AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 27, 2019 (this “Agreement”), by and between Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CCOH”), and Clear Channel Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CCH”).
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, CCH is a wholly-owned Subsidiary (as defined herein) of iHeartCommunications, Inc. (f/k/a Clear Channel Communications, Inc.), a Texas corporation (“IHC”), and prior to November 16, 2005, CCOH was also a wholly-owned Subsidiary of IHC;
WHEREAS, IHC and CCOH entered into that certain Master Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2005 (as the same has been amended from time to time prior to the date hereof in accordance with its terms), which provided for the partial separation of CCOH from IHC, after which CCOH became a publicly traded company majority owned by IHC;
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2018, iHeartMedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“IHM”), and certain of its Subsidiaries, including CCH but not including CCOH (collectively, theDebtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”) under CaseNo. 18-31274 (the “Chapter 11 Cases”);
WHEREAS, in connectionwith the Chapter 11 Cases, on January 22, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Debtors’ modified fifth amended plan of reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”), which contemplates, among other things, that IHC will transfer its CCOH common stock to certain IHM creditors upon the effectiveness of the Plan of Reorganization, after which CCOH will be an independent publicly traded company in which IHC no longer holds any equity interest;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Separation (as defined herein), IHM, IHC, CCH and CCOH have entered into that certain Settlement and Separation Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Separation Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, CCOH and CCH have agreed to enter into this Agreement to effect a business combination transaction on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the parties intend that CCOH will, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), merge with and into CCH, with CCH continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of CCH has (i) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of CCH and its stockholders, (ii) adopted, approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (iii) resolved to recommend the approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of CCH;
WHEREAS, on January 23, 2018, the Board of Directors of CCOH (the “CCOH Board”) established a special committee of CCOH independent directors (the “CCOH Special Committee”);
WHEREAS, the CCOH Special Committee has recommended to the CCOH Board, and the CCOH Board has, (i) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of CCOH and all of its stockholders, including its public stockholders, (ii) adopted, approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (iii) resolved to recommend the approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of CCOH;
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