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EXHIBIT 2.1
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ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
AMERADA HESS CORPORATION,
AMERADA HESS (CAYMAN) LIMITED
AND
TRITON ENERGY LIMITED
DATED AS OF JULY 9, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACQUISITION AGREEMENT...........................................................................................1
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................2
Section 1.1 Definitions..................................................................................2
ARTICLE II THE OFFER............................................................................................8
Section 2.1 The Offer....................................................................................8
Section 2.2 Company Actions.............................................................................10
Section 2.3 Composition of the Board of Directors.......................................................12
ARTICLE III THE SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT..........................................................................13
Section 3.1 The Scheme of Arrangement...................................................................13
Section 3.2 Application to the Court; Effective Time of the Scheme of Arrangement; Scheme
of Arrangement Closing......................................................................14
Section 3.3 Terms of the Scheme: Transfer of Share Capital..............................................16
Section 3.4 Terms of the Scheme of Arrangement; Payment.................................................16
Section 3.5 Stock Option and Other Plans................................................................17
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.......................................................19
Section 4 Representations and Warranties of the Company...............................................19
Section 4.1 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power.........................................19
Section 4.2 Authorization and Validity of this Agreement................................................19
Section 4.3 Capitalization..............................................................................19
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations.......................................................20
Section 4.5 Company Reports and Financial Statements....................................................21
Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes..................................................................22
Section 4.7 Title to Properties; Encumbrances..........................................................22
Section 4.8 Compliance with Laws........................................................................23
Section 4.9 Litigation..................................................................................23
Section 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans......................................................................23
Section 4.11 Employment Relations and Agreements.........................................................26
Section 4.12 Taxes.......................................................................................27
Section 4.13 Liabilities.................................................................................29
Section 4.14 Intellectual Property.......................................................................29
Section 4.15 Proxy Statement; Offer Documents and Schedule 14D-9.........................................30
Section 4.16 Broker's or Finder's Fee....................................................................30
Section 4.17 Certain Contracts and Arrangements..........................................................30
Section 4.18 Environmental Laws and Regulations..........................................................32
Section 4.19 Takeover Statutes...........................................................................33
Section 4.20 Voting Requirements.........................................................................33
Section 4.21 Rights Agreement............................................................................33
Section 4.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor................................................................34
Section 4.23 Insurance...................................................................................34
Section 4.24 Permitted Transfer..........................................................................34
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Section 4.25 Impact on Conversion Rights.................................................................34
Section 4.26 Prepayments.................................................................................34
Section 4.27 Gas Imbalances..............................................................................34
Section 4.28 Non-consent Operations......................................................................35
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB.....................................................35
Section 5 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub............................................35
Section 5.1 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power.........................................35
Section 5.2 Authorization and Validity of Agreement.....................................................35
Section 5.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations......................................................35
Section 5.4 Offer Documents, Schedule 14D-9 and Proxy Statement.........................................36
Section 5.5 Broker's or Finder's Fee....................................................................36
Section 5.6 Sub's Operations............................................................................37
Section 5.7 Funds.......................................................................................37
Section 5.8 Litigation..................................................................................37
ARTICLE VI CERTAIN COVENANTS...................................................................................37
Section 6.1 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records.....................................37
Section 6.2 Confidentiality.............................................................................38
Section 6.3 Conduct of the Business of the Company......................................................38
Section 6.4 Compulsory Acquisition......................................................................41
Section 6.5 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances.........................................41
Section 6.6 No Solicitation of Other Offers.............................................................42
Section 6.7 Notification of Certain Matters.............................................................44
Section 6.8 HSR Act.....................................................................................45
Section 6.9 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance......................................45
Section 6.10 Rights Agreement............................................................................48
Section 6.11 Public Announcements........................................................................48
Section 6.12 Benefit Plans; Vacation; Employment Agreements..............................................48
Section 6.13 Agreements Relating to Preferred Shares.....................................................49
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT...............................................................................50
Section 7.1 Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation to
Effect the Scheme of Arrangement............................................................50
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT.......................................................................50
Section 8.1 Termination.................................................................................50
Section 8.2 Effect of Termination.......................................................................52
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................53
Section 9.1 Fees and Expenses...........................................................................53
Section 9.2 Investigation and Agreement by the Parties;
No other Representations or Warranties......................................................54
Section 9.3 Extension; Waiver...........................................................................55
Section 9.4 Notices.....................................................................................55
Section 9.5 Entire Agreement............................................................................56
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Section 9.6 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment.........................................................57
Section 9.7 Amendment and Modification..................................................................57
Section 9.8 Further Actions.............................................................................57
Section 9.9 Headings....................................................................................57
Section 9.10 Counterparts................................................................................57
Section 9.11 APPLICABLE LAW..............................................................................57
Section 9.12 Severability................................................................................58
Section 9.13 Interpretation..............................................................................58
Section 9.14 Specific Enforcement........................................................................58
Section 9.15 Waiver of Jury Trial........................................................................58
Section 9.16 No Recourse Against Others..................................................................58
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ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
ACQUISITION AGREEMENT, dated as of July 9, 2001 (this "Agreement"), by
and among AMERADA HESS CORPORATION, a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware ("Parent"), AMERADA HESS (CAYMAN) LIMITED, a company limited by shares
organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent ("Sub"), and TRITON ENERGY LIMITED, a company limited by shares organized
under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the "Company").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the
Company have approved this Agreement pursuant to which Parent intends to acquire
through Sub the Company by means of the Offer (as defined below) which may be
followed by either (i) a Compulsory Acquisition (as defined below) pursuant to
Section 88 of the Companies Law or (ii) a Scheme of Arrangement (as defined
below) in accordance with Section 86 of the Companies Law on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, in contemplation of the acquisition of the Company by Parent,
it is proposed that Sub commence a cash tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase,
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, any and
all of the existing unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid ordinary
shares, par value $0.01 per share of the Company, and any further ordinary
shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued and fully paid (upon
conversion of the Preferred Shares (as defined below) or otherwise) before the
Acceptance Date (including the associated Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Share Purchase Rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1996, by and between the Company and Chemical
Bank, as Rights Agent, as amended pursuant to amendments dated August 2, 1996,
August 30, 1998 and January 5, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement")) (the "Ordinary
Shares"), at a price of U.S. $45.00 per Ordinary Share net to the seller in cash
(the "Ordinary Share Offer Price");
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (i) has unanimously
determined that this Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement (as
defined below) and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including
the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement and the Compulsory Acquisition provided for
by this Agreement, are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the
holders of the Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares (other than, in the case of
the transactions contemplated by the Principal Shareholders Agreement, the
Principal Shareholders), (ii) has unanimously approved the execution, delivery
and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer, the Scheme of
Arrangement and the Compulsory Acquisition provided for by this Agreement and
(iii) has unanimously resolved, subject to Section 6.6 hereof, to recommend that
the holders of Ordinary Shares accept the Offer and tender their Ordinary Shares
pursuant to the Offer and that the holders of Ordinary Shares and Preferred
Shares approve the Scheme of Arrangement, if such approval is sought; and
WHEREAS, Parent and Sub are unwilling to enter into this Agreement
unless HM4 Triton L.P. and the other shareholders listed on Annex A to the
Principal Shareholders
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Agreement (the "Principal Shareholders"), concurrently with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, enter into an agreement (the "Principal Shareholders
Agreement" and together with this Agreement, the "Transaction Documents") by and
among Parent, Sub, the Company and the Principal Shareholders providing for,
among other things, the agreement of the Principal Shareholders to sell their
Shares to Sub and for Sub to purchase such Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings specified therefor below (such meanings
to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined).
"Acceptance Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
"Acquisition Proposal" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.6(b).
"Affiliate" of any Person shall mean any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person; provided,
that, for the purposes of this definition, "control" (including with correlative
meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used
with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or partnership
interests, by contract or otherwise.
"Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Antitrust Authorities" shall mean the Federal Trade Commission, the
Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, the attorneys
general of the several states of the United States and any other Governmental
Entity having jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby
pursuant to applicable Antitrust Laws.
"Antitrust Laws" shall mean the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton
Act, as amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and
all other federal, state and foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders,
decrees, administrative and judicial doctrines, and other laws that are designed
or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions that may have the purpose
or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade.
"Business Day" shall mean any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or any
other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to close in New
York, New York, and shall consist of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through
12:00 midnight, New York time.
"Cash Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.3(a)(ii).
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"Cash Option Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.5(c).
"Claims" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(b).
"COBRA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(b).
"Code" shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated, and the rulings issued, thereunder.
"Commission" shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Commission Filings" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.
"Companies Law" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Company Disclosure Letter" shall mean the disclosure letter delivered
by the Company to Parent and Sub upon or prior to entering into this Agreement.
"Company Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(b).
"Completed Commission Filings" shall mean the Commission Filings filed
prior to the date hereof.
"Compulsory Acquisition" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.4.
"Compulsory Completion Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3(c).
"Conditional Option Exercise" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.5(b).
"Confidentiality Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.2.
"Continuing Directors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c).
"Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
"Court" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
"Discontinuance Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c).
"Employee Benefit Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.10(a).
"Environmental Claims" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(b).
"Environmental Law" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(b).
"ERISA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(a).
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"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Exchange Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).
"fully-diluted basis" or "on a fully-diluted basis" shall have the
meaning set forth in Annex A hereto.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.
"Governmental Entity" shall mean any domestic or foreign court,
arbitral tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or
regulatory agency or authority or any securities exchange.
"Hazardous Materials" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(b).
"Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a)(i).
"HSR Act" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Immigration Laws" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
"Indemnified Parties" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.9(b).
"Intellectual Property" shall mean any of the following: (i) U.S. and
non-U.S. patents, and applications for either; (ii) registered and unregistered
trademarks, service marks and other indicia of origin, pending trademark and
service mark registration applications, and intent-to-use registrations or
similar reservations of marks; (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights and
mask works, and applications for registration of either; (iv) internet domain
names, applications and reservations therefor, uniform resource locators and the
corresponding Internet sites; (v) trade secrets and proprietary information not
otherwise listed in (i) through (iv) above, including, without limitation,
unpatented inventions, invention disclosures, moral and economic rights of
authors and inventors (however denominated), confidential information, technical
data, customer lists, corporate and business names, trade names, trade dress,
brand names, know-how, show-how, mask works, formulae, methods (whether or not
patentable), designs, processes, procedures, technology, source codes, object
codes, computer software programs, databases, data collections and other
proprietary information or material of any type, and all derivatives,
improvements and refinements thereof, howsoever recorded, or unrecorded; and
(vi) any good will associated with any of the foregoing.
"Investor Rights Agreement" shall mean the Shareholders Agreement dated
as of September 30, 1998 by and between the Company and HM4 Triton, L.P., as
amended on January 20, 1999 and July 9, 2001.
"knowledge of the Company" shall mean the actual knowledge of James C.
Musselman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; A. E. Turner,
III, Chief Operating
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Officer of the Company; W. Greg Dunlevy, Chief Financial Officer of the Company;
Marvin Garrett, Vice President, Production of the Company; Brian Maxted, Senior
Vice President, Exploration, of the Company; and Thomas Murphy, General Counsel
of the Company. Solely for the limited purpose of Section 4.12(c)(xiv),
"knowledge of the Company" shall also include the actual knowledge of John
Abernethy, Vice President, Tax of the Company.
"Letter of Transmittal" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(c).
"Lien" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
"Material Adverse Effect", with respect to any Person, shall mean any
event, change, occurrence, effect, fact, violation or circumstance having a
material adverse effect on (i) the ability of such Person to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby on a timely basis or (ii) the business, assets, liabilities, results of
operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however that effects relating to (a)
the economy in general, (b) changes in oil, gas or other hydrocarbon commodity
prices or other changes affecting the oil and gas industry generally or (c) the
announcement of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to not
constitute a "Material Adverse Effect" or be considered in determining whether a
"Material Adverse Effect" has occurred.
"Material Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
"Minimum Condition" shall have the meaning set forth in Annex A.
"Multiemployer Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.10(b).
"NLRB" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
"Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital hereto.
"Offer Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
"Offer to Purchase" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
"Offer Termination Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(a).
"Oil and Gas Properties" means leasehold and other interests in oil,
gas and other material properties owned or otherwise held in the name of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Options" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
"Ordinary Cash Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(a)(i).
"Ordinary Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the second
recital hereto.
"Ordinary Share Offer Price" shall have the meaning set forth in the
second recital hereto.
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"issued and outstanding" or "outstanding" shall mean, in respect of
Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares, that such shares are issued, unless the
context otherwise requires.
"Parent" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Parent Designees" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
"Payment Fund" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(c).
"Permits" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).
"Person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a limited
liability partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability
company, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a group and a government or
other department or agency thereof.
"Preferred Cash Consideration" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(a)(ii).
"Preferred Shares" shall mean the 8% Convertible Preference Shares, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
"Principal Shareholders" shall have the meaning set forth in the fourth
recital hereto.
"Principal Shareholders Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in
the fourth recital hereto.
"Proxy Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).
"Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(c).
"Registered Address" shall have the meaning set forth in section
3.4(c).
"Registrar" shall have the meaning set forth in section 3.2(d).
"Release" or "Released" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(b).
"Returns" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).
"Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital hereto.
"Rights Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the second
recital hereto.
"Schedule 14D-9" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
"Schedule TO" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
"Scheme Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).
"Scheme Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in section
3.2(c).
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"Scheme Effective Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.2(d).
"Scheme Effective Time" shall have the meaning set forth in section
3.2(d).
"Scheme Pre-Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in section
3.2(b).
"Scheme of Arrangement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(b).
"Scheme Ordinary Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.3(a)(i).
"Scheme Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.3(a)(ii).
"Scheme Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in section 3.3(a)(ii).
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Severance Policy" shall mean the Company's severance policy as
disclosed on Schedule 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
"Severance Protection Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.12(c).
"Shares" shall mean the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares.
"Shareholders' Meetings" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.2(a).
"Stock Incentive Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.5(d).
"Stock Plans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
"Sub" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
"Subsequent Offer Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(a).
"Subsidiary", with respect to any Person, shall mean and include (i)
any partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general
partner and (ii) any other entity in which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries owns or has the power to vote fifty percent (50%) or more of the
equity interests in such entity having general voting power to participate in
the election of the governing body of such entity.
"Succession Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(d).
"Superior Proposal" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(b).
"Taxes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).
"Tender Offer Conditions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(a).
"Transaction" shall have the meaning set forth in Annex A.
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"Transaction Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in the fourth
recital hereto.
"WARN" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
ARTICLE II
THE OFFER
Section 2.1 The Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not have
been terminated in accordance with Article VIII hereof and so long as none of
the events set forth on Annex A hereto (the "Tender Offer Conditions") shall
have occurred and are continuing, as promptly as practicable after the date of
this Agreement (but in any event not later than seven (7) Business Days after
the first public announcement of the execution and delivery of this Agreement),
Sub shall commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) the Offer. The initial expiration date of the Offer shall be the
twentieth (20th) Business Day following the date the Offer is commenced within
the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act. The obligation of Sub to
accept for payment and to pay for any Ordinary Shares tendered in the Offer and
not withdrawn shall be subject only to the Tender Offer Conditions, any of
which, subject to the proviso below, may be waived by Parent or Sub in whole or
in part in their sole discretion. The Tender Offer Conditions are for the sole
benefit of Parent and Sub and may be asserted by Parent and Sub regardless of
the circumstances giving rise to any such Tender Offer Conditions. Parent and
Sub expressly reserve the right to modify the terms of the Offer, provided,
however, that neither Parent nor Sub shall (and Parent shall cause Sub not to),
without the prior written consent of the Company, (i) reduce the number of
Ordinary Shares to be purchased pursuant to the Offer, (ii) reduce the Ordinary
Share Offer Price, (iii) impose any additional conditions to the Offer, (iv)
change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (v) make any change to
the terms of the Offer, including without limitation the Tender Offer
Conditions, which is materially adverse in any manner to the holders of the
Ordinary Shares, (vi) amend or waive the Minimum Condition, except that Parent
or Sub may, at any time, amend the Minimum Condition to equal the number of
Ordinary Shares representing a majority of the total number of votes of the
outstanding Ordinary Shares on a fully-diluted basis or (vii) extend the
expiration date of the Offer, provided, however, that Parent or Sub may extend
the expiration date of the Offer: (A) as required by any rule, regulation or
interpretation of the Commission; or (B) in the event that any condition to the
Offer is not satisfied and, to the extent permitted herein, is not waived as of
the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, for such successive periods for up
to ten (10) Business Days at a time (or such longer period as shall be approved
by the Company) until the earlier of the acceptance for payment of any Ordinary
Shares pursuant to the Offer or the date (the "Offer Termination Date") that is
sixty (60) days from the date of commencement of the Offer. Notwithstanding
anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the Company may require Sub to extend
the Offer on one occasion for a maximum period of ten (10) days if at the
scheduled expiration date of the Offer, the Tender Offer Conditions (assuming
for this purpose that the Minimum Condition has not been amended in accordance
with clause (vi) of the proviso contained above in this Section 2.1(a)) have not
been satisfied. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.1(a) to
the contrary, if not already disclosed in the Offer to Purchase (as defined
below), Parent and Sub may amend the Schedule TO (as defined below) to permit
the announcement of a subsequent offering period (as such term is defined in
Rule 14d-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act (the "Subsequent Offer
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Period")) to the Offer, and Sub may include a Subsequent Offer Period to the
Offer for up to a maximum of twenty (20) Business Days.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Sub amends the Minimum Condition
as permitted by Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement and accepts Ordinary Shares
tendered and not withdrawn for payment pursuant to the terms of the Offer, then
(i) Sub may make available a Subsequent Offer Period by extending the Offer on
one occasion for up to a maximum of twenty (20) Business Days if, on the
expiration date of the initial period of the Offer, the number of Ordinary
Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer represent less
than the amount of Ordinary Shares necessary to satisfy the Minimum Condition
(assuming for this purpose it has not been amended in accordance with clause
(vi) of the proviso contained in Section 2.1(a)), notwithstanding that all other
Tender Offer Conditions have been satisfied and (ii) the Company may require Sub
to make a Subsequent Offer Period available to the holders of Ordinary Shares by
extending the Offer on one occasion, for up to a maximum of twenty (20) Business
Days. If at any expiration date of the Offer, (i) the number of Ordinary Shares
validly tendered into and not withdrawn from the Offer, including all Ordinary
Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn from the Offer by the Principal
Shareholders (including, for this purpose the conditional surrender for
conversion of, and tender of Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of,
Preferred Shares in accordance with the Principal Shareholders Agreement) will
result in the Minimum Condition being satisfied and (ii) all other Tender Offer
Conditions have been satisfied or waived, Sub shall be obligated to accept for
payment and pay for all such Ordinary Shares so tendered. If Sub accepts for
payment any Ordinary Shares in the Offer, Parent or Sub shall pay for all of the
Ordinary Shares tendered and not withdrawn in the Offer as soon as practicable
after the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, as it may be extended pursuant
to this Agreement, but in any event no later than the third (3rd) Business Day
after the date Parent or Sub accept for payment such Ordinary Shares and shall
pay for all Ordinary Shares tendered in the Subsequent Offer Period, if
applicable, promptly after such Ordinary Shares are tendered.
(c) As soon as reasonably practicable on the date the Offer is
commenced, Parent and Sub shall file with the Commission a Tender Offer
Statement on Schedule TO (together with all amendments and supplements thereto,
the "Schedule TO") with respect to the Offer. The Schedule TO shall contain
(included as an exhibit) or shall incorporate by reference an offer to purchase
(the "Offer to Purchase") and the related letter of transmittal (the "Letter of
Transmittal") and summary advertisement, as well as all other information and
exhibits required by law or pursuant to which the Offer will be made (which
Schedule TO, Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal, summary advertisement and
such other information and exhibits, together with any supplements or amendments
thereto, are referred to herein collectively as the "Offer Documents"). The
Company and its counsel shall be given reasonable opportunity to review and
comment upon the Offer Documents prior to their filing with the Commission or
dissemination to the holders of the Ordinary Shares, as the case may be. The
Offer Documents (x) shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of
applicable federal securities laws and (y) on the date filed with the Commission
and the date first published, sent or given to the holders of the Ordinary
Shares, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under
which they are made, except that no representation is made by Parent or Sub with
respect to any information supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion in
the Offer Documents. Each of Parent and Sub, on the one
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hand, and the Company, on the other hand, agrees to promptly correct any
information provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent
that the Offer Documents shall be, or shall have become, false or misleading in
any material respect, and Parent and Sub further agree to take all steps
necessary to cause the Schedule TO as so corrected, to be filed promptly with
the Commission and the other Offer Documents as so corrected to be disseminated
to holders of the Ordinary Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by
applicable federal securities laws. Each of Parent and Sub agrees to provide the
Company and its counsel with information with respect to any oral comments and
with copies of any written comments Parent and Sub or their counsel may receive
from the Commission or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly
after the receipt of such comments and shall provide the Company and its counsel
a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of Parent or Sub to such
comments prior to delivery thereof to the Commission, including the opportunity
to participate with Parent and Sub or their counsel in any discussions with the
Commission or its staff. In conducting the Offer, Parent and Sub shall comply in
all material respects with applicable federal securities laws, including,
without limitation, the Exchange Act.
Section 2.2 Company Actions. The Company hereby consents to the Offer
and the Scheme of Arrangement and represents and warrants that:
(a) Subject to Section 6.6, the Board of Directors of the Company (at a
meeting duly called and held) by unanimous vote has (i) determined that the
Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement and the Compulsory Acquisition provided for by
this Agreement, are fair to and in the best interests of the Company and the
holders of the Shares (other than, in the case of the transactions contemplated
by the Principal Shareholders Agreement, the Principal Shareholders), (ii)
approved the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by
the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
including the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement and the Compulsory Acquisition
provided for by this Agreement, (iii) resolved, subject to Section 6.6 hereof,
to recommend that the holders of Ordinary Shares accept the Offer and tender
their Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Offer and that the holders of Shares
approve the Scheme of Arrangement, if such approval is sought; and (iv) taken
all other action necessary to render (and has refrained from taking any action
which would not render) inapplicable to the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement and
the Compulsory Acquisition, and to the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, (x) any applicable takeover statutes and (y) the Rights
Agreement and the Rights.
(b) J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. has delivered to the Board of Directors
of the Company its opinion that the consideration to be received pursuant to the
Offer and either the proposed Scheme of Arrangement or the proposed Compulsory
Acquisition, as applicable, by the holders of Shares (other than Parent or any
direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof) is fair, from a financial point of view,
to such holders (other than, in the case of the transactions contemplated by the
Principal Shareholders Agreement, the Principal Shareholders), subject to the
assumptions and qualifications contained in such opinion (a complete and correct
executed copy of such opinion has been, or promptly upon receipt thereof shall
be, delivered to Parent for information purposes only, but such opinion shall
not be addressed to Parent, nor shall Parent be entitled to rely thereon).
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(c) The Company shall file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably
practicable on the date of the commencement of the Offer, a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with all
amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9"), containing the
recommendations referred to in clause (a) of this Section 2.2 and shall
disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 as required by the Exchange Act. Parent and Sub
and their counsel shall be given reasonable opportunity to review and comment
upon the Schedule 14D-9 prior to its filing with the Commission or dissemination
to holders of the Ordinary Shares, as the case may be. The Schedule 14D-9 (x)
shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal
securities laws on the date filed with the Commission and (y) on the date first
published, sent or given to the holders of the Ordinary Shares, shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
except that no representation is made by the Company with respect to information
supplied by Parent or Sub expressly for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. The
Company, on the one hand, and each of Parent and Sub, on the other hand, agrees
promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Schedule 14D-9
if and to the extent that the Schedule 14D-9 shall be, or shall have become,
false or misleading in any material respect and the Company further agrees to
take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9, as so corrected, to be
filed promptly with the Commission and to be disseminated to holders of Ordinary
Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal
securities laws. The Company agrees to provide Parent and its counsel with
information with respect to any oral comments and with copies of any written
comments the Company or its counsel may receive from the Commission or its staff
with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after the receipt of such comments
and shall provide Parent and its counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate
in the response of the Company to such comments prior to delivery thereof to the
Commission, including the opportunity to participate with the Company or its
counsel in any discussions with the Commission or its staff.
(d) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall promptly furnish,
or cause its transfer agent to furnish, Sub with mailing labels, security
position listings and any available listing or computer list containing, as of
the most recent practicable date, the names and addresses of the record holders
of Shares and shall furnish Sub with such additional information (including, but
not limited to, updated lists of holders of Shares and their addresses, mailing
labels and lists of security positions) and such other assistance as Sub or its
agents may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the holders of
Shares. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such steps
as are necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents
necessary to consummate the Offer, the Compulsory Acquisition and the Scheme of
Arrangement, Sub shall hold in confidence the information contained in any such
labels, listings and files, shall use such information only in connection with
the Offer, the Compulsory Acquisition and the Scheme of Arrangement and, if this
Agreement is terminated, shall deliver to the Company all copies of such
information in its possession.
(e) The Company represents and warrants that it has been advised that
each of its directors and executive officers intends to tender pursuant to the
Offer all Ordinary Shares owned of record and beneficially by him or her except
to the extent such tender would violate applicable securities laws.
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Section 2.3 Composition of the Board of Directors. (a) Promptly upon
the acceptance for payment of, and payment by Sub for, Ordinary Shares pursuant
to the Offer, Sub shall be entitled to designate, subject to Section 2.3(c) of
this Agreement, up to such number of directors ("Parent Designees") on the Board
of Directors of the Company, rounded up to the next whole number, as shall give
Sub, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
promulgated thereunder, representation on the Board of Directors of the Company
equal to at least that number of directors which equals the product of the total
number of directors on the Board of Directors of the Company (giving effect to
the directors elected pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of votes represented by the Ordinary
Shares (determined on an as-converted basis assuming that all then-outstanding
Preferred Shares owned by Parent and Sub are converted into Ordinary Shares)
beneficially owned by Sub and Parent and the denominator of which shall be the
aggregate number of votes represented by the Ordinary Shares (determined on an
as-converted basis assuming that all then-outstanding Preferred Shares are
converted into Ordinary Shares) then issued and outstanding, and the Company and
its Board of Directors shall, at such time, take any and all such action
necessary to cause Parent Designees to be appointed to the Board of Directors of
the Company in such class of directors (if any) as shall ensure the longest
possible term for such Parent Designees (including using commercially reasonable
efforts to cause relevant directors to resign and/or increasing the size of the
Board of Directors of the Company (subject to the limitations set forth in the
Company's Memorandum of Association and the Company's Articles of Association)).
The Company shall take all action required pursuant to Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1, promulgated thereunder, to effect the election of
such Parent Designees, including (i) mailing to its shareholders the information
required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated
thereunder or (ii) including such information in the Schedule 14D-9 filed with
the Commission and distributed to the shareholders of the Company, and the
Company agrees to make such mailing so long as Sub shall have provided to the
Company, on a timely basis, all information required by Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder with respect to the Parent
Designees. Parent and Sub shall be solely responsible for any information with
respect to either of them and their nominees, officers, directors and Affiliates
required by Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1. Upon acceptance for payment of
Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Offer (the date Ordinary Shares are first
accepted for payment, the "Acceptance Date"), the Company, if so requested,
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Persons designated by
Parent to constitute the same percentage of each committee of its Board of
Directors, each Board of Directors of each Subsidiary and each committee of each
such Board of Directors (in each case to the extent of the Company's ability to
elect such Persons) as the percentage of the full Board of Directors of the
Company that the Parent Designees constitutes.
(b) The provisions of Section 2.3(a) are in addition to, and shall not
limit any, rights which Parent, Sub or any of their respective Affiliates may
have as holders or beneficial owners of Shares as a matter of applicable law
with respect to the election of directors or otherwise.
(c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.3, the
parties hereto shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to
ensure that at least two (2) of the members of the Board of Directors shall, at
all times prior to: (i) if Parent or Sub requests a Scheme of Arrangement
pursuant to Section 3.1(a) hereof, the earlier to occur of (A) the Scheme
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Effective Time or (B) the date on which either (x) the Court declines to
sanction the Scheme of Arrangement, (y) the Company's shareholders do not
approve the Scheme of Arrangement at any meeting duly called for such purpose or
(z) Parent and Sub abandon the Scheme of Arrangement; (ii) if Parent and Sub are
required to effect a Compulsory Acquisition pursuant to Section 6.4, the earlier
to occur of (A) the date of completion of the Compulsory Acquisition (the
"Compulsory Completion Date") or (B) the date on which either (x) the Court,
pursuant to an application made by a dissenting shareholder, grants an order
preventing the acquisition of the applicant's shares pursuant to Section 88 of
the Companies Law or (y) Parent and Sub abandon the Compulsory Acquisition; and
(iii) the date which is thirty (30) Business Days after the Acceptance Date if
Parent and Sub are not required to effect a Compulsory Acquisition pursuant to
Section 6.4 and Parent or Sub does not request a Scheme of Arrangement pursuant
to Section 3.1 on or before such date, (the applicable date being referred to
herein as the "Discontinuance Date"), be Persons who are directors of the
Company on the date hereof (the "Continuing Directors"), provided that, if there
shall be in office less than two (2) Continuing Directors, the Board of
Directors may cause the Person designated by the remaining Continuing Director
or Continuing Directors to fill such vacancy, and such Person shall be deemed to
be a Continuing Director for all purposes of this Agreement, or if no Continuing
Directors then remain, the other directors of the Company then in office shall
designate two (2) Persons to fill such vacancies who will not be officers,
employees or Affiliates of the Company or Parent, and such Persons shall be
deemed to be Continuing Directors for all purposes of this Agreement. Following
the election or appointment of the Parent Designees pursuant to this Section 2.3
and prior to the Discontinuance Date, any amendment of this Agreement, any
proposal to shareholders to amend the Company's Memorandum of Association or the
Company's Articles of Association, any termination of this Agreement by the
Company, any extension by the Company of the time for the performance of any of
the obligations or other acts of Parent and Sub or waiver of any of the
Company's rights hereunder, and any other consent or action by the Company
hereunder, shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Continuing
Directors, if there are more than two (2) Continuing Directors, or the
concurrence of one (1) Continuing Director, if there are two (2) Continuing
Directors. In connection therewith, the Continuing Directors shall be
authorized, on behalf and at the expense of the Company, to retain financial and
legal advisors.
ARTICLE III
THE SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT
Section 3.1 The Scheme of Arrangement. (a) Subject to Section 6.4,
promptly following the Acceptance Date and, if applicable, the Subsequent Offer
Period, or the expiration of the Offer without the purchase of any Ordinary
Shares thereunder, (A) if the Offer has remained open for a minimum of twenty
(20) Business Days, plus any extension of the expiration date of the Offer (up
to an additional ten (10) days) that has been required by the Company in
accordance with Section 2.1, and (B) if requested by Parent or Sub, in its sole
discretion, the Company shall, unless precluded from doing so by any applicable
law, or otherwise agreed to in writing by Sub, take the respective actions set
forth in this Article III to effectuate the Scheme of Arrangement, subject to
the terms and conditions herein.
(b) On the Scheme Effective Date at the Scheme Effective Time,
and upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, and subject to the
Grand Court of the Cayman Islands
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(the "Court") exercising its discretion and sanctioning the Scheme of
Arrangement (the "Scheme of Arrangement") pursuant to Section 86(2) of the
Companies Law (2001 Second Revision), as amended, of the Cayman Islands (the
"Companies Law") and making such facilitating orders as are appropriate pursuant
to Section 87 of the Companies Law, all of the issued share capital of the
Company shall be transferred to Sub.
Section 3.2 Application to the Court; Effective Time of the Scheme of
Arrangement; Scheme of Arrangement Closing. (a) Subject to Section 6.4, promptly
following the Acceptance Date and, if applicable, the Subsequent Offer Period,
or the expiration of the Offer without the purchase of any Ordinary Shares
thereunder, (A) if the Offer has remained open for a minimum of twenty (20)
Business Days, plus any extension of the expiration date (up to an additional
ten (10) days) that has been required by the Company in accordance with Section
2.1, and (B) if requested by Parent or Sub, in its sole discretion and in
accordance with applicable law, the Company shall (i) cause an application to be
made to the Court requesting the Court to summon such class meetings of
shareholders of the Company as the Court may direct ("Shareholders' Meetings"),
(ii) if directed by the Court, convene such Shareholders' Meetings seeking the
approval required under Section 86(2) of the Companies Law and (iii) subject to
such approvals being obtained, cause a petition to be presented to the Court
seeking the sanctioning of a Scheme of Arrangement pursuant to Section 86 of the
Companies Law and file such other documents as are required to be duly filed
with the Court to effect the Scheme of Arrangement. The Company shall, if
necessary, hold an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders, subject to
the Scheme of Arrangement taking full force and effect, to approve and adopt new
Articles of Association of the Company that shall be substantially identical to
Sub's articles of association, except as otherwise required by Section 6.9
hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company shall take all action
necessary to solicit from its shareholders proxies, and shall take all other
action necessary and advisable to secure the vote of shareholders required by
the Companies Law and by the Memorandum of Association of the Company or the
Articles of Association of the Company to obtain approval of the Scheme of
Arrangement. Except as provided in Section 6.6 of this Agreement, the Board of
Directors of the Company shall recommend that the holders of Shares vote in
favor of the approval of the Scheme of Arrangement at the Shareholders'
Meetings, and, except as provided in Section 6.6, the Company agrees that it
shall include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its Board of
Directors that the shareholders of the Company adopt this Agreement and approve
the Scheme of Arrangement. Parent shall cause all Shares owned by Parent and its
direct and indirect Subsidiaries (including Sub) to be voted in favor of
approval of such Scheme of Arrangement.
(b) As promptly as practicable following Parent's request, the
Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission a preliminary proxy
statement or information statement (together with any amendment or supplement
thereto, the "Proxy Statement") and shall promptly use its commercially
reasonable efforts to respond to the comments of the Commission, if any, in
connection therewith and to furnish all information regarding the Company that
is required in the definitive Proxy Statement (including, without limitation,
financial statements and supporting schedules and certificates and reports of
independent public accountants). Parent, Sub and the Company shall cooperate
with each other in the preparation of the Proxy Statement. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and Sub shall furnish to the Company
for inclusion in the Proxy Statement the information relating to it required by
the Exchange Act to be set forth in the Proxy Statement. The Company shall cause
the definitive
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Proxy Statement to be mailed to the shareholders of the Company and, if
necessary, after the definitive Proxy Statement shall have been so mailed,
promptly circulate amended, supplemental or supplemented proxy material and, if
required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies. The Company shall not use
any proxy material in connection with the meeting of its shareholders without
Parent's prior approval, except as required by law or the Commission.
If deemed necessary or advisable by Parent, for purposes of the
hearing by the Court of the petition to sanction the Scheme of Arrangement, the
parties shall hold a pre-closing (the "Scheme Pre-Closing") on the Business Day
prior to the day of such hearing (or such earlier time as reasonably requested
by Parent if necessary to prepare and file any affidavit in connection with such
hearing) for the purpose of determining which of the conditions set forth in
Article VII are satisfied as of such date, it being understood that the
determination that any such condition is satisfied as of such date shall not
constitute a determination or agreement by any party that such condition is
satisfied as of the Scheme Closing Date. The Scheme Pre-Closing shall be held at
a location designated by Parent.
(c) As soon as practicable after receipt of an order from the
Court sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement, the parties shall convene at a
location designated by Parent for the purpose of confirming the satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Article VII (the "Scheme Closing Date"). The closing
of the Scheme of Arrangement (the "Scheme Closing") shall be deemed to occur if
all conditions set forth in Article VII are satisfied (other than any such
condition which has been waived) and all of the actions described in this
Article III that are necessary to consummate a Scheme of Arrangement have
occurred. The Company, Parent and Sub acknowledge and agree that all the
conditions set forth in Article VII must be satisfied (or waived) as of such
time, and all of the actions described in this Article III that are necessary to
consummate a Scheme of Arrangement shall have occurred as of such time, whether
or not any such condition was determined to be satisfied or occurred as of the
Scheme Pre-Closing, if held.
(d) As soon as practicable following the Scheme Closing, the
Company shall cause a copy of the Court order sanctioning the Scheme of
Arrangement to be duly delivered to the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman
Islands (the "Registrar") and the Scheme of Arrangement shall become effective
as soon as a copy of the Court order sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement has
been duly delivered to the Registrar for registration and the order and minutes
have been registered by him (the date of such registration being the "Scheme
Effective Date" and the time of such registration being the "Scheme Effective
Time").
(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), if the Company and Parent so
agree in writing, and the same is consistent with any order of the Court
sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement, the Company shall cause a copy of the
order to be delivered to the Registrar prior to the Scheme Closing, and the
Scheme Closing shall be held as soon as practicable thereafter, in which case
the Scheme of Arrangement shall become effective only after both (i) a copy of
the Court order sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement is delivered to the
Registrar for registration and the order and minutes have been registered by the
Registrar and (ii) the Scheme Closing shall have occurred. In such case,
notwithstanding paragraph (d), for all purposes hereunder, the Scheme Effective
Date shall be the date on which the Scheme Closing shall have occurred and the
Scheme Effective Time shall be the time at which the Scheme Closing is deemed by
the parties to be completed.
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(f) As of the Scheme Effective Time, the Company shall be a
directly wholly owned Subsidiary of Sub.
Section 3.3 Terms of the Scheme: Transfer of Share Capital. (a) At the
Scheme Effective Time, by virtue of the Scheme of Arrangement:
(i) Each Ordinary Share (and the associated Rights) issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Scheme Effective Time
(other than Ordinary Shares (and the associated Right) which are
held by any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or in the
treasury of the Company, or which are held, directly or
indirectly, by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent (including Sub)
(the "Scheme Ordinary Shares") shall be, by virtue of the Scheme
of Arrangement and without any action required by the holder
thereof (the "Holder"), transferred to Sub in consideration for
U.S.$45.00 in cash per Scheme Ordinary Share transferred
("Ordinary Cash Consideration").
(ii) Each Preferred Share issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than Preferred Shares which
are held by any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or in the
treasury of the Company, or which are held, directly or
indirectly, by Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent (including
Sub)) (the "Scheme Preferred Shares" and together with the Scheme
Ordinary Shares, the "Scheme Shares") shall be, by virtue of the
Scheme of Arrangement and without any action required by the
Holder thereof, transferred to Sub in consideration for
U.S.$180.00 in cash per Scheme Preferred Share, plus any
accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon through the Scheme
Effective Date (the "Preferred Cash Consideration" and together
with the Ordinary Cash Consideration, the "Cash Consideration").
(b) At the Scheme Effective Time, regardless of whether a
certificate for Scheme Shares shall be surrendered for exchange, all
certificates for Scheme Shares shall be deemed cancelled and the holders thereof
shall cease to have any rights by virtue thereof, other than to receive the Cash
Consideration set forth herein. All Cash Consideration paid upon the deemed
cancellation of certificates for Scheme Shares shall be deemed to have been paid
in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Scheme Shares.
Section 3.4 Terms of the Scheme of Arrangement; Payment. (a) Subject to
and by virtue of the order of the Court under Section 86(2) of the Companies Law
sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement, the terms of the Scheme of Arrangement
and the provisions for cancellation or surrender of the certificates
representing the Scheme Shares shall be as set forth in the Scheme of
Arrangement.
(b) Prior to the Scheme Effective Time, Parent or Sub shall
designate a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act
as exchange agent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (the
"Exchange Agent").
(c) At the Scheme Effective Time, Parent or Sub shall provide the
Exchange Agent in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars all funds
necessary to pay the Cash Consideration (the "Payment Fund"). As soon as
possible after the Scheme Effective Time, and in no event later than five (5)
Business Days after the Scheme Effective Date, Parent or Sub
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shall, or shall cause the Exchange Agent, to send to each Holder at the address
appearing in the register of members of the Company (the "Registered Address")
on the date immediately preceding the Scheme Effective Date (the "Record Date")
a bank cheque in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars representing each
such Holder's Cash Consideration. The payment required to be sent by Parent or
Sub, or the Exchange Agent on their behalf, to the Holders pursuant to the
Scheme of Arrangement shall be sent by mail with postage prepaid, addressed to
the Holders entitled thereto at their respective Registered Address, and Parent
and Sub shall not be responsible for any loss or delay in transmission posted in
accordance with this Section 3.4(c). No interest shall be paid or accrued on the
Cash Consideration. Until the monies held in the Payment Fund are paid to the
Holders in accordance with this Section 3.4(c), Parent and Sub shall cause the
Exchange Agent to invest the Payment Fund as directed by them. All earnings on
investments made with the Payment Fund shall be paid to Parent or, at its
direction, to Sub. If for any reason the Payment Fund is inadequate to pay the
amounts to which Holders are entitled under this Section 3.4(c), Sub shall, and
Parent shall cause Sub to, promptly restore such amount of inadequacy to the
Payment Fund, and in any event shall be fully liable for payment thereof. Any
portion of the Payment Fund that remains undistributed to the Holders for nine
months after the Scheme Effective Time shall be delivered to Sub, upon demand,
and any Holder who has not theretofore complied with this Article III shall
thereafter look only to the Parent for payment of its claim for Cash
Consideration.
(d) The Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the Cash Consideration otherwise payable to any Holder pursuant to this
Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with
respect to the making of such payment under any law.
Section 3.5 Stock Option and Other Plans. (a) The Company may provide
and, if requested by Parent, shall provide to the extent permitted by applicable
law and the provisions of the applicable Options and Stock Plans, that all
outstanding stock options and other rights to purchase Ordinary Shares (the
"Options") heretofore granted under any stock option or similar plan of the
Company (the "Stock Plans") or otherwise shall vest and be fully exercisable,
effective immediately prior to expiration of the Offer which results in an
Acceptance Date if the Option holder (i) tenders all Options held by such holder
for exercise (conditioned only upon occurrence of the Acceptance Date) and
tenders and does not withdraw all Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of such
Options in the Offer or (ii) irrevocably surrenders all Options held by such
holder to the Company between the final expiration date of the Offer (including
any Subsequent Offer Period) if an Acceptance Date occurs with respect to the
Offer and the earlier of the Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective
Time for cancellation in exchange for a Cash Option Payment as provided in
Section 3.5(c) hereof.
(b) The Company may make arrangements and, if requested by
Parent, shall make such arrangements to the extent permitted by applicable law
and the provisions of the applicable Options and Stock Plans, to permit holders
of Options to conditionally exercise their Options and tender all Ordinary
Shares issued upon exercise thereof in the Offer. The Company, Parent and Sub
agree that Sub shall accept as validly tendered pursuant to the Offer all
Ordinary Shares which are to be issued pursuant to the Conditional Option
Exercise (as defined below). "Conditional Option Exercise" shall mean the
exercise of all Options that are duly surrendered to the Company for exercise,
conditional only on the occurrence of the Acceptance Date, and
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accompanied by appropriate irrevocable instructions that the Ordinary Shares
issuable upon such exercise shall be deemed to be exercised immediately prior to
the expiration of the Offer and properly tendered to Sub pursuant to the terms
of the Offer and not withdrawn.
(c) From and after the Acceptance Date until the earlier of the
Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective Time, the Company may
permit, with Parent's prior approval, and, if requested by Parent, shall permit,
to the extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of the applicable
Options and Stock Plans, each holder of an outstanding Option, in cancellation
and settlement therefor, to receive payments from the Company in cash (the "Cash
Option Payment") equal to the product of (x) the total number of Ordinary Shares
subject to such Option, whether or not then vested or exercisable, and (y) the
amount by which the Ordinary Share Offer Price exceeds the exercise price per
Ordinary Share subject to such Option, each such Cash Option Payment to be paid
to each holder of an outstanding Option upon (i) surrender to the Company of the
Option and (ii) an appropriate surrender and release agreement providing that
such surrender and payment of the Cash Option Payment shall be deemed a release
of any and all rights the holder had or may have had in respect of such Option.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.5 to the contrary, payment
of the Cash Option Payment may be withheld with respect to any Option until
necessary consents and releases are obtained.
(d) Upon the earlier of the Scheme Effective Time or the
Compulsory Completion Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the
provisions of the applicable Options and Stock Plans, the Company shall permit
each holder of an outstanding Option, in cancellation and settlement therefor,
to receive Cash Option Payments equal to the product of (x) the total number of
Ordinary Shares subject to such Option, whether or not then vested or
exercisable, and (y) the amount by which the Ordinary Share Offer Price exceeds
the exercise price per Ordinary Share subject to such Option, each such Cash
Option Payment to be paid to each holder of an outstanding Option upon (i)
surrender to the Company of the Option and (ii) an appropriate surrender and
release agreement providing that such surrender and payment of the Cash Option
Payment shall be deemed a release of any and all rights the holder had or may
have had in respect of such Option. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 3.5 to the contrary, payment of the Cash Option Payment may be withheld
with respect to any Option until necessary consents and releases are obtained.
(e) Subject to the rights of holders of Options under Section
3.5(d), the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee
thereof) shall use its best efforts to obtain all necessary consents and
releases from all of the holders of all the outstanding Options, and shall use
its best efforts, to the extent permitted without resulting in a breach or
violation thereof, to take all actions to (i) terminate, at the earlier of the
Compulsory Completion Date or the Scheme Effective Time, the Stock Plans and
Options and any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or
grant of any other interest in respect of the share capital of the Company or
any Affiliate thereof (collectively with the Stock Plans, referred to as the
"Stock Incentive Plans") and (ii) amend, as of the earlier of the Compulsory
Completion Date or the Scheme Effective Time and to the extent therein allowed,
the provisions of any other Employee Benefit Plan providing for the issuance,
transfer or grant of any share capital of the Company or any such Affiliate, or
any interest in respect of any share capital of the Company or any such
Affiliate, to provide no continuing rights to acquire, hold, transfer or grant
any share
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capital of the Company or any such Affiliate or any interest in the share
capital of the Company or any such Affiliate.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 4 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
Section 4.1 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power. Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated (or, if
not a corporation, duly organized), validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation (or, if not a corporation,
organization) and each such Person has all requisite corporate, partnership or
other power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry
on its business as now being conducted. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it, or the
nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary,
except in such jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or licensed
and in good standing has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. The Company has, prior to the date of this Agreement, made
available to Parent complete and correct copies of the Company's current
Memorandum of Association, as amended, and current Articles of Association and
the comparable governing documents of each of its material Subsidiaries, in each
case as amended and in full force and effect as of the date of this Agreement.
Section 4.2 Authorization and Validity of this Agreement. The Company
has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder, and thereunder and (subject to the approval of the shareholders of
the Company if required by the Companies Law) to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Principal Shareholders Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by
it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly
authorized and approved by its Board of Directors, and no other corporate action
on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement by the
Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
(subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company if required by the
Companies Law). This Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement have
been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming that this
Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement constitute valid and binding
obligations of Parent and Sub, constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
to the extent that enforceability may be subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles.
Section 4.3 Capitalization. The authorized share capital of the Company
consists of (a) 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares and (b) 20,000,000 other Shares, par
value $0.01 per share, of
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which 11,000,000 have been authorized as Preferred Shares and 200,000 have been
authorized as Series A Junior Participating Preference Shares. At the close of
business on July 5, 2001, (i) 37,500,375 Ordinary Shares were outstanding, (ii)
5,180,265 Preferred Shares were outstanding, (iii) no Series A Junior
Participating Preference Shares were outstanding, (iv) no Shares were held by
the Company in its treasury and (v) 6,013,818 Ordinary Shares were subject to
issuance upon exercise of outstanding Options. At the close of business on July
5, 2001, 5,180,265 Preferred Shares were convertible into 20,721,060 Ordinary
Shares. All issued and outstanding shares of the capital of the Company and each
of its Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid and nonassessable, and are not subject to, nor were issued in violation of,
any preemptive rights. Except as set forth above or on Schedule 4.3(b) of the
Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding or authorized options,
warrants, rights, subscriptions, agreements, obligations, convertible or
exchangeable securities, or other commitments or claims of any character,
contingent or otherwise, relating to Shares of capital of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
or may become obligated to issue Shares of its capital or any securities
convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for,
any Shares of the capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has authorized or outstanding bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness which entitle the holders to vote (or
convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into securities which entitle the
holders to vote) with the shareholders of such Person on any matter. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, any Shares of
capital or other equity, ownership or proprietary interest in any Person (other
than any Subsidiary of the Company). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(d) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, all of the outstanding shares of capital of each
of the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned, of record and beneficially, by the
Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any liens, security
interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind or nature (each, a "Lien"). Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.3(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no
restrictions of any kind which prevent or restrict the payment of dividends by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. At the close of business on June 30,
2001, the consolidated long-term debt (including current maturities) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries was $500,017,000. As of July 5, 2001, the aggregate
amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends with respect to the Preferred Shares
was $402,909.50.
Section 4.4 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Assuming (i) the
filings required under the Antitrust Laws are made and the applicable waiting
periods thereunder have been terminated or have expired, (ii) the requirements
of the Exchange Act relating to the Proxy Statement, if any, and the Offer are
met, (iii) the filing of the documents relating to the Scheme of Arrangement, if
any, as required by the Companies Law, are made, (iv) approval of the Scheme of
Arrangement by the shareholders of the Company is received, (v) all approvals or
sanctions by the Court in accordance with the Companies Law in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been obtained
and (vi) all filings and notices with the New York Stock Exchange have been
made, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Principal
Shareholders Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall not: (w) violate or conflict
with any provision of the Company's Memorandum of Association or the Company's
Articles of Association or the comparable governing documents of any of its
Subsidiaries; (x) violate or conflict with any statute, ordinance, rule,
regulation, order or decree
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of any court or of any Governmental Entity applicable to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or by which any of their respective properties or assets may be
bound; (y) except as set forth on Schedule 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter,
require any filing with, or Permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any
notice to, any Governmental Entity; or (z) except as set forth on Schedule 4.4
of the Company Disclosure Letter, result in a violation or breach of, conflict
with, constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default
under (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, payment or
acceleration or any right which becomes effective upon the occurrence of a
merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, consolidation or change of control
under), result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, or give rise to any obligation,
right of termination, cancellation, acceleration or increase of any obligation
or a loss of a material benefit or any right which becomes effective upon the
occurrence of a merger, amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, consolidation or
change of control under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, license, franchise, Permit, agreement, contract,
arrangement, lease, franchise agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which any such
Person or any of its properties or assets are bound, other than in the case of
clauses (x), (y) and (z), any such violation, breach, conflict, default, right
of termination, cancellation, payment, acceleration, other right or failure to
make any filing or obtain any Permit, consent or approval of, or give notice to,
any Governmental Entity that has not had, does not have, and could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.5 Company Reports and Financial Statements. Since December
31, 1998, the Company (including any predecessor entity) and its Subsidiaries
have filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements
and other documents with the Commission relating to periods commencing on or
after such date required to be filed by it pursuant to the federal securities
laws and the Commission rules and regulations thereunder (such forms, reports,
schedules, statements, registration statements and other documents being
hereinafter referred to as the "Commission Filings"), and, as of their
respective dates, the Commission Filings complied in all material respects with
all applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the Commission
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company has, prior to the date
of this Agreement, made available to Parent true and complete copies of all
portions of any Commission Filings not publicly available. As of their
respective dates, the Commission Filings 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 not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the consolidated financial statements of
the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries contained in the Commission
Filings have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except (i) as may be
indicated therein or in the notes or schedules thereto and (ii) in the case of
unaudited quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the
Commission) and present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and changes in
cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited
quarterly statements, to normal year end audit adjustments and any other
adjustments described therein). The Company has heretofore provided Parent with
true and correct copies of any amendments and/or modifications to any Commission
Filings which have not yet been filed with the Commission but that are, to the
knowledge of the Company, required to be filed with
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the Commission in accordance with applicable federal securities laws and the
Commission rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Completed Commission Filings or
as required or permitted by the Transaction Documents, since December 31, 2000
to the date of this Agreement, (i) there has been no Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any event, change, occurrence,
effect, fact, violation or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) the businesses of the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been conducted only in the ordinary
course, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any
material liabilities (direct, contingent or otherwise) or engaged in any
material transaction or entered into any material agreement outside the ordinary
course of business, (iv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have
increased the compensation of any officer or granted any general salary or
benefits increase to their respective employees, other than in the ordinary
course of business, (v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
taken any action referred to in Section 6.3 hereof, (vi) there has been no
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with
respect to any class of Shares or any repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Shares or other
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (vii) there has been no
change by the Company in accounting principles, practices or methods.
Section 4.7 Title to Properties; Encumbrances. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has (i) in the case of properties that are not Oil and Gas
Properties, good, valid and marketable title to, (ii) in the case of Oil and Gas
Properties, good title to, or (iii) in the case of leased properties and assets,
valid leasehold interests in, (A) all of its material tangible properties and
assets (real and personal), including, without limitation, all the properties
and assets reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2000,
contained in the Commission Filings, except as indicated in the notes thereto
and except for properties and assets reflected in the consolidated balance sheet
as of December 31, 2000, contained in the Commission Filings, which have been
sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business after such
date, and except where the failure to have such (i) good, valid and marketable
title; (ii) good title or (iii) valid leasehold interest (as the case may be)
has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; and
(B) all the tangible properties and assets purchased by the Company and any of
its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2000, except for such properties and assets
which have been sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business
and except where the failure to have such (i) good, valid and marketable title,
(ii) good title or (iii) valid leasehold interest (as the case may be) has not
had, does not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; in each case
subject to no Liens, except for (x) Liens reflected or reserved against in the
Completed Commission Filings, (y) such Liens which have not had, do not have,
and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and (z) customary oil and gas
arrangements.
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Section 4.8 Compliance with Laws. (a) Except as set forth on Schedule
4.8 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Completed Commission Filings or
except where the failure to so comply has not had, does not have, and could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied
with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws,
regulations, orders, judgments and decrees, and as of the date of this Agreement
have not received notification of any asserted present failure to so comply.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries hold all federal, state,
local and foreign permits, approvals, licenses, authorizations, certificates,
rights, exemptions and orders from Governmental Entities (the "Permits") that
are necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries as now conducted, and there has not occurred any default under any
such Permit, except as set forth on Schedule 4.8 of the Company Disclosure
Letter or except to the extent that any such failure to hold Permits and any
such default has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
Section 4.9 Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.9 of the
Company Disclosure Letter or in the Completed Commission Filings, as of the date
of this Agreement
(a) there is no action, suit, proceeding at law or in equity, or
any arbitration or any administrative or other proceeding by or before (or to
the knowledge of the Company any investigation by) any Governmental Entity,
pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or
rights which has had, has, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(b) there are no such suits, actions, claims, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, seeking
to prevent or challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to
any judgment, order or decree entered in any lawsuit or proceeding which has
had, has, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.10 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Set forth on Schedule 4.10(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter is an accurate and complete list of each
domestic employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder ("ERISA"), whether or not subject to ERISA, and each
stock option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock, stock purchase, stock
unit, performance share, incentive, bonus, profit-sharing, savings, deferred
compensation, health, medical, dental, life insurance, disability, accident,
supplemental unemployment or retirement, employment, severance or salary or
benefits continuation, change in control, "parachute payment," or fringe benefit
plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment maintained by the Company or
any Affiliate thereof (including, for this purpose and for the purpose of all of
the representations in this Section 4.10, any predecessors to the Company or its
Affiliates and all
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employers (whether or not incorporated) that would, as of the Acceptance Date,
Compulsory Completion Date, Scheme Closing, or termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1, be treated together with the Company, any such
Affiliate and/or the shareholder as a single employer within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Code) or to which the Company or any Affiliate thereof
contributes (or has any obligation to contribute), has any liability or is a
party (collectively, the "Employee Benefit Plans").
(b) except as set forth in Schedule 4.10(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, (i) each Employee Benefit Plan is in substantial compliance
with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code) and
has been administered and operated in all material respects in accordance with
its terms; (ii) each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to be "qualified"
within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received, on or after
December 31, 1993, a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service or the remedial amendment period for applying for such a favorable
determination letter is open and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has
occurred and no condition exists which could reasonably be expected to result in
the revocation of any such determination; (iii) no Employee Benefit Plan covered
by Title IV of ERISA has been terminated and no proceedings have been instituted
to terminate or appoint a trustee under Title IV of ERISA to administer any such
plan; (iv) no "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) has
occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA;
(v) no Employee Benefit Plan (other than any Employee Benefit Plan which is a
"multiemployer plan" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA (a
"Multiemployer Plan")) subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA has incurred any accumulated funding deficiency within the meaning of
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or obtained a waiver of any
minimum funding standard or an extension of any amortization period under
Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA; (vi) neither the Company
nor any of its Affiliates has during the past six years maintained or
contributed to or had any obligation to contribute to or borne liability with
respect to a Multiemployer Plan except where such maintenance, contribution,
obligation, or liability has not had, has not, or could not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company; (vii) no Employee Benefit Plan is a "multiple employer plan"
(within the meaning of the Code or ERISA); (viii) the Company and each such
Affiliate have made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP in their
financial statements for all obligations and liabilities which have accrued
under any Employee Benefit Plans, but which have not been paid because they are
not yet due under the terms of any such Employee Benefit Plan or any related
agreement or applicable law, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has
occurred or condition exists that would reasonably be expected to result in a
material increase in the level of such amounts paid or accrued for the most
recently ended fiscal year; (ix) neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates
has incurred or expects to incur any material liability (including, without
limitation, additional contributions, fines, taxes or penalties) as a result of
a failure to administer or operate any Employee Benefit Plan that is a "group
health plan" (as such term is defined in Section 607(1) of ERISA or Section
5000(b)(1) of the Code) in compliance with the applicable requirements of Part 6
of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code ("COBRA"); (x) no
Employee Benefit Plan provides for post-employment or retiree health, life
insurance or other welfare benefits (except to the extent required by COBRA);
(xi) except with regard to any payment made pursuant to any Employee Benefit
Plan, employment agreement or change in control agreement set forth on Schedule
6.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution of this Agreement and the
consummation of the
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transactions contemplated hereby do not constitute a triggering event under any
Employee Benefit Plan, policy, arrangement, statement, commitment or agreement,
which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent
event) shall or may result in any payment, "parachute payment" (as such term is
defined in Section 280G of the Code), severance, bonus, retirement or job
security or similar-type benefit, or increase any benefits or accelerate the
payment or vesting of any benefits to any employee or former employee or
director of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (xii) except with regard to
any Employee Benefit Plan, employment agreement or change in control agreement
set forth on Schedule 6.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Employee Benefit
Plan provides for the payment of severance, termination, change in control or
similar-type payments or benefits; (xiii) as of the date of this Agreement, no
liability, claim, action, litigation, audit, examination, investigation or
administrative proceeding has been made, commenced or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan (other than
routine claims for benefits payable in the ordinary course) which could result
in a material liability of the Company or any Affiliate thereof; (xiv) except as
required to maintain the tax-qualified status of any Employee Benefit Plan
intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, no condition or
circumstance exists that would prevent the amendment or termination of any
Employee Benefit Plan; (xv) neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates
maintains any stock appreciation rights plan or has any outstanding stock
appreciation rights or has issued any other rights or interests in respect of
the Company or any Affiliate other than interests in the Company's 401(k)
Savings Plan, any Options and any outstanding Ordinary Shares; (xvi) each
"Foreign Pension Plan," meaning any plan, fund (including, without limitation,
any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained
outside the United States of America by the Company or any one or more of its
Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of the Company or such
Subsidiaries residing outside the United States of America, which plan, fund or
other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of
income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of
employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code, (A) has been
maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all
applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been
maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory
authorities, (B) has been operated such that all contributions required to be
made with respect to such plan have been timely made, (C) has not been operated
such that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any obligation in
connection with the termination of or withdrawal from such plan, and (D) had
accrued benefit liabilities the present value of which (whether or not vested)
determined as of the end of the Company's most recently ended fiscal year on the
basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the
current value of the assets of such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities,
except to the extent (x) a failure to comply, to maintain, or to make a
contribution, (y) a termination or a withdrawal, or (z) any underfunding has not
had, has not, or could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; (xvii) the actuarial
present value of the accumulated plan benefits (whether or not vested) under
each Employee Benefit Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA (other than any Employee
Benefit Plan which is a Multiemployee Plan) as of the close of its most recent
plan year did not exceed the market value of the assets allocable thereto; and
(xviii) neither the company nor any of its Affiliates has any unfunded
liabilities pursuant to any Employee Benefit Plan which is an "employee pension
benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is not intended
to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Code.
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(c) The Company has delivered or caused to be delivered or made
available to Parent or its counsel true and complete copies of each Employee
Benefit Plan, together with all amendments thereto, and, to the extent
applicable, (i) all current summary plan descriptions; (ii) the annual report on
Internal Revenue Service Form 5500-series, including any attachments thereto,
for each of the last three plan years; and (iii) the most recent determination
letter, if any, for any Employee Benefit Plan maintained pursuant to Section
401(a) of the Code.
Section 4.11 Employment Relations and Agreements. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Completed Commission
Filings and except for those matters which have not had, do not have and could
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is in substantial compliance with all federal,
foreign, state or other applicable laws respecting employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, and is not
engaged in any unfair labor practice as determined by the National Labor
Relations Board ("NLRB"); (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, no material
unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is pending before the NLRB or an equivalent tribunal under
applicable foreign law; (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, there is no
labor strike, slowdown, stoppage or material dispute pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against or involving the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries; (iv) as of the date of this Agreement, no representation
question exists respecting the employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (v) as of the date of this Agreement, no collective bargaining
agreement is currently being negotiated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been
a party to a collective bargaining agreement; (vi) as of the date of this
Agreement, no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under a
collective bargaining agreement is pending and no claim thereunder exists or, to
the Company's knowledge, is threatened with respect to the Company's or its
Subsidiaries' operations; (vii)) as of the date of this Agreement, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission charges or other claims of employment discrimination pending or, to
the Company's knowledge, currently threatened against the Company or any such
Subsidiary; (viii) as of the date of this Agreement, no wage and hour department
investigation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending; (ix) no
occupational health and safety claims against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is pending; (x) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in
compliance in all material respects with the terms and provisions of the
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended, and all related
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Immigration Laws"); and (xi) there has
been no "mass layoff" or "plant closing" by the Company as defined in the
Federal Workers Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act ("WARN") or state law
equivalent, or any other mass layoff or plant closing that would trigger notice
pursuant to WARN or state law equivalent, within ninety (90) days prior to
earliest of the Acceptance Date, Compulsory Completion Date, Scheme Effective
Date and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1. As of the
date of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries is not the subject of
any inspection or investigation relating to its compliance with or violation of
the Immigration Laws, nor, as of the date of this Agreement, have they been
warned, fined or otherwise penalized by reason of any such failure to comply
with the Immigration Laws, nor is any such proceeding pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11 of the
Company Disclosure Letter or the Completed Commission Filings, as of the date of
this Agreement, there exist no employment,
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consulting, severance, indemnification agreements or deferred compensation
agreements between the Company and any director, officer or employee of the
Company or any agreement that would give any Person the right to receive any
payment from the Company as a result of the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement or
a Compulsory Acquisition.
Section 4.12 Taxes. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12 of the Company
Disclosure Letter:
(a) Tax Returns. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has
timely filed or caused to be timely filed or shall file or cause to be timely
filed with the appropriate taxing authorities all returns, statements, forms and
reports for Taxes (as hereinafter defined) (the "Returns") that are required to
be filed by, or with respect to, the Company and its Subsidiaries on or prior to
the earliest of the Acceptance Date, Compulsory Completion Date, Scheme
Effective Date and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 or
requests for extensions to file such returns, statements, forms or reports have
been timely filed or granted and have not expired, except to the extent that
such failures to file or to have extensions granted that remain in effect have
not had, do not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have ,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The
Returns reflect accurately and shall reflect accurately all liability for Taxes
of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby and
all other information presented on such Returns is true, correct and complete in
all material respects. "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, assessments, charges,
duties, fees, levies or other governmental charges including, without
limitation, all United States federal, state, local, foreign and, other income,
franchise, profits, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, sales, use,
occupation, property, excise, severance, windfall profits, stamp, license,
payroll, withholding and other taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies
or other governmental charges of any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly
or by withholding and whether or not requiring the filing of a Return), all
estimated taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and
interest, and shall include any liability for such amounts which may be incurred
as a result either of being a member of a combined, consolidated, unitary or
affiliated group, or of a contractual obligation to indemnify any Person or
other entity.
(b) Payment of Taxes. All Taxes and Tax liabilities of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable years or periods that end on or
prior to the earliest of the Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date,
Scheme Effective Date and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1 and, with respect to any taxable year or period beginning prior to and
ending after the such date, the portion of such taxable year or period ending on
and including the such date, have been timely paid or shall be timely paid in
full on or prior to the such date or accrued and adequately disclosed and fully
provided for on the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP.
(c) Other Tax Matters. (i) As of the date of this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been the subject of any
material audit or other examination of Taxes by the tax authorities of any
nation, state or locality and, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, no such audit or other examination is contemplated or pending, nor
has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries received any written notices from any
taxing authority relating to any issue which could materially affect the Tax
liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
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(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
been included in any "consolidated," "unitary" or "combined"
Return (other than Returns which include only the Company or any
Subsidiaries of the Company) provided for under the laws of any
jurisdiction with respect to Taxes, for any taxable period for
which the statute of limitations has not expired;
(iii) All Taxes which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is (or was) required by law to withhold or collect in connection
with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent
contractor, creditor, shareholder, or other third party have been
duly withheld or collected, and have been timely paid over to the
proper authorities to the extent due and payable;
(iv) There are no tax sharing, allocation, indemnification
or similar agreements or arrangements in effect as between the
Company, any Subsidiary, or any predecessor or Affiliate of any
of them and any other party under which Parent, Sub, the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries could be liable for any Taxes or other
claims of any such party;
(v) No indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries consists of "corporate acquisition indebtedness"
within the meaning of Section 279 of the Code or bears interest
that is otherwise nondeductible pursuant to Section 163 of the
Code;
(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
applied for, been granted, or agreed to any accounting method
change for which it shall be required to take into account any
adjustment pursuant to Section 481 of the Code or any similar
provision of the Code or the corresponding tax laws of any
nation, state or locality;
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, as of
the Closing Date, (w) has entered into an agreement or waiver or
been requested to enter into an agreement or waiver extending any
statute of limitations relating to the payment or collection of
Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (x) as of the
date of this Agreement, is presently contesting the Tax liability
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any Governmental
Entity, (y) has granted a power-of-attorney related to Tax
matters to any Person, or (z) has applied for and/or received a
ruling or determination from a taxing authority regarding a past
or prospective transaction of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(viii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
"United States real property holding corporation" within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code;
(ix) No election under 341(f) of the Code has been made or
shall be made prior to the earliest of the Acceptance Date,
Compulsory Completion Date, Scheme Effective Date and the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 to treat
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a consenting
corporation, as defined in Section 341 of the Code;
(x) As of the date of this Agreement, no claim has ever been
made by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries does
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not file Tax Returns that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is, or may be, subject to taxation by that jurisdiction;
(xi) (y) There are no amounts from intercompany transactions
between the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or between its
Subsidiaries that have been recognized but not yet taken into
account under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13 (or its
predecessor provisions) and there is no excess loss account
(within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-19)
with respect to the stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which will, or may, result in the recognition of
income upon the consummation of the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement, and (z) there are no other transactions or facts
existing with respect to the Company and/or its Subsidiaries,
which by reason of the consummation of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, will result in the Company and/or
its Subsidiaries recognizing income;
(xii) There are no material security interests on any of the
assets of the Company or of any Subsidiary that arose in
connection with any failure (or alleged failure) to pay Taxes;
(xiii) To the knowledge of the Company, during the period
beginning on January 1, 2001 and ending on the date hereof (A)
the Company was neither (x) a foreign personal holding company
within the meaning of Section 552 of the Code, nor (y) a passive
foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of
the Code, and (B) no Shares of the Company were held by a "United
States shareholder" of the Company (within the meaning of Section
951(b) of the Code) other than the Subject Shares (as defined in
the Principal Shareholders Agreement); and
(xiv) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company is not
engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States within the meaning of Section 864(b) of the Code.
Section 4.13 Liabilities. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding any claims, liabilities or
indebtedness, contingent or otherwise, of any kind whatsoever (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether or not required to be reflected
in the Company's financial statements in accordance with GAAP), except (i) as
set forth in Schedule 4.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) as set forth
in the Completed Commission Filings, (iii) for liabilities incurred since the
date of the most recent financial statements included in the Completed
Commission Filings in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) such other
claims, liabilities or indebtedness which have not had, do not have, and could
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section 4.14 Intellectual Property. (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter and except where the failure to so own
or have such right to use has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, the Company or its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid and
enforceable right to use, free and clear of all Liens, all Intellectual Property
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necessary or material to conduct the businesses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as presently conducted.
(b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.14(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter and except for such infringement, violation, misappropriation
or misuse that has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, the conduct of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' businesses or the
use of the Intellectual Property does not infringe, violate, misappropriate or
misuse any Intellectual Property rights or any other proprietary right of any
Person or give rise to any obligations to any Person as a result of
co-authorship.
Section 4.15 Proxy Statement; Offer Documents and Schedule 14D-9.
Neither the Schedule 14D-9 nor any of the information supplied or to be supplied
by the Company in writing for inclusion in the Offer Documents will, at the
times the Schedule 14D-9, the Offer Documents or any amendments or supplements
thereto are filed with the Commission or are first published, sent or given to
shareholders of the Company, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. In the event a Shareholders' Meeting
is held, the Proxy Statement to be sent to the shareholders of the Company in
connection with such Shareholders' Meeting will not, on the date the Proxy
Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to
shareholders of the Company or at the time of the Shareholders' Meeting, contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation
or warranty with respect to any information supplied or to be supplied by
Parent, Sub or any of their respective representatives expressly for inclusion
in the foregoing documents. The Schedule 14D-9 and the Proxy Statement, if
applicable, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act.
Section 4.16 Broker's or Finder's Fee. Except for the fees of Hicks,
Muse & Co. Partners, L.P. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (whose fees and
expenses shall be paid by the Company in accordance with the Company's
agreements with such firms, true and correct copies of which have been
previously delivered or made available to Parent by the Company), no agent,
broker, Person or firm acting on behalf of the Company is, or shall be, entitled
to any fee, commission or broker's or finder's fees in connection with this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby from any of the parties
hereto or from any Affiliate of any of the parties hereto. The fees and expenses
referred to above shall not be in excess of $30,000,000, assuming the
consolidated indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is $500,017,000.
Section 4.17 Certain Contracts and Arrangements. As of the date hereof,
except as set forth on Schedule 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter or as set
forth as exhibits to the Completed Commission Filings, neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contracts, agreements,
instruments or understandings ("Contracts") of the following nature
(collectively, the "Material Contracts"):
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(a) Contracts with any current or former employee, director or
officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any such person
who receives or received (during his or her last year of employment with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) less than $200,000 in total annual cash
compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries);
(b) Contracts other than contracts entered into in the ordinary
course of business (x) for the sale of any material amount of the assets of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (y) for the grant to any Person of any
preferential rights to purchase any material amount of its assets;
(c) Contracts which materially restrict the Company or any of its
Affiliates from competing in any material line of business or with any Person in
any geographical area, or which materially restrict any other Person from
competing with the Company or any of its Affiliates in any material line of
business or in any geographical area;
(d) Contracts which are material to the Company and which
restrict the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from disclosing any information
concerning or obtained from any other Person, or which restrict any other Person
from disclosing any information concerning or obtained from the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
business);
(e) Contracts involving (i) the acquisition, merger or purchase
of all or substantially all of the assets or business of a third party,
involving aggregate consideration of $10,000,000 or more, or (ii) other than the
purchase or sale of assets in the ordinary course of business and other than
contracts relating to the sale of oil, gas or other petroleum products in the
ordinary course of business, the purchase or sale of assets, or a series of
purchases and sales of assets, involving aggregate consideration of $10,000,000
or more;
(f) Contracts with any Affiliate that would be required to be
disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;
(g) Contracts which are material to the Company and contain a
"change in control" or similar provision;
(h) Contracts, including mortgages or other grants of security
interests, guarantees and notes, relating to the borrowing of money in an
aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate;
(i) Contracts relating to any material joint venture,
partnership, strategic alliance or similar arrangement; and
(j) Contracts existing on the date hereof involving revenues or
payments in excess of $10,000,000 per year.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17 of the Company Disclosure
Letter and except as has not had, does not have, and could not reasonably be
expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, each of the Material Contracts is in full force and
effect and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach or
default
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under any Material Contract nor, to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date
of this Agreement, is any other party to any Material Contract in breach or
default thereunder.
Section 4.18 Environmental Laws and Regulations. (a) Except as set
forth on Schedule 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter or in the Completed
Commission Filings and except for those matters that have not had, do not have,
and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (i) as of the date of this Agreement,
Hazardous Materials have not at any time been generated, used, treated or
stored, transported to or from, or Released or disposed of, on any Company
Property except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, (ii) the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental
Laws and the requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws
with respect to any Company Property, (iii) as of the date of this Agreement,
there are no past, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, any threatened
Environmental Claims against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Company Property, (iv) as of the date of this Agreement, there are no facts or
circumstances, conditions or occurrences regarding any Company Property that
could reasonably be anticipated (x) to form the basis of an Environmental Claim
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Company Property for which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to be
liable, or (y) to cause such Company Property to be subject to any restrictions
on its ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law,
and (v) there are not now any underground storage tanks located on any Company
Property.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings: (vi) "Company Property" means any real property and
improvements at any time owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; (vii) "Hazardous Materials" means (x) any petroleum or petroleum
products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that has become friable,
urea formaldehyde foam insulation, dielectric fluid containing levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas, (y) any chemicals, materials or
substances defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous substances,"
"hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous wastes,"
"extremely hazardous substances," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants," or words of similar import, under any
applicable Environmental Law, and (z) any other chemical, material or substance,
exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental
Entity; (viii) "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, foreign or local
statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, guideline, policy, code or rule of
common law in effect and in each case, as amended, as of the date hereof and the
earliest of the Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme
Effective Date, and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1
and any judicial interpretation thereof, or order applicable to the Company or
its operations or property as of the date hereof and the earliest of the
Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme Effective Date, and
the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, including any
judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the
indoor or outdoor environment, health, safety or Hazardous Materials, including
without limitation the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.; the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.; the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.;
the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.; the Clean Air
Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.; Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C.
Section 2701 et seq.; and the Safe
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Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq., and their state and local
counterparts and equivalents; (ix) "Environmental Claims" means any and all
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters,
claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or
proceedings under any Environmental Law or any permit issued under any such
Environmental Law (for purposes of this subclause (iv), "Claims"), including
without limitation (x) any and all Claims by governmental or regulatory
authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other
actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and (y) any and
all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution, indemnification,
cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous
Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety
or the indoor or outdoor environment; and (x) "Release" or "Released" means
disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling, leaking, leaching, dumping,
emitting, escaping, emptying or seeping into or upon any land or water or air,
or otherwise entering into the indoor or outdoor environment.
Section 4.19 Takeover Statutes. No "business combination",
"moratorium", "control share" or other anti-takeover statute or similar statute
or regulation is applicable to the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement, the
Compulsory Acquisition, the Principal Shareholders Agreement or this Agreement
(including all of the transactions contemplated hereby).
Section 4.20 Voting Requirements. The affirmative vote of a majority in
number representing seventy-five percent (75%) in value of the members or class
of members, as the case may be, present and voting either in person or by proxy
at the Shareholders' Meetings is necessary to approve the Scheme of Arrangement
pursuant to Sections 86 and 87 of the Companies Law. Where the Offer has, within
four (4) months after making the Offer, been approved by the holders of not less
than ninety percent (90%) in value of the Ordinary Shares, Sub may at any time
within two (2) months after the expiration of the said four (4) months give
notice in the prescribed manner to any dissenting shareholder that it desires to
acquire such dissenting shareholder's shares, and where such notice is given,
the Company shall, unless on an application made by the dissenting shareholder
within one (1) month from the date on which the notice was given, the Court
thinks fit to order otherwise, be entitled and bound to acquire those Shares on
the terms of the Offer.
Section 4.21 Rights Agreement. The Company and the Board of Directors
of the Company have taken all necessary action to amend the Rights Agreement
(without redeeming the Rights), and shall maintain in effect all necessary
action (i) to render the Rights Agreement inapplicable with respect to the
Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement, the Compulsory Acquisition, the Principal
Shareholders Agreement, and the other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, and (ii) to ensure that (x) neither Parent nor Sub nor any of their
"Affiliates" (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or "Associates" (as defined in
the Rights Agreement) is considered to be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined in
the Rights Agreement), and (y) the provisions of the Rights Agreement, including
the occurrence of a "Distribution Date" (as defined in the Rights Agreement),
are not and shall not be triggered by reason of the announcement or consummation
of the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement, the Compulsory Acquisition, the
Principal Shareholders Agreement or the consummation of any of the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company has delivered or made
available to Parent a complete and correct copy of the Rights Agreement, as
amended, and the Rights Agreement has not been further modified or amended.
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Section 4.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the
opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (a complete and correct signed copy of
which has been, or promptly upon receipt thereof shall be, delivered to Parent
for information purposes only, but such opinion shall not be addressed to
Parent, nor shall Parent be entitled to rely thereon) to the effect that, as of
the date of this Agreement, the consideration to be received pursuant to the
Offer and either the proposed Scheme of Arrangement or the proposed Compulsory
Acquisition, as applicable, by the holders of Shares (other than Parent or any
direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof) is fair, from a financial point of view,
to such holders (other than, in the case of the transactions contemplated by the
Principal Shareholders Agreement, the Principal Shareholders), subject to the
qualifications and assumptions contained therein, and such opinion has not been
withdrawn or modified.
Section 4.23 Insurance. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.23 of the
Company Disclosure Letter, all insurance policies which are owned by the Company
or its Subsidiaries or which name the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as an
insured, additional insured, or loss payee, including without limitation those
which pertain to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' assets, employees or
operations are in full force and effect, are valid and enforceable, and all
premiums due thereunder have been paid and cover against the risks of the nature
normally insured against by entities in the same or similar lines of business,
in coverage amounts typically and reasonably carried by such entities. As of
date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any notice of cancellation or modification in coverage amounts of any
such insurance policies.
Section 4.24 Permitted Transfer. The execution and delivery of the
Principal Shareholders Agreement by the Principal Shareholders and the
performance of their obligations thereunder is not prohibited by, or subject to,
any prior approval or consent under, the Investor Rights Agreement that has not
been obtained. Article 3 of the Investor Rights Agreement (entitled
"Restrictions On Transfer") is inapplicable to any transfer or disposition by a
holder of Shares, including by tender into the Offer or otherwise pursuant to
the Principal Shareholders Agreement.
Section 4.25 Impact on Conversion Rights. This Agreement is consistent
with, and contains the provisions for the benefit of the holders of the
Preferred Shares required by, subsection 5(d) of the Unanimous Written Consent
of the Board of Directors of the Company dated September 30, 1998 authorizing
the issuance of the Preferred Shares.
Section 4.26 Prepayments. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated, by virtue of a prepayment arrangement,
make-up right under a production sales Contract containing a "take or pay" or
similar provision, production payment or any other arrangement, to deliver
hydrocarbons, or proceeds from the sale thereof, attributable to any of its
properties at some future time without then or thereafter being entitled to
receive payment of the contract price thereof.
Section 4.27 Gas Imbalances. As of the date of this Agreement, except
as set forth on Schedule 4.27 of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary has (i) any obligation to deliver gas from the Oil
and Gas Properties (or cash in lieu thereof) to other owners of interests in
those properties as a result of past production by the Company, any
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Subsidiary or any of their predecessors in excess of the share to which they
were entitled or (ii) any right to receive deliveries of gas from the Oil and
Gas Properties (or cash in lieu thereof) from other owners of interests in those
properties as a result of past production by the company, any Subsidiary or any
of their predecessors of less than the share to which they were entitled.
Section 4.28 Non-consent Operations. As of the date of this Agreement,
except as set forth on Schedule 4.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are
no operations on the Oil and Gas Properties in which the Company's or any
Subsidiary's commitment would have exceeded $5,000,000, being conducted as of
January 1, 1999, or any time thereafter, in which the Company or any Subsidiary
was entitled to participate and did not participate.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB
Section 5 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub. Each of Parent
and Sub hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
Section 5.1 Due Organization, Good Standing and Corporate Power. Parent
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Delaware.
Sub is a company limited by shares duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Section 5.2 Authorization and Validity of Agreement. Each of Parent and
Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Principal Shareholders Agreement, to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Principal Shareholders Agreement by Parent and Sub and the consummation by each
of them of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
authorized by the Board of Directors of each of Parent and Sub. No other
corporate action on the part of either of Parent or Sub is necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Principal Shareholders Agreement by each of Parent and Sub and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and the
Principal Shareholders Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by each
of Parent and Sub and, assuming that this Agreement and the Principal
Shareholders Agreement constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
constitute valid and binding obligations of each of Parent and Sub, enforceable
against each of Parent and Sub in accordance with their terms, except that such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, and
general equitable principles.
Section 5.3 Consents and Approvals; No Violations. Assuming (i) the
filings required under the Antitrust Laws are made and the applicable waiting
periods thereunder have been terminated or have expired, (ii) the requirements
of the Exchange Act relating to the Proxy Statement, if any, and the Offer are
met, (iii) the filing of the documents relating to the Scheme of Arrangement, if
any, as required by the Companies Law, are made, and (iv) approval of the Scheme
of Arrangement and this Agreement by the shareholders of the Company, if
required by
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the Companies Law, is received, (v) all approvals and sanctions by the Court in
accordance with the Companies Law in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been obtained, and (vi) all
filings with the New York Stock Exchange have been made, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub and the consummation by Parent and
Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall not: (vii) violate
or conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of
Parent or the Articles of Association or Memorandum of Association of Sub; (x)
violate or conflict with any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or
decree of any Governmental Entity applicable to Parent or Sub or by which either
of their respective properties or assets may be bound; (y) require any filing
with, or Permit consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, any
Governmental Entity; or (z) result in a violation or breach of, conflict with,
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under
(or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or any
right which becomes effective upon the occurrence of a merger, amalgamation,
scheme of arrangement, consolidation or change of control under), or result in
the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Parent or
Sub under, or give rise to any obligation, right of termination, cancellation,
acceleration or increase of any obligation or a loss of a material benefit or
any right which becomes effective upon the occurrence of a merger, amalgamation,
scheme of arrangement, consolidation or change of control under, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license,
franchise, Permit, agreement, contract, arrangement, lease or other instrument
or obligation to which Parent or Sub or any of their Subsidiaries is a party, or
by which any such Person or any of its properties or assets may be bound, other
than in the case of clauses (x), (y) and (z), any such violation, breach,
conflict, default, right of termination, cancellation, payment, acceleration,
other right or failure to make any filing or obtain any Permit, consent or
approval of, or give notice to, any Governmental Entity that has not had, does
not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Sub.
Section 5.4 Offer Documents, Schedule 14D-9 and Proxy Statement. None
of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion in
the Offer Documents will, at the time the Offer Documents or any amendments or
supplements thereto are filed with the Commission or are first published, sent
or given to shareholders of the Company, as the case may be, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of
the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent and Sub expressly for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement and the Schedule 14D-9 (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) will, on the date mailed to shareholders of the Company or
at the time of the Shareholders' Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Parent and Sub make no representation or warranty with respect to any
information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion in any of
the foregoing documents or the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents will comply
in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
Section 5.5 Broker's or Finder's Fee. Except for Goldman Sachs & Co.,
Inc. (whose fees and expenses as financial advisor to Parent and Sub shall be
paid by Parent or Sub), no
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agent, broker, Person or firm acting on behalf of Parent or Sub is or shall be
entitled to any fee, commission or broker's or finder's fees in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby from any of the
parties hereto, or from any Affiliate of the parties hereto.
Section 5.6 Sub's Operations. Sub was formed solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has not engaged
in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection
with such transactions.
Section 5.7 Funds. Parent or Sub has, and shall have at the expiration
of the Offer and at the Compulsory Completion Date or the Scheme Effective Date,
as the case may be, sufficient funds available to satisfy the obligation to pay
for Ordinary Shares tendered (and not withdrawn) in the Offer, for Ordinary
Shares purchased in the Compulsory Acquisition and to pay the Cash Consideration
in the Scheme of Arrangement and all fees and expenses incurred by Parent or Sub
in connection with the Offer, the Compulsory Acquisition and the Scheme of
Arrangement. Parent's and Sub's obligations hereunder are not subject to any
conditions regarding their ability to obtain financing for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Section 5.8 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no
suit, action, proceeding or indemnification claim pending or, to the knowledge
of Parent, threatened against or affecting Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
that individually or in the aggregate reasonably could be expected to (i) impair
the ability of Parent or Sub to perform its obligations under the Transaction
Documents in any material respect or (ii) delay in any material respect or
prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or
order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries having, or which reasonably could be expected to have, any
effect referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above.
ARTICLE VI
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 6.1 Access to Information Concerning Properties and Records.
During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (i)
the Compulsory Completion Date, (ii) the Scheme Effective Date and (iii) the
date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, the
Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, upon reasonable
notice, afford Parent and Sub and their respective employees, counsel,
accountants, consultants and other authorized representatives, reasonable access
during normal business hours to the officers, directors, employees, accountants,
properties, books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries in order that
they may have the opportunity to make such investigations as they shall desire
of the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such
investigation shall not affect the representations and warranties made by the
Company in this Agreement. The Company shall furnish promptly to Parent and Sub
(x) a copy of each form, report, schedule, statement, registration statement and
other document filed by it or its Subsidiaries during such period pursuant to
the requirements of United States federal or state securities laws and (y) all
other information concerning its or its
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Subsidiaries' business, properties and personnel as Parent and Sub may request.
The Company agrees to cause its officers and employees to furnish such
additional financial and operating data and other information and respond to
such inquiries as Parent and Sub shall from time to time reasonably request.
Section 6.2 Confidentiality. Information obtained by Parent, Sub and
their respective counsel, accountants, consultants and other authorized
representatives pursuant to Section 6.1 shall be subject to the provisions of
the Confidentiality Agreement by and between the Company and Parent, dated June
4, 2001 (the "Confidentiality Agreement").
Section 6.3 Conduct of the Business of the Company. The Company agrees
that, except as expressly permitted or required by this Agreement or the other
Transaction Documents or otherwise consented to in writing by Parent, during the
period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the earliest to occur
of (w) the Acceptance Date, (x) the Compulsory Completion Date, (y) the Scheme
Effective Date and (z) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1:
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall conduct their respective
operations only according to their ordinary and usual course of business and
shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact their
respective business organization, keep available the services of their officers
and employees and maintain satisfactory relationships with licensors, suppliers,
distributors, clients, customers and others having business relationships with
them;
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, subject always to
the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors and their obligation to comply
with the Companies Laws:
(i) make any change in or amendment to its memorandum of
association or its articles of association (or comparable
governing documents);
(ii) issue or sell, or authorize to issue or sell, any
Shares of its share capital or any other securities, or issue or
sell, or authorize to issue or sell, any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for, or options, warrants or rights to
purchase or subscribe for, or enter into any arrangement or
contract with respect to the issuance or sale of, any Shares of
its share capital or any other securities, or make any other
changes in its capital structure, except for (A) the possible
issuance by the Company of (x) Ordinary Shares upon the
conversion of Preferred Shares or (y) Ordinary Shares pursuant to
the terms of any vested Options or (B) the redemption of the
Preferred Shares in accordance with their terms;
(iii) sell, pledge or dispose of or agree to sell, pledge or
dispose of any Shares or other equity interest owned by it in any
other Person in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate;
(iv) declare, pay or set aside any dividend or other
distribution or payment with respect to, or split, combine,
redeem or reclassify, or purchase or otherwise
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acquire, any Shares of its share capital or its other securities,
except for the redemption of the Preferred Shares in accordance
with their terms;
(v) enter into any contract or commitment with respect to
capital expenditures with a value in excess of, or requiring
expenditures by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of,
$10,000,000, individually, or enter into contracts or commitments
with respect to capital expenditures with a value in excess of,
or requiring expenditures by the Company and its Subsidiaries in
excess of, $30,000,000, in the aggregate;
(vi) acquire, by merging, amalgamating or consolidating
with, by purchasing an equity interest in or a portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person, or
otherwise acquire any assets of any Person (other than the
purchase of assets in the ordinary course of business);
(vii) except to the extent required under existing employee
and director benefit plans, agreements or arrangements in effect
on the date of this Agreement, increase the compensation or
fringe benefits of any of its directors, officers or employees,
or grant any severance or termination pay not currently required
to be paid under existing severance plans, or enter into any
employment, consulting or severance agreement or arrangement with
any present or former director, officer or other employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or establish, adopt, enter
into or amend or terminate any collective bargaining, bonus,
profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option, restricted
stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment,
termination, severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund,
policy or arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers
or employees;
(viii) transfer, lease, license, guarantee, sell, mortgage,
pledge, dispose of, subject to any Lien (other than a Permitted
Lien) or otherwise encumber any material assets, or incur or
modify any indebtedness or other material liability other than in
the ordinary course of business, or issue any debt securities or
assume, guarantee or endorse or otherwise as an accommodation
become responsible for the obligations of any Person;
(ix) agree to the settlement of or waive any material claim
or litigation;
(x) make or rescind any material tax election or settle or
compromise any material tax liability;
(xi) except as required by applicable law or GAAP, make any
material change in its method of accounting;
(xii) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial
liquidation, dissolution, merger, amalgamation, scheme of
arrangement, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or
other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than the Scheme of Arrangement) or any agreement relating
to an Acquisition Proposal, except as expressly permitted in
Section 6.6;
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(xiii) incur, assume or prepay any indebtedness for borrowed
money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another Person, other
than indebtedness owing to or guarantees of indebtedness owing to
the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Company, or (y) make any loans, extensions of credit or
advances to any other Person, other than to the Company, or to
any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company,
except, in the case of clause (x), for borrowings under existing
credit facilities described in the Completed Commission Filings
in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes
and in the case of clause (y) for loans, extensions of credit or
advances constituting trade payables in the ordinary course of
business;
(xiv) except as permitted by Section 3.5, occurring as a
result of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as
required under any employee benefit plan or other agreement or
contract to which the Company is a party as of the date of this
Agreement, accelerate the payment, right to payment or vesting of
any bonus, severance, profit sharing, retirement, deferred
compensation, stock option, insurance or other compensation or
benefits;
(xv) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or
obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction (x) of any such claims, liabilities or obligations
in the ordinary course of business or (y) of claims, liabilities
or obligations reflected or reserved against in the most recent
consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto)
contained in the Completed Commission Filings;
(xvi) enter into any Material Contract except in the
ordinary course of business;
(xvii) other than as disclosed in the Completed Commission
Filings, plan, announce, implement or effect any reduction in
force, lay-off, early retirement program, severance program or
other program or effort concerning the termination of employment
of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, provided,
however, that routine employee terminations for cause shall not
be considered subject to this clause (xvii);
(xviii) take any action, engage in any transaction or enter
into any agreement, except as required by any order, judgment or
decree of any Governmental Entity, which would cause (A) any of
the representations or warranties set forth in Article IV that
are subject to, or qualified by, a "Material Adverse Effect",
"material adverse change" or other materiality qualification to
be untrue as of the earliest to occur of the Acceptance Date, the
Compulsory Completion Date or the Scheme Effective Date, or any
such representations and warranties that are not so qualified to
be untrue in any manner that could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or (B) any of
the Tender Offer Conditions not being satisfied; or (y) purchase
or acquire, or offer to purchase or acquire, any Shares;
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(xix) take any action, including, without limitation, the
adoption of any shareholder-rights plan or amendments to its
Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association (or
comparable governing documents), which would, directly or
indirectly, restrict or impair the ability of Parent to vote or
otherwise to exercise the rights and receive the benefits of a
shareholder with respect to securities of the Company that may be
acquired or controlled by Parent or Sub, or which would permit
any shareholder to acquire securities of the Company on a basis
not available to Parent or Sub in the event that Parent or Sub
were to acquire any Shares;
(xx) materially modify, amend or terminate any Material
Contract or waive any of its material rights or claims except in
the ordinary course of business;
(xxi) (A) prepare any Return in a manner which is materially
inconsistent with the past practices of the Company or a
Subsidiary, as the case may be, with respect to the treatment of
items on such Returns; (B) incur any material liability for Taxes
other than in the ordinary course of business; or (C) enter into
any settlement or closing agreement with a taxing authority that
materially affects or could reasonably be expected to materially
affect the Tax liability of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the
case may be, for any period ending after the Closing Date;
(xxii) fail to maintain with financially responsible
insurance companies insurance on its tangible assets and its
businesses in such amounts and against such risks and losses; or
(xxiii) agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the
foregoing actions.
Section 6.4 Compulsory Acquisition. In the event that, following the
purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Offer (including any Subsequent
Offer Period), Parent, Sub and any other Subsidiary of Parent shall own Ordinary
Shares which represent at least ninety percent (90%) in value of the Ordinary
Shares affected, the Company, Parent and Sub agree to take all necessary and
appropriate action for Sub to effect the compulsory acquisition (the "Compulsory
Acquisition") of those outstanding Ordinary Shares not owned by Parent, Sub or
any other Subsidiary of Parent in accordance with Section 88 of the Companies
Law as promptly as practicable after the Acceptance Date.
Section 6.5 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances.
Subject to the terms and conditions provided herein, each of the Company, Parent
and Sub shall, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
cooperate and use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all appropriate action, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and
cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Offer, and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
including the satisfaction of the respective conditions set forth in the Article
VII, and to make, or cause to be made, all filings necessary, proper or
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including their commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain, all licenses, Permits, consents, approvals,
authorizations, qualifications and orders of Governmental Entities and parties
to contracts with the Company and its Subsidiaries as are
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necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and to fulfill the conditions to the Offer and the Scheme of Arrangement, as the
case may be; provided, however, that no loan agreement or contract for borrowed
money shall be repaid, in whole or in part, except as currently required by its
terms, and no contract shall be amended to increase the amount payable
thereunder or otherwise to be more burdensome to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in order to obtain any such consent, approval or authorization
without first obtaining the written approval of Parent and Sub.
Section 6.6 No Solicitation of Other Offers. (a) The Company shall, and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates and each of its
and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives,
consultants, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other agents
immediately to, cease any discussions or negotiations with any other Person or
Persons that may be ongoing with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. The
Company shall not take, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its
Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives, consultants, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or
other agents or Affiliates not to take, any action (i) to encourage, solicit,
initiate or facilitate, directly or indirectly, the making or submission of any
Acquisition Proposal (including, without limitation, by taking any action that
would make the Rights Agreement inapplicable to an Acquisition Proposal), (ii)
to enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal, or to agree to approve or endorse any Acquisition Proposal
or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding that would require the
Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Offer or the Scheme of
Arrangement or any other transaction contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
(iii) to initiate or participate in any way in any discussions or negotiations
with, or furnish or disclose any information to, any Person (other than Parent
or Sub) in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, (iv) to facilitate or
further in any other manner any inquiries or the making or submission of any
proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal, or (v) to grant any waiver or release under any
standstill, confidentiality or similar agreement entered into by the Company or
any of its Affiliates or representatives; provided, however, that the Company,
in response to an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a
breach of this Section 6.6(a) and otherwise in compliance with its obligations
under Section 6.6(c) hereof, may (x) request clarifications from, or furnish
information to, (but not enter into discussions with) any Person (other than
Parent or Sub) which makes such unsolicited Acquisition Proposal if (A) such
action is taken subject to a confidentiality agreement with terms not more
favorable to such Person than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement (as in
effect on the date hereof), (B) such action is taken solely for the purpose of
obtaining information reasonably necessary to ascertain whether such Acquisition
Proposal is, or could reasonably likely lead to, a Superior Proposal, and (C) a
majority of the members of the entire Board of Directors of the Company
reasonably determines in good faith, after receiving advice from Cayman Islands
counsel to the Company, that it is necessary to take such actions in order to
comply with the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of the Company under
applicable law; or (y) participate in discussions with, request clarifications
from, or furnish information to, any Person (other than Parent or Sub) which
makes such unsolicited Acquisition Proposal if (A) such action is taken subject
to a confidentiality agreement with terms not more favorable to such third party
than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement (as in effect on the date
hereof), (B) after consultation with an independent, nationally recognized
investment bank, a majority of the members of the entire Board of Directors of
the Company reasonably determines in good faith
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that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal, and (C) a majority of the
members of the entire Board of Directors of the Company reasonably determines in
good faith, after receiving advice from Cayman Islands counsel to the Company,
that it is necessary to take such actions in order to comply with the fiduciary
duties of the Board of Directors under applicable law. Without limiting the
foregoing, Parent, Sub and the Company agree that any violation of the
restrictions set forth in this Section 6.6(a) by any Affiliate, officer,
director, employee, representative, consultant, investment banker, attorney,
accountant or other agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates, whether or
not such Person is purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of its
Affiliates, shall constitute a breach by the Company of this Section 6.6(a). The
Company shall enforce, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the
provisions of any standstill, confidentiality or similar agreement entered into
by the Company or any of its Affiliates or representatives including, but not
limited to, where necessary, obtaining injunctions to prevent any breaches of
such agreements and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof in
any court having jurisdiction.
(b) Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any
committee thereof shall (i) withdraw, modify or amend, or propose to withdraw,
modify or amend, in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the approval, adoption
or, as the case may be, recommendation of the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement,
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or this Agreement, or
(ii) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition
Proposal or (iii) resolve to do any of the foregoing; provided that prior to the
Acceptance Date the Company may recommend to its shareholders an Acquisition
Proposal and, in connection therewith, withdraw or modify its approval or
recommendation of the Offer or the Amalgamation if (x) the Company has complied
with its obligations under Section 6.6(a) and (c), (y) the Acquisition Proposal
is a Superior Proposal, and (z) (A) the Board of Directors has determined, in
good faith, that it is necessary to take such action in order to comply with the
fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors under applicable law, (B) five (5)
Business Days have elapsed following delivery to Parent of a written notice of
the determination of the Board of Directors, (C) during such period the Company
has fully cooperated with Parent including, without limitation, informing Parent
of the terms and conditions of such Superior Proposal and the identity of the
Person making such Superior Proposal, with the intent of enabling Parent and the
Company to agree to a modification of the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and (D) at the end of such five (5) Business Day period the Acquisition Proposal
continues to constitute a Superior Proposal. Nothing in this Section 6.6 shall
prohibit the Company or its Board of Directors from taking and disclosing to the
Company's shareholders a position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal by a
third party to the extent required under Rule 14e-2 of the Exchange Act.
"Acquisition Proposal" shall mean (i) any inquiry, proposal or
offer (including, without limitation, any proposal to shareholders of the
Company) from any Person or group relating to any direct or indirect acquisition
or purchase of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the consolidated assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries or fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class of
equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any tender
offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any Person
beneficially owning fifteen percent (15%) or more of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any merger,
amalgamation, scheme of arrangement, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
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Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any other transaction the
consummation of which could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with,
prevent or materially delay the Offer or the Scheme of Arrangement or the other
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or which could reasonably
be expected to dilute materially the benefits to Parent of the transactions
contemplated the Transaction Documents.
"Superior Proposal" shall mean a bona fide binding written
offer not solicited by or on behalf of the Company made by a third party to
acquire all of the Shares pursuant to a tender offer, a merger, an amalgamation,
a scheme of arrangement, or to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (i) on terms which a majority of the members of the entire Board of
Directors of the Company based on the written advice of an independent
nationally recognized investment bank) reasonably determines in good faith to
have a higher value than the consideration to be received by the shareholders of
the Company (in their capacity as such) than the transactions contemplated
hereby (to the extent the transactions contemplated hereby are proposed to be
modified by Parent in accordance with this Section 6.6(b)), (ii) which is
reasonably capable of being consummated (taking into account, among other
things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and
the identity of the Person making such proposal) and (iii) that is not
conditioned on obtaining any financing.
(c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
paragraph (a), on the date of receipt or occurrence thereof, the Company shall
advise Parent of any request for information with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal or of any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry, proposal, discussions
or negotiation with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, the terms and
conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, proposal, discussion
or negotiation and the Company shall, within one (1) day of the receipt thereof,
promptly provide to Parent copies of any written materials received by the
Company in connection with any of the foregoing, and the identity of the Person
making any such Acquisition Proposal or such request, inquiry or proposal or
with whom any discussion or negotiation are taking place. The Company shall keep
Parent fully informed of the status and material details (including amendments
or proposed amendments) of any such request or Acquisition Proposal and keep
Parent fully informed as to the material details of any information requested of
or provided by the Company and as to the details of all discussions or
negotiations with respect to any such request, Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or
proposal, and shall provide to Parent within one (1) day of receipt thereof all
written materials received by the Company with respect thereto. The Company
shall promptly provide to Parent any non-public information concerning the
Company provided to any other Person in connection with any Acquisition Proposal
which was not previously provided to Parent.
(d) The Company shall immediately request each Person which has
heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its
consideration of acquiring the Company or any portion thereof to return all
confidential information heretofore furnished to such Person by or on behalf of
the Company, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
have such information returned.
Section 6.7 Notification of Certain Matters. Parent and the Company
shall promptly notify each other of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any fact
or event which has caused or could reasonably likely cause (a) any
representation or warranty made by it (including, in the
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case of Parent, Sub) in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any
material respect at any time from the date hereof to the earlier of the
Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective Time, or (b) any covenant,
condition or agreement under this Agreement not to be complied with or satisfied
by it (including, in the case of Parent, Sub) in any material respect; provided,
however, that no such notification shall modify the representations or
warranties of any party or the conditions to the obligations of any party
hereunder. Each of the Company, Parent and Sub shall give prompt notice to the
other parties hereof of any notice or other communication from any third party
alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be required in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 6.8 HSR Act. (a) Each party hereto shall (i) take promptly all
actions necessary to make the filings required of it or any of its Affiliates
under any applicable Antitrust Laws in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, including but not limited to filing pursuant
to the HSR Act no later than the tenth (10th) day following the date hereof a
Notification and Report Form with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, (ii) comply at the earliest practicable date with any formal or
informal request for additional information or documentary material received by
it or any of its Affiliates from any Antitrust Authority, and (iii) cooperate
with one another in connection with any filing under applicable Antitrust Laws
and in connection with resolving any investigation or other inquiry concerning
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement initiated by any Antitrust
Authority.
(b) Each party hereto shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust Law. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, "commercially reasonable efforts"
shall include:
(i) in the case of each of Parent and the Company, if Parent
or the Company receives a formal request for additional
information or documentary material from an Antitrust Authority,
substantially complying with such formal request within sixty
(60) days following the date of its receipt thereof or such; and
(ii) in the case of the Company only, subject to Parent's
compliance with clause (i) above, not frustrating or impeding
Parent's strategy or negotiating positions with any Antitrust
Authority.
(c) Each party hereto shall promptly inform the other parties of
any material communication made to, or received by such party from, any
Antitrust Authority or any other Governmental Entity regarding any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.9 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance. (a)
The provisions with respect to indemnification and exculpation from liability
set forth in the Company's Memorandum of Association, as amended, and Articles
of Association, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, shall not be
amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years from the
earliest of the Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme
Effective Time and the expiration of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 in
any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who
on or prior to such date were directors or officers of the Company, unless such
modification is required by law. The
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Company shall honor in accordance with their terms, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, all indemnity agreements set forth in Schedule 6.9
of the Company Disclosure Letter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in respect of
any Continuing Director, the provisions with respect to indemnification and
exculpation from liability set forth in the Company's Memorandum of Association,
as amended, and Articles of Association, as in effect on the date of this
Agreement, shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of
six years from the Discontinuance Date in any manner that would adversely affect
the rights thereunder of any Continuing Director, unless such modification is
required by law.
(b) For a period of six (6) years from the earliest of the
Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme Effective Time and
the expiration of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, (i) the Company shall
maintain in effect the Company's current directors' and officers' liability
insurance covering those Persons who are currently covered on the date of this
Agreement by the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policy
(the "Indemnified Parties"); provided, however, that in no event shall the
Company be required to expend in any one year an amount in excess of one hundred
and fifty percent (150%), of the annual premiums currently paid by the Company
for such insurance which the Company represents to be $581,800 for the twelve
month period ending on June 30, 2002; provided, further, that if the annual
premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, the Company shall be
obligated to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not
exceeding such amount; and provided, further, that the Company may substitute
for such Company policies other policies with at least the same coverage
containing terms and conditions which are no less advantageous, and provided
that said substitution does not result in any gaps or lapses in coverage with
respect to matters occurring prior to the earliest of the Acceptance Date, the
Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme Effective Date and the expiration of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, or (ii) at such time as Parent directly or
indirectly through Sub, owns the entire share capital of the Company, the
Company or Parent may cause Parent's, directors' and officers' liability
insurance then in effect to cover the Indemnified Parties with respect to those
matters covered by the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance
policy so long as the terms thereof are no less advantageous to the intended
beneficiaries thereof than the Company's current directors' and officers'
liability insurance covering the Indemnified Parties. If the Company elects
clause (i) of the previous sentence and such directors' and officers' liability
insurance is terminated or canceled during such six-year period, then Parent at
such time as Parent directly or indirectly through Sub, owns the entire share
capital of the Company, will use all reasonable efforts to cause to be obtained
as much directors' and officers' insurance as can be obtained for the remainder
of such period for an annualized premium not in excess of the maximum premium
specified above, on terms and conditions no less advantageous to the Indemnified
Parties than such insurance that shall have expired.
(c) Company shall and, at any time that Parent owns directly or
indirectly the entire share capital of the Company, Parent shall indemnify all
Indemnified Parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law with
respect to all acts and omissions arising out of such individuals' services as
officers, directors, employees, or agents of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or as trustees or fiduciaries of any plan for the benefit of
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and occurring at or prior
to the earliest of the Acceptance Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the
Scheme Effective Date and the expiration of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1, including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by the
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Transaction Documents. Without limitation of the foregoing, in the event any
such Indemnified Party is or becomes involved, in any capacity, in any action,
proceeding or investigation in connection with any matter, including, without
limitation, the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents,
occurring prior to and including the earliest of the Acceptance Date, the
Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme Effective Time and the expiration of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, the Company, and at such time as Parent owns
the entire share capital of the Company, Parent from and after such date, shall
pay, as incurred, such Indemnified Party's reasonable legal and other expenses
(including the cost of any investigation and preparation) incurred in connection
therewith. Subject to Section 6.9(d) below, Parent and the Company shall pay all
reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, that may be incurred by any
Indemnified Party in enforcing this Section 6.9 or any action involving an
Indemnified Party resulting from the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(d) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under
paragraph (a) or (c) of this Section 6.9, upon learning of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, shall promptly notify Parent and the
Company thereof. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation (whether arising before or after the earliest of the Acceptance
Date, the Compulsory Completion Date, the Scheme Effective Date and the
expiration of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1), (i) the Company shall
have the right, from and after such date, and Parent shall have the right at any
time that it owns the entire share capital of the Company, to assume the defense
thereof (with counsel engaged by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, to
be reasonably acceptable to the relevant Indemnified Party and Parent, if
applicable, and the Company shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party for
any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred
by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, (ii) such
Indemnified Party shall cooperate in the defense of any such matter, and (iii)
Parent, if applicable, and the Company shall not be liable for any settlement
effected without their prior written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; provided that Parent, if applicable and the Company shall
not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party when and if a court
of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such determination
shall have become final, that the indemnification of such Indemnified Party in
the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law. Parent, if
applicable, and the Company shall not enter into any settlement that does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by each claimant or
plaintiff to each Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect
of such matter.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the obligations
of the Company and Parent contained in this Section 6.9 shall be binding upon
the successors and assigns of Parent and the Company. In the event Parent or the
Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with
or merges into any other Person or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of
its properties or assets to any Person, then, and in each case, proper provision
shall be made so that successors and assigns of Parent or the Company, as the
case may be, honor the indemnification obligations set forth in this Section
6.9.
(f) IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES TO WHOM
THIS SECTION 6.9 APPLIES SHALL BE THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS SECTION 6.9,
EACH OF WHOM MAY ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 6.9.
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Section 6.10 Rights Agreement. Other than in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby or concurrently with the termination of this
Agreement, the Company shall not (i) redeem the Rights, (ii) amend (other than
to delay the "Distribution Date" (as defined therein) or to render the Rights
inapplicable to the Offer and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents) or terminate the Rights Agreement prior to the Effective Time, unless
required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (iii) take any action
which would allow any "Person" (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement)
other than Parent or Sub to be the "Beneficial Owner" (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement) of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Ordinary Shares
without causing a "Distribution Date" (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a "Share Acquisition Date" (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) to occur.
Section 6.11 Public Announcements. Parent and the Company shall consult
with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public
statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior
to such consultation and review by the other party of such release or statement,
or without the prior consent of the other party, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the
other party, issue such press release or make such public statement as may be
required by law or by any listing agreement with a national securities exchange
or automated quotation system to which Parent or any Affiliate of Parent or, as
the case may be, the Company is a party, if it has used all commercially
reasonable efforts to consult with the other party and to obtain such party's
consent, but has been unable to do so in a timely manner.
Section 6.12 Benefit Plans; Vacation; Employment Agreements. (a) Parent
shall take such action as may be necessary so that on and after the earlier of
the Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective Date (it being
understood that Parent shall have no obligation under this Section 6.12(a) if
neither of such dates occurs) and for one year thereafter, officers and
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be provided employee
benefits, plans and programs (including but not limited to incentive
compensation, deferred compensation, pension, life insurance, medical (which
eligibility shall not be subject to any exclusions for any pre-existing
conditions if such individual has met the participation requirements of such
benefits, plans or programs of the Company or its Subsidiaries), profit sharing
(including 401(k), severance, salary continuation and fringe benefits)) which
are no less favorable in the aggregate than those generally available to
similarly situated officers and employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries, except
with respect to the benefits available under the Severance Policy. For purposes
of eligibility to participate and vesting in all benefits provided to officers
and employees, the officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
will be credited with their years of service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and prior employers to the extent service with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and prior employers is taken into account under plans of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. Upon termination of any health plan of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, individuals who were officers or employees of the
Company or its Subsidiaries at the earliest to occur of the Compulsory
Completion Date or the Scheme Effective Date (it being understood that Parent
shall have no obligation hereunder if it does not own the entire share capital
of the Company) shall, if employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, become
eligible to participate in such health plans established by Parent (or existing
plans maintained by the Company which satisfy the first sentence of this Section
6.12(a)). Amounts
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paid before the earliest to occur of the Compulsory Completion Date and the
Scheme Effective Date by officers and employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries under any health plans of the Company shall after such date be
taken into account in applying deductible and out-of-pocket limits applicable
under the health plans of Parent provided as of such date to the same extent as
if such amounts had been paid under such health plans of Parent.
(b) Following the earlier to occur of the Compulsory Completion
Date and the Scheme Effective Date, Parent shall permit and shall cause the
Company to permit all individuals who are employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries immediately prior to such date to retain and take any paid vacation
days accrued but not taken or lost under the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
vacation policies prior to such date, provided that such vacation days are taken
or paid in lieu of being taken within one year after such date.
(c) The parties hereto agree that, upon the Acceptance Date, a
"change in control, " "change of control" or "consolidation" as applicable,
shall be deemed to have occurred in respect of each of the employment
agreements, change in control agreements and severance agreements and other
employee benefit plans and agreements set forth on Schedule 6.12 (c) of the
Company Disclosure Letter (collectively, the "Severance Protection Plans") and
each of the Company and Parent shall administer and perform its obligations
under each Severance Protection Plan as if a "change in control" or "change of
control" shall have occurred as of the Acceptance Date, notwithstanding any
terms contained therein to the contrary. This Section 6.12(c) shall not affect
any terms of, or otherwise imply that the Acceptance Date shall not constitute a
"change in control" or "change of control" under, any employment agreement,
change in control agreement, severance agreement or other employee benefit plan
or agreement that is not listed on such Schedule 6.12.
(d) From and after the date on which Sub becomes the beneficial
owner (as determined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of
the Company representing 90% or more of the votes entitled to vote in the
election of directors of the Company (the "Succession Date"), Parent shall,
jointly and severally with the Company, (i) be liable to pay and perform the
obligations of the Company under the Severance Protection Plans and (ii) take
such action as may be necessary to promptly pay any severance payments or other
amounts from time to time due thereunder.
(e) From and after the Acceptance Date, the Company shall, and
Parent shall cause the Company to, maintain the Severance Policy in full force
and effect (without modification or amendment thereof, except to the extent that
any such modification or amendment does not adversely affect any Person covered
by the Severance Policy) at least until the first anniversary of the Acceptance
Date in respect of all Persons covered by the Severance Policy as of the Offer
Closing.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
6.12, no current or former employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates
shall have any right to employment or continued employment with the Company or
any Affiliate following the Acceptance Date.
Section 6.13 Agreements Relating to Preferred Shares(a) Parent and Sub
agree that if an Acceptance Date occurs, then Sub shall, and Parent shall take
such action (including without
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limitation exercising any rights under the Principal Shareholders Agreement) as
necessary to cause Sub to, accept for payment and pay for pursuant to the Offer
(i) all Ordinary Shares held by the Principal Shareholders and (ii) all Ordinary
Shares that immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer are issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Shares held by the Principal Shareholders.
(b) Parent and Sub agree that if Sub purchases any Preferred
Shares from any Principal Shareholder, then Parent and Sub shall not take any
action, and shall take all such actions as are commercially reasonable to cause
any Parent Designees to act accordingly, to prevent the Company from exercising
its right to redeem the Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms thereof.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 7.1 Conditions Precedent to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
the Scheme of Arrangement. The respective obligations of each party to effect
the Scheme of Arrangement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (subject to
applicable law), at or prior to the Scheme Effective Time, of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Injunction. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order shall have been issued by any federal, state
or foreign court or by any federal, state or foreign Governmental Entity, and no
other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Scheme
of Arrangement shall be in effect;
(b) Statutes. No federal, state or non-United States statute,
rule, regulation, executive order, decree or order of any kind shall have been
enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or Governmental Entity
which prohibits, restrains, restricts or enjoins the consummation of the Scheme
of Arrangement or has the effect of making the Scheme of Arrangement illegal;
and
(c) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement under the HSR Act, if any, shall have expired or been terminated.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT
Section 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned, at any time prior to the
earlier of the Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective Time, whether
before or after approval of the Scheme of Arrangement by the Company's
shareholders:
(a) by mutual consent of the Company, on the one hand, and of
Parent and Sub, on the other hand;
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(b) by either Parent, on the one hand, or the Company, on the
other hand, if:
(i) any court of competent jurisdiction or any Governmental
Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any
other action permanently restricting, enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting the acceptance for payment of, or payment
for, Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Scheme of Arrangement or a
Compulsory Acquisition, and such order, decree or ruling or other
action shall have become final and nonappealable; or
(ii) the Scheme of Arrangement or a Compulsory Acquisition
has not occurred by June 30, 2002; provided, that this
termination right may not be asserted by any party whose breach
of its representations, warranties or agreements hereunder, shall
have resulted in the failure of the Compulsory Completion Date or
Scheme Effective Date to have occurred;
(c) by the Company at any time prior to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, if:
(i) (x) there shall be a breach of any representation or
warranty of Parent or Sub in this Agreement that is qualified as
to Material Adverse Effect, (y) there shall be a breach of any
representation or warranty of Parent or Sub in this Agreement
that is not so qualified, other than any such breaches which, in
the aggregate, have not had, do not have, or could not reasonably
be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, or (z)
there shall be a material breach by Parent or Sub of any of their
respective covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement,
which breach, in the case of any of clauses (x), (y) or (z),
either is not reasonably capable of being cured, or if it is
reasonably capable of being cured, has not been cured by the
earlier of (A) ten (10) days after the giving of notice to Parent
of such breach and (B) one (1) business day prior to the
expiration of the Offer, provided that the Company may not
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c)(i) if
the Company is in material breach of this Agreement; or
(ii) (x) Parent or Sub shall have failed to commence the
Offer in accordance with the first sentence of Section 2.1(a) or
(y) (A) the Offer has expired without Sub purchasing any Ordinary
Shares pursuant thereto and (B) Sub or Parent has not requested
the Company to pursue a Scheme of Arrangement within ten (10)
Business Days of such expiration date, unless such failure or
expiration shall have been caused by the failure of the
conditions set forth in clauses (iii)(c) or (d) of Annex A to be
satisfied.
(d) by Parent at any time prior to the purchase of Ordinary
Shares pursuant to the Offer, if:
(i) the Offer is terminated or expires in accordance with
its terms without Sub having purchased any Ordinary Shares
thereunder due to an occurrence which would result in a failure
to satisfy any one or more of the conditions set forth on Annex A
hereto, unless any such failure shall have been caused by or
resulted from the failure of Parent or Sub to perform in any
material respect any covenant or agreement of
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either of them contained in this Agreement or from the material
breach by Parent or Sub of any representation or warranty of
either of them contained in this Agreement;
(ii) (x) there shall be a breach of any representation or
warranty of the Company in this Agreement that is qualified as to
Material Adverse Effect, (y) there shall be a breach of any
representation or warranty of the Company in this Agreement that
is not so qualified, other than any such breaches which, in the
aggregate, have not had, do not have, or could not reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, or
(z) there shall be a material breach by the Company of any of its
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, which
breach, in the case of any of clauses (x), (y) or (z), either is
not reasonably capable of being cured or, if it is reasonably
capable of being cured, has not been cured by the earlier of (A)
ten (10) days after giving written notice to the Company of such
breach and (B) one (1) business day prior to the expiration of
the Offer, provided, that Parent may not terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 8.1(d)(ii) if the Parent or Sub is in
material breach of this Agreement;
(iii) (x) the Company shall have (A) withdrawn, modified or
amended, in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the approval,
adoption or recommendation, as the case may be, of the Offer, the
Scheme of Arrangement, any transaction contemplated by a
Transaction Document or this Agreement, (B) approved or
recommended, or proposed to approve or recommend, any Acquisition
Proposal or (C) announced a neutral position with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal, and does not reject such Acquisition
Proposal within three (3) Business Days of the announcement of
such neutral position, or (y) the Company's Board of Directors or
any committee thereof shall have resolved to take any of the
actions set forth in the foregoing;
(iv) if there shall have been a breach by the Company of any
provision of Section 6.6;
(v) the purchase pursuant to the Offer of all Ordinary
Shares tendered and not withdrawn (and at least a number of
Ordinary Shares equal to the minimum number of Ordinary Shares
required to be tendered to satisfy the Minimum Condition) shall
not have occurred on or before the final expiration date of the
Offer, unless the purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the
Offer shall not have occurred because of a material breach of any
representation, warranty, obligation, covenant, agreement or
condition set forth in this Agreement on the part of Parent or
Sub; or
(e) by either Parent or the Company if (i) the Scheme of
Arrangement is not approved by the requisite vote of shareholders of the Company
at a meeting duly called for the purpose of voting on the Scheme of Arrangement,
(ii) the Court declines to sanction the Scheme of Arrangement or (iii) Parent
and Sub abandon the Scheme of Arrangement upon written notice to such effect to
the Company.
Section 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 by Parent or Sub, on the one hand, or the
Company, on the other hand, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to
the other party or parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which
such termination is made, and this Agreement shall become
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void and have no effect, and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part
of Parent, Sub or the Company, except that Sections 6.2, 6.9 and 6.12, Article
IX and this Section 8.2 shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Nothing
in this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party to this Agreement of liability for
breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Fees and Expenses. (a)...Except as provided in paragraph
(b) below, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
party incurring such costs and expenses.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated:
(i) at a time when Parent is entitled to terminate this
Agreement in accordance with (x) Section 8.1(d)(i) or 8.1(d)(v)
hereof, solely due to the Minimum Condition not having been met
at the time of such termination, and an Acquisition Proposal had
become publicly known prior to the date of such termination and,
within twelve (12) months of such termination, the Company enters
into an agreement with respect to or consummates any Acquisition
Proposal or (y) Section 8.1(d)(ii), (iii) or (iv);
(ii) by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(ii)(y),
unless resulting from a material breach by Parent or Sub of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement, and an
Acquisition Proposal had become publicly known prior to the date
of such termination, and, within twelve (12) months of such
termination, the Company enters into an agreement with respect to
or consummates any Acquisition Proposal; or
(iii) by either the Company or Parent pursuant to Section
8.1(b)(ii) or 8.1(e), unless resulting from a material breach by
Parent or Sub of any covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement, and an Acquisition Proposal had become publicly known
prior to the date of such termination and, within twelve (12)
months of such termination, the Company enters into an agreement
with respect to or consummates any Acquisition Proposal.
then the Company shall (I) reimburse Parent in immediately available funds for
the out-of-pocket expenses of Parent and Sub (including, without limitation,
printing fees, filing fees and fees and expenses of its legal and financial
advisors and all fees and expenses payable to any financing sources) related to
the Offer, this Agreement, the Principal Shareholders Agreement, the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any related financing in the
amount of $10,000,000 and (II) pay to Parent in immediately available funds an
amount equal to $130,000,000.
(c) The payments required to be made in the preceding paragraph
shall be paid as follows: (A) in the case of clause (b)(i)(y), on the day next
succeeding the date of such termination or (B) in the case of clause (b)(i)(x),
clause (b)(ii) or clause (b)(iii), 50% of the amount shall be paid on the date
that the Company enters into an agreement with respect to such
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Acquisition Proposal and the remaining 50% (or 100% if there is no such
agreement) shall be paid on the date of consummation of such Acquisition
Proposal.
Section 9.2 Investigation and Agreement by the Parties; No other
Representations or Warranties.
(a) Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the
other, each acknowledges and agrees that it has made its own inquiry and
investigation into, and, based thereon, has formed an independent judgment
concerning, the other party and its Subsidiaries and their businesses and
operations, and such party has requested such documents and information from the
other party as such party considers material in determining whether to enter
into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the
other hand, acknowledge and agree that it has had an opportunity to ask
questions of and receive answers from the other party with respect to matters
such party considers material in determining whether to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
(b) The respective representations and warranties of the Company,
on the one hand, and each of Parent and Sub, on the other hand, contained herein
or in any certificates or other documents delivered prior to or at the Closing
shall not be deemed waived or otherwise affected by any investigation made by
any party. Each and every such representation and warranty shall expire with,
and be terminated and extinguished by, the earlier of the Compulsory Completion
Date or the Scheme Effective Date, and thereafter none of the Company, Parent or
Sub shall be under any liability whatsoever with respect to any such
representation or warranty. This Section 9.2(b) shall have no effect upon any
other obligation of the parties hereto.
(c) In connection with each party's investigation of the other
party and its Subsidiaries and their businesses and operations, each party and
its representatives have received from the other party or its representatives
certain projections and other forecasts for the other party and its Subsidiaries
and certain estimates, plans and budget information. Each party acknowledges and
agrees that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such
projections, forecasts, estimates, plans and budgets; that such party is
familiar with such uncertainties; that such party is taking full responsibility
for making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates,
projections, forecasts, plans and budgets so furnished to it or its
representatives; and that such party will not (and will cause all of its
respective Subsidiaries or other Affiliates or any other person acting on its
behalf to not) assert any claim or cause of action against any of the other
party's direct or indirect partners, directors, officers, employees,
stockholders, Affiliates, with respect thereto, or hold any such person liable
with respect thereto.
(d) Each of Parent and Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on
the other, agrees that, except for the representations and warranties made by
the other party that are expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents,
Disclosure Letter and any other document, certificate, exhibit or schedule
delivered pursuant to the Transaction Documents, as applicable, neither the
other party nor any of its representatives or Affiliates has made and shall not
be deemed to have made to such party or to any of its representatives or
Affiliates any representation or warranty of any kind. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, each
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party agrees that neither the other party nor any of its Affiliates makes or has
made any representation or warranty to such party or to any of its
representatives or Affiliates with respect to:
(i) any projections, forecasts, estimates, plans or budgets
of future revenues, expenses or expenditures, future results of
operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows (or any
component thereof) or future financial condition (or any
component thereof) of the other party or any of its Subsidiaries
or the future business, operations or affairs of the other party
or any of its Subsidiaries heretofore or hereafter delivered to
or made available to such party or its counsel, accountants,
advisors, lenders, representatives or Affiliates; and
(ii) any other information, statement or documents
heretofore or hereafter delivered to or made available to such
party or its counsel, accountants, advisors, lenders,
representatives or Affiliates with respect to the other party or
any of its Subsidiaries or the business, operations or affairs of
the other party or any of its Subsidiaries, except to the extent
and as expressly covered by a representation and warranty made by
the other party and contained in the Transaction Documents,
Company Disclosure Letter and any other document, certificate,
exhibit or schedule delivered pursuant to the Transaction
Documents.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
after such time as Parent Designees are appointed to the Board of Directors of
the Company pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement, any action or inaction
approved by the Company's Board of Directors that would otherwise cause a breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation of the Company pursuant
to this Agreement shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement by the
Company for any reason whatsoever.
Section 9.3 Extension; Waiver. Subject to Section 2.3, at any time
prior to the earlier to occur of the Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme
Effective Time, the parties hereto, by action taken by or on behalf of the
respective Boards of Directors of the Company, Parent or Sub, may (i) extend the
time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other
parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties contained herein by any other applicable party or in any document,
certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto by any other applicable party,
or (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained
herein. Any agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
such party.
Section 9.4 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other
communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered in person or
mailed, certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile
(upon confirmation of receipt), as follows:
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(a) if to the Company, to it at:
Triton Energy Limited
6688 N. Central Expressway., Suite 1400
Dallas, Texas 75206
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (214) 696-7368
Fax: (214) 691-0198
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
3700 Trammell Crow Center
Suite 3700
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Michael D. Wortley
Rodney L. Moore
Telephone: (214) 220-7700
Fax: (214) 999-7716
(b) if to either Parent or Sub, to it at:
Amerada Hess Corporation
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (212) 536-8577
Fax: (212) 536-8241
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
White & Case LLP
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Timothy B. Goodell, Esq.
Gregory P. Pryor, Esq.
Telephone: (212) 819-8200
Fax: (212) 354-8113
or to such other Person or address as any party shall specify by notice in
writing to each of the other parties. All such notices, requests, demands,
waivers and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of
delivery unless if mailed, in which case on the third (3rd) Business Day after
the mailing thereof, except for a notice of a change of address, which shall be
effective only upon receipt thereof.
Section 9.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained
herein and supersedes all prior
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agreements and understandings, oral and written, with respect thereto, other
than the Confidentiality Agreement.
Section 9.6 Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and, with respect
to the provisions of Sections 6.9 and 6.12, shall inure to the benefit of the
Persons or entities benefiting from the provisions thereof who are intended to
be third-party beneficiaries thereof. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the
parties hereto without the prior written consent of each of the other parties,
except that Sub may assign and transfer its right and obligations hereunder to
any of its Affiliates. Except as provided in the first sentence of this Section
9.6, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on
any Person (including, without limitation, any current or former employees of
the Company), other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies.
Section 9.7 Amendment and Modification. Subject to applicable law and
Section 2.3 of this Agreement, this Agreement may be amended, modified and
supplemented in writing by the parties hereto in any and all respects before the
earlier to occur of the Compulsory Completion Date and the Scheme Effective Time
(notwithstanding any shareholder approval), by action authorized by the
respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company or, in the case of
Parent or Sub, by the respective officers authorized by their respective Board
of Directors, provided, however, that after any such shareholder approval, no
amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by such
shareholders without such further approval.
Section 9.8 Further Actions. Each of the parties hereto agrees that,
subject to its legal obligations, it shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to fulfill all conditions precedent specified herein, to the extent that
such conditions are within its control, and to do all things reasonably
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 9.9 Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles
and Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
Section 9.11 APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES
THEREOF, EXCEPT THAT THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS SHALL APPLY TO THE EXTENT
REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS, IF ANY, THE SCHEME OF
ARRANGEMENT AND TO THE FIDUCIARY DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN CONNECTION
WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. THE STATE OR FEDERAL
COURTS LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY AND
ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, ARISING OUT
OF
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OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THE PARTIES CONSENT TO AND AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO
ASSERT IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY CLAIM THAT (I) SUCH PARTY IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF
SUCH COURTS, (II) SUCH PARTY AND SUCH PARTY'S PROPERTY IS IMMUNE FROM ANY LEGAL
PROCESS ISSUED BY SUCH COURTS OR (III) ANY LITIGATION OR OTHER PROCEEDING
COMMENCED IN SUCH COURTS IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. THE PARTIES HEREBY
AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACTION
OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 9.4, OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS
MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW, SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF AND
HEREBY WAIVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO SERVICE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE MANNER HEREIN
PROVIDED.
Section 9.12 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against
its regulatory policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and this Agreement
shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable term, provision, covenant or restriction or
any portion thereof had never been contained herein.
Section 9.13 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for convenience of reference purposes only and shall not affect in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
"include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."
Section 9.14 Specific Enforcement. 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. Accordingly, the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 9.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties to this
Agreement hereby irrevocably waives all right to a trial by jury in any action,
proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 9.16 No Recourse Against Others. Other than as a party to any
of the Transaction Documents, neither any direct or indirect holder of equity
interests in the Company (whether limited or general partners, members,
stockholders, or otherwise), nor any past or present director, officer, employee
or Affiliate of the Company or of any such holder, shall have any liability or
obligation of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under the Transaction
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Documents or in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby except to
the extent specifically set forth in the Transaction Documents, and Parent and
Sub hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation.
* * * * *
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of Parent, Sub and the Company have caused
this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, all as of the date first above written.
AMERADA HESS CORPORATION
By: /s/ JOHN B. HESS
-----------------------------------
Name: John B. Hess
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
AMERADA HESS (CAYMAN) LIMITED
By: /s/ J. BARCLAY COLLINS
-----------------------------------
Name: J. Barclay Collins
Title: Director
TRITON ENERGY LIMITED
By: /s/ A. E. TURNER, III
-----------------------------------
Name: A. E. Turner, III
Title: Senior Vice President
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ANNEX A
The capitalized terms used in this Annex A shall have the meanings set
forth in the Agreement to which it is annexed, except that the term "Acquisition
Agreement" shall be deemed to refer to the Agreement to which this Annex A is
annexed and "Purchaser" shall be deemed to refer to Sub.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer or the Acquisition
Agreement, Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to
any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c)
under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return
tendered Ordinary Shares promptly after termination or withdrawal of the Offer),
to pay for any Ordinary Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer and may terminate
or amend the Offer and may postpone the acceptance of, and payment for, any
Ordinary Shares, if (i) there shall not have been validly tendered and not
properly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer a number of Ordinary
Shares which represent at least ninety percent (90%) in value of the allotted
and issued Ordinary Shares determined on a fully-diluted basis ("on a
fully-diluted basis" meaning, at any time, the number of Shares allotted and
issued, together with the Ordinary Shares which the Company may be required to
issue, now or in the future, including, without limitation, Ordinary Shares
issuable pursuant to warrants, options (including, without limitation, the
Options) or other rights or other obligations outstanding at such time under
employee stock or similar benefit plans or otherwise, whether or not vested or
then exercisable, but excluding the effect of the Rights), on the date of
purchase (the "Minimum Condition") (provided that, for purposes of determining
whether such Minimum Condition is satisfied, all Ordinary Shares held by the
Principal Shareholders that are tendered and not withdrawn (but continuing to
include for this purpose all Ordinary Shares withdrawn at the instruction of
Parent) and all Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of Preferred Shares
that are surrendered for conversion by the Principal Shareholders with
appropriate tender instructions pursuant to the Principal Shareholders Agreement
(but continuing to include for this purpose all Ordinary Shares issuable upon
conversion of Preferred Shares with respect to which tender and conversion
instructions are revoked at the instruction of Parent) shall be included in such
calculation), (ii) any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof)
under the HSR Act shall not have expired or been terminated, or (iii) if, at any
time on or after the date of the Acquisition Agreement and at or before the time
of payment for any Ordinary Shares (whether or not any Ordinary Shares have
theretofore been accepted for payment, or paid for, pursuant to the Offer), any
of the following shall exist:
(a) there shall be threatened, instituted or pending any
action or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, (i) challenging or
seeking to, or which could reasonably be expected to, make illegal,
impede, delay or otherwise directly or indirectly restrain, prohibit or
make materially more costly the Offer, the Compulsory Acquisition or
the Scheme of Arrangement or any other transaction contemplated by the
Acquisition Agreement or the Principal Shareholders Agreement (each, a
"Transaction"), (ii) seeking to prohibit or materially limit the
ownership or operation by Parent or Purchaser of all or any material
portion of the business or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or to compel Parent or Purchaser to dispose of or hold
separately all or any material portion of the business or assets of
Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or seeking to impose any limitation on
the ability of Parent or Purchaser to conduct its business or own such
assets, (iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Parent or
Purchaser effectively to exercise
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ANNEX A
Page 2
full rights of ownership of the Shares, including, without limitation,
the right to vote any Shares acquired or owned by Purchaser or Parent
on all matters properly presented to the Company's shareholders, (iv)
seeking to require divestiture by Parent or Purchaser of any Shares,
(v) seeking any material diminution in the benefits expected to be
derived by Parent or Purchaser as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents, or (vi) otherwise directly
or indirectly relating to any Transaction and which could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on Parent and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole;
(b) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule,
regulation, legislation, interpretation, judgment, order or injunction
proposed, enacted, enforced, promulgated, amended or issued after the
date of this Agreement and applicable to or deemed applicable to (i)
Parent, Purchaser, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (ii)
the Offer or the Scheme of Arrangement or any Transaction, by any
Governmental Entity other than the routine application of the waiting
period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer, any Transaction or to
the Scheme of Arrangement, that could reasonably be expected to result
directly or indirectly in any of the consequences referred to in
paragraph (a) above;
(c) except for inaccuracies in any representations or
warranties of the Company that result from actions or inactions
required by the Acquisition Agreement, (i) any representation or
warranty of the Company contained in the Acquisition Agreement that is
qualified as to Material Adverse Effect shall not be true and correct
as though made on or as of such date (other than representations and
warranties which, by their terms, address matters only as of another
specified date, which shall be true and correct only as of such other
specified date), and (ii) any representation or warranties of the
Company contained in the Acquisition Agreement that is not qualified as
to Material Adverse Effect shall not be true and correct (except where
the failure of any such representations or warranties referred to in
this clause (ii) to be so true and correct in the aggregate has not
had, does not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company) as of the date of consummation
of the Offer as though made on or as of such date (other than
representations and warranties which, by their terms, address matters
only as of another specified date, which shall be true and correct only
as of such other specified date);
(d) the Company shall have failed to perform in any material
respect any obligation or to comply in any material respect with any
agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with
by the Company under the Acquisition Agreement;
(e) the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee
thereof shall (i) have withdrawn, modified or amended, or proposed to
withdraw, modify or amend, in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser,
the approval, adoption or recommendation, as the case may be, of the
Offer, any Transaction, the Scheme of Arrangement or the Acquisition
Agreement, or (ii) shall have approved or recommended, or proposed to
approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) shall have
announced a neutral position with respect to any Acquisition Proposal
and has not rejected such Acquisition
2
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ANNEX A
Page 3
Proposal within three (3) Business Days of the announcement of such
neutral position, or (iv) shall have resolved to do any of the
foregoing;
(f) the Acquisition Agreement shall have been terminated in
accordance with its terms;
which, in the sole judgment of Purchaser, in any such case and regardless of the
circumstances (including any action or inaction by Parent or Purchaser) giving
rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer
and/or with such acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Ordinary Shares.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and
Purchaser and may be asserted by Parent or Purchaser, or may be waived by Parent
or Purchaser, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their
respective sole discretion, except as otherwise provided in the Acquisition
Agreement. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the
foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such
right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and
from time to time.
3