AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.,

NW MERGER SUB INC.

and

PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP.

dated as of

 August 8, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A                                          Plan of Merger

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of August 8, 2015, by and among Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a   Delaware   corporation (“ Parent ”), NW Merger Sub Inc., an Oregon corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), and Precision Castparts Corp., an Oregon corporation (the “ Company ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company each have approved, and in the case of the Company and Merger Sub deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective shareholders to consummate, the acquisition of the Company by Parent by means of a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock (such issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock, collectively, the “ Shares ”), other than Shares owned by Parent or Participating Subsidiary Shares will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

Section 1.1                            The Merger .  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with Oregon Law, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).

Section 1.2                            Closing .  The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. on the third Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions (other than any condition that by its nature cannot be satisfied until the Closing, but subject to satisfaction of any such condition) set forth in Article VII (the “ Closing Date ”), at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019, unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties to this Agreement.

Section 1.3                            Effective Time .  The parties to this Agreement shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing articles of merger (the “ Articles of Merger ”), which include the Plan of Merger attached hereto as Exhibit A, on the Closing Date (or on such other date as Parent and the Company may agree in writing) with the Secretary of State of the State of Oregon, in such form as required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of Oregon Law.  The Merger shall become effective as of the date and time of the filing of the Articles of Merger

 

with the Secretary of State of the State of Oregon, or such later time as is specified in the Articles of Merger and as is agreed to by Parent and the Company in writing (the “ Effective Time ”).

 

Section 1.4                            Effect of the Merger .  The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of Oregon Law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 1.5                            Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation .  At the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time to be in the form of (except with respect to the name of the Company) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub, and as so amended shall be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law (and subject to Section 6.7 hereof).

Section 1.6                            Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation .  The directors of Merger Sub immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of the Company immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 1.7                            Subsequent Actions .  If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation, its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, properties or assets of either of the Company or Merger Sub vested in or to be vested in the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of either the Company or Merger Sub, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of such corporations or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK

Section 2.1                            Conversion of Securities .  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of Shares or securities of Parent or Merger Sub:

 

(a)              Each Share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (other than any Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.1(b) ) will be cancelled and extinguished and be converted into the right to receive $235.00   in cash payable to the holder of such Share, without interest (the “ Merger Consideration ”), upon surrender of either certificates formerly representing such Shares (“ Certificates ”) or any book-entry Shares (“ Book-Entry Shares ”) in the manner provided in Section 2.2 .  All such Shares, when so converted, will no longer be outstanding and will be automatically cancelled, retired and cease to exist.  Each holder of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares will cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration for such Shares upon the surrender of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share in accordance with Section 2.2 , without interest.

(b)              Each Share owned by Parent immediately before the Effective Time and any Participating Subsidiary Shares will be cancelled and extinguished, and no payment or other consideration will be made with respect to such shares.

(c)              Each share of common stock, par value $ 0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will thereafter represent one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $ 0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 2.2                            Payment; Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books .

(a)              Before the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the holders of Shares in connection with the Merger (the “ Paying Agent ”) to receive the funds necessary to make the payments contemplated by Section 2.1(a) .  When and as needed, Parent or Merger Sub shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, in trust with the Paying Agent in a separate account for the benefit of holders of Shares (the “ Payment Fund ”) the aggregate Merger Consideration to which such holders shall be entitled at the Effective Time pursuant to Section 2.1(a) .  If for any reason the cash in the Payment Fund shall be insufficient to fully satisfy all of the payment obligations to be made in cash by the Paying Agent hereunder, Parent shall promptly deposit cash into the Payment Fund in an amount which is equal to the deficiency in the amount of cash required to fully satisfy such cash payment obligations.

(b)              As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and in any event not later than three Business Days following the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares whose Shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(a) (i) a letter of transmittal (which must specify that delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares will pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent or, in the case of Book-Entry Shares, upon adherence to the procedures set forth in the letter of transmittal, and will be in such form and have such other provisions as the Company and Merger Sub may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for surrendering Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration.  Each holder of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares may thereafter until the first anniversary of the Effective Time surrender such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares to the Paying Agent under cover of the letter of transmittal, as agent for such holder.  Upon delivery of a properly completed letter of transmittal, duly executed

 

and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and the surrender of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall cause the Paying Agent to pay the holder of such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, in exchange for the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, cash in an amount equal to the Merger Consideration, multiplied by the number of Shares represented by such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares.  Until so surrendered, Certificates (other than Certificates representing Shares held by Parent or any Participating Subsidiary Shares, all of which Shares shall be cancelled as provided in Section 2.1(b) ) or Book-Entry Shares will represent solely the right to receive the aggregate Merger Consideration relating to the Shares represented by such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares.

 

(c)              If payment of the Merger Consideration in respect of cancelled Shares is to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name surrendered Certificates are registered, it will be a condition to such payment that the Certificates so surrendered will be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by reason of such payment in a name other than that of the registered holder of the Certificates surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Paying Agent that such Tax is not applicable.  The Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article II will be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Shares theretofore represented by such Certificates, subject, however, to the Surviving Corporation’s obligation to pay any dividends or make any other distributions, in each case with a record date (i) prior to the Effective Time that may have been declared or made by the Company on such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) prior to the date of this Agreement, and in each case which remain unpaid at the Effective Time.

(d)              At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company will be closed and there will not be any further registration of transfers of any Shares thereafter on the records of the Company.  From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates and Book-Entry Shares will cease to have any rights with respect to any Shares, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by applicable Law.  If, after the Effective Time, Certificates (other than Certificates representing Shares held by Parent or Participating Subsidiary Shares) or Book-Entry Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they will be cancelled and exchanged for Merger Consideration as provided in this Article II .  No interest will accrue or be paid on any cash payable upon the surrender of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares which immediately before the Effective Time represented the Shares.

(e)              Promptly following the date which is one year after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will be entitled to require the Paying Agent to deliver to it any cash, including any interest received with respect to such cash, and any Certificates or other documents, in its possession relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “ Transactions ”), which had been made available to the Paying Agent and which have not been disbursed to holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares or previously delivered to the Surviving Corporation, and thereafter such holders will be entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws) only as general creditors of the Surviving Corporation with respect to the Merger Consideration, payable upon due surrender of their Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, without any interest on such Merger Consideration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent will be liable to any holder of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for Merger Consideration

 

 

delivered to a Governmental Entity pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. Any Merger Consideration remaining unclaimed by holders of Shares 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 person previously entitled thereto.

 

(f)              Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable under this Agreement to any holder of Shares, and from amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.3 , such amounts as are required to be withheld or deducted under the Code, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any provision of U.S. state or local Tax Law with respect to the making of such payment.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld or deducted and paid over to the applicable Governmental Entity, such withheld or deducted amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Shares or other securities in respect of which such deduction and withholding were made.

Section 2.3                            Treatment of Stock Plans and Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plans .

(a)              Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board or the applicable committee thereof shall adopt appropriate resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary or appropriate, including giving any required notices and amending any Company Stock Plan or Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan:

(i)              to cause each option to purchase Shares granted under the Company Stock Plans (an “ Option ”) that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether vested or unvested) to be converted into the right of the holder to receive from the Surviving Corporation an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the total number of Shares of Common Stock previously subject to such Option and (B) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share set forth in such Option, less any required withholding Taxes (the “ Option Cash Payment ”), and as of the Effective Time each holder of an Option shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive any Option Cash Payment.  Any Option Cash Payment shall be made promptly (and in any event within 15 Business Days) following the Effective Time.

(ii)              to cause each non-employee director stock unit granted under the Company Stock Plans (a “ Share Unit ”) that is outstanding or payable immediately prior to the Effective Time to be converted into the right of the holder to receive from the Surviving Corporation an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the total number of Shares underlying such Share Units, and (B) the Merger Consideration, less any required withholding Taxes (the “ Share Unit Payment ”).  As of the Effective Time, each holder of a Share Unit shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the applicable Share Unit Payment.  All Share Unit Payments shall be made promptly (and in any event within 15 Business Days) following the Effective Time; provided , however , in the event that such payment would cause any additional Taxes to be payable pursuant to Section 409A of the Code with respect to a Share Unit, the

 

 

payment shall instead be made at the time specified in the applicable Company Stock Plan and related award document or applicable deferral election.

 

(iii)              to cause all account balances with respect to amounts credited to a “Phantom Stock Fund” under any Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan by election of the participant after December 31, 2008 (“ Post-2008 Phantom Stock Units ”) to be converted into a right of the participant to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the number of Shares deemed invested in or otherwise referenced by such account immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) the Merger Consideration, less any required withholding Taxes (the “ Deferred Payment ”), and shall cease to represent a right to receive a number of Shares or cash equal to or based on the value of a number of Shares.  The Deferred Payment shall be made promptly (and in any event within 15 Business Days) following the Effective Time; provided , however , in the event that such payment would cause any additional Taxes to be payable pursuant to Section 409A of the Code with respect to a Deferred Payment, the Deferred Payment shall instead be made at the time specified in the applicable Company Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan and related award document or applicable deferral election.

(iv)              to remove the “Phantom Stock Fund” performance option from each Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan such that the value of all account balances in any Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than with respect to Post-2008 Phantom Stock Units (which are dealt with in clause (iii) above), and all future account balances shall be determined by one of the other performance options provided under such Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan and elected by the participant, none of which performance options shall be based on the value of the equity of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or Parent (other than to the extent the Parent’s equity is part of a broad-based index of public company stocks that is one of the performance options).

(b)              The Company Board or Employee Stock Purchase Plan Committee will adopt appropriate resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary or appropriate to provide that (i) participants in the 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”) will be prohibited from increasing their payroll elections under the ESPP or making separate non-payroll contributions following the announcement of the execution of this Agreement; (ii) no person shall be entitled to begin participating in the ESPP following the announcement of the execution of this Agreement if such person is not already a participant in the ESPP; (iii) if the Closing shall occur prior to the scheduled purchase date, a special interim purchase date shall be set, and such interim purchase date shall be as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and such interim purchase date or the scheduled purchase date, as applicable, will be the final purchase date under the ESPP, on which date each participant’s accumulated payroll deductions shall be used to purchase Shares in accordance with the terms of the ESPP; (iv) subsequent to the exercise of purchase rights on such purchase date (in accordance with the terms of the ESPP), such Shares shall be treated the same as all other Shares in accordance with Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement; (v) any accumulated contributions not used to purchase Shares on the interim purchase date, or the scheduled purchase date, as applicable, will be returned to the applicable participants; and (vi) the ESPP will be terminated as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

 

(c)              Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board or the applicable committee thereof will adopt appropriate resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary or appropriate to provide that (i) the Company Stock Plans and all awards issued thereunder (including  the Options and Share Units) will terminate as of the Effective Time and (ii) the provisions in any other plan, program, arrangement or agreement providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the equity of the Company shall be of no further force or effect and shall terminate as of the Effective Time.

(d)              Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all such lawful action as may be necessary (which includes satisfying the requirements of Rule 16b-3(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act), without incurring any liability in connection therewith, to provide for and give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.3 .

Section 2.4                            Adjustments .  If, during the period between the date hereof and the Effective Time, any change in the Shares shall occur, by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or stock distribution thereon with a record date during such period, but excluding any change that results from any exercise of Options, the Merger Consideration, and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement, shall be appropriately adjusted so that the aggregate amount payable with respect to all Shares shall not be changed.

Section 2.5                            Lost Certificates .  If any Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificates to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificates, the Paying Agent will pay, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Shares represented by such Certificates, as contemplated by this Article II .

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub, subject to the exceptions with respect to particular representations and warranties disclosed in the letter from the Company, dated the date hereof, addressed to Parent and Merger Sub (the “ Company Disclosure Letter ”) (it being understood that any information set forth on one section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to apply to and qualify the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds in number and each other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such information is relevant to such other section or subsection), and except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed or furnished and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any disclosures set forth under the heading “Risk Factors”, any disclosures included in any “forward-looking statements” or any similar statements in any such filings that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature, and provided that nothing disclosed in the Company SEC Documents shall be deemed a qualification or modification to the

 

representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1 , Section 3.2 , Section 3.3 , Section 3.4 (other than the representation set forth in the last sentence of   Section 3.4(b) ), or Section 3.18 ), as follows:

 

Section 3.1                            Organization .

(a)              Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or other entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite corporate or other power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except (other than with respect to the Company’s due organization, valid existence and good standing) where the failure to be so organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)              The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company does not own any equity interests in any corporation or other entity, except for its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.2                            Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Company Action .

(a)              The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the Transactions, have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”), and no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the Transactions, except that the consummation of the Merger requires the Shareholder Approval.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(b)              Assuming the accuracy of the representation and warranty in Section 4.4 , the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares to approve this Agreement (the “ Shareholder Approval ”) is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, or any of them, that is necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

 

(c)              At a meeting duly called and held, the Company Board unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are in the best interests of the Company and declared this Agreement advisable, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Transactions, (iii) directed that the approval of this Agreement be submitted to a vote at a meeting of the Company’s shareholders, (iv) resolved (subject to Section 5.2 ) to recommend to the Company’s shareholders that they approve this Agreement (such recommendation, the “ Company Recommendation ”), and (v) approved an amendment to the Shareholder Rights Agreement effective as of the date hereof to ensure that the Shareholder Rights Agreement is not applicable to the Transactions and that the Rights (as defined in the Shareholder Rights Agreement) expire concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions.

(d)              The copies of the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “ Articles of Incorporation ”) and the Company’s Bylaws, each in the form most recently filed in the Company SEC Documents, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

Section 3.3                            Consents and Approvals; No Violations .

(a)              Except for (i) the filing with the SEC of the preliminary proxy statement and the Proxy Statement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Oregon pursuant to Oregon Law, (iii) the Shareholder Approval and (iv) filings, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other applicable requirements of, (A) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), (B) the Securities Act (as defined below), (C) the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, and (D) the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”), and any other Antitrust Laws, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations or registrations with, any national, supranational, federal, state or local court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (each a “ Governmental Entity ”), are necessary for the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)              Except as set forth in Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, nor compliance by the Company with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or its Bylaws or any of the similar organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) assuming that the authorizations, consents and approvals referred to in Section 3.3(a) are duly obtained, (x) violate any Order or Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (y) violate, conflict with, result in the loss of any material benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right to termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust or Material Lease Agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be

 

 

 

 

 

bound or affected, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, losses, terminations of rights thereof, accelerations or Encumbrance creations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.4                            Capitalization .

(a)              The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (a) 1,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock, without par value (the “ Serial Preferred Stock ”), and (b) 450,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value and with $1 stated value (the “ Common Stock ”).  As of July 31, 2015, (i) no Shares of Serial Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, (ii) 300,000 Shares of Serial Preferred Stock are reserved for issuance under the Rights Agreement, dated December 12, 2008, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “ Shareholder Rights Agreement ”), (iii) 137,497,621 Shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, (iv) 5,867,616 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance under the Company Stock Plans in respect of outstanding and future awards, of which (A) 4,980,409 shares of Common Stock are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding Options and (B) there are 89,299 shares of Common Stock underlying the Share Units and Post-2008 Phantom Stock Units, and (v) 1,198,974 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance under the ESPP.  All of the outstanding Shares of Common Stock are, and all shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of outstanding Options will be, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Options, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  Except as set forth in this Section 3.4(a) and in Section 3.4(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and for changes resulting from the exercise of the Options outstanding as of the date hereof or as otherwise permitted in connection with Section 5.1 , there are no (i) shares of capital stock or other equity interests or voting securities of the Company authorized, issued or outstanding, (ii) existing securities, options, warrants, calls, preemptive rights, subscription or other rights, agreements, arrangements, commitments, derivative contracts, forward sale contracts or undertakings of any character, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (1) issue, transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock or other equity interest or voting security in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares of capital stock or other equity interests or voting securities, (2) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, preemptive right, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement, commitment, derivative contract, forward sale contract, or undertaking, or (3) make any payment based on or resulting from the value or price of the Shares or of any such security, option, warrant, call, preemptive right, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement, commitment, derivative contract, forward sale contract or undertaking, (iii) outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Shares, or the capital stock or other equity interests or voting securities of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Subsidiary of the Company or any other entity or (iv) issued or outstanding performance awards, units, rights to receive shares of Common Stock or capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company on a deferred basis, or rights to purchase or receive Common Stock or capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company or other equity interest or voting securities issued or granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or

 

 

any such Subsidiary (the items referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of or with respect to any Person, collectively, “ Rights ”).  No Subsidiary of the Company owns or has any right to acquire any Shares.

 

(b)              (i) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other Rights of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries are owned beneficially and of record by the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) all such shares and Rights have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by either the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company free and clear of any Encumbrances.  Section 3.4(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists, as of the date of this Agreement, each Subsidiary of the Company and its jurisdiction of organization.

(c)              There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock and other Rights of (i) the Company or (ii) any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.5                            SEC Reports and Financial Statements .

(a)              The Company has filed with or furnished to the SEC, and has made available to Parent, true and complete copies of all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it since January 1, 2014, under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) (collectively, the “ Company SEC Documents ”).  As of its respective date (and if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment), each Company SEC Document, including any financial statements, schedules and exhibits included therein or attached thereto, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and, without limitation of the foregoing, (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such Company SEC Document or necessary in order to make the statements in such Company SEC Document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“ SOX ”), as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and SOX, as the case may be.  None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is, or at any time since January 1, 2014, has been, required to file, or has voluntarily filed, any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC.  Each of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents (the “ Financial Statements ”) (w) has been prepared from, and is in accordance with, the books and records of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, (x) complies in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect to such requirements, (y) has been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the Financial Statements or in the notes to the Financial Statements and subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnote disclosure), and (z) fairly presents, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows (and changes in financial position, if any) of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date and for the periods referred to in the Financial Statements.  If at any

 

time from the date hereof and until the Effective Time, the Company shall obtain knowledge of any material facts that would require supplementing or amending any of the foregoing documents in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or to comply with applicable Laws, such amendment or supplement shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, as required by Law, disseminated to the shareholders of the Company.

 

(b)              Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar contract or arrangement (including any contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or person, on the other hand or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S‑K of the SEC)), where the result, purpose or effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other Company SEC Documents.

(c)              Each of the principal executive officer of the Company and the principal financial officer of the Company has made all certifications required by Rule 13a‑14 or 15d‑14 under the Exchange Act and Sections 302 and 906 of SOX with respect to the Company SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications are accurate in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in SOX.

Section 3.6                            Absence of Certain Changes .  Since March 29, 2015, (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (b) there has not been any event, circumstance, change, occurrence, state of facts or effect (including the incurrence of any liabilities of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise) that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since March 29, 2015, through the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that would have constituted a breach of clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) or (ix) of Section 5.1 hereof, had the covenants therein applied since March 29, 2015.

Section 3.7                            No Undisclosed Material Liabilities .  There are no liabilities or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether accrued, absolute, determined or contingent, that would be required, if known, to be reflected or reserved against in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for (i) liabilities or obligations disclosed and provided for in the balance sheets included in the Financial Statements (or in the notes thereto) filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement, (ii) liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the Transactions, (iii) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since March 29, 2015, and (iv) liabilities or obligations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.8                            Compliance with Laws and Court Orders .

 

(a)              The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is not under investigation with respect to and has not been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any applicable Law or Order, except for failures to comply or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company and its Subsidiaries hold all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents, approvals, variances, exemptions and orders necessary for the operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “ Company Permits ”), except where such failure would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of the Company Permits, except for failures to comply or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)              To the Knowledge of the Company, (i) neither the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor any of its or their Affiliates, directors or officers is listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list or other similar lists maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, by the United States Department of the Treasury or pursuant to executive orders, (ii) neither the Company and its Subsidiaries, nor any of its or their Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or other Persons acting on the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s behalf has taken, or caused to be taken, directly or indirectly, any action that would or could cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law, and (iii) each of the Company and each of the Company’s Affiliates complies with and implements internal compliance policies with respect to applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.  As used in this Section 3.8(b) , the term “ Anti-Corruption Laws ” means each Law, regulation, treaty or convention relating to anti-money laundering, anti-terrorism financing, anti-bribery, anti-corruption or similar matters, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Section 3.9                            Material Contracts .

(a)              Except as set forth in Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any: (i) contract (other than this Agreement or a Company Plan) that would be required to be  filed by the Company as a material contract pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC; (ii) indenture, credit agreement, loan agreement, security agreement, guarantee, note, mortgage or other evidence of Indebtedness or agreement providing for Indebtedness in excess of $50 million; (iii) written contract (other than this Agreement) for the sale of any of its assets after the date hereof for consideration in excess of $100 million (other than sales of product in the ordinary course of business);  (iv) collective bargaining agreement (other than labor agreements, works council agreements or similar contracts that are required by applicable Law in jurisdictions outside the United States); (v) written contract that contains a put, call, right of first refusal or similar right pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would be required to purchase or sell, as applicable, any equity interests of any Person; (vi) contract providing for indemnification (including any obligations to advance funds for expenses) of the current or former directors or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (vii) Material Lease Agreements.  Each such contract described in clauses (i)-(vii) is referred to herein as a “ Material Contract. ”

 

 

(b)              Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the Material Contracts is in full force and effect, and is the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of the Company, of the other parties thereto, except that (x) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors’ rights generally and (y) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought , and ( ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have performed all respective material obligations required to be performed by them to date under the Material Contracts, and are not in breach thereunder, and no circumstance exists which (with or without the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both) would cause them to be in breach thereunder .

Section 3.10                            Information in Proxy Statement .  The proxy statement relating to the Special Meeting (such proxy statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Proxy Statement ”) will not, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s shareholders and at the time of the Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in the Proxy Statement or necessary in order to make the statements in the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.10 , no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to information contained or incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement.

Section 3.11                            Litigation .  There are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any officer, director or employee of the Company in such capacity, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject to, or in default under, any Order which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.12                            Employee Compensation and Benefit Plans; ERISA .

(a)              As used herein, the term “ Company Plan ” shall mean each material “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) and each other material equity incentive, compensation, severance, employment, change-in-control, retention, fringe benefit, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, savings, retirement, deferred compensation, or other benefit plan, agreement, program, policy or arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA (including any related funding mechanism), in each case other than a Multiemployer Plan, under which (i) any current or former employee, officer, director, contractor or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“ Covered Employees ”) has any present or future right to benefits and which are entered into, contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future liability.

 

(b)              Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect:

(i)              Each Company Plan is in compliance with all applicable Laws, including, as applicable, ERISA and the Code, including by being funded to the extent required by applicable Law, and has been operated in accordance, and is in compliance, with its terms. With respect to each Company Plan, adequate provision has been made therefor on the accounting statements of the applicable Company or Subsidiary of the Company.

(ii)              Each Company Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter to that effect from the IRS and, the Company is not aware of any event occurring since the date of such determination that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such determination.

(iii)              No condition exists that is reasonably likely to subject the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates to any direct or indirect liability under Title IV of ERISA or to a civil penalty under Section 502(j) of ERISA or liability under Section 4069 of ERISA or Section 4975, 4976, or 4980B of the Code or other liability with respect to the Company Plans.

(iv)              No Actions are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Plan.

(v)              There is no (A) to the Knowledge of the Company, unfair labor practice pending or threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) labor dispute or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) lockout, strike, slowdown, work stoppage or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threat thereof by or with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(vi)              With respect to any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group contributes or has contributed (in the six (6) years prior to the date hereof) for the benefit of an employee of the ERISA Group (“ Multiemployer Plan ”), none of the members of the ERISA Group has made or suffered a “complete withdrawal” or a “partial withdrawal,” as such terms are respectively defined in Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, any liability for which has not been satisfied in full.  With respect to any Multiemployer Plan, to the Knowledge of the Company:  (A) no liability under Section 4204 of ERISA has been imposed on any member of the ERISA Group in the six (6) years prior to the date hereof, (B) none of the members of the ERISA Group has received notice that any Multiemployer Plan is or will go into “reorganization” or is “insolvent” as those terms are defined under ERISA, and (C) none of the members of the ERISA Group has received notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered” or “critical” status (as those terms are defined under ERISA). “ ERISA Affiliates ” means all employers, trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Affiliates

 

as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code. “ ERISA Group ” means the Company and its ERISA Affiliates.

 

(vii)              No Company Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA has an accumulated or waived funding deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code.  No member of the ERISA Group has received notice that any Company Plan, which is or is expected to be subject to Title IV of ERISA, is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA).  The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“ PBGC ”) has not instituted proceedings pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate any Company Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no condition exists that presents a material risk that such proceedings will be instituted by the PBGC.  No Encumbrance has been imposed on the assets of any member of the ERISA Group under Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code, and no event or circumstance has occurred that is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of any such Encumbrance on any such assets, on account of any Company Plan pursuant to Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code.

(c)              Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the Transactions will not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any material severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or officer.

Section 3.13                            Properties .

(a)              Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has good fee simple title to all Owned Real Property and valid leasehold estates in all Leased Real Property free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has exclusive possession of each Leased Real Property and Owned Real Property, other than any use and occupancy rights granted to third-party owners, tenants, subtenants or licensees pursuant to agreements with respect to such real property entered in the ordinary course of business.

(b)              Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, each lease for the Leased Real Property is in full force and effect and is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that (x) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors’ rights generally and (y) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

Section 3.14                            Intellectual Property .  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns all right, title, and interest in, or has the right to use, pursuant to a license or

 

 

otherwise, in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances except Permitted Encumbrances, all Intellectual Property Rights that are required to operate the Company’s business as presently conducted, and (ii) (x) there is no pending, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not since August 1, 2012, received any written notice of any actual or threatened, Actions alleging a violation, misappropriation or infringement of the Intellectual Property Rights of any other Person by Company or its Subsidiaries except for any of the foregoing that have since been fully and finally resolved, (y) to the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted does not violate, misappropriate or infringe the Intellectual Property Rights of any other Person, and (z) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other Person has violated, misappropriated or infringed any Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.15                            Environmental Laws . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries comply with all applicable Environmental Laws, and possess and comply with all applicable Environmental Permits required under such Laws to operate the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently operated; (ii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notification alleging that it is liable, or written request for information, pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, concerning any release, threatened release of, or exposure to, any Materials of Environmental Concern at any location except, with respect to any such notification or request for information concerning any such release or threatened release, to the extent such matter has been fully resolved with the appropriate Governmental Entity or Person, and (iii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice regarding any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits, including a notice of violation, a notice of non-compliance, or notice of requirements, except, with respect to any such notice, to the extent such matter has been fully resolved with the appropriate Governmental Entity or Person.   There are no Actions arising under Environmental Laws pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Notwithstanding any other representations and warranties in this Agreement, the representations and warranties in this Section 3.15 are the only representations and warranties in this Agreement with respect to Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or Materials of Environmental Concern.

Section 3.16                            Taxes .  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)        The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file and has timely paid all Taxes shown thereon as due and owing and all other Taxes required to be paid by it.  All such Tax Returns were correct and complete.

(b)              No audit or other proceeding with respect to any Taxes due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is pending or threatened in writing by any Governmental Entity.  Each assessed deficiency resulting from any audit or examination relating to Taxes by any Governmental Entity has been timely paid and there is no assessed deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment or matter in controversy proposed in writing by any Governmental Entity with respect to any Taxes due and owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(c)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to any extension or waiver of the statute of limitations applicable to any Tax Return, or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, which period (after giving effect to such extension or waiver) has not yet expired.

(d)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax allocation, indemnity or sharing agreement.

(e)              The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has withheld and remitted all Taxes required to have been withheld and remitted under applicable Law in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, member or other party.

(f)              There are no Encumbrances for unpaid Taxes on the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Encumbrances.

(g)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) or as a transferee or successor.

(h)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement.

(i)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim in the past three years from a Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction in which the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company does not file Tax Returns to the effect that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to taxation by, or required to file any Tax Return in, such jurisdiction.

(j)              Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law).

Section 3.17                            Opinion of Financial Advisor .  The Company Board has received the opinion of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (the “ Financial Advisor ”), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set forth in such opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Shares other than Parent and its Affiliates in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders of Shares. A copy of such opinion shall be provided to Parent, solely for informational purposes, promptly following receipt thereof by the Company Board.

Section 3.18                            Brokers or Finders .  Except for the Financial Advisor, no agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee or payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any of the Transactions.

 

 

Section 3.19                            State Takeover Statutes; Shareholder Rights Agreement .

(a)                  Assuming the accuracy of the representation and warranty made in Section 4.4 , no “moratorium,” “fair price,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination” or other anti-takeover Laws (each, a “ Takeover Statute ”) are applicable to the Transactions. Except for the Shareholder Rights Agreement, the Company is not a party to any shareholder rights agreement or otherwise subject to a shareholder rights plan or similar arrangement.

(b)                  The Shareholder Rights Agreement has been amended in accordance with its terms to render it inapplicable to the Transactions. The Company has made available to Parent a true and correct copy of the Shareholder Rights Agreement, as amended, in effect as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

Section 3.20                            Transactions with Affiliates .  Since the date the Company’s last proxy statement was filed with the SEC and through the date of this Agreement, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 3.21                            No Other Representations or Warranties .  Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III , neither the Company nor any other Person makes any other express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Parent and Merger Sub, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

Section 4.1                            Organization .  Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite corporate or other power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be so organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions.  Parent owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Merger Sub.

Section 4.2                            Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action .  Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions.  The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by the respective boards of directors of Parent and Merger Sub and by Parent as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, and no other corporate action on the part of Parent or Merger Sub is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions.  This

 

 

Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, is a valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Merger Sub enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except that (a) such enforcement may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other similar Laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting creditors’ rights generally and (b) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

Section 4.3                            Consents and Approvals; No Violations .

(a)              Except for filings, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals as may be required under, and other applicable requirements of, (A) the Exchange Act, (B) the Securities Act, (C) the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, and (D) the HSR Act, and any other Antitrust Laws, no consents or approvals of, or filings, declarations or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary for the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions, other than such other consents, approvals, filings, declarations or registrations that, if not obtained, made or given, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions.

(b)              Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub nor the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub of the Transactions, nor compliance by Parent or Merger Sub with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the organizational documents of Parent or Merger Sub or of any of their respective Subsidiaries or (ii) assuming that any required authorizations, consents and approvals are duly obtained, (x) violate any Order or Law applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (y) violate, conflict with, result in the loss of any material benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right to termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the respective properties or assets of either Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which either Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except, in the case of clause (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, losses, terminations of rights thereof, accelerations or Encumbrance creations which would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions.

Section 4.4                            Ownership of Common Stock .  Subsidiaries of Parent own 2,695,109 Shares. Pension funds of certain Subsidiaries of Parent own, in the aggregate, less than 2% of the outstanding Shares. None of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) or any of their Affiliates or Associates owns (directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record), in the aggregate, more than 14.99% of the outstanding Shares, or is a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of, any Shares (other than as contemplated by this Agreement).

 

 

Section 4.5                            Information in Proxy Statement .  None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s shareholders and at the time of the Special Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in the Proxy Statement or necessary in order to make the statements in the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

Section 4.6                            Financing .  Parent and Merger Sub have, and at all times through the Closing shall have, sufficient funds available to finance and consummate the Transactions.

Section 4.7                            No Prior Activities .  Except for obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization or the negotiation and consummation of this Agreement and the Transactions, Merger Sub has not incurred any obligations or liabilities, and has not engaged in any business or activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with any Person or entity.

Section 4.8                            Litigation .  As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or Merger Sub or, to the Knowledge of Parent, any officer, director or employee of Parent or Merger Sub in such capacity, which would, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay Parent or Merger Sub from performing its obligations under this Agreement.  Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is a party or subject to or in default under any Order which would prevent or materially delay Parent or Merger Sub from performing its obligations under this Agreement.

Section 4.9                            Disclaimer of Warranties .  Parent and Merger Sub acknowledge that neither the Company nor any Person has made any express or implied representation or warranty on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Company provided to Parent and Merger Sub, including any “Evaluation Material,” as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement, except as expressly set forth in Article III , and Parent and Merger Sub further agree that, except for the matters expressly set forth in Article III , neither the Company nor any Person shall have or be subject to any liability to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person resulting from the distribution to Parent and Merger Sub, or Parent’s or Merger Sub’s use of, any such information.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

Section 5.1                            Interim Operations of the Company .  Except (A) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (B) as set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (C) as required by applicable Law, or (D) as consented to in writing by Parent after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, which consent solely for clauses (vii), (viii) and (x) (but with respect to clause (x) only as such clause relates to clauses (vii) and (viii)) shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Company agrees that:

(i)              each of the Company and its Subsidiaries will conduct business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

 

(ii)              the Company will not amend its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws and the Company’s Subsidiaries will not amend their certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other comparable charter or organizational documents;

(iii)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (including any constructive or deemed distribution), whether payable in cash, stock or other property, with respect to its capital stock, or otherwise make any payments to its shareholders in their capacity as such, other than the Company’s ordinary course quarterly dividends to holders of Shares in a per Share amount no greater than the Company’s most recently declared dividend, with record and payment dates in accordance with the Company’s customary dividend schedule; (B) issue, sell, grant, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber or authorize or propose to issue, sell, grant, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any additional shares of capital stock or other Rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including treasury stock), other than in respect of the shares of the Company’s capital stock reserved for issuance on the date of this Agreement and issued pursuant to the exercise or settlement of awards outstanding under the Company Stock Plans as of the date of this Agreement, (C) split, combine, subdivide or reclassify the Shares or any other outstanding capital stock of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries of the Company or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any shares of capital stock or other Rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other Rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than (1) the acquisition by the Company of Shares in connection with the surrender of Shares by holders of Options in order to pay the exercise price of the Options, (2) the withholding of Shares to satisfy Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans and (3) the acquisition by the Company of Rights in connection with the forfeiture of awards granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans) or (E) accelerate the vesting of any Options, except as may be required pursuant to the terms of such Options;

(iv)              except as required by applicable Law or under the terms of any Company Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement, the Company will not and will not permit its Subsidiaries to increase the compensation payable or to become payable to any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, consultants or Affiliates, or enter into, establish, amend or terminate any Company Plans, except increases in salaries, wages and benefits of employees who are neither directors or officers of the Company, nor segment or division presidents, made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(v)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (A) incur or assume any Indebtedness, (B) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person, or (C) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person;

 

(vi)              other than pursuant to agreements in force at the date of this Agreement as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, make any acquisition of or investment in a business in excess of $2 billion, individually or in the aggregate, either by purchase of stock or securities, merger or consolidation, contributions to capital, loans, advances, property transfers, or purchases of any property or assets of any other Person other than a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company;

(vii)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will pay, discharge, waive or settle any claims involved in any Action, other than the payment, discharge, waiver or settlement of claims, liabilities or obligations (A) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (B) reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the Financial Statements (or the notes to the Financial Statements) for amounts not in excess of those so reflected or reserved or (C) in an amount not to exceed $20 million in each instance;

(viii)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will materially change any of the accounting methods, principles or practices used by it unless required by a change in GAAP or Law;

(ix)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will (A) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, business combination, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than this Agreement), or (B) transfer, lease, license, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any material assets with a minimum value in excess of $50 million, individually or in the aggregate, except that this clause (B) shall not prohibit sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and

(x)              neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will enter into an agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing, or to authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do any of the foregoing.

Section 5.2                            No Solicitation by the Company .

(a)                The Company shall immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any parties that may be ongoing with respect to a Takeover Proposal (as hereinafter defined) and shall seek to have returned to the Company any confidential information that has been provided in any such discussions or negotiations.  From the date hereof, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its officers, directors or employees or any Affiliate, investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative (“ Representatives ”) retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing information which has not been previously publicly disseminated), or take any other action designed to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any Takeover Proposal; provided , however , that if, following the receipt of a Superior Proposal (as hereinafter defined) or a proposal which is reasonably expected to lead to a Superior Proposal that in either case was unsolicited and made after the date hereof in

 

 

circumstances not otherwise involving a breach of this Agreement, the Company Board determines in good faith, after considering applicable provisions of state Law and after consultation with outside counsel, that a failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company may, in response to such Takeover Proposal and subject to compliance with Section 5.2(b) and Section 5.2(c) , (A) request information from the party making such Takeover Proposal for the sole purpose of the Company Board informing itself about the Takeover Proposal that has been made and the party that made it, (B) furnish information with respect to the Company to the party making such Takeover Proposal pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement, provided that (1) such confidentiality agreement may not include any provision calling for an exclusive right to negotiate with the Company and (2) the Company advises Parent of all such nonpublic information delivered to such person concurrently with its delivery to the requesting party, and (C) participate in negotiations with such party regarding such Takeover Proposal.  It is agreed that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any executive officer, director or investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.2(a) by the Company. The Company agrees not to waive or fail to enforce any provision of any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which it is a party relating to a potential or actual Takeover Proposal, other than the waiver of or failure to enforce any provision that would otherwise prevent a Takeover Proposal from being made to the Company.

 

(b)                Except as expressly permitted in this Section 5.2(b) , neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the approval, determination of advisability, or recommendation by the Company Board or such committee of this Agreement, the Merger, and the other Transactions, (ii) approve, determine to be advisable, or recommend, or propose publicly to approve, determine to be advisable, or recommend, any Takeover Proposal or (iii) cause the Company to enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement (each, an “ Acquisition Agreement ”) related to any Takeover Proposal (other than a customary confidentiality agreement referred to in clause (B) of the proviso to Section 5.2(a) ).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company Board determines in good faith, in response to a Superior Proposal that was unsolicited and made after the date hereof in circumstances not otherwise involving a breach of this Agreement, after considering applicable provisions of state Law and after consultation with outside counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company Board may (subject to compliance with this sentence and to compliance with Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(c) ) (x) withdraw or modify its approval, determination of advisability, or recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger, and the other Transactions or (y) approve, determine to be advisable, or recommend a Superior Proposal, or (z) cause the Company to enter into an Acquisition Agreement, provided , however , that any actions described in clause (x), (y) or (z) may be taken only (1) after the second (2 ^nd ) Business Day following Parent’s receipt of written notice from the Company advising Parent that the Company Board has received a Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal, identifying the person making such Superior Proposal and providing notice of the determination of the Company Board of what actions described in clause (x), (y) or (z) the Company Board has determined to take, (2) if the Company has negotiated in good faith with Parent during such notice period, to the extent Parent requests to negotiate, to enable Parent to propose revisions to the terms of this Agreement, (3) if, following the end of such notice period, the Company Board

 

 

shall have considered in good faith any written revisions to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent, and shall have determined in good faith (after consultation with financial advisors and receiving the advice of outside counsel) that the Superior Proposal would nevertheless continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if the revisions proposed by Parent were to be given effect, and (4) if in the event of any change to any of the financial terms (including the form, amount and timing of payment of consideration) or any other material terms of such Superior Proposal, the Company shall, in each case, have delivered to Parent an additional notice consistent with that described in clause (1) above of this proviso and a new notice period under clause (1) of this proviso shall commence during which time the Company shall be required to comply with the requirements of this Section 5.2(b) anew with respect to such additional notice pursuant to clauses (1) through (4) above of this proviso; and provided , further , that the Company has complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section 8.1(c) and Section 8.2(b) .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company Board may at any time in response to an Intervening Event withdraw or modify its approval, determination of advisability, or recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger, and the other Transactions in the event it determines in good faith, after considering applicable provisions of state Law and after consultation with outside counsel, that such withdrawal or modification of its approval, determination of advisability or recommendation is required in order for the Company Board to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, provided that the Company has provided to Parent five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice advising Parent that it intends to take such action and specifying the Intervening Event in reasonable detail.

 

(c)                In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in Section 5.2(a) and Section 5.2(b) , the Company shall promptly advise Parent orally and in writing of any request for confidential information in connection with a Takeover Proposal or of any Takeover Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request or Takeover Proposal and the identity of the person making such request or Takeover Proposal and shall keep Parent promptly advised of all significant developments which could reasonably be expected to culminate in the Company Board withdrawing, modifying or amending its recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, or in exercising any of its other rights under Section 5.2(a) or Section 5.2(b) .

(d)                Nothing contained in this Section 5.2   or Section 6.6 shall prohibit the Company or the Company Board from taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) or Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any other disclosure to the Company’s shareholders if, in the Company Board’s determination in good faith after consultation with outside counsel, the failure so to disclose would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable Law; provided , however , neither the Company nor the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall, except as in accordance with Section 5.2(b) , withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, its approval, determination of advisability or recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions or approve, determine to be advisable, or recommend, or propose publicly to approve, determine to be advisable, or recommend, a Takeover Proposal.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

Section 6.1                            Preparation of Proxy Statement .

(a)                As soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement.  The Company will use reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to the holders of the Shares, as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities Laws.  Subject to Section 5.2 , the Proxy Statement will contain the Company Recommendation and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the Shareholder Approval.

(b)                Parent and Merger Sub will provide for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement of all required information relating to Parent or its Affiliates.  Parent and its counsel shall be given the opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement before it is filed with the SEC.  In addition, the Company will provide Parent and its counsel, in writing, any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that the Company or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement promptly after the receipt of such comments or other communications, and will provide Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review and comment on the Company’s proposed response thereto.  The Company will respond promptly to any such comments from the SEC or its staff.

(c)                Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub agrees to promptly (i) correct any information provided by it specifically for use in the Proxy Statement if and to the extent that such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and (ii) supplement the information provided by it specifically for use in the Proxy Statement to include any information that shall become necessary in order to make the statements in the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The Company further agrees to cause the Proxy Statement as so corrected or supplemented promptly to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to the holders of the Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities Laws.

Section 6.2                            Shareholders Meeting .

(a)                The Company shall take all actions in accordance with applicable Law, its constituent documents and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the “ Special Meeting ”) for the purpose of considering and taking action upon the approval of this Agreement as soon as practicable following the date hereof.  The Company shall include in the Proxy Statement the (i) recommendation of the Company Board that the Company shareholders vote in favor of the approval of the Merger and the approval of this Agreement, unless such recommendation has been withdrawn, or as such recommendation has been modified or amended, in each case in accordance with Section 5.2 , and (ii), subject to the consent of the Financial Advisor, the opinion of the Financial Advisor described in Section 3.17 .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (x) the Company in its sole discretion may adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting

 

 

 after consultation with Parent, to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the shareholders of the Company within a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Special Meeting, and (y) the Company shall adjourn or postpone the Special Meeting if, as of the time for which the Special Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy Statement), there are insufficient Shares of Common Stock represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Special Meeting.

 

(b)                Parent shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Shares then owned by it, Merger Sub or any of its other Subsidiaries and Affiliates (for the avoidance of doubt, not including Shares owned by certain pension funds of its Subsidiaries) in favor of the approval of the Merger and the approval of this Agreement.

Section 6.3                            Reasonable Best Efforts .  Subject to Section 6.3(e) :

(a)                Prior to the Closing, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall use their respective 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 any applicable Laws to consummate and make effective in the most expeditious manner possible the Transactions including (i) the preparation and filing of all forms, registrations and notices required to be filed to consummate the Transactions, (ii) the satisfaction of the other parties’ conditions to consummating the Transactions, (iii) taking all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and cooperation with each other in obtaining) any consent, authorization, Order or approval of, or any exemption by, any third party, including any Governmental Entity (which actions shall include furnishing all information required under the HSR Act and in connection with approvals of or filings with any other Governmental Entity) required to be obtained or made by Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions or the taking of any action contemplated by the Transactions or by this Agreement, and (iv) the execution and delivery by the Company of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement.  Additionally, each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable best efforts to fulfill all conditions precedent to the Merger and shall not take any action after the date of this Agreement that would reasonably be expected to materially delay the obtaining of, or result in not obtaining, any permission, approval or consent from any Governmental Entity necessary to be obtained prior to Closing.

(b)                Prior to the Closing, each party shall promptly consult with the other parties to this Agreement with respect to, provide any necessary information with respect to (and, in the case of correspondence, provide the other parties (or their counsel) copies of), all filings made by such party with any Governmental Entity or any other information supplied by such party to, or correspondence with, a Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions.  Each party to this Agreement shall promptly inform the other parties to this Agreement of any communication from any Governmental Entity regarding any of the Transactions.  If any party to this Agreement or any Affiliate of such parties receives a request for additional information or documentary material from any Governmental Entity with respect to the Transactions, then such party will use reasonable best efforts to make, or cause to be made, promptly and after consultation with the other parties to this Agreement, an appropriate response in compliance with such request.  To the extent that transfers of any permits issued by any Governmental Entity are required as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the

 

 

consummation of the Transactions, the parties hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to effect such transfers.

 

(c)                The Company and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to file antitrust notifications as promptly as practicable in each relevant jurisdiction and shall use reasonable best efforts to respond, as promptly as practicable, to any inquiries received from the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice for additional information or documentation and to respond, as promptly as practicable, to all inquiries and information requests received from any state Attorney General or other Governmental Entity in connection with antitrust matters.

(d)                Each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable best efforts to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Transactions under the HSR Act, the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as amended, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and any other United States federal or state or foreign Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (collectively, “ Antitrust Laws ”).  In connection therewith, if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging any of the Transactions as violative of any Antitrust Laws, each of Parent and the Company shall cooperate and use all reasonable best efforts to vigorously contest and resist any such Action, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents, or restricts consummation of the Merger or any other Transactions, including by vigorously pursuing all available avenues of administrative and judicial appeal unless, by mutual agreement, Parent and the Company decide that litigation is not in their respective best interests.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Section 6.3(d) shall limit the right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 , so long as such party hereto has, up to the time of termination, complied in all material respects with its obligations under this Section 6.3(d) .  Each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable best efforts to take such action as may be required to cause the expiration of the notice periods under the HSR Act or other Antitrust Laws with respect to the Transactions as promptly as possible after the execution of this Agreement.

(e)                Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) through Section 6.3(d) or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Parent or its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub and, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries) or Affiliates be required to agree to, or the Company be permitted to agree to, (i) any prohibition of or limitation on its or their ownership (or any limitation that would affect its or their operation) of any portion of their respective businesses or assets, including after giving effect to the Transactions, (ii) divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any portion of its or their respective businesses or assets, including after giving effect to the Transactions, (iii) any limitation on its or their ability to effect the Merger, or the ability of the Company (or Merger Sub) or its or their respective subsidiaries to acquire or hold or exercise full rights of ownership of any capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or (iv) any other limitation on its or their ability to effectively control their respective businesses or any limitation that would affect its or their ability to control their respective operations, including after giving effect to the Transactions (any such action or limitation described in clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 6.3(e) , a “ Restriction ”), other than Restrictions with respect to the Surviving

 

 

Corporation and its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate with all other such Restrictions, for which the aggregate fair value of all businesses or assets (including stock) affected, prior to giving effect to the Merger, would not exceed $250,000,000.  Nothing in this Section 6.3(e) shall require any party to take or agree to take any such action with respect to its business or operations pursuant to this Section 6.3(e) unless the effectiveness of such agreement or action is conditioned upon the Closing.

 

(f)                Without limiting the generality of the parties’ obligations under Section 6.3(a) through Section 6.3(d) , Parent and the Company shall make such informational filings and submissions as are reasonably required by any Governmental Entity enforcing a foreign investment or similar Law, and shall submit such affirmations or commitments with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries as are (i) of the same or similar nature, type and magnitude as those that the Company or its Subsidiaries have made or submitted relating to such Laws in connection with previous acquisitions of facilities or assets, which affirmations or commitments are described on Section 6.3(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (ii) reasonably required by such Governmental Entity. For the avoidance of doubt, such affirmations or commitments shall not constitute Restrictions.

Section 6.4                            Notification of Certain Matters .  Subject to applicable Law, the Company shall give prompt notice to Merger Sub and Parent, and Merger Sub and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company of (a) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event whose occurrence or non-occurrence would be reasonably likely to cause either (i) any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate, in any respect that would cause any condition to the Merger to be unsatisfied, at any time from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time or (ii) any condition to the Merger to be unsatisfied in any material respect at the Effective Time and (b) any material failure of the Company, Merger Sub or Parent, as the case may be, or any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of the Company, Merger Sub or Parent as applicable, to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided , however , that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available under this Agreement to the party receiving such notice.

Section 6.5                            Access; Confidentiality .  Subject to the Confidentiality Agreement and applicable Law relating to the sharing of information, the Company agrees to provide, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to provide, Parent and its representatives, from time to time prior to the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement, reasonable access during normal business hours to (i) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records, (ii) such other information as Parent shall reasonably request with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, financial condition and operations.  Parent shall and shall cause Parent’s Affiliates and representatives to keep confidential any non-public information received from the Company, its Affiliates or representatives, directly or indirectly, pursuant to this Section 6.5 and in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

Section 6.6                            Publicity .  Neither the Company, Parent nor any of their respective Affiliates shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other announcement with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions without the prior consultation of the other party and giving the other party the opportunity to review and comment on such press release or other

 

 

announcement, if practicable, except as such party reasonably believes, after receiving the advice of outside counsel and after informing all other parties to this Agreement, is required by Law or by any listing agreement with or rules of any applicable national securities exchange, trading market or listing authority and except as may be requested by a Governmental Entity.

 

Section 6.7                            Indemnification .

(a)                From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement or who becomes such prior to the Effective Time, an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “ Indemnified Parties ”) against (i) any and all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, fines, liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whether pertaining to any action or omission existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the Effective Time (“ Indemnified Liabilities ”), and (ii) all Indemnified Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to this Agreement or the Transactions; provided , however , that, in the case of the Surviving Corporation, such indemnification shall only be to the fullest extent a corporation is permitted under Oregon Law to indemnify its own directors and officers, and in the case of Parent, such indemnification shall not be limited by Oregon Law but Parent shall not be required to indemnify the Indemnified Parties if a final, non-appealable judgment or adjudication in an action against such Indemnified Parties by a claimant (not including an action brought by Parent, Surviving Corporation, or any insurer of either) with respect to such claims establishes:  (A) that the acts or omissions of such Indemnified Parties were the result of deliberate criminal or fraudulent acts by the Indemnified Parties seeking indemnification; or (B) that the claim against such Indemnified Parties arises out of, is based upon, or is attributable to the gaining in fact of any financial profit or other advantage to which such Indemnified Parties were not legally entitled.  Parent, Merger Sub, and the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, will pay all expenses of each Indemnified Party in advance of the final disposition of any such action or proceeding, but in the case of Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation only to the fullest extent permitted by Oregon Law.  Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any Indemnified Party (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them and reasonably satisfactory to Parent, (ii) Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received, and (iii) Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, use all reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter, provided that none of Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement of any claim effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 6.7 , upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 6.7 except to the extent such failure materially prejudices such party). The Indemnified Parties (as a group) may each retain only one law firm (in addition to local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction if reasonably required) to represent

 

 

them with respect to each such matter unless there is a conflict on any significant issue between the positions of any two or more Indemnified Parties.

 

(b)               The articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain the provisions with respect to indemnification set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, which provisions shall not be amended, modified or otherwise repealed for a period of six years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder as of the Effective Time of any individual who at the Effective Time is an Indemnified Party, unless such modification is required after the Effective Time by Law and then only to the minimum extent required by such Law.

(c)                The rights of each Indemnified Party under this Section 6.7 shall be in addition to any rights such individual may have under the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (or other governing documents) of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, under Oregon Law or any other applicable Laws or under any agreement of any Indemnified Party with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  The rights under this Section 6.7 shall survive consummation of the Merger and are intended to benefit, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party.

(d)                In the event that the Parent or Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision will be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.7 .

 

(e)                Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any of their respective directors, officers or other employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.7 is not prior to or in substitution for any such claims under such policies; provided , however that following the Closing there shall be no obligation to continue or extend such policies.

 

Section 6.8                            Merger Sub Compliance .  Parent shall cause Merger Sub to comply with all of its obligations under or related to this Agreement.

Section 6.9                            Employee Matters .

(a)                For a period of one year from the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide, or cause to be provided, to (i) the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “ Company Employees ”) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time whose employment is terminated prior to such first anniversary of the Effective Time, severance payments and severance benefits no less favorable than those that were made available to terminated Company Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) Company Employees as of immediately prior to the Effective Time who remain employed by the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, compensation and benefits that are no less favorable to the Company Employees, in the aggregate, than the compensation and benefits

 

 

provided such Company Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time (including in prior compensation and benefits the value of one year of annual benefit accruals under each SERP, but excluding (I) the value of all accelerated payments of accrued SERP benefits paid in connection with the Merger, (II) the value of any other benefits that are accelerated in connection with the Merger, and (III) any bonuses other than annual bonuses); provided , that the foregoing obligation shall not restrict Parent and the Surviving Corporation from making changes that (A) are consistent with changes currently planned or contemplated by the Company, (B) are in response to business conditions which may exist at the time of such changes or (C) are collectively bargained for.  Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to honor in accordance with their terms all Company Plans; provided , however , that Parent or the Surviving Corporation may amend, modify or terminate any individual Company Plan in accordance with its terms and applicable Law (including obtaining the consent of the other parties to and beneficiaries of such Company Plan to the extent required thereunder).  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not, after the Effective Time, provide any form of equity-based compensation, including options to purchase shares of capital stock in the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that any equity-based compensation provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Company Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be taken into account in determining whether the compensation and benefits provided by Parent and the Surviving Corporation are less favorable to the Company Employees, in the aggregate, than those provided by the Company for purposes of the first sentence of this Section 6.9(a) , unless the Company grants cash-based performance awards prior to the Effective Time, in which case such equity-based compensation shall not be taken into account.

 

(b)                For purposes of all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and other employment agreements, arrangements and policies of the Surviving Corporation under which an employee’s benefits depend, in whole or in part, on length of service, credit will be given to current employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries for service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or predecessors prior to the Effective Time, provided that such crediting of service does not result in duplication of benefits; provided , further , that such service would have been recognized under the corresponding Company Plan.

(c)                 The provisions of this Section 6.9 shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the respective parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 6.9 , express or implied, shall confer upon any Company Employee, legal representative or beneficiary thereof, or any other person any rights or remedies, including any right to employment or continued employment for any specified period, or compensation or benefits, of any nature or kind whatsoever under this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 6.9 , express or implied (i) shall be construed to establish, amend or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement or (ii) shall alter or limit the ability of the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates to amend, modify or terminate any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement at any time assumed, established, sponsored or maintained by any of such entities.

(d)               With respect to matters described in this Section 6.9 , the Company will not send any written notices or other written communication materials to the Company Employees without the prior written consent of Parent.

 

Section 6.10                            Takeover Statutes; Shareholder Rights Agreement .  Each of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub and their respective boards of directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to render the restrictions of any Takeover Statutes that become or are deemed to be applicable to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or the Transactions, to be inapplicable to the foregoing. The Company covenants and agrees not to amend the Shareholder Rights Agreement (as amended as described in clause (v) of Section 3.2(c) ) without the written consent of Parent and Merger Sub, and further agrees not to take any steps to render the Shareholder Rights Agreement applicable to the Transaction.

Section 6.11                            Shareholder Litigation .  Each party to this Agreement shall give the other parties to this Agreement the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any shareholder litigation against any party and/or its respective directors relating to the Transactions, whether commenced prior to or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Company agrees that it shall not settle or offer to settle any litigation commenced prior to or after the date hereof against the Company or any of its directors or officers by any shareholder of the Company relating to this Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction or otherwise, where such settlement would impose obligations (monetary or otherwise) on the Company or the Surviving Corporation without the prior written consent of Parent.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS

Section 7.1                            Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger .  The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub to the extent permitted by applicable Law, except for the condition set forth in clause (ii) of Section 7.1(b) , which may be waived in whole or in part by Parent and Merger Sub:

(a)                Shareholder Approval .  The Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.

(b)                Governmental Approvals .  (i) The waiting period (including any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and (ii) with respect to non-U.S. jurisdictions set forth on Section 7.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all notifications and filings have been made, all appropriate waiting periods (including extensions thereof) have expired or been terminated and all clearances and approvals have been granted (or been deemed in accordance with the relevant Law to have been granted) by the relevant Governmental Entity on terms consistent with Section 6.3(e) unless Parent has decided to exceed such terms.

(c)                No Injunctions or Restraints .  No Order or Law, entered, enacted, promulgated, enforced or issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, or any other Governmental Entity, or other legal restraint or prohibition (collectively, “ Restraints ”) shall be in effect preventing the consummation of the Merger; provided , however , that, subject to Section 6.3 , each of the parties to this Agreement shall have used its reasonable best efforts to prevent

 

 

 the entry of any such Restraints and to appeal as promptly as possible any such Restraints that may be entered to the extent required by and subject to Section 6.3 .

 

Section 7.2                            Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub .  The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Parent and Merger Sub, on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a)                Representations and Warranties .

(i)              The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) below) shall be true and correct at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing (without regard to any qualifications therein as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), as though made at and as of such time (or, if made as of a specific date, at and as of such date), except for such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii)              The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.4(b)(i) and Section 3.4(c)(i) shall be true and correct in all material respects.

(iii)             The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.2(c) , Section 3.4(a) , Section 3.18 and Section 3.19(b) of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (except, in the case of Section 3.4(a) for de minimis inaccuracies therein) at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing (without regard to any qualifications therein as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), as though made at and as of such time (or, if made as of a specific date, at and as of such date).

(iv)             The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.6(b) of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing, as though made at and as of such time.

(b)                Performance of Obligations of the Company .  The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects (or with respect to any covenant or agreement qualified by materiality, in all respects) with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date.

(c)                No Orders or Laws.   No Order or Law shall have been promulgated, entered, enforced, enacted, issued or applicable to the Merger by any Governmental Entity which imposes any Restrictions on Parent or its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub and, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries), other than Restrictions with respect to the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate with all other such Restrictions, for which the aggregate fair value of all businesses or assets (including stock) affected, prior to giving effect to the Merger, would not exceed $250,000,000.

(d)                Officer’s Certificate .  The Company shall have furnished Parent with a certificate dated the Closing Date signed on its behalf by its chief executive officer and chief

 

 

financial officer to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b)   have been satisfied.

 

Section 7.3                            Conditions to Obligations of the Company .  The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by the Company, on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a)                Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing (without regard to any qualifications therein as to materiality or material adverse effect), as though made at and as of such time (or, if made as of a specific date, at and as of such date), except for such failures to be true and correct as would not reasonably be expected to prevent or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger.

(b)                Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub .  Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects (or with respect to any covenant or agreement qualified by materiality, in all respects) with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date.

(c)                Officer’s Certificate .  Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have furnished the Company with a certificate dated the Closing Date signed on its behalf by an executive officer of Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) and Section 7.3(b) have been satisfied.

Section 7.4                            Frustration of Closing Conditions .  Neither Parent or Merger Sub nor the Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.1 , Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 , as the case may be, to be satisfied to excuse it from its obligation to effect the Merger if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to comply with its obligations to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions to the extent required by and subject to Section 6.3 .

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION

Section 8.1                            Termination .  Anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding any Shareholder Approval):

(a)                by mutual written consent of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company;

(b)                by either Parent or the Company if:

(i)          the Merger has not been consummated on or before March 8, 2016 (the “ Outside Date ”); provided , however , that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any provision of this Agreement results in the failure of the Merger to be consummated by 
 

such time; provided   further , however , that, if, on the Outside Date, any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Section 7.1(b) shall not have been fulfilled but all other conditions to the Closing either have been fulfilled or are then capable of being fulfilled, then the Outside Date shall, without any action on the part of the parties hereto, be extended day-by-day for each day during which any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1(b) remain unfulfilled, but in no event shall the Outside Date be extended to be later than August 8, 2016;

 

(ii)              a permanent injunction or other Order which is final and nonappealable shall have been issued or taken restraining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger or any of the other Transactions (any such injunction or Order, a “ Final Order ”); provided , however , that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(ii) shall have used all reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of such permanent injunction or other Order to the extent required by and subject to Section 6.3 ; or

(iii)            if the Special Meeting (including any adjournments and postponements thereof) shall have concluded without the Shareholder Approval having been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote of the holders of Shares, provided , however , that the Company’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b)(iii) is subject to the Company’s compliance with clause (y) of the third sentence of Section 6.2(a) ;

(c)                by the Company prior to the receipt of the Shareholder Approval, if the Company concurrently enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a  Superior Proposal; provided that the Company shall have complied with all provisions of Section 5.2 and shall have previously paid or shall concurrently with such termination pay the fee due under Section 8.2(b) ;

(d)                by Parent, if the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified, or proposed publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the approval, determination of advisability or recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, or approved, determined to be advisable or recommended, or proposed publicly to approve, determine to be advisable or recommend, any Takeover Proposal, or the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have resolved to take any of the foregoing actions;

(e)                by Parent, if the Company breaches or fails to perform or comply with any of its representations, warranties, agreements or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform or comply (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) and (ii) cannot be cured by the Outside Date ( provided that Parent is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement); or

(f)                 by the Company, if Parent or Merger Sub breaches or fails to perform or comply with any of its representations, warranties, agreements or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform or comply (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b) and (ii) cannot be cured by the Outside 
 

 

Date ( provided that the Company is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant contained in this Agreement).

 

A terminating party shall provide written notice of termination to the other parties specifying with particularity the reason for such termination.  If more than one provision of this Section 8.1 is available to a terminating party in connection with a termination, a terminating party may rely on any and all available provisions in this Section 8.1 for any such termination.

Section 8.2                            Effect of Termination .

(a)                If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 , this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party (or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such party) to the other party hereto; provided , however , that if such termination shall result from the (i) failure of either party to fulfill a condition to the performance of the obligations of the other party or (ii) failure of either party to perform an agreement or covenant hereof, such party shall not be relieved of any liability to the other party as a result of such failure or breach, and in the case of fraud or a willful breach of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub, the Company shall have the right to pursue damages on behalf of its shareholders (which the parties acknowledge and agree may include, to the extent proven, the benefit of the bargain lost by such shareholders); provided   further , however , that the provisions of Section 6.5 relating to confidentiality, Section 6.6 , this Section 8.2 , Article IX and Article X hereof shall survive such termination.

(b)                If this Agreement is terminated (i) by either Parent or the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1(b)(i) , Section 8.1(b)(ii) or Section 8.1(b)(iii) , but in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(ii) , only if the applicable Final Order is based on the existence of a Takeover Proposal (whether or not modified after it is first made), and, in the case of any termination under this clause (i), (A) prior to such termination a Takeover Proposal shall have been made known to the Company or generally to its shareholders or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make a Takeover Proposal, and (B) at any time on or prior to the 12-month anniversary of such termination the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into a definitive agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal or the transactions contemplated by any Takeover Proposal are consummated (provided that solely for purposes of this Section 8.2(b) , the term “ Takeover Proposal ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Takeover Proposal” except that all references to 20% shall be deemed to be references to 50%; provided   further , however , that with respect to any Person that makes a Takeover Proposal covered by Section 8.2(b)(i)(A) and then such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, a Takeover Proposal within the time period specified in Section 8.2(b)(i)(B) , the references to 20% in the term “Takeover Proposal” shall remain at 20% for purposes of Section 8.2(b)(i)(A) ) , or (ii) by Parent pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1(d) , or by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.1(c) , the Company shall pay Parent the Termination Fee by wire transfer (to an account designated by Parent) in immediately available funds (x) in the case of clause (i) of this Section 8.2(b) , upon the earlier of entering into such definitive agreement with respect to a Takeover Proposal or consummation of the transactions contemplated by a Takeover Proposal, and (y) in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 8.2(b) , prior to or concurrently with such termination.  “ Termination Fee ” shall mean a cash amount equal to $600 million.

 

 

(c)                The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in Section 8.2(b) are an integral part of the Transactions, and that, without these agreements, Parent and Merger Sub would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails to pay in a timely manner any amount due pursuant to Section 8.2(b) and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent or Merger Sub commences a claim, action, suit or other proceeding that results in a judgment against the Company, the Company shall pay to Parent interest on such amount from and including the date payment of such amount was due to but excluding the date of actual payment at the prime rate set forth in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made plus 2%, together with reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with such claim, suit, proceeding or other action.

(d)                The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion, whether or not the Termination Fee may be payable under more than one provision of this Agreement at the same or at different times and the occurrence of different events.  The Termination Fee, if paid, shall be credited against any damages recovered by Parent or Merger Sub from the Company arising from a breach of this Agreement by the Company.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1                            Amendment and Waivers .  Subject to applicable Law, and in accordance with the immediately following sentence, this Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto by action taken or authorized by or on behalf of their respective boards of directors, at any time prior to the Closing Date, whether before or after approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of the Company and Merger Sub.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties by the other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) subject to the requirements of applicable Law, waive compliance by the other party with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein.  Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.  The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

Section 9.2                            Non-survival of Representations and Warranties .  None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive after the Effective Time.

Section 9.3                            Expenses .  All fees, costs and expenses (including all legal, accounting, broker, finder or investment banker fees) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions are to be paid by the party incurring such fees, costs and expenses.

 

Section 9.4                            Notices .  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and sent by facsimile, by nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered mail and shall be deemed given

 

 

and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section 9.4 prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day and a copy is sent on such Business Day by nationally recognized overnight courier service, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section 9.4 later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any date and earlier than 12 midnight (New York City time) on the following date and a copy is sent no later than such date by nationally recognized overnight courier service, (iii) when received, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service (other than in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii) above), or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given if sent by registered mail.  The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

(a)            if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

	Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
	3555 Farnam Street
	Omaha, Nebraska 68131
	Telephone No.: (402) 346-1400
	Facsimile No.: (402) 346-3375
	Attention:	Marc D. Hamburg
	with a copy to:
	Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP
	355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3500
	Los Angeles, California  90071
	Telephone No.: (213) 683-9100
	Facsimile No.: (213) 687-3702
	Attention:	Robert E. Denham, Esq.
		Mary Ann Todd, Esq.

 

 

 

Section 9.5                            Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which will constitute one instrument.

Section 9.6                            Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement (including the schedules and annexes to this Agreement, including the Company Disclosure Letter) and, prior to the Closing, the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement other than those referenced in clause (i) of the last sentence of this Section 9.6 , (a) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and (b) except for the provisions in Section 6.7 , solely to the extent stated therein, is not intended to and shall not confer upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their permitted assigns any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever, other than the right of the holders of Shares of the Company to receive the Merger Consideration after the Closing (a claim with respect to which may not be made unless and until the Effective Time shall have occurred).  In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. The parties hereby agree that (i) Sections 3 and 7 and the last sentence of Section 9 of the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect as of the date hereof and (ii) the remaining provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect as of the Effective Time.

Section 9.7                            Severability .  If any term or provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy, the remainder of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, so long as

 

 

the economic and legal substance of the Transactions, taken as a whole, are not affected in a manner materially adverse to any party hereto.

 

Section 9.8                            Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Oregon without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law of the Laws of the State of Oregon.

Section 9.9                            Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned by any of the parties to this Agreement (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Merger Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any entity that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 9.9 shall be 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 9.10                         Consent to Jurisdiction .  Each of the parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Oregon in the event that any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the Transactions, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the Transactions in any other court.  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives (and agrees not to plead or claim) any objection to the laying of venue of any dispute arising out of this Agreement or any of the Transactions in the state and federal courts of the State of Oregon, or that any such dispute brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 9.11                            Specific 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 or were otherwise breached or the Merger was not consummated, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy in such event.  The parties accordingly agree that the parties will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, or any other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief, to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any federal court located in the State of Oregon or an Oregon state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereto agrees not to oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity. Any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to prove damages or provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.

Section 9.12                         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 10.2                         Certain Terms Defined .  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below for purposes of this Agreement:

“ Action ” means any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity.

“ Affiliates ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

“ Associate ” means, with respect to any party, (a) any entity of which such Person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (b) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes percentage beneficial interests equal to or greater than 20%), or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, (c) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person or who is a director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (d) any Person who is a director or officer of such specified entity or any of its parents or subsidiaries (other than the Company or an entity controlled by or under common control with the Company).

“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by Law or Order to close.

“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“ Company   Stock Plans ” means, collectively, the Company’s 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, the Company’s 1999 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan and the Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan.

“ Encumbrance ” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien, charge, hypothecation, option to purchase or lease or otherwise acquire any interest, conditional sales agreement, adverse claim of ownership or use, title defect, easement, right of way, or other encumbrance of any kind.

“ Environmental Laws ” means all Laws relating to the protection of the environment, including the ambient air, soil, surface water or groundwater, or relating to the protection of human health from exposure to Materials of Environmental Concern.

“ Environmental Permits ” means all permits, licenses, registrations, and other authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws.

 “ Indebtedness ” of any Person means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) any other indebtedness which is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument and (c) all obligations under capital leases.

“ Intellectual Property Rights ” means (i) patents and patent applications, together with all reissues, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, provisionals, extensions and reexaminations thereof, (ii) trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names, trade dress, including all goodwill associated therewith, and all applications, registrations and renewals thereof, (iii) copyrights and copyrightable works and all applications and registrations thereof,

 

(iv) inventions and discoveries (whether patentable or not), industrial designs, trade secrets, confidential information and know-how, (v) computer software (including databases and related documentation), (vi) web site addresses and Internet domain names, and registrations therefor, (vii) moral and economic rights of authors and inventors and (viii) all other similar proprietary rights whether now known or hereafter recognized in any jurisdiction.

 

“ Intervening Event ” means any material event or development or material change in circumstances with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that (i) was neither known by nor reasonably foreseeable to the Company Board as of or prior to the date hereof and (ii) does not relate to (A) any Takeover Proposal, or (B) clearance of the Merger or satisfaction of any waiting period under any Antitrust Laws.

“ IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service.

“ Knowledge ” means (i) with respect to Parent, the actual knowledge (without independent inquiry or investigation) of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Parent and (ii) with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge (without independent inquiry or investigation) of the following executive officers of the Company: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Chief Financial Officer; and General Counsel.

“ Law ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, regulation or rule of any Governmental Entity.

“ Leased Real Property ” means all material real property leased or subleased (whether as a tenant or subtenant) by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

“ Material Adverse Effect ” means, with respect to the Company, a material adverse effect on (i) the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger, or (ii) the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except to the extent such material adverse effect under this clause (ii) results from (A) any changes in general United States or global economic conditions, (B) any changes in conditions generally affecting any of the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, except to the extent such changes in conditions have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to others in such industries, (C) any decline in the market price of the Common Stock, (D) regulatory, legislative or political conditions or securities, credit, financial or other capital markets conditions, in each case in the United States or any foreign jurisdiction, except to the extent such conditions have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to others in the industries in which the Company and any of its Subsidiaries operate, (E) any failure, in and of itself, by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics for any period (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse Effect), (F) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the public announcement or pendency of the Merger or any of the other Transactions, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with employees, labor unions, customers, suppliers or partners, (G) any change in applicable Law, regulation or GAAP (or authoritative interpretations thereof), (H) geopolitical conditions, the

 

outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of war, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement, except to the extent such conditions or events have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to others in the industries in which the Company and any of its Subsidiaries operate, or (I) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster.

 

“ Material Lease Agreement ” means any lease agreement for Leased Real Property where the relevant facilities generated revenue for the 2015 fiscal year in excess of $100 million.

“ Materials of Environmental Concern ” means any hazardous, acutely hazardous, or toxic substance or waste defined or regulated as such under Environmental Laws, including the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

“ Order ” means any order, judgment, ruling, injunction, assessment, award, decree or writ of any Governmental Entity.

“ Oregon Law ” means the Oregon Business Corporation Act, as amended.

“ Owned Real Property ” means all material real property reflected in the latest audited balance sheet included in the Company SEC Documents as owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or material real property acquired after the date thereof (except for properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date thereof in the ordinary course of business).

“ Participating Subsidiary Shares ” means any Shares held immediately before the Effective Time by wholly-owned Subsidiaries of Parent that Parent has elected, by written notice to the Company and the Paying Agent received at least 2 Business Days prior to the Closing, to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.1(b) .

“ Permitted Encumbrances ” means: (i) Encumbrances that relate to Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for which reserves have been established on the most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents, (ii) Encumbrances imposed by Law that relate to obligations that are not yet due and have arisen in the ordinary course of business, (iii) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers’ compensation Laws or similar legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations, (iv) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar Encumbrances imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, (v) reversionary obligations in respect of real estate granted to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by Governmental Entities, (vi) Encumbrances that relate to zoning, entitlement and other land use and environmental Laws, (vii) other imperfections or irregularities in title, charges, easements, rights-of-way, survey exceptions, leases, subleases, license agreements and other occupancy agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, covenants, restrictions and other customary encumbrances on title to or use of real property, (viii) utility easements for electricity, gas, water, sanitary sewer, surface water drainage or other general easements granted to Governmental Entities in the ordinary course of developing or operating

 

any Site, (ix) any utility company rights, easements or franchises for electricity, water, steam, gas, telephone or other service or the right to use and maintain poles, lines, wires, cables, pipes, boxes and other fixtures and facilities in, over, under and upon any of the Sites, (x) any encroachments of stoops, areas, cellar steps, trim and cornices, if any, upon any street or highway; provided , however , that in the case of clauses (vi) through (x), none of the foregoing, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect the continued use of the property to which they relate in the conduct of the business currently conducted thereon, and (xi) as to any Leased Real Property, any Encumbrance placed by a developer or lessor thereof, or otherwise affecting the interest of the lessor thereof.

 

“ Person ” means a natural person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated society or association, joint venture, Governmental Entity or other legal entity or organization.

“ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“ SERP   means the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Program – Level One – Ongoing and the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Program – Level Two – Ongoing.

“ Site ” means each location where the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company conducts business, including each Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property.

“ Stock-Based Deferred Compensation Plan ” means any Company Plan or part thereof that provides for the deferral of compensation and represents amounts notionally invested in a number of Shares or otherwise provides for distributions or benefits that are calculated based on the value of a Share.

“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any party, any foreign or domestic corporation or other entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, (i) that would be required to be consolidated in such party’s financial statements under GAAP as adopted (whether or not yet effective) in the United States or (ii) of which at least a majority of the securities or other equity interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other entity is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of such party’s Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries; provided, that, in the case of Parent, “Subsidiary” shall not include any pension funds of the Subsidiaries of Parent.

“ Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal (with all references to “20%” in the definition of Takeover Proposal being deemed to be references to “50%”) which the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with financial advisors and receiving the advice of outside counsel) (i) is in the best interests of the Company, (ii) is more favorable to the Shareholders from a financial point of view than the Merger, taking into account all financial, legal, financing, regulatory, timing, conditions and other aspects of such Takeover Proposal (including the Person or group of Persons making the Takeover Proposal) and of this Agreement (including any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent and any fees to be paid by the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(b) ), and (iii) for which the third party

 

has demonstrated that the financing for such offer is fully committed or is reasonably likely to be obtained.

 

“ Takeover Proposal ” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person or group of Persons (other than Parent and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and representatives) relating to (i) any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of (A) 20% or more of the consolidated assets (including equity interests in Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) equity securities of the Company which together with any other equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by such Person or group of Persons would equal 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company, (ii) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any Person or group of Persons beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company, or (iii) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving (1) the Company or (2) Subsidiaries of the Company representing 20% or more of the consolidated revenues or earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than the Transactions.

“ Tax ” or “ Taxes ” means all taxes of any kind, including those on or measured by or referred to as income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, franchise, profits, license, value added, property or windfall profits taxes, customs, duties or similar fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any governmental authority, domestic or foreign.

“ Tax Return ” or “ Tax Returns ” means all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, declarations, statements, reports, schedules, forms and information returns and any amended tax return related to Taxes.

Section 10.3                            Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions .  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  Terms defined in the singular in this Agreement shall also include the plural and vice versa.  The captions and headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.  References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import.  The phrases “the date of this Agreement,” “the date hereof” and phrases of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to the date set forth in the Preamble.  The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning as the word “shall”.  The term “or” is not exclusive. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  If any ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement. For purposes of analyzing the Company’s representations and warranties and related disclosures under this Agrement, Parent and Merger Sub will not be deemed to have knowledge of any state of facts, change,

 

 

development, effect, occurrence or condition relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries unless it is disclosed in the Company SEC Documents or the Company Disclosure Letter or is information otherwise generally available to the public as of the date hereof.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
	By:	/s/ Warren E. Buffett
		Name:   Warren E. Buffett
		Title:     Chairman & CEO

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

PLAN OF MERGER

Names and Types of the Entities Proposing to Merge . The name, type of entity and state of organization of each entity proposing to merge are Precision Castparts Corp., an Oregon corporation (the “ Company ”) and NW Merger Sub Inc., an Oregon corporation (“ Merger Sub ”).

Name and Type of Surviving Entity .  The Company shall be the surviving entity, the name of the surviving entity shall continue to be Precision Castparts Corp. and the surviving entity shall continue to be a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Oregon.

Summary of the Material Terms and Conditions of the Merger, including Manner and Basis of Converting Shares .  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 8, 2015, by and among Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a   Delaware   corporation (“ Parent ” ), Merger Sub and the Company (the “ Agreement ”):

Merger .  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Agreement and in accordance with the Oregon Business Corporation Act, at the Effective Time (as defined below), Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation (the “ Surviving Corporation ”).  The Merger shall become effective as of the date and time of the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Oregon, or such later time as is specified in the Articles of Merger (the “ Effective Time ”).

Effect of the Merger .  The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the Oregon Business Corporation Act.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

Conversion of Shares .  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of shares of common stock, without par value and with $1 stated value, of the Company (the “ Shares ”) or securities of Parent or Merger Sub:

Each Share issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (other than any Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 3.3(ii)) will be cancelled and extinguished and be converted into the right to receive $235.00   in cash payable to the holder of such Share, without interest (the “ Merger Consideration ”), upon surrender of either certificates formerly representing such Shares or any book-entry Shares.  All such Shares, when so converted, will no longer be outstanding and will be automatically cancelled, retired and cease to exist.  Each holder of certificates or book-entry Shares will cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration for such Shares upon the surrender of such certificate or book-entry Share, without interest.

 

 

Each Share owned by Parent immediately before the Effective Time and any Shares held by wholly-owned subsidiaries of Parent that Parent has elected, by written notice to the Company and the paying agent, to be cancelled, will be cancelled and extinguished, and no payment or other consideration will be made with respect to such shares.

Each share of common stock, par value $ 0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will thereafter represent one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $ 0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

Surviving Corporation.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation .  At the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time to be in the form of (except with respect to the name of the Company) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub, and as so amended shall be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended.

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation .  The directors of Merger Sub immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of the Company immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

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