggregate sublicense fee accrued during such period and the calculation of the minimum royalties, if any, payable to SRI for such period. With respect to receipts from sales of Products invoiced in United States dollars and sublicense fees received in United States dollars, the gross sales, Net Sales, royalties payable and sublicense fees shall be expressed in United States dollars. With respect to receipts from sales of Products invoiced in a currency other than United States dollars and sublicense fees received in a currency other than United States dollars, the gross sales, Net Sales, royalties payable and sublicense fees shall be expressed in United States dollars, calculated using an internationally acceptable exchange rate for such currency in effect in connection with the exchange by STC of such other currency into United States dollars (as disclosed pursuant to clause (e) above). Reports shall be due on the ninetieth (90th) day following the close of each period. STC shall keep complete and accurate records in sufficient detail to properly reflect all gross sales and Net Sales and to enable the royalties payable hereunder to be determined.
7.2.1. Upon the written request of SRI and not more than once in each calendar year, STC shall permit an independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, selected by SRI and reasonably acceptable to STC, at SRI's expense, to have access during normal business hours to such of the records of STC as may be reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of the royalty reports hereunder for any year ending not more than thirty-six (36) months prior to the date of such request. The accounting firm shall disclose to SRI only whether the records are correct or not and the specific details concerning any discrepancies. No other information shall be shared.
7.2.2. If such accounting firm concludes that additional royalties were owed during such period, STC shall pay the additional royalties within thirty (30) days of the date SRI delivers to STC such accounting firm's written report so concluding. The fees charged by such accounting firm shall be paid by SRI; provided, however, if the audit discloses that the royalties payable by STC for the audited period are more than one hundred five percent (105%) of the royalties actually paid for such period, then STC shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses charged by such accounting firm.
7.2.3. STC shall include in each sublicense granted by it
pursuant to the Agreement a provision requiring the sublicensee to make reports
to STC, to keep and maintain records of sales made pursuant to such sublicense
and to grant access to such records by SRI's independent accountant to the same
extent required of STC under the Agreement. Upon the expiration of thirty-six
(36) months following the end of any year, the calculation of royalties payable
with respect to such year shall be binding and conclusive upon SRI and STC and
their respective Affiliates.
confidential, and shall cause its accounting firm to retain all such financial information in confidence.
ARTICLE 8
ARTICLE 9
such countries as STC determines are commercially feasible. STC, at its sole expense, shall fund all such efforts at an annual minimum level of $1,000,000 beginning from the Effective Date of this Agreement and continuing through the first to occur of the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date or the First Commercial Sale of Product. In the event that the First Commercial Sale of Product has not occurred on or prior to such third (3rd) anniversary, thereafter, until the First Commercial Sale of Product, STC, at its sole expense, shall fund all such efforts at an annual minimum level of $2,000,000. After such First Commercial Sale of Product such minimum annual funding obligation shall cease and STC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to meet the reasonably foreseeable market demand therefor.
ARTICLE 10
10.1.1. If the manufacture, use or sale of a Product by STC,
its Affiliates, or licensees (collectively, the "Group") (i) results in any
claim for patent infringement against the Group because of a Blocking Patent or
(ii) if a member of the Group shall be sued by a Third Party for infringement of
a Third Party's patent rights, and the alleged infringing process, method or
composition is claimed under the Licensed Patents and/or Licensor Improvements,
the party to this Agreement having notice of such claim shall promptly notify
the others in writing, setting forth the facts in reasonable detail. STC shall
have the right, in its sole discretion, to control the defense of such claim or
suit with counsel of its choice at its own expense, in which event Licensors
shall have the right to be represented by one (1) advisory counsel of their own
selection at their own expense, and each Licensor shall cooperate fully in the
defense of such suit, and shall furnish to STC all evidence and assistance in
its control. Subject to Sections 10.1.4 and 10.1.5, STC shall not have the right
to settle the suit or otherwise consent to an adverse judgment in such suit that
diminishes the rights or interests of the Licensors or imposes additional
obligations on the Licensors, without the express written consent of Licensors, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. If STC does not elect within thirty (30) days after such notice to so control the defense of such suit, Licensors may undertake such control at their own expense. STC shall then have the right to be represented by advisory counsel of its own selection at its own expense, shall cooperate fully in the defense of such suit, and shall furnish to Licensors all evidence and assistance in its control. Licensors shall not have the right to settle the suit or otherwise consent to an adverse judgment in such suit that diminishes the rights or interests of the Group or imposes additional obligations on the Group, without the express written consent of STC, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. Any judgments, settlements or damages payable with respect to legal proceedings covered by this Section 10.1 shall be paid by the party which controls the defense, provided that eighty percent (80%) of any payment made by STC (including payments under Section 14.1(c)) shall be deducted from any royalty (including minimum royalties) and sublicense fees otherwise payable by STC to SRI.
10.1.2. In connection with any claim or suit arising under Section 10.1.1, eighty percent (80%) of any such costs and expenses incurred by STC and eighty percent (80%) of any costs and expenses incurred by STC in connection with its indemnification obligations arising out of clause (c) of Section 14.1 shall be offset against any minimum and other royalties and sublicense fees payable hereunder. In addition, in the event and to the extent that STC is obligated to make royalty payments and pay sublicense fees after deducting such offset, STC shall have the right to reserve and not pay-over to SRI all royalty payments and sublicense fees attributable to the country in which the claim of infringement arose.
10.1.3. If the Blocking Patent, claim, or suit is resolved pursuant to Section 10.1.4(a), STC shall have the right to retain all reserved royalty payments and sublicense fees. If the Blocking Patent, claim, or suit is resolved under Section 10.1.4(b), STC shall pay-over to SRI any reserved royalty payments and sublicense fees, after deduction of eighty percent (80%) of all costs, expenses, judgments, settlements and damages incurred by STC in such matter (including under Section 14.1(c)). If the Blocking Patent, claim, or suit is resolved under Section 10.1.5(a), STC shall pay-over to SRI a percentage of any reserved royalty payments and sublicense fees (after deducting eighty percent (80%) of all the costs, expenses, judgments, settlements and damages incurred by STC in such matter, including under Section 14.1(c)) equal to the ratio of the reduced royalty rate to the royalty rate in effect immediately prior to such reduction. STC shall have the right to retain any remaining reserved royalty payment and sublicense fees (after deducting all such costs, including under Section 14.1(c)). If the Blocking Patent, claim, or suit is resolved under Section 10.1.5(b), STC shall have the right to retain all reserved amounts.
10.1.4. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if a Blocking Patent is issued, discovered, or claimed by a Third Party, or, if a Third Party shall claim or sue a member of the Group for infringement of a Third Party's patent rights, and the alleged infringing process, method or composition is claimed under the Licensed Patents and/or Licensor Improvements, then STC shall have the right, at STC's sole election, and upon 60 (sixty) days written notice to SRI to:
(a) terminate this Agreement as to such country and/or to such Products; or
(b) attempt to resolve the problem raised by the Blocking Patent, claim, or suit, in which event STC's obligations under this Agreement with respect to such license in such country shall be suspended pending the resolution of the matter. The matter shall be deemed resolved if STC is granted a royalty-free license under the Blocking Patents.
10.1.5. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if STC is unable to resolve the matter without entering into a royalty-bearing license agreement with such Third Party, then:
(a) The royalty rate for Products sold in such country shall be reduced by the rate of the royalty bearing license agreement with such Third Party, but shall be ******************************, in the case of Test Products, and ******************, in the case of Instrument Products; or
(b) STC may terminate this Agreement as to such country on
30 (thirty) days written notice to SRI.
ARTICLE 11
Recipient shall provide written notice thereof to the other party and sufficient opportunity to object, time permitting, to any such disclosure or to request confidential treatment thereof; or (b) the Recipient can demonstrate that (i) the information was public knowledge at the time of such disclosure to the Recipient, or thereafter became public knowledge, other than as a result of acts directly or indirectly attributable to the Recipient in violation hereof; (ii) the information was rightfully known by the Recipient (as shown by its written records) prior to the date of disclosure to the Recipient by the other party hereunder; (iii) the information was disclosed to the Recipient on an unrestricted basis from a Third Party not under a duty of confidentiality to the other party; or (iv) the information was independently developed by employees or agents of the Recipient without access to the Confidential Information of the other party.
ARTICLE 12
applications and patents as referred to in this section. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 12.2, neither SRI nor Sarnoff shall file any patent application containing any information with respect to a SRI Invention, Sarnoff Invention or Joint Invention in the event that STC desires to maintain such information or Invention as a trade secret.
that Sarnoff is not giving due consideration to its interests, STC shall have the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate to enforce the Phosphor Patent and to sue in the name of SRI and/or Sarnoff, as the case may be. The party controlling any such enforcement action shall not settle the action or otherwise consent to an adverse judgment in such action that adversely affects the rights or interests of the non-controlling party or imposes additional obligations on the non-controlling party, without the prior written consent of the non-controlling party, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. All monies recovered upon the final judgment or settlement of any such suit to enforce the Phosphor Patent in the Field shall be divided, after payment of counsel and reimbursement of expenses, ******************** to SRI or Sarnoff and ******************** to STC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SRI, Sarnoff and STC shall fully cooperate with each other in the planning and execution of any action to enforce the Phosphor Patent.
ARTICLE 13
have the right to terminate this Agreement and/or (d) the termination is with respect to less than all of the Licentec Rights.
ARTICLE 14
costs) that they may suffer as a result of any claims, demands, actions or other proceedings made or instituted by any Third Party against any of them that arise out of or are related to (a) the negligence, recklessness or intentional act or omission by SRI or Sarnoff in the performance of its Development Program activities contemplated by this Agreement or (b) any personal injury or death to any person or damage to any property in connection with any act or omission by SRI or Sarnoff in the performance of its Development Program activities contemplated by this Agreement, except to the extent that those losses, liabilities, damages and expenses arise out of (y) the negligence, recklessness or intentional acts or omissions of STC in the performance of its activities contemplated by this Agreement or (z) any personal injury to or death of any person or damage to any property in connection with any act or omission by STC in the performance of its activities contemplated by this Agreement.
STC maintains insurance for itself covering such activities. Upon request, STC shall provide SRI with certificates of insurance evidencing STC's compliance with the insurance requirements of this section.
ARTICLE 15
No party shall be held liable or responsible to the other parties nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached the Agreement for failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of the Agreement to the extent, and for so long as, such failure or delay is caused by or results from causes beyond the reasonable control of the affected party including but not limited to fires, earthquakes, floods, embargoes, wars, acts of war (whether war is declared or not),
insurrections, riots, civil commotions, strikes, lockouts or other labor disturbances, acts of God or actions, omissions or delays in acting by any governmental authority or other party.
ARTICLE 16
Subject to Section 16.4 hereof, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Agreement, or the breach thereof, or any failure to agree where agreement of the parties is necessary pursuant hereto, including the determination of the scope of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be resolved by the following procedures:
ARTICLE 17
MISCELLANEOUS
If to Sarnoff, for
all technical matters: David Sarnoff Research Center
201 Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08540-6449
Attention: John Aceti
If to SRI, for
all other matters: SRI International
333 Ravenswood Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493
Attention: General Counsel
If to STC, for
all matters: SolarCare Technologies
Corporation
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Attention: Michael Gausling
|
17.11.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
in Section 13.3 to the contrary, and subject to the next sentence of this
Section 17.11.1, in the event that Licensors terminate this Agreement due to a
default by STC, Licensors shall give prompt written notice to GIB at 41 Spring
Street, New Providence, New Jersey 07974 (or to such other address as previously
communicated, in writing, by GIB to Licensors) and GIB shall have the right,
during a period of forty-five (45) days from the date that Licensors so
terminate this Agreement, to cure such default, which, if so cured, shall fully
reinstate STC's rights under this Agreement. In the event that such default is
not capable of cure within such forty-five (45) day period and GIB is using all
diligent efforts to cure such default, such cure period shall be extended for an
additional period, not to exceed thirty (30) days.
17.11.2. Licensors hereby consent to the assignment, if any, by STC to GIB in accordance with clause (a) of Section 17.5. and agree that GIB shall have no liability for STC's pre-assignment obligations in excess of STC's payment obligations arising under Article 6 and Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 12.3.3 during the fifteen (15) month period preceding the date of the assignment and shall have no liability under the indemnification set forth in Section 14.1(c) until the resolution, satisfactory to Licensors and GIB, of the scope of such indemnification.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed the Agreement as of the Effective Date hereof.
For: SRI International For: David Sarnoff Research
Center
By: /s/ John K. Clemens By: /s/ Carmen A. Catenese
------------------------ --------------------------
|
Title: Senior Vice President Title: Vice President
Science & Technology -----------------------
Group
For: SolarCare Technologies
Corporation
By: /s/ Michael J. Gausling
-----------------------
Title: President
--------------------
-34-
|
[TO BE COMPLETED]
EXHIBIT 10.10
Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933Financial Printing GroupFinancial Printing GroupPortions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of 1933. Such portions are marked by a series of asterisks.
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is made this 1st day of September, 1995, by and among SRI International, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation ("SRI"), the David Sarnoff Research Center (a wholly owned subsidiary of SRI), a Delaware corporation ("Sarnoff") and SolarCare Technologies Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("STC").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, SRI, Sarnoff and STC entered into that certain Research and License Agreement dated April 26, 1995 (the "Agreement", initially capitalized terms being used herein as defined therein, unless otherwise defined herein); and
WHEREAS, SRI, Sarnoff and STC desire to amend the Agreement, as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, SRI, Sarnoff and STC, each intending to be legally bound hereby, covenant and agree as follows:
Sections 3.1 through 3.7 of the Agreement, effective as of the date hereof, are hereby amended by deleting such Sections in their entirety and substituting the following therefor:
and regulations. Because the research services to be performed are of an advisory or experimental nature, Sarnoff and SRI do not warrant that the Development Program, in whole or in part, will be successful or achieve the objectives set forth on Exhibit A.
3.1.1. The Development Program to be performed by Licensors for STC shall be administered by a Program Advisory Team (the "Program Advisory Team"). The Program Advisory Team shall consist of three members, with one person representing each of SRI, Sarnoff and STC. The Program Advisory Team shall communicate, confer and/or meet from time to time at the request of any party. The initial members of the Program Advisory Team shall be as follows:
Person Affiliation Telephone Facsimile ------ ----------- --------- --------- Sam Niedbala STC (610) 822-1820 (610) 882-1830 Howard Rivenburg Sarnoff (609) 734- (609) 734-2323 Luke Schneider SRI (415) 859-5051 (415) 859-2813 |
The members of the Program Advisory Term may be replaced, subject to the prior approval of STC, which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably. The role of the Program Advisory Team shall be to facilitate communication among SRI, Sarnoff and STC with respect to the conduct of the Development Program and to plan for and administer Task Orders to maximize the opportunity for the successful completion of Task Orders in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Specifically, the role of the Program Advisory Team shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: (i) identifying to STC areas of necessary or desirable research for Task Orders (including the development of Task Orders for the second year effort, as set forth in Section 3.3); (ii) advising STC with respect to Task Order priorities; (iii) advising STC with respect to the objectives, scope, methodology and specifications of each Task Order; (iv) maximizing the opportunity for successful completion of Task Orders by identifying the most appropriate personnel to implement a particular Task Order and (v) overseeing the conduct and completion of each Task Order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the recommendations of the Program Advisory Team shall be advisory only and STC shall specify which new Tasks to pursue and in which order, the objectives, scope, methodology and specifications of each Task Order, the selection of the personnel (and institution) to implement each Task Order and the form, scope and manner of communicating and/or delivering the interim and final results of each Task Order. Except as set forth in Section 3.6, neither SRI nor Sarnoff shall charge or receive any compensation for the administration of the Development Program. On the basis of the foregoing, from time to time during the term of the Development Period, (y) STC and Sarnoff may mutually agree on the scope of new Tasks to be conducted by Sarnoff to be included in the Development Program and/or (z) STC and SRI may mutually agree on the scope of new Tasks to be conducted by SRI to be included in the Development Program.
3.1.2. Each new Task shall be in writing ("Task Order") and shall reference the Agreement and describe in reasonably sufficient detail (a) the research activities to
be conducted and the objectives thereof, (b) the responsibilities of the parties, the principal researchers (if any) and any specific resources required to conduct the research activities, (c) the total funding and the payment schedule therefor and (d) an estimated schedule for such activities.
3.1.3. STC and SRI or Sarnoff, as the case may be, shall execute a copy of each mutually acceptable Task Order which thereafter shall be incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement.
3.1.4. Upon receipt by Sarnoff or SRI, as the case may be, of a fully-executed copy of the Task Order and any initial research payment required for such Task, Sarnoff and/or SRI shall initiate each new Task under the Development Program.
3.1.5. Licensors shall ensure that all of their respective employees and independent contractors have executed and delivered binding agreements agreeing to assign all intellectual property rights to Sarnoff or SRI, as the case may be, and to promptly report the conception and reduction to practice of all discoveries and inventions to the Sarnoff or SRI Intellectual Property Office, as the case may be.
modified by STC pursuant to Sections 13.3 and 13.6 or the second following sentence. The Year 2 Fee shall be paid in accordance with the last sentence of this Section 3.3. Notwithstanding the commitment of the Year 2 Fee and, in addition to the rights of STC set forth in the second sentence of this Section 3.3, STC may request that the Year 2 Fee be reduced to an amount less than $******* in the event that Sarnoff and SRI have failed to substantially perform the Development Program during the first year of the Development Program. In such case, a new Development Program for the second year may be entered into by written consent of the Parties. The Year 2 Fee is non-refundable and non- creditable against future royalties. The payment by STC of the Year 2 Fee will be in accordance with the terms of the Task Orders for the second year of the Development Program.
respective Tasks of the Development Program and the results thereof will be transmitted to STC upon the first to occur of (i) fifteen (15) days after the completion of each Task and (ii) five (5) days prior to each scheduled meeting relating to such Task.
STC, SRI and Sarnoff hereby agree to execute and deliver such additional documents and shall cause such further and additional action to be taken as may be required or, in the reasonable judgment of STC, SRI and Sarnoff, necessary or desirable to effect or evidence the provisions or intent of this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.
a. Upon the effectiveness of Section 1 hereof, on and after the date hereof, each reference in the Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "hereof", "herein" or words of like import, and each reference in the other documents entered into in connection with the Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Agreement, as amended hereby.
b. Except as specifically amended above, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.
c. The Agreement, as modified by this Amendment, constitutes the entire understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof, and supersedes any prior understanding and/or written or oral agreements between them.
This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.
Section heading in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.
[Executions set forth on the next page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to Research and License Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
SRI INTERNATIONAL
By: /s/ William P. Sommers ------------------------------------- William P. Sommers, President |
DAVID SARNOFF RESEARCH CENTER
By: /s/ Carmen A. Catenese ------------------------------------- Carmen A. Catenese, Vice President |
SOLARCARE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Michael J. Gausling ------------------------------------- Michael J. Gausling, President and CEO |
EXHIBIT 10.11
COMMERCIAL LEASE
BETWEEN
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEW JOBS CORP.
AS LANDLORD
AND
STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
AS TENANT
DATED
APRIL 30, 1999
PREMISES:
21,420 SQUARE FEET
BETHLEHEM TECHNOLOGY CENTER II
BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA
This Commercial Lease (hereinafter referred to as this "LEASE") is made as of the 30th day of April, 1999, by and between NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEW JOBS CORP., a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, having an office at 3405 Airport Road, Suite 200, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, and having a mailing address of Post Office Box 21750, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 18002, ("LANDLORD") and STC TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation, having its principal offices at 1745 Eaton Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018-1799 ("TENANT").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
SECTION 1. PREMISES. Landlord does hereby lease, demise and let unto Tenant a portion of the first floor and all of the second floor in a building with an aggregate square footage of approximately 36,251 square feet which includes 2,616 square feet of Common Areas ("BUILDING"), as shown on the Floor Plans of the Building and the Leased Premises annexed as Exhibit A hereto and containing a total of 21,420 rentable square feet ("LEASED PREMISES"), which Building is situated on approximately 3.05 acres of land situate in the City of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania ("LAND"), together with the right, in common with other occupants of the Building, to use the Common Areas (defined below). As used herein, "rentable square feet" means the usable area measured from the middle of the demising walls outlining the Leased Premises (19,874 square feet) plus a prorated percentage of the Common Area square footage (1,546 square feet). It is agreed that the design plans and drawings of the proposed Building are incorporated herein by reference and that no changes will be made to said design plans and drawings without the consent of Tenant.
SECTION 2. TERM. The term of this Lease shall be for five (5) years, commencing on the date ("Commencement Date") which is the latest to occur of (i) January 1, 2000, and (ii) the date the Tenant Finish Work is Substantially Complete (defined below) and a verbal occupancy permit has been received; and expiring on the last day ("EXPIRATION DATE") of the fifth (5th) Lease Year (defined below), unless renewed or sooner terminated as hereinafter provided. Landlord and Tenant anticipate that the term of this Lease will commence on January 1, 2000 ("ANTICIPATED COMMENCEMENT DATE").
As used in this Lease, "LEASE YEAR" means each consecutive twelve calendar month period beginning with the Commencement Date, except that if the Commencement Date does not occur on the first day of a calendar month, then the first Lease Year shall also include the number of days from the Commencement Date until the last day of the first month of Tenant's occupancy and the term of this Lease shall be five (5) years plus said number of days and shall expire on the last day of the sixtieth (60th) full month of the term.
When the Commencement Date and Expiration Date have finally been determined, Landlord and Tenant shall execute and deliver a Lease amendment, in the form of the Lease Commencement Date Amendment annexed as Exhibit B hereto, to confirm said dates.
SECTION 3. RENT.
(a) Beginning on the Commencement Date and continuing thereafter during the entire initial term of this Lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as yearly rent, the following sums ("BASE RENT"), in equal monthly installments, in advance on the first day of each calendar month, without demand or notice:
Lease Month Rentable Sq. Feet Annualized Base Rent Monthly Base Rent Base Rent Rate/SF
1-60 First Fl. 13,640 $122,760.00 $10,230.00 $9.00 sq. ft.
Second Fl. 7,780 81,690.00 6,807.50 $10.50 sq. ft.
TOTAL 21,420 $204,450.00 $17,037.50
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(b) In the event that the Commencement Date occurs on a day other than the first day of a calendar month, Tenant shall pay to Landlord a pro rata portion of the monthly installment of Base Rent for such partial month, computed at the annual Base Rent rate of $9.00 rentable square foot for the first floor and $10.50 per rentable square foot for the second floor.
(c) Whenever under the terms of this Lease any sum of money is required to be paid by Tenant in addition to the Base Rent herein reserved, and said additional sum is not designated as "Additional Rent," then if not paid when due, said sum shall nevertheless be deemed "ADDITIONAL RENT" and be collectible as such with any installment of Base Rent thereafter falling due hereunder, but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to suspend or delay the payment of any such sum at the time the same became due and payable hereunder, or limit any other remedy of Landlord.
(d) All payments of Base Rent and Additional Rent shall be paid when due at 3405 Airport Road, Suite 200, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, or by mailing the same to Post Office Box 21750, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 18002, or at such other place as Landlord may from time to time direct by written notice to Tenant. All checks shall be made payable to the order of Landlord.
SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL RENT. Tenant shall pay to or on behalf of Landlord, as Additional Rent, the following:
(a) Utilities: Tenant shall pay directly to the applicable utility all normal and customary electric and gas charges for and with respect to the Leased Premises as shown on a separate meter exclusively for the Leased Premises.
(b) Other Expenses: Tenant shall pay to the Landlord as additional rent each month a sum equal to one twelfth (1/12) of the following listed expenses multiplied by the Tenant's Space Ratio of the Leased Premises to the total rentable square footage. Tenant's Space Ratio (hereinafter "Tenant's Space Ratio") is that percentage determined by dividing the square footage of the Leased Premises, as the numerator, by the total aggregate square footage of rentable space, as the denominator. Tenant's Space Ratio is 59.09%. Tenant's Space Ratio shall be revised in the event of any change in the rentable square footage of the Building.
(1) Real estate taxes assessed upon the land and building of which the Leased Property is a part.
(2) Fire and liability insurance premiums pertaining to the land and building.
(3) Water and sewer charges and fees made by the City of Bethlehem for water used at the Building. This contemplates the ordinary use of water for cafeteria, toilet, washroom and drinking facilities. In the event Tenant uses greater amounts of water for operational reasons, the Tenant shall be charged, and Tenant hereby agrees to pay, for this increased use in addition to the percentage set forth in this paragraph.
(4) Common Area expenses which include, but are not limited to, expenses of metered utilities (electric and gas) and routine cleaning, repairs, and similar expenses associated exclusively with the Common Areas. Landlord agrees that there shall be a competitive bidding procedure to contract for expenses related to the Common Area.
(5) Landscaping maintenance, snow removal, and similar expenses related to servicing the 3.05 acres associated with the Building.
(c) Trash Removal: Tenant shall pay as Additional Rent a trash removal fee based on the actual cost for removing trash and recyclable material from the Building based on the ratio of the "rentable square feet" of the Leased Premises to the total aggregate square foot area of space in the Building actually leased. This Additional Rent will be reimbursed to the Landlord quarterly. Tenant shall separately and directly contract for any removal of medical and/or hazardous waste.
(d) Life Safety Inspections and Expenses: Tenant shall Pay as Additional Rent Tenant's proportionate share (based on Tenant's Space Ratio), all costs of the annual inspection of the fire alarm and sprinkler system plus costs associated with fire
extinguisher recharging and replacement, battery replacements, and other minor repairs to the systems.
(e) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning ("HVAC"):
Tenant shall pay as Additional Rent all costs related to the repair and
maintenance of the HVAC system(s) serving the Leased Premises.
(f) Parking Lot: Tenant shall pay as Additional Rent the sum of $1,990.50 month during the first term of the Lease representing the $102,960 paid by Landlord to acquire the adjacent 1.17 acres of land to be used as a parking lot, said amount amortized at six percent (6%) over the five-year period. In the event the Lease terminates and Tenant has not exercised its right to purchase the Building and Land, Landlord shall reimburse to Tenant the full amount of principal paid by Tenant over a five (5) year period amortized at six (6%) percent, said five-year period to begin as of the date of Lease termination.
All sums due under this Section shall be appropriately apportioned and prorated for any portion of a Lease Year, so that Tenant shall not be obligated to pay any costs of operation that accrue either prior to the Commencement Date or following the Expiration Date of the term of this Lease.
SECTION 5. LATE PAYMENT. In the event that Tenant shall fail to pay Base Rent or any Additional Rent within ten (10) days after its due date, Tenant shall pay an automatic late charge to Landlord of $.05 for each dollar overdue. Such late charge shall be deemed Additional Rent for all purposes under this Lease.
SECTION 6. USE OF LEASED PREMISES; INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Tenant shall use and occupy the Leased Premises as a commercial office alight industrial facility, together with all appurtenant and incidental uses relating thereto (but only to the extent permitted by applicable zoning and similar ordinances and regulations). Tenant shal1 not use or occupy the Leased Premises for any other purpose or business, without the prior written consent of Landlord. Tenant shall observe and comply with (i) the Rules and Regulations annexed as Exhibit C hereto, as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time by Landlord, provided such change does not conflict with any express provision of this Lease ("Rules and Regulations"); (ii) the Restrictive Covenants on the Land attached hereto as Exhibit D; (iii) the Deed restrictions set forth in Exhibit E; and (iv) the anti-discrimination provisions attached hereto as Exhibit F. The Rules and Regulations applicable to Tenant shall not be more restrictive than those applicable to other tenants of the Building and their respective employees, agents, licensees, invitees, subtenants and contractors.
(b) With respect to the Leased Premises, in addition to and not in limitation of the foregoing, during the term of this Lease, Tenant, its subtenants, licensees, invitees, agents, contractors, subcontractors, and employees shall conduct its business on and
occupy the Leased Premises in strict compliance with all federal, state, and local statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules, standards, and requirements of the common law, whether now in force or as amended or enacted in the future, concerning or relating to industrial hygiene and the protection of health and the environment (collectively, the "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"). Tenant shall also cause its subtenants, licensees, invitees, agents, contractors, subcontractors and employees to comply with all Environmental Laws. Except as provided below, Tenant shall, at its own expense, obtain, maintain, and comply with all terms and conditions in any and all permits, licenses, registrations, authorizations, and other governmental and regulatory approvals required for Tenant's use and occupancy of the Leased Premises. Tenant shall insure that any materials or wastes discharged into the sanitary sewer systems are appropriately treated, if necessary, and are discharged in accordance with the City of Bethlehem's Industrial User Wastewater Discharge Policies, as established by Bethlehem's approved pre-treatment program, applicable pre-treatment regulations found at 40 C.F.R. Part 403, and Section 307 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C (S)1317. If necessary, Tenant shall, at its own expense, obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Tenant shall insure that its importation, receipt, acquisition, possession, use, storage, transfer, delivery and disposal of by- product, source and/or nuclear material is performed in strict accordance with any such license.
With respect to the Leased Premises, it shall be Tenant's sole responsibility to receive, acquire, use, handle, manage, generate, process, treat, store, deliver, transfer, and dispose of all hazardous substances in strict compliance with the Environmental Laws and prudent industry standards. Upon expiration or earlier termination of the Term of this Lease, Tenant shall cause all Hazardous Substances brought upon the Leased Premises by its agents, employees contractors, or invitees, or generated by its operation, to be removed from the Leased Premises and transported for use, storage, treatment or disposal in accordance with the Laws. Tenant shall, at its own expense, develop and maintain any appropriate spill plan with respect to all Hazardous Substances brought onto the Leased Premises. To the extent that Tenant is required to complete and file EPA Form R (40 C.F.R. Part 372), Tenant shall provide Landlord with a copy of the same. Tenant shall not cause or permit any condition on the Leased Premises which might give rise to liability, the imposition of a statutory lien or require "Response," "Removal" and "Remedial Action" as defined herein, under any Environmental Laws. As used in this Lease, the terms "RESPONSE," "REMOVAL" and "REMEDIAL ACTION" shall be defined with reference to Sections 101(23) - 101(25) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, 42 U.S.C. (S)(S)9601 (23)-9601(25).
With respect to the Leased Premises, Tenant shall have the sole responsibility of complying with the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRTKA), 41 U.S.C. (S)(S) 11001-11050, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), 29 U.S.C. (S)(S) 651-678, as amended, and the Pennsylvania Worker and Community Right-to-Know Act, PA Stat. Ann. tit. 35 (S)(S) 7301-7320 (Purdon 1989). Tenant shall submit to Landlord on an annual basis a list of the Hazardous Substances, hazardous mixtures, or
hazardous chemicals for which it is required to maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Tenant shall also provide Landlord copies of all required contingency plans including, without limitation, plans for spills of Hazardous Substances, fire and other potential emergencies.
With respect to the Leased Premises, as used in this Lease, the term
"HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES" shall mean any substance regulated under any of the
Environmental Laws including, without limitation, any substance which is: (i)
petroleum, explosives, radioactive materials, asbestos or material containing
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls or related or similar materials (PCBs); (ii)
defined, designated or listed as a "Hazardous Substance" pursuant to Sections
307 and 311 of the Clean Water Act or Section 103 of the Pennsylvania Hazardous
Sites Clean-Up Act, PA Stat. Ann. tit. 35 (S) 6020.103; (iii) defined,
designated or listed as a "Hazardous Waste" under Section 1004(5) of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9603(5) or Section 103 of
the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act, PA Stat. Ann. tit. 35 (S) 6018.103;
(iv) regulated under the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, PA Stat. Ann. tit. 35
(S)(S) 691.1-691.1001; (v) listed in the United States Department of
Transportation Hazardous Materials Table, 49 C.F.R. (S) 172.101; (vi) defined,
designated or listed as a "byproduct, source and/or special nuclear material"
under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended by the Energy Reorganization Act
of 1974 (Public Law 93-438), 42 U.S.C. (S) 2011-2296 and 10 C.F.R. Parts 30, 31,
32, 22, 34, 35, 40 and 70; and (vii) defined, designated or listed as a
"Hazardous Material" under Section 103 of the Hazardous Material Emergency
Planning Response Act, PA Stat. Ann. tit. 35 (S) 6022-103; and (viii) any
element, compound or material which can pose a threat to the public health or
the environment when released into the environment; and (ix) any other substance
designated by any of the Environmental Laws or a federal, state, or local agency
as detrimental to public health, safety and the environment.
With respect to the Leased Premises, Tenant shall immediately notify Landlord, in writing, upon discovering any condition on the Leased Premises which might require Tenant to notify any governmental or regulatory agency or which might give rise to liability, imposition of a statutory lien, or require Response, Removal or Remedial Action under any of the Environmental Laws. In addition, Tenant shall immediately notify Landlord, in writing, of Tenant's receipt, knowledge, or discovery of: (i) the presence of any Hazardous Substance on, about, beneath, or arising from any portion of the Leased Premises in violation of any of the Environmental Laws; (ii) any enforcement, Response, Removal, Remedial Action, or other governmental or regulatory actions instituted or threatened against Tenant or the Leased Premises pursuant to any of the Environmental Laws; (iii) any claim made or threatened by any person against Tenant or the Leased Premises relating to any form of damage, loss or injury resulting from or claimed to result from any Hazardous Substance or any violation of the Environmental Laws; and (iv) any communication received from any governmental or regulatory agency arising out of or in connection with Hazardous Substances on, about, beneath, arising from, or generated at the Leased Premises including, without limitation, any notice of violation, citation, complaint, order, directive, request for information, notice letter, or compliance schedule. Tenant shall supply to Landlord as promptly as possible and in any event within five (5) business days after
Tenant receives or sends the same, copies of all reports required to be filed under any of the Environmental Laws, responses to any requests for information, and any claim, complaint, notice of violation, citation, order, directive, compliance schedule, notice letter, or other communications relating in any way to the Leased Premises, Tenant's use thereof of Hazardous Substances on, about, beneath, arising from or generated at the Leased Premises. Tenant shall also promptly deliver to Landlord copies of any hazardous wastes manifests listing the Leased Premises as the facility and the Tenant as generator and reflecting legal and proper disposal of all Hazardous Substances removed from the Leased Premises.
With respect to the Leased Premises, except in case of emergency or as otherwise required by the Environmental Laws, Tenant shall not take any Response, Removal, or Remedial Action or notify any governmental or regulatory agency in response to the presence of Hazardous Substances on, about, beneath, or arising from the Leased Premises, or enter into any settlement agreement, consent degree, administrative consent order or other compromise with respect to any claim relating to any Hazardous Substances in any way connected with the Leased Premises without first notifying Landlord of Tenant's intention to do so and affording Landlord an ample opportunity to appear, intervene, or appropriately assert and protect Landlord's interest with respect thereto.
(c) With respect to the Leased Premises, Tenant, its subtenants, licensees, invitees, agents, contractors, subcontractors and employees shall not dispose, release, spill, pump, pour, emit, empty, dump or otherwise discharge or allow to escape Hazardous Materials into the environment, and Tenant shall take all action necessary to remedy the results of any such disposal, release, spillage, pumping, pouring, emission, emptying, dumping, discharge, or escape.
(d) Tenant shall supply Landlord with copies of any written communication between Tenant and any governmental agency or instrumentality concerning or relating to violations or alleged violations of Environmental Laws with respect to the Leased Premises.
(e) Tenant shall indemnify, defend (by counsel acceptable to Landlord) and hold harmless Landlord, its directors, officers, employees, affiliated entities, predecessors, successors and assigns, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, penalties, fines, judgments, forfeitures, losses (including, without limitation, diminution in the value of the Leased Premises or damages for any loss or restriction on the use of rentable or usable space of any amenity of the Leased Premises), costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees, consultant, and expert fees) in any way arising from or relating to: (i) the presence of any Hazardous Substance on, about, beneath or arising from the Leased Premises excluding any Hazardous Substances which pre-exist the term of this Lease or any Hazardous Substances discharged by Landlord or any third party not in any way connected with Tenant's occupancy, (ii) Tenant's use, handling, generation, processing, treatment, manufacture, storage,
transportation, disposal, release, or discharge of Hazardous Substances on, about, beneath, or arising from the Leased Premises; (iii) Tenant's failure to comply with any of the Environmental Laws; and (iv) Tenant's breach of any of the Environmental Covenants contained herein. Tenant's indemnity and defense obligations under this paragraph shall include, without limitation, any whether foreseeable or unforeseeable, any and all costs incurred in connection with any investigation of site conditions on, about, beneath, or arising from the Leased Premises, and any and all costs of any required Response, Removal or Remedial Actions, and the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial action, or other required plans or reports in connection therewith. The Landlord's obligations under this paragraph shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the terms of this Lease.
SECTION 7. COMMON AREAS. All parking areas, walkways, stairs, driveways, public corridors, rest rooms, loading areas, and fire escapes, and other areas, facilities and improvements now or hereafter existing in or outside the Building or on the Land ("COMMON AREAS") which may be provided by Landlord from time to time for the general use, in common, of Tenant and other tenants, their employees, agents, invitees and licensees, shall at all times be subject to the control and management of Landlord. Landlord shall have the right from time to time to establish, modify and enforce reasonable rules and regulations with respect to the Common Areas, provided such rules and regulations do not adversely affect Tenant's use of the Leased Premises. It is specifically agreed that Tenant shall have fifteen (15) parking spaces near Tenant's entrance to the Building specifically designated for the exclusive use of Tenant. Landlord shall maintain a sign on the parking lot to the effect that the parking spaces are for private use for tenants of the Building and their guests. If Landlord and Tenant agree that Tenant does not have adequate parking for its employees, agents, invitees and licensees, Landlord shall segregate the appropriate number of parking spaces for Tenant's exclusive use based upon the then current Tenant's Space Ratio. The elevator and reinforced deck for the second floor are part of the Leased Premises and are not Common Areas. Landlord shall place a sign on the easternmost loading dock, located next to the Leased Premises, indicating that it is for the exclusive use of Tenant.
SECTION 8. ALTERATIONS AND TRADE FIXTURES, REMOVAL.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 27 with respect to the initial Tenant Finish Work, during the term of this Lease, Tenant shall not make any structural or material alterations or additions to the Leased Premises or the Building without the prior written consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. All such alterations and additions shall be performed (i) at Tenant's sole cost and expense, (ii) in accordance with the specifications prepared by and at the expense of Tenant and approved by Landlord, (iii) by contractors, subcontractors and materialmen approved by Landlord, and (iv) in conformity with all applicable laws, codes and regulations. During the course of performance of said work, Tenant will carry or cause to be carried Comprehensive General Liability insurance, in the
minimum limit of $1,000,000 naming Landlord as additional insured and further providing such insurance cannot be cancelled without at least ten (10) days' prior written notice to Landlord.
(b) Any consent by Landlord permitting Tenant to do any or cause any work to be done in or about the Building, and right of Tenant to perform such work, shall be and hereby is conditioned upon Tenant's work being performed by workmen and mechanics working in harmony and not interfering with labor employed by Landlord, Landlord's mechanics or contractors or any other tenant or their contractors.
(c) All alterations, interior decorations, improvements or additions made to the Leased Premises by Tenant, except for movable furniture, equipment and trade fixtures, shall immediately become Landlord's property. Upon termination of this Lease, Tenant shall remove all movable furniture, equipment and trade fixtures installed by Tenant in the Leased Premises ("TENANT'S PROPERTY"), and repair any damage caused to the Leased Premises by said removal. All of Tenant's Property remaining on the Leased Premises after the Expiration Date, or after any sooner termination date due to any default of Tenant, shall at the option of Landlord be deemed to be abandoned property and shall become the property of Landlord.
SECTION 9. MECHANICS' LIENS. Prior to Tenant performing any construction or other work in or about the Leased Premises for which a lien could be filed against the Leased Premises or the Building, Tenant shall have its contractor execute a Waiver of Mechanics' Lien satisfactory to Landlord, and provide Landlord with a copy thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any mechanics' or other lien shall be filed against the Leased Premises or the Building purporting to be for labor or materials furnished or to be furnished at the request of Tenant, then at its expense, Tenant shall cause such lien to be removed of record by payment, bond or otherwise, within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof. If Tenant shall fail to cause such lien to be removed of record within such thirty (30) day period, Landlord may cause such lien to be removed of record by payment, bond or otherwise, without investigation as to the validity thereof or as to any offsets or defenses thereto, in which event Tenant shall reimburse Landlord in the amount paid by Landlord, including expenses, within ten (10) days after Landlord's billing therefor. Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and all claims, costs, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) which may be brought or imposed against or incurred by Landlord by reason of any such, lien or removal of record.
SECTION 10. BUILDING SERVICES. Landlord shall provide the following services, systems and facilities for the Building and Common Areas within the Building ("BUILDING SERVICES") subject to Tenant's payments of Additional Rent as set forth in paragraph 4 above;
(a) Basic HVAC for the Leased Premises. Tenant shall be responsible for all utility charges related to the HVAC systems(s). Landlord further shall perform necessary
repairs and maintenance on the HVAC system(s) and shall be reimbursed by Tenant for the actual costs to Landlord of said repairs and maintenance. Landlord shall be solely responsible, at Landlord's cost, for all major repairs and any replacement of the HVAC system(s);
(b) Electrical service for office and light industrial use, including office and light industrial equipment, in the Leased Premises subject to payment by Tenant of all utility charges;
(c) Life safety support systems for the Building including sprinkler and fire extinguisher inspections subject to reimbursement by Tenant for the cost of same; however, Landlord shall be responsible, at Landlord's cost, for major repairs and any replacement of the sprinkler system;
(d) Structural systems for the Building;
(e) Water and sewer system for Tenant's use at the Leased Premises and a plumbing system for the Building subject to payment by Tenant of all fees and charges related thereto;
(f) Cleaning and maintenance of Common Areas in or relating to the Building, including bathroom facilities, if any, subject to payment by Tenant of its space ratio for Common Area expenses;
(g) Landscaping and snow and ice removal; provided Landlord shall not be obligated to remove snow more frequently than once in any 24-hour period, and Tenant shall be responsible for its space ratio for expenses related thereto; and
(h) Tenant shall have the continuing right during the term of this Lease to utilize, in common with other tenants within the Building, the parking area of the Building.
Landlord does not warrant that Building Services shall be free from any temporary slowdown, interruption or stoppage caused by the maintenance, repair, replacement or improvement of any of the equipment involved in the furnishing of any such services, or caused by strikes, lockouts, fuel shortages, accidents, acts of God or the elements or any other cause beyond the control of Landlord. Landlord agrees to use its best efforts to resume the service upon any such slowdown, interruption or stoppage as soon as reasonably possible.
SECTION 11. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING.
(a) Tenant shall not assign or hypothecate this Lease or any interest therein or sublet the Leased Premises or any part thereof without the prior written consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) No sublease or assignment shall be valid and no subtenant or assignee shall take possession of the premises subleased or assigned until an executed counterpart of such sublease or assignment of this Lease has been delivered to Landlord.
(c) Regardless of Landlord's consent, no subletting or assignment shall release Tenant of Tenant's obligations or alter the primary liability of Tenant to pay the Base Rent and Additional Rent and to perform all other obligations to be performed by Tenant under this Lease. The acceptance of rent by Landlord from any other person shall not be deemed to be a waiver by Landlord of any provision hereof. Consent to one assignment or subletting shall not be deemed consent to any subsequent assignment or subletting. In the event of default by any assignee of Tenant or any successor of Tenant in the performance of any of the terms of this Lease, Landlord may proceed directly against Tenant without the necessity of exhausting remedies against such assignee or successor.
(d) In the event that the Leased Premises or any part thereof have been sublet by Tenant and Tenant is in default under this Lease then Landlord may collect rent from the subtenant and apply the amount collected to the Base Rent and Additional Rent herein reserved, but no such collection shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions of this Section with respect to subletting or the acceptance of such subtenant as Tenant hereunder or a release of Tenant under the Lease, or an election by Landlord of its remedies.
SECTION 12. ACCESS TO LEASED PREMISES. Landlord, its employees and agents shall have the right to enter the Leased Premises at all reasonable times during Business Hours and at anytime in case of an emergency for the purpose of examining or inspecting the Leased Premises, showing the Leased Premises to prospective purchasers, mortgagees and (during the last year of the Lease term only) tenants of the Building, and making such alterations, repairs, improvements or additions to the Leased Premises or to the Building as Landlord may determine to be necessary. If representatives of Tenant shall not be present to open any entrance into the Leased Premises at any time when such entry by Landlord is necessary or permitted hereunder, Landlord may enter by means of a master key (or forcibly in the event of an emergency) without liability to Tenant and without such entry constituting an eviction of Tenant or termination of this Lease. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts not to interfere with the conduct of Tenant's business when entering the Leased premises. Except in the case of an emergency, Landlord shall notify Tenant (which notice may be oral) of Landlord's intended entry of the Leased Premises at least 24 hours advance, and obtain consent of the Tenant, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 13. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
(a) Subject to the terms hereof, Landlord shall promptly make all repairs and replacements necessary, in Landlord's discretion, to maintain or promptly restore (i) all building systems including plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and electrical
systems (including the light fixtures but specifically excluding changing of light bulbs which shall be the responsibility of Tenant); (ii) roof, interior and exterior walls, windows, floors (except carpeting) and all other structural portions of the Building (whether or not including the Leased Premises), in good repair and operating condition and in order and appearance appropriate for a building of similar type. Landlord shall also be responsible for the maintenance of all Common Areas. In no event shall Landlord be obligated under this paragraph to repair damage caused by (1) any act, omission, accident or negligence of Tenant or its employees, agents, invitees, licensees, subtenants, or contractors and (2) any alterations or additions to the Leased Premises or the Building made by Tenant without the prior written Consent of Landlord (which consent shall be deemed given with respect to all of the initial Tenant Finish Work).
(b) Tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense, provide customary routine maintenance for the Leased Premises and the fixtures therein and keep them in neat and orderly condition, wear and tear and damage by fire or other casualty excepted. Tenant shall otherwise maintain the Leased Premises except to the extent provided in paragraph (a) above.
(c) Landlord shall not be liable for any interference with Tenant's business arising from the making of any repairs in the Leased Premises under paragraph (a) above. Landlord shall use its best efforts not to interfere with the operation of Tenant's business when making repairs in the Leased Premises. There shall be no abatement of Base Rent or Additional Rent because of such repairs.
SECTION 14. INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY INSURANCE.
(a) Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable counsel fees), liabilities, losses, damages, suits, actions, fines, penalties, claims or demands of any kind and asserted by or on behalf of any person or governmental authority, arising out of or in any way connected with, and Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant on account of, (i) any failure by Tenant to perform any of the agreements, terms, covenants or conditions of this Lease required to be performed by Tenant, (ii) any failure by Tenant to comply with any statutes, ordinances, regulations or orders of any governmental authority applicable to Tenant or its use and occupancy of the Leased Premises (except for requirements applicable to the Building in general and its occupancy, which shall be Landlord's sole responsibility), or (iii) any accident, death or personal injury, or damage to or loss or theft of property, which shall occur in or about the Leased Premises. In no event shall Tenant be obligated under this paragraph to indemnify, defend or hold harmless Landlord from and against damages, claims or demands of any kind arising out of the willful or negligent conduct of Landlord, its agents, contractors and employees. In no event shall Landlord be responsible for inspecting or monitoring the Leased Premises for workplace safety arising out of or with respect to Tenant's equipment and operations.
(b) During the term of this Lease and any renewal thereof, Tenant shall obtain and promptly pay all premiums for Comprehensive General Liability Insurance with broad form extended coverage, including Contractual Liability, covering claims for bodily injury (including death resulting therefrom) and property loss or damage occurring upon, in or about the Leased Premises, with a minimum combined single limit of at least $1,000,000. All such policies and renewals thereof shall name Landlord as an additional insured and shall otherwise be in form and substance, and from insurers, satisfactory to Landlord. All policies of insurance shall provide (i) that no material change or cancellation of said policies shall be made without at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Landlord and Tenant, and (ii) that any loss shall be payable notwithstanding any act or negligence of Tenant or Landlord which might otherwise result in the forfeiture of said insurance. Upon request of Landlord, Tenant shall promptly forward copies of all insurance policies maintained pursuant to this paragraph indicating compliance with the terms hereof. In addition, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration dates of said policy or policies, Tenant shall furnish Landlord with renewal certificates of the policies of insurance required under this paragraph. The aforesaid insurance limits may be reasonably increased by Landlord from time to time during the term of this Lease.
(c) Landlord shall indemnify, defend and hold Tenant harmless from and against any and all costs, expenses (including reasonable counsel fees), liabilities, losses, damages, suits, actions, fines, penalties, claims or demands of any kind and asserted by or on behalf of any person or governmental authority, arising out of or in any way connected with, and Tenant shall not be liable to Landlord on account of, (i) any failure by Landlord to perform any of the agreements, terms, covenants or conditions of this Lease required to be performed by Landlord (ii) any failure by Landlord to comply with any statutes, ordinances, regulations or orders of any governmental authority applicable to Landlord, or (iii) any accident, death or personal injury, or damage to or loss or theft of property, which shall occur in or about the Common Areas as a result of the negligence and/or willful conduct of Landlord. In no event shall Landlord be obligated under this paragraph to indemnify, defend or hold harmless Tenant from and against damages, claims or demands of any kind arising out of the willful or negligent conduct of Tenant, its agents, contractors and employees.
SECTION 15. QUIET ENJOYMENT. Landlord covenants and agrees with Tenant that upon Tenant paying the Base Rent and Additional Rent and observing and performing all the terms, covenants and conditions, on Tenant's part to be observed and performed under Lease, Tenant may peaceably and quietly enjoy the Leased Premises hereby demised, subject, nevertheless, to the terms and conditions of this Lease, and subject to the mortgages hereinafter mentioned.
SECTION 16. NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF TENANT. Tenant agrees that it will not do or suffer to be done, any act, matter or thing objectionable under any generally applicable fire insurance or any other insurance now in force or hereafter placed on the Leased Premises or any part thereof or on the Building by Landlord which shall cause such Policy to
become void or suspended. In case of a breach of this covenant, in addition to all other remedies hereunder, Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord, as Additional Rent, any and all increases in premiums on insurance carried by Landlord on the Leased Premises or any part thereof or on the Building caused in any way by the occupancy of Tenant.
SECTION 17. FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) below, if the Leased Premises and/or any portion(s) or component(s) of the Building or the Common Areas outside the Premises that are reasonably necessary to provide Tenant with normal access to and from the Leased Premises or which provide Building Services or Common Area Services to the Leased Premises (the "SIGNIFICANT BUILDING COMPONENTS") are damaged by fire or other insured casualty, Tenant shall give prompt notice of such event to Landlord and, provided Landlord's mortgagees permit insurance proceeds to be made available for the repair and restoration of the Leased Premises, the damages shall be repaired by and at the expense of Landlord and restore to substantially the condition that existed immediately prior to such damage. Landlord agrees to repair such damage in an expeditious manner after receipt from Tenant of written notice of such damage, subject to any delays caused by Acts of God or other events beyond Landlord's control relating to the actual construction (including receipt of insurance proceeds) which Landlord has used best efforts to avoid or overcome. Landlord shall not be liable for any inconvenience or annoyance to Tenant or injury to the business of Tenant resulting in any way from such damage or the repair thereof, provided, however, that if the fire and/or damage was not caused by the negligence of misconduct of Tenant, Tenant shall be entitled to an abatement of the rent in proportion to the unuseable space to the rentable square feet from the date of the casualty until the space is again useable. Tenant acknowledges notice that (i) Landlord shall not obtain insurance of any kind in Tenant's furniture or furnishings, equipment, fixtures, alterations, improvements and additions, (ii) it is Tenant's obligation to obtain such insurance at Tenant's sole expense, and (iii) Landlord shall not be obligated to repair any damage thereto or replace the same, unless such damage is caused by the negligence or misconduct of Landlord, its agents, servants or employees.
(b) If (i) the Leased Premises are rendered substantially untenatable or any Significant Building Component is rendered substantially unusable or inoperable by reason of such fire or other casualty, or (ii) twenty percent (20%) or more of the Leased Premises is damaged by said fire or other casualty, and, in either case, Landlord's engineer or architect reasonably estimates that it will take more than three (3) months to substantially complete the required repairs and restoration, Landlord or Tenant shall have the right, upon written notice to the other within fifteen days after determination by such architect, in the case of Landlord to elect not to repair and restore the Leased Premises or Significant Building Component, and in the case of Tenant (except with respect to a fire or other casualty caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant, its agents and employees) to terminate this Lease, and in such event, this
Lease and the tenancy hereby created shall cease as of the date of said occurrence, the Base Rent and Additional Rent to be adjusted and apportioned as of said date.
(c) If the Building shall be damaged by fire or other casualty and any of Landlord's lenders refuse to permit available insurance proceeds to be used by Landlord to restore the Building and the Leased Premises to substantially the condition that existed immediately prior to the occurrence of the fire or other casualty, Landlord shall have the right, upon written notice to Tenant within fifteen days after notice from such lenders, to terminate this Lease, and in such event, this Lease and the tenancy hereby created shall cease and the Base Rent and Additional Rent shall be adjusted and apportioned as of the date of said termination unless terminated as of the date of said occurrence in accordance with paragraph (b) above.
SECTION 18. SUBORDINATION.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 18(b) below, this Lease shall be subject and subordinate at all times to the lien of any and all mortgages now placed on the Land or the Building without the necessity of any further instrument or act on the part of the Tenant to effectuate such subordination.
(b) Landlord covenants and agrees to use Landlord's best efforts to obtain and furnish to Tenant, simultaneously with Tenant's execution of this Lease, an agreement reasonably acceptable to Tenant ("NON-DISTURBANCE AGREEMENT") executed and acknowledged from holder(s) of any mortgage now encumbering the Building or the Leased Premises ("EXISTING HOLDER") whereby each Existing Holder agrees to not disturb Tenant in its rights, use and possession of the Leased Premises and Building under this Lease or to terminate this Lease, except to the extent permitted to Landlord by the terms of this Lease, notwithstanding the foreclosure or the-enforcement of the mortgage or termination or other enforcement of an underlying lease or installment purchase agreement. Tenant covenants and agrees to execute and deliver the Non- Disturbance Agreement(s).
(c) Tenant further agrees that this Lease shall be subject and subordinate to the lien of any mortgages hereafter placed upon the Land or the Building and that Tenant shall execute such additional documents to confirm same, provided that the holder thereof shall have entered into a Non-Disturbance Agreement with Tenant as described in paragraph (b) above, which Non-Disturbance Agreement shall be in form reasonably acceptable to the mortgagee and also may provide for the subordination of this Lease and Tenant's agreement to attorn as part of its terms.
Section 19. CONDEMNATION.
(a) If any of the Leased Premises or a portion of the Building or the Common Areas that contains a Significant Building Component (and, as a result, Tenant's use
and enjoyment of the Leased Premises is substantially impaired) shall be condemned or taken permanently for any public or quasi-public use or purpose, under any statute or by right of eminent domain, or by private purchase in lieu thereof, then in that event, at the option of either Landlord or Tenant exercised by notice to the other within thirty (30) days after the date when possession is taken, the term of this Lease shall cease and terminate as of the date when possession is taken pursuant to such proceeding or purchase. The Base Rent and Additional Rent shall be adjusted apportioned as of the time of such termination and any Base Rent and Additional Rent paid for a period thereafter shall be refunded. In the event a material portion only of the Building shall be so taken (even though the Leased Premises may not have been affected by the taking other portion of the Building), Landlord may, within such 30-day period, elect to terminate this Lease as of the date when possession is taken pursuant to such proceeding or purchase or Landlord may elect to repair and restore the portion not taken at its own expense, and thereafter the Base Rent and Additional Rent shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the portion of the Leased Premises or Building not taken.
(b) In the event of any total or partial taking of the Building, Landlord shall be entitled to receive the entire award in any such proceeding and Tenant hereby assigns any and all right, title and interest of Tenant now or hereafter arising in or to any such award or any part thereof and Tenant hereby waives all rights against Landlord and the condemning authority except that Tenant shall have the right to claim and prove in any such proceeding and to receive any award which may be made to Tenant, if any, specifically for damages for loss of movable trade fixtures, equipment and moving expenses.
SECTION 20. ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE. At any time and from time to time and within ten (10) days after written request by Landlord, Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a statement in writing duly executed by Tenant, certifying that (i) this Lease is in full force and effect without modification or amendment (or, if there have been any modifications or amendments, that this Lease is in full force and effect as modified and amended and setting forth the dates of the modifications and amendments); (ii) the dates to which annual Base Rent and Additional Rent have been paid; (iii) to the knowledge of the certifying party, no default exists under this Lease or specifying each such default; and (iv) such other matters as Landlord may reasonably request; it being the intention and agreement of Landlord and Tenant that any such statement by Tenant may be relied upon by a prospective purchaser or a prospective mortgagee of the Building, or by others, in any matter affecting the Leased Premises.
SECTION 21. DEFAULT. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an event of default ("EVENT OF DEFAULT") and a material breach of this Lease by Tenant:
(a) The failure of Tenant to take possession of the Leased Premises within sixty (60) days after the Commencement Date of this Lease;
(b) A failure by Tenant to pay, when due, any installment of Base Rent required to be paid by Tenant under this Lease, and such failure continues for more than fifteen (15) days after written notice provided that such grace period shall not be applicable more than two times in any Lease Year;
(c) A failure by Tenant to pay, when due, any installment of Additional Rent or any other sum required to be paid by Tenant under this Lease and such failure continues for more than fifteen (15) days after Tenant has received written notice of the delinquent payment from Landlord;
(d) A failure by Tenant to observe and perform any other provision or covenant of this Lease to be observed or performed by Tenant, and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after Tenant receives written notice thereof from Landlord; provided, however, that if the nature of the default is such that the same cannot reasonably be cured within such thirty (30) day period but is subject to cure within an additional sixty (60) days, Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default if Tenant shall commence and diligently pursue the cure of the default within such thirty (30) day period and cures such failure within such additional sixty (60) day period; and
(e) The filing of a petition by or against Tenant for adjudication as a bankrupt or insolvent or for its reorganization or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee of Tenant's property pursuant to any local, state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency law; or an assignment by Tenant for the benefit of creditors; or the taking possession of the property of Tenant by any local, state or federal governmental officer or agency or court-appointed official for the dissolution or liquidation of Tenant or for the operating, either temporary or permanent, of Tenant's business, provided, however, that if any such action is commenced against Tenant the same shall not constitute a default if Tenant causes the same to be dismissed within sixty (60) days after the filing thereof.
SECTION 22. REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default then, in addition to all rights and remedies provided by law or equity, or provided for elsewhere in this Lease, Landlord shall have all of the rights and remedies specified in the following paragraphs, without any further notice or demand whatsoever:
(a) Landlord may perform for the account of Tenant the cure of any such default of Tenant and immediately recover as additional rent any expenditures made and the amount of any obligations incurred in connection therewith, plus the prime rate announced by Citibank, N.A., from time to time ("PRIME RATE"), plus four percent (4%) per annum interest from the date of any such expenditures;
(b) Landlord may immediately proceed to collect or bring action for the rent as well as for liquidated damages provided for hereinafter, as being rent in arrears, or may file a Proof of Claim in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding for such rent, or Landlord
may institute any other proceedings, whether similar to the foregoing or not, to enforce payment thereof, the requirement of a Notice to Quit being hereby expressly waived;
(c) Landlord may re-enter and repossess the Leased Premises breaking open locked doors, if necessary, and may use as much force as necessary to effect such entrance. Landlord may remove all of Tenant's goods and property from the Building and store same, at Tenant's sole cost and expense;
(d) At any time after the occurrence of any event of default, Landlord may re-enter and repossess the Leased Premises or any part thereof and attempt to relet all or any part of the Leased Premises for and upon such terms and to such persons, firms or corporations and for such period or periods as Landlord, in its sole discretion, shall determine, including a term beyond the termination of this Lease. Landlord shall consider any tenant offered by Tenant in connection with such reletting. For the purpose of such reletting, Landlord may decorate or make reasonable repairs, changes, alterations or additions in or to the Building and Premises to the extent reasonably deemed by Landlord necessary; and the cost of such changes, alterations or additions shall be charged to and be payable by Tenant as Additional Rent hereunder, as well as any reasonable brokerage and legal fees expended by Landlord. Any sums collected by Landlord from any new tenant obtained on account of Tenant shall be credited against the balance of the Base Rent and Additional Rent due hereunder as aforesaid. Tenant shall pay to Landlord monthly, on the days when the Base Rent and Additional Rent would have been payable under this Lease, the amount due hereunder less the net amount obtained by Landlord from such new tenant. Landlord shall use reasonable efforts to re-let the Leased Premises;
(e) At its option, Landlord may serve notice upon Tenant that this Lease and the unexpired term hereof shall cease and expire and become absolutely void on the date specified in such notice, to be not less than fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice, without any right on the part of Tenant to save the forfeiture by payment of any sum due or by performance of any term, provision, covenant, agreement or condition broken; and, thereupon and at the expiration of the time limit in such notice, this Lease and the term hereof granted, as well as the entire right; title and interest of Tenant hereunder, shall wholly cease and expire and become void in the same manner and with the same force and effect (except as to Tenant's liability) as if the date fixed in such notice were the expiration date of the term of this Lease. Thereupon, Tenant shall immediately quit and surrender the Leased Premises to Landlord and Landlord may enter into and repossess the Leased Premises by summary proceedings, detainer, ejectment or otherwise and remove all occupants thereof and, at Landlord's option, any property therein, without being liable to indictment, prosecution or damages therefor;
(f) At Landlord's option, Tenant shall pay to Landlord on
demand all Base Rent, Additional Rent and other charges payable hereunder due
and unpaid to the date of demand (allowing Tenant a credit for any sums
collected by Landlord from any new tenant to the extent provided in paragraph
(d) above), together with liquidated damages in an amount equal to
twenty five percent (25%) of the Base Rent, Additional Rent and other charges required to be paid under this Lease from the date of said demand to the Expiration Date of the term of this Lease, as if the same had not or will not be terminated, together with interest thereon from the date of demand to the date paid at a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus four percent (4%) per annum. The amount of liquidated damages attributable to Tenant's Space Ratio of operating costs shall equal the amount of such costs paid as Additional Rent by Tenant for the entire Lease Year immediately prior to such default multiplied by the number of Lease Years (or portions thereof) remaining through the Expiration Date. Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that the damages to which Landlord is entitled in the event of a default under this Lease and, if applicable, termination by Landlord, are not easily computed and are subject to many variable factors. Therefore, Landlord and Tenant have agreed to the liquidated damages as herein provided in order to avoid extended litigation in the event of default by Tenant, and if applicable, termination of this Lease.
In the event Landlord exercises the remedy under this paragraph and Tenant pays Landlord the entire amount of the liquidated damages, Landlord shall be deemed to have made an election of remedies and except for regaining possession of the Leased Premises and termination of this Lease, Landlord shall not be entitled to exercise any further remedy under this Section; it being expressly agreed by the parties that the payment of the liquidated damages shall not entitle Tenant to continue this Lease and possession of the Leased Premises, which Landlord may terminate at any time under an event of default hereunder.
(g) The rights and remedies given to Landlord in this Lease are distinct, separate and cumulative remedies, and no one of them, whether or not exercised by Landlord, shall be deemed to be in exclusion of any of the others.
SECTION 23. REQUIREMENT OF STRICT PERFORMANCE. The failure or delay on the part of Landlord to enforce or exercise at any time any of the provisions, rights or remedies in the Lease shall in no way be construed to be a waiver thereof, or in any way to affect the validity of this Lease or any part thereof, or the right of Landlord to thereafter enforce each and every such provision, right or remedy. No waiver of any breach of this Lease shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach. The receipt by Landlord of Base Rent or Additional Rent at a time when the Base Rent or Additional Rent is in default under this Lease shall not be construed as waiver of such default. The receipt by Landlord of a lesser amount than the Base Rent or Additional Rent due shall not be construed to be other than a payment on account of the Base Rent or Additional Rent then due, and any statement on Tenant's check or any letter accompanying Tenant's check to the contrary shall not be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such payment without prejudice to Landlord's right to recover the balance of the Base Rent or Additional Rent due or to pursue any other remedies provided in this Lease. No act or thing done by Landlord or Landlord's agents or employees during the term of this Lease shall be deemed an acceptance of a surrender of the
Leased Premises and no agreement to accept such a surrender shall be valid unless in writing and signed by Landlord.
SECTION 24. SURRENDER OF LEASED PREMISES; HOLDING OVER.
(a) The Lease shall terminate and Tenant shall deliver up and surrender possession of the Leased Premises to Landlord at 11:59 P.M. local time on the last day of the term hereof, and Tenant hereby waives the right to any notice of termination or notice to quit. Upon the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease, Tenant covenants to deliver up and surrender possession of the Leased Premises in the same condition in which Tenant has agreed to maintain and keep the same during the term of this Lease in accordance with the provisions of this Lease, normal wear and tear excepted.
(b) Upon the failure of Tenant to surrender possession of the Leased Premises to Landlord upon the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease, Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as liquidated damages, an amount equal to 150% of the then current Base Rent and Additional Rent required to be paid by Tenant under this Lease, applied to the first thirty (30) days Tenant shall remain in possession after the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease, and 200% of the then current Base Rent and Additional Rent required to be paid by Tenant under this Lease, applied to the holdover period from and after the 31st day Tenant shall remain in possession after the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease. Acceptance by Landlord of Base Rent or Additional Rent after such expiration or earlier termination shall not constitute a consent to a holdover hereunder or result in a renewal. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph are in addition to and do not affect Landlord's right of reentry or any other rights of Landlord hereunder or otherwise provided by law.
SECTION 25. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND ORDINANCES. At its sole cost and expense, Tenant shall promptly fulfill and comply with all laws, ordinances, regulations and requirements of the Federal state and local governments and any and all departments thereof having jurisdiction over the Building applicable to Tenant's use and occupancy of the Leased Premises (but not those applicable to the Building generally or its occupancy, which, subject to the terms hereof, shall be Landlord's sole responsibility), and the National Board of Fire Underwriters or any other similar body now or hereafter constituted, affecting Tenant's occupancy of the Leased Premises or the business conducted therein.
SECTION 26. TENANT DESIGN PROCESS.
(a) Landlord shall retain, at Landlord's cost and expense, the services of a qualified and experienced tenant finish architect ("TENANT FINISH ARCHITECT") and other consultants, to be approved by Tenant, as shall be reasonably necessary for the purposes of planning, designing and construction of the Leased Premises for Tenant's occupancy acceptable to Tenant in scope and detail ("TENANT FINISH WORK") it being understood that Landlord's required "Tenant Finish Work" shall be limited to amounts determined in Landlord's discretion
to be normal tenant finish work and that Landlord's financial contribution to said work shall in no event exceed $22.50 per square foot. The cost of the Tenant Finish Architect shall be included in the $22.50 per square foot allocation provided by Landlord. The Tenant Finish Architect shall be responsible for the development, completion and submission of certain design and construction documentation for Tenant's and Landlord's review and approval as set forth herein. Tenant hereby approves Lee Architectural Associates as the Tenant Finish Architect.
(b) The Tenant Finish Architect shall meet with Tenant to determine Tenant's space requirement program. Tenant's space requirement program shall include a determination of Tenant's general space requirements, Tenant's specific functional and organizational space requirements, special lighting, electrical and security requirements, preferred locations and configurations of offices, work rooms, manufacturing requirements, conference rooms, reception areas, file rooms and other rooms, and a determination of any other specialized Tenant requirements.
(c) The Tenant Finish Architect shall complete the plans, drawings, and specifications ("TENANT CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS") necessary and required to implement the Tenant Finish Work. Tenant Construction Documents shall be in compliance with and contain all information necessary to obtain the permits and licenses required to perform the Tenant Finish Work.
SECTION 27. TENANT FINISH WORK.
(a) Tenant hereby approves and Landlord consents to the use of Boyle Associates, or such other contractor as may be approved by Tenant, as the fit-out contractor. Within two weeks after receiving the Tenant Construction Documents, Boyle Associates will develop a not-to-exceed construction cost for the entire Tenant Finish Work.
(b) Landlord shall pay the sum of $447,165 towards the cost of the Tenant Finish Work for the Leased Premises (being an amount equal to $22.50 per square foot of useable area, i.e. 19,874 square feet). Tenant shall pay for the balance of the cost of the Tenant Finish Work for the Leased Premises. Such amounts shall be payable as follows:
(1) Upon receipt and approval by Landlord and Tenant of the not-to-exceed figure for the Tenant Finish Work for the Leased Premises, Landlord andTenant shall open a joint checking account requiring the signatures of both Landlord and Tenant on checks. Landlord shall deposit the sum of $447,165 into said account, and Tenant will deposit an amount equal to the not- to-exceed figure less $447,165, in each case within ten (10) days of the acceptance of the not-to-exceed figure except as otherwise mutually agreed by Landlord and Tenant.
(2) All invoices for the Tenant Finish Work, upon approval by Boyle Associates and Lee Architectural Associates, shall be delivered to Landlord for review with Tenant and approval by both Landlord and Tenant.
(3) Upon approval of the invoices, Landlord and Tenant shall jointly execute a check and deliver the same for payment of such invoices.
(4) Tenant shall be responsible for the cost of any Tenant Finish Work in excess of $447,165 regardless of the reason for such overage. In the event the total cost of the Tenant Finish Work is in excess of $447,165 but less than the total amount deposited in the joint account, the balance remaining in the account upon completion of the Tenant Finish Work shall be delivered to Tenant. In the event the total cost of the Tenant Finish Work is less than $447,165, an amount equal to $447,165 less the total cost shall be refunded to Landlord and the balance remaining in the account, if any, shall be delivered to Tenant.
(c) Landlord shall cause all Tenant Finish Work to be done in a good and workmanlike manner. Subject to force majeure, Landlord shall cause the Tenant Finish Work to be carried forward expeditiously and with adequate work forces so as to achieve Substantial Completion of the Leased Premises on or before the Anticipated Commencement Date.
(d) Landlord shall leave the Leased Premises, upon completion of all construction, in a broom-swept and fully serviceable fashion.
(e) If, within one (1) year after the date of Substantial Completion of the Tenant Finish Work, any of Tenant's Finish Work is reasonably found by Tenant to be not in substantial accordance with the requirements of the Tenant Construction Documents, Landlord shall cause it to be corrected promptly after receipt of written notice from Tenant to do so, provided however, that Landlord's financial contribution toward the Tenant Finish Work shall not exceed $447,165. Landlord's obligation under this paragraph shall survive Tenant's occupancy of the Leased Premises upon Substantial Completion. Tenant shall give Landlord notice promptly after discovery of the condition.
(f) Changes in the Tenant Finish Work may be accomplished only by Change Order. A Change Order shall be based upon agreement between Landlord and Tenant. Changes in the Tenant Finish Work shall be performed in conformity with the provisions of this section and the provisions of the Change Order.
Tenant shall have the right to request changes in the Tenant Finish Work by making a written request to Landlord describing the requested change, provided that Landlord shall not be obliged to execute the requested change unless a Change Order is issued with respect thereto.
A Change Order is a written instrument prepared by the Tenant Finish
Contractor and signed by Landlord and Tenant stating their agreement upon all of
the following: (a) a Change in the Tenant Finish Work; (b) the extent of the
adjustment in the cost of the Tenant Finish Work, and which party shall pay; and
(c) the extent of the adjustment in the date of Substantial Completion of the
Tenant Finish Work, if any.
SECTION 28. TENANT'S SEPARATE CONTRACTORS. At Tenant's sole cost and expense, Tenant may perform work with separate contractors, prior to the Commencement Date, subject to the following requirements:
(a) The work shall be limited to computer, network installation, telephone installations, process gas line installation, DI water system installation, and furniture, carpet, and equipment installations.
(b) Tenant shall obtain Landlord's prior written approval of the contractor and of the specified work to be performed, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall furnish Landlord with adequate design documentation of such work.
(c) As soon as practicable, Tenant shall furnish to Landlord, in writing, the names of the persons or entities proposed to perform Tenant's separate work. Tenant shall not contract with any person or entity with whom Landlord has reasonable objection.
(d) The entry by Tenant and Tenant's contractors, workmen and mechanics into the Leased Premises shall be deemed to be under all of the terms, covenants, conditions and provisions of this Lease, except the covenant to pay Base Rent and Additional Rent.
(e) Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant in any way for any injury or death to any person or persons, loss or damage to any of the leasehold improvements or installations made in the Leased Premises or loss or damage to property placed therein or thereabout, the same being at Tenant's sole risk, except for any injury or damage caused in whole or in part by the negligence of Landlord, its employees, agents or independent contractors. In addition to any other conditions or limitations on such license to enter the Leased Premises prior to the Commencement Date, Tenant expressly agrees that none of its agents, contractors, workmen, mechanics, suppliers or invitees shall enter the Leased Premises prior to the Commencement Date unless and until each of them shall furnish Landlord with satisfactory evidence of Comprehensive General Liability insurance coverage and financial responsibility.
(f) Landlord shall endeavor to afford Tenant's separate contractors reasonable access to work areas at reasonable times consistent with the restrictions herein, provided, however, that the reasonable decision of Landlord as to such access shall be final.
SECTION 29. SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION.
(a) As used herein, the Leased Premises shall be considered "SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE" as of the date when construction of the Tenant Finish Work has been substantially completed in conformity with the Tenant Construction Documents in all aspects necessary to permit Tenant to occupy and utilize the Leased Premises for the uses permitted by this Lease, subject to minor punch list items.
(b) Immediately prior to occupancy of the Leased Premises by Tenant, Tenant and Landlord jointly shall inspect the Building and the Leased Premises in order to determine and record their condition and to prepare a comprehensive list of items that have not been completed (or which have not been correctly or properly completed) in conformity with the building plans and specifications and Tenant's Construction Documents ("PUNCH LIST ITEM"). Thereafter Landlord shall proceed promptly to complete and correct all Punch List Items.
SECTION 30. TENANT DELAYS DEFINED. A "TENANT DELAY" is any delay in the completion of Tenant's Construction Documents or in preparation of the Leased Premises for occupancy, caused by an act or omission of Tenant, including, without limitation, the following:
(a) Tenant's failure to submit in a timely manner as provided herein approved Tenant's Construction Documents.
(b) Delay caused by revisions to approved Tenant's Construction Documents requested by Tenant after submission to Landlord.
(c) Delay in the commencement of Tenant Finish Work resulting from Tenant's failure to authorize the award of the Tenant Construction Contracts in a timely manner as provided herein.
(d) Delay caused by the performance or nonperformance of any work or activity by Tenant or any of its employees, agents or separate contractors or consultants provided Landlord gives Tenant written notice of such delay as promptly as possible, but in any event within (30) days following any such delay.
(e) Delay caused by Tenant requested changes in the Tenant Finish Work as established by written Change Order signed by Landlord and Tenant.
SECTION 31. DELAY IN POSSESSION. In the event that Substantial Completion of the Tenant Finish Work is delayed by any Tenant Delay, then for purposes of determining the Commencement Date as provided in Section 2 hereof the date of Substantial Completion of the Tenant Finish Work shall be adjusted by subtracting one (1) day from the actual date of Substantial Completion of the Tenant Finish Work for each day of Tenant Delay.
SECTION 32. OPTIONS TO RENEW. Landlord hereby grants Tenant one (1) option to renew the term of the Lease, upon the following terms and conditions:
(a) The renewal term shall be for five (5) years, commencing on the day following the expiration date of the initial term;
(b) Tenant must exercise the option, if at all, upon at least ninety (90) days' written notice to Landlord, prior to the expiration date of the initial term, as the case may be;
(c) At the time Tenant delivers its notice of election to renew to Landlord, this Lease shall be in full force and effect and Tenant shall not then be in default under any of the material terms and conditions of the Lease beyond any applicable cure period;
(d) The renewal term shall be upon the same terms, covenants and conditions contained in the Lease, except that the annual Base Rent for the renewal term shall be the rent set forth in Exhibit G attached hereto;
(e) Tenant shall continue to pay Tenant's Space Ratio of all costs and expenses of operation as set forth in Section 4 above;
(f) In the event that Tenant assigns this Lease at any time prior to the expiration of the initial term of this Lease, there shall be no further right or privilege to renew the term of this Lease; and
(g) If Tenant exercises the option to renew, Landlord and Tenant shall execute and deliver an amendment to this Lease confirming the commencement and expiration dates of the renewal term, the Base Rent payable by Tenant during the renewal term, and any other relevant terms and conditions agreed upon by Landlord and Tenant applicable during the renewal term.
SECTION 33. PROJECT NAME AND SIGNAGE. During the term of this Lease so long as Tenant occupies at least-fifty percent (50%) of the Leased Premises, Tenant shall have the right to display its name highest on a "monument sign" located near the entrance to Land (to the extent permitted by applicable zoning ordinances and regulations). No other signage shall be permitted on the Leased Premises without the prior written approval of Landlord.
SECTION 34. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of or related to this Lease (other than arising under paragraphs 21 and 22 hereof) shall be settled by arbitration in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the arbitrator's award shall be binding on the parties and judgment upon such award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If Landlord and Tenant are unable to agree on the resolution of a controversy or claim, either party may five (5) days
thereafter, by written notice to the other and to the American Arbitration Association, submit the dispute to arbitration for conclusive and final determination. No arbitration shall include, by consolidation or joinder or in any other manner, parties other than the Landlord and the Tenant, including Tenant's assigns and subtenants.
SECTION 35. NOTICES. All notices or demands under this Lease shall be in writing and shall be given or served by either Landlord or Tenant to or upon the other, either personally or by Registered or Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, postage prepaid, or by Federal Express or any other national overnight delivery service, and addressed as follows:
(a) To Landlord:
Northampton County New Jobs Corp.
Attn: Janet R. Smith
3405 Airport Road, Suite 200
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103
or
Post Office Box 21750
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania 18002
with copy to:
DeRaymond & Smith
Attn: Raymond J. DeRaymond, Esquire
717 Washington Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 180424386
(b) To Tenant:
Prior to Commencement Date:
STC Technologies, Inc.
Attn: Michael Gausling, President
1745 Eaton Avenue
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018-1799
After Commencement Date:
STC Technologies, Inc.
Attn: Michael Gausling, President
150 Webster Street
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015;
with copy to:
Tallman, Hudders & Sorrentino, P.C.
Attn: Scott B. Allinson, Esquire
The Paragon Centre, Suite 300
1611 Pond Road
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104-2256
All notices and demands shall be deemed given or served upon the datt of receipt thereof if by personal delivery, two (2) business days following mailing if by certified mail, and one (1) business day following sending if by any national overnight delivery. Either Landlord or Tenant may change its address to which notices and demands shall be delivered or mailed by giving written notice of such change to the other as herein provided.
SECTION 36. BROKERAGE. Except as otherwise disclosed in writing to Landlord, Tenant warrants to Landlord that Tenant dealt and negotiated solely and only with Landlord for this Lease and with no other broker, firm, company or person.
Tenant hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and all claims, suits, proceedings, damages, obligations, liabilities, counsel fees, costs, losses, expenses, orders and judgments imposed by or asserted against Landlord by reason of the falsity or error of Tenant's warranty.
SECTION 37. FORCE MAJEURE. Landlord and Tenant shall each be excused for the period of any delay in the performance of any of its obligations under this Lease, except for Tenant's obligations to pay Base Rent and Additional Rent, when prevented from so doing by cause or causes beyond their control, which shall include, without limitation, all labor disputes, civil commotion, or Acts of God.
SECTION 38. SUCCESSORS. The respective rights and obligations of Landlord and Tenant under this Lease shall bind and shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant and their legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns, provided, however, that no rights shall inure to the benefit of any successor of Tenant unless Landlord's written consent to the transfer, if any, to such successor has first been obtained.
SECTION 39. GOVERNING LAW. This Lease shall be construed, governed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SECTION 40. SEVERABILITY. If any provisions of this Lease shall be held to beinvalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Lease shall in no way be affected or impaired and such remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 41. CAPTIONS. Any headings preceding the text of the several sections of this Lease are inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this Lease or affect its meaning, construction or effect.
SECTION 42. GENDER. As used in this Lease the word "person" shall mean and include, where appropriate, an individual, corporation, partnership or other entity; the plural shall be substituted for the singular, and the singular for the plural, where appropriate; and words of any gender shall mean to include any other gender.
SECTION 43. EXHIBITS. Attached to this Lease and made part hereof are Exhibits A through G.
SECTION 44. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Lease, including the Exhibits contains the agreements, conditions, understandings, representations and warranties made between Landlord and Tenant with respect to the subject main hereof, and may not be modified other than by an agreement in writing signed by both Landlord and Tenant or their respective successors in interest.
SECTION 45. CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Each individual executing this Lease on behalf of Tenant represents and warrants that he is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Lease on behalf of said corporation in accordance with the duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors of Tenant or in accordance with the By-Laws of Tenant, and that this Lease is binding upon said corporation in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 46. SECURITY DEPOSIT. As additional security for the full and prompt performance by Tenant of all of the terms and covenants of this Lease, Tenant has deposited with Landlord the sum of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500) which shall not constitute rent for any month (unless so applied by Landlord, at Landlord's discretion, on account of Tenant's default). Tenant shall upon demand restore any portion of said security deposit which may be applied by Landlord to the cure of any default by Tenant hereunder. To the extent Landlord has not applied said sum on account of a default, the security deposit shall be returned (with interest) to Tenant promptly at termination of this Lease.
SECTION 47. WINDOW TREATMENTS. All window treatments, door coverings and other exterior decorating and interior decorating visible from the outside of the Leased Premises is subject to Landlord's prior approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have caused this Lease to be duly executed the day and year first above written.
LANDLORD:
ATTEST: NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEW JOBS CORP.
By: /s/ Craig Weintraub By: /s/ J. Lee Boucher
----------------------------- -------------------------
(Assistant) Secretary President
(Corporate Seal)
TENANT:
ATTEST: STC TECHNOLOGIES
By: /s/ Richard Hooper By: /s/ Michael Gausling
-------------------- ----------------------
(Assistant) Secretary President
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(Corporate Seal)
EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Accountants
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Orasure Technologies, Inc. of our report dated November 12, 1999 relating to the Epitope Inc. financial statements, which appear in Epitope Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Portland, Oregon August 7, 2000 |
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To STC Technologies, Inc.:
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use in this S-4 registration statement of our report dated January 26, 2000 included herein and to all our references to our Firm included in this registration statement.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
-----------------------
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Philadelphia, PA
August 7, 2000
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Exhibit 99.2
CONSENT OF FLEETBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
We hereby consent to the inclusion of and reference to our opinion dated May 9, 2000 to the Board of Directors of STC Technologies, Inc. ("STC") in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") of OraSure Technologies, Inc. ("OraSure"), covering common stock of OraSure to be issued in connection with the proposed business combination involving STC, OraSure and Epitope, Inc. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
/s/ FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. San Francisco, California July 26, 2000 |