Effect has occurred or may occur); or (vii) any failure to take any action expressly prohibited by Section 4.2 for which the Company requests consent in writing and Parent denies such consent, or the taking of any specific action by the Company that Parent expressly requests in writing.
the continued use of the property for the purposes for which the property is currently being used by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Entity. “Entity” shall mean any corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any company limited by shares, limited liability company or joint stock company), firm, society or other enterprise, association, organization or entity.
Environmental Claims. “Environmental Claims” shall mean any accusation, allegation, notice of violation, claim, demand, abatement, or order of direction (conditional or otherwise) by any governmental authority or any person or entity for personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), tangible or intangible property damage, damage to natural resources, trespass, nuisance, pollution, contamination or other adverse impacts or effects to property, persons or the environment, or for fines, penalties, or restrictions or any investigation, remediation, cleanup or closure requirements, resulting from or based upon: (1) the existence or release of (including, without limitation, sudden or non-sudden, accidental or non-accidental leaks or spills), or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance, chemical, material, pollutant, contaminant, or audible noise in, into or onto the environment (including, without limitation, the air, ground, water or any surface); (2) the transportation, storage, treatment, or disposal of hazardous substances; or (3) the violation, or alleged violation, of any statute, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, permit or license of or from any governmental authority, agency or court relating to environmental matters.
Environmental Laws. “Environmental Laws” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or treaty; all judicial administrative, and regulatory orders, judgments, decrees, permits, and authorizations; and common law relating to: (a) the protection of human health, the environment or natural resources; (b) the investigation, remediation or restoration of the environment or natural resources; (c) the handling, use, storage, treatment, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance; or (d) noise, odor, pollution, contamination, land use, or any injury or threat of injury to persons or property related thereto. The definition of Environmental Laws shall include the applicability of the following statutes: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq., the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq., the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. §§40 et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§116 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act., 7 U.S.C. §§136 et seq., the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. §§2011 et seq., and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 42 U.S.C. §§1801 et seq., and all rules or regulations promulgated under such statutes, and any other similar statute, regulation or ordinance now or hereafter enacted.
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Environmental Liabilities and Costs. “Environmental Liabilities and Costs” shall mean all liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, remedial actions, losses, damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, expert and consulting fees, monitoring costs, and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines penalties, sanctions and interest, incurred as a result of any Environmental Claim. or demand, by any person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, including any environmental law, permit, order or agreement with a governmental authority or other person, arising from any Environmental Law, health or safety conditions, or the release of any Hazardous Substances into the environment, resulting from the past, present or future operations of a business entity.
Environmental Permits. “Environmental Permits” shall mean all permits, licenses, certificates, approvals, authorizations, regulatory plans, disclosure and reporting requirements or compliance schedules required by applicable Environmental Laws, or issued by a Governmental Authority pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws, or entered into by agreement of the party to be bound, relating to activities that affect human health or the environment, including, without limitation, permits, licenses, certificates, approvals, authorizations, regulatory plans, disclosure and reporting requirements and compliance schedules for air emissions, chemicals stored, transported or used by Seller, water discharges, pesticide and herbicide or other agricultural chemical storage, use or application, and Hazardous Substances or Solid Waste generation, use, storage, treatment, and disposal.
ERISA. “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Exchange Act. “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
FMLA. “FMLA” shall mean the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended.
GAAP. “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Governmental Authority. “Governmental Authority” shall mean any U.S. federal, state, provincial or municipal entity, any foreign government and any political subdivision or other executive, legislative, administrative, judicial, quasi-judicial or other governmental department, commission, court, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
Governmental Authorization. “Governmental Authorization” shall mean (a) any permit, license, certificate, franchise, permission, variance, clearance, registration, qualification or authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to any Legal Requirement; or (b) any right under any Contract with any Governmental Body, and shall also include
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any required approval or clearance of any Governmental Body pursuant to any applicable foreign Legal Requirement relating to antitrust or competition matters.
Governmental Body. “Governmental Body” shall mean any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal); or (d) self-regulatory organization, including the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Hazardous Substances. “Hazardous Substances” shall mean (a) any oil, petroleum product, or by-product, flammable substances, explosives, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos-containing materials, lead containing paint or plumbing, hazardous wastes, toxic wastes or substances or any other wastes, materials or pollutants defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous wastes”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “restricted hazardous waste”, or “toxic substances” under any applicable Environmental Law; and (b) any other commercial products, chemical, material, waste, or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any governmental environmental authority; any other material or substance which has in the past or could in the future constitute a health, safety, or environmental hazard to any person or property; and pursuant to any Environmental Law.
HIPAA. “HIPAA” means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended.
Intellectual Property Rights. “Intellectual Property Rights” shall mean any or all of the following and all worldwide common law and statutory rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith: (i) patents and applications therefor and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions, provisionals, certificates of invention and statutory invention registrations, continued prosecution applications, requests for continued examination, reexaminations, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof (“Patents”); (ii) copyrights, and registrations and applications therefor, mask works, whether registered or not, works of authorship and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world including moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated (“Copyrights”); (iii) industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor; (iv) trade names, trade dress, slogans, all identifiers of source, fictitious business names (D/B/As), Domain Names, logos, trademarks and service marks, including all goodwill therein, and any and all common law rights, registrations and applications therefor (“Trademarks”); (v) trade secrets (including, those trade secrets defined in the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and under corresponding foreign statutory and common law), business, technical and know-how information, non-public information, and confidential information, including all source code, documentation, processes, technology, formulae, customer lists, business and marketing plans, inventions (whether or not patentable) and marketing information and rights to limit the
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use or disclosure thereof by any Person; including databases and data collections and all rights therein (“Trade Secrets”); and (vi) any similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing (as applicable).
Improvements. “Improvements” shall mean all buildings, structures, and other improvements of any and every nature located on the Company Real Property and all fixtures attached or affixed, actually or constructively, to the Company Real Property or to any such buildings, structures, or other improvements.
Interested Party. “Interested Party” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.18.
IRS. “IRS” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Knowledge. An Entity shall be deemed to have “Knowledge” of a fact or other matter if any executive officer of such entity has actual knowledge of such fact or other matter after reasonably inquiry.
Law or Laws. “Law” or “Laws” shall mean any federal, national, state, county, provincial, local, municipal, or foreign constitution, statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance or code, legislation, treaty, convention, judicial decisions and legal requirements of any governmental or quasi-governmental entity, whether of the United States or any other jurisdiction as in effect from time to time.
Leased Real Property. “Leased Real Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
Legal Proceeding. “Legal Proceeding” shall mean any action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, claim, inquiry, audit, examination or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any court or other Governmental Body or any arbitrator or arbitration panel.
Legal Requirement. “Legal Requirement” shall mean any material federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, order, award, judgment, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body.
Liability. “Liability” shall mean any debt, obligation, duty or liability of any nature (including any unknown, undisclosed, unmatured, unaccrued, unasserted, contingent, indirect, conditional, implied, vicarious, derivative, joint, several or secondary liability), regardless of whether such debt, obligation, duty or liability would be required to be disclosed on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and regardless of whether such debt, obligation, duty or liability is immediately due and payable.
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Liens. “Liens” means any pledge, mortgage, charge, claim, title imperfection, defect or objection, security interest, conditional and installment sales agreement, encumbrance, easement, encroachment, or third party right or restriction, of any kind.
Made Available to Parent. Any statement in Article 2 of the Agreement to the effect that any information, document or other material has been “Made Available to Parent” shall mean that such information, document or material was: (a) publicly available on the SEC EDGAR database in un-redacted form; or (b) delivered to Parent or Parent’s Representatives via electronic mail or in hard copy form at least 48 hours prior to the execution of the Agreement.
NASDAQ. “NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Capital Market.
OGCA. “OGCA” shall mean the Oklahoma General Corporation Act.
Order. “Order” shall mean any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree.
Parent Common Stock. “Parent Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of Parent.
Per Share Merger Consideration. “Per Share Merger Consideration” shall mean $18,250,000, minus any amounts paid or to be paid for cancelled or terminated Company Options and In the Money Warrants (whether such payment is by Parent or Company), divided by all of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time, rounded to the nearest whole cent.
By way of example, all Company Options and In the Money Warrants are cancelled or terminated as provided herein, on the following facts the Per Share Merger Consideration would be $1.58 and the amount to be realized per share in each category would be approximately as follows:
| | | | | | | |
Category | | Units | | Amount | |
| | | | | |
Equity consideration | | | | | $ | 18,250,000 | |
Less: | | | | | | | |
Cancelled Stock Options @$0.38 per share ($1.58 - $0.38) | | | 155,000 | | | (186,091 | ) |
Cancelled Stock Options @$0.42 per share ($1.58 - $0.42) | | | 174,000 | | | (201,943 | ) |
Cancelled Stock Options @$0.49 per share ($1.58 - $0.49) | | | 90,000 | | | (98,153 | ) |
Cancelled Stock Options @$0.69 per share ($1.58 - $0.69) | | | 369,120 | | | (328,734 | ) |
Cancelled Stock Options @$0.76 per share ($1.58 - $0.76) | | | 115,000 | | | (94,368 | ) |
Cancelled In-the-Money Bank Warrants @$0.5942 per share ($1.58 - $0.5942) | | | 252,454 | | | (249,018 | ) |
Cancelled In-the-Money Agent Warrants @$0.625 per share ($1.58 - $0.625) | | | 475,750 | | | (454,622 | ) |
Cancelled In-the-Money PPM Warrants @$0.625 per share ($1.58 - $0.70) | | | 1,903,000 | | | (1,675,762 | ) |
Cancelled In-the-Money Consultant Warrants @$0.38 per share ($1.58 - $0.38) | | | 112,000 | | | (134,466 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount remaining for allocation to common stockholders | | | | | | 14,826,843 | |
Shares outstanding | | | | | | 9,380,577 | |
|
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Consideration per share | | | | | $ | 1.58 | |
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Permitted Liens. “Permitted Liens” shall mean those Liens against the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries that will be accepted by Parent and which will survive Closing.
Person. “Person” shall mean any individual, Entity or Governmental Body.
Pre-Closing Tax Period. “Pre-Closing Tax Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(d).
Proxy Statement. “Proxy Statement” shall mean the proxy statement to be sent to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Company Stockholders’ Meeting.
Real Property. “Real Property” shall mean collectively the following listed owned property: (a) various buildings and parcels of land located at 216 NE 12th Street, Moore, OK, and (b) land and building located at 500 East Central Avenue, Fort Worth, TX.
Remedial Action. “Remedial Action” shall mean all actions required or voluntarily undertaken to: (1) investigate, clean up, remove, remediate, treat or in any other way address Hazardous Substances or other contaminants in the indoor or outdoor environment; (2) prevent the release or threat of release, or minimize the further release of Hazardous Substances or other contaminants so they do not migrate or endanger, or threaten to endanger public health or welfare, or the indoor or outdoor environment; or (3) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations, post-remedial monitoring and care and closure.
Representatives. “Representatives” shall mean directors, officers, other employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and representatives.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. “Sarbanes-Oxley Act” shall mean the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it may be amended from time to time.
SEC. “SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act. “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Selling Expenses. “Selling Expenses” shall mean all costs, fees and expenses of outside professionals incurred by the Company relating to the process of selling the Company whether incurred in connection with this Agreement or otherwise, including all legal fees, accounting, tax, investment banking fees and expenses.
Solid Waste. “Solid Waste” shall mean any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous
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material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities.
Specified Representations. “Specified Representations” shall mean the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Sections 2.2(a) (Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws), 2.3(a) (Capitalization; Rights to Acquire Stock), 2.20 (Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement), 2.21 (Inapplicability of Anti-takeover Statutes), 2.22 (Vote Required), and 2.24 (Fairness Opinion) of the Agreement.
Stockholder Litigation. “Stockholder Litigation” shall mean any claim or Legal Proceeding (including any class action or derivative litigation) asserted or commenced by, on behalf of or in the name of, against or otherwise involving the Company, the Company Board, the Special Committee and/or any of the Company’s directors or officers relating directly or indirectly to the Agreement, the Merger or any related transaction (including any such claim or Legal Proceeding based on allegations that the Company’s entry into the Agreement or the terms and conditions of the Agreement or any related transaction constituted a breach of the fiduciary duties of any member of the Special Committee, any member of the board of directors of the Company or any officer of the Company).
Subsidiary. An Entity shall be deemed to be a “Subsidiary” of another Person if such Person directly or indirectly owns or purports to own, beneficially or of record, (a) an amount of voting securities of other interests in such Entity that is sufficient to enable such Person to elect at least a majority of the members of such Entity’s board of directors or other governing body, or (b) at least 50% of the outstanding equity, voting or financial interests in such Entity.
Tax. “Tax” shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign or other tax (including any income tax, franchise tax, capital gains tax, gross receipts tax, value-added tax, surtax, estimated tax, unemployment tax, national health insurance tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, transfer tax, stamp tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, business tax, withholding tax or payroll tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including any customs duty), deficiency or fee, and any related charge or amount (including any fine, penalty or interest), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Governmental Body. For purposes of the Agreement, “Tax” also includes any Liability for taxes as a transferee or successor.
Tax Return. “Tax Return” shall mean all reports, estimates, declarations of estimated tax, information statements and returns relating to, or required to be filed in connection with, any Taxes, including information returns or reports with respect to backup withholding and other payments to third parties.
Transaction Payroll Taxes. “Transaction Payroll Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(d).
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Triggering Event. A “Triggering Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (a) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have (i) withdrawn the Company Board Recommendation; (ii) modified the Company Board Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent; or (iii) taken, authorized or publicly proposed any of the actions referred to in Section 5.2(c) of the Agreement; (b) the Company shall have failed to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement; (c) the Company Board shall have failed to reaffirm, unanimously and publicly, the Company Board Recommendation within five business days after Parent reasonably requests, in writing, that the Company Board Recommendation be reaffirmed publicly (it being understood that a request by Parent that the Company Board Recommendation be reaffirmed publicly shall be deemed reasonable if such request is made after there has been a breach or violation of Section 4.3); (d) a tender or exchange offer relating to shares of Company Common Stock shall have been commenced and the Company shall not have sent to its securityholders, within ten business days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that the Company recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer and reaffirming the Company Board Recommendation; or (e) the Company or any director or executive officer of the Company shall have breached in any material respect or taken any action materially inconsistent with any of the provisions set forth in Section 4.3.
Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet. “Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet” shall mean the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of May 31, 2011.
Unpaid Pre-Closing Taxes. “Unpaid Pre-Closing Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(d).
Warrant. Warrant” shall mean all warrants of the Company to purchase shares of Company Common Stock from the Company, whether issued or granted and whether vested or unvested, including, but not limited to the Out of the Money Warrants and In the Money Warrants. In the Money Warrants shall also include the individual reference to the PPM Warrants, the Bank Warrants, the Consultant Warrants, and the Agent Warrants.
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ANNEX B
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| One Embarcadero Center Suite 2700 San Francisco, CA 94111-3776 PHONE (415) 591-5400 FAX (415) 591-5401 WEB www.burrillandco.com |
June 30, 2011
Board of Directors
Vaughan Foods, Inc.
216 NE 12th St # A
Moore, OK 73160-5841
Members of the Board of Directors:
Vaughan Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) and Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc. (the “Purchaser”) are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) pursuant to which the Purchaser has agreed to purchase (the “Proposed Purchase”) all the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock for an aggregate price of $18,250,000, which after giving effect to outstanding Company options and warrants will equal approximately $1.581 per share (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”).
You have requested our opinion as to whether the Per Share Merger Consideration to be received in the Proposed Purchase is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of Company common stock.
Burrill LLC, as part of its investment banking business, regularly is engaged in the valuation of assets, securities and companies in connection with various types of asset and securities transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, private placements, public offerings and valuations for various other purposes, and in the determination of adequate consideration in such transactions. In the ordinary course of our business as a broker-dealer, we may, from time to time, purchase securities from, and sell securities to the Company and its affiliates. In the ordinary course of our business, we may also actively trade the securities of the Company for our own account and for the accounts of customers and accordingly may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. However, at this date we are not aware of any such activity or transactions involving the securities of the Company.
We have been engaged by the Board of Directors of Company (the “Board”) to act as financial advisor to the Board in connection with its evaluation of the Proposed Purchase and will receive a fee for our services, a portion of which is payable upon the filing of a proxy statement containing this opinion. No portion of our fee is refundable or contingent upon the conclusion expressed in this opinion. We also will be reimbursed for expenses incurred. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities arising out of our engagement. During the past two years preceding the date of this opinion, we have not had any material relationship with any party to the Proposed Purchase, other than the Company, for which compensation has been received or is intended to be received, nor is there any such material relationship or related compensation mutually understood to be contemplated. In arriving at our opinion, we have made such reviews, analyses and inquiries as we have deemed necessary or appropriate under the circumstances. We took into account our assessment of general economic, market and financial conditions, as well as our experience in securities and business valuation in general and with respect to similar transactions in particular our due diligence with regard to the Proposed Purchase which included:
• reviewing a draft of the Agreement dated June 20, 2011, including without limitation the terms and conditions of the Proposed Purchase;
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• reviewing certain internal financial analyses, historical financials, financial forecasts, reports, operating performance and other information we deemed relevant concerning the Company, all of which was provided to us by or on behalf of the management of the Company;
• holding discussions with certain members of the management of the Company concerning the historical and current business operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company and such other matters we deemed relevant;
• analyzing certain financial, market and industry data, stock market and other publicly available information relating to the businesses of other companies whose operations we considered relevant in evaluating those of the Company and considering, to the extent publicly available, the financial terms of certain other transactions which we deemed relevant in evaluating the Proposed Purchase; and
• conducting such other financial analyses, studies and investigations as we deemed appropriate.
Our opinion is given in reliance on information and representations made or given by or on behalf of the Company, as well as its officers, directors, auditors, counsel and other agents and representatives, and on filings, releases and other information issued by or on behalf of the Company, including financial statements, financial projections and stock price data, as well as certain information from recognized independent sources. We have not independently verified any of the information concerning the Company which we have considered in our review and, for purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all such information and data provided to us. We express no opinion as to any financial projections or the assumptions on which they are based. We have not conducted any independent valuation or appraisal or physical inspection of the Company or any other assets or liabilities of the Company or the Company’s solvency, nor have any valuations or appraisals been provided to us. We did not estimate, and express no opinion regarding, the liquidation value of any entity, business or assets. This opinion should not be construed as a valuation opinion, credit rating, solvency opinion, liquidation value or analysis of the creditworthiness of the Company, or otherwise as tax advice or accounting advice. We have assumed that the Proposed Purchase is, in all respects, lawful under applicable law.
With regard to financial and all other information provided to us relating to the Company (including, without limitation, estimates, evaluations, projections and information related to general prospects), we have assumed, with the Company’s consent, that such information has been reasonably prepared and reflect the best currently available information and good faith judgment of the persons furnishing the same. We have further relied on the assurances of management of the Company that such persons are not aware of such information being inaccurate or misleading in any respect, or of any facts or circumstances that would make any of such information inaccurate or misleading in any respect. We have not been asked to and have not undertaken an independent verification of any of such information and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness thereof. We have assumed that: (i) the final versions of all documents reviewed by us in draft form (including, without limitation, the Agreement) conform in all material respects to the drafts reviewed; (ii) all governmental, regulatory or other consents and approvals necessary or advisable for the consummation of the Proposed Purchase will be obtained without any adverse effect on the Company or on the Proposed Purchase; (iii) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement and all related agreements are complete and correct in all material respects and that each party to the
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Board of Directors
Vaughan Foods, Inc.
Agreement and all related agreements will perform all of the covenants required to be performed by such party thereunder; (iv) the conditions precedent set forth in the Agreement and all related agreements to the Proposed Purchase will be satisfied and such conditions precedent will not be waived; and (v) the Proposed Purchase will be completed in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, without any amendments thereto or any waivers of any material terms and conditions thereof. Additionally, we assumed without verification the accuracy and adequacy of the legal advice given by counsel to the Company on all legal matters related to the Proposed Purchase and have assumed that all procedures required by applicable law to be taken in connection with the Proposed Purchase have been, or will be, duly, validly and timely taken and that the Proposed Purchase will be consummated in a manner that complies in all respects with the all applicable laws, statutes and regulations. We have not made, and assume no responsibility to make, any representation, or render any opinion, as to any legal matter. The Company has expressly consented to all of the assumptions we have made in this opinion.
In our analysis and in connection with the preparation of this opinion, we have made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business, market and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of any party involved in the Proposed Purchase. To the extent any of the assumptions or any of the facts upon which this opinion are based prove untrue in any material respect, this opinion cannot and should not be relied upon.
Our opinion is based on economic, monetary, regulatory, market and other conditions existing and which can be evaluated as of, and have been evaluated only as of, the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any undertaking or obligation to update this opinion or to advise any person of any change in any fact or matter affecting our opinion of which we become aware after the date hereof.
Our opinion is for the information of the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with its evaluation of the Proposed Purchase, and does not constitute a recommendation to the Board of Directors in connection with the Proposed Purchase. Our opinion should not be construed as creating any fiduciary duty on our part to any party. In addition, we express no opinion or recommendation as to how the stockholders of the Company should vote on the Proposed Purchase. Further, we have not been requested to opine as to, and the opinion does not in any manner address, the underlying business decision of the Company or any other party to engage in the Proposed Purchase, nor does it address the relative merits of the Proposed Purchase as compared with any alternative business transaction or strategy. Instead, the opinion merely states whether the consideration in the Proposed Purchase is within a range suggested by certain financial analyses. The decision as to whether to proceed with the Proposed Purchase or any related transaction may depend on an assessment of factors unrelated to the financial analysis on which this opinion is based. In addition, we are not expressing any opinion as to the market price or value of the capital securities of any party to the Proposed Purchase after announcement of the Proposed Purchase.
This opinion only addresses the fairness to the Company, from a financial point of view, of the Aggregate Consideration and does not address any other aspect or implication of the Proposed Purchase or any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection therewith or otherwise including, without limitation: (i) the underlying business decision of the Company or any other party to proceed with the Proposed Purchase; (ii) the terms of any arrangements, understandings, agreements or documents related to, or the form or any other portion or aspect of, the Proposed Purchase or otherwise (other than the Aggregate Consideration to the extent expressly specified herein) and whether such terms were the best attainable under
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Board of Directors
Vaughan Foods, Inc.
the circumstances; (iii) the fairness of any portion or aspect of the Proposed Purchase to the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of the Company, or to any other party; (iv) the relative merits of the Proposed Purchase as compared with any alternative business strategies that might exist for the Company or the effect of any other transaction in which the Company might engage; (v) the solvency, creditworthiness or fair value of the Company or any other party to the Proposed Purchase, or any of such its assets, under any applicable laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar matters; or (vii) the fairness, financial or otherwise, of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any consideration received by the Company”s officers, directors or employees or any class of such persons relative to the Aggregate Consideration or with respect to the fairness of such compensation. Furthermore, no opinion, counsel or interpretation is intended in matters that require legal, regulatory, accounting, insurance, tax or other similar professional advice. It is assumed that such opinions, counsel or interpretations have been or will be obtained from the appropriate professional sources. Furthermore, we have relied, with your consent, on the assessments by the Company and its advisors, as to all legal, regulatory, accounting, insurance and tax matters with respect to the Company and the Proposed Purchase. The issuance of this opinion was approved by a committee of our firm authorized to approve opinions of this nature.
Our opinion is not to be quoted or referred to, in whole or in part, in a registration statement, prospectus, proxy statement or in any other document, nor shall this opinion be used for any other purpose, without our prior written consent, except that this opinion may be included in its entirety in any filing made by the Company in respect to the Proposed Purchase with the Securities and Exchange Commission..
On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Per Share Merger Consideration to be received in the Proposed Purchase by the holders of shares of Company common stock is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Company common stock.
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ANNEX C
SECTION 1091 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
A. Any shareholder of a corporation of this state who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to the provisions of subsection D of this section with respect to the shares, who continuously holds the shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with the provisions of subsection D of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to the provisions of Section 1073 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the district court of the fair value of the shares of stock under the circumstances described in subsections B and C of this section. As used in this section, the word “shareholder” means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words “stock” and “share” mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and “depository receipt” means an instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository. The provisions of this subsection shall be effective only with respect to mergers or consolidations consummated pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation entered into after November 1, 1988.
B. 1. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation, or of the acquired corporation in a share acquisition, to be effected pursuant to the provisions of Section 1081, other than a merger effected pursuant to subsection G of Section 1081, and Section 1082, 1086, 1087, 1090.1 or 1090.2 of this title.
2. a. No appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either:
(1) listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; or
(2) held of record by more than two thousand holders.
No appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the shareholders of the surviving corporation as provided in subsection G of Section 1081 of this title.
b. In addition, no appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the shareholders of the surviving corporation as provided for in subsection F of Section 1081 of this title.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this subsection, appraisal rights provided for in this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to the provisions of Section 1081, 1082, 1086, 1087, 1090.1 or 1090.2 of this title to accept for the stock anything except:
a. shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from the merger or consolidation or depository receipts thereof, or
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b. shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock or depository receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than two thousand holders, or
c. cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in subparagraphs a and b of this paragraph, or
d. any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts, and cash in lieu of the fractional shares or depository receipts described in subparagraphs a, b, and c of this paragraph.
4. In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Oklahoma corporation party to a merger effected pursuant to the provisions of Section 1083 of this title is not owned by the parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Oklahoma corporation.
C. Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision, the procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections D and E of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable.
D. Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
1. If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of shareholders, the corporation, not less than twenty (20) days prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its shareholders entitled to appraisal rights that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall include in the notice a copy of this section. Each shareholder electing to demand the appraisal of the shares of the shareholder shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for appraisal of the shares of the shareholder. The demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the shareholder and that the shareholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of the shares of the shareholder. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A shareholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within ten (10) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each shareholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with the provisions of this subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation as of the date that the merger or consolidation has become effective; or
2. If the merger or consolidation is approved pursuant to the provisions of Section 1073 or 1083 of this title, either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation within ten (10) days thereafter shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of the constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of the constituent corporation, and shall include in the notice a copy of this section. The notice may, and, if given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify the shareholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any shareholder entitled to appraisal rights may, within twenty (20) days after the date of mailing of the notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation the appraisal of the holder’s shares. The demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the shareholder and that the shareholder intends to demand the appraisal of the holder’s shares. If the notice does not notify shareholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation either:
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a. each constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series of stock of the constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, or
b. the surviving or resulting corporation shall send a second notice to all holders on or within ten (10) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation; provided, however, that if the second notice is sent more than twenty (20) days following the mailing of the first notice, the second notice need only be sent to each shareholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded appraisal of the holder’s shares in accordance with this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either notice that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to receive either notice, each constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall be not more than ten (10) days prior to the date the notice is given; provided, if the notice is given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be the effective date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the notice is given.
E. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any shareholder who has complied with the provisions of subsections A and D of this section and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights, may file a petition in district court demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such shareholders; provided, however, at any time within sixty (60) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any shareholder shall have the right to withdraw the demand of the shareholder for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any shareholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections A and D of this section, upon written request, shall be entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of the shares. The written statement shall be mailed to the shareholder within ten (10) days after the shareholder’s written request for a statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within ten (10) days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal pursuant to the provisions of subsection D of this section, whichever is later.
F. Upon the filing of any such petition by a shareholder, service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which, within twenty (20) days after service, shall file, in the office of the court clerk of the district court in which the petition was filed, a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all shareholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements regarding the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such duly verified list. The court clerk, if so ordered by the court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing on the petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to the shareholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Notice shall also be given by one or more publications at least one (1) week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or other publication as the court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
G. At the hearing on the petition, the court shall determine the shareholders who have complied with the provisions of this section and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The court may require the shareholders who have demanded an appraisal of their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the court clerk for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any shareholder fails to comply with this direction, the court may dismiss the proceedings as to that shareholder.
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H. After determining the shareholders entitled to an appraisal, the court shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining the fair value, the court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the fair rate of interest, the court may consider all relevant factors, including the rate of interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any shareholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the court may, in its discretion, permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the shareholder entitled to an appraisal. Any shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to the provisions of subsection F of this section and who has submitted the certificates of stock of the shareholder to the court clerk, if required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that the shareholder is not entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to the provisions of this section.
I. The court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the shareholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the court may direct. Payment shall be made to each shareholder, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock immediately, and in the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the certificates representing the stock. The court’s decree may be enforced as other decrees in the district court may be enforced, whether the surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this state or of any other state.
J. The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the court and taxed upon the parties as the court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a shareholder, the court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any shareholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all of the shares entitled to an appraisal.
K. From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no shareholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided for in subsection D of this section shall be entitled to vote the stock for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock, except dividends or other distributions payable to shareholders of record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation; provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided for in subsection E of this section, or if the shareholder shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of the shareholder’s demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within sixty (60) days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided for in subsection E of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the corporation, then the right of the shareholder to an appraisal shall cease; provided further, no appraisal proceeding in the district court shall be dismissed as to any shareholder without the approval of the court, and approval may be conditioned upon terms as the court deems just.
L. The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation into which the shares of any objecting shareholders would have been converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation.
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SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
VAUGHAN FOODS, INC.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
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PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS |
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INTERNET - Access www.proxyvote.com and follow the on-screen instructions. Have your proxy card available when you access the web page, and use the Company Number and Account Number shown on your proxy card. | |
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Telephone - Call toll-free 800.690.6903. Have your proxy card available when you call and use the Company Number and Account Number shown on your proxy card. | |
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Vote online or by phone until 11:59 CT the day before the meeting. | |
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MAIL - Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. |
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IN PERSON - You may vote your shares in person by attending the Special Meeting. |
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NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIAL: The Notice of Meeting and Proxy Materials are available at: www.proxyvote.com |
âPlease detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope providedIF you are not voting via telephone or the Internet.â
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2 and 3 PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x
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| To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. | o | |
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| | FOR | | AGAINST | | ABSTAIN | |
1. | The proposal to adopt, approve and ratify the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 6, 2011, by and among Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., Reser’s Acquisition, Inc., and Vaughan Foods, Inc. | o | | o | | o | |
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2. | The proposal to adjourn the meeting from time to time as may be necessary to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes in favor of adoption of the merger agreement at the time of the Special Meeting. | o | | o | | o | |
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3. | The proposal to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the severance benefits Vaughan’s senior executive officers may receive following the Merger. | o | | o | | o | |
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Signature of Shareholder | | | Date: | | Signature of Shareholder | | Date: | |
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| | Note: | Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. | |
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