UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 17, 2015

 

 

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-11736   30-0641353

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

933 MacArthur Boulevard

Mahwah, New Jersey 07430

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (551) 777-6700

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Merger Agreement

On May 17, 2015, Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ascena”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with ANN INC., a Delaware corporation (“ANN”), and Avian Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascena (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides for, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into ANN, with ANN continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). The Ascena Board of Directors has, by unanimous vote, approved the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0068 per share (the “ANN Common Stock”), of ANN (other than shares, if any, held by Ascena, Merger Sub and ANN and shares with respect to which appraisal rights have been properly demanded in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law) will be converted into the right to receive (i) $37.34 in cash and (ii) 0.68 of a share of Ascena common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Ascena Common Stock”) (together, the “Merger Consideration”), with cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Ascena Common Stock.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, all unvested ANN equity awards will vest at the Effective Time. Each award will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration with respect to the number of shares underlying the award and, in the case of options, with respect to the number of net shares underlying the award, after taking the option exercise price into account.

Completion of the Merger is subject to various closing conditions, including approval by ANN stockholders of the Merger, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, the absence of any governmental order prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) declaring effective the Form S-4 to be filed by Ascena with respect to the shares of Ascena Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, the shares of Ascena Common Stock to be issued in the Merger being approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each party (subject to certain materiality standards) and the material compliance by each party with its obligations under the Merger Agreement. The consummation of the Merger is not subject to a financing condition.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including, among others, covenants providing for each of the parties to conduct its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the closing and to use reasonable best efforts to obtain required government approvals, subject to certain exceptions.

 

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The Merger Agreement also includes covenants requiring ANN (1) not to solicit, or enter into discussions with third parties relating to, alternative business combination transactions during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the closing, subject to fulfillment of certain fiduciary requirements of the ANN Board of Directors (the “ANN Board”) and (2) to call and hold a special meeting of ANN’s stockholders to approve the Merger and, subject to certain exceptions, not to withdraw, amend or modify in a manner adverse to Ascena the recommendation of the ANN Board that ANN’s stockholders approve the Merger.

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights, including the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger does not occur by February 17, 2016, the right of ANN to terminate the Merger Agreement to accept a superior proposal for an alternative business combination (so long as ANN complies with certain notice and other requirements under the Merger Agreement) and the right of Ascena to terminate due to a change of recommendation by the ANN Board. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement by ANN or Ascena upon specified conditions, a termination fee of $48,270,000 may be payable by ANN. In addition, upon a termination of the Merger Agreement for the failure to obtain the approval of ANN’s stockholders, ANN may be required to reimburse Ascena for up to $5,000,000 in expenses related to the Merger Agreement.

Ascena has obtained a commitment letter from Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and certain affiliates of Guggenheim Securities, LLC, as lenders, for the purpose of financing the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (as more fully described under the heading “Commitment Letter” below). The obligations of the lender to provide financing under the commitment letter are subject to certain conditions.

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is attached to this report as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The Merger Agreement and the above description thereof have been included to provide investors and stockholders with information regarding the terms of the agreement. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about ANN or Ascena or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or stockholders. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement as of the specific dates therein, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk among the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in ANN’s or Ascena’s public disclosures. Accordingly, investors should read the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement not in isolation but only in conjunction with the other information about ANN or Ascena and their respective subsidiaries that the respective companies include in reports, statements and other filings they make with the SEC.

 

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Commitment Letter

In connection with the Merger Agreement, Ascena entered into a debt commitment letter (the “Commitment Letter”), dated as of May 18, 2015, with Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and certain affiliates of Guggenheim Securities, LLC (collectively, the “Commitment Parties”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Commitment Parties have committed to provide Ascena with a senior secured term B loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1,800,000,000 (the “Term Facility”) and an asset based revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $600,000,000 (the “ABL Facility”) to finance, in part, the acquisition of ANN (collectively, the “Financing”). The ABL Facility will be secured by a first-priority security interest in receivables, inventory and certain other general intangibles and investment property of Ascena and its subsidiary guarantors (collectively, the “ABL Collateral”) and a second-priority interest in substantially all of the remaining assets, including certain real property of Ascena and its subsidiary guarantors (collectively, the “Term Collateral”). The Term Facility will be secured by a first-priority security interest in the Term Collateral and a second-priority interest in the ABL Collateral. Availability under the ABL Facility will be subject to a borrowing base derived from the ABL Collateral. The Financing, together with Ascena’s cash on hand, will be sufficient to finance the aggregate cash consideration to ANN’s stockholders and associated fees and expenses and to refinance certain existing debt. The Commitment Parties’ commitment to provide the Financing is subject to various conditions, including consummation of the Merger in accordance with the Merger Agreement; the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation consistent with the Commitment Letter; delivery of certain audited, unaudited and pro forma financial statements, subject to certain limitations, the absence of a material adverse effect on ANN; the accuracy of specified representations and warranties of ANN in the Merger Agreement and specified representations and warranties of Ascena to be set forth in the definitive loan documents; the repayment of certain outstanding ANN debt and other customary closing conditions.

This foregoing description of the Commitment Letter is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Commitment Letter, which is attached to this report as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

Ascena prepared an investor presentation with respect to the contemplated Merger. A copy of the investor presentation is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Such investor presentation shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

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Item 8.01 Other Events.

On May 18, 2015, Ascena and ANN issued a joint press release announcing the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.

On May 18, 2015, the document attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3 was disseminated by Ascena in connection with the Merger.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.1*    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 2015, by and among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., Avian Acquisition Corp. and ANN INC.
10.1    Commitment Letter, dated as of May 18, 2015, among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and the other commitment parties party thereto.
99.1    Investor Presentation.
99.2    Joint Press Release, dated May 18, 2015.
99.3    Letter to Ascena Retail Group, Inc. employees from David Jaffe, dated May 18, 2015.

 

* Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Ascena hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, Ascena intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of ANN that also constitutes a prospectus of Ascena. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC, when they become available, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, when they become available, and other documents filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by

 

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Ascena by contacting Ascena Investor Relations at (551) 777-6895, or by e-mail at asc-ascenainvestorrelations@ascenaretail.com. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ANN by contacting ANN Investor Relations at (212) 541-3445, or by e-mail at investor_relations@ANNinc.com.

Ascena and ANN and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about Ascena’s directors and executive officers is available in Ascena’s proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on November 3, 2014. Information about directors and executive officers of ANN is available in the proxy statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ANN filed with the SEC on April 2, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the Merger when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from Ascena or ANN using the sources indicated above.

This document and the information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Ascena and ANN operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by Ascena management and ANN management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of Ascena or ANN or the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction involving Ascena and ANN, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, ratings, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders, integrating Ascena and ANN, providing stockholders with a more attractive currency, and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction — are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the

 

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expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the Merger and the timing of the closing of the Merger; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; the ability to successfully integrate our operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement of the transaction or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with employees, credit rating agencies, customers and competitors; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to achieve performance targets; changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; negative rating agency actions; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by Ascena and ANN from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Neither Ascena nor ANN undertakes any duty to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
Date: May 18, 2015 By:

/s/ David Jaffe

Name: David Jaffe
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.1*    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 2015, by and among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., Avian Acquisition Corp. and ANN INC.
10.1    Commitment Letter, dated as of May 18, 2015, among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and the other commitment parties party thereto.
99.1    Investor Presentation.
99.2    Joint Press Release, dated May 18, 2015.
99.3    Letter to Ascena Retail Group, Inc. employees from David Jaffe, dated May 18, 2015.

 

* Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Ascena hereby agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.,

AVIAN ACQUISITION CORP.

and

ANN INC.

Dated as of May 17, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   

Page

 
ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER   2   

1.1

The Merger

  2   

1.2

Closing and Effective Time of the Merger

  3   
ARTICLE 2 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER   4   

2.1

Conversion of Securities

  4   

2.2

Payment for Securities; Surrender of Certificates

  5   

2.3

Dissenting Shares

  8   

2.4

Treatment of Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards

  9   

2.5

Withholding Rights

  11   

2.6

Further Actions

  11   

2.7

Fractional Shares

  11   
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY   11   

3.1

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

  11   

3.2

Capitalization

  12   

3.3

Authority

  14   

3.4

No Conflict

  14   

3.5

Required Filings and Consents

  15   

3.6

Permits; Compliance with Law

  15   

3.7

SEC Filings; Financial Statements

  16   

3.8

Internal Controls

  17   

3.9

No Undisclosed Liabilities

  17   

3.10

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

  17   

3.11

Employee Benefit Plans

  18   

3.12

Labor Matters

  19   

3.13

Contracts

  20   

3.14

Litigation

  22   

3.15

Environmental Matters

  22   

3.16

Intellectual Property

  22   

3.17

Tax Matters

  24   

3.18

Real Property

  25   

3.19

Insurance

  26   

3.20

Certain Business Practices

  26   

3.21

Opinion of Financial Advisor

  26   

3.22

Form S-4; Proxy Statement/Prospectus

  26   

3.23

Brokers

  27   

3.24

State Takeover Statutes

  27   

3.25

No Other Representations or Warranties

  27   

 

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ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB   27   

4.1

Organization and Qualification

  28   

4.2

Capitalization

  28   

4.3

Authority

  29   

4.4

No Conflict

  29   

4.5

Required Filings and Consents

  30   

4.6

Parent Shares

  30   

4.7

SEC Filings; Financial Statements

  31   

4.8

No Undisclosed Liabilities

  31   

4.9

Internal Controls

  31   

4.10

Permits; Compliance with Law

  32   

4.11

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

  33   

4.12

Litigation

  33   

4.13

Form S-4; Proxy Statement/Prospectus

  33   

4.14

Ownership of Company Capital Stock

  33   

4.15

Ownership of Merger Sub

  33   

4.16

Solvency

  34   

4.17

Available Funds; Sufficient Authorized but Unissued Shares

  34   

4.18

No Vote of Parent Stockholders

  35   

4.19

Financing

  35   

4.20

Brokers

  36   

4.21

Certain Business Practices

  36   

4.22

No Other Representations and Warranties

  36   
ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS   37   

5.1

Conduct of Business by the Company and Parent Pending the Closing

  37   

5.2

Access to Information; Confidentiality

  42   

5.3

No Solicitation

  43   

5.4

Efforts

  46   

5.5

Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings

  48   

5.6

Public Announcements

  49   

5.7

Employee Benefit Matters

  49   

5.8

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

  52   

5.9

Takeover Statutes

  54   

5.10

Section 16 Matters

  54   

5.11

Financing

  54   

5.12

Stockholder Litigation

  57   

5.13

NASDAQ Listing

  57   
ARTICLE 6 CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER   58   

6.1

Conditions to Obligations of Each Party Under This Agreement

  58   

6.2

Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent

  58   

6.3

Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company

  59   

 

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ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER   60   

7.1

Termination

  60   

7.2

Effect of Termination

  61   

7.3

Termination Fee

  62   

7.4

Amendment

  63   

7.5

Waiver

  63   
ARTICLE 8 GENERAL PROVISIONS   64   

8.1

Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties

  64   

8.2

Fees and Expenses

  64   

8.3

Notices

  64   

8.4

Certain Definitions

  65   

8.5

Terms Defined Elsewhere

  75   

8.6

Headings

  77   

8.7

Severability

  77   

8.8

Entire Agreement

  77   

8.9

Assignment

  77   

8.10

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

  77   

8.11

Mutual Drafting; Interpretation

  77   

8.12

Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury

  78   

8.13

Counterparts

  80   

8.14

Specific Performance

  80   

8.15

No Recourse to Lender Parties

  80   

 

Exhibit A Commitment Letter

 

iii


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of May 17, 2015 (this “Agreement”), is made by and among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Avian Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and ANN INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 8.4, Section 8.5 or as otherwise defined elsewhere in this Agreement unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

RECITALS

1. The parties hereto intend to effect a business combination through the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”).

2. The respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company (the “Company Board”) have each approved this Agreement and the acquisition of the Company by Parent (including the Merger) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”).

3. The Company Board has, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (a) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (b) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (c) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for its adoption and (d) determined to recommend that the Company’s stockholders adopt this Agreement pursuant to Section 251 of the DGCL (the “Company Board Recommendation”).

4. The Board of Directors of Merger Sub has, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (a) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (c) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the sole stockholder of Merger Sub for its adoption and (d) recommended that Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, adopt this Agreement.

5. The Board of Directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”) has, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.

6. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.

 

1


AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the covenants, premises, representations and warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

THE MERGER

1.1 The Merger.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”) wholly owned by Parent. The Merger shall be effected pursuant to Section 251 of the DGCL and shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at the Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all of the debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, as provided under the DGCL.

(b) Subject to Section 5.7, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without the necessity of further action by the Company or any other Person, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended so as to read in its entirety in the form set forth as the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time (except that the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall provide that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be ANN INC. and the provisions of the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub relating to the incorporator of Merger Sub shall be omitted), and as so amended shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. In addition, subject to Section 5.7, the Company and the Surviving Corporation shall take all necessary action such that, at the Effective Time, the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended so as to read in its entirety as the bylaws of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, and as so amended shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

(c) At the Effective Time, the Company and the Surviving Corporation shall take all necessary action such that the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time or such other individuals designated by Parent as of the Effective Time shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office, from and after the Effective Time, in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors shall have been duly elected,

 

2


designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, from and after the Effective Time, shall continue as the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors shall have been duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

(d) If, at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding Equity Interests of the Company or Parent, shall occur as a result of any reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), subdivision or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any dividend or distribution with a record date during such period, the Merger Consideration and the Fractional Share Consideration will be equitably adjusted to reflect such change.

1.2 Closing and Effective Time of the Merger. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place at 8:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second (2nd) Business Day after satisfaction or waiver of all of the applicable conditions set forth in Article 6 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions at the Closing), at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto; providedhowever, that, notwithstanding the satisfaction or waiver of all of the applicable conditions set forth in Article 6, Parent and Merger Sub shall not be obligated to effect the Closing prior to the third (3rd) Business Day following the final day of the Marketing Period, unless Parent shall request an earlier date on two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Company (but, subject in such case, to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the applicable conditions set forth in Article 6 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions at the Closing) (such date on which the Closing occurs hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, or on such other date and time to which Merger Sub and the Company may agree in writing, Merger Sub or the Company shall cause a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”), to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at the time the Certificate of Merger shall have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or such later date and time as is agreed upon by the parties and specified in the Certificate of Merger (such date and time at which the Merger becomes effective hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

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ARTICLE 2

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER

2.1 Conversion of Securities. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, 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 any of the following securities:

(a) Conversion of Company Shares. Each Company Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than Dissenting Shares and Cancelled Shares, shall be converted into the right to receive (i) subject to the following proviso, 0.68 of a validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable Parent Share (the “Stock Consideration”); provided, that, if the aggregate number of Parent Shares to be issued pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) together with the aggregate number of Parent Shares to be issued pursuant to Section 2.4 would exceed 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Parent Shares as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined by Parent in accordance with Rule 5635 of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules (the amount equal to 19.99% of such issued and outstanding shares rounded down to the nearest whole share, the “Maximum Share Number”), then the number of Parent Shares to be issued pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.4 shall be reduced to the minimum extent necessary such that the number of Parent Shares issuable pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.4 equals the Maximum Share Number, and, in such event, each Company Share (or holder of a Company Option or Company Restricted Share Award, as applicable), shall be entitled to receive an additional cash payment in an amount equal to the dollar value of the Parent Shares reduced pursuant to this proviso (to be calculated on the Closing Date based on the Parent Share VWAP) and (ii) $37.34 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration” and together with the Stock Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”), as well as the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration, as applicable. From and after the Effective Time, all such Company Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each applicable holder of such Company Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration therefor upon surrender of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in accordance with Section 2.2.

(b) Merger Sub Equity Interests. Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one (1) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time, all certificates representing the common stock of Merger Sub shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation into which they were converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

(c) Cancelled Shares. Each Company Share that is owned directly by the Company (or any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Cancelled Shares”) shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange for such cancellation and retirement.

 

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2.2 Payment for Securities; Surrender of Certificates.

(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent or Merger Sub shall designate a reputable U.S. bank or trust company to act as the exchange agent (the identity and terms of designation and appointment of which shall be subject to the reasonable prior approval of the Company) for purposes of effecting the payment of the Merger Consideration and the Fractional Share Consideration in connection with the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”). Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, the fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent. At or prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent (i) evidence of Parent Shares issuable pursuant to Section 2.1(a) in book-entry form equal to the aggregate Stock Consideration portion of the Merger Consideration (excluding any Fractional Share Consideration), and (ii) cash in immediately available funds in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration portion of the Merger Consideration and the aggregate Fractional Share Consideration (such evidence of Parent Shares in book-entry form and cash amounts, including any Dividend Consideration, the “Exchange Fund”), in each case, for the sole benefit of the holders of shares of Company Shares. Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to make, and the Exchange Agent shall make, delivery of the Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. In the event the Exchange Fund shall at any time be insufficient to pay the aggregate Cash Consideration, Fractional Share Consideration and Dividend Consideration, Parent shall, or shall cause Merger Sub to, promptly deposit additional funds with the Exchange Agent in an amount which is equal to the deficiency in the amount required to make such payment. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any purpose that is not expressly provided for in this Agreement. The cash portion of the Exchange Fund shall be invested by the Exchange Agent as directed by Parent or Merger Sub, in its sole discretion, pending payment thereof by the Exchange Agent to the holders of the Company Shares; provided, that any such investments shall be in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States government. Earnings from such investments shall be the sole and exclusive property of Parent or Merger Sub, and no part of such earnings shall accrue to the benefit of holders of Company Shares.

(b) Procedures for Surrender.

(i) Certificates. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time (and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after the Effective Time), Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each Person that was, immediately prior to the Effective Time, a holder of record of Company Shares represented by certificates (the “Certificates”), which Company Shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration at the Effective Time pursuant to this Agreement: (A) a letter of transmittal, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and shall otherwise be in such form as Parent and the Exchange Agent shall reasonably agree upon and (B) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu of the Certificates as provided in Section 2.2(e)) in exchange for payment of the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration, the forms of which letter of transmittal and instructions shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Upon surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu of the Certificate as provided

 

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in Section 2.2(e)) to the Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Merger Sub, and upon delivery of a letter of transmittal, duly executed and in proper form, with respect to such Certificates, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration for each Company Share formerly represented by such Certificates (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 2.5), and any Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. If payment of the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration is to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name any surrendered Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition precedent of payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer, and the Person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other similar Taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration to a Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate so surrendered and shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such Taxes either have been paid or are not required to be paid. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due surrender of the Certificates. Until surrendered as contemplated hereby, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration as contemplated by this Agreement, except for Certificates representing Dissenting Shares, which shall represent the right to receive payment of the fair value of such Company Shares in accordance with and to the extent provided by Section 262 of the DGCL.

(ii) Book-Entry Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no holder of non-certificated Company Shares represented by book-entry (“Book-Entry Shares”) shall be required to deliver a Certificate or, in the case of holders of Book-Entry Shares held through The Depository Trust Company, an executed letter of transmittal to the Exchange Agent to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2.1(a). In lieu thereof, each holder of record of one (1) or more Book-Entry Shares held through The Depository Trust Company whose Company Shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration shall automatically upon the Effective Time be entitled to receive, and Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to pay and deliver to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, for the benefit of the holder of such Book-Entry Shares held through it, as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, in respect of each such Book-Entry Share the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 2.5), and such Book-Entry Shares of such holder shall forthwith be cancelled. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time (and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after the Effective Time), the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each Person that was, immediately prior to the Effective Time, a holder of record of Book-Entry Shares not held through The Depository Trust Company (A) a letter of transmittal, which shall be in such form as Parent and the Exchange Agent shall reasonably agree upon and (B) instructions for returning such letter of transmittal in exchange for the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration, the forms of which letter of transmittal and instructions shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Upon delivery of such

 

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letter of transmittal, in accordance with the terms of such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Book-Entry Shares shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 2.5), and such Book-Entry Shares so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Payment of the Merger Consideration with respect to Book-Entry Shares shall only be made to the Person in whose name such Book-Entry Shares are registered. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due surrender of Book-Entry Shares. Until paid or surrendered as contemplated hereby, each Book-Entry Share shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration as contemplated by this Agreement, except for Book-Entry Shares representing Dissenting Shares, which shall be deemed to represent the right to receive payment in accordance with and to the extent provided by Section 262 of the DGCL.

(c) Transfer Books; No Further Ownership Rights in Company Shares. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further recording or registration of transfers of Company Shares on the records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates and Book-Entry Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Company Shares except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration payable therefor upon the surrender thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2. The Merger Consideration paid in accordance with the terms of this Article 2 shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Shares except for Certificates and Book-Entry Shares representing Dissenting Shares, which shall represent the right to receive payment in accordance with and to the extent provided by Section 262 of the DGCL. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the applicable Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration as provided in this Agreement.

(d) Termination of Exchange Fund; Abandoned Property; No Liability. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including any interest received with respect thereto) made available to the Exchange Agent that remains unclaimed by the holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares on the first (1st) anniversary of the Effective Time will be returned to the Surviving Corporation, upon demand, and any such holder who has not tendered its Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration in accordance with Section 2.2(b) prior to such time shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar Laws) for delivery of the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration, without interest and subject to any withholding of Taxes required by applicable Law, in respect of such holder’s surrender of its Certificates or Book-Entry Shares and compliance with the procedures in Section 2.2(b). Any Merger Consideration, Fractional Share Consideration or Dividend Consideration remaining unclaimed by the holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Entity will, 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. None of the

 

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Surviving Corporation, the Company, Merger Sub, Parent or the Exchange Agent, or any employee, officer, director, agent or affiliate of any of them, shall be liable to any Person in respect of any part of the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event that any Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the Merger Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration payable in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.1(a), without interest and subject to any withholding of Taxes required by applicable Law. Merger Sub may, in its reasonable discretion and as a condition precedent to the payment of such Merger Consideration, Fractional Share Consideration and Dividend Consideration, require the owner(s) of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in a reasonable sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

(f) Dividends or Distributions with Respect to Parent Stock. No dividends or other distributions with respect to Parent Shares with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Share with respect to the Parent Shares issuable to such holder hereunder, and all such dividends and other distributions, if any, shall be paid by Parent to the Exchange Agent and shall be included in the Exchange Fund, in each case until the surrender of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) in accordance with this Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate or Book-Entry Share (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof), there shall be paid to the holder thereof, without interest, (i) the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such Parent Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such Parent Shares (the “Dividend Consideration”).

2.3 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement (but subject to the provisions of this Section 2.3), Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has neither voted in favor of the Merger nor consented thereto in writing and who is entitled to demand, and has properly demanded, appraisal for such Company Shares in accordance with, and who complies in all respects with, Section 262 of the DGCL (such Company Shares, the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, Fractional Share Consideration or the Dividend Consideration. At the Effective Time, all Dissenting Shares shall be cancelled and cease to exist, and the holders of Dissenting Shares shall only be entitled to the rights granted to them under the DGCL. If any such holder of Dissenting Shares fails to perfect or otherwise waives, withdraws or loses its right to appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL or other applicable Law, then such Dissenting Shares shall be deemed to have been converted, as of the Effective Time, into and shall be exchangeable solely for the right to receive the Merger

 

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Consideration, the Fractional Share Consideration and the Dividend Consideration, without interest and subject to any withholding of Taxes required by applicable Law. The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by the Company or withdrawals of such demands, in each case, prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the opportunity to participate in negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal in respect of Dissenting Shares. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required by an Order of a Governmental Entity, voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal, or settle or offer to settle any such demands for payment, in respect of Dissenting Shares.

2.4 Treatment of Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards.

(a) Each option to purchase Company Shares granted under any of the Company Plans (other than any such option granted under the Company’s Associate Discount Stock Purchase Plan (the “ADSPP”)) (each, a “Company Option”), whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, as of the Effective Time, be fully vested and be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of each Net Share covered by such Company Option. Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall pay or provide to the holders of Company Options the consideration described in the immediately preceding sentence, less such amounts as are required to be withheld or deducted under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law with respect to the making of such payment, within three (3) Business Days following the Effective Time. As of the Effective Time, all Company Options (whether vested or unvested) shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically cease to exist, and each holder of a Company Option shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the consideration described in the first sentence of this Section 2.4(a).

(b) Each award of restricted Company Shares (each, a “Company Restricted Share Award”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, as of the Effective Time, be fully vested and be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of each Company Share subject to such Company Restricted Share Award immediately prior to the Effective Time. Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall pay or provide to the holders of Company Restricted Share Awards the consideration described in the immediately preceding sentence, less such amounts as are required to be withheld or deducted under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law with respect to the making of such payment, within three (3) Business Days following the Effective Time. With respect to any Company Restricted Share Award that is subject to performance-based vesting conditions, for purposes of the first sentence of this Section 2.4(b), the total number of Company Shares subject to such Company Restricted Share Award shall be determined assuming performance at the target level. As of the Effective Time, all Company Restricted Share Awards shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically cease to exist, and each holder of a Company Restricted Share Award shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the consideration described in the first sentence of this Section 2.4(b).

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will adopt such resolutions and take such other actions reasonably necessary to effectuate the actions

 

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contemplated by Sections 2.4(a) and 2.4(b). In addition, following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as may be required to provide that, with respect to the ADSPP: (i) the Offering Period (as such term is defined in the ADSPP) in effect as of the date hereof shall terminate and conclude no later than the earlier of June 30, 2015 and the Effective Time, and amounts credited to the accounts of participants shall be used to purchase shares in accordance with the terms of the ADSPP; (ii) no new Offering Period shall commence following the date of this Agreement; (iii) any individual participating in the Offering Period in effect as of the date hereof shall not be permitted (A) to increase the amount of his or her rate of payroll contributions thereunder from the rate in effect as of the date of this Agreement, or (B) to make separate non-payroll contributions to the ADSPP on or following the date of this Agreement; (iv) no individual who is not participating in the ADSPP as of the date of this Agreement may commence participation in the ADSPP following the date of this Agreement; and (v) any such shares purchased shall be treated as other outstanding Company Shares in accordance with Section 2.1; and (vi) the amount of the accumulated contributions of each participant under the ADSPP as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, to the extent not used to purchase shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ADSPP (as amended pursuant to this Section 2.4(c)), be refunded to such participant as promptly as practicable following the Effective Time (without interest).

(d) Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the Company and the Exchange Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards such amounts that Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the Company or the Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold under the Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. The aggregate amount required to be withheld in respect of Taxes from any holder of Company Options or Company Restricted Share Awards in connection with the payments described in Sections 2.4(a) and

2.4(b) shall be applied proportionately to reduce the aggregate share consideration otherwise payable to such holder pursuant to Sections 2.4(a) and 2.4(b) based on the Parent Share VWAP and the aggregate cash consideration otherwise payable to such holder pursuant to Sections 2.4(a) and 2.4(b). To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

(e) Each holder of a Company Option or Company Restricted Share Award converted pursuant to the Merger that would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a Parent Share (after aggregating all shares to be delivered in respect of Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards held by such holder) shall receive from Parent or the Surviving Corporation, in lieu thereof and upon surrender thereof, a cash payment (without interest) in an amount equal to such fractional part of a Parent Share multiplied by the Parent Share VWAP.

(f) Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of Parent Shares for delivery with respect to, and shall include in the Form S-4 a number of Parent Shares sufficient to satisfy the settlement of, the Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards contemplated by Sections 2.4(a) and 2.4(b).

 

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2.5 Withholding Rights. Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the Company and the Exchange Agent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts that Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the Company or the Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or any provision of applicable Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and timely paid over to the applicable Governmental Entity, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

2.6 Further Actions. As of the Effective Time, the officers and directors of Parent and the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company and Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company and Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

2.7 Fractional Shares. No fractional Parent Shares shall be issued in connection with the Merger, no certificate or scrip representing fractional Parent Shares shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of a stockholder of Parent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of Company Shares converted pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a Parent Share (after aggregating all shares represented by the Certificates and Book-Entry Shares delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof and upon surrender thereof, cash, without interest, in an amount equal to (a) such fractional part of a Parent Share (rounded to the nearest one thousandth when expressed in decimal form), multiplied by (b) the Parent Share VWAP, rounded to the nearest one tenth of a cent (the “Fractional Share Consideration”).

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in (i) the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof (other than any disclosures contained under the captions “Risk Factors” or “Forward-Looking Statements,” in each case to the extent they are predictive, cautionary or forward-looking in nature) or (ii) the corresponding sections of the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to all sections of this Agreement and all other sections or subsections of the Company Disclosure Letter to the extent that the relevance of such disclosure to such other section or subsection is reasonably apparent on its face), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

3.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a) The Company is a corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware and has requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries (each, a “Company Subsidiary”) is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize such concept) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has requisite corporate or organizational, as the case may be, power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize such concept) in each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) The Company has made available or caused to be made available to Merger Sub true, correct and complete copies of (i) any amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Company Charter”) not filed prior to the date hereof with the SEC, (ii) any amendments to the Bylaws of the Company (the “Company Bylaws”) not filed prior to the date hereof with the SEC and (iii) the certificates of incorporation and bylaws, or equivalent organizational or governing documents, of each Company Subsidiary. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws.

(c) Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth as of the date hereof a true, correct and complete list of the Company Subsidiaries, together with the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as the case may be, of each Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, owns any material Equity Interest in any Person other than the Company Subsidiaries.

3.2 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 200,000,000 Shares, of which, as of the close of business on May 14, 2015 (the “Capitalization Date”), there were 45,992,699 Company Shares issued and outstanding (including 894,836 Shares underlying Company Restricted Share Awards (assuming vesting at target performance levels with respect to Company Restricted Share Awards that are subject to performance-based vesting) and excluding Company Shares underlying Company Options and 36,570,817 Shares held in treasury) and (ii) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Company Preferred Stock”), of which, as of the Capitalization Date, no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. No Company Subsidiary owns any Company Shares or has any option or warrant to purchase any Company Shares or any other Equity Interest in the Company. All of the outstanding Company Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

 

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(b) As of the close of business on the Capitalization Date, the Company has no Shares or shares of Company Preferred Stock subject to or reserved for issuance, except for (i) 1,649,882 Company Shares subject to outstanding Company Options under the Company Plans having a weighted average exercise price of $27.24, (ii) 1,143,000 Company Shares underlying Company Restricted Share Awards (assuming vesting at maximum performance levels), and (iii) 3,858,343 Company Shares reserved for future issuance under the Company Plans for awards not yet granted. All Company Shares subject to issuance under the Company Plans, upon issuance prior to the Effective Time on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

(c) As of the close of business on the Capitalization Date, except for Equity Interests set forth in Section 3.2(a) and the Company Options and the options to purchase Company Shares under the ADSPP, there are no outstanding Equity Interests or other options, warrants or other rights, relating to or based on the value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, acquire or sell any Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. From the close of business on the Capitalization Date until the date of this Agreement, the Company has not issued any Company Shares, Company Options, Company Restricted Share Awards or other Equity Interests (including shares of Company Preferred Stock) other than Company Shares issued upon the exercise of any Company Options outstanding as of the close of business on the Capitalization Date in accordance with their terms.

(d) Except with respect to the Company Options and Company Restricted Share Awards pursuant to the Company Plans and the related award agreements and options to purchase Company Shares under the ADSPP, there are no obligations (whether outstanding or authorized) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary requiring the redemption or repurchase of, or containing any right of first refusal with respect to, or granting any preemptive rights with respect to, any Company Shares or other Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party with respect to the voting of Company Shares or other Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than any such agreements solely between and among the Company and any Company Subsidiary or solely between and among two or more Company Subsidiaries. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Shares may vote.

(e) The Company has made available to Parent a schedule that is true and complete in all material respects as of the date hereof of all outstanding Company Options and Company Restricted Shares Awards (collectively, the “Equity Awards”), which shows on an award-by-award basis (i) the grant date and, if applicable, exercise price of each Company Equity Award, (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying each Company Equity Award and (iii) the vesting schedule applicable to each Company Equity Award.

 

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3.3 Authority. The Company has requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has by unanimous vote (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company stockholders, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for its adoption at a meeting of the Company stockholders for the purpose of adopting this Agreement (the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) and (iv) recommended that this Agreement be adopted by the holders of the Company Shares. Except for the adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Shares (the “Company Stockholder Approval”), no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to adopt this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and to general equitable principles, including specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief).

3.4 No Conflict. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (other than the Financing or any Alternative Financing) will (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), directly or indirectly, conflict with or violate any provision of the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws or the organizational or governing documents of any Company Subsidiary (except, in the case of organizational or governing documents of any Company Subsidiary, as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect). Except as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (other than the Financing or any Alternative Financing) will (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), directly or indirectly, (a) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 3.5 have been obtained and all filings and notifications described in Section 3.5 have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, and any other condition precedent to such consent, approval, authorization or waiver has been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets or (b) require any consent, notice or approval under, violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or any loss of any benefit under, or constitute a change of control or default under, or result in termination or give to others any right of termination, vesting, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to, any Contract (other than any Company Lease) to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected or any Company Permit.

 

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3.5 Required Filings and Consents. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub in Section 4.5, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will require (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or registration with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, other than (a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger as required by the DGCL, (b) compliance with the pre-merger notification obligations of the HSR Act, (c) compliance with any applicable foreign, federal or state securities or blue sky laws, including pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (d) such filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and NASDAQ, (e) the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement/prospectus relating to the matters to be submitted to the Company stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting (such proxy statement/prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) and a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the issuance of the Parent Shares in the Merger (such Form S-4, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Form S-4”) and (f) consents, approvals, authorizations or permits of, filings, registrations with or notifications to, any Governmental Entity, the failure of which to obtain or make has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

3.6 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, variances, exemptions, approvals, orders, registrations and clearances of any Governmental Entity necessary for the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate their properties and assets, and to carry on and operate their businesses as currently conducted (collectively, the “Company Permits”), except where the failure to comply with, to obtain or have, or the suspension or cancellation of, or failure to be valid or to be in full force and effect of, any of the Company Permits, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is, and since February 1, 2014 has been, in compliance with the terms of all Company Permits, except where the failure to be in such compliance has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is, and since February 1, 2014 has not been, in conflict with, default under or violation of any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, except for any conflicts, defaults or violations as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has, since February 1, 2014, been threatened in writing to be charged with or been given any written notice, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, is under investigation with respect to, any violation of any applicable Law, except for any violations as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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3.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

(a) Since February 1, 2014, the Company has timely filed with or otherwise furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (as applicable) in all material respects all registration statements, prospectuses, forms, reports, proxy statements, schedules, statements and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be (such documents and any other documents filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC, as have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, collectively, the “Company SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates or, if supplemented, modified or amended prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the most recent supplement, modification or amendment, the Company SEC Documents (i) did not (or, with respect to the Company SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder and the listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of NYSE. None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in any comment letters of the staff of the SEC received by the Company or any Company Subsidiary relating to the Company SEC Reports.

(b) The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the Company and the consolidated Company Subsidiaries (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) included in the Company SEC Documents (collectively, the “Company Financial Statements”) (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable with respect thereto as of the respective filing dates, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company and the consolidated Company Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of notes and except as may be indicated in the notes thereto).

(c) As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any “off balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC), where the purpose or intended effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the Company SEC Documents.

 

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3.8 Internal Controls. The Company has designed and maintains in all material respects a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) intended to provide reasonable assurances (a) regarding the reliability of financial reporting for the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, (b) that material receipts and expenditures of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Company Board, and (c) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The Company (a) maintains in all material respects “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports and (b) based on its most recent evaluation of internal controls prior to the date hereof, has disclosed to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

3.9 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for those liabilities and obligations (a) disclosed, reflected, reserved against or provided for in the Company Financial Statements filed prior to the date hereof, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (c) for Taxes, which are addressed in Section 3.17, (d) incurred in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger or (e) that otherwise are not and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is, as of the date of this Agreement, subject to any liabilities or obligations required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company (or the notes thereto).

3.10 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a) Since January 31, 2015 through the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have (i) conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) not taken or failed to take any action that, had such action been taken or failed to have been taken after the date hereof, would (without Parent’s consent) have constituted a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i) (solely with respect to the Company’s Charter and Company Bylaws), 5.1(a)(iii), 5.1(a)(v), 5.1(a)(vi), 5.1(a)(vii), 5.1(a)(viii), 5.1(a)(xiv) or 5.1(a)(xvi) hereof.

(b) Since January 31, 2015, there has not occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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3.11 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all material Benefit Plans.

(b) The Company has made available to Parent, with respect to each material Benefit Plan, (i) each writing constituting a part of such Benefit Plan, including all amendments thereto, and all plan documents, trust agreements, and insurance contracts and other funding vehicles, (ii) the most recent Annual Report (Form 5500 Series) and accompanying schedules, if any, (iii) the current summary plan description and any material modifications thereto, if any (in each case whether or not required to be furnished under ERISA), (iv) the most recent annual financial report, trustee report, audit report, or actuarial report, if any, and (v) the most recent determination letter from the IRS (if applicable) for such Benefit Plan.

(c) (i) Each Benefit Plan has been maintained, operated and administered in all material respects in compliance with its terms and with applicable Law, including ERISA and the Code to the extent applicable thereto, (ii) each Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or is entitled to rely upon a favorable opinion issued by the IRS, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances likely to result in the loss of the qualification of such plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, (iii) none of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (as defined below) has now or at any time within the previous six (6) years contributed to, sponsored or maintained (or has been required to contribute to, sponsor or maintain) a Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (iv) no Benefit Plan provides medical, life insurance or other welfare benefits with respect to current or former employees or directors of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (or any other Participant) beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by applicable Law, (v) no material liability under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred, or is reasonably expected to be incurred, by the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate (as defined below) with respect to any Benefit Plan or any other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, in any case, which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, or by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries would be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code (an “ERISA Affiliate”), that has not been satisfied in full (other than with respect to amounts not yet due), and no condition, event or circumstance exists that presents a risk to the Company, any Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company of incurring a liability thereunder, (vi) all material contributions or other amounts payable by the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to each Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP (other than with respect to amounts not yet due), (vii) none of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has now or at any time within the

 

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previous six (6) years contributed to, sponsored or maintained (or has been required to contribute to, sponsor or maintain) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a) of ERISA or a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, (viii) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened complaints, lawsuits or claims (other than claims for benefits in accordance with the terms of the Benefit Plans) by, on behalf of or against any of the Benefit Plans or any trusts related thereto that would reasonably be expected to result in any material liability of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries and (ix) there are no pending material audits by any Governmental Entity with respect to any Benefit Plan.

(d) Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any Participant to severance, change of control or other similar pay or benefits, (ii) cause any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) to become due or accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any Participant, or increase the amount payable pursuant to, any Benefit Plan, (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Company or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Parent, to merge, amend or terminate any of the Benefit Plans, or (iv) result in payments by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any Person which would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code or otherwise.

(e) No material deduction by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in respect of any “applicable employee remuneration” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) has been disallowed or is subject to disallowance by reason of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(f) All Benefit Plans maintained pursuant to the Laws of a country other than the United States and all plans or arrangements applicable to employees outside of the United States that are mandated by applicable Law (i) have been maintained in all material respects in accordance with all applicable requirements (including applicable Law), (ii) that are intended to qualify for special Tax treatment meet all material requirements for such treatment, and (iii) that are required to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved in all material respects, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.

3.12 Labor Matters.

(a) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Laws respecting labor, employment, immigration, fair employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, workers’ compensation, occupational safety, plant closings, mass layoffs, worker classification, exempt and non-exempt status, compensation and benefits, wages and hours and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended.

 

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(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no labor union has been certified to represent any employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or has applied to represent or is attempting to organize so as to represent such employees.

(c) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened work stoppage, lock-out, slowdown or labor strike against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and (ii) there is no unfair labor practice, labor dispute (other than routine individual grievances) or labor arbitration proceeding pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the representations and warranties made in this Section 3.12 are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to labor matters.

3.13 Contracts.

(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true, correct and complete list of each Contract (other than any Company Lease or Benefit Plan) which is in effect and to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or which binds their respective properties or assets, and which falls within any of the following categories:

(i) any Contract that is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act), whether or not filed by the Company with the SEC;

(ii) any joint venture, partnership or strategic alliance Contract related to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary owns any partial interest and that is material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(iii) requires any capital expenditure (or series of capital expenditures) by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries in an amount in excess of $5,000,000 individually, other than any purchase order or Contract for supply, inventory or trading stock acquired in the ordinary course of business;

(iv) any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract (A) with any Governmental Entity or (B) which would require the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to pay consideration of more than $1,000,000 after the date of this Agreement;

(v) any Contract that obligates the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to indemnify or hold harmless any past or present director or officer of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (other than the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or any of the organizational or governing documents of the Company Subsidiaries);

 

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(vi) any Contract that contains any covenant limiting, to a degree that is material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the ability of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or compete with any Person, in each case in any geographic area;

(vii) any Contract (A) that relates to any completed acquisition, divestiture, merger or similar transaction and contains representations, covenants, indemnities or other obligations that remain in effect (excluding any transactions solely among the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary) and that are material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (B) for any pending acquisition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise) of a material portion of the assets (other than goods, products or services in the ordinary course of business) or Equity Interests of any Person that is material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent payment obligations following the date hereof that is material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (C) that gives any Person the right to acquire any assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries (excluding ordinary course commitments to purchase goods, products or services) after the date hereof and that are material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(viii) any Contract that is an indenture, credit agreement, loan agreement, security agreement, guarantee, note, mortgage or other Contract providing for or securing indebtedness for borrowed money or deferred payment (in each case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $10,000,000; and

(ix) (A) any Contract under which Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has granted or received a license, sublicense or other right with respect to Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (x) non-exclusive, end-user licenses for commercially available off-the-shelf software applications with a replacement cost and/or aggregate annual license and maintenance fee of less than $1,750,000; and (y) non-exclusive trademark licenses granted to distributors in the ordinary course of business; or (B) any Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is party that is a settlement or consent-to-use agreement that restricts or limits in any material respect the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries’ ability to use or exploit any material Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

Each Contract of the type described in this Section 3.13(a) is referred to herein as a “Company Material Contract.” True and complete copies of each Company Material Contract in effect as of the date hereof has been made available to Merger Sub (including pursuant to agreed-upon procedures to protect competitively sensitive information) or publicly filed with the SEC.

(b) As of the date hereof, except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) each Company Material Contract is a legal, valid, binding and, to the Knowledge of the Company, enforceable obligation of the Company or the Company Subsidiary party thereto

 

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and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is in full force and effect (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and to general equitable principles, including specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief) and (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any counterparty, is in breach or default under any Company Material Contract and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Company’s Knowledge, by any other party thereto.

3.14 Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no Proceeding to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any outstanding Order that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

3.15 Environmental Matters. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company (a) each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is and has for the past two (2) years been in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, (b) each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has, or has applied for, all Environmental Permits necessary for the conduct and operation of their respective businesses as now being conducted and is in compliance with the terms and conditions thereof, (c) none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has received in the past two (2) years any written notice, demand, letter or claim that is unresolved and that alleges that the Company or such Company Subsidiary is in violation of, or liable under, any Environmental Law and (d) none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has entered into or agreed to any consent decree or order or is subject to any judgment, decree or judicial order relating to compliance with Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Substances. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the representations and warranties made in this Section 3.15 are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to Hazardous Substances, Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits and any other matter related to the environment or the protection of human health and worker safety.

3.16 Intellectual Property.

(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all material Registered Intellectual Property owned by (or exclusively licensed to) the Company or any Company Subsidiary. All of the Intellectual Property set forth on Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is valid, subsisting and enforceable, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries own or have the right to use, pursuant to a valid and enforceable written license agreement, all material Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens, except for the Permitted Liens.

(c) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) no Proceedings are pending against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Knowledge of the Company, are threatened, alleging that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property of any Person or otherwise challenging the ownership or use of any Company Intellectual Property, and no such Proceedings have been brought since February 1, 2014, (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing, misappropriating, diluting, using in an unauthorized manner or otherwise violating the Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has instituted or threatened to institute any Proceeding against any Person with respect to the foregoing in this Section 3.16(b)(ii), and (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, the operation by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries of their respective businesses as currently conducted does not infringe, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate, the Intellectual Property rights of any Person.

(d) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries maintain policies and procedures regarding data security, privacy, data transfer and the use of data that are commercially reasonable. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are, and since February 1, 2014 have been, in compliance with all such policies and other legal requirements pertaining to data privacy and data security. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been (i) no material loss or theft of data or security breach relating to data used in the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, (ii) no violation of any security policy regarding any such data, (iii) no unauthorized access or unauthorized use of any data and (iv) no unintended or improper disclosure of any personally identifiable information in the possession, custody or control of the Company or a Company Subsidiary or a contractor or agent acting on behalf of the Company or a Company Subsidiary.

(e) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (i) maintain commercially reasonable security, disaster recovery and business continuity plans, procedures and facilities and (ii) have taken commercially reasonable actions to protect the security and integrity of the Business Systems and the data stored or contained therein or transmitted thereby, including by implementing procedures intended to prevent unauthorized access and the introduction of any virus, worm, Trojan horse or similar disabling code or program, and the taking and storing on-site and off-site of back-up copies of critical data.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the representations and warranties made in this Section 3.16 and Sections 3.4, 3.6(b), 3.10 and 3.13(a) are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to Intellectual Property, data security, privacy and data transfer.

3.17 Tax Matters.

(a) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(i) all Tax Returns that are required to be filed by or with respect to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file), and all such Tax Returns are true, complete, and accurate;

(ii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have paid all Taxes (including any withholding Taxes) due and owing by any of them, other than Taxes, Tax Returns and deficiencies for which or with respect to which adequate reserves have been established on or reflected in the financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and Taxes, Tax Returns and deficiencies being defended in good faith through appropriate proceedings;

(iii) no deficiencies for Taxes have been assessed by any Governmental Entity in writing against the Company or the Company Subsidiaries except for deficiencies which have been satisfied by payment, settled or withdrawn;

(iv) there is not pending any audit, examination, investigation or other proceeding with respect to any Taxes of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries;

(v) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency;

(vi) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has entered into any “listed transaction” within the meaning of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2);

(vii) the Company has not 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 in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or which otherwise constitutes part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code in conjunction with the Merger;

(viii) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax allocation, sharing or indemnity agreement (other than any Tax indemnification provisions in commercial agreements or agreements that are not primarily related to Taxes and other than any agreement solely between or among any of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries);

 

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(ix) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary) under U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law); and

(x) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries will be required to include in taxable income for a taxable period ending after the Closing Date any amount of taxable income attributable to income that arose in a prior taxable period but was not recognized for Tax purposes in any prior taxable period as a result of (A) an installment sale made prior to the Closing Date, or (B) a change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date under Section 481(c) of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law).

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the representations and warranties made in Sections 3.11(b), 3.11(c) and this Section 3.17 are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company with respect to Taxes.

3.18 Real Property.

(a) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title to each parcel of Owned Real Property, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Section 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of the street address of each parcel of Owned Real Property. Other than the Owned Real Property listed in Section 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries owns any other material real property in its respective businesses. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened condemnation, eminent domain or similar Proceeding affecting any Owned Real Property or any portion thereof.

(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date hereof, (i) the Company has delivered to or made available to Parent a true and complete copy of each material Company Lease, (ii) the Company or a Company Subsidiary has a good and valid leasehold interest in each material Company Lease, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and (iii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party to a material Company Lease is in default beyond any applicable notice and cure period under any material Company Lease, which default is in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

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3.19 Insurance. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries maintain policies of insurance covering the Company, the Company Subsidiaries and their respective employees, properties or assets (collectively, “Insurance Policies”) in an amount which the Company believes is adequate for the operation of its and the Company Subsidiaries’ businesses. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (a) is in breach or default of any of the Insurance Policies or (b) has received any written notice of termination, cancellation, or denial of coverage with respect to any Insurance Policy, and all such insurance is outstanding and duly in force, except in each case, which has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, there is no claim pending under any Insurance Policy as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policy.

3.20 Certain Business Practices. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, since February 1, 2014, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary (nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants, advisors or authorized agents, while acting on behalf of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries), in connection with the business activities of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, (a) has made or agreed to make any contribution, payment, gift or entertainment to any governmental official, employee, political party or agent or any candidate for any federal, state, local or foreign public office for the purpose of securing any unlawful advantage for the benefit of the Company, where either the contribution, payment or gift or the purpose thereof was in violation of the applicable Laws of any federal, state, local or foreign jurisdiction or (b) has violated or operated not in compliance with any applicable embargo or related trade restriction Law imposed by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control or any other agency of the United States government.

3.21 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company Board has received the opinion (the “Fairness Opinion”) of J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC (the “Company Financial Advisor”), to the effect that, as of the date of the Fairness Opinion, and based upon and subject to the various qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be received by holders of Company Shares (other than Parent or Merger Sub) pursuant to the Agreement is fair to such holders of Company Shares from a financial point of view.

3.22 Form S-4; Proxy Statement/Prospectus. None of the information in the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be supplied by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries for inclusion therein will, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply, as of its mailing date, as to form in all material respects with all applicable Law, including the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub for inclusion therein.

 

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3.23 Brokers. Except for the Company’s obligations to the Company Financial Advisor, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finders’, advisory or similar fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

3.24 State Takeover Statutes. Assuming the accuracy of the representations contained in Section 4.14, no “moratorium,” “fair price,” “business combination,” “control share acquisition” or similar provision of any state anti-takeover Law (including Section 203 of the DGCL) or any similar anti-takeover provision in the Company Charter or Company Bylaws is, or at the Effective Time will be, applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

3.25 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article 3 (as qualified by the Company Disclosure Letter), none of the Company, any of its affiliates or any other Person on behalf of the Company makes any express or implied representation or warranty (and there is and has been no reliance by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, investment bankers, advisors, representatives or authorized agents on any such representation or warranty) with respect to the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or with respect to any other information provided, or made available, to Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives or affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the accuracy or completeness thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to Parent, Merger Sub or their Representatives or affiliates or any other Person resulting from Parent’s, Merger Sub’s or their Representatives’ or affiliates’ use of any information, documents, projections, forecasts or other material made available to Parent, Merger Sub or their Representatives or affiliates, including any information made available in the electronic data room maintained by the Company for purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, teasers, marketing materials, consulting reports or materials, confidential information memoranda, management presentations, functional “break-out” discussions, responses to questions submitted on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives or in any other form in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, unless and to the extent any such information is expressly included in a representation or warranty contained in this Article 3 (as qualified by the Company Disclosure Letter).

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Except as set forth in (i) the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof (other than any disclosures contained under the captions “Risk Factors” or “Forward-Looking Statements,” in each case to the extent they are predictive, cautionary or forward-looking in nature) or (ii) the corresponding sections of the disclosure letter delivered by Parent and Merger Sub to the Company concurrent with the execution of this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure in any section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to all sections of this Agreement

 

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and all other sections or subsections of the Parent Disclosure Letter to the extent that the relevance of such disclosure to such other section or subsection is reasonably apparent on its face), Parent and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

4.1 Organization and Qualification.

(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of Parent’s Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize such concept) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the requisite corporate or organizational, as the case may be, power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions which recognize such concept) in each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Parent has provided to the Company true, correct and complete copies of (i) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Parent and any amendments thereto (the “Parent Charter”) not filed prior to the date hereof with the SEC, and (ii) the By-laws of Parent and any amendments thereto (the “Parent Bylaws”) not filed prior to the date hereof with the SEC. Parent is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Parent Charter and the Parent Bylaws.

4.2 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of (i) 360,000,000 Parent Shares, of which, as of the close of business on May 14, 2015 (the “Parent Capitalization Date”), there were 162,941,051 Parent Shares issued and outstanding and (ii) 100,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent (the “Parent Preferred Stock”), of which, as of the Parent Capitalization Date, no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. No Parent Subsidiary owns any Parent Shares or has any option or warrant to purchase any Parent Shares or any other Equity Interest in Parent. All of the outstanding Parent Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.

(b) As of the close of business on the Parent Capitalization Date, Parent has no Parent Shares subject to or reserved for issuance, except for (i) 14,520,059 Parent Shares subject to outstanding options to purchase Parent Shares (“Parent Options”) under the Parent Plans having a weighted average exercise price of $14.14, (ii) 1,795,600 Parent shares underlying Parent restricted stock unit awards granted under the Parent Plans, and (iii) 7,991,048

 

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Parent Shares reserved for future issuance under the Parent Plans for awards not yet granted. As of the close of business on the Parent Capitalization Date, Parent has no shares of Parent Preferred Stock subject to or reserved for issuance. All Parent Shares subject to issuance under the Parent Plans, upon issuance prior to the Effective Time on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. From the close of business on the Parent Capitalization Date until the date of this Agreement, Parent has not issued any Parent Shares, Parent Options, Parent Restricted Share Awards or other Equity Interests (including shares of Parent Preferred Stock) other than Parent Shares issued upon the exercise of any Parent Options outstanding as of the close of business on the Parent Capitalization Date in accordance with their terms.

(c) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party with respect to the voting of Parent Shares or other Equity Interests of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, other than any such agreements solely between and among Parent and any Parent Subsidiary or solely between and among two or more Parent Subsidiaries. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Parent Shares may vote.

4.3 Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, including the adoption (effective immediately following the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto) by Parent, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, by written consent, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to adopt this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Parent Board has approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger. The Board of Directors of Merger Sub has (a) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, (c) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the sole stockholder of Merger Sub for its adoption and (d) recommended that Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, adopt this Agreement. This Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and to general equitable principles, including specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief).

4.4 No Conflict. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub, or the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub of the

 

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Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), directly or indirectly, conflict with or violate any provision of the Parent Charter, the Parent Bylaws or the organizational or governing documents of Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary (except, in the case of organizational or governing documents of any Parent Subsidiary, as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect). Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub, the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), directly or indirectly (a) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 4.5 have been obtained and all filings and notifications described in Section 4.5 have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, and any other condition precedent to such consent, approval, authorization or waiver has been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or any other Subsidiary of Parent (each a “Parent Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Parent Subsidiaries”) or any of their respective properties or assets or (b) require any consent, notice or approval under, violate, conflict with, result in any breach of or any loss of any benefit under, or constitute a change of control or default under, or result in termination or give to others any right of termination, vesting, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the respective properties or assets of Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary pursuant to any Contract, permit or other instrument or obligation to which Parent, Merger Sub or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.

4.5 Required Filings and Consents. Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Company in Section 3.5, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub, the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will require (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or registration with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, other than (a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger as required by the DGCL, (b) compliance with the pre-merger notification obligations of the HSR Act, (c) compliance with any applicable foreign, federal or state securities or blue sky laws, including pursuant to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (d) such filings as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NYSE and NASDAQ, (e) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 and (f) consents, approvals, authorizations or permits of, filings, registrations with or notifications to, any Governmental Entity, the failure of which to obtain or make has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

4.6 Parent Shares. Upon issuance, the Parent Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens.

 

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4.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

(a) Since February 1, 2014, Parent has timely filed with or otherwise furnished to the SEC (as applicable) in all material respects all registration statements, prospectuses, forms, reports, proxy statements, schedules, statements and documents required to be filed or furnished by it to the SEC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be (such documents and any other documents filed or furnished by Parent with the SEC, as have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, collectively, the “Parent SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates or, if supplemented, modified or amended prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the most recent supplement, modification or amendment, the Parent SEC Documents (i) did not (or, with respect to the Parent SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (ii) complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereunder and the listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of NASDAQ. None of the Parent Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC. As of the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Parent, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in any comment letters of the staff of the SEC received by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary relating to the Parent SEC Reports.

(b) The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Parent and the consolidated Parent Subsidiaries (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) included in the Parent SEC Documents (collectively, the “Parent Financial Statements”) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of Parent and the consolidated Parent Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of notes and except as may be indicated in the notes thereto).

(c) As of the date hereof, neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any “off balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC), where the purpose or intended effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary in the Parent SEC Documents.

4.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for those liabilities and obligations (a) disclosed, reflected, reserved against or provided for in the Parent Financial Statements filed prior to the date hereof, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (c) incurred under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger or (d) that otherwise are not and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is subject to any liabilities or obligations required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved on a consolidated balance sheet of Parent (or the notes thereto).

4.9 Internal Controls. Parent has designed and maintains in all material respects a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and

 

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15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) intended to provide reasonable assurances (a) regarding the reliability of financial reporting for Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, (b) that material receipts and expenditures of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Parent Board, and (c) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Parent’s and the Parent Subsidiaries’ assets that could have a material effect on Parent’s financial statements. Parent (a) maintains in all material respects “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to Parent’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Parent required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports and (b) based on its most recent evaluation of internal controls prior to the date hereof, has disclosed to Parent’s auditors and the audit committee of the Parent Board (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Parent’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Parent’s internal controls over financial reporting.

4.10 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries hold all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, variances, exemptions, approvals, orders, registrations and clearances of any Governmental Entity necessary for Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate their properties and assets, and to carry on and operate their businesses as currently conducted (collectively, the “Parent Permits”), except where the failure to comply with, obtain or have, or the suspension or cancellation of, or failure to be valid or to be in full force and effect of, any of the Parent Permits, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent and each Parent Subsidiary is, and since February 1, 2014 has been, in compliance with the terms of all Parent Permits, except where the failure to be in such compliance has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is, and since February 1, 2014 has not been, in conflict with, default under or violation of any Law applicable to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is bound or affected, except for any conflicts, defaults or violations as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has, since February 1, 2014, been threatened in writing to be charged with or been given any written notice, nor, to the Parent’s Knowledge, is under investigation with respect to, any violation of any applicable Law, except for any violations as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.11 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a) Since January 31, 2015 through the date of this Agreement, Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

(b) Since January 31, 2015, there has not occurred any Parent Material Adverse Effect and Parent has not taken or failed to take any action that, had such action been taken or failed to have been taken after the date hereof, would (without the Company’s consent) have constituted a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 5.1(b) hereof.

4.12 Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no Proceeding to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is subject to any outstanding Order that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

4.13 Form S-4; Proxy Statement/Prospectus. None of the information in the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be supplied by Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries for inclusion therein will, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply, as of its mailing date, as to form in all material respects with all applicable Law, including the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, except that no representation is made by Parent with respect to information supplied by the Company for inclusion therein.

4.14 Ownership of Company Capital Stock. None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary beneficially owns any Company Shares or is party to any derivative or hedging arrangement, short position, borrowing or lending of Company Shares or other Contract or understanding, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from, Share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, Parent, Merger Sub or any other affiliate of Parent, in each case with respect to Company Shares. None of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last three (3) years has Parent, Merger Sub or any other Parent Subsidiary been, an “interested stockholder” of the Company as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL.

4.15 Ownership of Merger Sub. All of the outstanding Equity Interests of Merger Sub have been duly authorized and validly issued and are wholly owned by Parent. Merger Sub was formed solely for purposes the Merger and, except for matters incidental to formation and execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby, Merger Sub has not prior to the date hereof engaged in any business or other activities.

 

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4.16 Solvency. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is entering into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors thereof. Assuming the satisfaction in full of the conditions set forth in Article 6, as of the Closing, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing, Parent on a consolidated basis with the Parent Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries) will be Solvent. For purposes of this Section 4.16, “Solvent” means that, as of the date of determination:

(a) the amount of the “fair value” of the “property” of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as of such date, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, the value of all “debts” of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, contingent or otherwise, as of such date, as such quoted terms are generally determined in accordance with applicable federal bankruptcy Laws governing fraudulent transfers;

(b) the present “fair value” of the “property” (on a going concern basis) of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as of such date, is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the value of all liabilities, on a consolidated basis as of such date, of their existing debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise,

(c) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured in the ordinary course of business, and

(d) Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, any business or transaction contemplated as of the date hereof for which they have unreasonably small capital.

For purposes of this Section 4.16, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

4.17 Available Funds; Sufficient Authorized but Unissued Shares.

(a) At the Effective Time, Parent and Merger Sub will have available all of the funds necessary (including cash, cash equivalents, available lines of credit or other sources of immediately available funds of Parent and Merger Sub) to consummate the Merger, to pay all fees, expenses and other amounts required to be paid by Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement. Parent and Merger Sub expressly acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder, including their obligations to consummate the Merger, are not subject to, or conditioned on, receipt of financing.

(b) At the Effective Time, Parent will have sufficient authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares for Parent to meet its obligation to deliver the Parent Shares under this Agreement, and at the Effective Time, the Company stockholders shall acquire good and valid title to the Parent Shares, free and clear of all Liens.

 

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4.18 No Vote of Parent Stockholders. No vote of the stockholders of Parent or the holders of any other securities of Parent (equity or otherwise) is required by any applicable Law, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other equivalent organizational documents of Parent or pursuant to the rules of NASDAQ, for Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including in order for Parent to issue such number of Parent Shares constituting the aggregate Stock Consideration in connection with the Merger. Effective immediately following the execution of his Agreement by the parties hereto, Parent has approved and adopted this Agreement in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub and delivered to the Company evidence of its action by written consent approving and adopting this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub.

4.19 Financing.

(a) Parent has received and accepted executed and binding commitment letters dated May 17, 2015 and attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Commitment Letter”) from Goldman Sachs Bank USA (together with any assignees permitted under Section 5.11(c), the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender has committed to provide, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the full amount of the debt financing described therein (the “Financing”). Parent has delivered to the Company true, complete and correct copies of the executed Commitment Letter and the fee letter related to the Commitment Letter (the “Fee Letter”); provided, however, that the fee amounts and other economic terms set forth in the “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter, none of which could adversely affect the conditionality, enforceability, availability, termination or aggregate principal amount of the Financing, may be redacted.

(b) Except as expressly set forth in the Commitment Letter, there are no conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lender to provide the Financing or any contingencies that would permit the Lender to reduce the total amount of the Financing. There are no side letters or other agreements, contracts or arrangements relating to the funding or investing, as applicable, of the full amount of the Financing.

(c) As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 6, Parent does not have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the funding of the Financing set forth in the Commitment Letter will not be satisfied.

(d) The Commitment Letter is valid, binding and enforceable against Parent and the other parties thereto, in each case in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and to general equitable principles, including specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief), and is in full force and effect, and no fact, circumstance, state of affairs or occurrence has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would reasonably be expected to constitute a default or breach or a failure to satisfy a term or condition precedent on the part of Parent or, to the Knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto under the Commitment Letter. As of the date hereof, the Commitment Letter has not been amended, restated or otherwise modified or waived, and the commitment contained in the Commitment Letter has not been withdrawn, modified or rescinded on or prior to the date of this Agreement. Parent has paid (or caused to be paid) in full any and all commitment fees or other fees or expenses required to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Commitment Letter on or before the date of this Agreement.

 

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In no event shall the receipt or availability of any funds or financing by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective affiliates or any other financing or other transactions be a condition to any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s obligations hereunder, including the consummation of the Merger.

4.20 Brokers. Except for Parent’s obligations to Guggenheim Securities, LLC and to Goldman, Sachs & Co., no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to any brokerage, finders’, advisory or similar fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any of their respective officers, directors or employees.

4.21 Certain Business Practices. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of Parent, since February 1, 2014, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary (nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, consultants, advisors or authorized agents, while acting on behalf of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries), in connection with the business activities of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries, (a) has made or agreed to make any contribution, payment, gift or entertainment to any governmental official, employee, political party or agent or any candidate for any federal, state, local or foreign public office for the purpose of securing any unlawful advantage for the benefit of Parent, where either the contribution, payment or gift or the purpose thereof was in violation of the applicable Laws of any federal, state, local or foreign jurisdiction or (b) has violated or operated not in compliance with any applicable embargo or related trade restriction Law imposed by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control or any other agency of the United States government.

4.22 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in this Article 4 (as qualified by the Parent Disclosure Letter), none of Parent, any of its affiliates or any other Person on behalf of Parent makes any express or implied representation or warranty (and there is and has been no reliance by the Company or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, investment bankers, advisors, representatives or authorized agents on any such representation or warranty) with respect to Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or with respect to any other information provided, or made available, to the Company or its Representatives or affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the accuracy or completeness thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, neither Parent, Merger Sub nor any other Person will have or be subject to any liability or other obligation to the Company or its Representatives or affiliates or any other Person resulting from the Company’s or its Representatives’ or affiliates’ use of any information, documents, projections, forecasts or other material made available to the Company or its Representatives or affiliates, including any information made available in the electronic data room maintained by Parent for purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, teasers, marketing materials, consulting reports or materials, confidential information memoranda, management presentations, functional “break-out” discussions, responses to questions submitted on behalf of the Company or its Representatives or in any other form in connection with the transactions contemplated by this

 

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Agreement, unless and to the extent any such information is expressly included in a representation or warranty contained in this Article 4 (as qualified by the Parent Disclosure Letter).

ARTICLE 5

COVENANTS

5.1 Conduct of Business by the Company and Parent Pending the Closing.

(a) The Company agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7, except as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including the remainder of this Section), or otherwise with the prior written consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company will, and will cause each Company Subsidiary to, (i) conduct its operations only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve substantially intact its business organization. Without limiting the foregoing, and as an extension thereof, except as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, or otherwise with the prior written consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Company Subsidiary to, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7:

(i) amend, modify, waive, rescind or otherwise change the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary;

(ii) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer or encumber any shares of capital stock of, or other Equity Interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any rights based on the value of any such Equity Interests (except for transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary or between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries), other than (A) the issuance of Company Shares upon the exercise of Company Options or the vesting of Company Restricted Share Awards outstanding as of the date hereof, (B) the adoption of a stockholder rights agreement and the issuance of rights to purchase Equity Interests of the Company pursuant to such stockholder rights agreement and the issuance of Equity Interests pursuant to the exercise of such rights, so long as such stockholder rights agreement is not applicable to the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (C) pursuant to requirements of the Contracts of the Company or any Company Subsidiary that have been disclosed or made available to Parent, in each case as in existence on the date and on the terms as in effect on the date hereof or (D) pledges of Equity Interests in the Company Subsidiaries in connection with the incurrence or refinancing of indebtedness permitted under Section 5.1(a)(ix) below;

(iii) directly or indirectly sell, lease, license, sell and leaseback, abandon, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien (other than any Permitted Lien)

 

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or otherwise dispose (collectively, “Disposals”) in whole or in part of any of its properties, assets or rights (other than any Disposals of inventory or excess or obsolete assets, rights or properties in the ordinary course of business, Disposals of Company Leased Real Property, or Disposals of any non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property) or any interest therein that have a fair market value in excess of $2,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate (except, in each case, for transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary or between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries);

(iv) make any Disposal of material Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary for a purchase price in excess of $1,750,000, other than (A) the sale, licensing or abandonment of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (B) transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary and not involving any Third Party or (C) transactions between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries and not involving any Third Party;

(v) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether payable in cash, stock, property or a combination thereof) with respect to any of its capital stock or other Equity Interests (other than dividends paid by a wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the Company or another wholly owned Company Subsidiary or the dividend of rights to purchase Equity Interests of the Company pursuant to a stockholder rights agreement permitted to be adopted under clause (ii) above);

(vi) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or make any similar change or amend the terms of, or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the Company’s capital stock, or other Equity Interests, except (A) the acquisition by the Company of Company Shares in connection with the surrender of Company Shares by holders of Company Options to be able to pay the exercise price of the Company Option in accordance with the terms of such Company Options as in effect on the date hereof, (B) the withholding or disposition of Company Shares to satisfy withholding Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Benefit Plans in accordance with the terms of such awards as in effect on the date hereof, (C) upon the forfeiture of outstanding Company Options or Company Restricted Share Awards pursuant to their terms upon the termination of the employment of the holder thereof or otherwise or (D) the redemption of any Equity Interests pursuant to a stockholder rights agreement permitted to be adopted under clause (ii) above;

(vii) merge or consolidate the Company or any Company Subsidiary with any Person or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for a complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary or between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries;

(viii) acquire (including by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets) any material Equity Interest in or material assets of any Person, business or division thereof, or make any material loan, advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any Person, business or division thereof, except with respect to such acquisitions, loans, advances, contributions or investments that are in the ordinary course and are for consideration (including assumed indebtedness for borrowed money, if applicable) not exceeding $1,000,000 individually

 

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or $10,000,000 for all such transactions by the Company and Company Subsidiaries in the aggregate, except, in each case, for (A) transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary and not involving any Third Party, (B) transactions between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries and not involving any Third Party or (C) transactions to the extent relating to Company Leased Real Property in the ordinary course of business;

(ix) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities or assume or guarantee the obligations of any Person (other than the Company and any direct or indirect wholly owned Company Subsidiary), except (A) in connection with refinancings of existing indebtedness (provided that the principal amount of such new indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of the indebtedness refinanced and the terms of such new indebtedness shall not be more onerous to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries compared to the existing indebtedness), (B) for transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Company Subsidiary or between wholly owned Company Subsidiaries, (C) letters of credit and similar instruments issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, including the pledging of cash or other security as may be required by the issuer, in each case, not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate, or (D) for (1) borrowings in the ordinary course of business under the Company’s existing credit facilities (or under refinancings of existing credit facilities permitted by Section 5.1(a)(ix)(A)), (2) indebtedness for borrowed money that is prepayable at any time without penalty or premium, and/or (3) short-term borrowings (exclusive of those under any existing credit facilities or refinancings of existing credit facilities) for working capital in the ordinary course of business (provided that the principal amount of any indebtedness incurred by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries pursuant to the foregoing subclauses (1), (2) and (3) does not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate);

(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, (A) enter into any Contract that includes a change of control or similar provision that would require a material payment to the other party or parties thereto in connection with the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) enter into any Contract that would have been a Material Contract if it were in effect as of the date hereof or (C) materially modify or materially amend, cancel or terminate or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims with respect to, any Company Material Contract;

(xi) (A) make any Disposal of any Owned Real Property or (B) purchase or otherwise acquire (x) any real property or any material interest therein or (y) a leasehold interest in any material real property, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) except as required by Law or to comply with any Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement, (A) increase the compensation or benefits of any Participant, except for routine increases in cash compensation to Participants (other than directors and employees with a title above Vice President) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in connection with promotions or normal merit increases in base salaries or base wages and benefit levels of Participants (other than employees with a title above Vice President) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (B) grant any rights to severance, change of control, retention or termination pay to any Participant having a

 

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title above Vice President, whether pursuant to an employment agreement, severance agreement or otherwise, (C) establish, adopt, enter into, amend in any material respect or terminate any Benefit Plan or any other collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, termination, severance or other plan or agreement for the benefit of any Participant or (D) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate the vesting, exercisability or funding under any Benefit Plan;

(xiii) (A) hire or terminate (other than for cause) the employment or service of any director of the Company or any employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary who has a title above Vice President or appoint any person to a position above Vice President or (B) promote any employee having a title above Vice President;

(xiv) make any material change in financial accounting policies, practices, principles, methods or procedures, other than as required by GAAP or Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act or other applicable rules and regulations of the SEC or applicable Law;

(xv) other than in the ordinary course of business or as required by Law, (A) make or change any material Tax election, (B) file any material amended Tax Return or (C) settle or compromise any claim relating to a material amount of Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for an amount materially in excess of amounts reserved, in each case, if such action would reasonably be expected to result in a material increase in the Tax liability of Parent and its Subsidiaries after the Effective Time (it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the covenants made in this Section 5.1(a)(xv) are the sole and exclusive covenants of the Company made in this Section 5.1 with respect to Taxes);

(xvi) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claims, liabilities or obligations arising out of, related to or in connection with litigation (other than litigation arising in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, which is governed by Section 5.12) or other Proceedings other than settlements of, or compromises for, any such litigation or other Proceedings (A) funded, subject to payment of a deductible, by insurance coverage maintained by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or (B) for less than $5,000,000 (after taking into account insurance coverage maintained by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries) in the aggregate beyond the amounts reserved on the Company Financial Statements, in each case without any admission of liability or other adverse consequences on the Company or Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

(xvii) make any capital expenditure in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $10,000,000 in the aggregate, except for capital expenditures that are contemplated by the Company’s existing plan for annual capital expenditures for 2015 previously made available to Parent;

(xviii) enter into any Contract or transaction between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any affiliate or director or officer of the Company on the other hand, other than in the ordinary course of business; or

(xix) authorize, agree or commit, in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.

 

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(b) Parent agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7, except as set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including the remainder of this Section), or otherwise with the prior written consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Parent will, and will cause each Parent Subsidiary to, (i) conduct its operations only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve substantially intact its business organization. Without limiting the foregoing, and as an extension thereof, except as set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, or otherwise with the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Parent shall not, and shall not permit any Parent Subsidiary to, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7:

(i) amend, modify, waive, rescind or otherwise change the Parent’s or Merger Sub’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws in any manner that would be reasonably expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger or otherwise be materially adverse to the Company or the holders of the Company Shares or have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer or encumber any shares of capital stock of, or other Equity Interests in, Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or any rights based on the value of any such Equity Interests, except (A) the acquisition by Parent of Parent Shares in connection with the surrender of Parent Shares by holders of Parent Options to be able to pay the exercise price of the Parent Option in accordance with the terms of such Parent Options as in effect on the date hereof, (B) the withholding or disposition of Parent Shares to satisfy withholding Tax obligations with respect to awards granted pursuant to the Parent Plans in accordance with the terms of such awards as in effect on the date hereof, (C) the issuance of Parent Shares upon the exercise of Parent Options or the vesting of Parent Restricted Share Awards outstanding as of the date hereof, (D) upon the forfeiture of outstanding Parent Options or Parent Restricted Share Awards pursuant to their terms upon the termination of the employment of the holder thereof or otherwise or (E) pledges of Equity Interests in the Parent Subsidiaries in connection with the incurrence or refinancing of any indebtedness of Parent or the Parent Subsidiaries;

(iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether payable in cash, stock, property or a combination thereof) with respect to any of its capital stock or other Equity Interests of Parent or reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or make any similar change or amend the terms of, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock or other Equity Interests of Parent;

(iv) acquire (including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets, recapitalization, joint venture or otherwise) any business, material assets or securities of any Person if such acquisition would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger; or

(v) authorize, agree or commit, in writing or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing.

 

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5.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality.

(a) From the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7, the Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to (i) provide to Parent and Merger Sub and their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, investment bankers, advisors, financing sources and authorized agents (collectively, the “Parent Representatives”) reasonable access, during normal business hours in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the operation of any business conducted by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, upon prior written notice to the Company, to the officers, employees, properties, Company Permits, offices and other facilities of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and to the books and records thereof, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish during normal business hours upon prior notice such information concerning the business, properties, Contracts, Company Permits, personnel, assets and liabilities of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as Parent or the Parent Representatives may reasonably request; provided, that the Company shall not be required to (or to cause any Company Subsidiary to) afford such access or furnish such information to the extent that the Company believes, in its reasonable good faith judgment, that doing so would (A) result in the loss of attorney-client, work product or other privilege, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties or violate any obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to confidentiality to any Third Party, or otherwise breach, contravene or violate any such effective Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or (C) breach, contravene or violate any applicable Law (including Competition Laws). In the event that the Company or a Company Subsidiary does not provide access or information in reliance on the preceding proviso, it shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent of the applicable Third Party that is required in order to disclose the applicable information and to otherwise communicate the applicable information to Parent or the Parent Representatives in a way that would not violate the applicable Law or obligation or waive such a privilege; provided, that neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall be required to incur any liabilities, expend any funds or pay any expenses or fees in connection therewith.

(b) Each of Parent and Merger Sub hereby agrees that all information provided to it or any Parent Representatives in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be “Information,” as such term is used in, and shall be treated in accordance with, the confidentiality agreement, effective as of October 21, 2014 and amended as of November 6, 2014, between the Company and Parent (the “Confidentiality Agreement”).

 

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5.3 No Solicitation.

(a) Subject to the other clauses of this Section 5.3, from and after the date hereof until the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 7, none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries shall, and the Company shall instruct the Company Representatives not to on behalf of the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) whether publicly or otherwise, initiate or solicit the submission of any offer, proposal or indication of interest that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish to any Third Party any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or afford to any Third Party access to the business, books, records or other non-public information, or to any personnel, of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, in any such case with the intent to encourage or induce the making, submission or announcement of any offer, proposal or indication of interest that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) enter into, conduct, participate, maintain or engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Third Party with respect to any offer, proposal or indication of interest that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal (other than solely to inform any Third Party of the existence of the provisions contained in this Section 5.3) (provided, that the Company may contact the Person that made any Acquisition Proposal solely for the purpose of seeking clarification of solely the terms or conditions of such Acquisition Proposal), (iv) approve, adopt, declare advisable or recommend an Acquisition Proposal, (v) withdraw, amend or modify in any manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub the Company Board Recommendation, (vi) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle or other similar document, or any Contract providing for or relating to any Acquisition Proposal or requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate, or that is intended to result in the abandonment of, termination of or failure to consummate any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (vii) grant any waiver or release with the effect thereof under any standstill agreement or anti-takeover Law for the purpose of allowing a Third Party to make an Acquisition Proposal or (viii) resolve, propose or agree to do any of the foregoing (any action set forth in the foregoing clauses (iv), (v) or (viii) (to the extent related to the foregoing clauses (iv) or (v)), a “Change of Board Recommendation”). The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any Persons (other than Parent) conducted prior to the date hereof by the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any of the Company Representatives that would reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal, and shall, as promptly as practicable, terminate access by each such Person and its representatives to any online or other data rooms containing any non-public information in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company shall, as soon as practicable following the date hereof, request of each Person that has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of an Acquisition Proposal, to promptly return or destroy all confidential information furnished prior to the execution of this Agreement to or for the benefit of such Person by or on behalf of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 5.3(a), but subject to Section 5.3(c), if at any time following the date hereof and prior to the time that the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained (i) the Company receives a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal from a Third Party that was unsolicited and not otherwise obtained in violation of Section 5.3(a) and (ii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such

 

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Acquisition Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal, then the Company may in response to such Acquisition Proposal (A) furnish information with respect to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to the Third Party making such Acquisition Proposal, its representatives and potential sources of financing and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations with the Third Party making such Acquisition Proposal, its representatives and potential sources of financing regarding such Acquisition Proposal, in each case, only if (1) the Company gives Parent a written notice that states that the Company has received such Acquisition Proposal and includes all the information required by Section 5.3(c) in accordance with Section 5.3(c) and thereafter continues to comply with Sections 5.3(c) and 5.3(d), (2) prior to furnishing any non-public information to such Person, the Company shall have an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement with such Person and prior to or substantially contemporaneously with the provision of any non-public information concerning the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to any such Person, the Company provides such information to Parent (if such information has not previously been furnished to Parent or the Parent Representatives) and (3) the Company Board shall have reasonably determined in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law.

(c) As promptly as practicable (and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours) following the receipt by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Representatives of (i) an Acquisition Proposal or (ii) any request for information or to engage in negotiations or discussions that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall provide Parent notice of (A) the receipt of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry, (B) the material terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry (including of any financing arrangements to the extent provided to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Representatives) and (C) a copy of all material written materials provided by such Person in connection with such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry (provided, that the Company may redact the identity of, or any identifying facts regarding, the Person making such Acquisition Proposal if such disclosure would violate any Contract by which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound as of the date hereof). The Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed, on a reasonably current basis, of any material developments or material modifications to the terms of any such Acquisition Proposal.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 5.3(a), if (i) the Company has received a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board determines, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel, constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Company Board may at any time prior to the time that the Company Stockholder Approval is obtained, (A) effect a Change of Board Recommendation with respect to such Superior Proposal or fail to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Schedule 14D-9 and/or (B) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, or (ii) an Intervening Event has occurred and is continuing, the Company Board may at any time prior to the Effective Time effect a Change of Board Recommendation, in each case, subject to the requirements of this Section 5.3(d). The Company shall not be entitled to effect a Change of Board Recommendation with respect to a Superior Proposal or Intervening Event pursuant to this

 

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Section 5.3(d) or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal unless (A) the Company shall have provided to Parent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (the “Notice Period”) of the Company’s intention to take such action, which notice shall state expressly (1) that it has received a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event has occurred, (2) in the case of a Superior Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal (including any financing arrangements to the extent provided to the Company and/or any Company Representatives) and the identity of the Person making such Superior Proposal, or, in the case of an Intervening Event, the material facts and circumstances (based on information reasonably available) related to such Intervening Event, and (3) that it intends to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) or effect a Change of Board Recommendation and (B) the Company Board shall have reasonably concluded in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect a Change of Board Recommendation or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. During the Notice Period, if requested by Parent, the Company shall engage in good faith negotiations with Parent and its financial and legal advisors regarding any amendment to this Agreement proposed in writing by Parent, and the Company Board shall consider in good faith any adjustments and/or proposed amendments to this Agreement (including a change to the price terms hereof) that may be irrevocably offered in writing by Parent (the “Proposed Changed Terms”) by no later than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the last day of the Notice Period. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.3(d) to the contrary, the Company Board may not effect a Change of Board Recommendation or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) until the expiration of the Notice Period and unless and until the Company Board concludes in good faith, after considering the Proposed Changed Terms (if any are proposed by Parent) and consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect a Change of Board Recommendation or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) would still be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. In the event of any material revisions or modifications to such Superior Proposal, the Company shall be required to promptly (but in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) deliver a new written notice to Parent and to again comply with the requirements of this Section 5.3(d) with respect to such new written notice, except that the Notice Period shall be two (2) Business Days with respect to any such revised Superior Proposal, but no such new written notice shall shorten the original Notice Period.

(e) Nothing contained in this Section 5.3 shall prohibit the Company Board from (i) disclosing to the stockholders of the Company a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 and Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the stockholders of the Company if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to make such disclosure would be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law or violate applicable Law; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, such disclosure may constitute a Change of Board Recommendation in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.3. The issuance by the Company or the Company Board of a “stop, look and listen” statement pending disclosure of its position, as contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, shall not constitute a Change of Board Recommendation.

 

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5.4 Efforts.

(a) The Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall use all reasonable best efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action and do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the parties in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law or otherwise to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable, (ii) take all such actions as may be reasonably required to cause the expiration of the notice periods under Competition Laws with respect to such transactions as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, (iii) obtain (A) from any Governmental Entities any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations or orders required to be obtained by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries to effect the Closing by not later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Outside Date (including any such approvals required under the HSR Act), and to avoid any action or proceeding by any Governmental Entity (including those in connection with the pre-merger notification obligations of the HSR Act) or any other Person, in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and (B) from any Third Party any consents or notices that are required to be obtained or made by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement only to the extent that Parent, Merger Sub and the Company reasonably determine, after consultation and cooperation with one another, that such consent or notice should be obtained or made; provided, that none of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company shall be required to incur any liabilities, expend any funds or pay any expenses or fees in connection with obtaining such Third Party consents, (iv) cause the satisfaction of all conditions set forth in Article 6, (v) defend and seek to prevent the initiation of all actions, lawsuits or other legal, regulatory or other Proceedings to which it is a party challenging or affecting this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case until the issuance of a final, nonappealable Order, (vi) seek to have lifted or rescinded any injunction or restraining order which may adversely affect the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, in each case until the issuance of a final, nonappealable Order, (vii) as promptly as practicable, make or cause to be made all necessary applications and filings (and in any event file all required HSR Act notifications within ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof), make any other required submissions, and pay any fees due in connection therewith (all such fees to be solely the responsibility of, and to be paid by, Parent and Merger Sub), with respect to this Agreement and the Merger required under any Competition Laws and the parties shall request early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act in making such filings, (viii) prepare and file as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions, filings, ruling requests, and other documents and to obtain as promptly as practicable all consents, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals, permits, rulings, authorizations and clearances necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the “Required Approvals”), (ix) take all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain all such consents and the Required Approvals, and (x) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, make all necessary filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions, and pay any fees due in connection therewith, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger required under any other applicable Law. No party to this Agreement shall consent to any delay of the Closing at the

 

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behest of any Governmental Entity without the consent of the other parties to this Agreement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Parent and Merger Sub shall not, except as may be consented to in advance in writing by the Company, directly or indirectly through one or more of its affiliates, acquire any Person or material assets thereof or interest therein, if such acquisition would reasonably be expected to cause a material delay in or otherwise result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions contained in Article 6 or the consummation of the Merger. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree and acknowledge that neither this Section 5.4 nor the “reasonable best efforts” standard shall require, or be construed to require, the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries or affiliates to sell, dispose of or divest any assets or businesses, other than as would not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or any Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or Parent or any Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in order to obtain any required approval from any Governmental Entity.

(b) Without limiting the generality of anything contained in this Section 5.4, each party hereto shall (i) give the other parties prompt notice of the making or commencement of any request, inquiry, investigation, action or Proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) keep the other parties notified as to the status of any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or other Proceeding, (iii) promptly notify the other parties of any oral or written communication to or from any Governmental Entity regarding the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iv) promptly provide to the other parties copies of any written communications received or provided by such party, or any of its Subsidiaries, from or to any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that Parent and the Company may, as each reasonably and in good faith deems advisable and necessary, designate any competitively sensitive material provided to the other under this section as “Antitrust Counsel Only Material.” Such materials and the information contained therein shall be given only to the outside antitrust counsel of the recipient and will not be disclosed by such outside counsel to employees, officers or directors of the recipient unless express permission is obtained in advance from the source of the materials (Parent or the Company, as the case may be) or its legal counsel. Each party hereto will consult and cooperate with the other parties with respect to and provide any necessary information and assistance as the other parties may reasonably request with respect to all notices, submissions, or 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 or any transactions contemplated by this Agreement and will permit the other parties to review and discuss in advance and consider in good faith the views of the other parties in connection with any filing, analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion or proposal made or submitted in connection with the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Entity or by any Law, in connection with any such request, inquiry, investigation, action or other Proceeding, each party hereto will consult with the other parties in advance and give the other parties or their authorized representatives the opportunity to be present at each meeting or teleconference relating to such request, inquiry, investigation, action or other Proceeding and to have access to and be consulted in connection with any document, opinion or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Entity in connection with such request, inquiry, investigation, action or other Proceeding.

(c) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company prior to the consummation of the Merger. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations.

 

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5.5 Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meetings.

(a) Parent and the Company shall cooperate in preparing, and as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, file the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and Form S-4. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included in and will constitute a part of the Form S-4. The Company will cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to the Company’s stockholders as soon as reasonably practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts, and the Company shall cooperate with Parent, to have the Form S-4 declared effective by the SEC and to keep the Form S-4 effective through the Closing in order to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. Parent shall also take any action required to be taken under any applicable state securities laws in connection with the issuance and reservation of Parent Shares in the Merger, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of Company Shares, or holders of a beneficial interest therein, as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Each of Parent or the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other parties with copies of any written comments, and advise each other of any oral comments, with respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or Form S-4 received from the SEC. Parent and the Company shall cooperate and provide each other with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Form S-4 prior to filing such with the SEC, and will provide each other with a copy of all such filings made with the SEC. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no amendment or supplement (including by incorporation by reference) to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 shall be made without the approval of both the Company and Parent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time, any information relating to Parent or the Company, or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors, is discovered by Parent or the Company and such information should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Form S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party hereto discovering such information shall promptly notify the other parties and, to the extent required by law, rules or regulations, an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and disseminated to the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable Law.

(b) The Company shall duly take all lawful action to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Company Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable following the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4 by the SEC for the purpose of obtaining the

 

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Company Stockholder Approval. The Company shall not postpone or adjourn the Company Stockholders Meeting except to the extent required by applicable Law or to solicit additional proxies and votes in favor of adoption of this Agreement if sufficient votes to constitute the Company Stockholder Approval have not been obtained. The record date for the Company Stockholders Meeting shall be determined by the Company with prior consultation with Parent.

(c) The Company Board shall, except in the case of a Change in Board Recommendation made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, recommend the adoption of this Agreement by the Company stockholders to the effect as set forth in Section 3.3, and, subject to Section 5.3, shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit the Company Stockholder Approval. Notwithstanding any Change in Board Recommendation pursuant to Section 5.3, unless this Agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement shall be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve the Company of such obligation.

5.6 Public Announcements. So long as this Agreement is in effect, Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, shall not, and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause their respective advisors and controlled affiliates not to, issue any press release or make any public statement with respect to the Merger or this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except (a) as may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any applicable United States securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which the relevant party is subject, in which case to the extent permitted by Law the party proposing to issue such press release or make such public announcement shall use its reasonable best efforts to consult in good faith with the other party before making any such public announcements or (b) with respect to any press release or other public statement by the Company permitted by Section 5.3. The press release announcing the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall be a joint release of, and shall not be issued prior to the approval of each of, the Company and Parent.

5.7 Employee Benefit Matters.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Company shall, and Parent shall cause the Company to, honor all Benefit Plans in accordance with their terms as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that the foregoing shall not prevent or otherwise limit Parent or the Surviving Corporation from amending or terminating any Benefit Plan in accordance with its terms as of the date hereof (or, in the case of any Benefit Plan permitted to be amended under the terms of this Agreement, as of the Closing Date). For a period of one (1) year following the Effective Time, Parent shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, to each Person who is employed by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time who continues in the employ of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective affiliates on or after the Effective Time (“Company Employees”) (i) base salary or wage rate and cash bonus opportunities that, in each case, are no less favorable than were provided to the Company Employee immediately before the Effective Time and (ii) all other compensation and employee benefits that are substantially equivalent in the aggregate to those provided to the Company Employee immediately before the Effective

 

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Time (except that no payments or benefits under any defined benefit pension plan or the Retention Program shall be taken into account for purposes of determining whether the other compensation and employee benefits are substantially equivalent).

(b) For purposes of vesting, eligibility to participate and for calculating severance and vacation entitlements under the employee benefit plans of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries (each, a “New Plan”), each Company Employee shall be credited with his or her years of service with the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors before the Effective Time, to the same extent as such Company Employee was entitled, before the Effective Time, to credit for such service under any similar Benefit Plan in which such Company Employee participated or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, that the foregoing shall not apply (i) with respect to accruals under a defined benefit pension plan, (ii) to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits, or (iii) with respect to any newly established New Plan for which prior service is not taken into account for employees of Parent or any of its affiliates. In addition and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (A) each Company Employee shall be immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time, in any and all New Plans to the extent that coverage under such New Plans is comparable to a Benefit Plan in which such Company Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time (such plans, collectively, the “Old Plans”) and (B) for purposes of each New Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits to any Company Employee, Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all eligibility waiting periods, pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work requirements of such New Plan to be waived for such employee and his or her covered dependents, unless such conditions would not have been waived under the comparable Old Plans, and Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any eligible expenses incurred by such employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the Old Plans ending on the date such employee’s participation in the corresponding New Plan begins to be taken into account under such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such New Plan.

(c) Parent hereby acknowledges that a “change of control” (or similar phrase) within the meaning of the Benefit Plans will occur at the Effective Time, as applicable.

(d) Prior to the Effective Time (but not earlier than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Time), the Company shall (unless otherwise instructed by the Parent prior to the taking of such actions) take all such actions as are necessary, including the adoption of board of directors or compensation committee resolutions or consents, to terminate the Company’s 401(k) plan(s), effective no later than the day immediately prior to the Effective Time, with such termination subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall provide Parent with evidence that such plan(s) have been terminated. The form and substance of such resolutions shall be subject to the review and approval of Parent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Parent shall cause the 401(k) plans of Parent or its affiliates to accept as soon as reasonably practicable rollover distributions from current and former employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such individuals’ account balances (including loans), if elected by any such individuals.

 

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(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan that is a seasonal bonus plan (each, a “Seasonal Plan”), immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company may pay to each employee of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries actively employed as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and then participating in such Seasonal Plan, a bonus equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Company Employee’s full-season bonus entitlement under such Seasonal Plan, based on deemed performance at “target” (100%) levels, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days that have elapsed during the applicable season through the Closing Date and the denominator of which equals the total number of days in the applicable season; provided that, if the Effective Time occurs on or after August 2, 2015, the Company shall pay out in full or defer, as applicable, any bonus under the Season Plans for the current season and any subsequent season that ends on or prior to such Effective Time based on actual performance. The term “Seasonal Plan” shall include both short term incentive compensation programs and long-term restricted cash programs under the Company’s Management Performance Compensation Plan, as amended through March 7, 2012.

(f) No later than thirty (30) Business Days following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall pay out all earned and unpaid amounts under the Long-Term Restricted Cash Program (“LTRCP”) for fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014 and, if the Effective Time occurs on or after August 2, 2015, 2015. Section 5.7(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of LTRCP participants and the earned and unpaid amounts payable to such participants in respect of fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014. If the Effective Time occurs on or after August 2, 2015, amounts in respect of the performance period ending prior to such time shall be determined prior to the Effective Time in good faith by the Company in accordance with the LTRCP.

(g) The Company may establish a cash-based retention program in the aggregate amount of $7,500,000 to promote retention and to incentivize efforts to consummate the Closing (the “Retention Program”) with any such payments from such Retention Program to be paid no earlier than the first to occur of (i) the three (3)-month anniversary of the Effective Time, (ii) a Qualifying Termination (as defined in the Company’s Special Severance Plan in effect as of the date hereof), (iii) a termination of employment due to disability or (iv) a termination of employment due to death and, in the case of subclauses (ii) and (iii), subject to the delivery by the participant of a non-mutual release of claims in favor of the Company in a form no less favorable than the release provided by the employee in the form of release attached to the Company’s Special Severance Plan. Amounts under the Retention Program shall be allocated among the employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries identified, and in the amounts and on the terms determined, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or her designee(s)); provided, however, that the Company shall consult in good faith with Parent regarding the allocation and timing of payment of amounts under the Retention Program. If a retention award or portion thereof under the Retention Program is forfeited by a participant, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or her designee(s)) may reallocate the retention award (or unpaid portion thereof) to existing employees or new hires of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

 

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(h) Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon any Company Employee or other Person any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates. Except as expressly set forth in this Section 5.6, no provision of this Agreement: (i) shall limit the ability of the Company or any of its affiliates (including, following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries) to amend, modify or terminate in accordance with its terms any benefit or compensation plan, program, agreement, contract, policy or arrangement at any time assumed, established, sponsored or maintained by any of them, (ii) shall be deemed or construed to amend, establish, or modify any benefit or compensation plan, program, agreement, contract, policy or arrangement, or (iii) create any third party beneficiary rights or obligations in any person (including any current or former service provider or employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (or any beneficiaries or dependents thereof)) or any right to employment or continued employment or to a particular term or condition of employment with the Company or any of its affiliates (including, following the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries).

5.8 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

(a) For six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation and Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless all past and present directors and officers of the Company or each Company Subsidiary (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) to the same extent such Persons are indemnified as of the date of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to applicable Law, the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, or equivalent organizational or governing documents, of any Company Subsidiary and indemnification agreements, if any, in existence on the date of this Agreement and set forth in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter (collectively, the “Existing Indemnification Agreements”) arising out of acts or omissions in their capacity as directors or officers of the Company or any Company Subsidiary occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby). The Surviving Corporation and Parent shall advance expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred in the defense of any Proceeding or investigation with respect to the matters subject to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5.8 in accordance with the procedures (if any) set forth in the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, or equivalent organizational documents, of any Company Subsidiary, and any Existing Indemnification Agreements; provided, that the Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Person is not entitled to indemnification and complies with other applicable provisions imposed under applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Proceeding (whether arising before, at or after the Effective Time) is made against such persons with respect to matters subject to indemnification hereunder on or prior to the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Effective Time, the provisions of this Section 5.8 shall continue in effect until the final disposition of such Proceeding or investigation. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 5.8 or otherwise, neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall have any obligation hereunder to any Covered Person if it is ultimately decided in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable Law, in which case the Covered Person shall promptly refund to Parent or the Surviving Corporation the amount of all such expenses theretofore advanced pursuant hereto.

 

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(b) For not less than six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation, indemnification of and advancement of expenses to Covered Persons for periods at or prior to the Effective Time than are currently set forth in the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws. Following the Effective Time, the Existing Indemnification Agreements shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation, without any further action, and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

(c) For not less than six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, the Company and the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain for the benefit of the directors and officers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time, an insurance and indemnification policy that provides coverage for events occurring prior to the Effective Time (the “D&O Insurance”) that is substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than the existing policies of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (true and complete copies which have been previously made available to Parent) or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage; provided, that the Surviving Corporation shall not be required to pay an annual premium for the D&O Insurance in excess of 300% of the last annual premium paid prior to the date of this Agreement, but in such case shall purchase as much coverage as is available for such amount (the maximum amount of the aggregate annual premium over such six (6) year term, the “Maximum Premium”). In lieu of the foregoing, at or prior to the Effective Time, the Company may obtain, at its election, prepaid policies, which policies provide such directors and officers with coverage for an aggregate period of at least six (6) years with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on or before the Effective Time, including in connection with the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that the Company shall not spend in excess of the Maximum Premium to obtain such prepaid policies. If such prepaid policies have been obtained prior to the Effective Time, the Company and the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain such policies in full force and effect, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder.

(d) In the event that Parent or the Surviving Corporation (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then proper provision shall be made so that such continuing or surviving corporation or entity or transferee of such assets, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.8.

(e) The obligations under this Section 5.8 shall not be terminated or modified in any manner that is adverse to the Covered Persons (and their respective successors and assigns), it being expressly agreed that the Covered Persons (including successors and assigns) shall be Third Party beneficiaries of this Section 5.8. In the event of any breach by the Surviving Corporation or Parent of this Section 5.8, the Surviving Corporation shall pay all

 

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reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by Covered Persons in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in this Section 5.8 as such fees are incurred upon the written request of such Covered Person.

5.9 Takeover Statutes. If any state takeover Law or state Law that purports to limit or restrict business combinations or the ability to acquire or vote Shares (including any “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium,” “business combination” or other similar takeover Law) becomes or is deemed to be applicable to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, this Agreement, the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall cooperate and take all action reasonably available to render such Law inapplicable to the foregoing. Neither Parent, Merger Sub or the Company will take any action that would cause this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to the requirements imposed by any such Laws.

5.10 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board, or an appropriate committee of non-employee directors thereof, shall adopt a resolution consistent with the interpretive guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or director of the Company who is a “covered person” of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (“Section 16”) of Company Shares, Company Options or Company Restricted Share Awards pursuant to this Agreement and the Merger shall be an exempt transaction for purposes of Section 16.

5.11 Financing.

(a) Parent and Merger Sub shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to obtain and to consummate the Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Commitment Letter (including the flex provisions related thereto), subject to any amendments or modifications thereto permitted by Section 5.11(c), including using reasonable best efforts to (i) maintain in effect the Commitment Letter, (ii) negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with respect to the Financing on the terms and conditions (including the flex provisions) contained in the Commitment Letter, subject to any amendments or modifications thereto permitted by Section 5.11(c); (iii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions applicable to Parent or Merger Sub contained in the Commitment Letter and that are within Parent’s or Merger Sub’s control, including the payment of any commitment, engagement or placement or other fees required as a condition to the Financing and due and payable by Parent or Merger Sub, (iv) upon the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions and the conditions set forth in Article 6, consummate the Financing on or prior to the Closing (with respect to amounts required to consummate the Merger), including by drawing on any interim or bridge financing facilities contemplated thereby, (v) obtain such third-party consents as may be reasonably required in connection with the Financing, (vi) comply with its obligations under the Commitment Letter and (vii) enforce its rights under the Commitment Letter in the event of any failure to fund thereunder by the Lender. If Parent or Merger Sub becomes aware of any event that makes procurement of any portion of the Financing unlikely to occur in the manner or from the sources contemplated in the Commitment Letter, Parent and Merger Sub shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) notify the Company and shall use reasonable best efforts to arrange as promptly as practicable any such portion from alternative

 

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sources on terms and conditions no less favorable, in the aggregate, to Parent and Merger Sub and to the Company than the terms and conditions set forth in the Commitment Letter and that would not have any of the effects prohibited by Section 5.11(c) (such financing, “Alternative Financing”); provided, that in the case of (A) the continuation of the asset-based lending facilities of the Parent or the Company in lieu of the asset-based lending facilities under the Commitment Letter, subject to no additional or otherwise more onerous conditions than as set forth in the Commitment Letter with respect to the asset-based lending facility contemplated thereby and/or (B) the reduction of the term loan commitments under the Commitment Letter due to the realization by Parent of the proceeds of a debt securities offering, no such notice shall be required and such actions shall not constitute an amendment or modification of the Commitment Letter, nor shall such actions be deemed to contravene this Section 5.11(a). Parent and Merger Sub shall (A) give the Company prompt oral and written notice of any breach or default by any party to the Commitment Letter, Alternative Financing, or definitive financing agreements related thereto, any purported termination or repudiation by any party to the Commitment Letter, Alternative Financing, or definitive financing agreements related thereto or upon receipt of notice of any material dispute or disagreement between or among the parties to the Commitment Letter, Alternative Financing, or definitive financing agreements related thereto and (B) otherwise keep the Company reasonably informed of the status of Parent and Merger Sub’s efforts to arrange the Financing or Alternative Financing.

(b) The Company shall provide, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and use reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Representatives to provide, such assistance with the Financing (or any Alternative Financing) or the continuation of the asset-based lending facilities of Parent or the Company as is reasonably requested by Parent. Such assistance shall consist of, at the reasonable request of Parent, (i) participation in meetings, drafting sessions and due diligence, lender, investor, rating agency and other presentations, upon reasonable advance notice, (ii) furnishing Parent and the Lender with financial statements and other financial information regarding the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to the extent customary in connection with the preparation of offering or information documents to be used for the Financing and reasonably requested by Parent or any proposed financing source in connection with the financing contemplated by the Commitment Letter (including any Alternative Financing) or the continuation of the asset-based lending facilities of Parent or the Company, (iii) participation in the negotiation, execution and delivery (to be effective at the Closing) of any such financing documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent, (iv) assisting Parent and the Lender in (A) the timely preparation of offering documents, private placement memoranda, bank information memoranda and similar documents in connection with any portion of such financing, including the provision of any information as may be necessary so as to ensure that the financing information pertaining to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not materially misleading, (B) the timely preparation of materials for due diligence, lender, investor, rating agency and other presentations, and (C) the compliance with the reasonable requirements of rating agencies, (v) cooperating with the marketing efforts of Parent and the Lender for any portion of such financing, (vi) facilitating the pledging of collateral, including cooperating with Parent’s efforts to obtain appraisals, financial analyses, surveys, environmental assessments, third party consents and estoppels, mortgage

 

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financeability and title insurance, (vii) using reasonable best efforts to cause the Company’s independent auditors and other Company Representatives to cooperate with such financing, (viii) entering into one or more credit or other financing-related agreements and executing any certificates or other documents on terms satisfactory to Parent on behalf of Parent or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such financing (so long as such documents would not have any effect prior to or in the absence of a Closing) and (ix) taking all corporate actions with respect to Subsidiaries of the Company (but not the Company itself), subject to the occurrence of the Closing, reasonably requested by Parent to permit the consummation of such financing and the direct borrowing or incurrence of all of the proceeds of such financing at the Closing. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any commitment or other similar fee or enter into any definitive agreement, incur any other liability or obligation in connection with the Financing (or any Alternative Financing) or the continuation of the asset-based lending facilities of Parent prior to the Effective Time, (ii) none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be required to take any action that will conflict with or violate the Company’s or such Company Subsidiary’s organizational documents or any applicable Laws or result in the contravention of, or that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of or default under, any Contract to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party, (iii) no officer, director or other representative of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries shall be required to deliver any certificate or opinion, or take any action pursuant to this Section 5.11(b), that could reasonably be expected to result in personal liability and (iv) neither the Company or any Company Subsidiary nor any Persons who are directors of the Company or any Company Subsidiary shall be required to pass resolutions or consents to approve or authorize the execution of the Financing (or any Alternative Financing) or deliver any certificate, document, instrument or agreement or agree to any change or modification of any existing certificate, document, instrument or agreement, in each case, prior to the Effective Time. None of the representations, warranties or covenants of the Company shall be deemed to apply to, or deemed breached or violated by, any of the actions contemplated by this Section 5.11(b) or by any action taken by the Company at the request of Parent or its Lender. Parent shall promptly, upon request by the Company, reimburse and indemnify the Company for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with the Company’s or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates obligations under this Section 5.11(b). The Company hereby consents to use of its and its Subsidiaries’ logos in connection with such financing; provided, that such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or their reputation, goodwill or marks and that Parent, Merger Sub, the Lender and their respective affiliates and Representatives shall obtain no rights in such logos. Any information provided to Parent or any other Person pursuant to this Section 5.11(b) shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, (i) permit any termination, amendment or modification to, or any waiver of any provision or remedy under, the Commitment Letter or Fee Letter if such termination, amendment, modification, waiver or remedy (A) reduces the committed amount of the Financing such that Parent would not have sufficient funds (including cash, cash equivalents, available lines of credit or other sources of

 

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immediately available funds) to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration contemplated by this Agreement and to perform the other obligations of Parent and Merger Sub contemplated by this Agreement, (B) (i) adds new conditions or (ii) modifies any existing conditions to the consummation of all or any portion of the Financing to the extent, in the case of clause (ii), that it would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede or delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (it being understood that Parent may amend, restate, modify, supplement or replace the Commitment Letter to add and appoint additional arrangers, bookrunners, underwriters, agents, lenders and similar entities, to provide for the assignment and reallocation of a portion of the financing commitments contained therein and to grant customary approval rights to such additional arrangers and other entities in connection with such appointments), (C) adversely affects the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to enforce its rights against other parties to the Commitment Letter or the definitive agreements in respect thereof or (D) could otherwise reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or delay the consummation the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) undertake any merger, acquisition, joint venture or debt or equity financing that could be expected to prevent or materially impair or delay consummation of the Financing contemplated by the Commitment Letter or any Alternative Financing contemplated by any new debt commitment letter; provided that (i) the continuation of the asset-based lending facilities of the Parent or the Company in lieu of the asset-based lending facilities under the Commitment Letter, subject to no additional or otherwise more onerous conditions than as set forth in the Commitment Letter with respect to the asset-based lending facility contemplated thereby and/or (ii) the reduction of the term loan commitments under the Commitment Letter due to the realization by Parent of the proceeds of a debt securities offering shall not constitute an amendment or modification of the Commitment Letter, nor shall such actions be deemed to contravene this Section 5.11(c).

(d) In no event shall the receipt or availability of the Financing, Alternative Financing or any other funds or financing by Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective affiliates be a condition to any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s obligations hereunder.

5.12 Stockholder Litigation. The parties shall cooperate and consult with one another in connection with any Proceeding by the Company’s stockholders against the Company or any of its directors, officers or affiliates with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall give Parent notice of any such Proceeding as promptly as practicable. The Company shall not compromise or settle any Proceeding commenced against it or its directors, officers and/or affiliates relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) without Parent’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

5.13 NASDAQ Listing. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its party under applicable Laws and rules and policies of NASDAQ to cause the Parent Shares to be issued in the Merger and such other Parent Shares to be reserved for issuance in connection with the Merger to be approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

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ARTICLE 6

CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party Under This Agreement. The respective obligations of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by mutual consent of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, as the case may be, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Stockholder Approval. The Company shall have obtained the Company Stockholder Approval.

(b) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. The consummation of the Merger shall not be restrained, enjoined or prohibited by any Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) of a court of competent jurisdiction or any other Governmental Entity, and there shall not be in effect any Law enacted, promulgated or deemed applicable to the Merger by any Governmental Entity that prevents the consummation of the Merger.

(c) HSR Act. Any waiting period applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.

(d) NASDAQ Listing. The Parent Shares to be issued in the Merger and such other Parent Shares to be reserved for issuance in connection with the Merger shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.

(e) Effectiveness of the Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction at the Effective Time of each of the following additional conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by Parent and Merger Sub to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.1, Section 3.2 (other than the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b), 3.2(c) and 3.2(e)), Section 3.3, Section 3.21, Section 3.23 (except, subject to the terms of Section 5.3, in the event that the Company or any Company Subsidiary engages another financial advisor in connection with the evaluation of an Acquisition Proposal) and Section 3.24 shall be true and correct in all material respects and at and as of the Effective Time, as though made at and as of the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and 3.2(c) shall be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis inaccuracies, at and as of the Effective Time, as though made at and as of the Effective Time, (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.10(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, at and as of the Effective Time, as though made at and as of the Effective Time and (iv) each of the other representations and warranties of the Company

 

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in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the Effective Time, as though made at and as of the Effective Time, except (A) in the case of subclauses (i), (ii) and (iv), representations and warranties that are expressly made as of an earlier date shall be true and correct only at and as of such date, and (B) in the case of subclause (iv), where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” qualifier set forth therein) would, individually or in the aggregate with all other failures to be true or correct, have or reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all obligations required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Officer’s Certificate. Parent shall have received an officer’s certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and 6.2(b) have been satisfied.

6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction at the Effective Time of each of the following additional conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Section 4.1, Section 4.2 (other than the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.2(a) and 4.2(b)) and Section 4.3, shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Sections 4.2(a) and 4.2(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis inaccuracies, at and as of the Effective Time, as though made at and as of the Effective Time, (iii) the representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Section 4.11(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, at and as of the Effective Time and (iv) each of the other representations and warranties of Parent in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects at and as of the Effective Time, except (A) in the case of subclauses (i), (ii) and (iv), representations and warranties that are expressly made as of an earlier date shall be true and correct only at and as of such date, and (B) in the case of subclause (iv), where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” qualifier set forth therein) would, individually or in the aggregate with all other failures to be true or correct, have or reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent. Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all obligations required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have received an officer’s certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of Parent to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and 6.3(b) have been satisfied.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time and, except as specifically provided below, whether before or after the Company Stockholder Approval:

(a) by mutual written agreement of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, by action of their respective Boards of Directors;

(b) by either the Company or Parent, if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before February 17, 2016 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose breach of this Agreement (including such party’s obligations set forth in Section 5.4) has been the primary cause of or primarily resulted in the non-satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 6 hereto or the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before the Outside Date;

(c) by either the Company or Parent, if any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order, enacted or interpreted any Law or taken any other action or any Law shall be in effect, in each case, permanently restraining, enjoining, preventing or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal, prior to the Effective Time, the consummation of the Merger, and, in each case, such Order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) shall be available only if the party seeking to terminate this Agreement shall have used all reasonable best efforts to resist, resolve or lift, as applicable, such Order before asserting the right to terminate under this Section 7.1(c);

(d) by either the Company or Parent, if the Company Stockholder Approval has not been obtained at the Company Stockholders Meeting; provided, that no party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) if such party has breached in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement in a manner that caused the failure to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval at the Company Stockholders Meeting;

(e) by Parent, at any time prior to the Company Stockholder Approval, if the Company Board shall have effected a Change of Board Recommendation (it being understood and agreed that any written notice of the Company’s intention to make a Change of Board Recommendation prior to effecting such Change of Board Recommendation in accordance with Section 5.3(d) in and of itself shall not result in Parent having any termination rights pursuant to this Section 7.1(e)) (provided, that Parent’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) shall expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth (10th) Business Day following the date on which the event first permitting such termination occurred);

 

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(f) by the Company, at any time prior to the Company Stockholder Approval, in order to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, but only if the Company shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section 5.3 with respect to such Superior Proposal; provided, that (i) substantially concurrent with the termination of this Agreement, the Company enters into a definitive agreement providing for a Superior Proposal, and (ii) the Company shall prior to or concurrently with such termination pay, or cause to be paid, the Termination Fee to, or for the account of, Parent pursuant to Section 7.3(b);

(g) by Parent, at any time prior to the Effective Time, if: (i) there has been a breach by the Company of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement such that any condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(b) is not reasonably capable of being satisfied while such breach is continuing, (ii) Parent shall have delivered to the Company written notice of such breach and (iii) either such breach is not capable of cure prior to the Outside Date or at least forty-five (45) days shall have elapsed since the date of delivery of such written notice to the Company and such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects; provided, that Parent shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(g) if there has been any material breach by Parent of its material representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, and such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects; or

(h) by the Company, at any time prior to the Effective Time, if: (i) there has been a breach by Parent of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement such that any condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) is not reasonably capable of being satisfied while such breach is continuing, (ii) the Company shall have delivered to Parent written notice of such breach and (iii) either such breach is not capable of cure prior to the Outside Date or at least forty-five (45) days shall have elapsed since the date of delivery of such written notice to Parent and such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects; provided, that the Company shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(h) if there has been any material breach by the Company of its material representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, and such breach shall not have been cured in all material respects.

7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 7.1, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties, specifying the provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and the basis therefor described in reasonable detail, and this Agreement shall become void and of no further force or effect without liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, affiliates, officers or directors; provided, that (i) no such termination shall relieve the Company of its obligation to pay the Termination Fee or Expense Reimbursement if, as and when required pursuant to Section 7.3 (which Section 7.3 shall survive any such termination); (ii) no such termination shall relieve any party for liability for such party’s breach of this Agreement prior to its termination or for fraud; and (iii) (A) the Confidentiality Agreement, (B) Parent’s and Merger Sub’s payment obligations and liabilities under Section 5.4(a)(vii) of this Agreement, (C) Parent’s and Merger Sub’s reimbursement and indemnification obligations under Section 5.11(b) of this Agreement and (D) Section 5.2(b), this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 and Article 8 of this Agreement and the definitions of all defined terms appearing in such Sections shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

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7.3 Termination Fee.

(a) The parties agree that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(d), then the Company shall reimburse the Parent for its actual and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 (five million dollars) (the “Expense Reimbursement”) within two (2) Business Days of such termination. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Expense Reimbursement on more than one (1) occasion and (ii) in no event shall the sum of the Expense Reimbursement and Termination Fee payable by the Company exceed $48,270,000.

(b) The parties agree that if this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(e) or by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(f), then the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to Parent prior to or concurrently with such termination, in the case of a termination by the Company, or within two (2) Business Days thereafter, in the case of a termination by Parent, a termination fee equal to $48,270,000 (the “Termination Fee”).

(c) The parties agree that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(b), 7.1(d) or 7.1(g) and, in any such case, (1) after the date hereof and prior to the date of termination of this Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company is made to the Company or the Company Board, is made public by the Company or any other Person, or otherwise made generally known to the Company’s stockholders, and is not withdrawn and (2) within twelve (12) months after such termination, the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and such Acquisition Proposal is thereafter consummated (which need not be the same Acquisition Proposal that was made, disclosed or communicated prior to the termination hereof), then the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) the Termination Fee to Parent, prior to or concurrently with the consummation of such transaction, less the amount of any Expense Reimbursement previously paid pursuant to Section 7.3(a). For purposes of only subclause (2) of this Section 7.3(c), the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.4, except that the references to “20%” shall be deemed to be references to “50%”.

(d) The Company acknowledges that the agreement contained in this Section 7.3 is an integral part of this Agreement and that, without this Section 7.3, Merger Sub and Parent would not have entered into this Agreement. Accordingly, if the Company fails to promptly pay any amount due pursuant to this Section 7.3, the Company shall pay to Merger Sub all reasonable fees, costs and expenses of enforcement (including reasonable attorneys’ fees as well as reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any action initiated by Parent and/or Merger Sub), together with interest on the amount of the Termination Fee at the prime lending rate as published in The Wall Street Journal, in effect on the date such payment is made.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Company be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one (1) occasion.

(f) Subject to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s rights set forth in Section 8.14, Parent’s right to receive payment from the Company of the Termination Fee shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of Parent and Merger Sub against the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or any of their respective former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members or affiliates (collectively, “Company Related Parties”) under circumstances requiring the payment thereof pursuant to this Section 7.3 for any loss suffered as a result of the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder or otherwise, and upon payment of such amount, none of the Company Related Parties shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger (except that the Company shall also be obligated with respect to Section 7.3(d) and except that the applicable Company Related Parties shall remain obligated for, and Parent and its affiliates may be entitled to remedies with respect to the provisions and agreements surviving such termination pursuant to Section 7.2). For the avoidance of doubt, while Parent and Merger Sub may pursue both a grant of specific performance in accordance with Section 8.14 and the payment of the Termination Fee under Section 7.3, under no circumstances shall Parent and Merger Sub be permitted or entitled to receive both a grant of specific performance and the Termination Fee.

 

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7.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub by action taken by or on behalf of their respective boards of directors; provided, however, that after the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there may not be, without further approval of the stockholders of the Company, any amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount or the form of the consideration to be delivered under this Agreement to the holders of Company Shares, or which by applicable Law otherwise requires the further approval of the stockholders of the Company. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Sections 8.10, 8.12 and 8.15, and this sentence (and any other provision of this Agreement to the extent an amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification of such provision would modify the substance of Sections 8.10, 8.12 or 8.15, or this sentence) may not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in any manner that is adverse in any material respect to any Lender Party without the prior written consent of the Lender.

7.5 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other, (b) waive any breach of the representations and warranties of the other contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance by the other with any of the agreements or covenants 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, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

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ARTICLE 8

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations, warranties or covenants in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time except that this Section 8.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time, which shall survive to the extent expressly provided for herein.

8.2 Fees and Expenses. Subject to Section 7.2 and Section 7.3, all Expenses (other than any expenses the Company or any Company Subsidiary pays as borrower under the Financing or Alternative Financing, which shall be deemed borne by Parent and Merger Sub) incurred by the parties hereto shall be borne solely and entirely by the party which has incurred the same.

8.3 Notices. Any notices or other communications required or permitted under, or otherwise given in connection with, this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered or sent if delivered in Person or sent by facsimile transmission (provided confirmation of facsimile transmission is obtained and delivery is followed within one Business Day pursuant to email by clause (c) or pursuant to clause (b) or delivered in Person), (b) on the next Business Day if transmitted by national overnight courier or (c) on the date delivered if sent by email (provided confirmation of email receipt is obtained and delivery is followed within one Business Day pursuant to either clause (a) or (b)), in each case, as follows (or to such other Persons or addressees as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice):

If to Parent or Merger Sub, addressed to it at:

 

Ascena Retail Group, Inc.
933 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Attention: David Jaffe
Gene Wexler
Email: David.Jaffe@AscenaRetail.com
Gene.Wexler@AscenaRetail.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Proskauer Rose LLP
Eleven Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Steven L. Kirshenbaum
Julie M. Allen
Facsimile: (212) 969-2900
Email: skirshenbaum@proskauer.com
jallen@proskauer.com

 

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If to the Company, addressed to it at:

 

ANN INC.
7 Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Katherine H. Ramundo
Facsimile: (212) 536-4412
Email: Kate_Ramundo@anninc.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Joshua R. Cammaker
Karessa L. Cain
Facsimile: (212) 403-2000
Email: JRCammaker@wlrk.com
KLCain@wlrk.com

8.4 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the term:

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement that contains confidentiality provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, that any such confidentiality agreement need not contain any standstill or similar provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an “Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” shall not include any provision calling for any exclusive right to negotiate with such party or having the effect of prohibiting the Company from satisfying its obligations hereunder.

Acquisition Proposal” means any offer or proposal from a Third Party, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, concerning (a) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other business combination transaction involving the Company or its Subsidiaries, (b) a sale, lease, license, mortgage, pledge or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, partnership, joint venture or otherwise, of assets of the Company (including Equity Interests of a Company Subsidiary) or the Company Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries based on their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Company Board, (c) an issuance or sale (including by way of merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, joint venture or otherwise) of Equity Interests representing 20% or more of the voting power of the Company or a tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) seeks to acquire beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of Equity Interests representing 20% or more of the voting power of the Company, or (d) any combination of the foregoing (in each case, other than the Merger).

affiliate” means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the first-mentioned Person. “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”)

 

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means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of capital stock or other Equity Interests, as trustee or executor, by Contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.

Benefit Plan” means each (a) “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), each “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and each “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (in each case, whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA), and, for the avoidance of doubt, including any such plans referred to as schemes rather than plans in any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (b) bonus, incentive or deferred compensation or equity or equity-based compensation plan, program, policy, agreement, scheme or arrangement, (c) employment, consulting, severance, change in control, retention, termination, pension, retirement, disability benefit, health insurance, life insurance, fringe benefit, supplemental benefit plan, program, policy, agreement, scheme or arrangement or (d) other compensation or benefit plan, program, policy, agreement, scheme or arrangement, in each case, sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate for the benefit of any Participant, or between the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, on the one hand, and any Participant, on the other hand, or with respect to which any potential liability, whether absolute or contingent, is or may be borne by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, and in each case whether or not (i) subject to the Laws of the United States, (ii) in writing or (iii) funded.

Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable Law to close.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.).

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

Company Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries that is used, held for use or otherwise necessary for, the operation of their respective businesses.

Company Lease” means any lease, sublease, sub-sublease, license and other agreement under which the Company or a Company Subsidiary leases, subleases, licenses, uses or occupies (in each case whether as landlord, tenant, sublandlord, subtenant or by other occupancy arrangement), or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real property.

Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, condition, event, effect, occurrence, circumstance or development (each, an “Effect”), individually or in the aggregate, that (a) has, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) prevents the performance in any material respect by the Company of its obligations to consummate the Merger; provided, that for purposes of clause (a),

 

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none of the following shall constitute or be deemed to contribute to a Company Material Adverse Effect, or shall otherwise be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: any adverse Effect arising out of, resulting from or attributable to: (i) changes or proposed changes in applicable Laws, GAAP or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; (ii) changes in general economic, business, labor or regulatory conditions, or general changes in securities, credit or other financial markets, including interest rates or exchange rates, in the United States regionally, locally or globally, or changes generally affecting the industries (including seasonal fluctuations to the extent consistent with the Company’s historical results of operations) in which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries operate in the United States or globally; (iii) changes in general global, national, regional or local political conditions (including the outbreak or escalation of war (whether or not declared), military action, sabotage or acts of terrorism), changes due to natural disasters or changes in the weather, hurricanes or changes due to the outbreak or worsening of an epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis; (iv) actions or omissions required of the Company under the express terms of this Agreement or taken or not taken at the request of, or with the consent of, an officer of Parent or any of its affiliates; (v) any breach, violation or non-performance of any provision of this Agreement by Parent or any of its affiliates; (vi) the negotiation, announcement, pendency or consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the identity of Parent or any of its affiliates or any communication by Parent or any of its affiliates regarding plans, proposals or projections with respect to the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or their employees (including any impact on the relationship of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, contractual or otherwise, with its customers, suppliers, distributors, vendors, lenders, employees or partners); (vii) any item or matter disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof; (viii) any Proceeding arising from allegations of breach of fiduciary duty or violation of Law relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; (ix) the outcome of any Proceeding or investigation involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary that has been disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter; (x) changes in the trading price or trading volume of Company Shares, in and of itself, or any suspension of trading; (xi) any item set forth in Section 8.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter; (xii) the expiration or termination by its terms of any Contract to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party or (xiii) any failure by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to meet any revenue, earnings or other financial projections or forecasts, in and of itself; provided, that, (A) in the case of clauses (x) and (xiii), the underlying cause of such failure may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred (except to the extent subject to any other foregoing exception), and (B) in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the impact of such Effect is not or is not reasonably expected to be disproportionately adverse to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in their industry (in which case only the incrementally disproportionate effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred).

Company Plans” means the Company’s 2002 Stock Option and Restricted Stock and Unit Award Plan and 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company’s 2000 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Award Plan, and the Company’s 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock and Unit Award Plan, in each case, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

 

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Company Representatives” means the Company’s and the Company Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, employees, controlled affiliates, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, investment bankers, advisors, agents and other representatives.

Company Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.0068 per share, of the Company.

Competition Laws” means applicable supranational, national, federal, state, provincial or local Law designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolizing or restraining trade or lessening competition in any country or jurisdiction, including the HSR Act, the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, in each case, as amended.

Compliant” means, with respect to the Required Information and without giving effect to any supplements or updates delivered by the Company after the commencement of the Marketing Period, the Required Information does not, taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact, in each case with respect to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, necessary in order to make such Required Information, in light of the circumstances under which the statements contained in the Required Information are made, not misleading.

Contract” or “Contracts” means any of the agreements, arrangements, contracts, leases (whether for real or personal property), powers of attorney, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, deeds of trust, loans, evidences of indebtedness, letters of credit, settlement agreements, franchise agreements and licenses to which in each case a Person is a party or to which any of the properties or assets of such Person or its Subsidiaries are subject; provided, that “Contracts” shall not include any Benefit Plan.

Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws which (a) regulate or relate to the protection or clean-up of the environment; the use, treatment, storage, transportation, handling, disposal or release of Hazardous Substances; the preservation or protection of waterways, groundwater, drinking water, air, wildlife, plants or other natural resources; or the health and safety of Persons or property, including protection of the health and safety of employees or (b) impose liability or responsibility with respect to any of the foregoing, including CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Water Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), OSHA or any other Law of similar effect.

Environmental Permits” means any permit, certificate, registration, notice, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any applicable Environmental Law.

Equity Interest” means any share, capital stock, partnership, limited liability company, member or similar equity interest in any Person, and any option, share of restricted stock, restricted stock unit, stock appreciation right, phantom stock, performance share or unit, warrant, right or other security (including debt securities) convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into or for any such share, capital stock, partnership, limited liability company, member or similar equity interest.

 

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ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Expenses” includes all out-of-pocket expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, financing sources, experts and consultants to a party hereto and its affiliates) incurred by a party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Form S-4 and all other matters related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, as applied in the United States.

Governmental Entity” means any supranational, national, federal, state, county, municipal, local or foreign government or other political subdivision thereof, any court, any arbitral body, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, taxing, administrative, prosecutorial or arbitral functions of or pertaining to government.

Hazardous Substances” means any pollutant, contaminant, chemical, compound, toxic, infectious, carcinogenic, reactive, corrosive, ignitable or flammable substance or material, or other substance, material or waste, whether solid, liquid or gas, that is subject to regulation, control or remediation under any Environmental Law, including any quantity of asbestos in any form, urea formaldehyde, PCBs, radon gas, crude oil or any fraction thereof, all forms of natural gas, petroleum products or by-products or derivatives.

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and proprietary rights, including all (a) patents and patent applications, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, slogans, brand names, trade names, Internet domain names and corporate names (whether or not registered) and other indicia of origin, and all applications and registrations in connection therewith, (c) all copyrights (whether or not published), and all applications and registrations in connection therewith, (d) intellectual property rights in Software Programs, (e) mask works and industrial designs, and all applications and registrations in connection therewith and (f) trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in confidential and proprietary information (including inventions, ideas, research and development information, know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, research records, test information, financial, marketing and business data, customer and supplier lists and information, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and proposals, and databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data).

 

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Intervening Event” means any event, change, effect, development, state of facts, condition or occurrence that (a) was not known to, or reasonably foreseeable by, the Company Board as of or prior to the date of this Agreement, (b) becomes known to the Company Board prior to the Company Stockholder Approval and (c) does not involve or relate to (i) an Acquisition Proposal or (ii) any fluctuation in the market price or trading volume of the Company Shares, in and of itself.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Knowledge” means (a) when used with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of the individuals listed in Section 8.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (b) when used with respect to Parent or Merger Sub, the actual knowledge of David Jaffe, Robb Giammatteo and Gene Wexler, in the case of each of (a) and (b), after reasonable inquiry under the circumstances.

Law” means any applicable international, national, provincial, state, municipal, local and common laws, treaties, statutes, ordinances, decrees, codes, bylaws, rules, regulations or other requirements, legally binding guidance, Orders, consent decrees, permits, policies, restrictions or licenses of any Governmental Entity, in each case, having the force of law.

Leased Real Property” means all real property that the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries leases, subleases or otherwise uses or occupies, or has the right to use or occupy, pursuant to a Company Lease.

Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, conditional or installment sale agreement, title defect, encumbrance, covenant, condition, restriction, charge, option or other third party right, right of first refusal or first offer, easement, security interest, deed of trust, right-of-way, encroachment, occupancy right, preemptive right, community property interest or other restriction of any nature, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of Law, including any restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, and any restriction or defect on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset.

Marketing Period” means the first period of fifteen (15) consecutive calendar days after the date hereof throughout which Parent shall have the Required Information and the Required Information is Compliant; provided that if the Company in good faith reasonably believes that it has delivered the Required Information and that the Required Information is Compliant, the Company may (but shall not be obligated to) deliver to Parent a written notice to that effect (stating the date on which it believes it completed such delivery), in which case the Company shall be deemed to have complied with the requirement to deliver Required Information that is Compliant, unless Parent in good faith reasonably believes that the Company has not completed the delivery of Required Information that is Compliant and, within three (3) Business Days after its receipt of such notice from the Company, delivers a written notice to the Company to that effect (stating with specificity which Required Information Parent believes the Company has not delivered or is not Compliant at that time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Marketing Period shall not include either of July 3, 2015 through July 5, 2015 or November 26, 2015 through November 29, 2015, and if the Marketing Period does not end on or before (i)

 

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August 17, 2015, the Marketing Period will continue until September 8, 2015, or (ii) December 18, 2015, the Marketing Period will continue until January 4, 2016, and in each case, a new fifteen (15) consecutive calendar day Marketing Period shall commence on such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Marketing Period shall not commence and shall be deemed not to have commenced if, at any time during, or on the first or last day of, such fifteen (15) consecutive calendar day period, (i) the Company’s independent accounting firm shall have withdrawn its audit opinion with respect to any audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Required Information, in which case the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to commence until the time at which a new unqualified audit opinion is issued with respect to the consolidated financial statements for the applicable periods by the Company’s independent accounting firm or another independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Parent, (ii) the Company issues a public statement indicating its intent to restate any consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Required Information, in which case the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to commence until the time at which such restatement has been completed and the Required Information has been amended or the Company issues a public statement that no restatement is required in accordance with GAAP or (iii) the Required Information is not Compliant (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall require that the financial statements be current as more fully set forth in Rule 3-12 of Regulation S-X for the entire Marketing Period), in which case a new fifteen (15) consecutive calendar day period shall commence upon the Company providing Required Information that is Compliant.

NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Net Share” means, with respect to a Company Option, the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Cash Consideration over the per share exercise price of such Company Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of Company Shares subject to such Company Option, by (b) the Per Share Cash Consideration.

Order” means any judgment, order, decision, writ, injunction, decree, legal or arbitration award, ruling, SEC requirement or settlement or consent agreement, in each case, with a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction.

OSHA” means the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Owned Real Property” means any real property owned in fee by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.

Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect, individually or in the aggregate, that (a) has, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) prevents or materially impairs or delays the performance in any material respect by Parent or Merger Sub of its obligations to consummate the Merger; provided, that for purposes of clause (a), none of the following shall constitute or be deemed to contribute to a Parent Material Adverse Effect, or shall otherwise be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: any adverse Effect arising out of, resulting from or attributable to: (i) changes

 

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or proposed changes in applicable Laws, GAAP or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; (ii) changes in general economic, business, labor or regulatory conditions, or general changes in securities, credit or other financial markets, including interest rates or exchange rates, in the United States regionally, locally or globally, or changes generally affecting the industries (including seasonal fluctuations to the extent consistent with Parent’s historical results of operations) in which Parent or Parent Subsidiaries operate in the United States or globally; (iii) changes in general global, national, regional or local political conditions (including the outbreak or escalation of war (whether or not declared), military action, sabotage or acts of terrorism), changes due to natural disasters or changes in the weather, hurricanes or changes due to the outbreak or worsening of an epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis; (iv) actions or omissions required of Parent under the express terms of this Agreement or taken or not taken at the request of, or with the consent of, an officer of the Company or any of its affiliates; (v) any breach, violation or non-performance of any provision of this Agreement by the Company or any of its affiliates; (vi) the negotiation, announcement, pendency or consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the identity of the Company or any of its affiliates or any communication by the Company or any of its affiliates regarding plans, proposals or projections with respect to Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries or their employees (including any impact on the relationship of Parent or any of Parent Subsidiaries, contractual or otherwise, with its customers, suppliers, distributors, vendors, lenders, employees or partners); (vii) any item or matter disclosed in Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof; (viii) any Proceeding arising from allegations of breach of fiduciary duty or violation of Law relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; (ix) the outcome of any Proceeding or investigation involving Parent or any Parent Subsidiary that has been disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Letter; (x) changes in the trading price or trading volume of Parent Shares, in and of itself, or any suspension of trading; (xi) any item set forth in Section 8.4 of the Parent Disclosure Letter; (xii) the expiration or termination by its terms of any Contract to which Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party or (xiii) any failure by Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries to meet any revenue, earnings or other financial projections or forecasts, in and of itself; provided, that, (A) in the case of clauses (x) and (xiii), the underlying cause of such failure may be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred (except to the extent subject to any other foregoing exception), and (B) in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the impact of such Effect is not or is not reasonably expected to be disproportionately adverse to Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in their industry (in which case only the incrementally disproportionate effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred).

Parent Plans” means Parent’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Parent Share VWAP” means the volume weighted average price of a Parent Share for a ten (10) trading day period, starting with the opening of trading on the eleventh (11th) trading day prior to the Closing Date to the closing of trading on the second to last trading day prior to the Closing Date, as reported by Bloomberg.

Participant” means each current or former director, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.

 

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Parent Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established on or reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens in favor of vendors, carriers, warehousemen, repairmen, mechanics, workmen, materialmen, construction or similar liens or encumbrances, in each case, arising by operation of Law in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established on the consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP, (c) Liens arising from transfer restrictions under securities Laws, (d) with respect to any Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, (i) any conditions that may be shown by a current, accurate survey or title report, (ii) easements, encroachments, restrictions, rights-of-way and any other non-monetary title defects, whether or not of record, and (iii) zoning, building, land use, environmental regulations and other similar restrictions, in each case that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (e) with respect to any Leased Real Property, the terms and provisions of the Company Leases and all Liens affecting the title of the landlords thereunder and the holders of the fee simple title thereof, and (f) such other Liens which would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted or detract from the use, occupancy, value or marketability of the property affected by such Lien.

Per Share Cash Consideration” means the sum of (a) the Cash Consideration plus (b) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Stock Consideration by (ii) the Parent Share VWAP.

Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act).

Proceedings” means all actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, investigations, inquiries, litigations, mediations, grievances, audits, examinations or other proceedings, in each case, by or before any Governmental Entity.

Registered Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that has been issued, registered or applied for with any Governmental Entity (including Internet domain names).

RCRA” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Required Information” means (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows and stockholders’ equity of the Company for the three most recently completed fiscal years of the Company ended at least ninety (90) days prior to the Closing Date, (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and

 

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related statements of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company for each subsequent fiscal quarter of the Company ended at least forty-five (45) days prior to the Closing Date, and (c) all information customarily provided by a borrower for inclusion in an information memorandum for a credit facility in connection with the Financing (or Alternative Financing).

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Software Programs” means computer programs (whether in source code, object code or other form), including any and all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, and all documentation, including user manuals and training materials, related to any of the foregoing.

Subsidiary” of Parent, the Company or any other Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity of which Parent, the Company or such other Person, as the case may be (either alone or through or together with any other Subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the capital stock or other Equity Interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity, or otherwise owns, directly or indirectly, such capital stock or other Equity Interests that would confer control of any such corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity, or any Person that would otherwise be deemed a “subsidiary” under Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 5.3 (except the references therein to “20%” shall be replaced by “80%”), made by a Third Party which, in the good faith judgment of the Company Board (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and the Company’s financial advisor), taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and any other aspects of the transaction described in such proposal that the Company Board considers in good faith to be relevant, including the identity of the Person making such proposal, any break-up fees and expense reimbursement provisions and the conditionality of such proposal (including as to the terms and conditionality of any financing), as well as any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such offer or otherwise, to be more favorable to the Company’s stockholders than the Merger.

Tax Return” means any report, return (including information return), claim for refund, election, estimated tax filing or declaration required to be filed or actually filed with a Governmental Entity responsible for the administration of Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendments thereof.

Taxes” means (a) all taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs and imposts imposed by any Governmental Entity, including income, franchise, windfall or other profits, gross receipts, property, sales, use, net worth, capital stock, alternative or add-on minimum, environmental, use, payroll, employment, social security, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, excise, withholding, ad valorem, stamp, transfer, value-added, and gains tax, and (b) any interest, penalty, fine or addition to any of the foregoing.

 

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Third Party” shall mean any Person other than the Company, Parent, Merger Sub and their respective affiliates.

8.5 Terms Defined Elsewhere. The following terms are defined elsewhere in this Agreement, as indicated below:

 

ADSPP Section 2.4(a)
Agreement Preamble
Alternative Financing Section 5.12(a)
Book-Entry Shares Section 2.2(b)(ii)
Cancelled Shares Section 2.1(c)
Capitalization Date Section 3.2(a)
Cash Consideration Section 2.1(a)
Certificate of Merger Section 1.2
Certificates Section 2.2(b)(i)
Change of Board Recommendation Section 5.3(a)
Closing Section 1.2
Commitment Letter Section 4.12(a)
Company Preamble
Company Board Recommendation Recitals
Company Board Recitals
Company Bylaws Section 3.1(b)
Company Charter Section 3.1(b)
Company Disclosure Letter Article 3
Company Employees Section 5.7(a)
Company Equity Interest Section 3.2(e)
Company Financial Advisor Section 3.21
Company Financial Statements Section 3.7(b)
Company Material Contract Section 3.13(a)
Company Option Section 2.4(a)
Company Permits Section 3.6(a)
Company Preferred Stock Section 3.2(a)
Company Related Parties Section 7.3(g)
Company Restricted Share Award Section 2.4(b)
Company SEC Documents Section 3.7(a)
Company Stockholder Approval Section 3.7(a)
Company Stockholders Meeting Section 3.3
Company Subsidiary Section 3.1
Confidentiality Agreement Section 5.2(b)
Covered Persons Section 5.8(a)
D&O Insurance Section 5.8(c)
DGCL Recitals
Disposals Section 5.1(a)(iii)
Dissenting Shares Section 2.3

 

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Dividend Consideration Section 2.2(f)
Effect Section 8.4
Effective Time Section 1.2
ERISA Affiliate Section 3.11(c)
Exchange Agent Section 2.2(a)
Exchange Fund Section 2.2(f)
Existing Indemnification Agreements Section 5.8(a)
Fairness Opinion Section 3.21
Fee Letter Section 4.18
Financing Section 4.18
Form S-4 Section 3.5
Fractional Share Consideration Section 2.7
Insurance Policies Section 3.19
Lender Party Section 8.15
Lender Section 4.18
Maximum Share Number Section 2.1(a)
Merger Consideration Section 2.1(a)
Merger Sub Preamble
Merger Recitals
New Plan Section 5.7(b)
Notice Period Section 5.3(d)
NYSE Section 3.5
Old Plans Section 5.7(b)
Outside Date Section 7.1(b)
Parent Capitalization Date Section 4.2(a)
Parent Disclosure Letter Article 4
Parent Financial Statements Section 4.7(b)
Parent Permits Section 4.9(a)
Parent Preferred Stock Section 4.2(a)
Parent Representatives Section 5.2(a)
Parent Restricted Share Awards Section 4.2(a)
Parent SEC Documents Section 4.7
Parent Subsidiaries Section 4.4
Parent Subsidiary Section 4.4
Parent Preamble
Proposed Changed Terms Section 5.3(d)
RCRA Section 3.5
Required Approvals Section 5.4(a)
Retention Program Section 5.7(f)
Seasonal Plan Section 5.7(e)
SEC Section 3.7(a)
Section 16 Section 5.10
Solvent Section 4.15
Stock Consideration Section 2.1(a)
Surviving Corporation Section 1.1(a)
Termination Fee Section 7.3(b)
Title IV Plan Section 3.11(b)

 

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8.6 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

8.7 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

8.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Exhibits, Parent Disclosure Letter and Company Disclosure Letter and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior agreements (except the Confidentiality Agreement) and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

8.9 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other parties.

8.10 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than (a) any Persons entitled to indemnification or insurance benefits under the provisions of Section 5.7 (Indemnification of Directors and Officers) following the Effective Time, with respect to such provisions, (b) the stockholders of the Company, after the Effective Time, as applicable, with respect to the right of such stockholders to receive the Merger Consideration, in the case of Company Shares converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in the Merger, and (c) if the Effective Time occurs, the right of holders of the Company Equity Awards to receive payments contemplated hereby in respect thereof after the Effective Time; provided, that the Lender Parties shall be third party beneficiaries and may enforce the provisions set forth specifically for their benefit in Sections 7.4, 8.10, 8.12 and 8.15. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties hereto. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto, and consequently, may not accurately characterize actual facts or circumstances.

8.11 Mutual Drafting; Interpretation. Each party hereto has participated in the drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of extensive negotiations

 

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between the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision. For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine genders. As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Exhibits” and “Annexes” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement and Exhibits and Annexes to this Agreement. The Company Disclosure Letter, Parent Disclosure Letter and exhibits attached to this Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein for all purposes. The words “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or article in which such words appear. All references in this Agreement to “$” are intended to refer to U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise specifically provided for herein, the term “or” shall not be deemed to be exclusive. Disclosure of any item on the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter by reference to any particular Section or Subsection of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute disclosure with respect to any other Section or Subsection of this Agreement if the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section or Subsection is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure.

8.12 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

(a) This Agreement and all claims and causes of action arising in connection herewith shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to Laws that may be applicable under conflicts of laws principles (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

(b) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising in connection herewith or any claim or cause of action arising in connection with this Agreement or the negotiation hereof, and any Proceeding for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns, will be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to or arising from this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the negotiation hereof in any court other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) any claim that it is not personally

 

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subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve in accordance with this Section 8.12, (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (A) the Proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Proceeding is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such Proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.3 and agrees that service made in such manner shall have the same legal force and effect as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

(c) (i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the parties hereto agrees that it will not bring any action, cause of action, claim, cross-claim or third-party claim of any kind or description, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against any Lender Party relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including any dispute arising out of or relating in any way to the Financing or the performance thereof, in any forum other than the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, located in the Borough of Manhattan, or, if under applicable law exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the Federal courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and, in each case, appellate courts thereof) and (ii) notwithstanding Section 8.12(a), any such action, cause of action, claim, cross-claim or third-party claim shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the state of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of laws rules or provisions (whether of the state of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of New York.

(d) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE FINANCING) IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE FINANCING). EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS

 

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VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.12(d).

8.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, including by facsimile or other electronic transmission each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto. Until and unless the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto, this Agreement shall have no effect and no party shall have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any other oral or written agreement or other communication). The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by electronic transmission in .PDF format or by facsimile shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

8.14 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, irreparable damage would occur, no adequate remedy at Law would exist and damages would be difficult to determine, and accordingly, (a) the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to specific performance of the terms hereof, in each case in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court shall not have jurisdiction, in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity, (b) the parties waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with the obtaining of any specific performance or injunctive relief and (c) the parties will waive, in any action for specific performance, the defense of adequacy of a remedy at Law. Either party’s pursuit of specific performance at any time will not be deemed an election of remedies or waiver of the right to pursue any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled, including the right to pursue remedies for liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by a party in the case of a breach of this Agreement involving willful breach or fraud.

8.15 No Recourse to Lender Parties. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Company agrees on its behalf and on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates that neither the Lender nor any of its respective former, current or future general or limited partners, stockholders, managers, members, agents, officers, directors, representatives and Affiliates or any of their respective successors or assigns (collectively, together with the Lender, the “Lender Parties” and each, a “Lender Party”) shall have any liability or obligation to Company, its stockholders or its affiliates relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein (including the Financing), whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. This Section 8.15 is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Lender and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and its stockholders and affiliates.

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

Parent:
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
By:

/s/ David Jaffe

Name: David Jaffe
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Merger Sub:
AVIAN ACQUISITION CORP.
By:

/s/ David Jaffe

Name: David Jaffe
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
The Company:
ANN INC.
By:

/s/ Kay Krill

Name: Kay Krill
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA

200 West Street

New York, New York 10282-2198

GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC

330 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

May 18, 2015

Ascena Retail Group, Inc.

933 MacArthur Boulevard

Mahwah, New Jersey 07430

Attention: Robb Giammatteo

Project Avian

Commitment Letter

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (“you” or the “Borrower”) has advised Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank” and, together with its affiliates, “Goldman Sachs”), each of the entities listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Guggenheim Commitment Entities” and each, individually, a “Guggenheim Commitment Entity”) and Guggenheim Securities, LLC (“Guggenheim Securities” and, together with the Guggenheim Commitment Entities and their respective affiliates, “Guggenheim”; Guggenheim Securities, together with the Guggenheim Commitment Entities and GS Bank, the “Commitment Parties”, “we” or “us”) that you intend to acquire (the “Acquisition”) an entity identified to us as “Avian” (“Avian” or the “Target”; the Target collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Acquired Business”). The Acquisition will be effected through the merger (the “Merger”) of Avian Acquisition Corp. (a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower) (“Merger Sub”) with and into the Target pursuant to Section 251 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, with the Target surviving the Merger as your direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with the Acquisition, the Borrower’s and its subsidiaries’ existing revolving credit facilities (the “Existing Credit Facilities”) and all existing indebtedness of the Acquired Business (other than Retained Debt, as defined in Annex III hereto), will, in each case, be repaid in full, all commitments thereunder will be terminated and the security interests with respect thereto will be released (the “Refinancing”); provided that the Borrower may elect, at its option and subject to the conditions set forth in Annex III hereto, to permit the Existing Credit Facilities and/or the existing asset based revolving credit facilities of the Acquired Business (collectively, as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, so long as after giving effect to any such amendment, amendment and restatement, supplement or other modification on or after the date hereof, the maximum aggregate principal amount available to the Borrower, the Target and their respective subsidiaries thereunder does not exceed in the aggregate $700,000,000 plus up to $100,000,000 of incremental facilities thereunder, the “Existing ABL Facilities”) to remain outstanding in lieu of incurring the ABL Facility described below, and in connection therewith, at its option, to elect to terminate the commitments of GS Bank hereunder with respect to the ABL Facility. The Borrower, the Acquired Business and their respective subsidiaries are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Companies”.


You have also advised us that you intend to finance the Acquisition, the Refinancing, the costs and expenses related to the Transaction (as hereinafter defined) and the ongoing working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Companies after consummation of the Acquisition from the following sources (and that no financing other than the financing described herein will be required in connection with the Transaction): (a) $1,800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured term B loans (the “Term Loan Facilities”), (b) a $600,000,000 asset-based revolving facility of the Borrower and certain of its subsidiaries (the “ABL Facility” and, collectively with the Term Loan Facilities, the “Facilities”) and (c) common equity interests of the Borrower to be issued as a portion of the consideration for the Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement (the “Equity Issuance”). Finally, you have advised us that, in addition and at your election, you may elect to issue senior unsecured notes with a tenor longer than that of the Term Loan Facilities or senior secured notes (that are pari passu with the Term Loan Facilities, subject to customary intercreditor terms reasonably acceptable to the Term Administrative Agent and the Borrower) with a tenor equal to or longer than that of the Term Loan Facilities (“Senior Notes”) in an underwritten offering, Rule 144A offering or other private placement in lieu of a portion of the Term Loan Facilities, in which case the principal amount of the Term Loan Facilities shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the net proceeds received from the issuance of such Senior Notes and the marketing of any such Senior Notes shall be coordinated with the syndication of the Facilities in a mutually agreed-upon manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, regardless of whether you elect to offer or issue, or engage in discussions with respect to the offer or issuance of, Senior Notes or engage an investment bank in connection with the offering or issuance of Senior Notes, our commitments hereunder shall not be reduced or otherwise affected unless and until such Senior Notes are issued by you in an underwritten offering, Rule 144A offering or other private placement and you actually receive the proceeds thereof, in which case the aggregate commitments with respect to the Term Loan Facilities shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the net cash proceeds actually received by you in connection with the issuance of Senior Notes. It shall not be a condition to our commitments hereunder that you offer, issue or attempt to offer or issue Senior Notes or engage an investment bank in connection with the offering or issuance of Senior Notes or that, having elected to attempt to offer or issue Senior Notes, you complete such offering or issuance. The Acquisition, the Refinancing (or the continuation of the Existing ABL Facilities, if any), the entering into and initial funding of the Term Loan Facilities and the ABL Facility, the Equity Issuance and the issuance of the Senior Notes, if any, and all related transactions are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Transaction”. The date of consummation of the Acquisition is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”.

1. Commitments. In connection with the foregoing, (a) GS Bank is pleased to advise you of its commitment to provide 100% of the principal amount of the ABL Facility (in such capacity, the “Initial ABL Lender”) subject to the conditions set forth in Annexes I and III hereto (the “ABL Facility Summary of Terms”); (b) (i) GS Bank is pleased to advise you of its several and not joint commitment to provide $1,300,000,000 of the principal amount of the Term Loan Facilities and (ii) with respect to the remaining $500,000,0000 of the Term Loan Facilities, each Guggenheim Commitment Entity is pleased to advise you of its several and not joint commitment to provide the portion of such $500,000,000 principal amount of the Term Loan

 

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Facilities set forth next to such Guggenheim Commitment Entity’s name on Schedule A hereto (in such capacities, the “Initial Term Loan Lenders” and, together with the Initial ABL Lender, the “Initial Lenders”), in each case, subject to the conditions set forth in Annexes II and III hereto (the “Term Loan Facilities Summary of Terms” and, together with the ABL Facility Summary of Terms, the “Summaries of Terms” and, together with this letter, the “Commitment Letter”); (c)(i) GS Bank is pleased to advise you of its willingness, and you hereby engage GS Bank to act as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunning manager (in such capacity, the “ABL Lead Arranger”) for the ABL Facility, and in connection therewith to form a syndicate of lenders for the ABL Facility (collectively, the “ABL Lenders”), in consultation with you and reasonably acceptable to you and (ii) each of GS Bank and Guggenheim Securities is pleased to advise you of its willingness, and you hereby engage each of GS Bank and Guggenheim Securities to act as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunning managers (in such capacities, the “Term Lead Arrangers” and, together with the ABL Lead Arranger, collectively the “Lead Arrangers”) for the Term Loan Facilities, and in connection therewith to form a syndicate of lenders for the Term Loan Facilities (collectively, the “Term Lenders” and, collectively with the ABL Lenders, the “Lenders”), in consultation with you and reasonably acceptable to you. It is understood and agreed that (w) GS Bank shall have “top left” placement in any and all marketing materials or documentation relating to each of the Facilities and shall have the roles and responsibilities customarily associated with such placement, (x) Guggenheim Securities shall have “top right” placement in any and all marketing materials or documentation relating to the Term Loan Facilities, (y) GS Bank shall act as administrative agent for the ABL Facility (in such capacity, the “ABL Administrative Agent”) and (z) GS Bank shall act as administrative agent for the Term Loan Facilities (in such capacity, the “Term Administrative Agent” and, together with the ABL Administrative Agent, the “Administrative Agents” and each, an “Administrative Agent”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the commitments of the Initial Lenders with respect to the initial funding of the Facilities will be subject only to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Initial Lenders) of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 hereof. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as specified therefor in the Summaries of Terms.

You agree that no other agents, co-agents, arrangers or bookrunners will be appointed, no other titles will be awarded and no compensation (other than compensation expressly contemplated by this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter referred to below) will be paid to any Lender (as defined below) in order to obtain its commitment to participate in the Facilities unless you and we shall so agree.

2. Syndication. The Lead Arrangers intend to commence syndication of the Facilities promptly after your acceptance of the terms of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter (as hereinafter defined); provided that we agree not to syndicate our commitments to certain banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and any competitors (or Known Affiliates (as defined below) of competitors) of the Companies, in each case, that have been specified to us by you in writing prior to the date hereof (collectively, “Disqualified Lenders”); provided, further, that you, upon reasonable notice to us after the date hereof, shall be permitted to supplement in writing the list of persons that are Disqualified Lenders to the extent such supplemented person is or becomes a competitor or a Known Affiliate of a competitor of the Companies, which supplement shall be in the form of a list provided to us and become effective upon delivery to us, but which supplement shall not apply retroactively to disqualify

 

3


any parties that have previously acquired an assignment in the loans under any of the Facilities. As used herein, “Known Affiliates” of any person means, as to such person, known affiliates readily identifiable by name, but excluding any affiliate that is a bona fide debt fund or investment vehicle that is primarily engaged in, or that advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds or similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course and with respect to which the Disqualified Lender does not, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies of such entity. Without limiting your obligations to assist with syndication efforts as set forth herein, it is understood that the Initial Lenders’ commitments hereunder are not conditioned upon the syndication of, or receipt of commitments or participations in respect of, the Facilities and in no event shall the commencement or successful completion of syndication of the Facilities constitute a condition to the availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date. You agree, prior to the Syndication Date (as hereinafter defined), to actively assist, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Acquired Business to actively assist, the Lead Arrangers in achieving a syndication of each of the Facilities that is reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Arrangers and you until the Syndication Date (as defined below); provided that, notwithstanding the Lead Arrangers’ right to syndicate the Facilities and receive commitments with respect thereto, it is agreed that (i) syndication of, or receipt of commitments or participations in respect of, all or any portion of an Initial Lender’s commitments hereunder prior to the date of the consummation of the Acquisition and the date of the initial funding under the Facilities shall not be a condition to such Initial Lender’s commitments and (ii) (a) except as you in your sole discretion may otherwise agree in writing or with respect to assignments made by GS Bank to Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC (“GSLP”), no Initial Lender shall be relieved, released or novated from its obligations hereunder (including its obligation to fund the Facilities on the Closing Date) in connection with any syndication, assignment or participation of the Facilities, including its commitments in respect thereof, until after the initial funding of the Facilities has occurred; (b) other than with respect to assignments made by GS Bank to GSLP, no assignment or novation shall become effective with respect to all or any portion of any Initial Lender’s commitments in respect of the Facilities until after the initial funding of the Facilities; and (c) each Initial Lender shall retain exclusive control over all rights and obligations with respect to its commitments in respect of the Facilities, including all rights with respect to consents, modifications, supplements, waivers and amendments, until the Closing Date has occurred and the initial funding under the Facilities has been made. Such assistance shall include (a) your providing and (subject to customary non-reliance agreements) causing your advisors to provide, and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Acquired Business, its subsidiaries and its advisors to provide, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders upon request with all information reasonably deemed necessary by the Lead Arrangers to complete such syndication, including, but not limited to (x) information and evaluations prepared by you, the Acquired Business and your and its advisors, or on your or its behalf, relating to the Transaction as may be reasonably requested by us (including the Projections (as hereinafter defined), (y) customary forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements for each fiscal quarter for the first twelve months following the Closing Date and for each year commencing with the first fiscal year following the Closing Date and for each of the succeeding six fiscal years thereafter, and (z) your using commercially reasonable efforts to prepare customary availability forecasts of the Companies for the ABL Facility as of the last day of each fiscal month for the

 

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first twelve months following the Closing Date and to provide the ABL Lead Arranger and its designees with sufficient access to the Companies to complete customary field examinations and inventory appraisals as promptly as practicable after the date hereof; (b) your preparation of a customary information memorandum with respect to each of the Facilities (each, an “Information Memorandum”) and other customary materials to be used in connection with the syndication of each such Facility (collectively with the Summaries of Terms and any additional summary of terms prepared for distribution to Lenders, the “Information Materials”); (c) your using commercially reasonable efforts to make your management available to participate in the marketing of the Facilities; (d) your using commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the syndication efforts of the Lead Arrangers benefit materially from your existing lending relationships; (e) your using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to the launch of primary syndication of the Term Loan Facilities, monitored public corporate credit or family ratings (but not any specific rating) for you after giving effect to the Transaction and ratings of the Term Loan Facilities from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) (collectively, the “Ratings”); (f) until the Syndication Date, your ensuring, and with respect to the Acquired Business, using commercially reasonable efforts to ensure, that none of the Companies shall syndicate or issue, attempt to syndicate or issue, announce or authorize the announcement of the syndication or issuance of, or engage in discussions concerning the syndication or issuance of, any competing debt of the Companies (other than the Facilities or the Senior Notes (so long as the marketing of such Senior Notes is coordinated with the syndication for the Facilities in a mutually acceptable manner)), including any renewals or refinancings of any existing debt that, in the reasonable judgment of the Lead Arrangers, could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the primary syndication of the Facilities without the prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Lead Arrangers (it being understood that ordinary course working capital facilities, ordinary course capital leases, letters of credit, purchase money and equipment financings, and borrowings under the existing revolving credit facilities of the Borrower or the Target, as applicable, shall be permitted, and the Borrower or the Target shall be permitted to proceed in furtherance of continuing the Existing ABL Facilities); and (g) your otherwise assisting the Lead Arrangers in their syndication efforts, including by making appropriate officers and advisors of you, and using commercially reasonable efforts to make the officers and advisors of the Acquired Business, available from time to time upon reasonable advance notice to attend and make presentations regarding the business and prospects of the Companies and the Transaction at one or more meetings of prospective Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter or any other letter agreement or undertaking concerning the financing of the Transactions to the contrary, neither the obtaining of the Ratings referenced above nor the compliance with any of the other provisions set forth in clauses (a) through (g) above or any other provision of this paragraph shall constitute a condition to the commitments hereunder or the funding of the Facilities on the Closing Date.

It is understood and agreed that GS Bank will manage and control all aspects of the syndication of the Facilities in consultation with you and Guggenheim Securities and, as to the selection of Lenders, with your approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and any titles offered to prospective Lenders, when commitments will be accepted and the final allocations of the commitments among the Lenders. It is understood that no Lender participating in the Facilities will receive compensation from you in order to obtain its commitment, except on the terms contained herein and in the Summaries of Terms, without the

 

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consent of the Lead Arrangers. It is also understood and agreed that the amount and distribution of the fees among the Lenders will be at the sole and absolute discretion of the Lead Arrangers. It is further understood that the Initial Lenders’ commitments hereunder are not conditioned upon the syndication of, or receipt of commitments in respect of, the Facilities and in no event shall the commencement of successful completion of syndication of the Facilities constitute a condition to availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date.

3. Information Requirements. You hereby represent and warrant (with respect to Information relating to the Acquired Business, to the best of your knowledge) that (a) all written factual information, other than Projections (as defined below) and other forward-looking information or information of a general economic or industry nature, that has been or is hereafter made available to the Lead Arrangers or any of the Lenders by or on behalf of you or any of your representatives in connection with any aspect of the Transaction (including such information, to the best of your knowledge, relating to the Acquired Business) (the “Information”) is and will be complete and correct when furnished and taken as a whole, in all material respects, and does not and will not, when furnished and taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of a fact or omit to state a fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all supplements and updates with respect thereto) and (b) all financial projections concerning the Companies that have been or are hereafter made available to the Lead Arrangers or any of the Lenders by or on behalf of you or any of your representatives (the “Projections”) (to the best of your knowledge, in the case of Projections provided by the Acquired Business) have been or will be prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by you to be reasonable at the time provided (it being understood and agreed that the Projections are as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts or a guarantee of financial performance or achievement, that the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond your control, and that actual results may differ from the Projections and such differences may be material). You agree that if at any time prior to the later of (a) the earlier of (i) the date on which a Successful Syndication (as defined in the Fee Letter) is achieved and (ii) 60 days following the Closing Date (the earlier of such dates, the “Syndication Date”) and (b) the Closing Date, any of the representations in the preceding sentence would be incorrect in any material respect if the Information and Projections were being furnished, and such representations were being made, at such time, then you will promptly supplement, or cause to be supplemented (or in the case of Information or Projections relating to the Acquired Business, you will promptly notify the Lead Arrangers upon becoming aware that any such Information or Projections are incorrect in any material respect and will use commercially reasonable efforts to supplement), the Information and Projections so that such representations (to the best of your knowledge, in the case of the Acquired Business) will be correct in all material respects at such time. In issuing this commitment and in arranging and syndicating each of the Facilities, the Commitment Parties are and will be using and relying on the Information and the Projections without independent verification thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this paragraph will constitute a condition to the availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date.

You acknowledge that (a) the Lead Arrangers on your behalf will make available Information Materials to the proposed syndicates of Lenders by posting the Information Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain prospective Lenders (such Lenders, “Public Lenders”; all other Lenders, “Private Lenders”)

 

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may have personnel that do not wish to receive material non-public information (within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws, “MNPI”) with respect to the Companies, their respective affiliates or any other entity, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such entities’ securities. If requested, you will assist the Lead Arrangers in preparing an additional version of the Information Materials not containing MNPI (the “Public Information Materials”) to be distributed to prospective Public Lenders.

Before distribution of any Information Materials (a) to prospective Private Lenders, you shall provide the Lead Arrangers with a customary letter authorizing the dissemination of the Information Materials; and (b) to prospective Public Lenders, you shall provide the Lead Arrangers with a customary letter authorizing the dissemination of the Public Information Materials and confirming the absence of MNPI therefrom. In addition, you hereby agree that (x) you will use commercially reasonable efforts at the request of the Lead Arrangers or any Administrative Agent (or their respective affiliates) to identify that portion of the Information Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders by clearly and conspicuously marking the same as “PUBLIC”; (y) all Information Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agents (and their respective affiliates) shall be entitled to treat any Information Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

You agree that the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agents (and their respective affiliates) on your behalf may distribute the following documents to all prospective Lenders, unless you advise the Lead Arrangers and Administrative Agents in writing (including by email) within a reasonable time prior to their intended distributions that such material should only be distributed to prospective Private Lenders: (a) administrative materials for prospective Lenders such as lender meeting invitations and funding and closing memoranda, (b) notifications of changes to the terms of the Facilities and (c) drafts approved in writing by you and the Administrative Agents (or their respective affiliates) and final versions of definitive documents with respect to the Facilities. If you advise the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agents that any of the foregoing items should be distributed only to Private Lenders, then the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agents will not distribute such materials to Public Lenders without further discussions with you. You agree that Information Materials made available to prospective Public Lenders in accordance with this Commitment Letter with respect to which you have had a reasonable time to review shall not contain MNPI.

4. Fees and Indemnities.

(a) You agree to reimburse the Commitment Parties from time to time upon receipt of a reasonably detailed invoice therefor for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other out-of-pocket expenses of (x) one firm of lead counsel to the Commitment Parties (it being understood and agreed that Latham & Watkins LLP shall act as counsel to the Commitment Parties), (y) one firm of local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction reasonably retained by the Administrative Agents and (z) solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the affected Commitment Parties

 

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similarly situated and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket due diligence expenses) incurred in connection with the Facilities, the syndication thereof, the preparation of the Credit Documentation (as defined below) therefor and the other transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not the Closing Date occurs or any of the Credit Documentation is executed and delivered or any extensions of credit are made under either of the Facilities. Such amounts shall be paid on the earlier of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) three (3) business days following the termination of this Commitment Letter as provided below. You acknowledge that the Administrative Agents may receive a benefit, including without limitation, a discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with us including, without limitation, fees paid pursuant hereto. You agree to pay the fees set forth in the separate fee letter addressed to you dated the date hereof from the Commitment Parties (the “Fee Letter”).

(b) You also agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Commitment Parties, each other Lender and each of their affiliates, successors and assigns and their respective partners, officers, directors, employees, trustees, agents, advisors, controlling persons and other representatives (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against (and will reimburse each Indemnified Party as the same are incurred for) any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to any Indemnified Party) (without duplication) of amounts payable by you pursuant to clause (a) above) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) (a) any aspect of the Transaction or any of the other transactions contemplated thereby or (b) the Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, any of the Facilities, or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds thereof, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense (A) is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, (B) is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from a material breach of such Indemnified Party’s obligations hereunder or (C) arises from a proceeding by an Indemnified Party against an Indemnified Party (other than an action involving (i) alleged conduct by you or any of your affiliates or (ii) against an arranger or administrative agent in its capacity as such). In the case of any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (any of the foregoing, a “Proceeding”) to which the indemnity in this paragraph applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such Proceeding is brought by you, your equity holders or creditors or an Indemnified Party, whether or not an Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any aspect of the Transaction is consummated. You also agree that (x) no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to you, the Acquired Business, or your or their subsidiaries or affiliates or to your or their respective equity holders or creditors or any other person arising out of, related to or in connection with any aspect of the Transaction, except to the extent of direct (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive) damages determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s (i) gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or (ii) a material breach of such Indemnified Party’s obligations hereunder. It is further agreed that the Commitment Parties shall only have liability to you (as opposed to any other person), and that the

 

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Commitment Parties shall be severally liable solely in respect of their respective commitments to the Facilities and agreements set forth herein, on a several, and not joint, basis with any other Lender. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Commitment Letter, no Indemnified Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through electronic telecommunications or other information transmission systems, other than for direct, actual damages resulting from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. You shall not, without the prior written consent of an Indemnified Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding against an Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to any admission of liability. You shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding affected without your written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity will apply to any settlement if you were offered the ability to assume the defense of the action that was the subject matter of such settlement and elected not to so assume.

As you know, each of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Guggenheim Securities has been retained by the Borrower (or one of its affiliates) as a financial advisor (in such capacity, a “Financial Advisor”) in connection with the Acquisition. Each of the parties hereto agrees to such retention, and further agrees not to assert any claim it might allege based on any actual or potential conflicts of interest that might be asserted to arise or result from, on the one hand, the engagement of a Financial Advisor or a Lead Arranger’s and/or its affiliates’ arranging or providing or contemplating arranging or providing financing for a competing bidder and, on the other hand, our and our affiliates’ respective relationships with you as described and referred to herein.

5. Conditions to Financing. The commitment of each Initial Lender with respect to the initial funding of each Facility is subject solely to (a) the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in Annex III hereto and (b) the execution and delivery of definitive credit documentation by all parties thereto with respect to each such Facility (except in the case of the ABL Facility, if the Existing ABL Facilities are used in lieu of such Facility) consistent with this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter and subject to the Funds Certain Provisions and giving effect to the ABL Documentation Standard (as defined in Annex I) and the Term Loan Documentation Standard (as defined in Annex II, collectively, the “Documentation Standards”) (the “Credit Documentation”) prior to such initial funding.

Notwithstanding anything in this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, the Credit Documentation or any other letter agreement or other undertaking concerning the financing of the Transaction to the contrary, (a) the Credit Documentation shall be in a form such that the terms thereof do not impair availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date if the conditions in this Section 5 shall have been satisfied, (b) the only representations and warranties the accuracy of which shall be a condition to the availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date shall be those set forth in paragraph (ii) of Annex III hereto and (c) the only collateral the creation, validity or perfection of a security interest in which will be a condition to the availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date shall be the collateral described in paragraph (ii) of Annex III hereto. The provisions of this paragraph are referred to herein as the “Funds Certain Provisions”.

 

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Each of the parties hereto agrees that each of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter is a binding and enforceable agreement (subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law)) with respect to the subject matter contained herein, including an agreement to negotiate in good faith the Credit Documentation by the parties hereto in a manner consistent with this Commitment Letter and, to the extent applicable, the Fee Letter, it being acknowledged and agreed that the funding of the Facilities is subject only to the conditions precedent as provided herein. For clarity, all terms referenced herein to being defined in the Credit Documentation shall be defined in accordance with the Documentation Standards.

6. Confidentiality and Other Obligations. This Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter and the contents hereof and thereof are confidential and may not be disclosed in whole or in part to any person or entity without the prior written consent of the Commitment Parties except (i) this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter may be disclosed (A) on a confidential basis to your directors, officers, employees, accountants, attorneys and other representatives and professional advisors who need to know such information in connection with the Transaction and are informed of the confidential nature of such information, (B) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or stock exchange requirement or compulsory legal process (in which case you agree to inform the Commitment Parties promptly thereof prior to such disclosure to the extent permitted by applicable law), and (C) on a confidential basis to the directors, officers, employees, accountants, attorneys and other representatives and professional advisors of the Acquired Business; provided that the Fee Letter is redacted in a customary manner satisfactory to the Commitment Parties, (ii) Annex I and Annex II and the existence of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter (but not the contents of the Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter) may be disclosed to Moody’s, S&P and any other rating agency on a confidential basis, (iii) the aggregate amount of the fees (including upfront fees and original issue discount) payable under the Fee Letter may be disclosed as part of generic disclosure regarding sources and uses for closing of the Acquisition (but without disclosing any specific fees, market flex or other economic terms set forth therein or to whom such fees or other amounts are owed), (iv) the Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter may be disclosed on a confidential basis to your auditors for customary accounting purposes, including accounting for deferred financing costs, (v) Annex I and Annex II and the existence of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter (but not the contents of the Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter) may be disclosed in connection with the marketing and negotiation of the Senior Notes and the continuation of the Existing ABL Facilities, (vi) you may disclose the Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letter) and its contents in any information memorandum or syndication distribution, as well as in any proxy statement or other public filing relating to the Acquisition or the Facilities, and (vii) the Commitment Letter and Fee Letter may be disclosed to a court, tribunal or any other applicable administrative agency or judicial authority in connection with the enforcement of your rights hereunder (in which case you agree to inform the Commitment Parties promptly thereof prior to such disclosure to the extent permitted by applicable law). This paragraph shall terminate on the second anniversary of the date of the Commitment Letter.

 

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Each Commitment Party shall use all confidential information provided to it by or on behalf of you hereunder solely for the purpose of providing the services which are the subject of this Commitment Letter and otherwise in connection with the Transaction and shall treat confidentially all such information; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent any Commitment Party from disclosing any such information (i) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process (in which case such Commitment Party agrees to inform you promptly thereof to the extent not prohibited by law, rule or regulation), (ii) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Commitment Party or any of its affiliates, (iii) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than by reason of disclosure in violation of this agreement by such Commitment Party, (iv) to such Commitment Party’s affiliates, employees, legal counsel, independent auditors and other experts, professionals or agents who need to know such information in connection with the Transaction and are informed of the confidential nature of such information, (v) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (vi) to the extent that such information is received by such Commitment Party from a third party that is not to such Commitment Party’s knowledge subject to confidentiality obligations to you, (vii) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Commitment Party, (viii) to potential Lenders, participants, assignees or any direct or indirect contractual counterparties to any swap or derivative transaction relating to you or your obligations under the Facilities (other than a Disqualified Lender), in each case, who agree to be bound by the terms of this paragraph (or language not less restrictive than this paragraph or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to you and such Commitment Party, including as may be agreed in any confidential information memorandum or other marketing material), (ix) to Moody’s and S&P; provided that such information is limited to Annex I and Annex II and is supplied only on a confidential basis, or (x) with your prior written consent. This paragraph shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the initial funding under the Facilities and (b) the second anniversary of the date of the Commitment Letter.

As you know, each of Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim is a full service financial institution engaged, either directly or through its affiliates, in a broad array of activities, including commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, market making and trading, investment management (both public and private investing), investment research, principal investment, financial planning, benefits counseling, risk management, hedging, financing, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services globally. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, each of Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim and funds or other entities in which Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim invests or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote long or short positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. In addition, each of Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim may at any time communicate independent recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments. Any of the aforementioned activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the Borrower, the Acquired Business and/or other entities and persons which may (i) be involved in transactions arising from or relating to the arrangement contemplated by this Commitment Letter or (ii) have other relationships with the Borrower or its affiliates. In addition, each of Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim may provide investment banking, commercial banking, underwriting and financial advisory services to such other entities and persons. The

 

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arrangement contemplated by this Commitment Letter may have a direct or indirect impact on the investments, securities or instruments referred to in this paragraph, and employees working on the financing contemplated hereby may have been involved in originating certain of such investments and those employees may receive credit internally therefor. Although either or both of Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim in the course of such other activities and relationships may acquire information about the transaction contemplated by this Commitment Letter or other entities and persons which may be the subject of the financing contemplated by this Commitment Letter, neither Goldman Sachs nor Guggenheim shall have any obligation to disclose such information, or the fact that Goldman Sachs or Guggenheim, as the case may be, is in possession of such information, to the Borrower or to use such information on the Borrower’s behalf.

Consistent with their respective policies to hold in confidence the affairs of their respective customers, neither Goldman Sachs nor Guggenheim will furnish confidential information obtained from you by virtue of the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter to any of their respective other customers. Furthermore, you acknowledge that neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates nor Guggenheim nor any of its affiliates has an obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter, or to furnish to you, confidential information obtained or that may be obtained by them from any other person.

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by this Commitment Letter, you acknowledge and agree, and acknowledge your affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) each of the Facilities and any related arranging or other services described in this Commitment Letter is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between you and your affiliates, on the one hand, and the Commitment Parties, on the other hand, (ii) the Commitment Parties have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby and you have consulted your own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent you have deemed appropriate, (iii) you are capable of evaluating, and understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby, (iv) in connection with the financing transactions contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transactions, each of the Commitment Parties has been, is, and will be acting solely as a principal and has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for you or any of your affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party, (v) the Commitment Parties have not assumed and will not assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in your or your affiliates’ favor with respect to any of the financing transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, and the Commitment Parties have no obligation to you or your affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth in this Commitment Letter, and (vi) the Commitment Parties and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from yours and those of your affiliates, and the Commitment Parties have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to you or your affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law and without limiting the provisions of Section 4(b), you hereby waive and release any claims that you may have against the Commitment Parties with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any financing transaction contemplated by this Commitment Letter.

 

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The Commitment Parties hereby notify you that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001) (the “U.S.A. Patriot Act”), each of them is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies you and the Guarantors, which information includes the name and address of such person and other information that will allow the Commitment Parties, as applicable, to identify each such person in accordance with the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

7. Survival of Obligations. The provisions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 and the Fee Letter shall remain in full force and effect regardless of whether any Credit Documentation shall be executed and delivered and notwithstanding the termination of this Commitment Letter or any commitment or undertaking of the Commitment Parties hereunder, provided that (i) the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 shall not survive if the commitments and undertakings of the Commitment Parties are terminated by any party hereto prior to the effectiveness of any of the Facilities and (ii) if any of the Facilities close and the Credit Documentation is executed and delivered the provisions of Section 2 and the second sentence of the first paragraph of Section 3 shall survive only until the Syndication Date.

8. Miscellaneous. This Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter may be executed in multiple counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall constitute an original. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter by telecopier, facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g., a “pdf” or “tiff”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof. Headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration when interpreting, this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter.

This Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that (a) interpretation of the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in Annex III) or the equivalent term under the Acquisition Agreement and whether a Company Material Adverse Effect (or the equivalent term) has occurred, (b) the determination of the accuracy of any Acquisition Agreement Representation (as defined in Annex III) and whether as a result of any inaccuracy thereof you have the right (taking into account any applicable cure provisions) to terminate your obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the Acquisition and (c) the determination of whether the Acquisition has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, and all claims and causes of action arising in connection therewith in each case shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to laws that may be applicable under conflicts of laws principles (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or the actions of the Commitment Parties in the negotiation, performance or enforcement hereof. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City in

 

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respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the provisions of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letter, the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court. The parties hereto agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail addressed to you shall be effective service of process against you for any suit, action or proceeding relating to any such dispute. Each party hereto waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceedings brought in any such court, and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. A final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court may be enforced in any other courts to whose jurisdiction the applicable party is or may be subject by suit upon judgment.

This Commitment Letter, together with the Fee Letter, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and your affiliates with respect to the Facilities and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No party has been authorized by the Commitment Parties to make any oral or written statements that are inconsistent with this Commitment Letter. Neither this Commitment Letter (including the attachments hereto) nor the Fee Letter may be amended or any term or provision hereof or thereof waived or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

This Commitment Letter may not be assigned by you without our prior written consent (and any purported assignment without such consent will be null and void), is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person other than the parties hereto (and the Indemnified Parties). Each Commitment Party may assign its commitment hereunder, in whole or in part, to any of its affiliates (including, without limitation, in the case of GS Bank, to GSLP) or, subject to the provisions of this Commitment Letter, to any Lender; provided that, other than with respect to an assignment (i) by GS Bank to GSLP or (ii) to which you otherwise consent in writing (which consent, in the case of an assignment by a Commitment Party to its affiliates, shall not be unreasonably withheld by you), such Commitment Party shall not be released from the portion of its commitment hereunder so assigned to the extent such assignee fails to fund the portion of the commitment assigned to it on the Closing Date notwithstanding the satisfaction of the conditions to funding set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any and all obligations of, and services to be provided by, a Commitment Party hereunder (including, without limitation, any such Commitment Party’s commitment with respect to the Facilities) may be performed and any and all rights of a Commitment Party hereunder may be exercised by or through any of their respective affiliates or branches and, in connection with such performance or exercise, such Commitment Party may exchange with such affiliates or branches information concerning you and your affiliates that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated hereby (subject to the confidentiality provisions herein) and, to the extent so employed, such affiliates and branches shall be entitled to the benefits afforded to the Commitment Parties hereunder; provided that nothing in this sentence shall release or excuse, or shall otherwise be deemed to release or excuse, any Commitment Party from its obligations and commitments hereunder.

 

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Please indicate your acceptance of the terms of the Facilities set forth in this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter by returning to the Lead Arrangers executed counterparts of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letter not later than 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on May 18, 2015, whereupon the undertakings of the parties with respect to the Facilities shall become effective to the extent and in the manner provided hereby. This offer shall terminate with respect to the Facilities if not so accepted by you at or prior to that time. Thereafter, all commitments and undertakings of the Commitment Parties hereunder will expire automatically without any further action by any party hereto, unless extended by us in our sole discretion, on the earliest of (a) 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on February 17, 2016, unless the Closing Date occurs on or prior thereto, (b) as to any Facility, the consummation of the Acquisition without the use of such Facility and (c) the termination of the Acquisition Agreement.

This Commitment Letter amends and restates, and supersedes and replaces, in its entirety that certain Commitment Letter by and between GS Bank and you dated May 17, 2015 and shall be deemed to be an assignment to, and an assumption by, the Guggenheim Commitment Entities of the portion of the commitments in respect of the Term Loan Facilities committed to by the Guggenheim Commitment Entities hereunder (and for which portion, for the avoidance of doubt, GS Bank shall have no further liability or obligation).

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

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We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with you in connection with this important financing.

 

Very truly yours,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
By:

/s/ Robert Ehudin

Name: Robert Ehudin
Title: Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC
By:

/s/ A.R. Booth

Name: A.R. Booth
Title: Authorized Signatory
SECURITY BENEFIT CORPORATION
By:

/s/ Anthony D. Minella

Name: Anthony D. Minella
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


MIDLAND NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


NORTH AMERICAN COMPANY FOR LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


HORACE MANN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


DELAWARE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


WILTON REASSURANCE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


TEXAS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


WILTON REASSURANCE COMPANY
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


NZC GUGGENHEIM FUND, LLC
By: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, as investment manager
By:

/s/ William R. Hagner

Name: William R. Hagner
Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


The provisions of this Commitment Letter are accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:

 

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
By:

/s/ David Jaffe

Name: David Jaffe
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Commitment Letter


Schedule A to Commitment Letter

 

Guggenheim Commitment Entity

   Term Loan Facilities
Commitment
 

Security Benefit Corporation

   $ 345,000,000   

Midland National Life Insurance Company

   $ 56,100,000   

North American Company for Life and Health Insurance

   $ 31,670,000   

Horace Mann Life Insurance Company

   $ 1,050,000   

Delaware Life Insurance Company

   $ 8,380,000   

Wilton Reassurance Life Insurance Company of New York

   $ 1,500,000   

Texas Life Insurance Company

   $ 1,650,000   

Wilton Reassurance Company

   $ 1,950,000   

NZC Guggenheim Fund, LLC

   $ 52,700,000   
  

 

 

 

Total:

$ 500,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule A


ANNEX I

SUMMARY OF INDICATIVE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

$600,000,000 ABL FACILITY

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meanings as specified therefor in the Commitment Letter to which this Annex I is attached.

 

Borrower: Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”).
Guarantors: The obligations of the Borrower under the ABL Facility (including cash management, interest rate protection, other hedging arrangements, and other bank products entered into with a Lender (or any affiliate thereof) will be jointly and severally guaranteed by each of the existing and future direct and indirect wholly- owned U.S. subsidiaries of the Borrower (but excluding (i) unrestricted subsidiaries, (ii) immaterial subsidiaries (to be defined in a mutually acceptable manner as to individual and aggregate revenues or assets excluded), (iii) any subsidiary that is prohibited, but only so long as such subsidiary would be prohibited, by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or existing at the time of acquisition thereof after the Closing Date (so long as such prohibition did not arise as part of such acquisition), in each case, from guaranteeing the ABL Facility or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee under the ABL Facility unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received (but without obligation to seek the same), (iv) any direct or indirect subsidiary of a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code (a “CFC”), (v) any domestic subsidiary with no material assets other than equity interests of one or more foreign subsidiaries that are CFCs (a “Disregarded Domestic Person”) and (vi) not-for-profit subsidiaries) (collectively, the “Guarantors”). In addition, the Credit Documentation for the ABL Facility (the “ABL Credit Documentation”) will contain carve outs for “non-ECP Guarantors”, consistent with the standard LSTA provisions. All guarantees will be guarantees of payment and not of collection. The Target and its subsidiaries included in the Acquired Business that are not excluded from the foregoing requirements pursuant to the terms described above shall be required to become Guarantors (and grant liens in their assets constituting Collateral that can be

 

Annex I-1


perfected by filing UCC financing statements) on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that neither the Target nor any of its subsidiaries shall be required to be Guarantors until the Merger is consummated on the Closing Date.
ABL Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent: Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”) (including acting through its branches and affiliates) will act as sole administrative agent and as collateral agent for the ABL Facility (in such capacities, the “ABL Administrative Agent”).
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner: GS Bank will act as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner for the ABL Facility (the “ABL Lead Arranger”).
Lenders: GS Bank and a syndicate of other banks and financial institutions selected by the ABL Lead Arranger and reasonably agreed to by the Borrower, excluding any Disqualified Lenders (collectively, the “ABL Lenders”).
Letter of Credit Issuer: Each ABL Lender that consents to issuing Letters of Credit that is designated by the Borrower with the consent of the ABL Administrative Agent.
ABL Facility: An aggregate principal amount of up to $600,000,000 (as increased or reduced in accordance with the terms hereof, the “Loan Cap”) will be available to the Borrower through a senior secured revolving credit facility (the “ABL Facility”), which will include (i) a sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit on customary terms in an aggregate amount to be agreed upon (each a “Letter of Credit”), and (ii) a sublimit for swing line loans on customary terms in an aggregate amount to be agreed upon (each a “Swing Line Loan”).
Availability: Up to $300,000,000 of commitments will, subject to the Loan Limit, be available under the ABL Facility on the Closing Date to (a) finance the Acquisition and the Refinancing, (b) fund additional amounts at the Borrower’s election, sufficient to fund any original issue discount or upfront fees required to be funded in connection with the exercise of the “Market Flex” provisions set forth in the Fee Letter and (c) issue Letters of Credit under the ABL Facility on the Closing Date solely to replace (including by grandfathering) or backstop existing letters of credit under the applicable Existing Credit Facility.

 

Annex I-2


ABL Documentation Standard: The ABL Credit Documentation (i) shall be based upon senior secured asset-based revolving credit facilities for similar borrowers with appropriate modifications to baskets and materiality thresholds to reflect the size, leverage and ratings of the Borrower after giving effect to the Acquisition, (ii) shall contain the terms and conditions set forth in this ABL Summary of Terms, (iii) shall give due regard to the Existing Credit Facilities, (iv) shall reflect the operational and strategic requirements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries in light of their size, industries and practices and (v) shall reflect the customary agency and operational requirements of the ABL Administrative Agent (collectively, the “ABL Documentation Standard”), in each case, subject to the Funds Certain Provisions. The ABL Credit Documentation shall contain only those conditions to borrowing, mandatory prepayments, representations and warranties, covenants and events of default expressly set forth in this ABL Summary of Terms, in each case, applicable to the Borrower and its subsidiaries and, subject to the ABL Documentation Standard and certain other limitations as set forth herein, with standards, qualifications, exceptions and grace and cure periods consistent with the ABL Documentation Standard.
Swingline Option:

Swing Line Loans will be made available by the swingline lender on a same day basis for the Borrower and in minimum amounts to be agreed. Each ABL Lender shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to purchase, under certain circumstances, a participation in each Swing Line Loan on a pro rata basis based on its commitment under the ABL Facility.

 

If any ABL Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the letter of credit and swing line exposure of such Defaulting Lender will automatically be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their commitments under the ABL Facility up to an amount but only to the extent that, after such reallocation, the revolving credit exposure of each non-Defaulting Lender does not exceed its respective commitment. The Letter of Credit Issuer and Swing Line Lender may require the Borrower to repay such “uncovered” exposure in respect of the letters of credit and Swing Line Loans and will have no obligation to issue new letters of credit or Swing Line Loans to the extent such letters of credit or Swing Line Loans would exceed the commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders.

 

Annex I-3


Increase Option: Provided that no event of default then exists or would arise therefrom, upon notice to the ABL Administrative Agent, the Borrower may request from the existing ABL Lenders and/or prospective lenders that are eligible assignees under the ABL Facility increases from time to time in the ABL Facility by an aggregate amount for all such increases not exceeding $100,000,000 (any such increase, a “Commitment Increase”); provided that any such request for a Commitment Increase shall be in a minimum amount to be agreed. Any Commitment Increase shall be on the same terms and conditions as the ABL Facility (other than the payment of any upfront or other fees paid to the ABL Lenders participating in the Commitment Increase in amounts agreed to between the Borrower and such ABL Lenders). None of the existing ABL Lenders shall have an obligation to increase their respective commitments to satisfy the Borrower’s requested increase in the ABL Facility. Any Commitment Increase shall be subject to, among other conditions: (i) the execution and delivery of joinder documentation by any new ABL Lender in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the ABL Administrative Agent, (ii) delivery by legal counsel to the Borrower of any legal opinions to the extent reasonably requested by ABL Administrative Agent, and (iii) payment by the Borrower of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Commitment Increase (including any customary breakage costs, as applicable). Outstandings under the ABL Facility shall be reallocated among the ABL Lenders in accordance with their new percentage shares following any exercise of the Increase Option.
Purpose: The proceeds of the ABL Facility shall be used (i) for working capital, capital expenditures, and other lawful corporate purposes (including but not limited to acquisitions, investments and restricted payments to the extent permitted under the ABL Credit Documentation); (ii) to consummate the Refinancing; and (iii) for transaction costs in connection with the Acquisition.
Interest Rates: As set forth in Addendum I.
Maturity: The ABL Facility shall terminate and all amounts outstanding thereunder shall be due and payable in full five (5) years after the Closing Date.

 

Annex I-4


Availability:

The aggregate principal amount of loans, including Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit outstanding under the ABL Facility, shall not exceed the lesser of the Loan Cap and the Borrowing Base (as defined below) (the lesser of the Loan Cap and the Borrowing Base, the “Loan Limit”).

 

Availability” shall mean, at any given time, an amount equal to the Loan Limit, less the principal amount of the loans, including Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit, outstanding under the ABL Facility.

 

Borrowing Base” shall mean the sum of (i) 90% of the appraised net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory owned by the Borrower and the Guarantors, plus (ii) 90% of the eligible credit card receivables owned by the Borrower and the Guarantors, less (iii) such Reserves (to be defined in the ABL Credit Documentation) as the ABL Administrative Agent may establish in its Reasonable Credit Judgment from time to time. “Reasonable Credit Judgment” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable business judgment from the perspective of an asset-based lender.

 

The initial reserves on the Closing Date and the definitions of “eligible credit card receivables” and “eligible inventory” shall be mutually and reasonably agreed by the ABL Administrative Agent and the Borrower based upon the results of the ABL Administrative Agent’s due diligence, including, without limitation, a field examination and an inventory appraisal.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the ABL Administrative Agent has not completed a field examination of, and has not received an inventory appraisal for, the Borrower or any Guarantor prior to the Closing Date (any such entity an “Affected Entity”), assets of such Affected Entity that would otherwise be eligible for inclusion of the Borrowing Base shall not be subject to the advance rates set forth above until such field examination and appraisal are completed but instead the Borrowing Base for Affected Entities shall be calculated as follows: (a) in the case of the Borrower, an amount determined by using the most recent borrowing base certificate delivered under the Borrower’s existing asset-based credit facility as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date subject to the advance rates set forth above, and (b) in the case of the Acquired Business, an amount determined by using the most recent borrowing base

 

Annex I-5


certificate delivered under the Acquired Business’ existing asset-based credit facility as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date subject to the advance rates set forth above, in each case under clauses (a) and (b) for up to 60 days so long as the ABL Facility has a first priority security interest in all such assets and the ABL Administrative Agent has been provided with copies of such borrowing base certificates less (c) such Reserves (to be defined in the ABL Credit Documentation) as the ABL Administrative Agent may establish in its Reasonable Credit Judgment; provided that if the field examination and inventory appraisal with respect to each Affected Entity have not been completed by the 60th day after the Closing Date, the Borrowing Base shall thereafter not include any amount in respect of the assets of such Affected Entity until such field examination and inventory appraisal are completed.
Optional Prepayments and Commitment Reductions:

The Borrower may repay the loans under the ABL Facility at any time and from time to time without premium or penalty (other than breakage costs (but not loss of margin) with respect to LIBOR loans, if applicable), in minimum principal amounts and with customary notice requirements to be mutually agreed upon.

 

The Borrower may reduce the unutilized portion of the commitments in respect of the ABL Facility at any time and from time to time, or terminate the ABL Facility, in each case, without premium or penalty, in customary minimum principal amounts to be mutually agreed upon by the Borrower and the ABL Administrative Agent and subject to customary notice requirements to be mutually agreed upon.

Mandatory Prepayments:

If at any time the sum of the principal amount of outstanding borrowings and outstanding Letters of Credit under the ABL Facility exceeds the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base as in effect at such time and (ii) the Loan Cap, the Borrower shall prepay the loans (and cash collateralize Letters of Credit) in an amount necessary to eliminate such excess.

 

Upon any sale or other disposition of any assets of the Borrower or any Guarantor, in each case to the extent constituting ABL Priority Collateral, outside of the ordinary course of business or the receipt by the Borrower of any proceeds from casualty insurance or a condemnation of ABL Priority Collateral (in each case, with exceptions and materiality levels to be agreed in the ABL Credit Documentation), above a threshold to be agreed, the Borrower shall provide an updated calculation of the Borrowing Base.

 

Annex I-6


If a Cash Dominion Event (as defined below) has occurred and is continuing, all amounts deposited in each Collection Account (as defined below) will be promptly applied by the ABL Administrative Agent to repay outstanding loans under the ABL Facility and, if an event of default exists, to cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit.

 

Mandatory prepayments shall not reduce the commitments of the ABL Lenders under the ABL Facility.

Security: Subject to the Funds Certain Provisions, the ABL Facility (including cash management services, interest rate protection, other hedging arrangements, and other bank products provided to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries by any of the ABL Lenders or their respective affiliates) will be secured by: (a) perfected first priority (subject to permitted liens, including in respect of the Term Loan Facilities, and other customary exceptions) security interests in substantially all tangible and intangible assets of the Borrower and the Guarantors consisting of accounts receivable, payment intangibles, inventory, tax refunds, cash, deposit accounts, securities accounts, investment property (other than (x) capital stock and (y) any deposit account or securities account (or amount on deposit therein) established solely to hold identified proceeds of Term Loan Priority Collateral (as defined below)), general intangibles (other than equity interests and intellectual property), chattel paper, documents, supporting obligations, certain other assets and books and records related to the foregoing and, in each case, proceeds thereof, subject to customary exceptions (the “ABL Priority Collateral”); and (b) a second priority (subject to permitted liens, including in respect of the Term Loan Facilities, and other customary exceptions) security interest in (i) 100% of the capital stock held by the Borrower and the Guarantors (but limited in the case of the voting capital stock of any first-tier CFC or Disregarded Domestic Person, to 65% of such capital stock), (ii) substantially all material owned real property and equipment of the Borrower and the Guarantors and (iii) all other personal property of the Borrower and the Guarantors to the extent not constituting ABL Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, contracts, patents, copyrights, trademarks, other general intangibles and all proceeds of the foregoing (in each case, other than those relating to ABL Priority Collateral) (the property in

 

Annex I-7


clauses (b)(i) through (b)(iii) above, the “Term Loan Priority Collateral”, and together with the ABL Priority Collateral, the “Collateral”), in each case, excluding the Excluded Assets (as defined below).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Collateral shall exclude the following: (i) any fee-owned real property with a fair market value of less than an amount to be agreed (with all required mortgages being permitted to be delivered post-closing) and all leasehold interests in real property; (ii) motor vehicles, aircrafts and other assets subject to certificates of title (except to the extent perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements); (iii) letter of credit rights with a value of less than an amount to be agreed (except to the extent perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements) and commercial tort claims with a value of less than an amount to be agreed; (iv) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (including the requirement to obtain consent of any governmental authority); (v) equity interests in any person other than wholly-owned subsidiaries to the extent not permitted by the terms of such person’s organizational or joint venture documents; (vi) any lease, permit, license or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, permit, license or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of, or require the consent of, any other party thereto (other than the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition; (vii) those assets as to which the ABL Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby; (viii) margin stock; (ix) voting capital stock in excess of 65% of any first-tier CFC or Disregarded Domestic Person; (x) any of the capital stock of a subsidiary of a CFC or Disregarded Domestic Person; (xi) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited

 

Annex I-8


or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code; (xii) “intent-to-use” trademark or service mark applications; (xiii) (a) payroll and other employee wage and benefit accounts, (b) sales tax accounts, (c) escrow accounts, (d) fiduciary or trust accounts, and (e) store accounts, and, in the case of clauses (a) through (e), the funds or other property held in or maintained in any such account (collectively, the “Excluded Accounts”); (xiv) any acquired property (including property acquired through acquisition or merger of another entity, but excluding any Collateral included in the Borrowing Base and other assets to be mutually agreed) if at the time of such acquisition the granting of a security interest therein or the pledge thereof is prohibited by any contract or other agreement (in each case, not created in contemplation thereof) to the extent and for so long as such contract or other agreement prohibits such security interest or pledge; and (xv) other exceptions to be mutually agreed upon (the foregoing described in clauses (i) through (xv) are, collectively, the “Excluded Assets”). In addition, in no event shall (a) notices be required to be sent to account debtors or other contractual third parties (other than credit card notifications) prior to the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default, (b) perfection (except to the extent perfected through the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements) be required with respect to letter of credit rights and commercial tort claims, in each case with a value of less than an amount to be agreed, or (c) security documents governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof be required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no foreign local law pledges, landlord lien waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters will be required.

 

All the above-described pledges, security interests and mortgages shall be created on terms to be set forth in the ABL Credit Documentation; and none of the Collateral shall be subject to other pledges, security interests or mortgages (except in favor of the Term Loan Facilities and other permitted liens and exceptions and baskets to be set forth in the ABL Credit Documentation).

 

The relative rights and priorities in the ABL Priority Collateral among the ABL Administrative Agent and the Term Administrative Agent will be set forth in customary intercreditor agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the ABL Administrative Agent and the Term

 

Annex I-9


Administrative Agent (the “Intercreditor Agreement”). Without limiting the foregoing, the Intercreditor Agreement with the Term Administrative Agent and the security documents with the Borrower and Guarantors shall provide that the ABL Administrative Agent shall have a license allowing the use of such of the Term Priority Collateral as may be necessary or desirable for the liquidation of the ABL Priority Collateral.
Representations and Warranties: Subject to the ABL Documentation Standard, with customary exceptions, thresholds and baskets to be reasonably and mutually agreed, representations and warranties applicable to the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries (with materiality qualifiers to be mutually agreed), limited to the following: (i) legal existence, qualification and power; (ii) due authorization and no contravention of law, contracts or organizational documents; (iii) governmental and third party approvals and consents; (iv) enforceability; (v) accuracy and completeness of specified financial statements, the borrowing base and other information and no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (to be defined in the ABL Credit Documentation); (vi) no material litigation; (vii) no default; (viii) ownership of property; (ix) insurance matters; (x) environmental matters; (xi) tax matters; (xii) ERISA; (xiii) identification of loan parties and subsidiaries of loan parties, and equity interests owned by loan parties; (xiv) use of proceeds and not engaging in business of purchasing/carrying margin stock in violation of margin regulations; (xv) status under Investment Company Act; (xvi) material compliance with laws; (xvii) intellectual property; (xviii) consolidated solvency as of the Closing Date; (xix) collateral documents; (xx) labor matters; (xxi) disclosure of material depositary and securities accounts and credit card issuers and processors of the Borrower and Guarantors; and (xxii) foreign assets control regulations, FCPA, OFAC, Patriot Act, anti-money laundering laws and related matters.
Cash Management: The Borrower and the Guarantors will establish lockbox and blocked account arrangements reasonably acceptable to the ABL Administrative Agent and shall cause all cash receipts above a nominal amount to be agreed upon to be forwarded to one or more deposit accounts which is subject to a control agreement in favor of the ABL Administrative Agent (excluding (i) the Excluded Accounts (so long as receipts

 

Annex I-10


held in store accounts are directed to concentration accounts that are subject to control agreements) and (ii) certain other accounts with deposits up to an aggregate amount to be agreed) with respect to accounts owned by the Borrower and the Guarantors, within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the ABL Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) (each a “Controlled Account”). Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower and the Guarantors will instruct their account debtors to make payments directly to a Controlled Account.

 

During the continuance of a Cash Dominion Event (as defined below), all cash proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral (subject to exceptions to be mutually agreed) received by the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries in a Controlled Account or otherwise shall be swept daily to a collection account maintained at the Administrative Agent (each such account, a “Collection Account”) and shall be applied daily in reduction of the obligations under the ABL Facility.

 

As used herein, “Cash Dominion Event” shall mean either (i) the occurrence and continuance of any event of default, or (ii) the failure of the Borrower to maintain for five (5) consecutive business days Availability at least equal to the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 10.0% of the Loan Limit. A Cash Dominion Event shall continue unless and until, as applicable, such event of default is waived or Availability is equal to or greater than the amounts required above for thirty (30) consecutive days; provided that, for purposes of this cash management requirement, a Cash Dominion Event may be discontinued only twice in any 12 consecutive month period notwithstanding that the event of default has been waived or that Availability shall have been equal to or greater than the amounts required above for thirty (30) consecutive days.

Financial Covenants: If, at any time, Availability is less than the greater of (x) $45.0 million and (y) 10.0% of the Loan Limit, then the Borrower will be required to maintain a minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (to be defined in the ABL Credit Documentation), calculated on a trailing four-quarter basis as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter prior to such event and as of the last day of each subsequent fiscal quarter ending during a test period, of 1.0:1.0 until Availability shall have been equal to or greater than such threshold for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days.

 

Annex I-11


Financial Reporting: The Borrower shall provide financial reporting usual and customary for transactions of this type, each comprising:
(a) if Availability is less than the greater of 15.0% of the Loan Limit and $65.0 million, monthly financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for each of the first two months of each quarter), within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month end (until such time as Availability is equal to or greater than the greater of 17.5% of the Loan Limit and $75.0 million for 30 consecutive days);
(b) quarterly financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (for each of the first three quarters of each year), within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter;
(c) consolidated annual audited financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (within 90 days after each fiscal year end);
(d) annual consolidated forecasts and projections, including monthly balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flow (in each case, within 90 days after each fiscal year end);
(e) borrowing base certificates which shall be delivered no less frequently than quarterly; provided, that, if on the last day of any month, loans are outstanding or Letter of Credit exposure exceeds $60.0 million, such borrowing base certificates shall be delivered monthly, in each case with supporting documentation no later than the fifteenth (15th) business day after the end of each fiscal quarter or month, as applicable, unless Availability at any time is less than the greater of (x) $60.0 million and (y) 12.5% of the Loan Limit, in which case borrowing base certificates and supporting documentation shall be delivered weekly (until such time as Availability is equal to or greater than such threshold for 30 consecutive days); and
(f) Other customary requirements including quarterly compliance certificates, inventory and credit card receivables reports, notices of defaults, litigation and other material events, and other information customarily supplied in a transaction of this type to be mutually agreed.

 

Annex I-12


Collateral Monitoring: Field examinations and inventory appraisals will be conducted on an ongoing basis at the discretion of the ABL Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall be required to pay the fees and expenses for one (1) field examination and one (1) inventory appraisal in any twelve (12) month period; provided that, if Availability at any time is less than the greater of (x) $85.0 million and (y) 17.5% of the Loan Limit for three (3) consecutive business days, the Borrower shall be required to pay for two (2) field examinations and two appraisals in each twelve (12) month period (but shall no longer be required to do so after Availability is equal to or greater than such threshold for 30 consecutive days), provided further, that while an event of default exists, the Borrower shall be required to pay all fees and expenses for all field examinations and inventory appraisals reasonably undertaken by the ABL Administrative Agent. Nothing herein shall limit the ABL Administrative Agent’s right to conduct one additional field examination and one additional inventory appraisal in any fiscal year (as determined in the discretion of the ABL Administrative Agent) at the ABL Lenders’ expense.
Other Covenants: Subject to the ABL Documentation Standard, affirmative and negative covenants applicable to the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries with such exceptions, thresholds, baskets, and materiality qualifications as may be reasonably and mutually agreed upon in the ABL Credit Documentation, limited to the following:
(a) Affirmative Covenants. (i) delivery of certificates and other information; (ii) delivery of customary notices (including, without limitation, of any default, material adverse condition, ERISA, or material change in accounting or financial reporting practices); (iii) payment and performance of obligations; (iv) preservation of existence; (v) maintenance of properties; (vi) maintenance of insurance; (vii) material compliance with laws; (viii) maintenance of books and records; (ix) inspection rights; (x) covenant to guarantee obligations and give security; (xi) compliance with environmental laws; (xii) further assurances; (xiii) maintenance of governmental approvals and authorizations; (xiv) maintenance of customary cash management systems; (xv) compliance with pension plan requirements; and (xvi) labor matters.

 

Annex I-13


(b) Negative Covenants. Restrictions on (i) liens; (ii) indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent obligations); (iii) investments (including loans and advances); (iv) mergers and other fundamental changes; (v) sales and other dispositions of property or assets; (vi) payments of dividends and other distributions; (vii) changes in the nature of business; (viii) transactions with affiliates; (ix) burdensome agreements; (x) use of proceeds; (xi) OFAC, FCPA and anti-money laundering laws; (xii) amendments of organizational documents in a manner materially adverse to the ABL Lenders; (xiii) changes in fiscal year and changes in accounting policies unless required by GAAP or to align the Borrower and the Acquired Business; (xiv) prepayments of other indebtedness; and (xv) modification or termination of documents related to certain material indebtedness, in each case with such customary exceptions as may be reasonably and mutually agreed upon in the ABL Credit Documentation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(1) The Borrower may make cash dividends, distributions, repurchases or other payments in respect of its capital stock (a “Restricted Payment”) if (a) no event of default exists or would arise as a result of the subject Restricted Payment, (b) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment and on a pro forma basis for each of the 30 days preceding such Restricted Payment, the average Availability shall be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 17.5% of the Loan Limit, (c) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the trailing twelve (12) month period immediately preceding such Restricted Payment shall be greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0; provided that the provisions of this clause (c) shall not be applicable if the average Availability, calculated in accordance with clause (b) hereof, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis for each of the 30 days preceding such Restricted Payment is greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $85.0

 

Annex I-14


million and (y) 20.0% of the Loan Limit; and (d) the Borrower shall have delivered a certificate to the ABL Administrative Agent including a reasonably detailed calculation of such Availability and, if applicable, Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
(2) The Borrower may make Permitted Acquisitions and other investments and prepay Indebtedness if the Payment Conditions are satisfied.
As used herein, “Payment Conditions” shall mean that (a) no event of default exists or would arise as a result of the subject transaction or payment, (b) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction or payment and on a pro forma basis for each of the 30 days preceding such investment or prepayment, the average Availability shall be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $75.0 million and (y) 15% of the Loan Limit, (c) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the trailing twelve (12) month period immediately preceding such transaction or payment shall be greater than or equal to 1.0 to 1.0, provided that the provisions of this clause (c) shall not be applicable if the average Availability, calculated in accordance with clause (b) hereof, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such acquisition, investment or prepayment and on a pro forma basis for each of the 30 days preceding such acquisition, investment or prepayment is greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $85.0 million and (y) 17.5% of the Loan Limit; and (d) the Borrower shall have delivered a Compliance Certificate to the ABL Administrative Agent including a reasonably detailed calculation of such Availability and, if applicable, Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries: The ABL Credit Documentation will contain provisions pursuant to which, subject to customary limitations on investments, loans, advances to, and other investments in, unrestricted subsidiaries, the Borrower will be permitted, subject to compliance with the Payment Conditions, to designate any existing or subsequently acquired or organized subsidiary (other than Target) as an “unrestricted subsidiary” and subsequently re-designate any such unrestricted subsidiary as a restricted subsidiary, it being understood that (x) the designation of any unrestricted subsidiary as a restricted subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any indebtedness or liens of such subsidiary existing at such time and (y) the fair market value

 

Annex I-15


of such subsidiary at the time it is designated as an “unrestricted subsidiary” shall be treated as an investment by the Borrower at such time. Unrestricted subsidiaries will not be subject to the representations and warranties, affirmative or negative covenants or event of default provisions of the ABL Credit Documentation and the Commitment Letter and results of operations and indebtedness of unrestricted subsidiaries will not be taken into account for purposes of determining any financial ratio or covenant contained in the ABL Credit Documentation. No restricted subsidiary may be designated as an unrestricted subsidiary under the ABL Facility if it is a “restricted subsidiary” under the Term Loan Facilities.
Events of Default: Subject to the ABL Documentation Standard, limited to the following (with customary grace periods, thresholds and exceptions as mutually and reasonably agreed): (i) nonpayment of principal, and nonpayment of interest, fees or other amounts which continues for five (5) business days after the date when due; (ii) failure to perform or observe covenants set forth in the ABL Credit Documentation within a specified period of time, where customary and appropriate, after notice of such failure from the ABL Administrative Agent; (iii) any representation or warranty proving to have been incorrect in any material respect (or, in the case of any representation and warranty qualified by materiality, in all respects) when made or confirmed; (iv) cross-default to other indebtedness in an amount to be agreed; (v) bankruptcy and insolvency defaults (with grace period for involuntary proceedings); (vi) monetary judgment defaults in an amount to be agreed; (vii) ERISA; (viii) actual or asserted invalidity or impairment of any material ABL Credit Documentation or security; (ix) change of control (to be defined in a customary and mutually agreeable reasonable manner, and without any dead-hand board component); (x) cessation of business; (xi) breach of intercreditor or subordination agreements, if any; and (xii) failure to maintain financial covenant, if applicable.
Conditions Precedent to Closing: Limited to those conditions specified in Section 5 of the Commitment Letter.
Conditions Precedent to Extensions of Credit after the Closing Date: Limited to the following: (i) all of the representations and warranties in the ABL Credit Documentation shall be true and correct as of the date of such extension of credit in all material respects (except to the extent such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or if such

 

Annex I-16


representations and warranties are qualified by materiality, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects); (ii) no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from such extension of credit; and (iii) in the case of any extension of credit under the ABL Facility, the aggregate principal amount of all loans outstanding under the ABL Facility and the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding on such date, after giving effect to the applicable borrowing or issuance or renewal of a Letter of Credit, shall not exceed the Loan Limit on such date.
Assignments and Participations:

Subject to the consents described below (which consents will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), each ABL Lender will be permitted to make assignments to other eligible financial institutions (but not any Disqualified Lender) in respect of the ABL Facility in a minimum amount equal to $5 million; provided that the Borrower’s consent shall be deemed to have been given if the Borrower shall not have responded to a request for consent within 10 business days. The consent of the ABL Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit issuer and the swing line lender will be required for any assignment under the ABL Facility.

 

The consent of the Borrower will be required unless (i) a payment or bankruptcy Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or (ii) the assignment is to an ABL Lender, an affiliate of an ABL Lender or an Approved Fund (as such term shall be defined in the ABL Credit Documentation).

 

An assignment fee payable by the assigning ABL Lender in the amount of $3,500 will be charged with respect to each assignment unless waived by the ABL Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. Each ABL Lender will also have the right, without consent of the Borrower or the ABL Administrative Agent, to assign as security all or part of its rights under the ABL Credit Documentation to any Federal Reserve Bank.

 

ABL Lenders will be permitted to sell participations with voting rights limited to significant matters such as changes in amount, rate, maturity date and releases of all or substantially all of the collateral securing the ABL Facility.

Waivers and Amendments: Amendments and waivers of the provisions of the ABL Credit Documentation will require the approval of ABL Lenders holding loans and commitments representing more

 

Annex I-17


than 50% of the aggregate amount of the loans and commitments under the ABL Facility (the “Required Lenders”), except that (a) the consent of each ABL Lender shall be required with respect to certain matters, including, without limitation, the amendment of certain of the pro rata sharing provisions; and (b) the consent of each ABL Lender affected thereby shall be required with respect to certain matters, including, without limitation, (i) increases or extensions in the commitment of such ABL Lender, (ii) reductions of principal, interest or fees, (iii) extensions of scheduled maturities or times for payment, (iv) the release of all or substantially all of the collateral securing the ABL Facility, (v) the release of the guaranties of the Borrower’s obligations made by the Guarantors representing all or substantially all of the value thereof, and (vi) the amendment of the voting percentages of the Lenders. Certain modifications such as increasing the advance rates in the Borrowing Base or the inclusion of additional classes of assets in the Borrowing Base will require the approval of ABL Lenders holding loans and commitments representing more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate amount of the loans and commitments under the ABL Facility.

 

The ABL Credit Documentation shall contain a customary “yank-a-bank” provision.

Governing Law: State of New York.
Indemnification: Consistent with the ABL Documentation Standard.
ABL Administrative Agent’s Counsel: Latham & Watkins LLP.
Other: Each of the parties shall (i) waive its right to a trial by jury and (ii) submit to New York jurisdiction.

 

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ADDENDUM I

PRICING, FEES AND EXPENSES

 

Interest Rates:   The interest rates per annum applicable to the ABL Facility (other than in respect of Swing Line Loans) will be LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin (as hereinafter defined) or, at the option of the Borrower, the Base Rate (to be defined for Loans to the Borrower as the highest of (x) the ABL Administrative Agent’s prime rate, (y) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%, and (z) the sum of 1.00% per annum plus LIBOR for a 30 day interest period) plus the Applicable Margin. “Applicable Margin” means a percentage per annum to be determined based upon the Availability for the three - month period ended immediately preceding each Adjustment Date in accordance with the pricing grid set forth below; provided that Level II pricing shall apply until the end of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate loans. “Adjustment Date” means the first day of each fiscal quarter.
Pricing Grid:   The Applicable Margin shall be based on the average daily Availability (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate commitments under the ABL Facility) as set forth below:

 

Level

   Average Daily
Excess Availability
     LIBOR
Rate Loans
    Base Rate
Loans
 

I

     > 66 2/3         1.25     0.25

II

     > 33 1/3 but < 66 2/3         1.50     0.50

III

     <33 1/3         1.75     0.75

 

 

The Borrower may select interest periods, subject to availability, of one, two, three or six months, and, if agreed to by all ABL Lenders, 12 months, for LIBOR loans, provided that that the total number of outstanding LIBOR loans will not exceed a number to be mutually agreed upon. Interest shall be payable at the end of the selected interest period, but no less frequently than quarterly. Interest on Base Rate Loans and Swing Line Loans shall be paid monthly.

 

During the continuance of any payment or bankruptcy event of default under the ABL Credit Documentation, the Applicable Margin on overdue obligations under the loan documentation shall increase by 2% per annum.

 

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LIBOR” is the rate for eurodollar deposits for the respective interest period appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or otherwise on the Reuters Screen) (as adjusted for statutory reserve requirements for eurocurrency liabilities).
Commitment Fee: Commencing on (and subject to the occurrence of) the Closing Date, a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum on the daily unutilized commitments during the immediately preceding quarter; provided that such fee shall be subject to reduction to 0.25% per annum commencing after the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date if the average daily utilization of the ABL Facility during the preceding quarter was at least 35% of the aggregate commitments under the ABL Facility. Such fee shall be payable to the ABL Lenders quarterly in arrears, commencing on the first quarterly payment date to occur after the Closing Date.
Letter of Credit Fees: Letter of Credit fees shall be payable on the maximum amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin from time to time applicable to LIBOR Rate loans under the ABL Facility. Such fees will be (a) payable quarterly in arrears, commencing on the first quarterly payment date to occur after the Closing Date, and (b) shared proportionately by the ABL Lenders. In addition, a fronting fee shall be payable to the Letter of Credit Issuer in an amount equal to 0.125% per annum for all Letters of Credit quarterly in arrears and the Borrower shall also pay each Letter of Credit Issuer’s customary fees and charges in connection with the negotiation, amendment, and extension of Letters of Credit.
Calculation of Interest and Fees: All interest on all advances (to the extent interest is determined with respect to the LIBOR Rate) and per annum fees will be calculated on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. All other interest will be calculated on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a year of 365/366 days.
Cost and Yield Protection: Customary for transactions and facilities of this type, including, without limitation, in respect of breakage or redeployment costs incurred in connection with prepayments (other than loss of margin), changes in capital adequacy and capital requirements or their interpretation, illegality, unavailability, reserves without proration or offset and payments free and clear of withholding or other taxes.
Expenses: The Borrower will pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with the

 

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preparation, due diligence, administration, syndication and closing of all ABL Credit Documentation, including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees of counsel to the ABL Administrative Agent and the ABL Lead Arranger (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of Latham & Watkins LLP and of any local counsel to the ABL Lenders retained by the ABL Lead Arranger or the ABL Administrative Agent, limited to one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction), regardless of whether or not the ABL Facility is closed. The Borrower will also pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of the ABL Administrative Agent and one other counsel (in total) to all of the ABL Lenders (in the absence of conflict) in connection with the enforcement of any of the ABL Credit Documentation.

 

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ANNEX II

SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

$1,800,000,000 TERM LOAN FACILITIES

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meanings as specified therefor in the Commitment Letter to which this Annex II is attached.

 

Borrower: Ascena Retail Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”).
Guarantors: The obligations of the Borrower under the Term Loan Facilities (as hereinafter defined) will be unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally on a senior basis (the “Term Guarantees”) by each of the Borrower’s wholly-owned material restricted U.S. subsidiaries (and consistent with the principles set forth herein) (collectively, the “Guarantors” and together with the Borrower, the “Loan Parties”), provided that Guarantors shall not include, (i) unrestricted subsidiaries, (ii) immaterial subsidiaries (to be defined in a mutually acceptable manner as to individual and aggregate revenues or assets excluded), (iii) any subsidiary that is prohibited, but only so long as such subsidiary would be prohibited, by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or existing at the time of acquisition thereof after the Closing Date (so long as such prohibition did not arise as part of such acquisition), in each case, from guaranteeing the Term Loan Facilities or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a Term Guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received (but without obligation to seek the same), (iv) any direct or indirect subsidiary of a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code (a “CFC”), (v) any domestic subsidiary with no material assets other than equity interests of one or more foreign subsidiaries that are CFCs (a “Disregarded Domestic Person”) and (vi) not-for-profit subsidiaries. In addition, the Credit Documentation for the Term Loan Facilities (the “Term Facilities Credit Documentation”) will contain carve outs for “non-ECP Guarantors”, consistent with the LSTA provisions. All guarantees will be guarantees of payment and not of collection. The Target and its subsidiaries included in the Acquired Business that are not excluded from the foregoing requirements pursuant to the terms described above shall be required to become Guarantors (and grant liens in their assets constituting Collateral that can be perfected by filing UCC

 

Annex II-1


financing statements) on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the forgoing, it is understood and agreed that neither the Target nor any of its subsidiaries shall be required to be Guarantors until the Merger is consummated on the Closing Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, additional subsidiaries may be excluded from the guarantee requirements in circumstances where the Borrower and the Term Administrative Agent reasonably agree that the cost of providing such a guarantee is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby.

Term Administrative and Collateral Agent: Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”) will act as sole and exclusive administrative and collateral agent for the Term Loan Lenders (the “Term Administrative Agent”).
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners: GS Bank and Guggenheim Securities, LLC will act as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for the Term Loan Facilities (in such capacities, the “Term Lead Arrangers”).
Term Loan Lenders: Banks, financial institutions and institutional lenders selected by GS Bank and reasonably agreed to by the Borrower and excluding any Disqualified Lenders and, after the initial funding of the Term Loan Facilities, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Assignments and Participations section below (the “Term Loan Lenders”).
Term Loan Facilities: A senior secured first lien term loan B facility (the “Term Loan Facilities”) in an aggregate principal amount of $1,800 million. At the election of the Borrower, a portion of the Term Loan Facility may be replaced by the issuance of Senior Notes.
Purpose: The proceeds of the borrowings under the Term Loan Facilities, together with cash on the balance sheet of the Companies, borrowings under the ABL Facility, the Equity Issuance and, if applicable, the Senior Notes, shall be used (i) to finance the Acquisition and the Refinancing and (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
Availability: The Term Loan Facilities will be available in a single drawing on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under the Term Loan Facilities that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
Interest Rates: The interest rates per annum applicable to the Term Loan Facilities will be, at the option of the Borrower (i) LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin means (a) if the Borrower has received (I) a public corporate credit rating of BB- (stable) or better from S&P and (II) a

 

Annex II-2


public corporate family rating of Ba3 (stable) or better from Moody’s, 3.50% per annum, in the case of LIBOR advances, and 2.50% per annum, in the case of Base Rate advances and (b) otherwise, 3.75% per annum, in the case of LIBOR advances, and 2.75% per annum, in the case of Base Rate advances.

 

The Borrower may select interest periods of one, two, three or six months (and, if agreed to by all Term Loan Lenders, twelve months) for LIBOR advances. Interest shall be payable at the end of the selected interest period, but no less frequently than quarterly.

 

LIBOR” and “Base Rate” will have meanings customary and appropriate for financings of this type; provided that (x) LIBOR will be deemed to be not less than 1.00% per annum (the “LIBOR Floor”) and (y) the Base Rate will be deemed to be not less than 100 basis points higher than one-month LIBOR (after giving effect to the LIBOR Floor).

 

During the continuance of an event of default for nonpayment of principal, interest or fees, interest will accrue on such overdue principal, interest or fees at the Default Rate (as defined below). During the continuance of a bankruptcy event of default, the principal amount of all outstanding obligations will bear interest at the Default Rate. As used herein, “Default Rate” means (i) on the principal of any loan at a rate of 200 basis points in excess of the rate otherwise applicable to such loan and (ii) on any other overdue amount at a rate of 200 basis points in excess of the non-default rate of interest then applicable to Base Rate loans.

Calculation of Interest and Fees: Other than calculations in respect of interest at the Base Rate (which shall be made on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a 365/366 day year), all calculations of interest and fees shall be made on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year.
Cost and Yield Protection: Subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard (as defined below) and customary for transactions and facilities of this type, including, without limitation, in respect of breakage or redeployment costs incurred in connection with prepayments (other than loss of margin), changes in capital adequacy and capital requirements or their interpretation, illegality, unavailability, reserves without proration or offset and payments free and clear of withholding or other taxes; provided that for all purposes of the Term Facilities Credit

 

Annex II-3


Documentation, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines and directives promulgated thereunder and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case, pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed introduced or adopted after the Closing Date, so long as, in each case, any amounts with respect thereto assessed by any Lender shall also be so assessed by such Lender against its similarly situated customers generally under agreements containing comparable gross-up provisions.
Maturity: The Term Loan Facilities will mature on the date that is 7 years after the Closing Date.
Incremental Term Facilities: The Term Facilities Credit Documentation will permit the Borrower to add one or more incremental term loan facilities to the Term Loan Facilities (each, an “Incremental Term Facility”) after the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount of up to (a) $700.0 million (such amount, the “Incremental Base Amount”) plus (b) an amount such that, after giving effect to the incurrence of such amount and other pro forma adjustment events consistent with the Term Loan Documentation Standard, the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (to be defined in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation) for the most recently ended four-quarter period for which financial statements have been (or are required to have been) delivered is equal to or less than the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio in effect on the Closing Date (the “Ratio Amount”); provided that (i) no Term Loan Lender will be required to participate in any such Incremental Term Facility, (ii) no event of default or default exists or would exist after giving effect thereto, (iii) the representations and warranties in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation (in the case of an Incremental Term Facility to finance a Permitted Acquisition (as defined below), limited to the Specified Representations (as defined in Annex IV) and the Acquisition Agreement Representations (as applied to the applicable acquisition agreement)) shall be true and correct in all material respects, (iv) the maturity date of any such Incremental Term Facility shall be no earlier than the maturity date for the Term Loan Facilities, (v) the weighted average life to maturity of any Incremental Term Facility shall be no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the Term Loan Facilities, (vi) the interest margins for the Incremental Term Facility shall

 

Annex II-4


be determined by the Borrower and the lenders of the Incremental Term Facility; provided that in the event that the interest margins for any Incremental Term Facility incurred within 12 months following the Closing Date are greater than the Applicable Margin for the Term Loan Facilities by more than 50 basis points, then the Applicable Margin for the Term Loan Facilities shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the interest margins for the Incremental Term Facility are not more than 50 basis points higher than the Applicable Margin for the Term Loan Facilities; provided, further, that in determining the interest margins applicable to the Term Loan Facilities and the Applicable Margins for any Incremental Term Facility, (x) original issue discount (“OID”) or upfront fees (which shall be deemed to constitute like amounts of OID) payable by the Borrower for the account of the Term Loan Lenders of the Term Loan Facilities or the Incremental Term Facility in the primary syndication thereof shall be included (with OID being equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity), (y) customary arrangement, structuring, underwriting, amendment or commitment fees payable to one or more arrangers of any Incremental Term Facility shall be excluded, and (z) if the LIBOR or Base Rate floor for any Incremental Term Facility is greater than the LIBOR or Base Rate floor, respectively, for the existing Term Loan Facilities, the difference between such floor for the Incremental Term Facility and the Term Loan Facilities shall be equated to an increase in the Applicable Margin for purposes of this clause (vi), (vii) each Incremental Term Facility shall be secured by pari passu liens on the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) securing the Term Loan Facilities, or secured by liens subordinated to the liens securing the Term Loan Facilities (subject to customary intercreditor terms reasonably acceptable to the Term Administrative Agent and the Borrower) and (viii) any Incremental Term Facility shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined, provided that, to the extent such terms and documentation are not consistent with the Term Loan Facilities (except to the extent permitted by clause (iv), (v) or (vi) above), they shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Term Administrative Agent. The Borrower shall seek commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Facility from existing Term Loan Lenders or from additional banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders reasonably acceptable to the Term Administrative Agent who will become Term Loan Lenders in connection therewith.

 

Annex II-5


Refinancing Facilities: The Term Facilities Credit Documentation will permit the Borrower to refinance loans under the Term Loan Facilities or loans under any Incremental Term Facility (each, “Refinanced Debt”) from time to time, in whole or part, with (x) one or more new term facilities (each, a “Refinancing Term Facility”) under the Term Facilities Credit Documentation with the consent of the Borrower, the Term Administrative Agent and the institutions providing such Refinancing Term Facility or (y) one or more series of unsecured notes or loans, notes secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term Loan Facilities or notes or loans secured by the Collateral on a subordinated basis to the Term Loan Facilities, which will be subject to customary intercreditor terms reasonably acceptable to the Term Administrative Agent and the Borrower (any such notes or loans, “Refinancing Notes” and together with the Refinancing Term Facilities, the “Refinancing Indebtedness”); provided that (i) any Refinancing Term Facility or Refinancing Notes do not mature prior to the maturity date of, or have a shorter weighted average life than, the applicable Refinanced Debt, (ii) any Refinancing Notes consisting of notes do not mature prior to the maturity date of the applicable Refinanced Debt or have any scheduled amortization, (iii) there shall be no issuers, borrowers or guarantors in respect of any Refinancing Indebtedness that are not the Borrower or a Guarantor, (iv) any Refinancing Notes shall not contain any mandatory prepayment provisions (other than related to customary asset sale and change of control offers or events of default) that could result in prepayments of such Refinancing Notes prior to the maturity date of the applicable Refinanced Debt, (v) the other terms and conditions of such Refinancing Indebtedness (excluding pricing, interest rate margins, rate floors, discounts, fees and optional prepayment or optional redemption provisions) are not materially more favorable (when taken as a whole) to the lenders or investors providing such Refinancing Indebtedness than the terms of the applicable Refinanced Debt and (vi) the proceeds of such Refinancing Indebtedness (a) shall not be in an aggregate principal amount greater than the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Refinanced Debt plus any fees and premiums associated therewith, and costs and expenses related thereto and (b) shall be immediately applied to permanently prepay in whole or in part the applicable Refinanced Debt.
Term Loan Documentation Standard: The Term Facilities Credit Documentation (i) shall be based upon senior secured term loan facilities for similar borrowers with appropriate modifications to baskets and materiality

 

Annex II-6


thresholds to reflect the size, leverage and ratings of the Borrower after giving effect to the Acquisition, (ii) shall contain the terms and conditions set forth in this Term Loan Facilities Summary of Terms, (iii) shall give due regard to that certain Term Credit Agreement dated as of June 18, 2014 among The Men’s Wearhouse, Inc., as borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, (iv) shall reflect the operational and strategic requirements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries in light of their size, industries and practices and (v) shall reflect the customary agency and operational requirements of the Term Administrative Agent (collectively, the “Term Loan Documentation Standard”), in each case, subject to the Funds Certain Provisions. The Term Facilities Credit Documentation shall, subject to the “market flex” provisions contained in the Fee Letter, contain only those conditions to borrowing, mandatory prepayments, representations and warranties, covenants and events of default expressly set forth in this Term Loan Facilities Summary of Terms, in each case, applicable to the Borrower and its subsidiaries and, subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard and certain other limitations as set forth herein, with standards, qualifications, exceptions and grace and cure periods consistent with the Term Loan Documentation Standard.
Scheduled Amortization: The Term Loan Facilities shall be subject to quarterly amortization of principal equal to 0.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan Facilities, with the balance payable on the final maturity date.
Mandatory Prepayments: In addition to the amortization set forth above and subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard and the next paragraph, mandatory prepayments shall be required (i) subject to customary exceptions and thresholds, from the receipt of net cash proceeds by the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries from any disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business or casualty event by the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent such proceeds are not reinvested (or committed to be reinvested) in assets useful in the business of the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries within twelve months of the date of such disposition or casualty event (and, in the case of ABL Priority Collateral, to the extent such amounts are not required to repay the ABL Facility) and, if so committed to be reinvested, reinvested no later than 180 days after the end of such twelve month period; (ii) following the receipt of net cash proceeds from the issuance or incurrence after the Closing Date of

 

Annex II-7


additional debt of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries (other than debt permitted under the Term Facilities Credit Documentation other than Refinancing Indebtedness); and (iii) in an amount equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow (to be defined in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation) of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, beginning with the first full fiscal year of the Borrower commencing after the Closing Date, with step downs to 25% and 0% based on the Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratios at levels to be agreed, of the Borrower (with a dollar-for-dollar credit for optional prepayments of the Term Loan Facilities subsequent to the first day of the relevant year), in each case of clauses (i) - (iii), subject to the limitations set forth in the paragraph immediately following, such amounts shall be applied against amortization payments as directed by the Borrower and absent any such direction, in forward order to the prepayment of the next eight (8) installments of the Term Loan Facilities, and then on a pro rata basis and to scheduled amortization of the Term Loan Facilities on a pro rata basis.

 

Any Term Loan Lender may elect not to accept its pro rata portion of any mandatory prepayment other than a prepayment made with the proceeds of a Refinancing Debt (each a “Declining Lender”). Any prepayment amount declined by a Declining Lender shall first be offered to prepay Term Loans of Term Loan Lenders who were not Declining Lenders and, if declined by such Term Loan Lenders, may be retained by the Borrower (such amount, a “Declined Amount”).

Optional Prepayments: The Term Loan Facilities may be prepaid at any time in whole or in part without premium or penalty, upon written notice, at the option of the Borrower, except (x) that any prepayment of LIBOR advances other than at the end of the applicable interest periods therefor shall be made with reimbursement for any funding losses and redeployment costs (but not loss of margin) of the Term Loan Lenders resulting therefrom and (y) as set forth in “Soft-Call Premium” below. Each optional prepayment of the Term Loan Facilities shall be applied as directed by the Borrower.
Soft-Call Premium: In the event that all or any portion of the Term Loan Facilities is (i) repaid, prepaid, refinanced or replaced with term loan indebtedness with a lower effective yield (to be defined) than the effective yield of such Term Loan Facility or (ii) repriced through any waiver, consent or amendment that has the effect of reducing the effective yield of the Term Loan Facilities (a “Repricing Transaction”), in each case, on or prior to the

 

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six-month anniversary of the Closing Date and other than in connection with a change of control or other transformative transaction, such repayment, prepayment, refinancing, replacement or repricing will be accompanied by a premium of 1% of the principal amount so repaid, prepaid, refinanced, replaced or repriced. If all or any portion of the Term Loan Facilities held by any Term Loan Lender is required to be assigned pursuant to a “yank-a-bank” provision in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation as a result of, or in connection with a Repricing Transaction, such Term Loan Lender not agreeing or otherwise consenting to any waiver, consent or amendment referred to in clause (ii) above (or otherwise in connection with a Repricing Transaction), such replacement will be accompanied by a premium equal to 1% of the principal amount so required to be assigned.
Security:

Subject to the Funds Certain Provisions, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall grant the Term Administrative Agent (for its benefit and for the benefit of the Term Loan Lenders) (a) a first-priority (subject to permitted liens and other customary exceptions) security interest in the Term Loan Priority Collateral (as defined in Annex I hereto) and (b) a second-priority (subject to permitted liens, including in respect of the ABL Facility, and other customary exceptions) security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral (as defined in Annex I hereto), in each case, excluding the Excluded Assets (as defined in Annex I hereto) (collectively, the “Collateral”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, except to the extent delivered pursuant to the ABL Facility, no control agreements, landlord lien waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters will be required.

 

All the above-described pledges, security interests and mortgages shall be created on terms to be set forth in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation and otherwise consistent with the Term Loan Documentation Standard; and none of the Collateral shall be subject to other pledges, security interests or mortgages (except in favor of the ABL Facility and other permitted liens and exceptions and baskets to be set forth in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation).

 

Assets will be excluded from the Collateral in circumstances to be agreed and in circumstances where the Term Administrative Agent reasonably determines in consultation with the Borrower that the cost of obtaining a security interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby, and in any event such exclusions shall include vehicles, trust, payroll and

 

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escrow accounts, certain leasehold interests (except as noted above), assets subject to capital leases and purchase money arrangements, cash which secures permitted letters of credit, assets held in jurisdictions outside the U.S. (solely to the extent action would be required in such other jurisdictions to obtain such security interests) and assets sold in accordance with the Term Facilities Credit Documentation.
Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowing: Limited to those conditions specified in Section 5 of the Commitment Letter.
Representations and Warranties: Subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard, with customary exceptions, thresholds and baskets to be reasonably and mutually agreed, representations and warranties applicable to the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries (with materiality qualifiers to be mutually agreed), limited to the following: (i) legal existence, qualification and power; (ii) due authorization and no contravention of law, contracts or organizational documents; (iii) governmental and third party approvals and consents; (iv) enforceability; (v) accuracy and completeness of specified financial statements and other information and no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (to be defined in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation); (vi) no material litigation; (vii) no default; (viii) ownership of property; (ix) insurance matters; (x) environmental matters; (xi) tax matters; (xii) ERISA; (xiii) identification of loan parties and subsidiaries of loan parties, and equity interests owned by loan parties; (xiv) use of proceeds and not engaging in business of purchasing/carrying margin stock in violation of margin regulations; (xv) status under Investment Company Act; (xvi) material compliance with laws; (xvii) intellectual property; (xviii) consolidated solvency as of the Closing Date; (xix) collateral documents; (xx) labor matters; and (xxi) foreign assets control regulations, FCPA, OFAC, Patriot Act, anti-money laundering laws and related matters.
Covenants: Subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard, with customary exceptions, thresholds and baskets to be reasonably and mutually agreed, covenants shall be limited to the following:
(a) Affirmative Covenants: (i) delivery of financial statements; (ii) delivery of certificates, annual budgets and other information; (iii) delivery of customary notices; (iv) payment of obligations; (v) preservation of

 

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existence; (vi) maintenance of properties; (vii) maintenance of insurance; (viii) material compliance with laws; (ix) compliance with pension plan requirements; (x) maintenance of books and records; (xi) inspection rights; (xii) covenant to guarantee obligations and give security; (xiii) further assurances; (xiv) commercially reasonable efforts to maintain facility and corporate ratings from Moody’s and S&P (but not any specific ratings); and (xv) annual Lender conference calls.
(b) Financial Covenants: None.
(c) Negative Covenants: Restrictions on (i) liens; (ii) investments (including loans and advances); (iii) indebtedness (including guarantees and other contingent obligations); (iv) mergers and other fundamental changes; (v) sales and other dispositions of property or assets; (vi) restricted payments; (vii) changes in the nature of business; (viii) changes in fiscal year and changes in accounting policies unless required by GAAP or to align the Borrower and the Acquired Business; (ix) transactions with affiliates; (x) use of proceeds; (xi) prepayments of other indebtedness; (xii) granting negative pledges that limit or restrict the Term Administrative Agent from taking or perfecting its lien in the intended Collateral, subject to exceptions to be agreed; (xiii) amendments of organizational documents in a manner materially adverse to the Term Loan Lenders; (xiv) modification or termination of documents related to certain material indebtedness; (xv) limitation on restrictions on subsidiary distributions; and (xvi) OFAC, FCPA and anti-money laundering laws. The foregoing limitations shall be subject to customary thresholds, exceptions and baskets to be mutually and reasonably agreed as are consistent with the Term Loan Documentation Standard, including:
(1) a customary basket for unsecured indebtedness subject to pro forma compliance with an interest coverage ratio of at least 2.00:1.00 (with a cap to be agreed for incurrence by non-Loan Parties);
(2) an available basket amount (the “Available Amount Basket”) that will be in the amount of (a) $50.0 million, plus (b) 100% of retained Excess Cash Flow, plus

 

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(c) net cash proceeds of new equity raised by the Borrower (which in each case shall be common equity interests or other qualified equity interests), plus (d) net cash proceeds of debt and disqualified equity of the Borrower, in each case issued after the Closing Date that have been converted to “qualified equity” of the Borrower, plus (e) the net cash proceeds of sales of investments made under the Available Amount Basket not otherwise included but only up to the original amount invested and only to the extent such proceeds are not required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment pursuant to the Term Facilities Credit Documentation, plus (f) returns, profits, distributions and similar amounts received in cash or cash equivalents on investments made under the Available Amount Basket, plus (g) the investments of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries in any unrestricted subsidiary that has been re-designated as a restricted subsidiary or that has been merged or consolidated into the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries or the fair market value of the assets of any unrestricted subsidiary that have been transferred to the Borrower or any of its restricted subsidiaries (in each case, not to exceed the amount of investment made in such unrestricted subsidiary utilizing the Available Amount Basket), plus (h) any Declined Amounts, which may be used, if there is no continuing event of default and, in the case of usage for restricted payments and prepayment of certain subordinated, junior lien or unsecured debt, subject to compliance with a net leverage-based restriction to be agreed, for among other things, acquisitions and certain other investments, restricted payments and the prepayment or redemption of debt;
(3) the ability to consummate acquisitions of entities that become restricted subsidiaries subject to (w) no event of default, (x) pro forma compliance with a Total Net Leverage Ratio (to be defined in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation) that is either (i) less than or equal to Total Net Leverage Ratio on the Closing Date or (ii) less than or equal to Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to giving effect to such acquisition, (y) the acquired entity engaging in a permitted business and (z) a sublimit to be agreed for acquisitions of entities that do not become Guarantors (“Permitted Acquisitions”);

 

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(4) the ability to designate or re-designate subsidiaries (other than Target) as “unrestricted subsidiaries” (which subsidiaries shall not be subject to the negative covenants and events of default in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation) subject to customary restrictions including no event of default, pro forma compliance with a leverage-based test to be agreed and usage of investment capacity and to subsequently redesignate unrestricted subsidiaries as restricted subsidiaries subject to customary conditions; and
(5) certain baskets will include “grower” components based upon a percentage of the consolidated net tangible assets of the Borrower and its restricted subsidiaries.
Events of Default:

Subject to the Term Loan Documentation Standard, with customary thresholds, exceptions and grace periods to be reasonably and mutually agreed, events of default shall be limited to the following: (i) nonpayment of principal, and nonpayment of interest, fees or other amounts which continues for five (5) business days after the date when due; (ii) any representation or warranty proving to have been inaccurate in any material respect (or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality, in all respects) when made or confirmed; (iii) failure to perform or observe covenants set forth in the Term Facilities Credit Documentation within a specified period of time, where customary and appropriate, after notice of such failure from the Term Administrative Agent; (iv) cross-defaults to other indebtedness in an amount to be agreed; (v) bankruptcy and insolvency defaults (with grace period for involuntary proceedings); (vi) monetary judgment defaults in an amount to be agreed; (vii) actual or asserted impairment of material Term Facilities Credit Documentation or security; (viii) change of control (to be defined in a customary and mutually agreeable reasonable manner, and without any dead-hand board component); and (ix) ERISA.

 

The occurrence of a default or event of default under the ABL Facility (other than a payment event of default) shall not constitute a default or event of default under the cross-default provisions of the Term Facility until the earliest of (x) 30 days after the date of such event of default (during which period such event of default is not waived or cured), (y) the

 

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acceleration of the obligations under the ABL Facility or (z) the exercise of secured creditor remedies by the ABL Administrative Agent as a result of such event of default.
Assignments and Participations:

Each Term Loan Lender will be permitted to make assignments in minimum amounts to be agreed to other entities approved by (x) the Term Administrative Agent and (y) so long as no payment or bankruptcy default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower, each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that (i) no approval of the Borrower shall be required in connection with assignments in connection with assignments to other Term Loan Lenders or any of their affiliates or approved funds, (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have given consent to an assignment if they shall have failed to respond to a written notice thereof within 10 business days and (iii) no approval of the Term Administrative Agent shall be required in connection with assignments to other Term Loan Lenders or any of their affiliates or approved funds. Each Term Loan Lender will also have the right, without consent of the Borrower or the Term Administrative Agent, to assign as security all or part of its rights under the Term Facilities Credit Documentation to any Federal Reserve Bank. Term Loan Lenders will be permitted to sell participations with voting rights limited to customary significant matters. An assignment fee in the amount of $3,500 will be charged with respect to each assignment unless waived by the Term Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

 

In addition, Term Loans may be purchased by and assigned to the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries on a non-pro rata basis through (a) open market purchases subject to a cap of 25% of the original principal amount of the Term Loans or (b) Dutch auctions open to all applicable Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with customary procedures, so long as (1) no default or event of default is has occurred and is continuing, (2) any such loans are permanently cancelled immediately upon acquisition thereof, (3) no proceeds of loans under the ABL Facility are used to fund such purchases and (4) neither the Borrower nor any of its subsidiaries shall be required to make any representations with respect to material non-public information in connection therewith.

Waivers and Amendments: Amendments and waivers of the provisions of the Term Facilities Credit Documentation will require the approval of Term Loan Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate Term Loan Facilities (the “Required Lenders”), except that

 

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(a) the consent of each Term Loan Lender directly and adversely affected thereby will also be required with respect to (i) increases in commitment amount of such Term Loan Lender, (ii) reductions of principal, interest, or fees payable to such Term Loan Lender, (iii) extensions of scheduled maturities or times for payment of amounts payable to such Term Loan Lender and (iv) changes in certain pro rata provisions and (b) the consent of each Term Loan Lender shall be required with respect to (i) releases of all or substantially all of the Collateral or the release of all or substantially all of the value of any guaranties and (ii) the definition of Required Lenders or other voting provisions.

 

The Term Facilities Credit Documentation shall contain a customary “yank-a-bank” provision.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Term Facilities Credit Documentation shall provide that the Borrower may at any time and from time to time request that all or a portion of any loans under the Term Loan Facilities be converted to extend the scheduled maturity date of any payment of principal with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such loans (any such loans which have been so converted, “Extended Loans”) and upon such request of the Borrower any individual Term Loan Lender shall have the right to agree to extend the maturity date of its outstanding loans without the consent of any other Term Loan Lender; provided that all such requests shall be made pro rata to all Term Loan Lenders within the applicable Term Loan Facilities. The terms of Extended Loans shall be identical to the loans of the existing class from such Extended Loans are converted except for interest rates, fees, amortization (so long as the weighted average life to maturity of the Extended Loans exceeds the then remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Term Loan Facilities), final maturity date or final termination date, provisions permitting optional and mandatory prepayments to be directed first to the non-extended loans prior to being applied to Extended Loans and certain other customary provisions to be agreed.

Indemnification: Consistent with the Term Loan Documentation Standard.
Governing Law: New York.
Expenses: The Borrower will pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with the preparation, due diligence, administration, syndication and

 

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closing of all Term Facilities Credit Documentation, including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees of counsel to the Term Administrative Agent and the Term Lead Arrangers (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of Latham & Watkins LLP and of any local counsel to the Term Loan Lenders retained by the Term Lead Arrangers or the Term Administrative Agent, limited to one counsel in each relevant jurisdiction), regardless of whether or not the Closing Date occurs. The Borrower will also pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Term Administrative Agent and one other Counsel to the counsel (in total) to all of the Term Loan Lenders (in the absence of conflict) in connection with the enforcement of any of the Term Facilities Credit Documentation.
Counsel to the Commitment Parties: Latham & Watkins LLP.
Miscellaneous: Each of the parties shall (i) waive its right to a trial by jury and (ii) submit to New York jurisdiction. The Term Facilities Credit Documentation shall contain customary “defaulting lender” provisions.

 

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ANNEX III

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meanings as specified therefor in the Commitment Letter to which this Annex III is attached.

The initial extensions of credit under the Facilities will, subject to the Funds Certain Provisions, be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i) The Merger shall have been, or shall substantially concurrently be, consummated in accordance with the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 2015, by and among Merger Sub, the Borrower and the Target (together with all schedules, exhibits, annexes and other attachments thereto, the “Acquisition Agreement”), without giving effect to any amendment, change or supplement or waiver of any provision thereof (including any change in the purchase price) in any manner that is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders or the Lead Arrangers without the prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Lead Arrangers (it being understood that any reduction of the purchase price in respect of the Merger will be materially adverse to the Lenders and the Lead Arrangers, unless (x) such reduction is in the aggregate less than 10% of the purchase price payable on the date of the Commitment Letter pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement and (y) there is a concurrent reduction in the aggregate principal amount of the commitments in respect of the Term Loan Facilities in an amount equal to such reduction).

(ii) All representations and warranties under the Credit Documentation shall be made on the Closing Date; provided, however, the only representations and warranties the accuracy of which in all material respects shall be a condition to the initial availability of the Facilities shall be (A) the Acquisition Agreement Representations (as defined below) and (B) the Specified Representations (as defined below). “Acquisition Agreement Representations” shall mean such of the representations made by the Target in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the breach of any such representations results in you or any of your affiliates having the right to terminate your or its obligations under the Acquisition Agreement (after giving effect to any applicable notice and cure period) or results in the failure of a condition precedent to your or your affiliates’ obligation to consummate the Acquisition pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement. “Specified Representations” shall mean the representations and warranties in the Credit Documentation relating to: (i) (A) corporate status of the Borrower and the Guarantors and (B) corporate power and authority to enter into the Credit Documentation by the Borrower and the material Guarantors, (ii) due authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Credit Documentation by the Borrower and the material Guarantors, (iii) no conflicts of the Credit Documentation with charter documents of the Borrower and the material Guarantors, (iv) compliance with Federal Reserve margin regulations, OFAC, FCPA, anti-money laundering laws, the U.S.A. Patriot Act and Investment Company Act, (v) solvency of the Borrower and the Guarantors on a consolidated basis and on a pro forma basis for the Transaction (such representations to be substantially identical to those

 

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set forth in the Solvency Certificate attached as Annex V to the Commitment Letter (the “Solvency Certificate”)), and (vi) the creation, validity and perfection of the security interests granted in the Collateral by the Borrower and the Guarantors on the Closing Date substantially concurrently with the initial funding of the Facilities (it being understood that to the extent any security interest in the Collateral (other than any Collateral of the Borrower and the Guarantors the security interest in which may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement or the delivery of certificates evidencing equity interests of any material wholly-owned domestic subsidiary of the Borrower) is not perfected on the Closing Date after your use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so without undue burden or expense, the perfection of such security interest shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Facilities on the Closing Date but shall be required to be perfected not later than 90 days (subject to extensions as may be agreed to by the applicable Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) after the Closing Date pursuant to arrangements to be mutually agreed).

(iii) Since January 31, 2015, there has not occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes hereof, “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, condition, event, effect, occurrence, circumstance or development (each, an “Effect”), individually or in the aggregate, that (a) has, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) prevents the performance in any material respect by the Company of its obligations to consummate the Merger; provided, that for purposes of clause (a), none of the following shall constitute or be deemed to contribute to a Company Material Adverse Effect, or shall otherwise be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: any adverse Effect arising out of, resulting from or attributable to: (i) changes or proposed changes in applicable Laws, GAAP or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; (ii) changes in general economic, business, labor or regulatory conditions, or general changes in securities, credit or other financial markets, including interest rates or exchange rates, in the United States regionally, locally or globally, or changes generally affecting the industries (including seasonal fluctuations to the extent consistent with the Company’s historical results of operations) in which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries operate in the United States or globally; (iii) changes in general global, national, regional or local political conditions (including the outbreak or escalation of war (whether or not declared), military action, sabotage or acts of terrorism), changes due to natural disasters or changes in the weather, hurricanes or changes due to the outbreak or worsening of an epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis; (iv) actions or omissions required of the Company (a) under the express terms of the Acquisition Agreement or (b) taken or not taken at the request of, or with the consent of, an officer of Parent or any of its affiliates to the extent, in the case of this clause (b), consented to by the Lead Arrangers; (v) any breach, violation or non-performance of any provision of the Acquisition Agreement by Parent or any of its affiliates; (vi) the negotiation, announcement, pendency or consummation of the Acquisition Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the identity of Parent or any of its affiliates or any communication by Parent or any of its affiliates regarding plans, proposals or projections with respect to the Company, the Company Subsidiaries or their employees (including any impact on the

 

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relationship of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, contractual or otherwise, with its customers, suppliers, distributors, vendors, lenders, employees or partners); (vii) any item or matter disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof; (viii) any Proceeding arising from allegations of breach of fiduciary duty or violation of Law relating to the Acquisition Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby; (ix) the outcome of any Proceeding or investigation involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary that has been disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter; (x) changes in the trading price or trading volume of Company Shares, in and of itself, or any suspension of trading; (xi) any item set forth in Section 8.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter; (xii) the expiration or termination by its terms of any Contract to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party; or (xiii) any failure by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries to meet any revenue, earnings or other financial projections or forecasts, in and of itself; provided, that, (A) in the case of clauses (x) and (xiii), the underlying cause of such failure may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred (except to the extent subject to any other foregoing exception), and (B) in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the impact of such Effect is not or is not reasonably expected to be disproportionately adverse to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in their industry (in which case only the incrementally disproportionate effect may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred). All capitalized terms used in this paragraph and not otherwise defined in the Commitment Letter shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

(iv) The Administrative Agent under each Facility shall have received the Solvency Certificate from the Borrower’s chief financial officer in substantially the form attached hereto on Annex IV.

(v) The Administrative Agent under each Facility shall have received (A) customary opinions of counsel to the Borrower and the Guarantors, (B) customary corporate resolutions, customary closing date officer’s certificates certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Facilities, customary secretary’s certificates appending such resolutions, charter documents and an incumbency certificate and information necessary for the Administrative Agents to perform customary UCC lien searches and (C) a customary borrowing notice under each applicable Facility.

(vi) The Administrative Agent under each Facility shall have received: (A) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and shareholders’ equity of each of the Borrower and the Target for the three most recently completed fiscal years of the Borrower and the Target, respectively, ended at least 90 days before the Closing Date, accompanied by an unqualified report thereon by their respective independent registered public accountants; (B) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of operations and cash flows of each of the Borrower and the Target for each subsequent fiscal quarter of the Borrower and the Target, respectively, ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date (the “Quarterly Financial Statements”); and (C) a pro forma balance sheet and related statement of operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries (including the Acquired Business) as of

 

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and for the twelve-month period ending with the latest quarterly period of the Borrower covered by the Quarterly Financial Statements, in each case after giving effect to the Transaction, all of which financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Lead Arrangers confirm receipt of the financial statements referred to in clause (A) above with respect to the fiscal years of the Borrower and the Target ended prior to the date of the Commitment Letter.

(vii) The Lead Arrangers under each Facility shall have received from the Borrower all information customarily provided by a borrower for inclusion in an Information Memorandum (the “Required Information”) not later than 15 consecutive calendar days prior to the Closing Date (the “Marketing Period”); provided that (w) such consecutive calendar day period shall exclude the days from July 3, 2015 through and including July 5, 2015, (x) if the Marketing Period has not been completed on or prior to August 21, 2015, then the Marketing Period shall not commence prior to September 8, 2015, (y) such consecutive calendar day period shall exclude the days from November 26, 2015 through and including November 29, 2015 and (z) if the Marketing Period has not been completed on or prior to December 18, 2015, then the Marketing Period shall not commence prior to January 4, 2016; provided that if Borrower in good faith reasonably believes that it has delivered the Required Information, Borrower may (but shall not be obligated to) deliver to the Administrative Agent written notice to that effect (stating when it believes it completed such delivery), in which case the required information shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such notice, unless Administrative Agent in good faith reasonably believes that Borrower has not completed such delivery and, within three (3) business days after its receipt of such notice from Borrower, Administrative Agent delivers a written notice to Borrower to that effect (stating with specificity the portion or portions of the required information that Administrative Agent believes have not yet been delivered or are not complete or sufficient), in which case the required information shall be deemed to be delivered immediately upon the delivery by Borrower of provisions reasonably addressing the points contained in the notice.

(viii) All fees due to the Administrative Agents, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders under the Fee Letter and the Commitment Letter to be paid on or prior to the Closing Date, and all expenses to be paid or reimbursed under the Commitment Letter to the Administrative Agents and the Lead Arrangers on or prior to the Closing Date that have been invoiced at least three business days prior to the Closing Date, shall have been paid, in each case, from the proceeds of the initial funding under the applicable Facilities.

(ix) The Refinancing shall have been, or shall concurrently with the initial funding of the Facilities be, consummated or arrangements for such Refinancing (reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agents) shall have been established substantially concurrently with the initial funding of the Facilities; provided that (a) capital leases, intercompany indebtedness, letters of credit, indebtedness of the Acquired Business permitted by the Acquisition Agreement, (b) other ordinary course debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries not to exceed $10.0 million, (c) if the Existing ABL Facilities are to remain outstanding pursuant to the proviso below, outstandings under the

 

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Existing ABL Facilities and (d) other indebtedness reasonably agreed to by the Lead Arrangers (collectively, the “Retained Debt”), will be allowed to remain outstanding after the Closing Date; provided, further, that the Existing ABL Facilities may, if the Borrower so elects, remain outstanding and constitute Retained Debt so long as (i) the commitments of GS Bank hereunder with respect to the ABL Facility shall have been terminated in full, (ii) the Borrower and the Target shall have obtained an amendment and/or waiver, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Arrangers, permitting (A) the incurrence of the Term Loan Facilities and, if applicable, the issuance of the Senior Notes and (B) the lien priorities on the “Collateral” described in this Commitment Letter (including a first-priority lien on the Term Loan Priority Collateral securing the Term Loan Facilities) and (iii) the Borrower, the Target, each of their respective subsidiaries (to the extent applicable), the Term Administrative Agent and the agents under each of the Existing ABL Facilities shall have entered into intercreditor arrangements substantially equivalent to the intercreditor arrangements described in this Commitment Letter and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Term Administrative Agent.

(x) The Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall have provided the documentation and other information to the Administrative Agents that are required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, at least 3 business days prior to the Closing Date to the extent such information has been requested at least 10 business days prior to the Closing Date.

(xi) With respect to the ABL Facility (unless replaced by the Existing ABL Facility), the ABL Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Borrowing Base certificate as of the last day of the most recent month ending at least 15 days prior to the Closing Date (it being understood that this condition may be satisfied by providing a Borrowing Base certificate that includes one or more, or is entirely comprised of, Affected Entities).

 

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ANNEX IV

SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE1

[            ], 201[  ]

This SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE (this “Certificate”) is delivered in connection with that certain Credit Agreement dated as of [            ], 201[  ] (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated, replaced, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), [                    ], as administrative agent and collateral agent, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto as lenders and the other parties thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the same meanings as in the Credit Agreement.

In my capacity as a Responsible Officer of Company (as defined below), and not in my individual or personal capacity, I certify that:

1. the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is now, and will be following the incurrence of the obligations under the Credit Agreement and the consummation of the Acquisition on the Closing Date, on a pro forma basis, greater than the amount that will be required to pay the total liability on existing debts, as such debts become absolute and matured;

2. the present fair salable value of the property of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is now, and will be following the incurrence of the obligations under the Credit Agreement and the consummation of the Acquisition on the Closing Date, on a pro forma basis, greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability on existing debts as they become absolute and matured;

3. as of the date hereof, after giving effect to the incurrence of the obligations under the Credit Agreement and the consummation of the other Transactions on the Closing Date, the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are able to pay its debts, as such debts become absolute and matured; and

4. the incurrence of the obligations under the Credit Agreement and the consummation of the other Transactions on the Closing Date, on a pro forma basis, will not leave the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, with property remaining in its hands constituting “unreasonably small capital,” (it being understand and agreed that “unreasonably small capital” depends upon the nature of the particular business or businesses conducted or to be conducted, and that this conclusion is based on current assumptions regarding the needs and anticipated needs for capital of the businesses conducted or anticipated to be conducted by Company in light of projected financial statements and available credit capacity, which current assumption is not unreasonable in light of the circumstances applicable thereto).

 

1  Defined terms to be aligned with those in the applicable definitive Credit Agreement, but consistent with this form of solvency certificate.

 

Annex IV-1


The undersigned has caused this Certificate to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Annex IV-2

[Signature Page to Solvency Certificate]



Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

ascena to Acquire ANN INC.

Creates a Powerhouse in Women’s Specialty Apparel Retail May 18, 2015


LOGO

 

Important Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (“ascena”) intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of ANN INC. (“ANN”) that also constitutes a prospectus of ascena. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC, when they become available, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, when they become available, and other documents filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ascena by contacting ascena Investor Relations at (551) 777-6895, or by e-mail at ascenainvestorrelations@ascenaretail.com. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ANN by contacting ANN Investor Relations at (212) 541-3445, or by e-mail at investor_relations@ANNinc.com.

ascena and ANN and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about ascena’s directors and executive officers is available in ascena’s proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on November 3, 2014. Information about directors and executive officers of ANN is available in the proxy statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ANN filed with the SEC on April

2, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the merger when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from ascena or ANN using the sources indicated above.

This document and the information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2


LOGO

 

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which ascena and ANN operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by ascena management and ANN management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of ascena or ANN or the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction involving ascena and ANN, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, ratings, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders, integrating ascena and ANN, providing stockholders with a more attractive currency, and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction — are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the merger and the timing of the closing of the merger; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; the ability to successfully integrate our operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement of the transaction or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with employees, credit rating agencies, customers and competitors; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to achieve performance targets; changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; negative rating agency actions; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by ascena and ANN from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Neither ascena nor

ANN undertakes any duty to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

3


LOGO

 

Transaction Summary

Structure and Consideration

Combined Financial Metrics

Compelling Financial Impact

Financing

Approvals and Closing

Upon closing, ANN stockholders will receive $37.34 in cash and 0.68 of a share of ascena common stock in exchange for each share of ANN common stock, implying a total value per share of $47.00 (1) $2.0 billion transaction (enterprise value)

Represents EV/LTM Adjusted EBITDA (excluding synergies): 7.7x

Represents EV/LTM Adjusted EBITDA (including synergies)(2): 4.9x

$7.3 billion of combined LTM Net Sales $670 million of combined LTM Adjusted EBITDA

$821 million in Pro Forma LTM Adjusted EBITDA, including $150 million in estimated annual run -rate synergies

The transaction is expected to result in approximately $150mm in estimated annual run-rate cost synergies within three years after closing Estimated to be significantly accretive to EPS within the first year post-closing and in excess of 20% accretion thereafter(3)

Goldman Sachs and Guggenheim Securities arranged committed financing of up to $2.4 billion Pro Forma Debt / LTM Adjusted EBITDA (excluding synergies) of 2.6x

Combination is expected to generate significant cash flow, while both maintaining appropriate levels of capital expenditures and enabling rapid deleveraging

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies

Subject to ANN stockholder approval, customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Not subject to ascena stockholder approval Expected to close in the second half of 2015

Note: Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and includes adjustments for one-time, non-recurring expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for ANN includes add-backs for exceptional costs relating to West

Coast port issues (~$13mm) and an early lease termination ($5mm). LTM represents Last Twelve Months. Leverage statistics are adjusted for non-cash, stock based compensation.

(1) Based on the closing price of ascena stock on May 15, 2015.

(2) Assumes estimated annual run-rate synergies of $150 million.

(3) Excludes transaction and one-time integration costs.

4


LOGO

 

A Compelling Value Proposition

1 Highly complementary organizations and management teams

Strong fit creates a well-balanced and diversified portfolio of brands with minimal overlap ? Leverages ascena’s strong shared-services platform capabilities and infrastructure investment ? Complementary real estate portfolio in terms of geography and store type

2 Creates one of the largest and most diversified specialty apparel retail companies

Pre-eminent specialty apparel retail company focused exclusively on women provides enhanced access to best-of-breed talent and career opportunities ? Over 4,900 stores in North America with $7.3 billion of combined LTM Net Sales and $821 million of combined LTM

Adjusted EBITDA (including synergies)

Over 70,000 associates, 98% of whom are women

3 Significant synergy value creation

Estimated annual run-rate synergies of $150 million to be generated by the end of year 3 ? Collaboration and shared best practices support greater efficiency / performance

4 Financially compelling transaction

Estimated to be significantly accretive to EPS within the first year post-closing and in excess of 20% accretion thereafter(1) ? Combination is expected to generate significant cash flow, while both maintaining appropriate levels of capital expenditures and enabling rapid deleveraging

(1) Excludes transaction and one-time integration costs.

5


LOGO

 

ascena: Long Track Record of Acquisition-Fueled Earnings Growth

$ 900

821

$ 800

(1/3/05) (11/25/09) (6/15/12)

Est. Annual

150 Run-rate

$ 700 Synergies

$ 600

mm) 259

( $ 496

$ 500

EBITDA 439 451

392

ed $ 400

just

d

A 297

$ 300

201 412

$ 200 174

161 154

$ 100 92

62 70

$ 0

FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 LTM PF

Note: Fiscal year ending July.

6


LOGO

 

Creates One of the Largest and Most Diversified Specialty Apparel Retail Companies

ascena ($ in millions)

Stores 3,916

LTM Net Sales $ 4,810

LTM Adjusted EBITDA $ 412

% Margin 8.6 %

ANN ($ in millions)

Stores 1,030

LTM Net Sales $ 2,533

LTM Adjusted EBITDA $ 259

% Margin 10.2 %

Pro Forma ($ in millions)

Stores 4,946

LTM Net Sales $ 7,343

LTM Adjusted EBITDA $ 671

% Margin 9.1 %

LTM Adjusted EBITDA Incl. Synergies(1) $ 821

% Margin 11.2 %

LTM Net Sales ($ in millions)

$ $ $ $ $

$ $ $ $

$ 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000

0

Gap 16,435

L Brands 11,454

Pro F 7,343

as 4,810

Abercrombie

& Fitch 3,744

Urban Outfitters 3,323

American Eagle 3,283

Chico’s 2,675

J. Crew 2,580

2,533

Express 2,165

Aeropostale 1,839

Children’s Place 1,761

Buckle 1,153

New York 923

& Company

Pacific Sunwear 827

Zumiez 812

Vera Bradley 509

Bebe Stores 428

Christopher & Banks 419

Note: Net sales for other companies have been sourced from company filings.

(1) Includes $150mm of estimated annual run-rate synergies.

7


LOGO

 

Highly Complementary Brands

Price

Youthful Mature

8


LOGO

 

Powerful Portfolio of Brands Focused on Women of All Ages, Sizes and Demographics

Fashion apparel and accessories designed to match the energetic lifestyle of tween girls

Plus-size fashionable apparel with a moderate price range

Hometown retailer offering up-to-date fashion including both a core and plus-size offering

Career & casual fashions for the working woman

Plus-size classic apparel and accessories for wear-to-work and casual lifestyles

Polished, modern feminine classics for every generation of working women

Modern, feminine and versatile clothing for a wide range of women; focuses on everyday fashion

Serves women in Broad age appeal

Customer “Tween” girls 7 to Serves women 25 Serves women 20 Caters to women the 45 years old Serves women 30

Demographic 14 years old to 45 years old to 35 years old 35 to 55 years old and older age to 60 years old from 18 to 60

group years old

Store Count 1,008 769 937 819 383 361 664

LTM Net

Sales $1,349 $1,079 $1,011 $1,031 $342 $953 $1,581

(in millions)

Note: Store count as of January 24, 2015 for ascena and January 31, 2015 for ANN.

9


LOGO

 

Well-Balanced Portfolio of Brands

ascena LTM Net Sales By Brand

?Catherines

7%

?Justice ?dressbarn 28% 21%

?Lane Bryant ?maurices

22% 21%

ANN LTM Net Sales By Brand

?AnnTaylor

38% ?LOFT

62%

Pro Forma LTM Net Sales by Brand

Total ANN:

35% ?Ann Taylor

?Justice

13%

18%

?LOFT

22% ?Lane Bryant

15%

?maurices

Total

14%

?dressbarn ascena:

Catherines 14%

65%

4%

10


LOGO

 

Financially Compelling Transaction

$150 million of identified annual run-rate synergies

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Sourcing

Significant benefits of increased scale

Procurement

Ability to combine best practices across both companies

Transportation

Potential for significant savings in rates per unit

Distribution and Fulfillment

Opportunity to lower distribution and fulfillment costs

Other

Many other areas of potential savings, including the elimination of duplicative public company costs

11



Exhibit 99.2

 

LOGO

LOGO

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. TO ACQUIRE ANN INC. FOR $47 PER SHARE

IN ACCRETIVE TRANSACTION

 

    ANN INC. Stockholders to Receive $37.34 in Cash and 0.68 of an ascena Share for Each Share of ANN

 

    $150 Million in Annual Run Rate Synergies Identified, Expected by End of the Third Year Post-Closing

 

    Solid Combined Financial Profile with Strong Free Cash Flow Generation

 

    Combined Company with LTM Sales Exceeding $7.3 Billion to Operate More Than 4,900 Stores Exclusively Focused on Women’s Retailing

 

    Conference Call Scheduled for 8:30AM EST

MAHWAH, NJ AND NEW YORK, NY – MAY 18, 2015 – ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA) and ANN INC. (NYSE: ANN) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which ascena will acquire ANN INC. for a combination of cash and stock in an accretive transaction.

Upon closing, ANN INC. stockholders will receive $37.34 in cash and 0.68 of a share of ascena common stock in exchange for each share of ANN common stock. Based upon the closing price of ascena stock on May 15, 2015, this implies a price per share of $47.00, a 21.4% premium over the closing price of ANN shares on Friday, May 15, 2015. At closing, ANN stockholders will own approximately 16% of ascena.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is expected to close in the second half of 2015, subject to customary closing conditions, including, among other things: the expiration or early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and approval of the merger by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of ANN. The transaction does not require approval by ascena stockholders.

David Jaffe, ascena’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This powerful transaction joins two strong and highly complementary organizations and management teams and dramatically reinforces our leadership position in women’s specialty apparel retailing. We are excited to further leverage our uniquely capable operating platform and exceptional combined talent to drive immediate, significant and ongoing value for our stockholders. With the addition of the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands, ascena will become one of North America’s largest and most diversified specialty apparel retailers, with a tremendous set of opportunities to continue to expand its leadership position in the women’s apparel market.”


ascena has identified $150 million in annualized run rate synergies in the combination that it expects to generate over a three-year period. The transaction aligns seamlessly with ascena’s platform strategy and shared services model, designed to enable an effective, rapid and comprehensive back office integration process. Synergies include sourcing and procurement, distribution, logistics and other efficiencies. Excluding transaction and integration expenses, the acquisition is expected to be significantly accretive to EPS in the first year post closing, accelerating to greater than 20% accretion to EPS thereafter. Additionally, ascena expects the combination to generate significant cash flow while both maintaining appropriate levels of capital expenditures and enabling rapid deleveraging.

Ronald Hovsepian, Non-Executive Chairman of ANN INC.’s Board of Directors, said, “Based on our Board’s thorough and wide-ranging review process, we are confident that this agreement with ascena is in the best interests of ANN INC.’s stockholders. Our stockholders will receive approximately 80% of the purchase price in cash, providing immediate and certain value, and also have the opportunity to participate in the upside of the combined company as a result of the stock portion of the purchase price. We are delighted with this outcome for ANN INC.’s stockholders.”

Kay Krill, President and Chief Executive Officer of ANN INC., added, “I am very proud of all we have accomplished and confident that combining with ascena is the right next step for ANN INC. The transaction will make us part of a larger organization with a diversified portfolio of brands focused on the women’s apparel market, a strong operating platform and a powerful financial base. I have tremendous respect and admiration for ascena’s CEO David Jaffe, and our management team and I look forward to working alongside him and other senior members of the ascena team. As a member of the ascena family, ANN will be poised to further enhance and grow our business as we continue to take steps to better strategically and operationally position our brands for the dynamics that are redefining the landscape of the women’s specialty retailing industry. At the same time, we look forward to continuing to meet our clients’ wardrobing needs by delivering great product and a seamless brand experience across our multiple touchpoints.”

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the transaction, upon closing, ANN INC. stockholders will receive $37.34 in cash and 0.68 of a share of ascena common stock for each share of ANN INC. common stock, implying a price per share of $47.00 based on the closing price of ascena stock on May 15, 2015. The transaction gives ANN INC. an enterprise value of approximately $2.0 billion.

ascena intends to finance the acquisition through bank debt. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Guggenheim Securities have arranged committed financing for the transaction.

Guggenheim Securities and Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisors to ascena. Proskauer Rose LLP acted as legal counsel to ascena in connection with the transaction. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to ANN in connection with the strategic review process and the transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal counsel to ANN INC. in connection with the strategic review process and the transaction.


Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled today at 8:30AM EST. The telephone number for the call is 1-888-469-3144 or 1-630-395-0231. Participant passcode: 8888702. A recorded version of the call will be available at http://www.ascenaretail.com/investors.jsp and http://investor.anninc.com.

ascena Contacts

Investor Relations

(551) 777-6895

asc-ascenainvestorrelations@ascenaretail.com

ICR, Inc.

James Palczynski

Partner

(203) 682-8229

jp@icrinc.com

ANN INC. Contacts

ANN INC. Investor Relations

Judith Lord

Vice President, Investor Relations

ANN INC.

212-541-3300 ext. 3598

Wendi Kopsick/Dawn Dover/Stef Goodsell

Kekst and Company

212-521-4867/4817/4878

About ascena retail group, inc.

ascena retail group, inc. is a leading specialty retailer offering clothing, shoes, and accessories for missy and plus-size women under the Lane Bryant, Cacique, maurices, dressbarn and Catherines brands; and for tween girls under the Justice brand. ascena Retail Group, Inc. operates through its subsidiaries approximately 3,900 stores throughout the United States and Canada.

About ANN INC.

ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women’s specialty retail fashion brands in North America. As of January 31, 2015, the Company operated 1,030 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT, LOFT Outlet and Lou & Grey stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. The Company’s Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are also available online in more than 100 countries worldwide at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com or at our LOFT franchise stores in Mexico.


Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, ascena intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of ANN that also constitutes a prospectus of ascena. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC, when they become available, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, when they become available, and other documents filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ascena by contacting ascena Investor Relations at (551) 777-6895, or by e-mail at asc-ascenainvestorrelations@ascenaretail.com. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ANN by contacting ANN Investor Relations at (212) 541-3445, or by e-mail at investor_relations@ANNinc.com.

ascena and ANN and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about ascena’s directors and executive officers is available in ascena’s proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on November 3, 2014. Information about directors and executive officers of ANN is available in the proxy statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ANN filed with the SEC on April 2, 2015. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the Merger when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from ascena or ANN using the sources indicated above.

This document and the information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which ascena and ANN operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by ascena management and ANN management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of ascena or ANN or the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction involving ascena and ANN, including future


financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, ratings, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders, integrating ascena and ANN, providing stockholders with a more attractive currency, and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction — are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the Merger and the timing of the closing of the Merger; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; the ability to successfully integrate our operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement of the transaction or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with employees, credit rating agencies, customers and competitors; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to achieve performance targets; changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; negative rating agency actions; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by ascena and ANN from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Neither ascena nor ANN undertakes any duty to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

# # #



Exhibit 99.3

 

LOGO

May 18, 2015

Good Morning,

Today is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in ascena’s growth. This morning, we announced plans to acquire ANN INC. Ann’s ‘Ann Taylor’ and ‘Loft’ are joining the ascena family of brands.

This is an important day for all of us. It all starts with our vision for ascenaServing our stockholders and creating value by becoming a family of leading retail concepts with $10 billion in sales, and top tier profitability. Today’s announcement is a major step forward in achieving our vision.

I am very proud of the company we have built together. Our brands are all leaders in their market segments and share an unwavering commitment to serving their customers, each in a unique and differentiated way. Similarly, Ann Taylor and Loft are strong brands with long, established histories, organizations and loyal customer followings built through years of hard work and commitment.

Ann Taylor and Loft add 1,030 stores and $2.5 billion in profitable sales to ascena bringing us to 4,946 total stores and nearly $7.3 billion in total sales. Ann Taylor and Loft together will make up 35% of ascena’s post transaction sales.

Our commitment and success in building an industry leading shared services organization is a key element in making this transaction work. We will leverage our distribution, fulfillment and sourcing capabilities, among others, to realize substantial savings in expenses as a combined company. In addition, Ann brings to us expertise in many areas to complement our commitment to best practices.

This transaction is very compelling to ascena for several reasons:

 

    Highly complementary brands. Our soon to be seven brands create a well-balanced and diversified retail family with minimal overlap / competition with each other;

 

    After this transaction, ascena will be one of the largest, diversified specialty apparel retailers;

 

    Significant synergy savings. We believe there are substantial synergy savings opportunities;

 

    Financially compelling transaction. We believe this transaction will substantially add to our earnings and earnings per share within the first year post-closing and thereafter.

In terms of the structure, we will be paying ANN INC. stockholders a combination of cash and ascena stock (see the attached press release for details). To fund the cash portion, we will incur debt. While our debt level will be higher than in the past, I am comfortable that we will be able to generate signficant free cash flow, enabling a rapid deleveraging.

 

 

1  |


I am committed to our model of brands operating independently and collaboratively supported by our shared services organization. We have built a strong shared services infrastructure enabling us to deploy a “plug and play” format. Additionally, each of our brands has a unique and different culture, history and commitment to its associates and customers that we honor. I foresee few, if any, changes at our brands. And, importantly, we need our brands to remain fully focused on serving their customers.

This new partnership will create many opportunities throughout ascena. It gives us an extremely strong position in the market and allows us to leverage our strengths in potentially incredible ways.

The transaction will likely close in the second half of 2015. Over the next few months, we will develop detailed post-closing plans. As mentioned earlier, we believe there are substantial synergy savings opportunities, and our shared services teams will be working to fine tune their plans. We are committed to keeping you regularly informed of progress as we move forward.

The future is incredibly bright for ascena. I am excited and confident about this next chapter. Let’s remember that each of our brands, including Ann Taylor and Loft, started and has grown guided by dedicated associates with strong visions grounded in serving their customers. While some things may change, our customer focus will always remain primary in every brand and across ascena.

I’d like to thank the many associates across the brands and shared services who have been working so diligently over the past few months as part of the due diligence process.

Finally, I again want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you. Our dedicated and committed people are the single most important reason why we have progressed so far, and why we are able to write this next chapter in our history together. Thank you!

 

LOGO

 

 

2  |

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