AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") dated as
of May 4, 1999, is by and among AT&T Corp, a New York corporation ("Parent"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, AT&T LCI Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Sub"), Lenfest Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
and H.F. Lenfest, H. Chase Lenfest, Brook J. Lenfest and Diane Lenfest Myer
(collectively, the "Lenfest Stockholders").
RECITALS
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WHEREAS, the parties have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions in this Agreement, to merge Company with and into Sub (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement,
Parent and all Lenfest Stockholders have executed a Consent and Indemnity
Agreement (the "Consent and Indemnity Agreement");
WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger is to
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and
WHEREAS, defined terms used in this Agreement are listed in
Section 11.7.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and
the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement the
parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
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THE MERGER
1.1. The Merger.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, on the Effective Date (as defined in Section 1.2), Company will be
merged with and into Sub in compliance with the provisions of the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and the separate existence of Company will
thereupon cease and Sub shall be the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
Corporation") and shall continue its corporate existence as a Subsidiary of
Parent and shall continue to be governed by the DGCL. The name of the Surviving
Corporation in the Merger will be as determined by Parent.
1.2. Effective Date of the Merger.
The parties will file a properly executed Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which filing will
be made as soon as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions
contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.7. When used in this
Agreement, the term "Effective Date" will mean the date and time at which such
filing will have been accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware or such later time as may be specified in the Certificate of Merger
by mutual agreement of Parent, Sub and the Company.
1.3. State Law.
At the Effective Date, the Merger will have the effects set
forth in this Agreement and the effects set forth in Section 251 of the DGCL.
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ARTICLE II
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THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
2.1. Certificate of Incorporation.
The Certificate of Incorporation of Sub will be the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective
Date, and thereafter may be amended in accordance with its terms and as provided
by law and this Agreement.
2.2. By-Laws.
The By-laws of Sub as in effect on the Effective Date will be
the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation.
2.3. Board of Directors; Officers.
The directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Date
will be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Date will be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and
qualified.
ARTICLE III
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MERGER CONSIDERATION; CONVERSION OF SHARES
3.1. Merger Consideration.
The aggregate value of the consideration deliverable in the
Merger will be the sum of (a) the amount determined by decreasing $4,480,000,000
(the "Base Merger Consideration"), by the Debt Adjustment and the Bonus
Adjustment, if any (after such adjustments, the "Stock Merger Consideration"),
deliverable in shares of common stock, $1.00
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par value per share, of Parent ("Parent Stock"), plus (b) the additional
consideration described in Section 8.4 below deliverable in the Merger.
3.2. Conversion of Shares.
As of the Effective Date, by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of any holder (a "Stockholder") of any common stock of
the Company ("Company Common Stock"):
(a) Cancellation of Shares. All shares of Company Common Stock
that are held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, will be canceled.
(b) Conversion of Shares. Each share of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger that is not subject to
cancellation pursuant to Section 3.2(a) will be converted into and will become
(i) that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Stock equal to
the Conversion Number , plus (ii) in the case of each Lenfest Stockholder, such
Lenfest Stockholder's proportionate share of the Distributed Assets and
Distributed Subsidiaries described in Section 8.4, and in the case of each
Stockholder of the Company other than a Lenfest Stockholder, such other
Stockholder's proportionate share of the number of additional fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Parent Stock described in Section 8.4. For purposes of
this Agreement, the Conversion Number means the number determined by dividing
(x) the quotient resulting from dividing the Preliminary Merger Consideration or
Final Merger Consideration, as the case may be, by the Share Valuation by (y)
the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding at the Effective Date.
For purposes of this Section, the term "outstanding" includes any shares of
Company Common Stock issuable pursuant to any outstanding option, warrant,
convertible security or other right to
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acquire Company Common Stock issued or granted by the Company, whether or not
then exercisable or convertible, but excluding shares of Company Common Stock
subject to cancellation pursuant to Section 3.2(a). For purposes of this
Agreement, the "Share Valuation" shall be the average closing price of the
Parent Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the 60 consecutive trading days
ending two business days prior to the Effective Date (the "Valuation Period").
If, during the Valuation Period, Parent should split or combine the Parent Stock
or pay a stock dividend or other stock distribution in Parent Stock or otherwise
effect any transaction that changes the Parent Stock into any other securities
or make any other dividend or distribution on the Parent Stock (other than
normal quarterly cash dividends as the same may be adjusted from time to time in
the ordinary course consistent with past practice) then the Share Valuation will
be appropriately adjusted to reflect such split, combination, transaction,
dividend or other distribution or change. For purposes of complying with
Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 84-42, the total number of shares of
Parent Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed two times the
amount of Parent Stock delivered at the Effective Time pursuant to Section
3.4(a).
3.3. Adjustments to Merger Consideration.
(a) Debt Adjustment. The Base Merger Consideration shall be
decreased by the product of (i) the amount, if any, of Specified Intercompany
Debt as of the Effective Date multiplied by (ii) two (the "Debt Adjustment").
For purposes of this Section, "Specified Intercompany Debt" as of any date shall
mean the aggregate dollar amount of any loans, contributions or other advances
made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any Distributed Subsidiary or
with respect to any Distributed Assets between the date hereof and the Effective
Date excluding (A) the contribution of intercompany debt to the Distributed
Subsidiaries as set forth in Section 8.4 and (B) the lesser of (1) one half any
such loans, contributions or other advances used to fund net operating costs or
(2) $2,000,000.
(b) Bonus Adjustment. The Base Merger Consideration shall be
decreased by the amount, if any, equal to the product of (i) 63% of the gross
amount of the payment made by Sub pursuant to Section 8.5(b) multiplied by (ii)
two (the "Bonus Adjustment").
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3.4. Adjustment Procedure.
Adjustments to the Base Merger Consideration will be
determined and made as follows:
(a) Adjustments at Closing. Not later than a date that the
Company reasonably believes is two business days prior to the Effective Date the
Company shall prepare and deliver to Parent a calculation of the Adjustments to
the Base Merger Consideration, accompanied by a certificate of the chief
financial officer of the Company to the effect that such calculations are in
accordance with this Agreement. Such calculation of the Adjustments to the Base
Merger Consideration delivered to Parent by the Company shall be the basis for
determining the amount of Parent Stock issuable on the Effective Date (the
"Preliminary Merger Consideration"), subject to further adjustment as provided
in this Section. On the Effective Date, Parent will deliver to each Stockholder
the number of whole shares of Parent Stock rounded up to the nearest whole share
determined by multiplying the number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by
such Stockholder (other than shares cancelled pursuant to Section 3.2(a)) by the
Conversion Number, based on the Preliminary Merger Consideration.
(b) Post-Closing Adjustments. As soon as practicable, but in
no event later than 90 days following the Effective Date, Parent shall deliver
to the Stockholders Representative a final calculation of the Adjustments to the
Base Merger Consideration (the "Final Adjustment Schedule"). Parent and Sub will
afford to Stockholders Representative and to his accountants, counsel and other
representatives reasonable access during normal business hours (and at such
other times as the parties mutually agree) throughout the 30 day period
following delivery of the Final Adjustment Schedule to the relevant Company
books and records for the purposes of verifying such final calculations. If the
Stockholders Representative does not provide notice of dispute within 30 days
after delivery of the Final Adjustment Schedule, the Adjustments to the Base
Merger Consideration based on the Final Adjustment Schedule shall be final,
conclusive and binding. If the Stockholders Representative provides notice of
disagreement, including reasonable details of his objections, Parent and the
Stockholders Representative shall in good faith attempt to agree on the
Adjustments. If Parent and the Stockholders Representative cannot agree on the
amount of the Adjustments within 30 days of delivery to Parent of the notice of
disagreement, the amounts in dispute shall be determined by Arthur Andersen (the
"Accountants"), whose determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon
Parent, Sub and Stockholders, and the Merger Consideration, as adjusted by the
final calculation of the Adjustments determined as described in this Section
3.4(b), will be referred to as the "Final Merger Consideration." All reasonable
costs and fees of such Accountants shall be borne one-half by Parent and
one-half by the Lenfest Stockholders.
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(c) Within five business days after the determination of the
Final Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.4(b):
(i) if the Final Merger Consideration is greater than the
Preliminary Merger Consideration, Parent will deliver to each Stockholder
certificates representing the number of shares of Parent Stock equal to the
difference between (x) the number of shares of Parent Stock (rounded up to the
nearest whole share) that each such Stockholder had the right to receive on the
Effective Date based on the Share Valuation and the Final Merger Consideration
and (y) the number of whole shares of Parent Stock delivered at the Effective
Date pursuant to Section 3.4(a), (together with dividends or distributions, if
any, with respect to the additional shares to be delivered under this Section
3.4(c)(i) made after the Effective Date).
(ii) if the Final Merger Consideration is less than the
Preliminary Merger Consideration, each Stockholder will deliver to Parent
certificates representing the number of shares of Parent Stock equal to the
difference between (x) the number of whole shares of Parent Stock delivered to
each such Stockholder on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 3.4(a) and (y)
the number of shares of Parent Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole share)
that each such Stockholder had the right to receive on the Effective Date based
on the Share Valuation and the Final Merger Consideration (together with
dividends or distributions, if any, with respect to the shares to be delivered
under this Section 3.4(c)(ii) made after the Effective Date).
(d) The number of shares of Parent Stock to be delivered to
Stockholders other than the Lenfest Stockholders pursuant to Section 8.4(a) will
not be affected by the Adjustments.
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3.5. Transfer Taxes.
Any transfer taxes payable by the holders of Company Common
Stock in connection with the Merger and the conversion of Company Common Stock
into Parent Stock will be paid by the Parent. The Parent Stock shall be issued
to the registered holders of Company Common Stock as of the Effective Date.
3.6. No Fractional Shares.
If the amount of Parent Stock to which a Stockholder is
entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.4(a) or 3.4(c) results in a number
that is not a whole number of shares of Parent Stock, the number of shares of
Parent Stock that such Stockholder shall be entitled to receive pursuant to this
Agreement shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share.
3.7. Closing.
The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the "Closing") will take place (i) at the offices of Sherman & Howard L.L.C. at
9:00 a.m. local time on the third business day following the date on which the
last of the conditions set forth in Article IX (excluding delivery of exhibits,
opinions and certificates and other items to be performed immediately prior to
the Closing) is fulfilled or waived, or (ii) at such other time and place as
Parent and the Company may agree in writing.
3.8. Cash Election and Stock Purchase Provisions.
(a) Each Lenfest Stockholder may, at his, her or its option,
elect to receive cash consideration at Closing in lieu of not more than 10% of
the number of shares of Parent Stock (valued at the Share Valuation) otherwise
deliverable to such Lenfest Stockholder pursuant to Section 3.4(a), provided
that such Lenfest Stockholder gives written notice to Parent of such
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election not later than 20 days prior to the Effective Date, which notice will
indicate the specific dollar amount (or percentage of such Lenfest Stockholder's
share of Preliminary Merger Consideration) as to which such election is being
exercised (the "Cash Consideration"). If any Lenfest Stockholder makes such
election, (i) the Conversion Number will not be affected by such election, (ii)
the number of shares of Parent Stock to be delivered at Closing to each Lenfest
Stockholder electing to receive Cash Consideration will be reduced by the
quotient of such electing Lenfest Stockholder's Cash Consideration divided by
the Share Valuation, and all references in this Agreement to the delivery of a
particular number of shares of Parent Stock will be modified accordingly (except
as specified in the following clause (iii)), and (iii) notwithstanding such Cash
Consideration election, the number of shares of Parent Stock to be delivered by
any party under Section 3.4(b) and (c) will be calculated as if only Parent
Stock (and no Cash Consideration) had been delivered to the Lenfest Stockholders
pursuant to Section 3.4(a).
(b) During the six-month period following Closing, each
Lenfest Stockholder will have the right to require Parent (or at Parent's
election, Parent's designee) to purchase for cash from such Lenfest Stockholder
shares of Parent Stock delivered to such Lenfest Stockholder at Closing,
provided that (i) the number of shares of Parent Stock as to which such right is
exercised, plus the total number of shares of Parent Stock in lieu of which Cash
Consideration was received by such Lenfest Stockholder pursuant to Section
3.8(a), does not exceed 10% of the number of shares of Parent Stock (valued at
the Share Valuation) that would have been deliverable to such Lenfest
Stockholder pursuant to Section 3.4(a) (without giving effect to any reduction
of such number of shares pursuant to Section 3.8(a)) and (ii) such purchase will
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not adversely affect the Merger's qualification as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. A Lenfest Stockholder may exercise the
right pursuant to the preceding sentence by giving written notice to Parent of
such exercise, which notice will indicate the specific dollar value (the "Dollar
Value") of such Parent Stock as to which such right is being exercised (the
"Exercise Notice"). The closing of the purchase of shares of Parent Stock as to
which an Exercise Notice is delivered to Parent will occur 20 days after
Parent's receipt of such Exercise Notice, or if such date is not a business day,
on the next succeeding business day (the "Purchase Closing Date"), and at such
closing, Parent will (or Parent will cause its designee to) deliver, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to such account as may be designated in
writing by to such Lenfest Stockholder, an amount equal to the Dollar Value upon
receipt from the exercising Lenfest Stockholder of certificates (duly endorsed
in blank or accompanied by duly executed stock powers in blank) representing
that number of shares of Parent Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) equal
to the quotient of the Dollar Value divided by the Purchased Share Valuation,
free and clear of all Liens. The "Purchased Share Valuation" will be the average
per share closing price of the Parent Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for
the 20 consecutive trading days ending two business days prior to the Purchase
Closing Date (the "Purchase Valuation Period"). If, during the Purchase
Valuation Period, Parent should split or combine the Parent Stock or pay a stock
dividend or other stock distribution in Parent Stock or otherwise effect any
transaction that changes the Parent Stock into any other securities or make any
other dividend or distribution on the Parent Stock (other than normal quarterly
cash dividends as the same may be adjusted from time to time in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice) then the Purchased Share Valuation will be
appropriately adjusted to reflect such split, combination, transaction, dividend
or other distribution or change.
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
4.1. Organization and Qualification.
Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of New York and has the corporate
power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted or currently
proposed to be conducted. Parent is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character
of its properties owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities make
such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified will
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
4.2. Status of Parent Stock.
All shares of Parent Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement
will be duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
4.3. Authority Relative to this Agreement.
Parent has the corporate power to enter into this Agreement
and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out its
obligations contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action of Parent. This Agreement constitutes and, when
executed and delivered by Parent, each of the Transaction Documents to which it
is a party will be, a valid and binding obligation of Parent enforceable in
accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and performance by Parent of
this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation by Parent of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate or conflict with (i) any
Governing Document or (ii) or result in a violation or breach of or constitute
(with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under or give
any Person the right to terminate, cancel or accelerate any obligation or result
in the creation of any Lien or loss of a benefit under any indenture or other
loan document provision or any other contract, license, franchise, permit,
concession, lease, instrument or Legal Requirement applicable to Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the
case of clause (ii) only, (A) any conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults,
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terminations, cancellations or accelerations, Liens or losses which,
individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
or prevent or materially impair the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and (B) the Legal Requirements referred to in
the next sentence. Except in connection, or in compliance with, the provisions
of the DGCL and rules and regulations of the relevant Governmental Entities, and
provisions contained in Franchises regarding transfer of ownership or control of
Franchises and Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") licenses, no filing or
registration with, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity or other Person is necessary for the consummation by Parent of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than filings, registrations,
authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to make or obtain
would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impair
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4. Reports and Financial Statements.
Parent has previously furnished or made available to the
Company true and complete copies of its (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), and (ii) all other reports filed by Parent with
the Commission pursuant the Exchange Act since January 1, 1999, as amended prior
to the date hereof (the documents described in clauses (i) and (ii) (together
with all subsequent filings referred to in the next two sentences) being
referred to in this Agreement collectively as the "Parent SEC Reports"). As of
their respective dates, the Parent SEC Reports complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC Reports,
except as the same may have been corrected, updated or superseded by means of a
subsequent filing with the Commission prior to the date hereof. As of their
respective dates or effective dates and except as the same may have been
corrected, updated or superseded by means of a subsequent filing with the
Commission prior to the date hereof, the Parent SEC Reports did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since January 1, 1998,
Parent has filed with the Commission all reports required to be filed therewith
by it pursuant to the Exchange Act. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Parent
included in the Parent SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the
notes thereto) and fairly present, in all material respects, the respective
consolidated financial position of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
at the dates indicated therein and the results of their operations and cash
flows for the periods then ended subject, in the case of the unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements, to the omission of notes and to normal
year-end audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein.
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4.5. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
Except as described in the Parent SEC Reports, since January
1, 1999, there has not been any transaction, commitment, dispute or other event
or condition (financial or otherwise) of any character (whether or not in the
ordinary course of business) which, individually or in the aggregate, has had,
or in the future is foreseeably likely to have, a Parent Material Adverse Effect
(other than as a result of changes in Legal Requirements of general
applicability or any changes resulting from general economic, financial or
market conditions).
4.6. Financial Advisor.
No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any
brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of Parent or its Affiliates, other than such fees payable by Parent or
its Affiliates.
4.7. Tax Matters.
As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of Parent, the
representations set forth in the numbered paragraphs of the form of Certificate
of Parent attached as Schedule 4.7 are true and correct in all material
respects, assuming for purposes of this representation and warranty that the
Merger referred to in such form had been consummated on the date hereof.
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ARTICLE V
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING SUB
Parent and Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to
the Company as follows:
5.1. Organization and Qualification.
Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Sub was formed by Parent
solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby and
has conducted no business other than in connection with this Agreement.
5.2. Capitalization.
The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 1,000 shares
of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 100 shares are issued and
outstanding and held by Parent
5.3. Authority Relative to this Agreement.
Sub has the corporate power to enter into this Agreement and
to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all requisite corporate action of Sub, and no other corporate proceedings on
the part of Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement constitutes and, when executed and delivered
by Sub, each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party will be, a
valid and binding obligation of Sub enforceable in accordance with its terms.
The execution, delivery and performance by Sub of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents and the consummation by Sub of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not violate or conflict with (i) any
Governing Document or (ii) or result in a violation or breach of or constitute
(with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under or give
any Person the right to terminate, cancel or accelerate any obligation or result
in the creation of any Lien or loss of a benefit under any indenture or other
loan document provision or any other contract, license, franchise, permit,
concession, lease, instrument or Legal Requirement applicable to Sub or any of
its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the
case of clause (ii) only, (A) any conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults,
terminations, cancellations or accelerations, Liens or losses which,
individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
or prevent or materially impair the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and (B) the Legal Requirements referred to in
the next sentence. Except in connection, or in compliance with, the provisions
of the DGCL and rules and regulations of the relevant Governmental Entities, and
provisions contained in Franchises regarding transfer of ownership or control of
Franchises and FCC licenses, no filing or registration with, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity or other Person is necessary for
the consummation by Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
other than filings, registrations, authorizations, consents or approvals the
failure of which to make or obtain would not have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect or prevent or materially impair the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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ARTICLE VI
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
6.1. Organization and Qualification.
The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted or
currently proposed to be conducted. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where
the character of its properties owned or held under lease or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified will not, individually or in the aggregate, have, a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
6.2. Capitalization.
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
158,896 shares of Company Common Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding.
All issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly
authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, are not subject
to and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights and have not
been issued in violation of any federal or state securities laws. Except as set
forth on Schedule 6.2, there are no options, warrants, calls or other rights,
agreements or commitments of any character, to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or
other securities of the Company.
6.3. Subsidiaries.
The only Company Subsidiaries or entities in which the Company
directly or through one or more of its Company Subsidiaries holds a 5% or
greater equity interest (each an "Equity Affiliate") of the Company are those
set forth on Schedule 6.3, which Schedule reflects the percentage and nature of
the Company's ownership of each such Company Subsidiary or Equity Affiliate.
Each of the Company Subsidiaries is a corporation or partnership duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or formation and has the corporate or partnership power to carry
on its business as it is now being conducted or currently proposed to be
conducted. Each of the Company Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation or partnership to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under lease or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary except where the
failure to be so qualified will not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of
each of the Company Subsidiaries that is a corporation held by the Company or a
Company Subsidiary are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.3, the shares of capital stock or partnership or other
ownership interests in each of the Company Subsidiaries or Equity Affiliates
that are owned by the Company or by a Company Subsidiary are owned free and
clear of any Liens, are not subject to and have not been issued in violation of
any preemptive rights and have not been issued in violation of any federal or
state securities laws. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3, there are no
existing options, warrants, calls or other rights, agreements or commitments of
any character, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party,
relating to the issued or unissued capital stock, other securities or
partnership or other ownership interests of any of the Company Subsidiaries or
Equity Affiliates of the Company, and there is no exercise of any of the
foregoing pending or of which the Company has received notice.
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6.4. Authority Relative to this Agreement.
The Company has the corporate power to enter into this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to carry out
its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by
all requisite corporate action of the Company, including approval by the
Company's Board of Directors and stockholders. This Agreement constitutes, and
when executed and delivered by the Company, each of the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party will be, a valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable in accordance with its terms. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.4,
the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not violate or conflict with (i) any
Governing Document or (ii) or result in a violation or breach of or constitute
(with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under or give
any Person the right to terminate, cancel or accelerate any obligation or result
in the creation of any Lien or loss of a benefit under any indenture or other
loan document provision or any other contract, license, franchise, permit,
concession, lease, instrument or Legal Requirement applicable to the Company or
any of its Company Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other
than, in the case of clause (ii) only, (A) any conflicts, breaches, violations,
defaults, terminations, cancellations or accelerations, Liens or losses which,
either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impair the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (B) the Legal Requirements
referred to in the next sentence. Except as referred to in Schedule 6.4, and
except in connection, or in compliance with, the provisions of the DGCL and the
rules and regulations of the relevant Governmental Entities, and the provisions
of Franchises regarding transfer of ownership or control of Franchises and FCC
licenses (all of which licenses are listed in Schedule 6.4), no filing or
registration with, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity or other Person is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby, other than filings,
registrations, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to
make or obtain would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impair the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
16
6.5. Reports and Financial Statements.
The Company has previously furnished or made available to
Parent true and complete copies of its (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, as filed with the Commission, and (ii) all
other reports or registration statements filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1,
1999, as amended prior to the date hereof (the documents described in clauses
(i) through (ii) (together with all subsequent filings referred to in the next
two sentences) being referred to in this Agreement collectively as the "Company
SEC Reports"). As of their respective dates or effective dates, the Company SEC
Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Reports,
except as the same may have been corrected, updated or superseded by means of a
subsequent filing with the Commission prior to the date hereof. As of their
respective dates or effective dates and except as the same may have been
corrected, updated or superseded by means of a subsequent filing with the
Commission prior to the date hereof, the Company SEC Reports did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Since January 1, 1998,
Company has filed with the Commission all reports required to be filed therewith
by it pursuant to the Exchange Act. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the
Company included in the Company SEC Reports have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or
in the notes thereto) and fairly present, in all material respects, the
respective consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated therein and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended subject, in the case of the
unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, to the omission of notes
and to normal year-end audit adjustments and any other adjustments described
therein.
17
6.6. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.6, since January 1, 1999,
there has not been (i) any transaction, commitment, dispute or other event or
condition (financial or otherwise) of any character (whether or not in the
ordinary course of business) which, individually or in the aggregate, has had,
or in the future is reasonably likely to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect
(other than as a result of changes in Legal Requirements of general
applicability or any changes resulting from general economic, financial or
market conditions), (ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect
to the capital stock of the Company, (iii) any entry into any commitment or
transaction material to the Company and its Company Subsidiaries taken as a
whole (including, without limitation, any borrowing or sale of assets), whether
or not in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) any event or circumstance
which, had it occurred after the date of this Agreement, would have constituted
a violation of Section 7.1 of this Agreement. The Company does not have any
indebtedness, liability or obligation, whether accrued or unaccrued, contingent
or otherwise that is not reflected or reserved against in the Audited Balance
Sheet, except for such indebtedness, liability or obligations arising in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Except as described
in Schedule 6.6, since January 1, 1999, neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiaries has made any loans, contributions or advances to any Distributed
Subsidiary or with respect to any Distributed Assets.
6.7. Litigation.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.7, there is no suit, action
or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor is there any judgment,
decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator
outstanding against the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries that involves
or is reasonably likely to involve an amount in excess of $5,000,000. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.7, there is no suit, action or proceeding pending, or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened that has had or is likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect nor is there
any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or
arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries
that has had or is likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
18
6.8. Employment Matters.
(a) The Company has provided (or within 30 days after the date
of this Agreement will provide) a complete and correct list of the names and
positions of all employees engaged principally in the Company's business as of
the date set forth on such list (but not earlier than March 31, 1999). To the
Knowledge of the Company, the Company has complied in all material respects with
all applicable Legal Requirements relating to the employment of labor,
including, the Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. ss.
2101, et seq. ("WARN"), ERISA, continuation coverage requirements with respect
to group health plans and those relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining,
unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, equal employment opportunity, age
and disability discrimination, immigration control and the payment and
withholding of Taxes.
(b) Schedule 6.8 sets forth all "employee benefit plans," as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, and all other material employee benefit
arrangements, programs or payroll practices, including, without limitation,
severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation for disability,
deferred compensation, bonus, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights,
hospitalization, medical insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement,
employee assistance and employee discounts, that the Company or any trade or
business (whether or not incorporated) which is treated as a single employer
with the Company under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code ("Code
Affiliate") maintains or has an obligation to make contributions other than
Multiemployer Plans, as defined in ERISA or the Code (the "Company Benefit
Plans"). The Company has provided to Parent true and complete copies of each of
the Company Benefit Plans, the most recent summary plan description, the most
recent IRS determination letters, annual reports (Form 5500 Series) for the
preceding three years, and actuarial statements of valuation, together with each
current summary of material modifications, or other current participant
disclosure required under ERISA or other applicable Legal Requirements.
19
(c) Neither the Company nor any Code Affiliate has incurred
any unsatisfied material withdrawal liability, as defined in Section 4201 of
ERISA, with respect to any multiemployer plan, nor has any of them incurred any
material liability due to the termination or reorganization of any multiemployer
plan. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Code
Affiliates reasonably expects to incur any liability due to a withdrawal from or
termination or reorganization of a multiemployer plan.
(d) Each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to qualify
under Section 401 of the Code and the trust maintained pursuant thereto has been
determined to be exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the
Code by the Internal Revenue Service, and to the Knowledge of the Company,
nothing has occurred with respect to any such plan since such determination
which could reasonably be expected to result in the loss of such exemption or
the imposition of any material liability, penalty or Tax under ERISA or the
Code. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Company Benefit Plan has at all
times been maintained, by its terms and in operation, in all material respects
in accordance with all applicable laws. No Company Benefit Plan is maintained in
connection with any trust described in Code Section 501(c)(9).
(e) All material contributions (including all employer
contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) required to have been
made under the Company Benefit Plans or by law (without regard to any waivers
granted under Section 412 of the Code) to any funds or trusts established
thereunder or in connection therewith have been made by the due date thereof
(including any valid extension), and no accumulated funding deficiency exists
with respect to any of the Company Benefit Plans subject to Section 412 of the
Code.
(f) No Company Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of
ERISA has: (i) as of the most recent valuation date for such Company Benefit
Plan, assets, the fair market value of which (including for these purposes any
accrued but unpaid contributions) does not exceed the present value of all
benefit liabilities as defined in ERISA Section 4001(a)(16) under such Company
Benefit Plan determined on a termination basis using the assumptions that would
be applied by the PBGC for a plan terminating as of the date of this Agreement
or the Effective Date, or (ii) been a plan with respect to which there has been
a "reportable event," as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
thereunder, which would require the giving of notice to the PBGC. No transaction
prohibited by Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with
respect to any Company Benefit Plan. Except for premiums paid to the PBGC,
neither the Company nor any Code Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to
incur any liability under Section 4062 or 4063 of ERISA to the PBGC, or any
trustee appointed under Section 4042 of ERISA. Neither the Company nor any Code
Affiliate has incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA arising in
connection with the termination of any plan covered or previously covered by
Title IV of ERISA.
20
(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, there have been no
violations of ERISA or the Code with respect to the filing of applicable
material reports, documents and notices regarding the Company Benefit Plans with
the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury or the furnishing of
such reports, documents and notices to the participants or beneficiaries of the
Company Benefit Plans which would result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(h) There are no pending actions, written claims or lawsuits
which have been asserted or instituted against the Company Benefit Plans, the
assets of any of the trusts under such plans or the plan sponsor or the plan
administrator, or against any fiduciary of the Company Benefit Plans with
respect to the operation of such plans (other than routine benefit claims), nor
does the Company have Knowledge of facts which could reasonably form the basis
for any such actions, claims or lawsuits.
(i) Except as provided in Schedule 6.8 and as may be required
under Section 4980B of the Code, neither the Company nor any Code Affiliate
maintains any Company Benefit Plan that provides medical or welfare benefits to
current or future retired or terminated employees, their spouses or their
dependents.
(j) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.8, there are no union or
collective bargaining agreements applicable to any Person employed by the
Company and the Company has no duty to bargain with any labor organization with
respect to any such Person. Since January 1, 1999 there have not been any unfair
labor practice charges against the Company, any demand for recognition or any
other effort of or request or demand from, a labor organization for
representative status with respect to any Person employed by the Company. Except
as described on Schedule 6.8, the Company has no employment contracts, either
written or oral, with any employee of the Company and none of the employment
contracts or other agreements listed on Schedule 6.8 requires the Company or
will require Parent or its Affiliates to employ any Person after the Closing.
(k) Except as expressly provided herein or as set forth on
Schedule 6.8, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the this
Agreement will not (i) entitle any employee to severance pay, unemployment
compensation or any similar payment, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or
vesting, or increase in the amount, of any compensation due to any employee or
any director or former employee of the Company, or (iii) renew or extend the
term of any agreement regarding compensation for an employee which, in the case
of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, would create any liability to the Company, or
Parent, or its Affiliates after the Effective Date. No payment or benefit which
may be made by the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to any employee
will be classified as an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.
21
6.9. Compliance with Applicable Laws.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9, the Company and its
Company Subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, franchises, variances,
exemptions, concessions, leases, instruments, orders and approvals (the "Company
Permits") of all Governmental Entities required to be held by them, except for
such Company Permits the failure of which to hold, individually or in the
aggregate, does not have and, in the future is not likely to have, a Company
Material Adverse Effect. All of the Company Permits that are Franchises are
listed on Schedule 6.9-A. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
Company Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the terms
of the Company Permits. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9, the businesses of
the Company and its Company Subsidiaries are not being conducted in violation of
any Legal Requirement, except for such violations which, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries is pending, or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated
to the Company an intention to conduct the same.
(b) The Company and each of its Company Subsidiaries have made
all submissions (including, without limitation, registration statements)
required under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable
rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Communications Act"), the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) each
of the Company and its Company Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material
respects, with the specifications set forth in Part 76, Subpart K of the rules
and regulations of the FCC, Section 111 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 and
the applicable rules and regulations thereunder issued by the U.S. Copyright
Office and the Communications Act, including provisions of any thereof
pertaining to signal leakage, and all other applicable Legal Requirements
relating to the construction, maintenance, ownership and operation of each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries' assets (including its cable systems) and
business and (ii) each cable system of the Company and each of its Company
Subsidiaries (a "System") is in compliance in all material respects with the
provisions of the Communications Act as such Legal Requirements relate to the
operation of such System. Each of the Company and its Company Subsidiaries has
complied in all material respects with the must carry and retransmission consent
provisions of the Communications Act as they relate to their Systems.
22
(d) Each of the Company and its Company Subsidiaries is using
reasonable good faith efforts to establish rates charged to subscribers that are
allowable under the Communications Act and any authoritative interpretation now
in effect. The Company has delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of
all FCC Forms relating to rate regulation filed by the Company and its Company
Subsidiaries with respect to their Systems, and of all correspondence with any
Governmental Entity relating to rate regulation generally or specific rates
charged to subscribers with respect to their Systems, including copies of any
complaints filed with the FCC with respect to any rates charged to subscribers
of their Systems, and any other documentation supporting an exemption from the
rate regulation provisions of the Communications Act claimed by each of the
Company and its Company Subsidiaries with respect to any of their Systems.
Neither the Company nor any of its Company Subsidiaries has received any written
or oral notice from any Governmental Entity with respect to an intention to
enforce customer service standards pursuant to the Communications Act and none
of the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries has agreed with any
Governmental Entity to establish customer service standards that exceed the
customer service standards promulgated pursuant to the Communications Act.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9, none of the Company or any of its Company
Subsidiaries has made any election with respect to any cost of service
proceeding conducted in accordance with Part 76.922 of Title 47 of the Code of
Federal Regulations or any similar proceeding with respect to any of their
Systems (a "Cost of Service Election"). Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9,
none of the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries has entered into or is
subject to any "social contract" or other proposed resolution with the FCC with
respect to rates charged for cable television services in their Systems and is
not currently negotiating or anticipating entering into or being subject to the
same.
23
6.10. Tax Matters.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.10, the Company and each
of its Subsidiaries have timely filed (including extensions) all Tax returns
required to be filed by any of them, and the information contained in such Tax
returns is true, complete and accurate in all material respects. All Taxes
claimed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries to be owed in respect of the
periods covered by such returns have been timely paid by the Company or its
Subsidiaries, or the Company has set up an adequate reserve for the payment of
such Taxes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms "Tax" and "Taxes" will
include all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, estimated,
franchise, gross receipts, payroll, sales, employment, use, property,
withholding, excise and other taxes, duties and assessments of any nature
whatsoever together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with
respect to such amounts.
(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company is
delinquent in the payment of any Tax, assessment or governmental charge. Except
as set forth on Schedule 6.10, no deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed,
asserted or assessed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that have
not been finally settled or paid in full, and no requests for waivers of the
time to assess any such Tax are pending.
(c) The amount of Taxes reflected as a liability on the
audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1998
including all notes therein (the "Financial Statements") is a full and adequate
reflection of the amount of accrued and unpaid Taxes with respect to the Company
and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods (or portions of taxable periods)
through and including December 31, 1998.
(d) With respect to the stock, securities and assets described
in Section 8.4, as of date hereof, there have been no "intercompany
transactions" giving rise to any "deferred intercompany transaction gain"
pursuant to the Treasury regulations issued under Section 1502 of the Code.
24
(e) As of December 31, 1998, the net operating losses of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes were no less than
the amount reflected on the Financial Statements, and are not subject to
limitation for federal tax purposes by reason of Section 382 of the Code or
otherwise (other than any such limitation which may arise as a result of the
Merger).
(f) As of the date hereof, to the Knowledge of the Company,
the representations set forth in the numbered paragraphs of the form of
Certificate of the Company attached as Schedule 6.10(f) are true and correct in
all material respects, assuming for purposes of this representation and warranty
that the Merger referred to in such form had been consummated on the date
hereof.
(g) Since the date of the Financial Statements, the Company
and its Subsidiaries have not incurred or accrued any liability for any Taxes
(whether fixed or contingent) except for those Taxes incurred or accrued in the
ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
25
6.11. Environmental Laws.
Except as described on Schedule 6.11, the Company has not
generated, stored, used, treated, handled, discharged, released or disposed of
any flammable, explosive or radioactive materials, toxic substances or other
hazardous substances or wastes on, under or about any assets of the Company that
have had or could reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.11, to the Knowledge of the Company no
release of hazardous substances or wastes outside of any real property owned,
leased or otherwise used by the Company has entered or threatened to enter any
such property that has had or could reasonably be expected to result in a
Company Material Adverse Effect and, there is not any claim pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened based upon any environmental laws arising
from any condition of the land adjacent to or surrounding any such property.
Except as set forth in Schedule 6.11, no claim or investigation based on any
applicable environmental laws has been asserted or conducted in the past or is
currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect
to any real property owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company. Except as
set forth in Schedule 6.11, (i) no aboveground or underground storage tanks
containing hazardous substances or hazardous waste are currently or have been
located at any of the real property owned, leased or otherwise used by the
Company during the term of the Company's ownership, lease or use or, to the
Company's Knowledge, prior to such ownership, lease or use, (ii) no real
property owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company has been used at any
time during the term of the Company's ownership, lease or use or, to the
Company's Knowledge, prior to such ownership, lease or use as a gasoline service
station or any other facility for storing, pumping, dispensing or producing
gasoline or other petroleum products or wastes and (iii) to the Knowledge of the
Company no building or other structure on any real property owned, leased or
otherwise used by the Company contains asbestos, asbestos-containing material or
material presumed to be asbestos containing material under any environmental law
except where such would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent true and
complete copies of all (i) environmental audits, investigations, studies or
reports with respect to any real property owned, leased or otherwise used by the
Company that have been performed by or at the direction or on behalf of the
Company or that are in the Company's possession, (ii) notices or other materials
in the Company's possession from Governmental Entities having the power to
administer or enforce any applicable environmental laws relating to current or
past ownership, use or operation of or activities at any real property owned,
leased or otherwise used by the Company and (iii) materials in the Company's
possession relating to any claim, allegation or action by any Person (other than
any Governmental Entities) under any applicable environmental law. For the
purpose of this Section, "hazardous substances," "hazardous waste" and
"asbestos-containing material" will have the meanings set forth in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and
any applicable State law.
26
6.12. Intellectual Property.
To the Knowledge of the Company, the conduct of its business
does not infringe, in any material way, upon the patents, trademarks,
copyrights, trade names or other intellectual property rights, domestic or
foreign, of any Person. No Person has asserted any claim to the Company with
respect to any such infringement.
6.13. Material Contracts.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.13 or as disclosed in the
Company SEC Filings, the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries is not a
party to any of the following:
(i) any agreement concerning a partnership or joint
venture;
(ii) any agreement (or group of related agreements)
under which it has created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness
for borrowed money, or any capitalized lease obligation, in excess of $1,000,000
or under which it has imposed a security interest on any of its assets, tangible
or intangible;
(iii) any noncompetition agreement restricting
activities by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iv) any agreement with any Affiliates of the Company
(other than Parent and its Subsidiaries);
(v) any agreement under which the consequences of a
default or termination could have a Company Material Adverse Effect; or
(vi) any other agreement (or group of related
agreements) the performance of which involves consideration in excess of
$5,000,000.
27
The Company has delivered (or within 10 days following the date hereof will
deliver) to Parent a correct and complete copy of each written agreement listed
in Schedule 6.13. The Company is not, and to the Knowledge of the Company no
other party is, in default under, and no event has occurred which with notice or
lapse of time would constitute a material breach or default, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the agreement.
6.14. Company Claims.
The Company has not sold, assigned or otherwise conveyed any
claims the Company may have against any Person, including any claim with respect
to warrants issued by At Home Corporation to Affiliates of Parent.
6.15. Year 2000 Readiness.
The Company has established a Year 2000 Remediation Program on
or before the Effective Date.
ARTICLE VII
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CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
7.1. Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Merger.
Prior to the Effective Date, unless Parent otherwise agrees in
writing:
(i) the Company will, and will cause its Company
Subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses in the ordinary course,
and use their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their present business
organizations and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and
others having business dealings with them;
(ii) the Company will not (A) sell or pledge or agree
to sell or pledge any capital stock owned by it in any of its Company
Subsidiaries, (B) amend or propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws, (C) split, combine or reclassify its outstanding capital stock or issue
or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in
lieu of or in substitution for shares of capital stock of the Company, declare,
set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock or
property, (D) directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or
agree to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of
the Company, or (E) agree to do any of the foregoing;
28
(iii) except as contemplated hereby, the Company will
not, and will cause its Company Subsidiaries not to, (A) issue, deliver or sell
or agree to issue, deliver or sell any additional shares of, or rights of any
kind to acquire any shares of, its capital stock of any class, or any option,
rights or warrants to acquire, or securities convertible into, shares of capital
stock or any stock appreciation rights or similar rights, (B) acquire, lease or
dispose of or agree to acquire, lease or dispose of any capital assets or any
other assets, other than any acquisition, lease or disposition that is,
individually or in the aggregate, immaterial in amount, whether or not in the
ordinary course of business and in the case of any such acquisition, that is
acquired by a Company Subsidiary; provided, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, the Company may acquire all of the outstanding
equity securities of Raystay Co. not held by the Company or any of its
Affiliates; (C) create, assume or incur any additional indebtedness for borrowed
money or mortgage, pledge or subject to any Lien any of its assets, except
pursuant to credit facilities in effect as of the date hereof, or enter into any
other material transaction other than in each case in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice; (D) make any payments with respect to
any indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries except for such payments
that are permitted to be made without penalty or are scheduled to come due prior
to the Effective Date; (E) except as permitted in Subsection (B), acquire or
agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a
substantial equity interest in, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division
thereof, except that the Company may acquire new Franchises, or interests
therein, in the ordinary course of business; or (F) agree to do any of the
foregoing;
29
(iv) except as provided in Section 8.5, the Company
will not, and will cause the Company Subsidiaries not to, except as required to
comply with applicable law or existing contracts or plans, (A) adopt or
terminate or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, severance,
termination, stock option, stock appreciation rights, pension, retirement,
deferred compensation, employment or other Company Benefit Plan, agreement,
trust, fund or other arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any director,
officer or current or former employee, (B) increase or decrease in any manner
the compensation or fringe benefit of any director, officer or employee (except
for normal increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice), (C) grant any awards under any bonus, incentive, performance or other
compensation plan or arrangement or Company Benefit Plan (except for such awards
made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice unless
such award is otherwise prohibited under Section 7.1(iii)(A)), (D) take any
action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or
benefits under any employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or Company
Benefit Plan (except for such actions made in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice) or (E) agree to do any of the foregoing;
(v) the Company will not, and will cause its Company
Subsidiaries not to, make any affirmative election with respect to any cost of
service proceeding conducted in accordance with Part 76.922 of Title 47 of the
Code of Federal Regulations or any similar proceeding;
(vi) the Company will not, and will cause its
Subsidiaries not to, take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any actions
that would (A) make any representation or warranty of the Company contained in
this Agreement untrue or incorrect in any material respect or (B) result in any
of the conditions of this Agreement set forth in Section 9.3 not being satisfied
as of the Effective Date;
30
(vii) the Company will consult with Parent concerning,
and permit Parent to participate in, any proceedings for or negotiations with
respect to (A) any Franchise that is subject to renewal between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Date and (B) obtaining the consent of any
Governmental Entity with respect to the transfer of ownership or control of any
Franchise in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(viii) the Company will not, and will cause its
Company Subsidiaries not to, amend, alter or otherwise modify the provisions of,
or agree to undertake any obligation not required to be performed under, the
provisions of any Franchise of the Company that would materially increase the
obligations of the Company under such Franchise if included as an amendment
thereto;
(ix) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary
will (A) make any new loans, contributions or other advances to any Distributed
Subsidiary or relating to any Distributed Assets which, when aggregated with all
other such loans, contributions or other advances made after the date hereof,
would exceed $30,000,000, other than the contribution of intercompany
indebtedness which indebtedness arose prior to the date hereof as contemplated
by Section 8.4 or, (B) enter into any material contract that will not be subject
to termination by the Company or such Company Subsidiary within one year after
Closing without cost or (C) acquire any General Instruments Corp. stock,
Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. stock, TCI Music, Inc. stock or any beneficial
interest, options, warrants or similar instruments with respect to such stock;
(x) the Company will (A) maintain its books, accounts
and records in the usual and regular manner, in accordance with past accounting
practices, consistently applied, and (B) not make or rescind any express or
deemed election relating to Taxes, settle or compromise any claim, action, suit,
litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy
relating to Taxes, change any of its methods of reporting income or deductions
for federal income tax purposes or file (other than in a manner consistent with
past practice) any Tax return; and
(xi) the Company will design and implement all cable
system upgrade activities and capital expenditures in accordance with its
Capital Budget and consistent with the specifications approved by Parent,
subject to the Company's ability to finance the same under its applicable credit
facilities.
Nothing in this Section 7.1 will prevent the Company from engaging in any
transaction with Company Subsidiaries or prevent the Company Subsidiaries from
engaging in any transaction with other Company Subsidiaries.
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ARTICLE VIII
------------
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
8.1. Access and Information.
The Company and its Company Subsidiaries will afford to Parent
and to Parent's accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access
during normal business hours (and at such other times as the parties may
mutually agree) throughout the period prior to the Effective Date to all of the
Company's and the Company Subsidiaries' properties, books, contracts,
commitments, records and personnel; provided, however, that in exercising such
right of access Parent and its accountants, counsel and other representatives
will use their reasonable efforts to not disrupt the business operations of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries. During such period, the Company and its
Company Subsidiaries and Parent will furnish promptly to the other a copy of
each report, schedule and other document filed or received by it pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state securities laws to the extent it relates to the
Company, the Company Subsidiaries or the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2. FYI.
The Lenfest Stockholders, at their option to be exercised by
written notice to such effect not later than 30 days prior to Closing, will have
the right to acquire the FYI business (which consists of production of a
photoclassified cable television channel with some infomercials with other
information on same screen, such as weather, time, stock quotes, etc.) for a
price of $3,000,000 in cash at Closing (or as an adjustment to their Stock
Merger Consideration if they elect). If the Lenfest Stockholders acquire FYI
pursuant to the preceding sentence, then Parent will enter into an affiliation
agreement with FYI on mutually satisfactory terms, including those set forth in
Exhibit D.
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8.3. CAMS Systems, Inc., Etc.
After Closing, Parent and the Distributed Subsidiaries will
operate in accordance with certain arrangements, as more fully described in the
attached Exhibit C.
8.4. Distribution of Boot and Additional Parent Stock.
(a) As of the Effective Date, by virtue of the Merger, the
Lenfest Stockholders shall receive, in the aggregate, the following as
additional consideration in exchange for their Company Common Stock: (i) the
assets described as "Distributed Assets" in Schedule 8.4, and (ii) the
Subsidiaries of the Company described as "Distributed Subsidiaries" in Schedule
8.4 including all assets and liabilities of such Distributed Subsidiaries;
provided, however, that in lieu of receiving one or more of such Distributed
Subsidiaries the Lenfest Stockholders may elect to receive a distribution of
limited liability company membership interests or partnership interests in one
or more limited liability companies or partnerships that are successors to such
Distributed Subsidiaries and hold all the assets and are responsible for all the
liabilities of such Distributed Subsidiaries ("Successor Entities"). Such
additional consideration shall be distributed to the Lenfest Stockholders or
their designees in proportion to the ownership of Company Common Stock by each
Lenfest Stockholder as determined immediately prior to the Merger. As of the
Effective Date, by virtue of the Merger, the Stockholders of the Company other
than the Lenfest Stockholders shall receive, in the aggregate, as additional
consideration in exchange for their Company Common Stock, in proportion to the
ownership of Company Common Stock by each such Stockholder as determined
immediately prior to the Merger, additional shares of Parent Stock having a fair
market value, based on the Share Valuation, equal to the Distributed Value. The
"Distributed Value" shall mean the net fair market value of the stock,
securities and other assets distributed to the Lenfest Stockholders under this
Section 8.4, which will be as agreed between Parent and the Stockholders
Representative prior to Closing. If Parent and the Stockholders Representative
cannot agree on the amount of the Distributed Value prior to Closing, Parent's
estimate of such amount will be used for purposes of determining the number of
shares of Parent Stock to be delivered to the Stockholders of the Company other
than the Lenfest Stockholders pursuant to this Section, and the parties will
request that the Accountants determine the Distributed Value, whose
determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon Parent, Sub and
Stockholders and an appropriate adjustment shall be made to the number of shares
of Parent Stock delivered pursuant to this Section 8.4 to the Stockholders of
the Company other than the Lenfest Stockholders. Any reference to a Distributed
Subsidiary in this Agreement shall include a reference to the applicable
Successor Entity, if any.
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(b) Prior to the Effective Date, all intercompany indebtedness
owed by any of the Distributed Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries will be contributed to the capital of such Distributed
Subsidiaries. To the extent that such intercompany indebtedness existed as of
the date hereof, such intercompany indebtedness shall not be treated as
"Specified Intercompany Debt" and the contribution of such intercompany
indebtedness to the capital of the Distributed Subsidiaries shall not give rise
to any adjustment to the Merger Consideration under Section 3.3(a).
(c) All elections given to the Lenfest Stockholders under this
Section 8.4 shall be made by the Stockholders Representative on behalf of the
Lenfest Stockholders, and shall be effective if notice of such election is
provided to Parent not less than seven days prior to the Effective Date.
(d) All Distributed Assets and the Distributed Subsidiaries
(or, if applicable, the interests in Successor Entities) shall be distributed as
is, where is and subject to no title or other warranties (including express or
implied warranties of any sort, all of which are disclaimed) and will be
distributed subject to all obligations, indebtedness and liabilities owed by
each Distributed Subsidiary (or, in the case of Distributed Assets, by the
Company or any Subsidiaries) to parties other than the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the Closing.
(e) It is agreed and acknowledged that the personal property
of H.F. Lenfest may be removed by him or his representatives before or after the
Closing from premises owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries. Neither the
Company, its Subsidiaries, Parent, Sub or their respective Affiliates will have
any responsibility for any damages or losses to such items.
(f) At the Closing, Parent will cause the appropriate
Subsidiaries of the Parent to enter into agreements with one or more Lenfest
Stockholders (or, if applicable, with one or more of the Distributed
Subsidiaries or Successor Entities) as described in Exhibit C.
(g) If the option granted in the Agreement dated September 25,
1996 among Comcast Spectacor, L.P., Philadelphia Sports Media Joint Venture and
the Company (the "Sports Option") cannot be distributed to Lenfest Stockholders,
then to the extent that the Media JV (as defined in the Sports Option) acquires
the Company's interest under the Sports Option, the Lenfest Stockholders will be
entitled to receive one half of the net proceeds (on an after-tax basis
calculated without regard to any net operating loss of the Company other than
any such net operating loss otherwise not useable at the point of exercise by
the Company) received by the Company from such acquisition; provided that no
exercise or other action under the Sports Option will cause any burden, economic
or otherwise (other than the payment of the exercise price), to Parent or its
Subsidiaries. If the Sports Option is exercised and the Media JV fails to
purchase the Company's interest in the Media JV, such interest will be
distributed to the Lenfest Stockholders to the extent permitted by the Sports
Option in such event.
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8.5. Employee Arrangements.
(a) Sub shall pay severance benefits to certain individuals
currently employed by the Company and/or Company Subsidiaries in accordance with
Schedule 8.5.
(b) Not later than 40 days following the Effective Date, Sub
shall make payments of bonuses pursuant to a plan to be adopted by Sub, the
Company, and Company Subsidiaries prior to Closing (the "Bonus Plan"), provided
that an employee otherwise eligible to receive a bonus under the Bonus Plan is
employed by Sub for a period of at least 30 days following the Effective Date,
and prior to expiration of such 30-day period, neither leaves employment
voluntarily nor is terminated for cause.
(c) The Company shall comply with the shareholder approval
requirements of Section 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code with respect to all payments
to be made in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby that would
otherwise constitute "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of
the Code and shall comply with any other requirements necessary for such
payments not to constitute "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section
280G of the Code.
(d) Nothing in this Section 8.5 or elsewhere in this Agreement
or the Distribution Agreement shall be deemed to make any employee of the Sub,
the Company, or its Subsidiaries a third party beneficiary of this Agreement or
the Distribution Agreement.
35
8.6. Year 2000 Readiness Covenants.
The Company shall maintain its Year 2000 Remediation Program,
which has previously been reviewed by Parent, pursuant to which all the
Company's material Computer and Other Systems will be evaluated, remedied and
tested on an expedited basis. The Company will allow Parent, Sub and their
representatives to continuously monitor the efforts of the Company toward
achieving Year 2000 Readiness, including making available to Parent and Sub and
their representatives copies of all internal or external reports, memoranda or
other materials regarding its Year 2000 Remediation Program and all inventory,
testing and other implementation activities and results. If Parent determines
that it is not satisfied with the Company's progress on becoming Year 2000
Ready, Parent may elect, by written notice to the Company to such effect, to
manage such activities on behalf of the Company, and the Company will cooperate
fully with Parent in such efforts. If Parent makes the election in the preceding
sentence, expenses for Parent personnel and consultants associated with such
Parent efforts will be borne by Parent. If this Agreement is terminated, Parent
will reimburse the Company for any equipment purchased at the direction of
Parent to make the Company and Company Subsidiaries Year 2000 Ready.
8.7. Indemnification.
Parent agrees that all rights to indemnification existing in
favor of the directors, officers or employees of the Company and Company
Subsidiaries as provided in the Company's and its Company Subsidiaries'
Certificates of Incorporation and By-Laws with respect to matters occurring
through the Effective Date will survive the Merger. Parent will cause the
Surviving Corporation to continue to provide indemnification to the employees,
officers and directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law for a period of at least six years after the Effective Date.
36
8.8. Actions by the Parties.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, each of the parties will use its reasonable efforts to take, or to
cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including using all reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary waivers, consents
and approvals, to effect all necessary registrations and filings (including, but
not limited to, filings with all applicable Governmental Entities), and to lift
any injunction or other legal bar to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (and, in such case, to proceed with the Closing as expeditiously as
possible). Each of the parties will take all actions as may be reasonably
directed by Parent for purposes of consummating the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
8.9. No Solicitation.
Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement the Stockholders of the Company have unanimously consented to the
Merger and accordingly, the directors and officers of the Company have no
fiduciary duties to the Stockholders with respect to any Acquisition Proposal
that may be received by the Company. Neither the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, representatives or
agents will take any action to (i) initiate the submission of any Acquisition
Proposal, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal
or (iii) participate in negotiations with any Person in connection with any
Acquisition Proposal. The Company will promptly communicate to Parent any
solicitation or inquiry received by the Company and the terms of any proposal or
inquiry that it may receive in respect of any Acquisition Proposal, or of any
such representatives of information requested from it or of any such
negotiations or discussions being sought to be initiated with the Company.
"Acquisition Proposal" means any proposed (A) merger, consolidation or similar
transaction involving the Company, (B) sale, lease or other disposition directly
or indirectly by merger, consolidation, share exchange or otherwise of all or
any substantial part of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (C)
issuance, sale or other disposition of securities representing 10% or more of
the voting power of the Company Common Stock or (D) any transaction in which any
Person will acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership or any
"group" (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) will have been formed
which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 10%
or more of the outstanding Company Common Stock.
37
8.10. Affiliate Agreements.
Except as described on Schedule 8.10 or as provided in Exhibit
C, the Company will terminate any agreement between the Company or any of its
Company Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (i) H.F. Lenfest, (ii) any relative
of H.F. Lenfest, (iii) any Affiliate of H.F. Lenfest, (iv) any Stockholder of
the Company other than Parent or Affiliates of Parent or (v) any Distributed
Subsidiary, on the other hand in each case without cost to the Company.
8.11. Contribution of Assets Upon Termination.
If this Agreement is terminated by the Company in accordance
with Section 10.1(b), and provided that the Company and the Lenfest Stockholders
have complied with their obligations pursuant to Section 8.8 and that the
conditions to the obligations of Parent and Sub in Section 9.3(a) have been
satisfied, then at the option of the Company to be exercised by written notice
to such effect within 60 days after such termination, Parent will contribute all
cable systems (and all associated liabilities, including debt per subscriber
added that is equivalent to the debt per subscriber of the cable systems of
Suburban and its cable operating Subsidiaries at the date of contribution) it
owns as of the date of such termination (or, if earlier, as of the earliest date
such termination is permitted) that are located within 35 miles of the cable
systems currently owned by Suburban or its cable operating Subsidiaries in the
HLLY and Philadelphia DMA's, provided such transaction can be accomplished in a
commercially acceptable manner that is substantially tax-free to Parent. The
value to be credited to Parent at the time of such contribution will be
calculated on a per subscriber basis that is at a 15% discount from the then
fair market value of Suburban's subscribers. The contribution of such cable
systems shall not change the governance rights of the Lenfest Stockholders or
"Lenfest Family" as existing as of the date hereof.
8.12. Use of 200 Cresson Boulevard.
After Closing, H.F. Lenfest and Maryann Bryla, and their
assistants shall have the right, without charge, to continue to use the spaces
they presently occupy at 200 Cresson Boulevard, Oaks, Pennsylvania, and
telephone and computer service for a period of up to three months after the
Effective Date.
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8.13. Use of 1332 Enterprise Drive.
After Closing, Sub and its Affiliates will have the right to
continue to occupy 1332 Enterprise Drive, West Chester, Pennsylvania during the
transition of the advertising sales business of the Company, and the Lenfest
Stockholders will cause StarNet (or the applicable Successor Entity) and its
employees to cooperate during such transition. Sub will promptly reimburse
StarNet (or the applicable Successor Entity) for the Sub's use of such
facilities and employees based on its allocable share of such expenses during
such transition, as reasonably determined by StarNet. The allocation as
determined by StarNet will be subject to audit by Sub.
8.14. Employee Cable Service.
For a period of three years following Closing, Sub will
provide basic and standard and one premium cable service, free of charge, to
individuals who from time to time are employees of the Distributed Subsidiaries
or Successor Entities and who reside within the service area of Suburban or
Parent's Subsidiaries in the Philadelphia and HLLY DMAs. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, at no time will the Company be required to provide such free
service to more than 500 employees of the Distributed Subsidiaries or Successor
Entities. A list of additions and deletions to the employee lists will be
provided to Sub on a quarterly basis. Any person receiving this free service
must be an employee of a Distributed Subsidiary or a Successor Entity.
8.15. Transitional Use of Lenfest Name.
For a period of 180 days after the Closing, Sub and the
Company Subsidiaries will be entitled to use the trademarks, trade names,
service marks, service names, logos and similar proprietary rights that
incorporate the name "Lenfest" on a royalty-free basis, provided that such
entities will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to remove all such names,
marks, logos and similar proprietary rights that incorporate the name "Lenfest"
from their assets as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 180
days, following the Closing. Thereafter the Lenfest Stockholders will have the
exclusive right (as between them and Parent or its Subsidiaries) to use the name
"Lenfest" and all derivations thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
this Section will require removal or discontinuation of the use of any such name
or mark that is affixed to converters or other items in or to be used in
customer homes or properties, or as are used in a similar fashion making such
removal or discontinuation impracticable.
39
8.16. Tax Matters.
Neither the Company nor Parent nor Sub shall take any action
that would cause its respective representations set forth in Sections 6.10(f)
and 4.7 not to be true in all material respects from and after the date hereof
until the Effective Date.
8.17. Delivery of Certain Schedules.
Within seven days after signing of this Agreement, Company
may, at its option, change Schedule 6.9 with respect to Cost of Service Election
information, and Company will deliver to Parent copies of the following
Schedules: 6.4, 6.8, 6.9-A, 6.13 and 8.10 (if not initially attached to this
Agreement), along with copies of all documents referenced in such Schedules, and
such Schedules will be deemed attached to this Agreement.
8.18. Registration Rights.
At Closing Parent and the Lenfest Stockholders will execute
and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A
(the "Registration Rights Agreement") providing registration rights to the
Lenfest Stockholders.
ARTICLE IX
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
9.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligations.
The respective obligations of each party to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be subject to the fulfillment
of the following condition: No preliminary or permanent injunction or other
order by any federal or state court in the United States which prevents the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement has been issued
and remains in effect.
9.2. Conditions to Obligation of the Company.
The obligation of the Company to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will be subject to the fulfillment of the
additional following conditions, unless waived by the Company:
(a) Parent and Sub have performed in all material respects
their agreements contained in this Agreement and in any Transaction Document
required to be performed on or prior to the Effective Date and the
representations and warranties of Parent and Sub contained in this Agreement and
in any Transaction Document are true without regard to any materiality
qualification in those representations and warranties (except where the failure
to be true, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect) when made and on and as of the Effective Date as if made on and
as of such date and the Company shall have received a certificate of Parent
executed by the President or a Vice President of Parent, to that effect.
40
(b) Parent shall deliver the following items, and Parent shall
take the following actions, at the Closing.
(i) Parent's Closing Certificate. Parent shall deliver
to the Company at Closing a certificate of Parent dated the Effective Date
certifying that the conditions to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement set forth in Section 9.2(a) have been satisfied.
(ii) Parent Stock Registration. Parent shall deliver
the Registration Rights Agreement in the Form of Exhibit A executed by Parent.
(iii) Distributed Subsidiary Agreements. Parent shall
cause to be delivered agreements in accordance with Exhibit C.
(c) The Company will have received an opinion of Saul, Ewing,
Remick & Saul, LLP, dated the Effective Date, that the Merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering
such opinion, Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul, LLP may receive and rely upon
representations contained in certificates of the Company, Lenfest Stockholders,
Parent, Sub and others, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul, LLP.
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9.3. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.
The obligations of Parent and Sub to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be subject to the fulfillment
at Closing of the additional following conditions, unless waived by Parent:
(a) The Company and the Lenfest Stockholders have performed in
all material respects their agreements contained in this Agreement and in any
Transaction Document required to be performed on or prior to the Effective Date
and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Lenfest
Stockholders contained in this Agreement and in any Transaction Document are
true when made and on and as of the Effective Date as if made on and as of such
date, and Parent has received a certificate of the Company executed by the
President or a Vice President of the Company and of each Lenfest Stockholder to
that effect.
(b) The authorization, consent, order or approval of any
Governmental Entity necessary for the transfer (including a transfer of control)
of Franchises held by the Company or any Company Subsidiaries in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement has been
obtained pursuant to such Franchises and any other applicable Legal Requirements
as follows:
(i) The aggregate number of the Company's and Company
Subsidiaries' cable subscribers located in areas that are served without a
franchise or that are served pursuant to Franchises that either do not require
consent for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as to which all
such required consents have been obtained is at least 90% of the total number of
cable subscribers of the Company and Company Subsidiaries (with subscribers for
this purpose to be calculated in a manner consistent with the standard reporting
methodology of the Company); and
42
(ii) Any applicable waiting period (including
extensions thereof) has expired with respect to the FCC Form 394 filed in
connection with the requests for consent to the transfer of the Franchises held
by the Company and Company Subsidiaries for which consents have not then been
obtained.
(c) The FCC has consented, to the extent such consent is
legally required, to the transfer to Parent of control of all FCC licenses
possessed by the Company and Company Subsidiaries.
(d) Parent shall have received an opinion of Fleischman &
Walsh, special FCC counsel to the Company, dated as of the Effective Date, in
the form of Exhibit E to this Agreement ("Company FCC Counsel Opinion").
(e) No event or circumstance has occurred which has resulted
in, or could reasonably foreseeably result in, a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) The Lenfest Stockholders will deliver to Parent
certificates representing all shares of Company Common Stock outstanding held by
Lenfest Stockholders, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by duly executed
stock powers in blank.
(g) The Company shall deliver to Parent the following items,
and the Company shall take the following actions, at the Closing.
(i) Consents. The Company shall deliver to Parent at
Closing all consents obtained in satisfaction of the condition set forth under
Section 9.3(b) and (c), unless waived by Parent.
(ii) Company's Closing Certificate. The Company shall
deliver to Parent at Closing a certificate of the Company, and shall cause the
Lenfest Stockholders to deliver their certificate(s), dated the Effective Date
certifying that the conditions to Parent's obligation to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement set forth in Section 9.3(a) have
been satisfied.
(iii) Distributed Subsidiary Agreements. The Company
shall deliver agreements in accordance with Exhibit C.
(iv) Noncompetition Agreement. The Company shall
deliver to Parent the Noncompetition Agreement in the form of Exhibit F executed
by each of the Lenfest Stockholders.
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(h) Parent will have received an opinion of Wachtell, Lipton,
Rosen & Katz, dated the Effective Date, that the Merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering
such opinion, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz may receive and rely upon
representations contained in certificates of the Company, Lenfest Stockholders,
Parent, Sub and others, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
ARTICLE X
---------
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
10.1. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective Date:
(a) by mutual consent of the Company and Parent;
(b) by any Lenfest Stockholder, the Company or Parent if the
Closing does not occur on or before March 31, 2000, provided that the party
seeking to terminate this Agreement (and, in the case of termination by a
Lenfest Stockholder or the Company, the Company and the Lenfest Stockholders)
has or have not breached its obligations hereunder in any material respect; and
provided further that if the only conditions to Closing that have not as of such
date been satisfied or waived are Sections 9.1, 9.3(b) and/or 9.3(c), the
reference to March 31, 2000 in this Section 10.1(b) will be changed to June 30,
2000 (or if earlier than such June 30, 2000 date, to such time as such
conditions are no longer capable of satisfaction);
(c) by the Company, provided the Company and the Lenfest
Stockholders have not breached any of their obligations hereunder in any
material respect, if any of the conditions specified in Sections 9.1 or 9.2(a),
(b) or (c) have not been satisfied or waived by the Company (or, in the case of
Section 9.1, waived by the Company and Parent) at such time as such condition is
no longer capable of satisfaction; or
(d) by Parent, provided Parent has not breached any of its
obligations hereunder in any material respect, if any of the conditions
specified in Sections 9.1 or 9.3(a) through 9.3(h) have not been satisfied or
waived by Parent (or, in the case of Section 9.1, waived by the Company and
Parent) at such time as such condition is no longer capable of satisfaction.
Any termination by the Company in accordance with this Section 10.1 may be
effected as specified in Section 251(d) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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10.2. Effect of Termination.
In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the
Company or Parent, as provided above, this Agreement will forthwith become void
and (except for the intentional or willful breach of this Agreement by any
party) there will be no liability on the part of either the Company, Parent or
Sub, or Parent or their respective officers or directors or stockholders, except
as specifically provided herein.
10.3. Waiver.
At any time prior to the Effective Date, the parties, by or
pursuant to action taken by their respective Boards of Directors, may (i) extend
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the
other parties, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement or in any documents delivered pursuant and (iii)
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this
Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver
will be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.
ARTICLE XI
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GENERAL PROVISIONS; DEFINITIONS
11.1. Notices.
All notices or other communications under this Agreement will
be in writing and will be given (and will be deemed to have been duly given upon
receipt) by delivery in person, by cable, telegram, telex or other standard form
of telecommunications, or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
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If to the Company:
Lenfest Communications, Inc.
c/o The Lenfest Group
200 Cresson Blvd.
Oaks, PA 19456-0989
Attention: H.F. Lenfest
Telephone No.: (610) 650-3010
Telecopy No.: (610) 650-3011
With a copy to:
Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul, LLP
Centre Square West
1500 Market Street, 38th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Attention: Thomas K. Pasch, Esq.
Telephone No.: (215) 972-7188
Telecopy No.: (215) 972-1831
If to Parent or Sub:
AT&T Corp.
295 North Maple Avenue
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Attention: Marilyn Wasser, Esq.
Corporate Secretary
Telecopy No.: (908) 221-4402
and
AT&T Broadband & Internet Services
9197 South Peoria
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Attention: Mary Willis, Esq.,
Legal Department
Telecopy No.: (720) 875-5861
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With a copy to:
Sherman & Howard L.L.C.
633 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3000
Denver, Colorado 80202
Attention: Arlene S. Bobrow, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (303) 298-0940
If to the Lenfest Stockholders:
H.F. Lenfest
2445 Oaks Circle
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Telephone No.: (215) 657-1097
Telecopy No.: (215) 657-0966
or to such other addresses as any party may have furnished to the other parties
in writing in accordance with this Section.
11.2. Fees and Expenses.
Whether or not the Closing occurs, all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses,
provided, however, that if Closing occurs, the reasonable costs and expenses of
the Lenfest Stockholders up to $500,000 will be paid by the Company.
11.3. Publicity.
So long as this Agreement is in effect prior to the Effective
Date, the Company and Parent will consult with each other in issuing any press
release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor Parent will
issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior
written consent of the other parties, except as may be required by law or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities
market. The commencement of litigation relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or any proceedings in connection therewith will
not be deemed a violation of this Section 11.3.
47
11.4. Specific Performance.
The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the
event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties will be entitled to enforce specifically the
terms and provisions in any court of the United States or any state having
jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity.
11.5. Amendment.
This Agreement will be of no force or effect until executed
and delivered by all of the parties. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
cancelled, and the terms and conditions may be waived, only by a written
instrument signed by the parties.
11.6. Miscellaneous.
This Agreement (including the Transaction Documents and the
other documents and instruments referred to in this Agreement) (a) when executed
and delivered, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter and (b) will be governed in all
respects, including validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the
State of Delaware (without giving effect to the provisions thereof relating to
conflicts of law). This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts
which together will constitute a single agreement. Any certificate delivered
pursuant to this Agreement by an officer, director or employee on behalf of a
legal entity will be made without personal liability on the part of the person
giving such certificate. Headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and will not be deemed to affect the meaning or scope of the
provisions of this Agreement.
48
11.7. Definitions.
"Accountants" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b) of
this Agreement.
"Acquisition Proposal" has the meaning set forth in Section
8.9 of this Agreement.
"Adjustments" means, collectively, the Debt Adjustment and the
Bonus Adjustment.
"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person which,
directly or indirectly, controls, or is under common control with, or is
controlled by, such Person. As used in this definition, "control" (including,
with its correlative meanings, "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common
control with") will mean possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person (whether
through the ownership of securities, or partnership or other ownership interest,
by contract or otherwise).
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement and Plan of Merger.
"Base Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
"Bonus Adjustment" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.3(c).
"Bonus Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(b).
"Capital Budget" means the proposed capital budget of the
Company for year ending December 31, 1999 attached as Exhibit G or any
alternative capital budgets approved in writing by Parent and the Company for
1999 or any subsequent period.
49
"Cash Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.8(a).
"Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7 of this
Agreement.
"Code" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Code Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(b)
of this Agreement.
"Commission" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this
Agreement.
"Communications Act" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.9(d) of this Agreement.
"Company" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Company Benefit Plans" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.8(b) of this Agreement.
"Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.2 of this Agreement.
"Company FCC Counsel Opinion" has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.3(d) of this Agreement.
"Company Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse
effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
liabilities or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole
or in the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
50
"Company Permits" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(a)
of this Agreement.
"Company SEC Reports" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5
of this Agreement.
"Company Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary of the Company
other than each of the Distributed Subsidiaries.
"Computer and Other Systems" means any level of hardware or
software, equipment and cable plant, or building and other facilities used by
the Company in connection with its business which are date dependent or which
process date data, including any firmware, application programs, user
interfaces, files and databases, and which might be adversely affected by the
advent or changeover to the Year 2000 or to the advent or changeover to any leap
year.
"Consent and Indemnity Agreement" has the meaning set forth in
the Recitals.
"Cost of Service Election" has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.9(d) of this Agreement.
"Debt Adjustment" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b)
of this Agreement.
"DGCL" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
"Distributed Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4.
"Distributed Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary of the Company
that is distributed or otherwise transferred to the Lenfest Stockholders
pursuant to Section 8.4 and the Distribution Agreement.
"Distributed Value" has the meaning set forth in Section
8.4(a) of this Agreement.
"Dollar Value" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
"Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
"Equity Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 of
this Agreement.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
51
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Exercise Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
"FCC" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 of this
Agreement.
"Final Adjustment Schedule" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.4(b) of this Agreement.
"Final Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.4(b) of this Agreement.
"Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.10(c).
"Franchise" means authority to provide cable television
service pursuant to a governmental franchise or similar authorization.
"GAAP" means Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as in
effect on the date.
"Governing Document" means, with respect to any Person, such
Person's (x) certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation or other
corporate organizational document, (y) by-laws and (z) partnership agreement
relating to the formation of such Person as in effect at the time of
determination to include any amendments thereto.
"Governmental Entity" means the United States of America, any
state, commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States of America and
any political subdivision or quasi-governmental authority of any of the same,
including any court, tribunal, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
county, municipality, province, parish or other instrumentality of any of the
foregoing.
52
"Knowledge" of a particular fact or other matter means the
current or prior knowledge of any of the following individuals: H.F. Lenfest,
Maryann V. Bryla, Sam Morris, Brook Lenfest, Chase Lenfest, Joseph Cece, Debra
A. Krzywicki or Robert M. Lawrence.
"Legal Requirement" means applicable common law and any
statute, ordinance, code or other law, rule, regulation, order, technical or
other written standard, requirement or procedure enacted, adopted, promulgated,
applied or followed by any Governmental Entity.
"Lenfest Stockholders" has the meaning set forth in the
preamble of this Agreement and Plan of Merger.
"Lien" means any lien, security interest, pledge, charge,
claim, option, right to acquire, restriction on transfer, voting restriction or
encumbrance of any nature.
"Merger" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
"Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.1.
"Parent" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Parent Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse
effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
liabilities or operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or a
material impairment or adverse effect on the ability of Parent to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
"Parent SEC Reports" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4
of this Agreement.
"Parent Stock" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 of
this Agreement.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation,
business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint
venture, Governmental Entity or other entity of any nature.
53
"Preliminary Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth
in Section 3.4(a) of this Agreement.
"Purchase Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.8.
"Purchase Valuation Period" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.8.
"Purchased Share Valuation" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.8.
"Registration Rights Agreement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.18 of this Agreement.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
"Share Valuation" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).
"Specified Intercompany Debt" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(b).
"Sports Option" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(h).
"Stock Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.1.
"Stockholder" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
"Stockholders Representative" means H.F. Lenfest.
"Sub" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person, any corporation
or partnership more than 50% of whose outstanding voting securities or
partnership interests, as the case may be, are directly or indirectly owned by
such Person.
"Suburban" means Suburban Cable TV Co., Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation.
"Successor Entities" has the meaning set forth in Section
8.4(a).
"Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section
1.1.
"System" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.9(c) of this
Agreement.
"Tax" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.10(a).
54
"Transaction Documents" means the Consent and Indemnity
Agreement and the instruments and documents described in Sections
9.2(b)(i)-(iii) and 9.3(g)(ii)-(iv) that are to be delivered by or on behalf of
Parent, Sub or the Company or Stockholders Representative in connection with
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
"Valuation Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b)
of this Agreement.
"WARN" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(a) of this
Agreement.
"Year 2000 Ready" or "Year 2000 Readiness" means that the
referenced component, system, software, equipment or other item is designed to
be used prior to, during and after the calendar year 2000 A.D., and that such
item will operate at all levels, including microcode, firmware, application
programs, user interfaces, files and databases, during each such time period
without error or interruption relating to, or the product of, date data which
represents or references different centuries or more than one century or leap
year.
"Year 2000 Remediation Program" means an enterprise-wide
program to make Year 2000 Ready all material components, systems, software,
equipment, facilities and other items related to the subject entity's business.
Such Year 2000 Remediation Program must be conducted by persons with experience
in issues related to Year 2000 Readiness and such persons must have organized an
enterprise-wide program management office which reports to executive level
management and the board of directors or other governing body of such entity.
11.8. Accounting Terms; Application of Defined Terms.
Terms used with initial capital letters or otherwise defined
in this Agreement will have the meanings specified, applicable to both singular
and plural forms, for all purposes of this Agreement. The word "include" and
derivatives of that word are used in this Agreement in an illustrative sense
rather than limiting sense.
All accounting terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement
will have the meanings ascribed to them under GAAP.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub, the Company and Stockholders
Representative have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective
officers thereunder duly authorized all as of the date first written above.
AT&T CORP.
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------------
AT&T LCI INC.
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------------
LENFEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------------
LENFEST STOCKHOLDERS
---------------------------------------------
H.F. Lenfest
---------------------------------------------
H. Chase Lenfest
---------------------------------------------
Brook J. Lenfest
---------------------------------------------
Diane Lenfest Myer