(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Plan). The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub and by Parent, as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, and, except for the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company, this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger by Parent and Merger Sub do not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, action by, filing with or notification to any Governmental Entity, other than (i) the filing of the Articles of Merger, (ii) compliance with applicable federal or state antitrust, competition or similar Laws of any foreign jurisdiction, (iii) compliance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (iv) compliance with any applicable foreign or state securities or blue sky laws, and (v) the other consents and/or notices set forth on Section 4.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule (collectively, clauses (i) through (v), collectively, the “Parent Approvals”), and other than any other consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing or notification the failure of which to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) contravene or conflict with the organizational or governing documents of Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referenced in Section 4.2(b), contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties or assets, or (iii) result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any material obligation or to the loss of a material benefit under any loan, guarantee of indebtedness or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement, contract, instrument, permit, concession, franchise, right or license binding upon Parent or Merger Sub or result in the creation of any Lien (other than Parent Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or Merger Sub, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such violation, conflict, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration, right, loss or Lien that would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. “Parent Permitted Lien” means any Lien (A) for Taxes or governmental assessments, charges or claims of payment not yet due or being contested in good faith, provided adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (B) which is a carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Lien arising in the ordinary course of business, (C) which is disclosed on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Parent or (D) which was incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet of Parent.
Section 4.3Investigations; Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or, to the knowledge of Parent, investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against or relating to Parent or Merger Sub at Law or in equity, or before any Governmental Entity, that seeks restraint, prohibition, material damages or other extraordinary relief in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.4Capitalization of Merger Sub. As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of one thousand (1,000) shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, one hundred (100) of which are validly issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at the Effective Date will be, owned by Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub has outstanding no option, warrant, right, or any other agreement pursuant to which any person other than Parent may acquire any equity security of Merger Sub. Merger Sub has not conducted any business prior to the date hereof and has, and prior to the Effective Date will have, no assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Section 4.5No 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 by-laws or other equivalent organizational documents of Parent or the applicable rules of any exchange on which securities of Parent are traded, in order for Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.6Finders or Brokers. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has employed any investment banker, broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement who might be entitled to any fee or any commission in connection with or upon consummation of the Merger.
Section 4.7Lack of Ownership of Company Common Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to Parent’s knowledge, any of their affiliates, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any shares of Company Common Stock or other securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for shares of Company Common Stock. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.8Absence of Arrangements with Management. Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, as of the date hereof, there are no contracts, undertakings, commitments, agreements or obligations or understandings between Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates, on the one hand, and any member of the Company’s management or Board of Directors, on the other hand, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the operations of the Company after the Effective Date.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
Section 5.1Conduct of Business by the Company and Parent.
(a) From and after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Date or the date, if any, on which this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to Section 7.1 (the “Termination Date”), and except (i) as may be required by applicable Law, (ii) as may be agreed in writing by Parent, or (iii) as may be contemplated or required by this Agreement, the Company covenants and agrees with Parent that the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted in, and such entities shall not take any action except in, the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) preserve intact their current business organization and (ii) preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with them;
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(b) The Company agrees with Parent, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that between the date hereof and the Effective Date, without the prior written consent of Parent, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
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| (i) amend its articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership or joint venture agreements or other organizational documents (except to the extent required to comply with applicable Law or its obligations hereunder); |
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| (ii) combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution or redemption (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, or redeem or otherwise acquire any of its securities or any securities of its respective Subsidiaries; |
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| (iii) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock, stock options or debt securities; |
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| (iv) except as required by Company Benefit Plans, (A) (1) increase the compensation or other benefits payable or provided to directors or executive officers of the Company or, (2) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, increase the compensation or other benefits payable or provided to employees who are not directors or executive officers of the Company, (B) enter into any employment, change of control, severance or retention agreement with any employee of the Company or (C) except as permitted pursuant to clause (B) above, establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining agreement, plan, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any current or former directors, officers or employees or any of their beneficiaries, except as would not result in a material increase in cost to the Company; |
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| (v) change any of its financial accounting policies or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other items for financial accounting purposes, except as required by GAAP, SEC rule or policy or applicable Law; |
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| (vi) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares of its capital stock or other ownership interest in the Company or any Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or ownership interest, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire or with respect to any such shares of capital stock, ownership interest or convertible or exchangeable securities or take any action to cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable option under any existing stock option plan (except as otherwise provided by the terms of this Agreement) other than (A) issuances of shares of Company Common Stock in respect of any exercise of Company Stock Options, and (B) the sale of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options to purchase Company Common Stock if necessary to effectuate an optionee direction upon exercise or for withholding of Taxes; |
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| (vii) directly or indirectly, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares; |
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| (viii) incur, assume, guarantee, prepay or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness for borrowed money (directly, contingently or otherwise), except for indebtedness for borrowed money incurred to replace, renew, extend, refinance or refund any existing indebtedness for borrowed money on materially no less favorable terms. |
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| (ix) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise encumber (including securitizations), or subject to any Lien (other than the Company Permitted Liens) or otherwise dispose of any properties or assets, including any capital stock of Subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as may be required by applicable Law or any Governmental Entity in order to permit or facilitate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the limitations of Section 5.5(b); |
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| (x) alter, modify, amend, terminate, waive any rights or exercise any option under any Company Material Contract in any material respect in a manner which is adverse to the Company; |
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| (xi) enter into any Company Material Contracts other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or enter into any collective bargaining agreement; |
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| (xii) (A) make, change or revoke any Tax election, (B) file any amended Tax Return, (C) settle or compromise any liability for Taxes or surrender any claim for a refund of Taxes, other than in the case of clauses (B) and (C) hereof in respect of any Taxes that have been identified in the reserves for Taxes in the Company’s GAAP financial statements included in the Company’s SEC Documents, (D) change any accounting method, practice or policy in respect of Taxes except as required by applicable Law, (E) prepare any Tax Returns in a manner which is not consistent in all material respects with the past practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the treatment of items on such Tax Returns, or (F) incur any liability for Taxes other than in the ordinary course of business (including as a result of the operation of the business in the ordinary course); |
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| (xiii) make any capital expenditure, financing or expenditures which (i) involves the purchase of real property or (ii) is in excess of $5,000 individually or $20,000 in the aggregate, other than capital expenditures pursuant to contracts entered into prior to the date hereof (all of which contracts are listed in Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule); |
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| (xiv) acquire, sell, lease or dispose of any assets outside the ordinary course of business; |
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| (xv) acquire, directly or indirectly (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all of or a substantial equity interest in, or by any other manner, any person or division, business or equity interest of any person or (B) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, any assets; |
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| (xvi) make any investment (by contribution to capital, property transfers, purchase of securities or otherwise) in, or loan or advance (other than travel and similar advances to its employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) to, any person; |
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| (xvii) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction in accordance with the terms of such liabilities, claims or obligations reflected or reserved against in the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents or incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
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| (xviii) settle or compromise any litigation, proceeding or investigation material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; |
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| (xix) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such liquidation or a dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization, unless required by Law, administrative order or the terms of this transaction; |
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| (xx) reduce the prices of products sold or services performed for customers except in the ordinary course of business; |
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| (xxi) modify in any material respects any current investment policies or investment practices, except as required by or to accommodate changes in applicable Law; |
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| (xxii) enter into any transaction or take any action or fail to take any action which would result in any of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement not being true and correct; |
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| (xxiii) take any action or permit any other action to occur which might have a Company Material Adverse Effect; or |
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| (xxiv) agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions. |
(c) The Company agrees with Parent, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that between the date hereof and the Effective Date, the Company and its Subsidiaries will take the actions, and will refrain from taking the actions (as the case may be), listed onExhibit C hereto, as set forth thereon and in full cooperation with Parent.
(d) Parent agrees with the Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that, between the date hereof and the Effective Date, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to take or agree to take any action (including entering into agreements with respect to any acquisitions, mergers, consolidations or business combinations) which would reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.2Investigation.
(a) The Company shall afford to Parent and to its officers, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, financial advisors and agents and other representatives (collectively, “Parent Representatives”) reasonable access, throughout the period prior to the earlier of the Effective Date and the Termination Date, to its and its Subsidiaries’ management, employees, properties, contracts, commitments, books and records and any report, schedule or other document filed or received by it pursuant to the requirements of applicable Laws. Such reasonable access shall include, without limitation, access to properties currently owned, operated, leased or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct environmental sampling and analysis. Within five (5) days from the date of this Agreement, the Company shall, and cause its Subsidiaries and their respective Company Representatives to, provide Parent Representatives reasonable access to its and its Subsidiaries’ customers for the conduct of due diligence.
(b) Parent hereby agrees that all information provided to it or 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 Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, between the Company and Parent (the “Nondisclosure Agreement”), the terms of which are hereby specifically incorporated into this Agreement.
Section 5.3No Solicitation.
(a) The Company shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, and shall use their best efforts to cause its and their respective officers, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, financial advisor and agents and other representatives (collectively, “Company Representatives”) to, (x) immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to an Alternative Proposal or potential Alternative Proposal and (y) immediately request the prompt return from all such persons, or the destruction by such persons, of all copies of confidential information previously provided to such persons by the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Company Representatives and shall deny access to any virtual data room containing any such information to any person (other than Parent and Parent Representatives). The Company agrees that neither it nor any Subsidiary of the Company shall, and that it shall use its best efforts to cause its and their respective Company Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, cause or knowingly encourage directly or indirectly (including by way of furnishing information) any inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or announcement of, any Alternative Proposal (as hereinafter defined), (ii) participate in any negotiations regarding an Alternative Proposal with, or furnish any information regarding the Company or any Alternative Proposal to, any person that has made or, to the Company’s knowledge, is considering making an Alternative Proposal, or (iii) engage in discussions regarding an Alternative Proposal with any person that has made or, to the Company’s knowledge, is considering making an Alternative Proposal, except to notify such person as to the existence of the provisions of this Section 5.3. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any action taken by Company Representatives that would be a violation of the restrictions set forth in Section 5.3 if taken by the Company shall be deemed to be a breach of Section 5.3 by the Company.
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(b) Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in this Section 5.3, prior to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval (but in no event after obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval), if (A) the Company receives a bona fide written Alternative Proposal made after the date hereof which the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, by resolution duly adopted (i) constitutes a Superior Proposal or (ii) is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal, and (B) the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside counsel, that the failure to do so would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company may take the following actions (only after providing Parent concurrent notice of its intention to take such actions and after receiving from the third party an executed agreement containing confidentiality provisions that are no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement): (x) furnish information to the person (including such person’s representatives) making such Alternative Proposal, and (y) engage in discussions or negotiations with such person (including such person’s representatives) with respect to the Alternative Proposal. The Company shall provide Parent with a correct and complete copy of any confidentiality agreement entered into pursuant to this paragraph within 24 hours after the execution thereof and shall provide to Parent a correct and complete copy of any information provided or made available to any person pursuant to this paragraph at the same time such information is provided or made available to such other person.
(c) The Company will promptly notify Parent (within 24 hours) of the receipt of any Alternative Proposal and shall, in any such notice to Parent, indicate the identity of the person making such proposal and the material terms and conditions of such proposal, shall include with such notice a copy of such proposal, and thereafter shall promptly keep Parent reasonably informed of all material developments affecting the status and terms of such proposal (and the Company shall provide Parent promptly (within 24 hours) with copies of any additional written materials received that relate to such proposal).
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(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.3(d), neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall (i)(A) withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the approval of this Agreement and the Plan or the recommendation by such Board of Directors or committee that shareholders of the Company approve this Agreement and the Plan, (B) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Alternative Proposal or (C) in the event of a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, fail to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the Company’s shareholders within fifteen (15) business days of the commencement thereof (for the avoidance of doubt, the taking of no position or a neutral position by the Board of Directors of the Company in respect of the acceptance of any tender offer or exchange offer by its shareholders shall constitute a failure to recommend against any such offer) (any action described in this clause (i) being referred to as a “Change of Recommendation”) or (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, or cause or authorize the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any letter of intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding, merger, acquisition, purchase or joint venture agreement or other agreement related to any Alternative Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement in accordance with Section 5.3(b)) (each a “Company Acquisition Agreement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval and subject to this Section 5.3(d), the Board of Directors of the Company may (1) make a Change of Recommendation if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside counsel, that the failure to do so would be reasonably like to be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law or (2) in response to a Superior Proposal, cause the Company to terminate this Agreement and concurrently with such termination enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement, subject to satisfaction of its obligations under Section 7.2;provided,however, that the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be entitled to exercise its right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(f) until immediately after the third business day following Parent’s receipt of written notice (a “Superior Proposal Termination Notice”) from the Company advising Parent that the Board of Directors of the Company intends to take such action and specifying the reasons therefor, including a description of the material terms of the Superior Proposal that is the basis for the proposed action of the Board of Directors of the Company (it being understood and agreed that, in the event of an amendment to the financial terms or other material terms of such Superior Proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be entitled to exercise such right based on such Superior Proposal, as so amended, until immediately after the third business day following Parent’s receipt of a Superior Proposal Termination Notice with respect to such Superior Proposal as so amended). In connection with any Superior Proposal Termination Notice, the Company agrees that, until immediately after the third business day following Parent’s receipt of such Superior Proposal Termination Notice, the Company and its Representatives shall (if Parent so requests) negotiate in good faith with Parent and its Representatives regarding any revisions to the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement proposed by Parent. In determining whether to make a Change of Recommendation or terminate this Agreement in response to a Superior Proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company shall take into account any amendment to this Agreement entered into, or to which Parent irrevocably covenants to enter into and for which all internal approvals of Parent have been obtained, since receipt of the applicable Superior Proposal Termination Notice, and shall not make a Change of Recommendation or terminate this Agreement unless, prior to the effectiveness of such Change of Recommendation or termination, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith, after considering the results of any such negotiations and any revised proposals made by Parent, that the Superior Proposal giving rise to such notice continues to be a Superior Proposal.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or its Board of Directors from issuing a “stop, look and listen” statement pending disclosure of its position, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3(d), contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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(f) As used in this Agreement, “Alternative Proposal” shall mean any bona fide inquiry, proposal or offer made by any person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) prior to the receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval (other than a proposal or offer by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) regarding (i) a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or similar transaction involving the Company, (ii) the acquisition by any person or group of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the fair market value of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (iii) the acquisition by any person or group of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
(g) As used in this Agreement “Superior Proposal” shall mean a bona fide, written offer made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, more than 66 2/3% of the equity securities of the Company or of the fair market value of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, which the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s financial and legal advisors, and considering such factors as the Company’s Board of Directors considers to be appropriate (including the timing and likelihood of consummation of such proposal), are more favorable to the Company and its shareholders from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.4Proxy Statement; Company Meeting.
(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and in no case more than thirty (30) days following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement, which shall, include the Recommendation. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) respond to any comments on the Proxy Statement or requests for additional information from the SEC as soon as practicable after receipt of any such comments or requests, (ii) obtain clearance from the SEC to mail the Proxy Statement as soon as practicable, and (iii) cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the shareholders of the Company promptly upon such clearance. The Company shall promptly (A) notify Parent upon the receipt of any such comments or requests and (B) provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between the Company and Company Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand. Prior to responding to any such comments or requests or the filing or mailing of the Proxy Statement, the Company shall provide Parent with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any drafts of the Proxy Statement and related correspondence and filings. If at any time prior to the Effective Date any event shall occur, or fact or information shall be discovered, that should be set forth in an amendment of or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company shall, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 5.4(a), prepare and file with the SEC such amendment or supplement as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable and to the extent required by applicable Law, cause such amendment or supplement to be distributed to the shareholders of the Company. Parent and Merger Sub shall provide to the Company, in a timely manner, with such information as is required to be included in the Proxy Statement under the Exchange Act with respect to it or them and the rules promulgated thereunder and such other information as the Company may reasonably request for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
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(b) The Company shall (i) take all action necessary in accordance with the MBCA and its articles of incorporation and by-laws to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following the mailing of the Proxy Statement for the purposes of (A) obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval and (B) in the event such meeting is also the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders, the election of directors and such other purposes as the Company may determine (the “Company Meeting”), and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company’s obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.4(b) shall not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company of any Alternative Proposal.
Section 5.5Reasonable Best Efforts.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts (subject to, and in accordance with, applicable Law) to take promptly, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do promptly, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, clearances, consents and approvals, including the Company Approvals and the Parent Approvals, from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, and (iii) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;provided,however, that in no event shall any party hereto be required to pay prior to the Effective Date any fee, penalty or other consideration to any third party for any consent or approval required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any contract or agreement.
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(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and Parent shall (i) use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each other in (x) determining whether any filings are required to be made with, or consents, permits, authorizations, waivers, clearances or approvals are required to be obtained from, any third parties or other Governmental Entities in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (y) timely making all such filings and timely seeking all such consents, permits, authorizations, clearances or approvals, (ii) use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions and do, or cause to be done, all other things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby, including taking all such further action as may be necessary to resolve such objections, if any, as the United States Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, state antitrust enforcement authorities or competition authorities of any other nation or other jurisdiction or any other person may assert under Regulatory Law (as hereinafter defined) with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and (iii) subject to applicable legal limitations and the instructions of any Governmental Entity, keep each other apprised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the transactions contemplated thereby, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received by the Company or Parent, as the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity with respect to such transactions. The Company and Parent shall permit counsel for the other party reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and consider in good faith the views of the other party in connection with, any proposed written communication to any Governmental Entity. Each of the Company and Parent agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by telephone, with any Governmental Entity in connection with the proposed transactions unless it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental Entity, gives the other party the opportunity to attend and participate. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.5 to the contrary, in no event will Parent or Merger Sub be obligated to, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not, propose or agree to accept any undertaking or condition, to enter into any consent decree or hold separate order, to make any divestiture, to accept any operational restriction or limitation, or to take any other action that would (i) involve assets or operations of Parent or any of its affiliates or (ii) reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; provided, that for solely the purposes of this Section 5.5(b), a Company Material Adverse Effect shall include, without limitation, the divestiture of businesses, product lines or assets that accounted for 15% or more of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated fiscal year 2008 EBITDA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event will Parent or Merger Sub be obligated to, and the Company and its Subsidiaries will not, propose or agree to accept any undertaking or condition to enter into any consent decree or hold separate order, to make any divestiture, to accept any operational restriction or limitation, or to take any other action that would involve assets or operations of the Company or any of its affiliates in order to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 6.1.
(c) In furtherance and not in limitation of the covenants of the parties contained in this Section 5.5, if any administrative or judicial action or proceeding, including any proceeding by a private party, is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging any transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative of any Regulatory Law, each of the Company and Parent shall cooperate in all respects with each other and shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Section 5.5 shall limit a party’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(c) so long as such party has, prior to such termination, complied with its obligations under this Section 5.5.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Regulatory Law” means the Sherman Act of 1890, the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 and all other federal, state or foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, administrative and judicial doctrines and other Laws, including without limitation any antitrust, competition or trade regulation Laws, that are designed or intended to (i) prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening competition through merger or acquisition or (ii) protect the national security or the national economy of any nation.
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Section 5.6Takeover Statute. If any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other form of anti-takeover statute or regulation shall be or become applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the Company and Parent and the members of their respective Boards of Directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are reasonably necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 5.7Public Announcements. The Company and Parent will, to the extent practicable, consult with and provide each other the opportunity to review any press release or other public statement or comment prior to the issuance of such press release or other public statement or comment relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein and, to the extent practicable, shall not issue any such press release or other public statement or comment prior to such consultation except as may be required by applicable Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange. Parent and the Company agree to issue a joint press release announcing this Agreement.
Section 5.8Control of Operations. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Company’s operations prior to the Effective Date. Prior to the Effective Date, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its operations.
Section 5.9Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) any notice or other communication received by such party from any Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement or from any person alleging that the consent of such person is or may be required in connection with the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such party to obtain such consent could be material to the Company, the Surviving Corporation or Parent, (ii) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or, to such party’s knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting such party or any of its Subsidiaries which relate to the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (iii) the discovery of any fact or circumstance that, or the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would cause the failure of any condition to consummation of the Merger;provided,however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.9 shall not (A) cure any breach of, or non-compliance with, any other provision of this Agreement or (B) limit the remedies available to the party receiving such notice.
Section 5.10Security Holder Litigation. The Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any security holder litigation against the Company, its Subsidiaries and/or their respective directors relating to this Agreement, the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without Parent’s prior consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
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Section 5.11Company Stock Options.
(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering any Company Benefit Plan) shall adopt such resolutions and take such other actions as may be required to effect the following related to each option to purchase or acquire shares of Company Common Stock, held by an employee, director or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Stock Options”):
| |
| (i) effective as of the Effective Date, the vesting of each unvested Company Stock Option shall be accelerated so that all Company Stock Options shall be fully vested as of the Effective Date; |
| |
| (ii) effective as of the Effective Date, each Company Stock Option (whether vested or not) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date with an exercise price per share that is less than the Merger Consideration shall be cancelled by the Company in exchange for the right to receive, without interest, a cash amount equal to the product of (A) the excess, if any, of (x) the Merger Consideration, over (y) the exercise price per share of such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (B) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option (such product referred to herein as “Option Consideration”); and |
| |
| (iii) effective as of the Effective Date, each Company Stock Option outstanding as of the Effective Date with an exercise price per share that is equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration shall be terminated, without any consideration therefor. |
(b) The Company shall ensure that following the Effective Date, no holder of a Company Stock Option (or former holder of a Company Stock Option) or any participant in any Company Benefit Plan shall have any right thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or the Surviving Corporation or any other equity interest therein.
Section 5.12Termination of 401(a) Plans. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall take all requisite corporate action to terminate any and all Company Benefit Plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code that have been provided to the employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the employees’ participation, if any, in any such Company Benefit Plan shall be terminated effective prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Section 6.1Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by all parties) at or prior to the Effective Date of the following conditions:
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(a) The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) No injunction by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction which prohibits the consummation of the Merger shall have been entered and shall continue to be in effect.
(c) All consents, approvals and actions of, filings with and notices required in connection with consummation of the Merger on the terms contemplated hereby shall have been obtained or made.
Section 6.2Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth herein shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “material adverse effect” qualifiers set forth therein) would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Parent shall have in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Effective Date.
(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by its Chief Executive Officer or another senior officer, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) and 6.2(b) have been satisfied.
Section 6.3Conditions to Obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is further subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Company with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries set forth herein shall be true and correct both when made and at and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such time (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “material adverse effect” qualifiers set forth therein) would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company shall have in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Effective Date.
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(c) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect that continues to exist on the Closing Date and as of the Effective Date.
(d) The equity capitalization of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including all subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements or commitments relating to the issuance of capital stock by the Company or any Subsidiary) shall, as of the Closing Date and not as of the earlier dates set forth in Section 3.2, be as set forth in Section 3.2 and in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have performed and complied in all respects with the covenant set forth in Section 5.1(c).
(f) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by its Chief Executive Officer or another senior officer, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a), 6.3(b), 6.3(c), 6.3(d) and 6.3(e) have been satisfied.
(g) Parent and Merger Sub shall have been furnished with the opinion of Gray, Plant & Mooty, counsel to the Company, as dated of the Closing Date, in the form ofExhibit D attached hereto.
Section 6.4Frustration of Closing Conditions. Neither the Company nor Parent may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Merger or terminating this Agreement and abandoning the Merger, on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s breach of any provision of this Agreement or failure to use its reasonable best efforts to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, as required by and subject to Section 5.5.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section7.1Termination and Abandonment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Date, whether before or after any approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of the Company:
(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;
(b) by either the Company or Parent if (i) the Effective Date shall not have occurred on or before August 31, 2009 (the “End Date”), and (ii) the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(b) shall not have breached in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately caused the failure to consummate the Merger on or before such date;
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(c) by either the Company or Parent if an injunction shall have been entered permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and such injunction shall have become final and non-appealable,provided that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(c) shall have used its reasonable efforts to remove such injunction;
(d) by either the Company or Parent if the Company Meeting (including any adjournments or postponements thereof) shall have concluded and the Company Shareholder Approval contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been obtained or by Parent if the Company Meeting shall not have concluded prior to the close of business on the day prior to the End Date;
(e) by the Company, if Parent shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.1 or 6.2 and (ii) cannot be cured by the End Date,provided that the Company shall have given Parent written notice, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such termination, stating the Company’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) and the basis for such termination;
(f) by the Company, prior to the Company Shareholder Approval, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines to accept and/or enter into an agreement for a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that the Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5.3;
(g) by Parent, if the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.1 or 6.3 and (ii) cannot be cured by the End Date,provided that Parent shall have given the Company written notice, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such termination, stating Parent’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(g) and the basis for such termination;
(h) by Parent, prior to the Company Shareholder Approval, if the Board of Directors of the Company has failed to make the Recommendation in the Proxy Statement or has made a Change of Recommendation;
(i) by Parent if holders of five percent (5%) or more of the Shares have exercised dissenters’ rights in accordance with Section 302A.471 et seq. of the MBCA; and
(j) by Parent if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have breached or failed to perform in any respect the covenant set forth in Section 5.1(c) hereof.
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Section 7.2Effect of Termination.
(a) In the event that (i) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(h) or 7.1(j), (ii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(f) or (iii) (A) an Alternative Proposal shall have been made to the Company or shall have been made directly to the shareholders of the Company generally or shall have otherwise become publicly known or any person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make an Alternative Proposal, (B) thereafter this Agreement is terminated (I) by Company pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or (II) by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 7.1(d) and (C) within 12 months after such termination, the Company enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, the transactions contemplated by any Alternative Proposal (regardless of whether such Alternative Proposal is made before or after termination of this Agreement), then the Company shall pay Parent a fee equal to $1,000,000 (the “Termination Fee”) plus Expenses of up to $400,000, by wire transfer of same-day funds on the first business day following (x) in the case of a payment required by clause (i) or (ii) above, the date of termination of this Agreement and (y) in the case of a payment required by clause (iii) above, the date of the first to occur of the events referred to in clause (iii)(C) above. “Expenses” shall mean the cash amount necessary to reimburse Parent, Merger Sub and each of their respective affiliates for all out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred (whether or not billed) at any time (whether before or after the date of this Agreement) prior to the termination of this Agreement by any of them or on their behalf in connection with the Merger, this Agreement, their due diligence investigation of the Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the fees and expenses of counsel, investment banking firms or financial advisors and their respective counsel and representatives).
(b) The Company and Parent acknowledge and agree that the agreements contained in Section 7.2(a) are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay the amount due pursuant to Section 7.2(a), and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company for the Termination Fee and/or Expenses, the Company shall pay to Parent its costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) in connection with such suit, together with interest on the amount of the Termination Fee and/or Expenses, as the case may be, from the date such payment was required to be made until the date of payment at the prime rate of Citibank, N.A., in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.
(c) In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company under this Agreement, other than the provisions of Sections 5.2(b), 7.2, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6 and 8.10, which provisions shall survive such termination; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve any party hereto from any liability or damages resulting from the willful and material breach by a party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section8.1No Survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Merger.
Section8.2Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring or required to incur such expenses.
Section8.3Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in two or more consecutive counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by facsimile or otherwise) to the other parties.
Section8.4Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Minnesota.
Section8.5Jurisdiction; Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement non-exclusively in the Minnesota State Courts and any state appellate court therefrom (or, if the Minnesota State Courts decline to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Minnesota). In addition, each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns, may be brought and determined non-exclusively in the Minnesota State Courts and any state appellate court therefrom (or, if the Minnesota State Courts decline to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, any state or federal court within the State of Minnesota). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve in accordance with this Section 8.5, (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from 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 (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, any claim that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
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Section 8.6WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section8.7Notices. Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing, and sent by facsimile transmission (provided that any notice received by facsimile transmission or otherwise at the addressee’s location on any business day after 5:00 p.m. (addressee’s local time) shall be deemed to have been received at 9:00 a.m. (addressee’s local time) on the next business day), by reliable overnight delivery service (with proof of service), hand delivery or certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class postage prepaid), addressed as follows:
| |
To Parent and Merger Sub: |
| |
| CARDIONET, INC. |
| 227 Washington Street #300 |
| Conshohocken, PA 19428 |
| Attn: Director of Legal Services |
| Phone: (610) 729-5066 |
| Facsimile: (866) 924-2464 |
| With copies to:
|
| MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
|
| 1701 Market Street |
| Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
| Attn: Timothy Maxwell, Esq. |
| Phone: (215) 963-5438 |
| Facsimile: (215) 963-5001 |
| |
To the Company: |
| |
| BIOTEL INC. |
| 1285 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 150 |
| Eagan, Minnesota 55121 |
| Attn: Steve Springrose, Chief Executive Officer |
| Phone: (651) 286-8623 |
| Facsimile: (651) 286-8630 |
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| |
| With copies to: |
| |
| GRAY PLANT & MOOTY |
| 500 IDS Center |
| 80 South Eighth Street |
| Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
| Attn: Lindley S. Branson, Esq. |
| Phone: (612) 632-3024 |
| Facsimile: (612) 632-4024 |
or to such other address as any party shall specify by written notice so given, and such notice shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so telecommunicated, personally delivered or mailed. Any party to this Agreement may notify any other party of any changes to the address or any of the other details specified in this paragraph. Rejection or other refusal to accept or the inability to deliver because of changed address of which no notice was given shall be deemed to be receipt of the notice as of the date of such rejection, refusal or inability to deliver.
Section8.8Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Section8.9Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable. Upon any determination that a 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.
Section8.10Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules hereto) and the Nondisclosure Agreement constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and, except for the provisions of Section 2.1(a), is not intended to and shall not confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
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Section8.11Amendments; Waivers. At any time prior to the Effective Date, any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective;provided,however, that after receipt of Company Shareholder Approval, if any such amendment or waiver shall by applicable Law require further approval of the shareholders of the Company, the effectiveness of such amendment or waiver shall be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by the Company or Parent in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.
Section8.12Headings. Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Agreement are for convenience of the parties only and shall be given no substantive or interpretive effect whatsoever. The table of contents to this Agreement is for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section8.13Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. Each of the parties has participated in the drafting and negotiation of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement must be construed as if it is drafted by all the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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Section8.14Definitions.
(a) References in this Agreement to “Subsidiaries” of any party shall mean any corporation, partnership, association, trust or other form of legal entity of which (i) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are on the date hereof directly or indirectly owned by such party, or (ii) such party or any Subsidiary of such party is a general partner (excluding partnerships in which such party or any Subsidiary of such party does not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership). References in this Agreement (except as specifically otherwise defined) to “affiliates” shall mean, as to any person, any other person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise. References in this Agreement (except as specifically otherwise defined) to “person” shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, group (as such term is used in Section 13 of the Exchange Act) or organization, including, without limitation, a Governmental Entity, and any permitted successors and assigns of such person. As used in this Agreement, “knowledge” means (i) with respect to Parent, the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Section 8.14(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule after conducting reasonable inquiry about the accuracy of any representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub contained in this Agreement and (ii) with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Section 8.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule after conducting reasonable inquiry about the accuracy of the Company or its Subsidiaries contained in this Agreement. As used in this Agreement “fiscal year” shall mean the Company’s fiscal year ending June 30. As used in this Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in New York are authorized by law or executive order to be closed. References in this Agreement to specific laws or to specific provisions of laws shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Any statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument referred to herein shall mean such statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor statutes.
(b) Each of the following terms is defined on the pages set forth opposite such term:
| | | | |
Term | | | Section | |
affiliates | | 8.14(a) |
Agreement | | Preamble |
Alternative Proposal | | 5.3(f) |
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception | | 3.3(a) |
business day | | 8.14(a) |
Articles of Merger | | 1.3 |
Certificates | | 2.2(a) |
Change of Recommendation | | 5.3(d) |
Closing | | 1.2 |
Closing Date | | 1.2 |
Code | | 2.2(g) |
Company | | Preamble |
Company Acquisition Agreement | | 5.3(d) |
Company Approvals | | 3.3(b) |
Company Benefit Plans | | 3.9(a) |
Company Common Stock | | 2.1(a) |
Company Disclosure Schedule | | ARTICLE III |
Company Intellectual Property | | 3.16(a) |
48
| | | | |
Term | | | Section | |
Company Material Adverse Effect | | 3.1(a) |
Company Material Contracts | | 3.19(a) |
Company Meeting | | 5.4(b) |
Company Permits | | 3.7(b) |
Company Permitted Lien | | 3.3(c) |
Company Preferred Stock | | 3.2(a) |
Company Representative | | 5.3(a) |
Company SEC Documents | | 3.4(a) |
Company Shareholder Approval | | 3.18 |
Company Stock Options | | 5.11(a) |
Company Stock Plan | | 3.2(a)(iii) |
control | | 8.14(a) |
Dissenting Shares | | 2.1(c) |
Effective Date | | 1.3 |
End Date | | 7.1(b) |
Environmental Claims | | 3.8(a) |
Environmental Law | | 3.8(b) |
ERISA | | 3.9(a) |
ERISA Affiliate | | 3.9(c) |
Exchange Act | | 3.3(b) |
Exchange Fund | | 2.2(a) |
FDA | | 3.13(a) |
fiscal year | | 8.14(a) |
GAAP | | 3.4(c) |
Governmental Entity | | 3.3(b) |
Hazardous Substance | | 3.8(c) |
IRS | | 3.9(b) |
knowledge | | 8.14(a) |
Law | | 3.7(a) |
Laws | | 3.7(a) |
Leased Real Property | | 3.21(d) |
Lien | | 3.3(c)(iii) |
MBCA | | 1.1 |
Merger | | Recitals |
49
| | | | |
Term | | | Section | |
Merger Consideration | | 2.1(a) |
Merger Sub | | Preamble |
New Company SEC Documents | | 3.4(a) |
Nondisclosure Agreement | | 5.2(b) |
Option Consideration | | 5.11(a)(ii) |
Owned Real Property | | 3.21(c) |
Parent | | Preamble |
Parent Approvals | | 4.2(b) |
Parent Disclosure Schedule | | ARTICLE IV |
Parent Material Adverse Effect | | 4.1 |
Parent Permitted Lien | | 4.2(c) |
Parent Representatives | | 5.2(a) |
Parent SEC Documents | | ARTICLE IV |
Paying Agent | | 2.2(a) |
person | | 8.14(a) |
Policies | | 3.20 |
Proxy Statement | | 3.12 |
Real Property Lease | | 3.21(d) |
Recommendation | | 3.3(a)(iii) |
Regulatory Law | | 5.5(d) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Act | | 3.4(b) |
SEC | | 3.4(a) |
Share | | 2.1(a) |
Subsidiaries | | 8.14(a) |
Superior Proposal | | 5.3(g) |
Superior Proposal Termination Notice | | 5.3(d) |
Voting Agreements | | 3.23 |
Surviving Corporation | | 1.1 |
Tax Return | | 3.14(c)(ii) |
Taxes | | 3.14(c)(i) |
Termination Date | | 5.1(a) |
Termination Fee | | 7.2(a) |
50
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
| | | | |
| CARDIONET, INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Martin P. Galvan | |
| Name: Martin P. Galvan |
| Title: CFO |
| |
| GARDEN MERGER SUB, INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Martin P. Galvan | |
| Name: Martin P. Galvan |
| Title: President |
| |
| BIOTEL INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ B. Steven Springrose | |
| Name: B. Steven Springrose |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Exhibit A
PLAN OF MERGER
FOR THE MERGER
OF
GARDEN MERGER SUB, INC.
INTO
BIOTEL INC.
PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), dated ________, 2009, for the merger of Garden Merger Sub, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Merged Corporation”), into Biotel Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”). (The Merged and Surviving Corporations may be collectively referred to as “Constituent Corporations”).
RECITALS
A. The Constituent Corporations are corporations duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
B. The Constituent Corporations are parties to a Merger Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2009, and the merger effected pursuant to this Plan of Merger is being consummated pursuant to such Merger Agreement.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the Constituent Corporations shall be merged into a single corporation, Biotel Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and one of the Constituent Corporations, which shall continue its corporate existence and be the corporation surviving the merger. The terms and conditions of this merger (the “Merger”) and the manner of carrying the same into effect, are as follows:
ARTICLE I
Effective Date of the Merger
The Effective Date shall be the close of business on __________, 2009. At the Effective Date of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Constituent Corporations will cease and the Constituent Corporations shall be merged in the Surviving Corporation, Biotel Inc., a Minnesota corporation.
ARTICLE II
Governing Laws; Articles of
Incorporation; Authorized Shares
The Articles of Incorporation of the Merged Corporation shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Date of the Merger; provided, however, that ARTICLE 1 of the Merged Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall be amended to read as follows: “The name of this corporation is Biotel Inc.”
ARTICLE III
Bylaws; Registered Office
The Bylaws of the Merged Corporation shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Date of the Merger. The registered office of the Surviving Corporation after the Merger shall be at ____________________________________.
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ARTICLE IV
Directors and Officers
The directors of the Merged Corporation as of the Effective Date shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal. The officers of the Merged Corporation as of the Effective Date shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal. The directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation holding office on the Effective Date shall be deemed to have resigned effective as of the Effective Date.
ARTICLE V
Conversion of Shares in the Merger
The manner of carrying the Merger into effect, and the manner and basis of converting the shares of the Constituent Corporations into shares of the Surviving Corporation are as follows:
| |
• | Conversion of Surviving Corporation Common Stock. At the Effective Date, each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation (such shares, collectively, “Surviving Corporation Common Stock,” and each, a “Share”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date other than Dissenting Shares (as hereinafter defined), shall be converted automatically into, and shall thereafter represent the right to receive, $4.82 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”). All outstanding Shares that have been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in this section shall be automatically cancelled and shall cease to exist, and the holders of certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Date represented such Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares other than the right to receive the Merger Consideration. |
| |
• | Conversion of Merged Corporation Common Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Merged Corporation issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Date, 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. |
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| |
• | Dissenters’ Rights. If required by the MBCA (but only to the extent required thereby), Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date and that are held by holders of such Shares who have not voted in favor of the approval and adoption of this Plan of Merger or consented thereto in writing and who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect thereto in accordance with, and who have complied with, Section 302A.473 of the MBCA (the “Dissenting Shares”) will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and holders of such Dissenting Shares will be entitled to receive payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares in accordance with the provisions of such Section 302A.473 unless and until any such holder fails to perfect or effectively waives, withdraws or loses his, her or its rights to appraisal and payment under the MBCA. If, after the Effective Date, any such holder fails to perfect or effectively waives, withdraws or loses such right, such Dissenting Shares will thereupon be treated as if they had been converted into and have become exchangeable for, at the Effective Date, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, and the Surviving Corporation shall remain liable for payment of the Merger Consideration for such Shares. At the Effective Date, any holder of Dissenting Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Surviving Corporation, except the rights provided in Section 302A.473 of the MBCA and as provided in the previous sentence. |
ARTICLE VI
Effect of the Merger
At the Effective Date of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall succeed to and shall possess and enjoy all the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, both of a public and private nature, of the Constituent Corporations, and all property, real, personal, and mixed, including patents, trademarks, tradenames, and all debts due to either of the Constituent Corporations on whatever account, for stock subscriptions as well as for all other things in action or all other rights belonging to either of said corporations; and all said property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, and all and every other interest shall be thereafter the property of the Surviving Corporation as effectively as they were of the respective Constituent Corporations, and the title of any real estate vested by deed or otherwise in either of said Constituent Corporations shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; provided, however, that all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of either of said Constituent Corporations shall be preserved unimpaired, limited in lien to the property affected by such liens prior to the Effective Date of the Merger, and all debts, liabilities, and duties of said Constituent Corporations, respectively, shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Corporation and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities, and duties had been incurred or contracted in the first instance by the Surviving Corporation.
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ARTICLE VII
Filing of Plan of Merger
Upon adoption and approval of the Plan of Merger by the Boards of Directors and shareholders of the Constituent of Corporations in accordance with Section 302A.613 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Articles of Merger in accordance with Section 302A.615 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act shall be executed and delivered to the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota for filing as provided by the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. The Constituent Corporations shall also cause to be performed all necessary acts within the State of Minnesota and elsewhere to effectuate the Merger.
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Appendix B
![(OAK RIDGE FINANCIAL)](https://capedge.com/proxy/DEFM14A/0000897101-09-001234/img001.jpg)
April 1, 2009
|
Board of Directors |
BioTel, Inc. |
1285 Corporate Center Drive |
Suite 150 |
Eagan, MN 55121 |
Members of the Board of Directors:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Company Common Stock”), of BioTel, Inc. (the “Company”), of the Merger Consideration (as defined below), pursuant to a draft of the Merger Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2009 (the “Agreement”), to be entered into among the Company, Garden Parent Corp. (the “Acquiror”) and Garden Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Acquiror. The Agreement provides for, among other things, the merger (the “Merger”) of the Merger Sub with and into the Company, pursuant to which each outstanding share of Company Common Stock and outstanding stock options, other than shares of Company Common Stock held in treasury or owned by the Acquiror, will be converted into the right to receive $4.82 in cash (the “Merger Consideration”). The terms and conditions of the Merger are more fully set forth in the Agreement.
In connection with our review of the Merger, and in arriving at our opinion, we have: (i) reviewed and analyzed the financial terms of a draft of the Agreement dated March 25, 2009; (ii) reviewed and analyzed certain financial and other data with respect to the Company which was publicly available, (iii) reviewed and analyzed certain information, including financial forecasts, relating to the business, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of the Company that were publicly available, as well as those that were furnished to us by the Company; (iv) conducted discussions with senior management of the Company concerning the matters described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as well as its business and prospects before and after giving effect to the Merger; (v) reviewed the current and historical reported prices and trading activity of Company Common Stock and similar information for certain other companies deemed by us to be comparable to the Company; (vi) compared the financial performance of the Company with that of certain other publicly-traded companies that we deemed relevant; and (vii) reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain business combination transactions that we deemed relevant. In addition, we have conducted such other analyses, examinations and inquiries and considered such other financial, economic and market criteria as we have deemed necessary in arriving at our opinion.
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We have relied upon and assumed, without assuming liability or responsibility for independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information that was publicly available or was furnished, or otherwise made available, to us or discussed with or reviewed by us. We have further relied upon the assurances of the management of the Company that the financial information provided has been prepared on a reasonable basis in accordance with industry practice, and that they are not aware of any information or facts that would make any information provided to us incomplete or misleading. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for the purpose of this opinion, we have assumed that with respect to financial forecasts, estimates and other forward-looking information reviewed by us, that such information has been reasonably prepared based on assumptions reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the expected future results of operations and financial condition of the Company. We express no opinion as to any such financial forecasts, estimates or forward-looking information or the assumptions on which they were based. We have relied, with your consent, on advice of the outside counsel and the independent accountants to the Company, and on the assumptions of the management of the Company, as to all accounting, legal, tax and financial reporting matters with respect to the Company and the Agreement.
In arriving at our opinion, we have assumed that the executed Agreement will be in all material respects identical to the last draft reviewed by us. We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that (i) the representations and warranties of all parties to the Agreement and all other related documents and instruments that are referred to therein are true and correct in all respects material to our analysis, (ii) each party to such agreements will fully and timely perform all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by such party, (iii) the Merger will be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Agreement without amendments thereto (iv) all conditions to the consummation of the Merger will be satisfied without waiver by any party of any conditions or obligations thereunder and (v) that there is no Working Capital Adjustment that will result in any adjustment to the Merger Consideration that is material to our analysis. Additionally, we have assumed that all the necessary regulatory approvals and consents required for the Merger will be obtained in a manner that will not adversely affect the Company or the contemplated benefits of the Merger.
In arriving at our opinion, we have not performed any appraisals or valuations of any specific assets or liabilities (fixed, contingent or other) of the Company, and have not been furnished or provided with any such appraisals or valuations, nor have we evaluated the solvency of the Company under any state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. The analyses performed by us in connection with this opinion were going concern analyses. We express no opinion regarding the liquidation value of the Company or any other entity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we have undertaken no independent analysis of any pending or threatened litigation, regulatory action, possible unasserted claims or other contingent liabilities, to which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party or may be subject, and at the direction of the Company and with its consent, our opinion makes no assumption concerning, and therefore does not consider, the possible assertion of claims, outcomes or damages arising out of any such matters. We have also assumed that neither the Company nor the Acquiror is party to any material pending transaction, including without limitation any financing, recapitalization, acquisition or merger, divestiture or spin-off, other than the Merger.
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This opinion is necessarily based upon the information available to us and facts and circumstances as they exist and are subject to evaluation on the date hereof; events occurring after the date hereof could materially affect the assumptions used in preparing this opinion. We are not expressing any opinion herein as to the price at which shares of Company Common Stock may trade following announcement of the Merger or at any future time. We have not undertaken to reaffirm or revise this opinion or otherwise comment upon any events occurring after the date hereof and do not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion.
We have not been requested to, and did not, (i) participate in negotiations with respect to the Agreement, (ii) solicit any expressions of interest from any other parties with respect to any business combination with the Company or any other alternative transaction or (iii) advise the Board of Directors or any other party with respect to alternatives to the Merger. In addition, we were not requested to and did not provide advice regarding the structure, the Merger Consideration, any other aspect of the Merger, or to provide services other than the delivery of this opinion.
We will receive a fee for rendering this opinion which is not contingent upon the consummation of the Merger or the conclusions reached in our opinion. The Company has also agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities and reimburse us for certain expenses in connection with our services. We have not, in the past, provided financial advisory and financing services to the Company or the Acquiror and/or any of its affiliates. We and/or our affiliates may, however, in the ordinary course of our business, actively trade securities of the Company and the Acquiror for our own account or the account of our customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. We may also, in the future, provide investment banking and financial advisory services to the Company, the Acquiror or entities that are affiliated with the Company or the Acquiror, for which we would expect to receive compensation.
This opinion is provided to the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with its consideration of the Merger and is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of the Company as to how such stockholder should act or vote or tender their shares or make any election with respect to the Merger or any other matter. Except with respect to the use of this opinion in connection with the proxy statement relating to the Merger in accordance with our engagement letter with the Company, this opinion shall not be disclosed, referred to, published or otherwise used (in whole or in part), nor shall any public references to us be made, without our prior written approval. This opinion has been approved for issuance by the Opinion Committee of The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
This opinion addresses solely the fairness, from a financial point of view, to holders of Company Common Stock of the proposed Merger Consideration set forth in the Agreement and does not address any other terms or agreement relating to the Merger or any other terms of the Agreement. We were not requested to opine as to, and this opinion does not address, the basic business decision to proceed with or effect the Merger, the merits of the Merger relative to any alternative transaction or business strategy that may be available to the Company, Acquiror’s ability to fund the merger consideration or any other terms contemplated by the Agreement. Furthermore, we express no opinion with respect to the amount or nature of compensation to any officer, director or employee of any party to the Merger, or any class of such persons, relative to the compensation to be received by holders of Company Common Stock in the Merger or with respect to the fairness of any such compensation.
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Based upon and subject to the foregoing and based upon such other factors as we consider relevant, it is our opinion that the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Company Common Stock (other than the Acquiror and its affiliates, if any) as of the date hereof.
Sincerely,
The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.
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Appendix C
VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of April 1, 2009 (this “Agreement”), by and amongCARDIONET, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and ____________ (“Shareholder”), a shareholder ofBIOTEL INC., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent,GARDEN MERGER SUB., INC., a Minnesota corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and the Company are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”); and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement and to proceed with the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, Parent and Shareholder are entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Shareholder acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of Shareholder set forth in this Agreement and would not enter into the Merger Agreement if Shareholder did not enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Parent and Shareholder hereby represent, warrant, covenant and agree as follows:
1. Shareholder represents and warrants that:
| |
| a. Shareholder owns of record and beneficially good and valid title to all of the shares of the capital stock of the Company, and options to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company, shown onExhibit A attached hereto, free and clear of any and all mortgages, liens, encumbrances, charges, claims, restrictions, pledges, security interests, voting trusts or agreements, or impositions, except as otherwise disclosed onExhibit A, and such shares represent all of the shares, or rights to acquire shares, of capital stock of the Company owned by Shareholder. For purposes hereof, the capital stock of the Company and the options to acquire capital stock of the Company set forth onExhibit A attached hereto shall be referred to herein as the “Stock”. |
| |
| b. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance by Shareholder of its obligations hereunder will not, constitute a violation of, conflict with, result in a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in default) under, or result in the creation of any lien on any such Stock under, (i) any contract, commitment or agreement, to which Shareholder is a party or by which Shareholder is bound, (ii) any judgment, order or ruling applicable to Shareholder, or (iii) the organizational documents of Shareholder, if applicable. |
1
| |
| c. Shareholder has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, to vote the Stock as required herein and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and no other actions on the part of the Shareholder are required in order to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Shareholder and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Shareholder, enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms. |
2. When a meeting of the shareholders of the Company is held for the purpose of considering the Merger Agreement and the Merger (such meeting referred to herein as the “Meeting”), Shareholder shall (a) appear at the Meeting or otherwise cause the Stock to be counted as present at the Meeting for the purpose of establishing a quorum; (b) at the Meeting, vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Stock, in person or by proxy, for approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger; and (c) at the Meeting (or any other meeting of shareholders of the Company), vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Stock, in person or by proxy, against any action that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, unless and until the Company has terminated the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement.
3. Shareholder hereby grants an irrevocable proxy appointing Parent, by its duly authorized officers and representatives, as Shareholder’s sole and exclusive and true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to vote all Stock that Shareholder is entitled to vote, express consent or dissent or otherwise to utilize such voting power in such manner and upon any of the matters referred to in Paragraph 2 above, to the same extent and with the same effect as Shareholder might or could do under any applicable laws or regulations governing the rights and powers of shareholders of the Company. This proxy shall become effective as of the date hereof and shall expire upon termination of this Agreement. Shareholder hereby affirms that this proxy is coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable and binding upon any and all transferees of the Stock so long as it remains in effect pursuant to the terms hereof.
4. The proxy granted by Shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 3 above and Shareholder’s entrance into this Agreement is in consideration of Parent’s entrance into the Merger Agreement. The proxy granted by Shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 3 above is meant to secure Shareholder’s performance of this Agreement. This proxy/power of attorney shall not terminate on disability of the Shareholder. Shareholder hereby revokes any proxy previously granted by Shareholder with respect to the Stock.
5. Shareholder will not, nor will Shareholder permit any entity under Shareholder’s control to, deposit any of the Stock in a voting trust or subject any of the Stock to any arrangement with respect to the voting of the Stock in any manner inconsistent with this Agreement.
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6. Shareholder will not sell, transfer, pledge, give, hypothecate, assign or otherwise alienate or transfer, by proxy or otherwise (including any transfer by operation of law), the Stock or any of Shareholder’s voting rights with respect to the Stock, except to a person who is a party to a voting agreement with Parent in the form of this Agreement.
7. Shareholder expressly agrees and acknowledges that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and that Parent shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
8. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of Shareholder with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, of Shareholder with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns (as applicable) of Shareholder. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the termination of the Merger Agreement.
9. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
10. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Merger Agreement.
11. It is understood and hereby agreed that this Agreement relates solely to the capacity of Shareholder as a shareholder or beneficial owner of the Stock and is not in any way intended to affect the exercise of Shareholder’s responsibilities and fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and Shareholder have executed or caused to be executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| | |
| CARDIONET, INC.: |
| | |
| By: | |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| |
| SHAREHOLDER: |
| |
| Name: |
4
Exhibit A
| | | | |
Name of Shareholder | | Number of Shares Owned | | Number of Shares to be Acquired by Options |
5
Appendix D
302A.471 RIGHTS OF DISSENTING SHAREHOLDERS
Subdivision 1. Actions creating rights. A shareholder of a corporation may dissent from, and obtain payment for the fair value of the shareholder’s shares in the event of, any of the following corporate actions:
(a) unless otherwise provided in the articles, an amendment of the articles that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of the shares of the dissenting shareholder in that it:
(1) alters or abolishes a preferential right of the shares;
(2) creates, alters, or abolishes a right in respect of the redemption of the shares, including a provision respecting a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase of the shares;
(3) alters or abolishes a preemptive right of the holder of the shares to acquire shares, securities other than shares, or rights to purchase shares or securities other than shares;
(4) excludes or limits the right of a shareholder to vote on a matter, or to cumulate votes, except as the right may be excluded or limited through the authorization or issuance of securities of an existing or new class or series with similar or different voting rights; except that an amendment to the articles of an issuing public corporation that provides that section 302A.671 does not apply to a control share acquisition does not give rise to the right to obtain payment under this section; or
(5) eliminates the right to obtain payment under this subdivision;
(b) a sale, lease, transfer, or other disposition of property and assets of the corporation that requires shareholder approval under section 302A.661, subdivision 2, but not including a disposition in dissolution described in section 302A.725, subdivision 2, or a disposition pursuant to an order of a court, or a disposition for cash on terms requiring that all or substantially all of the net proceeds of disposition be distributed to the shareholders in accordance with their respective interests within one year after the date of disposition;
(c) a plan of merger, whether under this chapter or under chapter 322B, to which the corporation is a constituent organization, except as provided in subdivision 3, and except for a plan of merger adopted under section 302A.626;
(d) a plan of exchange, whether under this chapter or under chapter 322B, to which the corporation is a party as the corporation whose shares will be acquired by the acquiring organization, except as provided in subdivision 3;
(e) a plan of conversion adopted by the corporation; or
(f) any other corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder vote with respect to which the articles, the bylaws, or a resolution approved by the board directs that dissenting shareholders may obtain payment for their shares.
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Subd. 2. Beneficial owners. (a) A shareholder shall not assert dissenters’ rights as to less than all of the shares registered in the name of the shareholder, unless the shareholder dissents with respect to all the shares that are beneficially owned by another person but registered in the name of the shareholder and discloses the name and address of each beneficial owner on whose behalf the shareholder dissents. In that event, the rights of the dissenter shall be determined as if the shares as to which the shareholder has dissented and the other shares were registered in the names of different shareholders.
(b) A beneficial owner of shares who is not the shareholder may assert dissenters’ rights with respect to shares held on behalf of the beneficial owner, and shall be treated as a dissenting shareholder under the terms of this section and section 302A.473, if the beneficial owner submits to the corporation at the time of or before the assertion of the rights a written consent of the shareholder.
Subd. 3. Rights not to apply. (a) Unless the articles, the bylaws, or a resolution approved by the board otherwise provide, the right to obtain payment under this section does not apply to a shareholder of (1) the surviving corporation in a merger with respect to shares of the shareholder that are not entitled to be voted on the merger and are not canceled or exchanged in the merger or (2) the corporation whose shares will be acquired by the acquiring organization in a plan of exchange with respect to shares of the shareholder that are not entitled to be voted on the plan of exchange and are not exchanged in the plan of exchange.
(b) If a date is fixed according to section 302A.445, subdivision 1, for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote on an action described in subdivision 1, only shareholders as of the date fixed, and beneficial owners as of the date fixed who hold through shareholders, as provided in subdivision 2, may exercise dissenters’ rights.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the right to obtain payment under this section, other than in connection with a plan of merger adopted under section 302A.621, is limited in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) The right to obtain payment under this section is not available for the holders of shares of any class or series of shares that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market, or the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
(2) The applicability of clause (1) is determined as of:
(i) the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting of shareholders to act upon the corporate action described in subdivision 1; or
(ii) the day before the effective date of corporate action described in subdivision 1 if there is no meeting of shareholders.
(3) Clause (1) is not applicable, and the right to obtain payment under this section is available pursuant to subdivision 1, for the holders of any class or series of shares who are required by the terms of the corporate action described in subdivision 1 to accept for such shares anything other than shares, or cash in lieu of fractional shares, of any class or any series of shares of a domestic or foreign corporation, or any other ownership interest of any other organization, that satisfies the standards set forth in clause (1) at the time the corporate action becomes effective.
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Subd. 4. Other rights. The shareholders of a corporation who have a right under this section to obtain payment for their shares, or who would have the right to obtain payment for their shares absent the exception set forth in paragraph (c) of subdivision 3, do not have a right at law or in equity to have a corporate action described in subdivision 1 set aside or rescinded, except when the corporate action is fraudulent with regard to the complaining shareholder or the corporation.
302A.473 PROCEDURES FOR ASSERTING DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them.
(b) “Corporation” means the issuer of the shares held by a dissenter before the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1 or the successor by merger of that issuer.
(c) “Fair value of the shares” means the value of the shares of a corporation immediately before the effective date of the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1.
(d) “Interest” means interest commencing five days after the effective date of the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1, up to and including the date of payment, calculated at the rate provided in section 549.09 for interest on verdicts and judgments.
Subd. 2. Notice of action. If a corporation calls a shareholder meeting at which any action described in section 302A.471, subdivision 1 is to be voted upon, the notice of the meeting shall inform each shareholder of the right to dissent and shall include a copy of section 302A.471 and this section and a brief description of the procedure to be followed under these sections.
Subd. 3. Notice of dissent. If the proposed action must be approved by the shareholders and the corporation holds a shareholder meeting, a shareholder who is entitled to dissent under section 302A.471 and who wishes to exercise dissenters’ rights must file with the corporation before the vote on the proposed action a written notice of intent to demand the fair value of the shares owned by the shareholder and must not vote the shares in favor of the proposed action.
Subd. 4. Notice of procedure; deposit of shares. (a) After the proposed action has been approved by the board and, if necessary, the shareholders, the corporation shall send to (i) all shareholders who have complied with subdivision 3, (ii) all shareholders who did not sign or consent to a written action that gave effect to the action creating the right to obtain payment under section 302A.471, and (iii) all shareholders entitled to dissent if no shareholder vote was required, a notice that contains:
(1) the address to which a demand for payment and certificates of certificated shares must be sent in order to obtain payment and the date by which they must be received;
(2) any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares that will apply after the demand for payment is received;
(3) a form to be used to certify the date on which the shareholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf the shareholder dissents, acquired the shares or an interest in them and to demand payment; and
(4) a copy of section 302A.471 and this section and a brief description of the procedures to be followed under these sections.
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(b) In order to receive the fair value of the shares, a dissenting shareholder must demand payment and deposit certificated shares or comply with any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares within 30 days after the notice required by paragraph (a) was given, but the dissenter retains all other rights of a shareholder until the proposed action takes effect.
Subd. 5. Payment; return of shares. (a) After the corporate action takes effect, or after the corporation receives a valid demand for payment, whichever is later, the corporation shall remit to each dissenting shareholder who has complied with subdivisions 3 and 4 the amount the corporation estimates to be the fair value of the shares, plus interest, accompanied by:
(1) the corporation’s closing balance sheet and statement of income for a fiscal year ending not more than 16 months before the effective date of the corporate action, together with the latest available interim financial statements;
(2) an estimate by the corporation of the fair value of the shares and a brief description of the method used to reach the estimate; and
(3) a copy of section 302A.471 and this section, and a brief description of the procedure to be followed in demanding supplemental payment.
(b) The corporation may withhold the remittance described in paragraph (a) from a person who was not a shareholder on the date the action dissented from was first announced to the public or who is dissenting on behalf of a person who was not a beneficial owner on that date. If the dissenter has complied with subdivisions 3 and 4, the corporation shall forward to the dissenter the materials described in paragraph (a), a statement of the reason for withholding the remittance, and an offer to pay to the dissenter the amount listed in the materials if the dissenter agrees to accept that amount in full satisfaction. The dissenter may decline the offer and demand payment under subdivision 6. Failure to do so entitles the dissenter only to the amount offered. If the dissenter makes demand, subdivisions 7 and 8 apply.
(c) If the corporation fails to remit payment within 60 days of the deposit of certificates or the imposition of transfer restrictions on uncertificated shares, it shall return all deposited certificates and cancel all transfer restrictions. However, the corporation may again give notice under subdivision 4 and require deposit or restrict transfer at a later time.
Subd. 6. Supplemental payment; demand. If a dissenter believes that the amount remitted under subdivision 5 is less than the fair value of the shares plus interest, the dissenter may give written notice to the corporation of the dissenter’s own estimate of the fair value of the shares, plus interest, within 30 days after the corporation mails the remittance under subdivision 5, and demand payment of the difference. Otherwise, a dissenter is entitled only to the amount remitted by the corporation.
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Subd. 7. Petition; determination. If the corporation receives a demand under subdivision 6, it shall, within 60 days after receiving the demand, either pay to the dissenter the amount demanded or agreed to by the dissenter after discussion with the corporation or file in court a petition requesting that the court determine the fair value of the shares, plus interest. The petition shall be filed in the county in which the registered office of the corporation is located, except that a surviving foreign corporation that receives a demand relating to the shares of a constituent domestic corporation shall file the petition in the county in this state in which the last registered office of the constituent corporation was located. The petition shall name as parties all dissenters who have demanded payment under subdivision 6 and who have not reached agreement with the corporation. The corporation shall, after filing the petition, serve all parties with a summons and copy of the petition under the Rules of Civil Procedure. Nonresidents of this state may be served by registered or certified mail or by publication as provided by law. Except as otherwise provided, the Rules of Civil Procedure apply to this proceeding. The jurisdiction of the court is plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint appraisers, with powers and authorities the court deems proper, to receive evidence on and recommend the amount of the fair value of the shares. The court shall determine whether the shareholder or shareholders in question have fully complied with the requirements of this section, and shall determine the fair value of the shares, taking into account any and all factors the court finds relevant, computed by any method or combination of methods that the court, in its discretion, sees fit to use, whether or not used by the corporation or by a dissenter. The fair value of the shares as determined by the court is binding on all shareholders, wherever located. A dissenter is entitled to judgment in cash for the amount by which the fair value of the shares as determined by the court, plus interest, exceeds the amount, if any, remitted under subdivision 5, but shall not be liable to the corporation for the amount, if any, by which the amount, if any, remitted to the dissenter under subdivision 5 exceeds the fair value of the shares as determined by the court, plus interest.
Subd. 8. Costs; fees; expenses. (a) The court shall determine the costs and expenses of a proceeding under subdivision 7, including the reasonable expenses and compensation of any appraisers appointed by the court, and shall assess those costs and expenses against the corporation, except that the court may assess part or all of those costs and expenses against a dissenter whose action in demanding payment under subdivision 6 is found to be arbitrary, vexatious, or not in good faith.
(b) If the court finds that the corporation has failed to comply substantially with this section, the court may assess all fees and expenses of any experts or attorneys as the court deems equitable. These fees and expenses may also be assessed against a person who has acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in bringing the proceeding, and may be awarded to a party injured by those actions.
(c) The court may award, in its discretion, fees and expenses to an attorney for the dissenters out of the amount awarded to the dissenters, if any.
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BIOTEL INC.
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby (i) appoints the President and Chief Executive Officer, B. Steven Springrose, and the Chief Financial Officer, Judy E. Naus, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to appear and vote all of the Common Shares of Biotel Inc. (the “Company”), which the undersigned shall be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, to be held at 1285 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 150, Eagan, Minnesota 55121, on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. local time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, hereby revoking any and all proxies heretofore given, and (ii) authorizes and directs said proxy holders to vote all of the Common Shares of the Company represented by this proxy as indicated below.
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Dated: |
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Signature |
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Signature |
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Your signature to this proxy should be exactly the same as the name imprinted hereon. Persons signing as executors, administrators, trustees or in similar capacities should so indicate. For joint accounts, the name of each joint owner must be signed. |
1. | | To approve the Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger attached to the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the Plan of Merger. |
2. | | To approve allowing the Board of Directors to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger attached to the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the Plan of Merger. |
THIS PROXY, WHEN EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.