fees payable to and the opinion of the financial advisor to Cardiogenesis.
The Merger Agreement contains additional representations and warranties of CryoLife to Cardiogenesis as to, among other things:
the completeness and accuracy of all disclosure documents and information supplied for inclusion in any disclosure documents by each party in connection with the transaction;
the required vote or consent of CryoLife, as sole shareholder of Merger Sub, to approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby; and
fees of the financial advisor of CryoLife.
The representations and warranties given in the Merger Agreement will not survive the Merger. The assertions embodied in the representations and warranties are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules that Cardiogenesis has provided to CryoLife in connection with signing the Merger Agreement. While neither CryoLife nor Cardiogenesis believes that the disclosure schedules contain information that the securities laws require to be publicly disclosed, the disclosure schedules do contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties of the parties.
This offer to purchase contains a description of representations, warranties and covenants made in the Merger Agreement. These representations, warranties and covenants were made only for the purpose of the Merger Agreement and solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement as of specific dates, and may be subject to important limitations and qualifications (including exceptions thereto set forth in a disclosure letter or CryoLife's or Cardiogenesis’ public filings with the SEC) agreed to by the contracting parties and may not be complete. Furthermore, these representations, warranties and covenants may have been made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may or may not have been accurate as of any specific date and do not purport to be accurate as of the date of this offer to purchase. Accordingly, Cardiogenesis shareholders should not rely upon the descriptions of representations, warranties and covenants contained in this offer to purchase or the actual representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement as statements of factual information.
Conduct of Business
Cardiogenesis has agreed, unless CryoLife's prior written consent is obtained or expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement, that from the date of the Merger Agreement until the effective date of the Merger or the date on which CryoLife appoints a majority of the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors, if earlier, it will, and it will cause each of its subsidiaries to do the following:
·
conduct its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;
·
use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its present business organization;
·
use commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of its present officers, employees and consultants;
·
use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve its goodwill and its relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and others having business dealings with it; and
·
use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its assets, rights and properties in good repair and condition, normal wear and tear excepted.
Except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement or as required by law, Cardiogenesis has further agreed that without the prior written consent of CryoLife, it and each of its subsidiaries will not, among other things:
·
amend their respective organizational documents;
·
declare, set aside or pay any dividends, except for dividends payable by a Cardiogenesis subsidiary to its parent;
·
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire equity interests of Cardiogenesis or its subsidiaries or any Options, warrants, or rights to acquire any such shares or other equity interests;
·
split, combine, or reclassify any of its equity interests or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its equity interests;
·
issue any shares of its capital stock or any rights, warrants or options to acquire shares of its capital stock or other equity interests, subject to certain exceptions, other than the issuance of shares upon the exercise of Options outstanding on March 28, 2011 in accordance with their terms as in effect on such date;
·
acquire any equity interest in, any division or business of, or a substantial portion of the assets of, any other person;
·
dispose of or encumber material assets, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
·
adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, capitalization or other reorganization;
·
incur any indebtedness, issue or sell any debt securities, make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any other person, or become responsible for the obligations of any other person, with certain exceptions, enter into any “keep well” or otheragreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another person other than Cardiogenesis or a subsidiary of Cardiogenesis, or amend any contract to effect any such transactions;
·
incur or commit to incur any capital expenditure or authorization or commitment with respect thereto that individually is in excess of $10,000, or in the aggregate are in excess of $20,000, except as provided in the Merger Agreement;
·
settle, pay, satisfy or discharge any claim other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, cancel any material indebtedness or waive any right of material value;
·
enter into any material contract, or amend or modify any material contract, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
·
commence any action, suit, or other proceeding or compromise, settle or agree to settle any material action, suit, or other proceeding, including any action, suit, or other proceeding relating to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby;
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·
change its financial or tax accounting methods, except as required by changes in GAAP or by applicable law, or revalue any of its assets;
·
settle any material liability for taxes, amend any material tax return, enter into any material contract with or request any material ruling from any governmental entity relating to taxes, change any material tax election, take any material position on a tax return inconsistent with a position taken on a tax return previously filed, take any other action to materially impair any tax asset reflected in Cardiogenesis’ SEC filings filed most recently prior to the date thereof, extend or waive any statute of limitations with respect to taxes, or surrender any claim for a material refund of taxes;
·
change its fiscal or tax year;
·
grant any director, officer, employee or independent contractor any increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in the compensation of employees that are not officers, grant any director, officer, employee or independent contractor any severance, change in control or termination pay, pay any benefit or grant or amend any award except as required to comply with any contracts in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement;
·
enter into any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract, take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit under any plan or other contract, adopt any new employee benefit plan or arrangement or amend, modify or terminate any existing plan, in each case for the benefit of any director, officer, employee or independent contractor, other than as required by applicable law or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
·
fail to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised provisions regarding insurance coverage with respect to the assets, operations and activities of Cardiogenesis and its subsidiaries substantially equivalent to those currently in effect;
·
renew or enter into any non-compete, exclusivity, non-solicitation or similar agreement that would restrict or limit, in any material respect, the operations of Cardiogenesis or any of its subsidiaries; ��
·
waive any material benefits of, or agree to modify in any adverse respect, or fail to enforce, or consent to any matter with respect to which its consent is required under, any confidentiality, standstill or similar agreement to which Cardiogenesis or any of its subsidiaries is a party;
·
enter into any new line of business outside of its existing business;
·
enter into any new lease or amend the terms of any existing lease of real property that would require payments over the remaining term of such lease in excess of $10,000;
·
knowingly violate or knowingly fail to perform any obligation or duty imposed upon it by any applicable material federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, guideline or ordinance;
·
create or form any subsidiary or make any other investment in another person;
·
modify the standard warranty terms for products sold by Cardiogenesis or amend or modify any product warranties in effect as of the date hereof in any manner that is adverse to Cardiogenesis;
·
allow any of Cardiogenesis’ or its subsidiaries' trade secrets or other confidential information relating to Cardiogenesis’ or its subsidiaries' existing products or products currently under development to be disclosed, or allow any of Cardiogenesis’ or its subsidiaries' intellectual property rights relating to Cardiogenesis’ or its subsidiaries' existing products or products currently under development to be abandoned, or otherwise to lapse or become unavailable to Cardiogenesis or its subsidiaries on the same terms and conditions as such rights were available to Cardiogenesis and its subsidiaries as of the date of the Merger Agreement;
·
enter into any distribution agreements not terminable by Cardiogenesis or its subsidiaries on 60 days notice without penalty, enter into any commitment to any person to enter into any license, distributorship, or sales agreement that by its terms would purport to relate to any of the products of CryoLife or its affiliates or sell, license or otherwise dispose of any intellectual property other than sales of its products and other non-exclusive licenses that are in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, enter into any sales agency agreements or grant “most favored nation” pricing to any person;
·
enter into, amend or terminate any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with any affiliated person;
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·
fail to make in a timely manner any filings with the SEC required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (except as permitted by Rule 12b-25); or
·
knowingly take any action (or omit to take any action) if such action (or omission) could reasonably be expected to result in certain conditions to the Offer or Merger not being satisfied.
Cardiogenesis has agreed that it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
·
maintain its material assets and properties in the ordinary course of business in the manner historically maintained, reasonable wear and tear, damage by fire and other casualty excepted;
·
promptly repair, restore or replace all material assets and properties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
·
upon any damage, destruction or loss to any of its material assets or properties, apply any and all insurance proceeds, if any, received with respect thereto to the prompt repair, replacement and restoration thereof as reasonably necessary for the operation of Cardiogenesis’ business;
·
comply in all material respects with all applicable laws;
·
take all actions necessary to be in compliance in all material respects with all material contracts and to maintain the effectiveness of all its permits;
·
notify CryoLife in writing (within two business days) of the commencement of any action, suit, claim or investigation by or against Cardiogenesis, provided that this obligation is not modified by the use of Cardiogenesis’ commercially reasonable efforts;
·
if CryoLife gives Cardiogenesis written notice not less than 10 business days prior to the closing date of the Merger, take all necessary corporate action to terminate Cardiogenesis’ 401(k) plan effectiveas of the date immediately prior to the closing date of the Merger, but contingent on the closing of the Merger;
·
provide CryoLife evidence that Cardiogenesis has satisfied its obligations with respect to the Options in accordance with the Merger Agreement; and
·
pay accounts payable and pursue collection of its accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices.
Alternative Transactions
The Merger Agreement provides that, for a period of 20 days after the signing of the Merger Agreement, Cardiogenesis may initiate, solicit and encourage, whether publicly or otherwise, alternative acquisition proposals, and enter into, engage in, and maintain discussions or negotiations with respect to acquisition proposals (or inquiries, proposals or offers or other efforts or attempts that may reasonably be expected to lead to an acquisition proposal) or otherwise cooperate with or assist or participate in, or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, offers, efforts, attempts, discussions or negotiations. This is referred to as a “go-shop” period, and it ends on April 17, 2011 at 11:59 PM. The following day, April 18, 2011, is the “No-Shop Period Start Date”. Beginning with the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Merger Agreement has a “no-shop” provision which prohibits Cardiogenesis from soliciting any additional offers or proposals, subject to limited exceptions described below.
Under the terms of the no-shop provision of the Merger Agreement, subject to certain exceptions described below, Cardiogenesis has agreed that it will not, and that it will not permit or authorize any of its subsidiaries or any director, officer, employee, investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent or representative (collectively, the “representatives”) to, directly or indirectly:
·
solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage any inquiries regarding, or the making of, any proposal or offer that constitutes an acquisition proposal;
·
engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any other person any non-public information in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating, an acquisition proposal; or
·
enter into any letter of intent, agreement or agreement in principle with respect to an acquisition proposal.
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In addition, Cardiogenesis has agreed that it will cease and terminate, and that it will direct each of its subsidiaries and the representatives of Cardiogenesis and its subsidiaries to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any person previously conducted with respect to any acquisition proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time on or after the No-Shop Period Start Date and prior to obtaining the approval of the Cardiogenesis shareholders of the Merger, Cardiogenesis or any of its representatives receives a written acquisition proposal that was made by an excluded party, as defined below, or was made or renewed on or after the No-Shop Period Start Date and did not result from any breach of Cardiogenesis’ obligations under the Merger Agreement, (i) Cardiogenesis and its representatives may contact the person(s) making the acquisition proposal to clarify its terms and conditions and (ii) if the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis determines in good faith, after consultation with independent financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that the acquisition proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a superior proposal, then Cardiogenesis and its representatives may do the following:
·
furnish information (including non-public information) with respect to Cardiogenesis to the person(s) making the acquisition proposal, provided such person(s) have signed a confidentiality agreement and that Cardiogenesis shall promptly provide to CryoLife any material non-public information that is provided to such person(s) that was not previously provided to CryoLife; and
·
engage in or otherwise participate in discussions or negotiations with person(s) making an acquisition proposal.
From and after the No-Shop Period Start Date, Cardiogenesis will provide to CryoLife within 48 hours a written summary of the material terms of any acquisition proposal (including any financing commitments relating thereto).
Following the No-Shop Period Start Date, Cardiogenesis will keep CryoLife reasonably informed of any material developments, discussions or negotiations regarding any acquisition proposal on a prompt basis and upon the request of CryoLife shall apprise CryoLife of the status of each acquisition proposal. Cardiogenesis agrees that it and its subsidiaries will not enter into any confidentiality agreement with any person after March 28, 2011 that prohibits Cardiogenesis from providing any information to CryoLife.
Except as expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement, the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis will not:
·
make an “adverse recommendation change,” which means the following:
o
fail to recommend to its shareholders that they approve the Merger Agreement (the “Board Recommendation”) or fail to include the Board Recommendation in the Schedule 14D-9, the proxy statement or related filings;
o
change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose to change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to CryoLife, the Board Recommendation;
o
take any formal action or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer (other than the Offer) other than a recommendation against such offer or a customary “stop, look and listen” communication pursuant to applicable securities laws; or
o
adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to approve or recommend to the shareholders an acquisition proposal.
·
authorize, cause or permit Cardiogenesis or any of its subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, agreement or agreement in principle with respect to any acquisition proposal (each, a “Company Acquisition Agreement”); or
·
terminate the Merger Agreement in order to concurrently enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Merger Agreement, prior to the time the Cardiogenesis shareholders approve the Merger Agreement, but not after, the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis may:
·
make an Adverse Recommendation Change, enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement with respect to an acquisition proposal not solicited in violation of the Merger Agreement or terminate the Merger Agreement in order to concurrently enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement if the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis has determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action could be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law and the acquisition proposal constitutes a superior proposal, so long as:
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o
Cardiogenesis has given CryoLife at least five business days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action (which notice shall include unredacted copies of the superior proposal and related transaction and financing documents and a written summary of the material terms of any superior proposal);
o
Cardiogenesis has negotiated with CryoLife during such notice period, to the extent CryoLife wishes to negotiate, to enable CryoLife to propose revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement such that it would cause such superior proposal to no longer constitute a superior proposal;
o
following the end of such notice period, the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis shall have considered in good faith any proposed revisions to the Merger Agreement proposed in writing by CryoLife in a manner that would form a binding contract if accepted by Cardiogenesis, and shall have determined that the superior proposal would continue to constitute a superior proposal if such revisions were to be given effect;
o
in the event of any material change to the material terms of such superior proposal, Cardiogenesis shall, in each case, have delivered to CryoLife an additional notice consistent with that described above and the notice period shall have recommenced, except that the notice period shall be at least one business day;
o
Cardiogenesis has complied in all material respects with its obligations in the non-solicitation sections of the Merger Agreement; and
o
any termination of the Merger Agreement in connection with the foregoing is in accordance with the termination provisions of the Merger Agreement, and Cardiogenesis pays CryoLife the applicable Termination Fee (described below) prior to or concurrently with such termination; or
·
change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose to change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to CryoLife, its recommendation that the Cardiogenesis shareholders approve the Merger Agreement if it has determined in good faith, after consultation with Cardiogenesis’ financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action could be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law (other than in response to a superior proposal, which is described above) and prior to taking such action:
o
the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis has given CryoLife at least five business days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action and a description of the reasons for taking such action,
o
Cardiogenesis has negotiated, and has caused its representatives to negotiate, in good faith with CryoLife during such notice period, to the extent CryoLife wishes to negotiate, to enable CryoLife to revise the terms of the Merger Agreement in a manner that would obviate the need for taking such action, and
o
following the end of such notice period, the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis shall have considered in good faith any revisions to the Merger Agreement proposed in writing by CryoLife in a manner that would form a binding contract if accepted by Cardiogenesis, and shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with Cardiogenesis’ financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that failure to change its recommendation could be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Nothing in the Merger Agreement prohibits Cardiogenesis from taking and disclosing to the Cardiogenesis shareholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or making any disclosure to the Cardiogenesis shareholders that is required by applicable law.
As used in this offer to purchase:
·
“acquisition proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person or entity or group (other than CryoLife and its subsidiaries) relating to, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, any of the following:
o
acquisition of assets of Cardiogenesis equal to 20% or more of Cardiogenesis’ consolidated assets or to which 20% or more of Cardiogenesis’ revenues or earnings on a consolidated basis are attributable,
o
acquisition of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis common stock,
o
tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person or entity beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis common stock,
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o
merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving Cardiogenesis, or
o
any combination of the foregoing types of transactions if the sum of the percentage of consolidated assets, consolidated revenues or earnings and Cardiogenesis common stock involved is 20% or more; in each case, other than the Offer and the Merger.
·
“excluded party” means any person or entity or group of persons or entities from whom Cardiogenesis or any of its representatives received, after the execution of the Merger Agreement and prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date, an acquisition proposal that the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis determines, in good faith, prior to or as of the No-Shop Period Start Date and after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a superior proposal; provided, however, that such person, entity or group shall cease to be an excluded party as of the No-Shop Period Start Date unless, prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date, Cardiogenesis or any of its representatives received from such person, entity or group an acquisition proposal that the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis determined, in good faith, prior to or as of the No-Shop Period Start Date and after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, constituted a superior proposal; and provided, further, that any such person, entity or group shall cease to be an excluded party at any time it ceases to be actively pursuing efforts to acquire Cardiogenesis.
·
“superior proposal” means any bona fide written acquisition proposal that the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis has determined, after consultation with Cardiogenesis’ outside legal counsel and financial advisor, in its good faith judgment is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal, regulatory and financial aspects (including certainty of closing) of the proposal and the person or entity making the proposal, and if consummated, would result in a transaction more favorable to the shareholders of Cardiogenesis (solely in their capacity as such) from a financial point of view than the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed by CryoLife in response to such proposal or otherwise); provided that for purposes of the definition of “superior proposal” the references to “20%” in the definition of acquisition proposal shall be deemed to be references to “50%.”
Directors' and Officers' Indemnification
Under the Merger Agreement, for six years after the effective time of the Merger, Merger Sub will indemnify and hold harmless Cardiogenesis’ current or former officers and directors for any and all loss and liability suffered and expenses incurred by such officers and directors in connection with any action arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the indemnified person is or was an officer, director, employee or fiduciary of Cardiogenesis or any of its subsidiaries prior to the effective time of the Merger, to the fullest extent that Cardiogenesis would be permitted under applicable law or required or permitted under the Cardiogenesis certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Forsixyears after the effective time of the Merger, under the Merger Agreement, CryoLife will cause to be maintained in effect the current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by Cardiogenesis, although CryoLife may substitute policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which are no less favorable in any material respect. However, neither CryoLife nor Cardiogenesis will be obligated to make annual premium payments for this insurance if the premiums exceed 150% of the annual premiums paid as of the date of the Merger Agreement by Cardiogenesis for such insurance. If the insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an annual premium in excess of the maximum premium, CryoLife will maintain the most advantageous policies of directors' and officers' insurance obtainable for an annual premium equal to 150% of the annual premiums paid by Cardiogenesis.
Conditions to the Offer
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub is not required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules of the SEC, to pay for any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock tendered pursuant to the Offer, and may delay the acceptance for payment or payment of any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock or terminate or amend the Offer if the following conditions described below are not satisfied or waived by Merger Sub prior to the completion of the Offer:
Minimum Condition
Prior to the expiration date of the Offer, as it may be extended pursuant to the Merger Agreement, there must be validly tendered and not withdrawn (not including shares of Cardiogenesis common stock subject to a notice of guaranteed delivery unless such shares have actually been delivered) prior to the expiration date of the Offer, a number of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, which, together with any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock that CryoLife, Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of CryoLife owns, constitute at least a majority of the sum of:
40
o
the total number of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock outstanding; and
o
the number of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of all Options, warrants, rights and convertible securities outstanding.
The Minimum Condition will be a majority of 52,425,784 shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, which is equal to the sum of the total number of outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis common stock and the totalnumber of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding Options and warrants to purchase Cardiogenesis common stock. Other than the Options and the Warrant, there are no rights or other securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock outstanding. As a result, there must be validly tendered and not withdrawn 26,212,893 shares of Cardiogenesis common stock in the Offer to satisfy the Minimum Condition. Assuming that the shareholders of Cardiogenesis who have entered into the support agreement tender or cause to be tendered all of the shares they beneficially owned as of April 5, 2011, an additional 24,936,034 shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, representing approximately 48% of the sum of outstanding shares and shares issuable upon exercise of Options and the Warrant, or 53.5% of the outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis common stock (excluding shares issuable upon exercise of Options and the Warrant) as of April 5, 2011, must be tendered into the Offer to satisfy the Minimum Condition.
Other Conditions
The Offer is also subject to conditions that must be satisfied or waived by Merger Sub prior to the expiration of the Offer, including the following:
·
Cardiogenesis having not breached or failed to comply in any material respect with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements in the Merger Agreement;
·
the representations and warranties of Cardiogenesis contained in the Merger Agreement having been true and correct as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the time for acceptance and payment of the shares (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), subject to applicable materiality qualifications;
·
the Merger Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms, or amended in accordance with its terms to provide for such termination;
·
no event having occurred that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Cardiogenesis; and
·
there must not have been any action, suit, claim, arbitration, investigation, inquiry, grievance or other proceeding pending by any governmental entity, or any federal, state, local or foreign law (including common law, FDA laws, and foreign drug laws), statute, ordinance, rule, code, regulation, injunction, judgment, order, decree or other legally enforceable requirement enacted, entered, or promulgated by a governmental entity that seeks to:
o
make illegal or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Offer or the Merger;
o
prohibit or limit the ownership, operation or control by Cardiogenesis, CryoLife or any of their respective subsidiaries of any material portion of the business or assets of Cardiogenesis, CryoLife or any of their respective subsidiaries which would be material in the context of either the value of Cardiogenesis and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, to CryoLife upon consummation of the Offer and Merger, or to CryoLife and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
o
compel Cardiogenesis, CryoLife or any of their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of Cardiogenesis, CryoLife or any of their respective subsidiaries which would be material in the context of either the value of Cardiogenesis and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, to CryoLife upon consummation of the Offer and Merger, or to CryoLife and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
o
impose material limitations on CryoLife's ability to acquire, hold or effectively exercise full rights of ownership of the shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, including the right to vote the shares of Cardiogenesis common stock purchased or owned by CryoLife.
If any one of the above conditions is not met, including the Minimum Condition, then Merger Sub is not required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules of the SEC, to pay for any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock tendered pursuant to
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the Offer. CryoLife and Merger Sub, however, have reserved the absolute right, in their sole discretion, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, to waive, in whole or in part, any of the conditions to the Offer, or to modify the terms or conditions of the Offer consistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement, except that, without the prior written consent of Cardiogenesis, neither CryoLife nor Merger Sub may (except, in certain circumstances, in connection with its matching rights in the event of a competing offer), (i) reduce the cash consideration, (ii) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (iii) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, reduce the number of shares to be purchased by Merger Sub in the Offer, (iv) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, waive or amend the Minimum Condition, (v) add to the conditions to the Offer or impose any other conditions to the Offer, (vi) extend the expiration date of the Offer except as requiredor allowed by the Merger Agreement, (vii) otherwise amend, modify, or supplement any condition to the Offer or any term of the Offer in a manner adverse to the holders of the shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, or (viii) abandon or terminate the Offer except as provided for in the Merger Agreement. See “The Transaction—Extension; Termination and Amendment”.
In the event that the Offer period is extended by CryoLife in an effort to secure 90% of the outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis through the Offer, and the exercise of the Top-Up Option, if necessary, CryoLife has agreed that it will waive its right to terminate the Merger Agreement in the event that certain of the Offer conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement cease to be true or are breached by Cardiogenesis (other than as a result of an intentional breach by Cardiogenesis) during the extension period.
Termination of the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Offer and Merger abandoned at any time prior to the acceptance of shares in the Offer:
·
by mutual written consent of CryoLife and Cardiogenesis;
·
by either CryoLife or Cardiogenesis if a final and nonappealable order, decree, ruling or other action has been issued permanently prohibiting the Offer or the Merger (provided, that the party seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement has used its reasonable best efforts to contest, appeal and remove such judgment, order, injunction, rule, decree, ruling or other action);
·
by CryoLife, at any time prior to the acceptance of shares in the Offer:
o
if Cardiogenesis has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than with respect to a breach of the non-solicitation covenant or covenant regarding Cardiogenesis’ obligation to hold a shareholders' meeting, which are covered elsewhere) or if any representation or warranty of Cardiogenesis has become untrue, in each case which breach or failure to perform or to be true, individually or in the aggregate (i) would result in the failure of an offer condition or of any of the conditions to the Offer and Merger, and (ii) cannot be or, to the extent curable by Cardiogenesis, has not been cured by the earlier of (1) August 31, 2011, and (2) 30 days after the giving of written notice to Cardiogenesis of such breach or failure; provided, that CryoLife will not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the foregoing if CryoLife or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement;
o
if (i) the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) effects an adverse recommendation change, (ii) Cardiogenesis or the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) approves or recommends, or causes or permits Cardiogenesis to enter into, an alternative acquisition agreement relating to an acquisition proposal, (iii) Cardiogenesis shall have breached any of its obligations under the non-solicitation covenant or covenant regarding Cardiogenesis’ obligation to hold a shareholders' meeting) or (iv) Cardiogenesis or the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) shall formally resolve or publicly authorize or publicly propose to take any of the foregoing actions; or
o
if (i) Merger Sub shall not have accepted for payment and paid for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant to the Offer on or before August 31, 2011, (ii) the Offer has expired or been terminated in accordance with its terms without Merger Sub having purchased any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant thereto, or (iii) Merger Sub has failed to commence the Offer by August 31, 2011; provided, that CryoLife will not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the foregoing if such failure to accept for payment and pay for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, to purchase shares of Cardiogenesis common stock or to commence the Offer is due to CryoLife's or Merger Sub's breach of the Merger Agreement.
·
by Cardiogenesis, at any time prior to the Offer acceptance date:
42
o
if CryoLife or Merger Sub has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of CryoLife or Merger Sub has become untrue, in each case which breach or failure to perform or to be true, individually or in the aggregate (i) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on CryoLife, and (ii) cannot be or, to the extent curable by CryoLife or Merger Sub, has not been cured by the earlier of (1) August 31, 2011 and (2) 30 days after the giving of written notice to CryoLife of such breach or failure; provided that Cardiogenesis will not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the foregoing if it is then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement;
o
in order to concurrently enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement that constitutes a superior proposal, so long as Cardiogenesis has complied in all material respects with its non-solicitation obligations in the Merger Agreement and, prior to or concurrently with such termination, has paid the applicable Termination Fee to CryoLife;
o
if (i) Merger Sub has not accepted for payment and paid for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant to the Offer on or before August 31, 2011, (ii) the Offer has expired or been terminated in accordance with its terms without Merger Sub having purchased any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant thereto, or (iii) Merger Sub has failed to commence the Offer by August 31, 2011; provided, that Cardiogenesis will not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the foregoing if such failure to accept for payment and pay for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, to purchase shares of Cardiogenesis common stock or to commence the Offer is due to Cardiogenesis’ breach of the Merger Agreement.
Termination Fees and Expenses
Cardiogenesis will be required to pay to CryoLife a termination fee upon the occurrence of certain events described below.
Upon the occurrence of the events listed in either of the two bullet points below, Cardiogenesis will be required to pay a termination fee of $1,500,000:
·
if all the following three sets of conditions are satisfied: (A) an acquisition proposal or intention to make an acquisition proposal is made directly to the shareholders of Cardiogenesis, otherwise publicly disclosed or otherwise publicly communicated to senior management of Cardiogenesis or its Board of Directors, and
(B)
(1) the Merger Agreement is thereafter terminated by CryoLife and either:
o
if Cardiogenesis has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than with respect to a breach of the non-solicitation covenant or covenant regarding Cardiogenesis’ obligation to hold a shareholders' meeting) or if any representation or warranty of Cardiogenesis has become untrue, in each case which breach or failure to perform or to be true, individually or in the aggregate (i) would result in the failure of an Offer condition or of any of the conditions to the Offer and Merger, and (ii) cannot be or, to the extent curable by Cardiogenesis, has not been cured by the earlier of (1) August 31, 2011, and (2) 30 days after the giving of written notice to Cardiogenesis of such breach or failure; provided, that CryoLife will not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the foregoing if CryoLife or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement; or
o
if (i) Merger Sub shall not have accepted for payment and paid for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant to the Offer on or before August 31, 2011, (ii) the Offer has expired or been terminated in accordance with its terms without Merger Sub having purchased any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant thereto, or (iii) Merger Sub has failed to commence the Offer by August 31, 2011 (other than if such failure to accept for payment and pay for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, to purchase shares of Cardiogenesis common stock or to commence the Offer is due to CryoLife's or Merger Sub's breach of the Merger Agreement), unless immediately prior to such termination a number of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock satisfying the Minimum Condition shall have been tendered into the Offer and not withdrawn; or
(2) the Merger Agreement is thereafter terminated by Cardiogenesis if (i) Merger Sub has not accepted for payment and paid for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant to the Offer on or before August 31, 2011, (ii) the Offer has expired or been terminated in accordance with its terms without Merger Sub having purchased any shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant thereto, or (iii) Merger Sub has failed to commence the Offer by April 18, 2011 (other than if such failure to accept for payment and pay for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, to purchase shares of Cardiogenesis common stock or to commence the Offer is due to Cardiogenesis’ breach of the Merger Agreement), unless immediately
43
prior to such termination a number of shares of Cardiogenesis common stock satisfying the Minimum Condition shall have been tendered into the Offer and not withdrawn; and
(C) within 12 months after the date of such termination, Cardiogenesis enters into an agreement in respect of any acquisition proposal and such transaction is subsequently consummated (whether consummated before or after such 12-month period), or recommends or submits an acquisition proposal to its shareholders for adoption and such transaction is subsequently consummated (whether consummated before or after such 12-month period), or a transaction in respect of an acquisition proposal is consummated within such 12-month period, which, in each case, need not be the same acquisition proposal that shall have been made, publicly disclosed or communicated prior to termination hereof (provided, that for purposes of this clause (C), each reference to “20%” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” shall be deemed to be a reference to “50%”); or
·
if CryoLife terminates the Merger Agreementif (i) the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) effects an adverse recommendation change, (ii) Cardiogenesis or the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) approves or recommends, or causes or permits Cardiogenesis to enter into, an alternative acquisition agreement relating to an acquisition proposal, (iii) Cardiogenesis shall have breached any of its obligations under the non-solicitation covenant or covenant regarding Cardiogenesis’ obligation to hold a shareholders' meeting, which are covered elsewhere or (iv) Cardiogenesis or the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) shall formally resolve or publicly authorize or publicly propose to take any of the foregoing actions.
Alternatively, Cardiogenesis will be required to pay a reduced termination fee of $1,000,000 if, prior to April 18, 2011, Cardiogenesis terminates the Merger Agreement in order to concurrently enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement that constitutes a superior proposal, so long as Cardiogenesis has complied in all material respects with its non-solicitation obligations in the Merger Agreement. However, if Cardiogenesis terminates the Merger Agreement under these conditions after April 17, 2011, Cardiogenesis must pay the full termination fee of $1,500,000. In no event will Cardiogenesis be required to pay the full termination fee on more than one occasion.
Subject to certain exceptions, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Offer, the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Offer or the Merger is consummated, except that the expenses incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the Offer documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the proxy statement, and all filing and other fees paid to the SEC, in each case in connection with the Merger (other than attorneys' fees, accountants' fees and related expenses), will be borne by CryoLife. Any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement incurred by a Cardiogenesis shareholder (such as fees and expenses of separate counsel to such shareholder) will be borne by such shareholder.
Effect of Termination
In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated by CryoLife due to an adverse recommendation change or approval or recommendation of an alternative acquisition agreement relating to an acquisition proposal by Cardiogenesis or under similar circumstances, or terminated by Cardiogenesis in order to enter into an agreement with respect to a superior proposal, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, CryoLife will promptly amend the Offer to disclose that such Offer is no longer pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Any Offer so amended and continued after the termination of the Merger Agreement will not be subject to any terms or conditions of the Merger Agreement (and CryoLife and Merger Sub will not be subject to any standstill agreement previously entered into). In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to any other termination right, then as promptly as practicable after such termination, CryoLife will terminate the Offer. Nothing in the Merger Agreement is to be construed as a standstill or restriction that would limit CryoLife or any of its subsidiaries from acquiring capital stock of Cardiogenesis by any means at any time after termination of the Merger Agreement (or termination of the Offer).
Amendment of the Merger Agreement and Waiver of Rights
The Merger Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by the respective Boards of Directors of CryoLife and Cardiogenesis at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether before or after Cardiogenesis has obtained the approval of its shareholders. However, after Merger Sub has accepted for payment and paid for shares of Cardiogenesis common stock pursuant to the offer to purchase no amendment may be made which decreases the cash consideration. In addition, after Cardiogenesis has obtained the approval of its shareholders, no amendment may be made that pursuant to applicable law requires further approval or adoption by the shareholders without such further approval or adoption.
At any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, the respective Boards of Directors of CryoLife and Cardiogenesis may, (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or acts of the other parties, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the
44
representations and warranties of the other parties set forth in the Merger Agreement or any document delivered pursuant thereto or (iii) subject to applicable law, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the other parties contained in the Merger Agreement. However, after Cardiogenesis has obtained the approval of its shareholders, no waiver may be made that pursuant to applicable law requires further approval or adoption by the shareholders without such further approval or adoption.
Support Agreement
In order to induce CryoLife to enter into the Merger Agreement, Paul McCormick, the Executive Chairman of Cardiogenesis, Richard P. Lanigan, the Executive Vice President, Marketing of Cardiogenesis, and William R. Abbott, the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of Cardiogenesis, and each member of the Board of Directors of Cardiogenesis (holding an aggregate of approximately 2.7% of the outstanding shares of Cardiogenesis common stock as of April 5, 2011) entered into a support agreement with CryoLife. Pursuant to the support agreement, such persons have agreed, in their capacity as shareholders, to tender into the Offer, but only if requested in writing by CryoLife, prior to the termination date of the support agreement and except as otherwise described below, their shares of Cardiogenesis common stock (including any shares obtained upon any exercise of Options) and to vote such shares at any meeting of the shareholders of Cardiogenesis or in connection with any written consent of the shareholders of Cardiogenesis:
·
in favor of the Merger, the execution and delivery by Cardiogenesis of the Merger Agreement, the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the terms thereof and each of the other matters necessary for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (whether or not recommended by the Cardiogenesis Board of Directors); and
·
against any acquisition proposal, any recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution, amalgamation, merger, sale of assets or other business combination between Cardiogenesis and any other person (other than the Merger), any other action that could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the support agreement or any transaction that results in a breach in any material respect of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of Cardiogenesis or any of its subsidiaries under the Merger Agreement, and any change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of Cardiogenesis or any amendment or other change to Cardiogenesis’ articles of incorporation or bylaws, except if approved by CryoLife.
Each shareholder who is party to the support agreement also agreed that prior to the termination date of the support agreement such shareholder will not:
·
take any action or fail to take any action, or cause Cardiogenesis or any other representative of Cardiogenesis to take any action or fail to take any action, that would constitute, or be reasonably likely to result in, a breach of Cardiogenesis’ covenants and agreements under the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement; or
·
(i) tender into any tender or exchange offer (other than the Offer), (ii) sell (constructively or otherwise), transfer, pledge, hypothecate, grant, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option, agreement or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the transfer of any of such shareholder’s shares of Cardiogenesis stock or beneficial ownership or voting power thereof or therein (including by operation of law), (iii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney, deposit any shares of Cardiogenesis stock into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any shares of Cardiogenesis stock or (iv) knowingly take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such shareholder contained in the support agreement untrue or incorrect, in any material respect, or have the effect of preventing or disabling such shareholder from performing its obligations thereunder.
The support agreement requires each signing shareholder, within five business days of the commencement of the Offer, to deliver to the exchange agent properly completed letters of election and transmittal, stock certificates for any Cardiogenesis shares held in certficated form, and any other documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of the Offer, and to instruct the broker who holds any such shares to promptly tender the shares pursuant to the Offer.
The support agreement will terminate automatically upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) the effective time of the Merger, (ii) written notice of termination of the support agreement is delivered by CryoLife to the shareholders, (iii) August 31, 2011, (iv) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (v) the date CryoLife or Merger Sub terminates, withdraws, or abandons the Offer, (vi) the date on which the Offer is revised (except in the context of CryoLife's “matching right”) for (A) a reduction of the cash consideration in the Merger, (B) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a change in the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (C) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a reduction in the number of shares to be purchased by Merger Sub in the Offer, (D) subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, a waiver or amendment of the Minimum Condition, (E) any addition to the conditions to the Offer or imposition of any other conditions to the Offer, (F) the extension of the
45
expiration date of the Offer, except as requiredor allowed by the Merger Agreement, (G) other amendment, modification, or addition of a supplemental condition to the Offer or any term of the Offer in a manner adverse to the holders of the shares of Cardiogenesis common stock, or, or (vii) the date on which a third party acquires more than 50% of Cardiogenesis’ outstanding voting securities on a fully diluted basis.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger to shareholders of Cardiogenesis whose shares are tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer or whose shares are converted into the right to receive cash in the Merger. This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of United States federal income taxation that might be relevant to shareholders of Cardiogenesis. The discussion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing, proposed and temporary regulations thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with a retroactive effect. The discussion applies only to shareholders of Cardiogenesis in whose hands shares are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS, and no opinion of counsel has been or will be rendered as to the tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger. This discussion does not apply to shares received pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, or to certain types of shareholders (including, without limitation, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, regulated investment companies, partnerships, S-corporations, and other pass-through entities and broker-dealers) which may be subject to special rules under the Code. This discussion does not discuss the United States federal income tax consequences to any shareholder of Cardiogenesis who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign partnership or a foreign estate or trust, or a U.S. holder having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, nor does it consider the effect of any federal estate or gift tax laws or foreign, state or local tax laws. This discussion also does not address tax considerations that may be relevant to shareholders of Cardiogenesis in light of their particular circumstances, such as holding shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, or constructive sale transaction, an integrated investment or other risk-reduction transaction or shareholders of Cardiogenesis that are subject to the alternative minimum tax. This discussion does not address the United States federal income tax consequences to a shareholder who receives merger consideration as the result of the vesting and/or the deemed exercise of stock options or warrants or as the result of the vesting of restricted stock. If a partnership holds the shares, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and on the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships holding shares should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger.
Because individual circumstances may differ, each shareholder should consult its, his or her own tax advisor to determine the applicability of the rules discussed below and the particular tax effects of the Offer and the Merger on a beneficial holder of shares, including the application and effect of the alternative minimum tax and any state, local and foreign tax laws and of changes in such laws.
The exchange of shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, a shareholder who sells shares pursuant to the Offer or receives cash in exchange for shares pursuant to the Merger will recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received for the shares and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares sold pursuant to the Offer or exchanged for cash pursuant to the Merger. Gain or loss will be determined separately for each block of shares (that is, shares acquired at the same price per share in a single transaction) tendered pursuant to the Offer or exchanged for cash pursuant to the Merger. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder’s holding period for such shares is more than one year at the time of consummation of the Offer or the Merger, as the case may be. Long-term capital gains recognized by a non-corporate shareholder upon a disposition of a share generally will be eligible for reduced United States federal income tax rates. In the case of a share that has been held for one year or less, such capital gains generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates as if shares subject to the dissenters’ rights were sold for the cash received by the dissenting shareholders. Certain limitations apply to the use of a shareholder’s capital losses but generally short- or long-term capital gains may be offset by capital losses.
In general, Cardiogenesis shareholders who exercise statutory dissenters’ rights in connection with the Merger will also recognize gain or loss. Any holder considering exercising statutory dissenters’ rights should consult his, her or its own tax advisor.
A shareholder whose shares are purchased in the Offer or exchanged for cash pursuant to the Merger is subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless certain information is provided to the depositary or an exemption applies.
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ANNEX A
INFORMATION CONCERNING CRYOLIFE, INC., CL FALCON, INC. AND DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS OF CRYOLIFE, INC. AND CL FALCON, INC.
The following sets forth the name, age and present principal occupation or employment, and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for the past five years, of each director and executive officer of CryoLife, Inc. (“CryoLife”) and CL Falcon, Inc. (“Merger Sub”). The business address and telephone number of each director or executive officer is: CryoLife, Inc., 1655 Roberts Boulevard, NW, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144, (770) 419-3355, which address and telephone number is CryoLife's business address and telephone number.
During the last five years, neither CryoLife nor Merger Sub, nor, to the best knowledge of CryoLife or Merger Sub, any of the persons listed below:
·
has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); or
·
was a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of such laws.
All of the persons listed below are citizens of the United States.
CRYOLIFE DIRECTORS
Steven G. Anderson, a founder of CryoLife, has served as CryoLife’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since its inception. Mr. Anderson has more than 25 years of experience in tissue preservation and more than 40 years of experience in the medical device industry. Prior to founding CryoLife, Mr. Anderson was Senior Executive Vice President and Vice President, Marketing, from 1976 until 1983, of Intermedics, Inc. (now Boston Scientific Corporation), a manufacturer and distributor of pacemakers and other medical devices. Mr. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Thomas F. Ackerman has served as a Director of CryoLife since December 2003. Mr. Ackerman is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL), a position he has held since 2005. Charles River Laboratories is a leading global provider of solutions that accelerate the drug discovery and development process, including research models and associated services, and outsourced preclinical services. From 1999 to 2005 he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and from 1996 to 1999 he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Charles River Laboratories, where he has been employed since 1988. Mr. Ackerman is a Director of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation. Mr. Ackerman received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and became a certified public accountant in 1979 (his license is currently inactive).
James S. Benson has served as a Director of CryoLife since December 2005. Mr. Benson retired from the Advanced Medical Device Association (“AdvaMed”, formerly known as The Health Industry Manufacturers Association, “HIMA”) in July 2002 as Executive Vice President for Technical and Regulatory Affairs. He was employed by AdvaMed from January 1993 through June 2002. Prior to that, he was employed by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for 20 years, where he held a number of senior positions. He retired from the FDA as Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (“CDRH”) in December of 1992. Prior to his position as
Center Director, he served as Deputy Commissioner from July 1988 through July 1991. During that period, he served as Acting Commissioner for one year, from December 1989 through November 1990. Prior to his position as Deputy Commissioner, he served as Deputy Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health from 1978 to 1982. Mr. Benson currently serves on the Board of Directors for two other companies: CytoMedix, Inc., a publicly traded company (OTCBB: CYME), where he is the Presiding Director, and Medical Device Consultants, Inc., a private company. In 2003 Mr. Benson was engaged by the law firm representing a Special Litigation Committee of the Board of Directors of the company to serve as an expert witness in connection with the Special Litigation Committee’s independent investigation into allegations made by the plaintiffs in the shareholder derivative lawsuit filed against the company’s Directors, which was settled in 2005. Mr. Benson also was engaged to serve as an expert witness by a different law firm representing the company in the securities class action shareholder lawsuit filed against the company, which was also settled in 2005. Mr. Benson received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1962 and an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1969.
Daniel J. Bevevino has served as a Director of CryoLife since December 2003. From 1996 until March of 2008, Mr. Bevevino served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Respironics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RESP), a company that develops, manufactures and markets medical devices used primarily for the treatment of patients suffering from sleep and respiratory disorders, where he was employed since 1988. In March 2008, Respironics was acquired by Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG), whose businesses include a variety of medical solutions including medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, as well as businesses focused on energy efficient lighting and consumer products. From March 2008 to December 31, 2009, Mr. Bevevino was employed by Philips as the Head of Post-Merger Integration – Respironics, as well as in various operating capacities, to help facilitate the integration of the combined companies. He is currently an independent consultant providing interim chief financial officer services in the life sciences industry. He began his career as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young (his license is currently inactive). Mr. Bevevino received a B.S. in Business Administration from Duquesne University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Ronald C. Elkins, M.D. has served as a Director of CryoLife since January 1994. Dr. Elkins is Professor Emeritus, Section of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Elkins has been a physician at the Health Science Center since 1971, and was Chief, Section of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, from 1975 to 2002. Dr. Elkins is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and Johns Hopkins Medical School.
Ronald D. McCall, Esq. has served as a Director of CryoLife since January 1984 and served as its Secretary and Treasurer from 1984 to 2002; however, Mr. McCall has never been an employee of the company and did not receive any compensation for his service as Secretary and Treasurer of the company other than the company’s standard compensation provided to Directors. From 1985 to the present, Mr. McCall has been the owner of the law firm of Ronald D. McCall, P.A., based in Tampa, Florida. Mr. McCall was admitted to the practice of law in Florida in 1961. Mr. McCall received a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Florida.
Harvey Morganhas served as a Director of CryoLife since May 2008. Mr. Morgan has more than 40 years of investment banking experience, with significant expertise in strategic advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, and underwritings. He has been a Managing Director of the investment banking firm Bentley Associates, L.P. since 2004, and from 2001 to 2004, he was a Principal of Shattuck Hammond Partners, an independent investment banking and financial advisory firm. Mr. Morgan also serves on the Boards of Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO) and Cybex International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBI). Mr. Morgan received his undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
CRYOLIFE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Steven G. Anderson, a founder of CryoLife, has served as CryoLife’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since its inception. Mr. Anderson has more than 40 years of experience in the implantable medical device industry. Prior to founding CryoLife, Mr. Anderson was Senior Executive Vice President and Vice President, Marketing, from 1976 until 1983 of Intermedics, Inc. (now Boston Scientific Corp.), a
manufacturer and distributor of pacemakers and other medical devices. Mr. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Jeffrey W. Burris was appointed to the position of Vice President and General Counsel in February 2010. Mr. Burris has been with CryoLife since February 2008, serving as General Counsel from February of 2008 until February 2010. From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Burris served as Senior Legal Counsel and Legal Counsel for Waste Management, where he was the responsible attorney for acquisitions and divestitures for Waste Management’s Southern Group. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Burris was an associate with the law firm Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP, focusing on biotechnology and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Burris received his B.A. from the University of Tennessee and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Scott B. Capps was appointed to the position of Vice President of Clinical Research in November 2007. Prior to this position, Mr. Capps served as Vice President, General Manager of CryoLife Europa, Ltd. in the United Kingdom from February 2005 to November 2007 and Director, European Clinical Affairs from April 2003 to January 2005. Mr. Capps joined CryoLife in 1995 as Project Engineer for the allograft heart valve program, and was promoted to Director, Clinical Research in 1999. Mr. Capps is responsible for overseeing and implementing clinical trials to achieve FDA and International approval of CryoLife’s medical products in cardiac, vascular, and orthopaedic clinical areas. Before joining CryoLife, Mr. Capps was a Research Assistant in the Department of Bioengineering at Clemson University working to develop a computerized database and radiographic image analysis system for total knee replacement. Mr. Capps received his Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his M.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University.
David M. Fronk was appointed to the position of Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance in April 2005 and has been with CryoLife since 1992, serving as Vice President of Clinical Research from December 1998 to April 2005 and Director of Clinical Research from December 1997 until December 1998. Mr. Fronk is responsible for developing and implementing improved safety processes and procedures for new and existing medical products. Prior to joining CryoLife, Mr. Fronk held engineering positions with Zimmer Inc. from 1986 until 1988 and Baxter Healthcare Corporation from 1988 until 1991. Mr. Fronk served as a market manager with Baxter Healthcare Corporation from 1991 until 1992. Mr. Fronk received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University in 1985 and his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the Ohio State University in 1986.
Albert E. Heacox, Ph.D., was appointed to the position of Senior Vice President of Research and Development in December 2004. Dr. Heacox has been with CryoLife since June 1985 and served as Vice President of Laboratory Operations from June 1989 to December 2004. Dr. Heacox was promoted to Senior Vice President in December of 2000. Dr. Heacox has been responsible for developing protocols and procedures for cardiac, vascular, and connective tissues, implementing upgrades in procedures in conjunction with CryoLife’s quality assurance programs, and overseeing all processing and production activities of CryoLife’s laboratories. Dr. Heacox is now responsible for the continued development of CryoLife’s current products as well as the evaluation of new technologies. Prior to joining CryoLife, Dr. Heacox worked as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and North Dakota State University, developing methods for the preservation of cells and animal germ plasma storage. Dr. Heacox received his B.A. and M.S. in Biology from Adelphi University, received his Ph.D. in Zoology from Washington State University, and completed his post-doctorate training in cell biology at the University of Cologne, West Germany.
D. Ashley Lee, CPA, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer since November 2004. Mr. Lee has been with CryoLife since December 1994 serving as Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer from December 2002 to November 2004; as Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer from April 2000 to December 2002; and as Controller of CryoLife from December 1994 until April 2000. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Lee served as the Assistant Director of Finance for Compass Retail Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable Real Estate. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Lee was employed as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Lee received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Mississippi.
Gerald B. Seery has served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing since October 2005. Mr. Seery has been with CryoLife since July 1993 serving as Vice President of International Operations from July 2005 to October 2005, President of CryoLife Europa from April 2002 to July 2005, President of AuraZyme from March 2001 to April 2002, and Vice President of Marketing from August 1995 to March 2001. Mr. Seery is responsible for developing and implementing CryoLife’s sales and marketing plans and supervising all tissue procurement
activities. Prior to joining CryoLife, Mr. Seery held senior marketing management positions with Meadox Medicals from 1982 until 1985, Electro Catheter Corporation from 1985 until 1989 and Daig Corporation from 1992 until 1993, accumulating fifteen years of specialized marketing experience in cardiac medical devices. Mr. Seery received his B.A. in International Economics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1978 and completed his M.B.A. at Columbia University in New York in 1980
MERGER SUB DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Steven G. Anderson, is the sole director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Merger Sub. Mr. Anderson, a founder of CryoLife, has served as CryoLife’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since its inception. Mr. Anderson has more than 40 years of experience in the implantable medical device industry. Prior to founding CryoLife, Mr. Anderson was Senior Executive Vice President and Vice President, Marketing, from 1976 until 1983 of Intermedics, Inc. (now Boston Scientific Corp.), a manufacturer and distributor of pacemakers and other medical devices. Mr. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
D. Ashley Lee, CPA, is the Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Merger Sub. Mr. Lee has served as CryoLife, Inc.’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer since November 2004. Mr. Lee has been with CryoLife since December 1994 serving as Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer from December 2002 to November 2004; as Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer from April 2000 to December 2002; and as Controller of CryoLife from December 1994 until April 2000. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Lee served as the Assistant Director of Finance for Compass Retail Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable Real Estate. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Lee was employed as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Lee received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Mississippi.
ANNEX B
NOTICE OF SHORT-FORM MERGER
This notice is being furnished to holders of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Cardiogenesis pursuant to Section 1110 of the CGCL. Terms that are not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the offer to purchase to which this Notice is attached as Annex B.
1. If all of the conditions to the Offer are satisfied and the minimum condition is not reduced as of the Expiration Date, in each case as described in the offer to purchase to which this Notice of Short-Form Merger is attached, and the Offer is consummated, Merger Sub will be the owner of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of Cardiogenesis capital stock. Under such circumstances, Merger Sub anticipates that it will effect a short-form merger of Merger Sub with and into Cardiogenesis pursuant to Section 1110 of the CGCL (the “Short-Form Merger”) as soon as practicable following consummation of the Offer. Under such circumstances, the Short-Form Merger will become effective on or after May 2, 2011.
2. The following resolution was adopted by the Boards of Directors of Merger Sub and Cardiogenesis and by the sole shareholder of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Merger Sub on April 5, 2011:
RESOLVED FURTHER, that, pursuant to Section 1110 of the California General Corporation Law, the Board hereby adopts and approves (i) the Merger, (ii) the assumption of all liabilities of Cardiogenesis by Merger Sub as a result of the Merger, (iii) the consideration to be received by the holders of Cardiogenesis Common Stock for each share of Cardiogenesis Common Stock (other than shares owned by CryoLife or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CryoLife or Cardiogenesis or held by shareholders who properly demand and perfect dissenters’ rights under California law) in the amount of $0.4570 per share, net to the holder thereof in cash, and (iv) the conversion, at the Effective Time, of each share of common stock of Merger Sub into one share of Cardiogenesis Common Stock.
3. A copy of Sections 1300 through 1304 of the CGCL is set forth below.
§ 1300. Reorganization or short-form merger; dissenting shares; corporate purchase at fair market value; definitions
(a) If the approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) of a corporation is required for a reorganization under subdivisions (a) and (b) or subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 1201, each shareholder of the corporation entitled to vote on the transaction and each shareholder of a subsidiary corporation in a short-form merger may, by complying with this chapter, require the corporation in which the shareholder holds shares to purchase for cash at their fair market value the shares owned by the shareholder which are dissenting shares as defined in subdivision (b). The fair market value shall be determined as of the day before the first announcement of the terms of the proposed reorganization or short-form merger, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in consequence of the proposed action, but adjusted for any stock split, reverse stock split, or share dividend which becomes effective thereafter.
(b) As used in this chapter, “dissenting shares” means shares which come within all of the following descriptions:
(1) Which were not immediately prior to the reorganization or short-form merger listed on any national securities exchange certified by the Commissioner of Corporations under subdivision (o) of Section 25100, and the notice of meeting of shareholders to act upon the reorganization summarizes this section and Sections 1301, 1302, 1303 and 1304; provided, however, that this provision does not apply to any shares with respect to which there exists any restriction on transfer imposed by the corporation or by any law or regulation; and provided, further, that this provision does not apply to any class of shares if demands for payment are filed with respect to 5 percent or more of the outstanding shares of that class.
(2) Which were outstanding on the date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote on the reorganization and (A) were not voted in favor of the reorganization or, (B) if described in paragraph (1) (without regard to the provisos in that paragraph), were voted against the reorganization, or were held of record on the effective date of a short-form merger; provided, however, that subparagraph (A) rather than subparagraph (B) of this paragraph applies in any case where the approval required by Section 1201 is sought by written consent rather than at a meeting.
(3) Which the dissenting shareholder has demanded that the corporation purchase at their fair market value, in accordance with Section 1301.
(4) Which the dissenting shareholder has submitted for endorsement, in accordance with Section 1302.
(c) As used in this chapter, “dissenting shareholder” means the recordholder of dissenting shares and includes a transferee of record.
§1301. Notice to holders of dissenting shares in reorganizations; demand for purchase; time; contents
(a) If, in the case of a reorganization, any shareholders of a corporation have a right under Section 1300, subject to compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) thereof, to require the corporation to purchase their shares for cash, that corporation shall mail to each such shareholder a notice of the approval of the reorganization by its outstanding shares (Section 152) within 10 days after the date of that approval, accompanied by a copy of Sections 1300, 1302, 1303, and 1304 and this section, a statement of the price determined by the corporation to represent the fair market value of the dissenting shares, and a brief description of the procedure to be followed if the shareholder desires to exercise the shareholder’s right under those sections. The statement of price constitutes an offer by the corporation to purchase at the price stated any dissenting shares as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1300, unless they lose their status as dissenting shares under Section 1309.
(b) Any shareholder who has a right to require the corporation to purchase the shareholder’s shares for cash under Section 1300, subject to compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) thereof, and who desires the corporation to purchase shares shall make written demand upon the corporation for the purchase of those shares and payment to the shareholder in cash of their fair market value. The demand is not effective for any purpose unless it is received by the corporation or any transfer agent thereof (1) in the case of shares described subdivision (b) of Section 1300 (without regard to the provisos in that paragraph), not later than the date of the shareholders’ meeting to vote upon the reorganization, or (2) in any other case within 30 days after the date on which the notice of the approval by the outstanding shares pursuant to subdivision (a) or the notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder.
(c) The demand shall state the number and class of the shares held of record by the shareholder which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase and shall contain a statement of what that shareholder claims to be the fair market value of those shares as of the day before the announcement of the proposed reorganization or short-form merger. The statement of fair market value constitutes an offer by the shareholder to sell the shares at that price.
§1302. Submission of share certificates for endorsement; uncertificated securities
Within 30 days after the date on which notice of the approval by the outstanding shares or the notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder, the shareholder shall submit to the corporation at its principal office or at the office of any transfer agent thereof, (a) if the shares are certificated securities, the shareholder’s certificates representing any shares which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase, to be stamped or endorsed with a statement that the shares are dissenting shares or to be exchanged for certificates of appropriate denomination so stamped or endorsed or (b) if the shares are uncertificated securities, written notice of the number of shares which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase. Upon subsequent transfers of the dissenting shares on the books of the corporation, the new certificates, initial transaction statement, and other written statements issued therefor shall bear a like statement, together with the name of the original dissenting holder of the shares.
§1303. Payment of agreed price with interest; agreement fixing fair market value; filing; time of payment
(a) If the corporation and the shareholder agree that the shares are dissenting shares and agree upon the price of the shares, the dissenting shareholder is entitled to the agreed price with interest thereon at the legal rate on judgments from the date of the agreement. Any agreements fixing the fair market value of any dissenting shares as between the corporation and the holders thereof shall be filed with the secretary of the corporation. (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 1306, payment of the fair market value of dissenting shares shall be made within 30 days after the amount thereof has been agreed or within 30 days after any statutory or contractual conditions to the
reorganization are satisfied, whichever is later, and in the case of certificated securities, subject to surrender of the certificates therefor, unless provided otherwise by agreement.
§1304. Action to determine whether shares are dissenting shares or fair market value; limitation; joinder; consolidation; determination of issues; appointment of appraisers
(a) If the corporation denies that the shares are dissenting shares, or the corporation and the shareholder fail to agree upon the fair market value of the shares, then the shareholder demanding purchase of such shares as dissenting shares or any interested corporation, within six months after the date on which notice of the approval by the outstanding shares (Section 152) or notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder, but not thereafter, may file a complaint in the superior court of the proper county praying the court to determine whether the shares are dissenting shares or the fair market value of the dissenting shares or both or may intervene in any action pending on such a complaint.
(b) Two or more dissenting shareholders may join as plaintiffs or be joined as defendants in any such action and two or more such actions may be consolidated.
(c) On the trial of the action, the court shall determine the issues. If the status of the shares as dissenting shares is in issue, the court shall first determine that issue. If the fair market value of the dissenting shares is in issue, the court shall determine, or shall appoint one or more impartial appraisers to determine, the fair market value of the shares.
4. The price determined by Cardiogenesis to represent the fair market value of the dissenting shares is $__ per share.
5. A brief description of the procedures to be followed if a shareholder desires to exercise his or her rights under Sections 1300 through 1304 of the CGCL is set forth below:
1. Any shareholder who has a right to require Cardiogenesis to purchase the shareholder’s shares for cash under Section 1300 of the CGCL, subject to compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) thereof, and who desires Cardiogenesis to purchase such shares must make a written demand upon Cardiogenesis for the purchase of such shares and payment to the shareholder in cash of their fair market value.
2. Such demand should be sent to the Secretary of Cardiogenesis at 11 Musick, Irvine, California 92618.
3. The demand is not effective for any purpose unless it is received by the Secretary of Cardiogenesis or any transfer agent thereof within 30 days after the date this notice was mailed to shareholders.
4. The demand must state the number and class of the shares held of record by the shareholder which the shareholder demands that Cardiogenesis purchase and must contain a statement of what such shareholder claims to be the fair market value of those shares as of March 28, 2011, which is the day before the announcement of the terms of the Merger. The statement of fair market value constitutes an offer by the shareholder to sell the shares at such price.
5. Within 30 days after the date this notice was mailed to shareholders, shareholders who desire to exercise appraisal rights must also submit to the Secretary of Cardiogenesis at the address above or to the office of any transfer agent of Cardiogenesis, the certificates representing any shares which the shareholder demands that Cardiogenesis purchase. Such certificates will be stamped or endorsed with a statement that the shares are dissenting shares or be exchanged for certificates of appropriate denomination so stamped or endorsed. If such shares are uncertificated, such shareholder must instead provide to Cardiogenesis or any transfer agent thereof written notice of the number of shares which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase.
6. If Cardiogenesis and the shareholder agree that the surrendered shares are dissenting shares and agree upon the price of the shares, the dissenting shareholder will be entitled to the agreed price together with interest thereon at the legal rate on judgments from the date of the agreement. Cardiogenesis will pay the fair value of the dissenting shares within 30 days after such agreement or within 30 days after any statutory or contractual conditions to the Merger are satisfied, whichever is later. Cardiogenesis’ duty to pay is subject to
the dissenting shareholder’s surrender of the certificates and to the restrictions imposed under California law on the ability of Cardiogenesis to purchase its outstanding shares.
7. If Cardiogenesis denies that the shares are dissenting shares, or if a dissenting shareholder and Cardiogenesis fail to agree on the fair market value of the shares, then such shareholder demanding purchase of such shares as dissenting shares or Cardiogenesis, within six months after the date this notice was mailed to shareholders, may file a complaint in the superior court for the proper county requesting the court to determine whether the shares are dissenting shares or the fair market value of the dissenting shares, as applicable, or may intervene in any action pending on such a complaint. Shareholders who fail to file or intervene in such an action within the specified six-month period will lose their appraisal rights.
ANNEX C
CALIFORNIA GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
CHAPTER 13
DISSENTER’S RIGHTS
(SECTIONS 1300-1313)
§ 1300. Reorganization or short-form merger; dissenting shares; corporate purchase at fair market value; definitions
(a) If the approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) of a corporation is required for a reorganization under subdivisions (a) and (b) or subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 1201, each shareholder of the corporation entitled to vote on the transaction and each shareholder of a subsidiary corporation in a short-form merger may, by complying with this chapter, require the corporation in which the shareholder holds shares to purchase for cash at their fair market value the shares owned by the shareholder which are dissenting shares as defined in subdivision (b). The fair market value shall be determined as of the day before the first announcement of the terms of the proposed reorganization or short-form merger, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in consequence of the proposed action, but adjusted for any stock split, reverse stock split, or share dividend which becomes effective thereafter.
(b) As used in this chapter, “dissenting shares” means shares which come within all of the following descriptions:
(1) Which were not immediately prior to the reorganization or short-form merger listed on any national securities exchange certified by the Commissioner of Corporations under subdivision (o) of Section 25100, and the notice of meeting of shareholders to act upon the reorganization summarizes this section and Sections 1301, 1302, 1303 and 1304; provided, however, that this provision does not apply to any shares with respect to which there exists any restriction on transfer imposed by the corporation or by any law or regulation; and provided, further, that this provision does not apply to any class of shares if demands for payment are filed with respect to 5 percent or more of the outstanding shares of that class.
(2) Which were outstanding on the date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote on the reorganization and (A) were not voted in favor of the reorganization or, (B) if described in paragraph (1) (without regard to the provisos in that paragraph), were voted against the reorganization, or were held of record on the effective date of a short-form merger; provided, however, that subparagraph (A) rather than subparagraph (B) of this paragraph applies in any case where the approval required by Section 1201 is sought by written consent rather than at a meeting.
(3) Which the dissenting shareholder has demanded that the corporation purchase at their fair market value, in accordance with Section 1301.
(4) Which the dissenting shareholder has submitted for endorsement, in accordance with Section 1302.
(c) As used in this chapter, “dissenting shareholder” means the recordholder of dissenting shares and includes a transferee of record.
§1301. Notice to holders of dissenting shares in reorganizations; demand for purchase; time; contents
(a) If, in the case of a reorganization, any shareholders of a corporation have a right under Section 1300, subject to compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) thereof, to require the corporation to purchase their shares for cash, that corporation shall mail to each such shareholder a notice of the approval of the reorganization by its outstanding shares (Section 152) within 10 days after the date of that approval, accompanied by a copy of Sections 1300, 1302, 1303, and 1304 and this section, a statement of the price determined by the corporation to represent the fair market value of the dissenting shares, and a brief description of the procedure to be followed if the shareholder desires to exercise the shareholder’s right under those sections. The statement of price constitutes an offer by the corporation to purchase at the price stated any dissenting shares as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1300, unless they lose their status as dissenting shares under Section 1309.
(b) Any shareholder who has a right to require the corporation to purchase the shareholder’s shares for cash under Section 1300, subject to compliance with paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) thereof, and who desires the corporation to purchase shares shall make written demand upon the corporation for the purchase of those shares and payment to the shareholder in cash of their fair market value. The demand is not effective for any purpose unless it is received by the corporation or any transfer agent thereof (1) in the case of shares described subdivision (b) of Section 1300 (without regard to the provisos in that paragraph), not later than the date of the shareholders’ meeting to vote upon the reorganization, or (2) in any other case within 30 days after the date on which the notice of the approval by the outstanding shares pursuant to subdivision (a) or the notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder.
(c) The demand shall state the number and class of the shares held of record by the shareholder which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase and shall contain a statement of what that shareholder claims to be the fair market value of those shares as of the day before the announcement of the proposed reorganization or short-form merger. The statement of fair market value constitutes an offer by the shareholder to sell the shares at that price.
§1302. Submission of share certificates for endorsement; uncertificated securities
Within 30 days after the date on which notice of the approval by the outstanding shares or the notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder, the shareholder shall submit to the corporation at its principal office or at the office of any transfer agent thereof, (a) if the shares are certificated securities, the shareholder’s certificates representing any shares which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase, to be stamped or endorsed with a statement that the shares are dissenting shares or to be exchanged for certificates of appropriate denomination so stamped or endorsed or (b) if the shares are uncertificated securities, written notice of the number of shares which the shareholder demands that the corporation purchase. Upon subsequent transfers of the dissenting shares on the books of the corporation, the new certificates, initial transaction statement, and other written statements issued therefor shall bear a like statement, together with the name of the original dissenting holder of the shares.
§1303. Payment of agreed price with interest; agreement fixing fair market value; filing; time of payment
(a) If the corporation and the shareholder agree that the shares are dissenting shares and agree upon the price of the shares, the dissenting shareholder is entitled to the agreed price with interest thereon at the legal rate on judgments from the date of the agreement. Any agreements fixing the fair market value of any dissenting shares as between the corporation and the holders thereof shall be filed with the secretary of the corporation. (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 1306, payment of the fair market value of dissenting shares shall be made within 30 days after the amount thereof has been agreed or within 30 days after any statutory or contractual conditions to the reorganization are satisfied, whichever is later, and in the case of certificated securities, subject to surrender of the certificates therefor, unless provided otherwise by agreement.
§1304. Action to determine whether shares are dissenting shares or fair market value; limitation; joinder; consolidation; determination of issues; appointment of appraisers
(a) If the corporation denies that the shares are dissenting shares, or the corporation and the shareholder fail to agree upon the fair market value of the shares, then the shareholder demanding purchase of such shares as dissenting shares or any interested corporation, within six months after the date on which notice of the approval by the outstanding shares (Section 152) or notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder, but not thereafter, may file a complaint in the superior court of the proper county praying the court to determine whether the shares are dissenting shares or the fair market value of the dissenting shares or both or may intervene in any action pending on such a complaint.
(b) Two or more dissenting shareholders may join as plaintiffs or be joined as defendants in any such action and two or more such actions may be consolidated.
(c) On the trial of the action, the court shall determine the issues. If the status of the shares as dissenting shares is in issue, the court shall first determine that issue. If the fair market value of the dissenting shares is in issue, the court shall determine, or shall appoint one or more impartial appraisers to determine, the fair market value of the shares.
§1305. Report of appraisers; confirmation; determination by court; judgment; payment; appeal; costs
(a) If the court appoints an appraiser or appraisers, they shall proceed forthwith to determine the fair market value per share. Within the time fixed by the court, the appraisers, or a majority of them, shall make and file a report in the office of the clerk of the court. Thereupon, on the motion of any party, the report shall be submitted to the court and considered on such evidence as the court considers relevant. If the court finds the report reasonable, the court may confirm it.
(b) If a majority of the appraisers appointed fail to make and file a report within 10 days from the date of their appointment or within such further time as may be allowed by the court or the report is not confirmed by the court, the court shall determine the fair market value of the dissenting shares.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 1306, judgment shall be rendered against the corporation for payment of an amount equal to the fair market value of each dissenting share multiplied by the number of dissenting shares which any dissenting shareholder who is a party, or who has intervened, is entitled to require the corporation to purchase, with interest thereon at the legal rate from the date on which judgment was entered.
(d) Any such judgment shall be payable forthwith with respect to uncertificated securities and, with respect to certificated securities, only upon the endorsement and delivery to the corporation of the certificates for the shares described in the judgment. Any party may appeal from the judgment.
(e) The costs of the action, including reasonable compensation to the appraisers to be fixed by the court, shall be assessed or apportioned as the court considers equitable, but, if the appraisal exceeds the price offered by the corporation, the corporation shall pay the costs (including in the discretion of the court attorneys’ fees, fees of expert witnesses and interest at the legal rate on judgments from the date of compliance with Sections 1300, 1301 and 1302 if the value awarded by the court for the shares is more than 125 percent of the price offered by the corporation under subdivision (a) of Section 1301).
§1306. Prevention of immediate payment; status as creditors; interest
To the extent that the provisions of Chapter 5 prevent the payment to any holders of dissenting shares of their fair market value, they shall become creditors of the corporation for the amount thereof together with interest at the legal rate on judgments until the date of payment, but subordinate to all other creditors in any liquidation proceeding, such debt to be payable when permissible under the provisions of Chapter 5.
§1307. Dividends Paid as Credit Against Payment
Cash dividends declared and paid by the corporation upon the dissenting shares after the date of approval of the reorganization by the outstanding shares (Section 152) and prior to payment for the shares by the corporation shall be credited against the total amount to be paid by the corporation therefor.
§1308. Rights of dissenting shareholders pending valuation; withdrawal of demand for payment
Except as expressly limited in this chapter, holders of dissenting shares continue to have all the rights and privileges incident to their shares, until the fair market value of their shares is agreed upon or determined. A dissenting shareholder may not withdraw a demand for payment unless the corporation consents thereto.
§1309. Termination of dissenting share and shareholder status
Dissenting shares lose their status as dissenting shares and the holders thereof cease to be dissenting shareholders and cease to be entitled to require the corporation to purchase their shares upon the happening of any of the following:
(a) The corporation abandons the reorganization. Upon abandonment of the reorganization, the corporation shall pay on demand to any dissenting shareholder who has initiated proceedings in good faith under this chapter all necessary expenses incurred in such proceedings and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(b) The shares are transferred prior to their submission for endorsement in accordance with Section 1302 or are surrendered for conversion into shares of another class in accordance with the articles.
(c) The dissenting shareholder and the corporation do not agree upon the status of the shares as dissenting shares or upon the purchase price of the shares, and neither files a complaint or intervenes in a pending action as provided in Section 1304, within six months after the date on which notice of the approval by the outstanding shares or notice pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 1110 was mailed to the shareholder.
(d) The dissenting shareholder, with the consent of the corporation, withdraws the shareholder’s demand for purchase of the dissenting shares.
§1310. Suspension of right to compensation or valuation proceedings; litigation of shareholders’ approval
If litigation is instituted to test the sufficiency or regularity of the votes of the shareholders in authorizing a reorganization, any proceedings under Sections 1304 and 1305 shall be suspended until final determination of such litigation.
§1311. Exempt shares
This chapter, except Section 1312, does not apply to classes of shares whose terms and provisions specifically set forth the amount to be paid in respect to such shares in the event of a reorganization or merger.
§1312. Right of dissenting shareholder to attack, set aside or rescind merger or reorganization; restraining order or injunction; conditions
(a) No shareholder of a corporation who has a right under this chapter to demand payment of cash for the shares held by the shareholder shall have any right at law or in equity to attack the validity of the reorganization or short-form merger, or to have the reorganization or short-form merger set aside or rescinded, except in an action to test whether the number of shares required to authorize or approve the reorganization have been legally voted in favor thereof; but any holder of shares of a class whose terms and provisions specifically set forth the amount to be paid in respect to them in the event of a reorganization or short-form merger is entitled to payment in accordance with those terms and provisions or, if the principal terms of the reorganization are approved pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202, is entitled to payment in accordance with the terms and provisions of the approved reorganization.
(b) If one of the parties to a reorganization or short-form merger is directly or indirectly controlled by, or under common control with, another party to the reorganization or short-form merger, subdivision (a) shall not apply to any shareholder of such party who has not demanded payment of cash for such shareholder’s shares pursuant to this chapter; but if the shareholder institutes any action to attack the validity of the reorganization or short-form merger or to have the reorganization or short-form merger set aside or rescinded, the shareholder shall not thereafter have any right to demand payment of cash for the shareholder’s shares pursuant to this chapter. The court in any action attacking the validity of the reorganization or short-form merger or to have the reorganization or short-form merger set aside or rescinded shall not restrain or enjoin the consummation of the transaction except upon 10 days’ prior notice to the corporation and upon a determination by the court that clearly no other remedy will adequately protect the complaining shareholder or the class of shareholders of which such shareholder is a member.
(c) If one of the parties to a reorganization or short-form merger is directly or indirectly controlled by, or under common control with, another party to the reorganization or short-form merger, in any action to attack the validity of the reorganization or short-form merger or to have the reorganization or short-form merger set aside or rescinded, (1) a party to a reorganization or short-form merger which controls another party to the reorganization or short-form merger shall have the burden of proving that the transaction is just and reasonable as to the shareholders of the controlled party, and (2) a person who controls two or more parties to a reorganization shall have the burden of proving that the transaction is just and reasonable as to the shareholders of any party so controlled.
§1313. Conversions deemed to constitute a reorganization; application of chapter
A conversion pursuant to Chapter 11.5 (commencing with Section 1150) shall be deemed to constitute a reorganization for purposes of applying the provisions of this chapter, in accordance with and to the extent provided in Section 1159.
Manually signed facsimiles of the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed, will be accepted. The Letter of Transmittal and certificates evidencing Shares and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder or its, his or her broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at the applicable address set forth below:
The Depositary for the Offer is:
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By Mail: | ByFacsimile Transmission:
| By Overnight Courier: |
Computershare c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011 | For Eligible Institutions Only: (617) 360-6810
For Confirmation Only Telephone: (781) 575-2332 | Computershare c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions 250 Royall Street Canton, MA 02021 |
Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers listed below. Additional copies of this offer to purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other related documents may also be obtained from the Information Agent. Stockholders may also contact their brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.
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The Information Agent for the Offer is: |
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199 Water Street, 26th Floor New York, New York 10038 Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 440−9800 All Other Toll Free: (800) 676-0098 Email: cardiogenesis@georgeson.com |