EXHIBIT 99.1
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 13, 1998 (the
"Agreement"), between MATTEL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Grantee"), and
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THE LEARNING COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Grantor").
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WHEREAS, Grantor and Grantee are entering into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to
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which, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Grantor is to
merge (the "Merger") with and into Grantee, with Grantor continuing as the
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surviving corporation after the Merger;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Grantee's willingness to
enter into the Merger Agreement, Grantor is granting to the Grantee an option to
purchase 15,673,160 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Grantor (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions
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hereof;
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Grantee to enter into the Merger
Agreement the Grantor is willing to grant the Grantee the requested option; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Grantor has approved the grant
by Grantor of the Option (defined below) pursuant to this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. The Option; Exercise; Adjustments.
(a) Contemporaneously herewith, the Grantee and the Grantor are
entering into the Merger Agreement. Subject to the other terms and conditions
set forth herein, the Grantor hereby grants to the Grantee an irrevocable option
(the "Option") to purchase up to 15,673,160 (as adjusted as provided herein)
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shares of Common Stock (the shares issuable upon exercise of this Option being
referred to as the "Shares") at a per Share cash purchase price (the "Purchase
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Price") equal to the lesser of (i) $28.3125 and (ii) the product of (A) the
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closing price of a share of the Grantee's common stock, par value $1.00, per
share, on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape (the "NYSE Composite Tape")
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on the trading day (the "Prior Trading Day") immediately prior to the day on
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which the Grantee delivers a Stock Exercise Notice, multiplied by (B) the
Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in effect on the Prior
Trading Day. The Option may be exercised by the Grantee, in whole or in part, at
any time, or from time to time, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event
(as defined below) and prior to the termination of the Option in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement.
(b) In the event the Grantee wishes to exercise the Option, the
Grantee shall send a written notice to the Grantor (the "Stock Exercise Notice")
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specifying a date (subject to the HSR Act (as defined below)) not later than 10
business days and not earlier than the next business day following the date such
notice is given for the closing of such purchase. In the
event of any change in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, split-up, reclassification,
recapitalization, merger or other change in the corporate or capital structure
of the Grantor, the number of Shares subject to this Option and the purchase
price per Share shall be appropriately adjusted to restore the Grantee to its
rights hereunder, including its right to purchase Shares representing 18% of the
capital stock of the Grantor entitled to vote generally for the election of the
directors of the Grantor which is issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the exercise of the Option at an aggregate purchase price equal to the Purchase
Price multiplied by 15,673,160. In the event that any additional shares of
Common Stock are issued after the date of this Agreement upon (i) the conversion
of any currently issued Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Grantor, (ii) the exchange of any Exchangeable Non-
Voting Shares of SoftKey Software Products Inc., (iii) the conversion of any
amount of the 5 1/2% Senior Convertible Notes due 2000 of the Grantor, or (iv)
the issuance of 828,054 shares of Common Stock in connection with the Grantor's
acquisition of Palladium Interactive, Inc., the number of Shares subject to this
Option shall be increased by 18% of the number of the additional shares of
Common Stock so issued (and such additional Shares shall have a purchase price
equal to the Purchase Price); provided, however, that in no event will the
number of shares issued upon exercise of the Option exceed the maximum amount
permitted to be issued without shareholder approval under the rules of the New
York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").
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2. Conditions to Delivery of Shares. The Grantor's obligation to deliver
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Shares upon exercise of the Option is subject only to the conditions that:
(a) No preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any
federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
prohibiting the delivery of the Shares shall be in effect; and
(b) Any applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") shall have expired or been
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terminated and all other consents, approvals, orders, notifications or
authorizations, the failure of which to obtain or make would have the effect of
making the issuance of the Shares illegal (collectively, the "Regulatory
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Approvals") shall have been obtained or made; and
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(c) A Triggering Event has occurred. A "Triggering Event" shall have
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occurred at such time at which Grantee becomes entitled to receive the
Additional Termination Fee from Grantor pursuant to Section 8.2(b) of the Merger
Agreement.
3. The Closing.
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(a) Any closing hereunder shall take place on the date specified by the
Grantee in its Stock Exercise Notice, at 8:00 A.M., local time, at the offices
of Latham & Watkins, 633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000, Los Angeles, CA 90071,
or, if the conditions set forth in Section 2(a) or 2(b) have not then been
satisfied, on the second business day following the satisfaction of such
conditions, or at such other time and place as the parties hereto may agree
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(the "Closing Date"). On the Closing Date, the Grantor will deliver to the
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Grantee a certificate or certificates, duly endorsed (or accompanied by duly
executed stock powers), representing the Shares in the denominations designated
by the Grantee in its Stock Exercise Notice and the Grantee will purchase such
Shares from the Grantor at the price per Share equal to the Purchase Price. Any
payment made by the Grantee to the Grantor, or by the Grantor to the Grantee,
pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by certified or official bank check or
by wire transfer of federal funds to a bank designated by the party receiving
such funds.
(b) The certificates representing the Shares may bear an
appropriate legend relating to the fact that such Shares have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
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4. Representations And Warranties of the Grantor. The Grantor
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represents and warrants to the Grantee that (a) the Grantor is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware and has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into and perform this Agreement; (b) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Grantor and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Grantor and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by a duly
authorized officer of the Grantor and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Grantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equity principles; (c) the Grantor has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize and reserve the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option and the
Shares, when issued and delivered by the Grantor upon exercise of the Option,
will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free
of preemptive rights; (d) except as otherwise required by the HSR Act and other
than any filings required under the blue sky laws of any states or by the NYSE,
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Grantor and the issuance of
Shares upon exercise of the Option do not require the consent, waiver, approval
or authorization of or any filing with any person or public authority and will
not violate, result in a breach of or the acceleration of any obligation under,
or constitute a default under, any provision of any charter or bylaw or any
indenture, mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, contract, instrument, order, law,
rule, regulation, judgment, ordinance, or decree, or restriction by which the
Grantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or
assets is bound; and (e) none of the restrictions of any "fair price",
"moratorium", "control share acquisition" or other form of antitakeover statute
or regulation (including, without limitation, the restrictions on "business
combinations" set forth in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law)
is or shall be applicable to the acquisition of Shares pursuant to this
Agreement (and the Board of Directors of Grantor has taken all action to approve
the acquisition of the Shares to the extent necessary to avoid such
application). Additionally, Grantor will not avoid or seek to avoid (whether by
charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, issuance of
rights, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act) the
observance or performance of any of the covenants, agreements or conditions to
be observed or performed hereunder by Grantor
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and Grantor will not take any action which would cause any of its
representations or warranties not to be true in any material respect.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Grantee. The Grantee
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represents and warrants to the Grantor that (a) the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Grantee and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Grantee and this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Grantee and will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Grantee; and (b) the Grantee is acquiring
the Option after the Grantee has been afforded the opportunity to obtain, and
has obtained, sufficient information regarding the Grantor to make an informed
investment decision with respect to the Grantee's purchase of the Shares
issuable upon the exercise thereof, and, if and when the Grantee exercises the
Option, it will be acquiring the Shares issuable upon the exercise thereof for
its own account and not with a view to distribution or resale in any manner
which would be in violation of the Securities Act.
6. Listing of Shares; HSR Act Filings; Regulatory Approvals. Subject
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to applicable law and the rules and regulations of the NYSE, the Grantor will
promptly file an application to list the Shares on the NYSE and will use its
best efforts to obtain approval of such listing and to file all necessary
filings by the Grantor under the HSR Act; provided, however, that if the Grantor
is unable to effect such listing on the NYSE by the Closing Date, the Grantor
will nevertheless be obligated to deliver the Shares upon the Closing Date.
Grantor will use its best efforts to obtain consents of all third parties and
all Regulatory Approvals, if any, necessary to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated.
7. Registration Rights.
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(a) In the event that the Grantee shall desire to sell any of the
Shares within two years after the purchase of such Shares pursuant hereto, and
such sale requires, based on advice of counsel to Grantee, registration of such
Shares under the Securities Act, the Grantor will cooperate with the Grantee and
any underwriters in registering such Shares for resale, including, without
limitation, promptly filing a registration statement which complies with the
requirements of applicable federal and state securities laws, entering into an
underwriting agreement with such underwriters upon such terms and conditions as
are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary
distributions; provided that the Grantor shall not be required to have declared
effective more than two registration statements hereunder and shall be entitled
to delay the filing or effectiveness of any registration statement for up to 120
days in any twelve month period if the offering would, in the judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Grantor, require premature disclosure of any material
corporate development or otherwise materially interfere with or adversely affect
any pending or proposed offering of securities of the Grantor or any other
material transaction involving the Grantor.
(b) If the Common Stock is registered pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 7, the Grantor agrees (i) to furnish copies of the registration
statement and the prospectus relating to the Shares covered thereby in such
numbers as the Grantee may from time to time
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reasonably request and (ii) if any event shall occur as a result of which it
becomes necessary to amend or supplement any registration statement or
prospectus, to prepare and file under the applicable securities laws such
amendments and supplements as may be necessary to keep effective for at least 90
days a prospectus covering the Common Stock meeting the requirements of such
securities laws, and to furnish the Grantee such numbers of copies of the
registration statement and prospectus as amended or supplemented as may
reasonably be requested. The Grantor shall bear the cost of the registration,
including, but not limited to, all registration and filing fees, printing
expenses, and fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Grantor,
except that the Grantee shall pay the fees and disbursements of its counsel, the
underwriting fees and selling commissions applicable to the shares of Common
Stock sold by the Grantee. The Grantor shall indemnify and hold harmless
Grantee, its affiliates and its officers, directors and controlling persons from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
arising out of or based upon any statements contained or incorporated by
reference in, and omissions or alleged omissions from, each registration
statement filed pursuant to this paragraph; provided, however, that this
provision does not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the
extent it arises out of any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Grantor by the
Grantee, its affiliates and its officers expressly for use in any registration
statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus filed
pursuant to this paragraph. The Grantor shall also indemnify and hold harmless
each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning
of either the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising
out of or based upon any statements contained or incorporated by reference in,
and omissions or alleged omissions from, each registration statement filed
pursuant to this paragraph; provided, however, that this provision does not
apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent it arises
out of any untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Grantor by the underwriters expressly
for use in any registration statement (or any amendment thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus filed pursuant to this paragraph.
8. Right of First Refusal. If the Grantee, at any time prior to the
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earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control Event (as defined below) or
(b) the second anniversary of the termination of the Merger Agreement, seeks to
sell all or any part of the Shares (i) in a transaction registered under the
Securities Act (other than in a registered public offering in which the
underwriters are instructed to make a broad public distribution) or (ii) in a
transaction not required to be registered under the Securities Act (other than
in a transfer (a) by operation of law upon consummation of a merger or (b) as a
result of which the proposed transferee would own beneficially not more than 2%
of the outstanding voting power of the Grantor), it shall give the Grantor (or a
designee of the Grantor) the opportunity, in the following manner, to purchase
such Shares:
(a) The Grantee shall give notice to the Grantor in writing of its
intent to sell Shares (a "Disposition Notice"), specifying the maximum number of
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Shares to be sold, the price and, if applicable, the material terms of any
agreement relating thereto. For purposes of
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this Section 8, if the Disposition Notice is given with respect to the sale of
the Shares pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, it shall be assumed that all
Shares tendered will be accepted for payment. The Disposition Notice may be
given at any time, including prior to the giving of any Stock Exercise Notice.
(b) The Grantor or its designee shall have the right, exercisable by
written notice given to the Grantee within five business days after receipt of a
Disposition Notice (or, if applicable, in the case of a proposed sale pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer for shares of Common Stock, by written notice
given to the Grantee at least two business days prior to the then announced
expiration date of such tender or exchange offer (the "Expiration Date") if such
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Disposition Notice was given at least four business days prior to such
Expiration Date), to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Shares
specified in the Disposition Notice at the price set forth in the Disposition
Notice. If the purchase price specified in the Disposition Notice includes any
property other than cash, the purchase price to be paid by the Grantor shall be
an amount of cash equal to the sum of (i) the cash included in the purchase
price plus (ii) the fair market value of such other property at the date of the
Disposition Notice. If such other property consists of securities with an
existing public trading market, the average closing price (or the average
closing bid and asked price if closing prices are unavailable) for such
securities on their principal public trading market for the five trading days
ending five days prior to the date of the Disposition Notice shall be deemed to
equal the fair market value of such property. If such other property consists
of something other than cash or securities with an existing public trading
market and at the time of the closing referred to in paragraph (c) below,
agreement on the value of such other property has not been reached, the higher
of (i) the cash included in the purchase price and (ii) the average closing
price of the Common Stock on the NYSE for the five trading days ending five days
prior to the date of the Disposition Notice shall be used as the per share
purchase price; provided, however, that promptly after the closing, the Grantee
and the Grantor or its designee, as the case may be, shall settle any additional
amounts to be paid or returned as a result of the determination of fair market
value of such other property made by a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected by the Grantor and approved by the Grantee within thirty (30) days
of the closing. Such determination shall be final and binding on all parties
hereto. If, at the time of the purchase of any Shares by the Grantor (or its
designee) pursuant to this Section 9, a tender or exchange offer is outstanding,
then the Grantor (or its designee) shall agree at the time of such purchase to
promptly pay to Grantee from time to time such additional amounts, if any, so
that the consideration received by Grantee with respect to each Share shall be
equal to the highest price paid for a share of Common Stock pursuant to such
tender or exchange, or pursuant to any other tender or exchange offer
outstanding at any time such tender or exchange offer is outstanding.
(c) If the Grantor exercises its right of first refusal hereunder, the
closing of the purchase of the Shares with respect to which such right has been
exercised shall take place within five business days after the notice of such
exercise (or, if applicable, in the case of a tender or exchange offer, no later
than one business day prior to the expiration date of the offer if written
notice was given within the time set forth in the parenthetical in the first
sentence of paragraph (b) above); provided, however, that at any time prior to
the closing of the purchase
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of Shares hereunder, the Grantee may determine not to sell the Shares and revoke
the Disposition Notice and, by so doing, cancel the Grantor's right of first
refusal with respect to the disposition in question. The Grantor (or its
designee) shall pay for the Shares in immediately available funds.
(d) If the Grantor does not exercise its right of first refusal
hereunder within the time specified for such exercise, the Grantee shall be free
for ninety (90) days following the expiration of such time for exercise to sell
up to the maximum number of Shares specified in the Disposition Notice, at the
price specified in the Disposition Notice or any price in excess thereof and
otherwise on substantially the same terms set forth in the Disposition Notice;
provided, that if such sale is not consummated within such 90-day period, then
the provisions of this Section 9 will again apply to the sale of such shares.
(e) For purposes of the Agreement, a "Change in Control Event"
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shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person has acquired beneficial
ownership of more than 50% (excluding the Shares) of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or (ii) the Grantor shall have entered into an agreement, including
without limitation an agreement in principle, providing for a merger or other
business combination involving the Grantor or the acquisition of 30% or more of
the assets of the Grantor and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
9. Repurchase of Shares. If a Change in Control Event has not
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occurred prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Option
terminates pursuant to Section 20 hereof, then beginning on such anniversary
date, and continuing for a period of 30 days thereafter, the Grantor shall have
the right to purchase (the "Repurchase Right") all, but not less than all, of
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the Shares at the greater of (i) the Purchase Price, or (ii) the average closing
price of the Common Stock on the NYSE Composite Tape for the five trading days
ending five days prior to the date the Grantor gives written notice of its
intention to exercise the Repurchase Right. If the Grantor does not exercise
the Repurchase Right within the thirty (30) day period following the first
anniversary of the date on which the Option terminates, the Repurchase Right
shall terminate. In the event the Grantor wishes to exercise the Repurchase
Right, the Grantor shall send a written notice to the Grantee specifying a date
(not later than ten (10) business days and not earlier than two business days
following the date such notice is given) for the closing of such purchase.
10. Profit Limitation.
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no
event shall the Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed
$125,000,000 (the "Profit Limit") and, if it otherwise would exceed such amount,
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the Grantee, at its sole election, shall, within five business days, either (i)
deliver to the Grantor for cancellation Shares (valued, for the purposes of this
Section 10(a), at the average closing sales price of the Common Stock on the
NYSE Composite Tape for the twenty consecutive trading days preceding the day on
which the Grantee's Total Profit exceeds $125,000,000) previously purchased by
the Grantee, (ii) pay cash or other consideration to the Grantor or refund in
cash Liquidation Amounts previously paid or reduce or waive the amount of any
Liquidation Amount payable pursuant to Section 8.2(b) of the
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Merger Agreement, or (iii) undertake any combination thereof, so that Grantee's
Total Profit shall not exceed the Profit Limit after taking into account the
foregoing actions.
The term "Liquidation Amounts" means the aggregate amount of
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any Initial Termination Fee and Additional Termination Fee (each as defined in
the Merger Agreement) payable or paid to Grantee pursuant to Section 8.2 of the
Merger Agreement and not repaid or refunded to the Grantor pursuant to this
Section 10 or otherwise.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Option may not be exercised for a number of Shares that would, as of the date of
the Exercise Notice, result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of
more than the Profit Limit and, if exercise of the Option otherwise would exceed
the Profit Limit, the Grantee, at its discretion, may increase the Purchase
Price for that number of Shares set forth in the Exercise Notice so that the
Notional Total Profit shall not exceed the Profit Limit; provided, that nothing
in this sentence shall restrict any exercise of the Option permitted hereby on
any subsequent date at the Purchase Price set forth in Section 1(a) hereof.
(c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the
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aggregate amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the amount of cash
Liquidation Amounts received by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.2(b) of the Merger
Agreement, (ii) (x) the net cash amounts received by Grantee pursuant to the
sale of Shares (or any other securities into which such Shares are converted or
exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, less (y) the Grantee's purchase price for
such Shares.
(d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with respect
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to any number of Shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise the Option
shall be the Total Profit determined as of the date of the Exercise Notice
assuming that the Option were exercised on such date for such number of Shares
and assuming that such Shares, together with all other Shares held by the
Grantee and its subsidiaries as of such date, were sold for cash at the closing
market price for the Common Stock on the NYSE Composite Tape of the close of
business on the preceding trading day (less customary brokerage commissions).
11. Expenses. Each party hereto shall pay its own expenses incurred
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in connection with this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically provided
herein.
12. Specific Performance. The Grantor acknowledges that if the
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Grantor fails to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, immediate
and irreparable harm or injury would be caused to the Grantee for which money
damages would not be an adequate remedy. In such event, the Grantor agrees that
the Grantee shall have the right, in addition to any other rights it may have,
to specific performance of this Agreement. Accordingly, if the Grantee should
institute an action or proceeding seeking specific enforcement of the provisions
hereof, the Grantor hereby waives the claim or defense that the Grantee has an
adequate remedy at law and hereby agrees not to assert in any such action or
proceeding the claim or defense that such a
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remedy at law exists. The Grantor further agrees to waive any requirements for
the securing or posting of any bond in connection with obtaining any such
equitable relief.
13. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
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hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given and made if in writing and if
served by personal delivery upon the party for whom it is intended or delivered
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or if sent by
facsimile transmission, upon receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission
has been received, to the person at the address set forth below, or such other
address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such
person:
If to the Grantor:
The Learning Company, Inc.
One Athenaeum Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
Attn: Neal Winneg, Esq.
Telecopy: (617) 494-5660
With a copy to:
Hale and Dorr LLP
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Attn: Mark G. Borden, Esq.
Telecopy: (617) 526-5000
If to the Grantee:
Mattel, Inc.
333 Continental Boulevard
El Segundo, CA 90245-5012
Attn: Ned Mansour, Esq.
Telecopy: (310) 252-3671
With a copy to:
Latham & Watkins
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071-2007
Attn: Thomas C. Sadler, Esq.
Telecopy: (213) 891-8763
14. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
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of and be binding upon the parties named herein and their respective permitted
successors and assigns; provided, however, that such successor in interest or
assigns shall agree to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Except as
set forth in Section 7, nothing in this Agreement,
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express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the Grantor
or the Grantee, or their successors or assigns, any rights or remedies under or
by reason of this Agreement.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, together with the
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Merger Agreement and the other documents referred to therein, contains the
entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, with respect to such transactions. This
Agreement may not be changed, amended or modified orally, but may be changed
only by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom any waiver,
change, amendment, modification or discharge may be sought.
16. Assignment. No party to this Agreement may assign any of its
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rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
the other party hereto, except that the Grantee may assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to any of its direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiaries, but no such transfer shall relieve the Grantee of its obligations
hereunder if such transferee does not perform such obligations. Any assignment
made in violation of this Section 16 shall be void.
17. Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only
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and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
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counterparts, each of which, when executed, shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.
19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
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in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the laws
that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflicts of
law).
20. Termination. The right to exercise the Option granted pursuant
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to this Agreement shall terminate at the earliest of (i) the Effective Time (as
defined in the Merger Agreement), (ii) the date on which the Grantee realizes a
Total Profit equal to the Profit Limit, (iii) the date on which the Merger
Agreement is terminated if no Initial Termination Fee or Additional Termination
Fee (each as defined in the Merger Agreement) could be payable to Grantor
pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement upon the occurrence of certain
events or the passage of time, and (iv) if no Triggering Event shall have
occurred, the date that is twelve months after the termination of the Merger
Agreement, and (v) 180 days following the occurrence of a Triggering Event (the
date referred to in this clause (v) being referred to as the "Option Expiration
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Date"); provided, however, that if the Option cannot be exercised or the Shares
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cannot be delivered to the Grantee upon such exercise because the conditions set
forth in Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof have not yet been satisfied, the
Option Expiration Date shall be extended for a period of up to an additional
sixty (60) days; and provided, further, that, if at any time the Grantee seeks
to exercise the Option by delivery of a Stock Exercise Notice but is unable to
do so with respect to all of the Shares subject to the Option at the Purchase
Price
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because of the limitation on profit contained in Section 10(b) hereof, the
Option Termination Date shall be extended for an additional 30 days from the
date of such Stock Exercise Notice (but in no event shall the Option Termination
Date be more than 240 days after the occurrence of a Triggering Event). "Notice
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Date" shall mean the date, if any, upon which the Grantee delivers a Stock
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Exercise Notice to the Grantor.
All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.
21. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
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this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
[Signature Page to Follow]
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantee and the Grantor have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the
date first written above.
THE LEARNING COMPANY, INC.
_______________________________________
By:
Its:
MATTEL, INC.
_______________________________________
By:
Its:
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