EXHIBIT 2.1
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and between
U.S. BANCORP
and
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
Dated as of December 23, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS................................................................... 2
1.1 Definitions................................................................... 2
1.2 General....................................................................... 11
1.3 References to Time............................................................ 11
ARTICLE II. THE MERGER AND THE CONTRIBUTION............................................... 11
2.1 Merger........................................................................ 11
2.2 Contribution.................................................................. 11
2.3 Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Merger and the Contribution....... 12
2.4 Ancillary Agreements.......................................................... 12
2.5 Non-Transferability........................................................... 13
2.6 Capital Contribution.......................................................... 14
ARTICLE III. THE DISTRIBUTIONS............................................................. 14
3.1 The Distributions............................................................. 14
3.2 Actions Prior to the Distribution............................................. 15
3.3 Conditions to Obligations..................................................... 16
3.4 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws; Rights Plan............................ 17
ARTICLE IV. SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION.................................................. 17
4.1 Survival of Agreements........................................................ 17
4.2 Indemnification of Piper Jaffray.............................................. 17
4.3 Indemnification by Parent..................................................... 18
4.4 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts....... 19
4.5 Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims.......................... 19
4.6 Additional Matters............................................................ 22
4.7 Remedies Cumulative........................................................... 22
4.8 Survival of Indemnities....................................................... 23
ARTICLE V. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS.................................................. 23
5.1 Notices to Third Parties...................................................... 23
5.2 Licenses and Permits.......................................................... 23
5.3 Intercompany Agreements; Intercompany Accounts................................ 23
5.4 Guarantee Obligations......................................................... 24
5.5 Further Assurances............................................................ 25
ARTICLE VI. ACCESS TO INFORMATION......................................................... 26
6.1 Agreement for Exchange of Information......................................... 26
6.2 Ownership of Information...................................................... 26
6.3 Compensation for Providing Information........................................ 26
6.4 Record Retention.............................................................. 27
6.5 Limitation of Liability....................................................... 27
6.6 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information........................ 27
6.7 Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation................................. 27
6.8 Confidentiality............................................................... 28
6.9 Protective Arrangements....................................................... 29
ARTICLE VII. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES.............................................. 29
7.1 No Representations or Warranties.............................................. 29
ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION................................................................... 30
8.1 Termination................................................................... 30
8.2 Effect of Termination......................................................... 30
ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS................................................................. 30
9.1 Complete Agreement; Representations........................................... 30
9.2 Expenses...................................................................... 31
9.3 Governing Law................................................................. 31
9.4 Notices....................................................................... 31
9.5 Amendment, Modification or Waiver............................................. 32
9.6 Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries.......................... 32
9.7 Counterparts.................................................................. 32
9.8 Negotiation................................................................... 32
9.9 Specific Performance.......................................................... 32
9.10 Minnesota Forum............................................................... 33
9.11 Interpretation; Conflict with Ancillary Agreements............................ 33
9.12 Severability.................................................................. 33
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Exhibits to Separation and Distribution Agreement
Exhibit A Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws
Exhibit B Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Exhibit C Form of Business Alliance Agreement
Exhibit D Form of Employee Benefits Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Insurance Matters Agreement
Exhibit F Form of Preferred Share Purchase Rights Agreement
Exhibit G Sublease Agreement
Exhibit H Form of Tax Sharing Agreement
Exhibit I Form of $180,000,000 Subordinated Loan Agreement
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SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),
dated as of December 23, 2003, by and between U.S. Bancorp, a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), and Piper Jaffray Companies, a Delaware corporation and
an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Piper Jaffray").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has determined that
it is in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders to separate Parent's
businesses into two independent public companies (the "Separation"), on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, to effect the Separation, Parent intends to cause, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the merger (the
"Merger") of U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent ("USBI"), with and into U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray
Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
("USBPJC"), pursuant to which USBPJC will be the surviving corporation in the
Merger and will be renamed "U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc." (the "Surviving
Corporation");
WHEREAS, to effect the Separation, Parent further intends to
cause the Surviving Corporation to transfer and contribute to Piper Jaffray all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of certain of its Subsidiaries (as
defined below) and certain other assets of the Surviving Corporation relating to
the Piper Jaffray Business, and in exchange therefor Piper Jaffray intends to
assume certain liabilities of Parent and its Subsidiaries related to the Piper
Jaffray Business and to issue shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of Piper Jaffray ("Piper Jaffray Common Stock") to the Surviving Corporation
(such transactions, collectively, the "Contribution"), each on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, to effect the Separation, Parent further intends to
(1) cause the Surviving Corporation to distribute to Parent all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock beneficially owned by the
Surviving Corporation by means of a dividend of such Piper Jaffray Common Stock
to Parent as its sole stockholder (the "Internal Distribution"), and (2) upon
consummation of the Internal Distribution, distribute on a pro rata basis to
holders of issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of Parent ("Parent Common Stock"), other than with respect to shares of
Parent Common Stock held in the treasury of Parent, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock beneficially owned by Parent by
means of a dividend of such Piper Jaffray Common Stock to such stockholders (the
"Distribution," and together with the Internal Distribution, the
"Distributions"), each on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that, for United
States federal income tax purposes, the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and the Contribution and the Distributions shall qualify
as transactions that are generally tax free under Section 355 and/or Section
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent and Piper Jaffray
have each determined that the Separation, the Merger, the Contribution, the
Distributions and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements (as defined below) are in furtherance of and consistent
with their respective business strategies and are in the best interests of their
respective companies and stockholders or sole stockholder, as applicable, and
have approved this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the
principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and certain
other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Separation,
the Merger, the Contribution and the Distributions and the relationship of
Parent and Piper Jaffray and their respective Subsidiaries following the
Distribution.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth below (such meanings to be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
"$180,000,000 Subordinated Loan Agreement" has the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.2(f) hereto.
"Action" means any demand, action, suit, countersuit,
arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental
Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal or authority.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, a
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such specified
Person; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Agreement, no member of a
Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the other Group. As
used herein, "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
entity, whether through ownership of voting securities or other interests, by
contract or otherwise.
"Agent" means the distribution agent to be appointed by Parent
to distribute the shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock to be distributed by
Parent pursuant to the Distribution.
"Agreement" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Preamble hereto.
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"Amended and Restated Bylaws" means the Amended and Restated
Bylaws of Piper Jaffray substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, with such
changes as may be agreed to by the Parties.
"Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation" means the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Piper Jaffray substantially
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, with such changes as may be agreed to by the
Parties.
"Ancillary Agreements" means the Benefits Agreement, the
Business Alliance Agreement, the Insurance Matters Agreement, the Sublease
Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement and the other agreements to be entered into
in connection with the Separation pursuant to Section 2.4.
"Asset" means any right, property or asset, whether real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, of any kind, nature and description,
whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, and wheresoever situated and whether
or not carried or reflected, or required to be carried or reflected, on the
books of any Person.
"Bank Contribution Agreement" has the meaning assigned to such
term in the definition of "Holdco Formation" below.
"Benefits Agreement" means the Employee Benefits Agreement to
be entered into by and between Parent and Piper Jaffray, substantially in the
form of Exhibit C hereto, with such changes as may be agreed to by the Parties.
"Business" means the Piper Jaffray Business or the Parent
Business.
"Business Alliance Agreement" means the Business Alliance
Agreement to be entered into by and between Parent and Piper Jaffray,
substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, with such changes as may be
agreed to by the Parties.
"Capital Contribution" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.6.
"Change in Control" means:
(1) the acquisition by any Person (it being understood
that the use of the term "Person" in this definition shall be deemed to include
any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) of Persons) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act for the purposes of this definition) of
securities of Piper Jaffray where such acquisition causes such Person, directly
or indirectly, to beneficially own more than 50% of either (i) the then
outstanding shares of common stock of Piper Jaffray ("Outstanding Common Stock")
or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
Piper Jaffray entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
("Outstanding Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), any acquisition by (A) any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by Piper Jaffray or any corporation controlled by
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Piper Jaffray or (B) any corporation, limited liability company or other entity
pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i) and (ii) of
subsection (2) below, shall not be deemed to result in a Change of Control; or
(2) the consummation of, a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of Piper Jaffray (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless,
following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to
such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns Piper Jaffray or all or
substantially all of Piper Jaffray's assets either directly or through one or
more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Common Stock
and Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) no Person
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation.
"Code" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals
hereto.
"Consents" means any consents, waivers or approvals from, or
notification requirements to, any third parties.
"Contributed Shares" means all of the outstanding capital
stock of the Piper Jaffray Entities, consisting of (1) 1,450,000 ordinary
shares, par value (pound)1 per share, of Piper Jaffray Capital Markets Ltd.; (2)
1,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Piper Jaffray
Financial Products; (3) 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share,
of Piper Jaffray Financial Products II; (4) 459 shares of common stock, par
value $2,500.00 per share, of Piper Jaffray Inc.; and (5) 1,000 shares of common
stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Piper Jaffray Ventures.
"Contribution" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals hereto.
"Contribution Effective Time" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.2.
"Covered Specified Liability" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 4.3(d).
"Distribution" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals to this Agreement.
"Distribution Date" means the date as of which the
Distribution shall be effected, to be determined by, or under the authority of,
the Board of Directors of Parent consistent with this Agreement.
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"Distributions" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals to this Agreement.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Excluded Liability" means all Liabilities listed on Schedule
1.1(a).
"Governmental Approvals" means any notices, reports or other
filings to be made, or any consents, registrations, approvals, licenses, permits
or authorizations to be obtained from, any Governmental Authority.
"Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local,
foreign or international court, government, department, commission, board,
bureau or agency, or any other regulatory, administrative or governmental
authority, including the NYSE and the National Association of Securities
Dealers.
"Group" means the Parent Group or the Piper Jaffray Group, as
applicable.
"Holdco Formation" means the contribution of (1) the capital
stock of U.S. Bank National Association, a nationally chartered banking
association and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, to USB Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("USB Holdings"),
pursuant to that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2003, by
and between Parent and USB Holdings (the "Bank Contribution Agreement"), (2) the
capital stock of U.S. Bank National Association ND, a nationally chartered
banking association and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, to USB Holdings,
pursuant to the Bank Contribution Agreement and (3) the other assets provided
for in the Bank Contribution Agreement, in each case in exchange for shares of
common stock of USB Holdings.
"Holdco Note" means the subordinated note to be issued at
Parent's election by USB Holdings to Parent in exchange for a loan by Parent to
USB Holdings on such terms and in such principal amount as determined by Parent.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.4(a).
"Indemnitee" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.4(a).
"Indemnity Payment" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.4(a).
"Information" means all information, whether or not patentable
or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible
forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books,
contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how,
techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models,
prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes,
computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names,
communications by or to attorneys, memos and other materials prepared by
attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other
technical, financial, legal, employee or business information or data.
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"Information Statement" means the information statement and
any related documentation to be distributed to holders of Parent Common Stock in
connection with the Distribution, including any amendments or supplements
thereto.
"Insurance Matters Agreement" means the Insurance Matters
Agreement to be entered into by and between Parent and Piper Jaffray,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, with such changes as may be
agreed by the Parties.
"Insurance Proceeds" means amounts:
(a) received by an insured from an insurance carrier;
(b) paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the
insured; or
(c) received (including by way of set-off) from any third
party in the nature of insurance, contribution or indemnification in
respect of any Liability;
in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves
and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses
incurred in the collection thereof.
"Intellectual Property Rights" means any domestic and foreign
patents and applications therefor, statutory, common law and registered
copyrights and registrations therefor, trademarks and registrations and
applications therefor, service marks and registrations and applications
therefor, trade names and registrations and applications therefor, service names
and registrations and applications therefor, trade styles and registrations and
applications therefor, product registrations and licenses and applications
therefor, and translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations of the
foregoing; any mask works, inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, confidential
information, know-how, data, proprietary processes and formulae (including any
registrations, licenses and similar agreements and research, analysis and
supporting documentation in respect of the foregoing); any unregistered
trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names and trade styles; any
income, royalties and payments that accrue as of the Distribution or thereafter
with respect to any of the items listed in this paragraph, including payments
for past, present or future infringements or misappropriation thereof, and the
right to sue and recover for past infringements or misappropriation thereof; any
goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; and any rights to use the
foregoing and other rights in, to and under the foregoing.
"Internal Distribution" has the meaning assigned to such term
in the Recitals hereto.
"Liabilities" means any and all losses, liabilities, claims,
charges, debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, damages, obligations,
payments, costs and expenses, sums of money, bonds, indemnities and similar
obligations, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
omissions, guarantees, make whole agreements and similar obligations, and other
liabilities, including all contractual obligations, whether absolute or
contingent, inchoate or otherwise, matured or unmatured, liquidated or
unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, and
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including those arising under any law, rule, regulation, Action, threatened or
contemplated Action (including the costs and expenses of demands, assessments,
judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and attorneys' fees and
any and all costs and expenses (including allocated costs of in-house counsel
and other personnel) reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any such Actions or threatened or contemplated Actions),
order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or any award of any
arbitrator or mediator of any kind, and those arising under any contract,
commitment or undertaking, including those arising under this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, in each case, whether or not recorded or reflected or
required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial
statements of any Person.
"Merger" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals
hereto.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
"Parent" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Preamble
hereto.
"Parent Assets" means all Assets of Parent and the Parent
Group other than the Piper Jaffray Assets.
"Parent Business" means all businesses and operations
(including related joint ventures and alliances) of Parent and the Parent Group,
other than the Piper Jaffray Business.
"Parent Common Stock" has the meaning assigned to such term in
the Recitals hereto.
"Parent Group" means Parent and its Subsidiaries other than
Persons in the Piper Jaffray Group.
"Parent Indemnitees" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.2.
"Parent Liabilities" means all of the Liabilities of the
Parent Group (including any Excluded Liabilities), other than (1) the Piper
Jaffray Liabilities and (2) all Liabilities for which a Parent Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement.
"Parent Subsidiaries" means all direct and indirect
Subsidiaries of Parent other than Piper Jaffray and the Piper Jaffray
Subsidiaries.
"Party" means Parent or Piper Jaffray and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership or other legal
entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
"Piper Jaffray" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Preamble hereto.
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"Piper Jaffray Assets" means (1) the Assets of the Surviving
Corporation set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto, (2) the Piper Jaffray
Intellectual Property Assets, (3) the Contributed Shares, and (4) the Capital
Contribution.
"Piper Jaffray Balance Sheet" means the audited combined
statement of financial position of Piper Jaffray, including the notes thereto,
as of December 31, 2002.
"Piper Jaffray Business" means (1) all businesses and
operations (including related joint ventures and alliances), whether historical
or current, of the capital markets businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries
currently operated by USBPJC or its Subsidiaries, (2) all business and
operations (including related joint ventures and alliances) of any member of the
Piper Jaffray Group at any time on or after the Contribution Effective Time or
the Distribution Date, and (3) all businesses and operations (including related
joint venture and alliances) of USBI and its Subsidiaries that were managed by
USBPJC or its Subsidiaries and that will not be contributed to Piper Jaffray in
the Contribution, but only for any and all periods such businesses and
operations were managed or operated by USBPJC or its Subsidiaries (for the
avoidance of doubt, this clause (3) shall (a) include the entire fixed income
capital markets business of USBI and its Subsidiaries that was managed by USBPJC
or its Subsidiaries prior to the transfer of a portion of that business to Piper
Jaffray Inc. that occurred on March 21, 2003 and (b) exclude all activities
related to the Libra Division of USBI, and all of the USBI businesses and
operations that were not managed or operated by USBPJC or its Subsidiaries at
any time prior to the Distribution); provided, however, Piper Jaffray Business
shall not include the asset management businesses and operations, whether
historical or current, managed by U.S. Bancorp Asset Management or its
predecessors.
"Piper Jaffray Capital Markets Ltd." means U.S. Bancorp Piper
Jaffray Capital Markets Ltd., a company incorporated in England and Wales
(registered number 191657) whose registered office is at 18 King William Street,
1st Floor, Phoenix House, London, England EC4 N7 US and that is a wholly owned
subsidiary of USBPJC.
"Piper Jaffray Common Stock" has the meaning assigned to such
term in the Recitals hereto.
"Piper Jaffray Entities" means Piper Jaffray Capital Markets
Ltd., Piper Jaffray Financial Products, Piper Jaffray Financial Products II,
Piper Jaffray Inc., and Piper Jaffray Ventures.
"Piper Jaffray Financial Products" means U.S. Bancorp Piper
Jaffray Financial Products Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of USBPJC.
"Piper Jaffray Financial Products II" means U.S. Bancorp Piper
Jaffray Financial Products II Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of USBPJC.
"Piper Jaffray Group" means Piper Jaffray and the Piper
Jaffray Subsidiaries.
"Piper Jaffray Inc." means U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc., a
Delaware corporation and subsidiary owned by USBI and USBPJC.
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"Piper Jaffray Indemnitees" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 4.3.
"Piper Jaffray Intellectual Property Assets" means
Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Parent Group that are specifically set
forth on Schedule 1.1(c) hereto.
"Piper Jaffray Liabilities" means (1) all Liabilities that are
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules
hereto or thereto) as Liabilities of, or to be assumed by, Piper Jaffray or any
other member of the Piper Jaffray Group, and all agreements, obligations and
Liabilities of any member of the Piper Jaffray Group under this Agreement or any
of the Ancillary Agreements; (2) all Liabilities to the extent relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any Piper Jaffray Asset; (3) all Liabilities to
the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the operation of the
Piper Jaffray Business or the operation of any business conducted by any member
of the Piper Jaffray Group, in either case as conducted at any time prior to, on
or after the Distribution Date, including any Liabilities relating to, arising
out of or resulting from the offering or provision of any services or products
of the Piper Jaffray Business; (4) all Liabilities to the extent relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any of the terminated, divested or discontinued
businesses and operations that were part of the Piper Jaffray Business prior to
such termination, divestiture or discontinuation, or otherwise; (5) all
Liabilities reflected as liabilities or obligations of the Piper Jaffray Group
in the Piper Jaffray Balance Sheet but that are not currently direct or indirect
Liabilities of any of the members of the Piper Jaffray Group, subject to any
discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the Piper Jaffray
Balance Sheet; and (6) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting
from the Actions or any Actions involving similar allegations described on
Schedule 1.1(d) (the "Specified Liabilities"), whether arising before, on or
after the Distribution Date; provided that the Piper Jaffray Liabilities shall
not include any Excluded Liability.
"Piper Jaffray Rights" means the preferred share purchase
rights of Piper Jaffray to be issued pursuant to the Piper Jaffray Rights Plan.
"Piper Jaffray Rights Plan" means the Preferred Share Purchase
Rights Agreement of Piper Jaffray, substantially in the form of Exhibit F
hereto, with such changes as may be agreed by the Parties.
"Piper Jaffray Shares" has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 2.2(a)(ii) hereto.
"Piper Jaffray Subsidiaries" means all direct and indirect
Subsidiaries of Piper Jaffray, including the Piper Jaffray Entities and other
Subsidiaries to be transferred to or formed by Piper Jaffray in connection with
the Separation.
"Piper Jaffray Ventures" means U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray
Ventures Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of USBPJC.
"Plan of Merger" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger to be
entered by and between USBI and USBPJC to effect the Merger.
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"Record Date" means the close of business on the date to be
determined by the Board of Directors of Parent as the record date for
determining shareholders of Parent entitled to receive shares of Piper Jaffray
Common Stock in the Distribution.
"Registration Statement" means the Registration Statement on
Form 10 of Piper Jaffray relating to registration under the Exchange Act of
Piper Jaffray Common Stock and Piper Jaffray Rights, including any amendments or
supplements thereto.
"Representative" means, with respect to any Person, any of
such Person's directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors,
accountants, attorneys and representatives.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Separation" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals to this Agreement.
"Specified Claim" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.5(e).
"Specified Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to such term
in the definition of "Piper Jaffray Liability" above.
"Sublease Agreement" means the Sublease Agreement, dated as of
September 18, 2003, by and between Parent, as lessee, and Piper Jaffray, as
sublessee, attached as Exhibit G hereto.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person, any
corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association,
company, partnership or other legal entity of which a Person (either alone or
through or together with any other Subsidiary of such Person) owns, directly or
indirectly, a majority of the stock or other equity interests the holders of
which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors
or other governing body of such corporation or other legal entity.
"Surviving Corporation" has the meaning assigned to such term
in the Recitals hereto.
"Tax Sharing Agreement" means the Tax Sharing Agreement to be
entered into by and between Parent and Piper Jaffray, substantially in the form
of Exhibit H hereto, with such changes as may be determined by the Parties.
"Third-Party Claim" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 4.5(a).
"Transaction Agreements" has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 9.1(b)(i).
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"USB Holdings" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
definition of "Holdco Formation" above.
"USBI" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals
hereto.
"USBPJC" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals
hereto.
SECTION 1.2 General. References to:
(a) "dollars" or "$" means United States dollars;
(b) the words "include" and "including" (and words of
similar import) shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without
limitation";
(c) the terms "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and
other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular article, section, paragraph, clause or
subdivision;
(d) articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses and
subdivisions not attributed to a particular document shall be
references to such parts of this Agreement; and
(e) exhibits and schedules not attributed to a particular
document shall be references to such exhibits and schedules to this
Agreement.
SECTION 1.3 References to Time. All references in this
Agreement to times of day shall be to New York City time.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER AND THE CONTRIBUTION
SECTION 2.1 Merger. On or prior to the Distribution Date and
prior to the Contribution, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions
set forth in Section 2.3, Parent shall effect the Merger by causing USBI to
merge within and into USBPJC in accordance with the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware and the Plan of Merger.
SECTION 2.2 Contribution. (a) On or prior to the Distribution
Date (but in any event prior to the Distribution) and subject to the provisions
of this Section 2.2 and Section 2.5 and the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Section 2.3, Parent shall effect the Contribution by
causing the Surviving Corporation to contribute, assign, transfer, convey and
deliver to Piper Jaffray all of the Surviving Corporation's rights, title and
interests in and to the Piper Jaffray Assets; provided, that the effective time
of the Contribution (the "Contribution Effective Time") shall occur after the
effective time of the Merger. In consideration therefor, Piper Jaffray shall
simultaneously therewith (i) assume and agree faithfully to perform and
discharge in due course in full all of the Piper Jaffray Liabilities in
accordance with their respective terms and (ii) issue and deliver to the
Surviving Corporation 19,333,029 duly and validly issued shares of Piper Jaffray
Common Stock (the "Piper Jaffray Shares"), free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances and other restrictions on transfer or title, which Piper Jaffray
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Shares, together with the 100 duly and validly issued shares of Piper Jaffray
Common Stock beneficially owned by USBPJC as of the date hereof, will
constitute all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Piper Jaffray.
From and after the Contribution Effective Time, Piper Jaffray shall be
responsible for all Piper Jaffray Liabilities, regardless of when or where such
Piper Jaffray Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they
are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the date hereof, regardless of
where or against whom such Piper Jaffray Liabilities are asserted or determined
(including any Piper Jaffray Liabilities arising out of claims made by Parent's
or Piper Jaffray's respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Parent Group or the Piper
Jaffray Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and
regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence,
recklessness, violation of law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the
Parent Group or the Piper Jaffray Group or any of their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
(b) Intellectual Property. Except as provided in any
Ancillary Agreement, any Intellectual Property Rights of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries that are Piper Jaffray Intellectual Property Assets shall be
assigned, transferred and conveyed to the Piper Jaffray Group pursuant to the
Contribution and in accordance with the procedures set forth on Schedule 2.2(b).
As soon as practicable following the Distribution, the Parent Group shall
expressly abandon any and all trademark or service mark registrations and/or
applications that combine any Parent Group mark with any Piper Jaffray Group
mark. Following the Distribution, Parent and the Parent Group, and Piper Jaffray
and the Piper Jaffray Group, respectively, shall discontinue any and all use or
exercise of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by any member of the other
Group, unless, with respect to a particular Intellectual Property Right or group
thereof, otherwise agreed in writing by the owner of such Intellectual Property
Right.
SECTION 2.3 Conditions Precedent to Consummation of the Merger
and the Contribution. The obligations of the Parties to consummate the Merger
and the Contribution shall be conditioned on the satisfaction, or waiver by
Parent in its sole discretion, of the following conditions:
(a) Final approval of the Merger and the Contribution
shall have been given by the Board of Directors of Parent in its sole
discretion.
(b) Each of the conditions precedent to the consummation
of the Distributions set forth in Section 3.3 hereof (other than
Section 3.3(h) thereof) shall have been satisfied.
The obligation of the Parties to consummate the Contribution shall be
conditioned upon the satisfaction, or waiver by Parent in its sole discretion,
of the condition that the Merger shall have been consummated in accordance with
Section 2.1. Any determination made by Parent (including the Board of Directors
of Parent) prior to the Merger or the Contribution concerning the satisfaction
or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in this Section 2.3 shall be
conclusive and binding on the Parties for the purposes of this Section 2.3 only.
SECTION 2.4 Ancillary Agreements. On or prior to the
Contribution Effective Time, each of Parent and Piper Jaffray shall enter into,
or cause the appropriate members of the
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Group of which it is a member to enter into, (i) such bills of sale, stock
powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of
transfer, conveyance and assignment requested by Parent that are necessary to
evidence the contribution, transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of the
Surviving Corporation's right, title and interest in and to the Piper Jaffray
Assets to Piper Jaffray pursuant to Section 2.2; (ii) such bills of sale, stock
powers, certificates of title, assumptions of contracts and other instruments of
transfer, conveyance, assignment and assumption requested by Parent that are
necessary to evidence the valid and effective issuance and delivery of the Piper
Jaffray Shares to the Surviving Corporation, and the assumption of the Piper
Jaffray Liabilities, by Piper Jaffray pursuant to Section 2.2; and (iii) such
other agreements, certificates and other documents as may be deemed to be
advisable by Parent in connection with the Separation.
SECTION 2.5 Non-Transferability. (a) Nothing herein shall be
deemed to require the contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery
of any Piper Jaffray Assets or the assumption of any Piper Jaffray Liabilities
that by their terms or operation of law cannot be contributed, assigned,
transferred, conveyed, delivered or assumed; provided, however, that Parent and
Piper Jaffray shall, and shall cause the respective members of their Groups to,
use their commercially reasonable efforts and cooperate to obtain any necessary
consents, approvals or waivers for, and to resolve any impediments to, the
contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery of such Piper Jaffray
Assets or assumption of such Piper Jaffray Liabilities contemplated to be
contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed, delivered or assumed pursuant to
this Article II.
(b) To the extent that any contribution, assignment,
transfer, conveyance, delivery or assumption referred to in Section 2.5(a) shall
not have been consummated as of the Contribution Effective Time, (i) Parent and
Piper Jaffray shall, and shall cause the respective members of their Groups to,
use reasonable best efforts and cooperate to effect such contribution,
assignment, transfer, conveyance, delivery or assumption as promptly following
the Contribution Effective Time as shall be practicable; and (ii) Parent shall
thereafter, with respect to any such Piper Jaffray Asset, use reasonable best
efforts, with the costs of Parent related thereto to be promptly reimbursed by
Piper Jaffray, to hold such Asset in trust for the use and benefit of Piper
Jaffray and, with respect to any such Piper Jaffray Liability, retain such Piper
Jaffray Liability for the account of Piper Jaffray, and to take such other
action, including as may be reasonably requested by Piper Jaffray, in order to
place each Party, insofar as reasonably possible, in the same position as would
have existed had such Piper Jaffray Asset or Piper Jaffray Liability been
contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed, delivered or assumed as
contemplated hereby (it being understood that Parent shall not be required to
take any action pursuant to this sentence that would, or could reasonably be
expected to, result in a material financial obligation, or restriction on the
business or operations, of Parent). To the extent that Piper Jaffray is provided
the use or benefits of any Piper Jaffray Asset or has any Piper Jaffray
Liability held for its account pursuant to this Section 2.5(b), Piper Jaffray
shall perform at the direction of Parent and for the benefit of any third Person
the obligations of Parent thereunder or in connection therewith; provided, that
if Piper Jaffray shall fail to perform to the extent required herein, Piper
Jaffray shall hold Parent harmless and indemnify Parent therefor. As and when
any such Piper Jaffray Asset or Piper Jaffray Liability becomes contributable,
assignable, transferable, conveyable, deliverable or assumable, such
contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance, delivery or assumption, as
applicable, shall be effected as promptly as practicable thereafter.
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(c) The Parties agree that, notwithstanding anything in
this Section 2.5 to the contrary, Piper Jaffray shall be deemed to have acquired
all of the Surviving Corporation's right, title and interest in and to the Piper
Jaffray Assets, and shall be deemed to have assumed in full in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement all of the Piper Jaffray Liabilities, in each case
effective as of the Contribution Effective Time.
SECTION 2.6 Capital Contribution. Prior to the Contribution
Effective Time, Parent shall determine the amount of the Capital Contribution to
be made in connection with the Contribution. For the purposes of this Section
2.6, "Capital Contribution" means an amount of cash equal to the sum of (1)
$23,500,000, and (2) any other amounts that the Parent and Piper Jaffray
mutually agree to in writing prior to the Contribution. Piper Jaffray shall,
with respect to the amount, if any, of the Capital Contribution contributed
pursuant to clause (2) of the immediately preceding sentence, use such amount
(or such lesser amount as the Parties may agree) to pay immediately upon receipt
of the Capital Contribution the accounts payable, borrowings, notes and other
indebtedness of members of the Piper Jaffray Group specified by Parent.
ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 3.1 The Distributions. (a) Subject to the satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 3.3, Parent shall effect the
Distributions as follows:
(i) Parent shall effect the Internal Distribution by
causing the Surviving Corporation to distribute all of the issued and
outstanding shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock beneficially owned by
the Surviving Corporation to Parent by means of a dividend of such
Piper Jaffray Common Stock to its sole stockholder, and
(ii) Upon consummation of the Internal Distribution,
Parent shall effect the Distribution by distributing all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock beneficially owned
by Parent to holders of shares of Parent Common Stock, other than with
respect to shares of Parent Common Stock held in the treasury of
Parent, by means of a pro rata dividend of such Piper Jaffray Common
Stock to such stockholders;
each on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section
3.3, the Board of Directors of Parent shall establish the Record Date and the
Distribution Date and any appropriate procedures in connection with the
Distribution.
(b) Subject to Section 3.1(e) and to the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 3.3, each holder of Parent Common
Stock on the Record Date (or such holder's designated transferee or
transferees), other than in respect of shares of Parent Common Stock held in the
treasury of Parent, will be entitled to receive in the Distribution a number of
shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock held by such holder on the Record Date multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the
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number of shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock beneficially owned by Parent or
any other member of the Parent Group on the Record Date and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Parent Common Stock outstanding on the Record
Date (other than shares of Parent Common Stock held in the treasury of Parent).
(c) Prior to the Distribution, Parent shall enter into an
agreement with the Agent providing for, among other things, the payment of the
Distribution to the holders of Parent Common Stock in accordance with this
Article III.
(d) Prior to the Distribution, Parent and Piper Jaffray
shall deliver to the Agent a share certificate representing (or authorize the
related book-entry transfer of) all of the outstanding shares of Piper Jaffray
Common Stock to be distributed in connection with the payment of the
Distribution. After the Distribution, upon the request of the Agent, Piper
Jaffray shall provide all certificates for shares (or book-entry transfer
authorizations) of Piper Jaffray Common Stock that the Agent shall require in
order to effect the Distribution.
(e) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
Parent shall direct the Agent to determine the number of whole shares and
fractional shares of Piper Jaffray Common Stock allocable to each holder of
record or beneficial owner of Piper Jaffray Common Stock as of the Record Date
entitled to receive Piper Jaffray Common Stock in the Distribution, to aggregate
all such fractional shares and sell the whole shares obtained thereby, at the
direction of Parent, either to Parent, in open market transactions or otherwise,
in each case at then prevailing trading prices, and to cause to be distributed
to each such holder or for the benefit of each such beneficial owner, in lieu of
any fractional share, such holder's or owner's ratable share of the proceeds of
such sale, after making appropriate deductions of the amount required to be
withheld for federal income tax purposes and after deducting an amount equal to
all brokerage charges, commissions and transfer taxes attributed to such sale.
SECTION 3.2 Actions Prior to the Distribution. (a) Parent and
Piper Jaffray shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Registration
Statement to become effective under the Exchange Act and to keep the
Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the
Distribution, and (ii) mail, promptly after effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and the Record Date and in any event prior to the Distribution Date,
to the holders of Parent Common Stock as of the Record Date, the Information
Statement.
(b) Parent and Piper Jaffray shall take all such action
as Parent may determine necessary or appropriate under federal or state
securities or blue sky laws of the United States (and any comparable laws under
any foreign jurisdiction) in connection with the Distribution.
(c) Prior to the Distribution, each of Parent and Piper
Jaffray shall enter into, or cause the appropriate members of the Group of which
it is a member to enter into, each of the Benefits Agreement, the Business
Alliance Agreement, the Insurance Matters Agreement, the Sublease Agreement and
the Tax Sharing Agreement.
(d) Prior to the Distribution, Parent shall execute, or
cause the appropriate members of the Parent Group to execute, and Piper Jaffray
shall execute, or cause the appropriate members of the Piper Jaffray Group to
execute, assignment documents that Parent
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and Piper Jaffray agree to be necessary or appropriate to effect the transfer of
the Piper Jaffray Intellectual Property Assets to the Piper Jaffray Group
pursuant to the Contribution and in accordance with the procedures set forth on
Schedule 2.2(b).
(e) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the Holdco Formation to be effected prior to the effective time of the
Distribution.
(f) Prior to the Distribution, each of Parent and Piper
Jaffray shall cause the appropriate members of the Group of which it is a member
to enter into the $180,000,000 Subordinated Loan Agreement by and between USB
Holdings, Inc. and Piper Jaffray Inc., (the "$180,000,000 Subordinated Loan
Agreement"), subject to approval by the NYSE of inclusion of amounts outstanding
under the $180,000,000 Subordinated Loan Agreement as net capital of Piper
Jaffray & Co. for the purposes of Rule 15c3-1 of the Exchange Act, which
$180,000,000 Subordinated Loan Agreement will replace the $215,000,000
subordinated debt facility currently in place between Parent and Piper Jaffray
Inc. and (2) such other financial arrangements, if any, that Parent and Piper
Jaffray agree to enter into prior to the Distribution. The $180,000,000
Subordinated Loan Agreement will be substantially in the form of Exhibit I
hereto, with such changes as may be agreed to by the parties thereto.
(g) In the event that Parent determines to cause USB
Holdings to issue the Holdco Note, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause USB Holdings to issue the Holdco Note prior to the effective time of
the Distribution.
SECTION 3.3 Conditions to Obligations. The obligations of the
Parties to consummate the Distributions are subject to the satisfaction, or
waiver by Parent in its sole discretion, of each of the following conditions:
(a) Final approval of the Distributions shall have been
given by the Board of Directors of Parent in its sole discretion.
(b) The Registration Statement shall have been filed and
declared effective by the SEC, and there shall be no stop-order in
effect with respect thereto.
(c) The actions and filings necessary or appropriate
under federal and state securities laws and state blue sky laws of the
United States (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions)
in connection with the Distributions (including, if applicable, any
actions and filings relating to the Registration Statement) shall have
been taken and, where applicable, have become effective or been
accepted.
(d) The Piper Jaffray Common Stock to be issued in the
Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject
to official notice of issuance.
(e) No order, injunction or decree issued by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the Separation, the Merger,
the Contribution or the Distributions or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be in
effect.
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(f) Parent shall have received an opinion of Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent, to
the effect that the Contribution and the Internal Distribution and the
Distribution will qualify as transactions that are generally tax-free
under Section 355 and/or Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code.
(g) All Consents and Governmental Approvals required in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been
received.
(h) Each of the Merger, the Contribution and the Holdco
Formation shall have been consummated in accordance with this
Agreement.
(i) In the event that Parent determines to cause USB
Holdings to issue the Holdco Note, USB Holdings shall have issued the
Holdco Note in accordance with this Agreement.
(j) This Agreement shall not have been terminated.
Any determination made by Parent (including the Board of Directors of Parent)
prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of
the conditions set forth in this Section 3.3 shall be conclusive and binding on
the Parties.
SECTION 3.4 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Rights Plan.
Parent and Piper Jaffray shall take all action necessary so that the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws and the
Piper Jaffray Rights Plan shall be in effect prior to the closing of the
Distributions.
ARTICLE IV
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 4.1 Survival of Agreements. All covenants and
agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive each of the
Separation, the Merger, the Contribution and the Distributions.
SECTION 4.2 Indemnification by Piper Jaffray. Piper Jaffray
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent, each member of the Parent
Group and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, and each
of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Parent Indemnitees"), from and against any and all
Liabilities of the Parent Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting
from any of the following items regardless of whether arising from or alleged to
arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of law, fraud or
misrepresentation (without duplication):
(a) the failure of Piper Jaffray or any other member of
the Piper Jaffray Group or any other Person to pay, perform or
otherwise promptly discharge any Piper Jaffray Liabilities or any
contract, agreement or arrangement included in the Piper Jaffray Assets
in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to or after
the Distribution Date or the date hereof;
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(b) the Piper Jaffray Group, any Piper Jaffray Liability
(except to the extent expressly provided in Section 4.3(d) below with
respect to Covered Specified Liabilities) or any Piper Jaffray Asset;
(c) any breach by Piper Jaffray or any member of the
Piper Jaffray Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary
Agreements; and
(d) except to the extent set forth in Section 4.3(e), any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, contained in the Registration Statement or the Information
Statement or in any registration statement on Form S-8 filed by Piper
Jaffray in connection with the Separation (or related prospectus).
SECTION 4.3 Indemnification by Parent. Parent shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless Piper Jaffray, each member of the Piper Jaffray Group
and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, and each of the
heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively,
the "Piper Jaffray Indemnitees"), from and against any and all Liabilities of
the Piper Jaffray Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from any
of the following items regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise
from negligence, recklessness, violation of law, fraud or misrepresentation
(without duplication):
(a) the failure of Parent or any other member of the
Parent Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly
discharge any Parent Liabilities other than the Piper Jaffray
Liabilities, whether prior to or after the Distribution Date or the
date hereof;
(b) any Parent Liability other than the Piper Jaffray
Liabilities;
(c) any breach by Parent or any member of the Parent
Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(d) any Specified Liability up to, but not exceeding, an
aggregate amount (when aggregated with all other such Specified
Liabilities, including those previously paid pursuant to this Section
4.3(d)) equal to $17,500,000 (the "Covered Specified Liabilities"); and
(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent relating to the
Parent Group (excluding for this purpose the Piper Jaffray Business and
USBPJC and USBI to the extent related to the Piper Jaffray Business),
contained in the Registration Statement or the Information Statement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Parent may, in its
sole discretion, elect to terminate the indemnity obligation of Parent under
clause (d) above in full in the event of a Change in Control. Any election by
Parent to terminate such indemnity obligation shall be deemed to be effective
immediately upon the occurrence of the applicable Change in Control,
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regardless of whether such notice is given on, prior to or after such Change in
Control, and all pending claims for indemnification under clause (d) above shall
terminate in full as of the occurrence of such Change in Control; provided,
however, that any pending obligation of Parent to indemnify Piper Jaffray in
accordance with such clause (d) for a Covered Specified Liability that has been
finally determined prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control, including
(without limitation) by settlement, compromise or entry of a judgment or order
and including related legal fees incurred through the date of such occurrence,
shall not be terminated pursuant to this paragraph. In the event that a Change
of Control is reasonably likely to occur or has occurred, Piper Jaffray shall
promptly give Parent written notice of such Change in Control, specifying in
reasonable detail the nature, parties and material terms of such Change in
Control.
SECTION 4.4 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance
Proceeds and Other Amounts. (a) The Parties intend that any Liability subject to
indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IV will be net of
Insurance Proceeds actually recovered by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in
reduction of the related Liability, except as otherwise expressly provided in
Article VI of the Insurance Matters Agreement. Accordingly, except as otherwise
expressly provided in Article VI of the Insurance Matters Agreement, (i) the
amount that any Party (an "Indemnifying Party") is required to pay to any Person
entitled to indemnification hereunder (an "Indemnitee") will be reduced by any
Insurance Proceeds theretofore actually recovered by or on behalf of the
Indemnitee in reduction of the related Liability; and (ii) if an Indemnitee
receives a payment (an "Indemnity Payment") required by this Agreement from an
Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives
Insurance Proceeds, then the Indemnitee will promptly pay to the Indemnifying
Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the
amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance
Proceeds had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment
was made.
(b) An insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay
any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or,
solely by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof, have any subrogation
rights with respect thereto, it being expressly understood and agreed that no
insurer or any other third party shall be entitled to a "windfall" (i.e., a
benefit it would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the
indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof.
(c) The existence of a claim by an Indemnitee for monies
from an insurer or against a third party in respect of an indemnifiable loss
shall not, however, delay any Indemnity Payment pursuant to the indemnification
provisions contained herein and otherwise determined to be due and owning by an
Indemnifying Party.
SECTION 4.5 Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party
Claims. (a) If an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn of the
assertion by a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a member
of the Parent Group or the Piper Jaffray Group of any claim, or of the
commencement by any such Person of any Action, with respect to which an
Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.3, or any other Section of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (collectively, a "Third-Party Claim"), such
Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party and, if Parent is not the
Indemnifying Party, Parent written notice thereof within 30 days after receiving
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notice of such Third-Party Claim. If any Indemnitee shall receive notice of or
otherwise learn of the assertion of a Third-Party Claim which may reasonably be
determined to be in whole or in part a Covered Specified Liability, Parent or
Piper Jaffray, as appropriate depending on which Group such Indemnitee is a
member of or otherwise affiliated with, shall give the other Party written
notice thereof within 30 days after such Indemnitee receives notice or otherwise
learns of the assertion of such Third-Party Claim. Any such notice shall
describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail, including, if known, the
amount of the Liability for which indemnification may be available.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnitee or other Person to
give notice as provided in this Section 4.5(a) shall not relieve the related
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article IV, except to the
extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice.
(b) An Indemnifying Party may elect (but is not required)
to assume the defense of and defend, at such Indemnifying Party's own expense
and by such Indemnifying Party's own counsel, any Third-Party Claim. Within 30
days after the receipt of notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section
4.5(a) (or sooner, if the nature of such Third-Party Claim so requires), the
Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnitee of its election whether the
Indemnifying Party will assume responsibility for defending such Third-Party
Claim, which election shall specify any reservations or exceptions. After notice
from an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnitee of its election to assume the
defense of a Third-Party Claim, such Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense,
compromise, or settlement thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be the expense of such Indemnitee.
(c) If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume
responsibility for defending a Third-Party Claim, or fails to notify an
Indemnitee of its election as provided in Section 4.5(b), such Indemnitee may
defend such Third-Party Claim at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party;
provided, that in the event of any such failure to notify, the Indemnifying
Party may thereafter assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim upon notice to
the Indemnitee (but the cost and expense of such Indemnitee in defending such
Third-Party Claim incurred from the last day of the notice period under Section
4.5(c) until such date as the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense of
such Third-Party Claim shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party).
(d) Unless the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume
the defense of the Third-Party Claim in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, no Indemnitee may settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim without
the consent of the Indemnifying Party.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 4.5, Sections 4.5(b) - 4.5(d) shall not apply to any Third-Party Claim
that is or may be a Covered Specified Liability (a "Specified Claim"), which
Specified Claim shall be governed by this Section 4.5(e).
(i) Parent shall be entitled to participate in the
defense, compromise and settlement, at Parent's own expense and with
Parent's own counsel, of any Specified Claim; provided that in the
event that each of the Indemnitees who may be entitled to seek any
indemnity from Parent under Section 4.3 in respect of such Specified
Claim shall elect not to seek any such indemnity from Parent, each such
Indemnitee shall provide an executed written notice to Parent to such
effect together with the written
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notice required under Section 4.5(a) above, and upon receipt of all
such notices Parent's rights under this Section 4.5(e), and obligation
to indemnify such Indemnitees in respect of such Specified Claim under
Section 4.3, shall terminate in full. Within 30 days after the receipt
of notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.5(a), Parent
shall notify the Indemnitee of its election to participate in the
defense, compromise and settlement of such Specified Claim. If Parent
elects not to participate in the defense, compromise and settlement of
such Specified Claim, or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election
as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, such Indemnitee may
proceed with the defense, compromise and settlement of such Specified
Claim otherwise in accordance with this Section 4.5(e); provided,
however, Parent shall have the right at any time to elect to
participate in the defense, compromise and settlement, at Parent's own
expense and with Parent's own counsel, of such Specified Claim upon
notice to Indemnitee. Except as otherwise provided in the Insurance
Matters Agreement, all fees and expenses related to Parent's
participation in the defense, settlement and compromise of any
Specified Claim in accordance with this Section 4.5(e) shall be borne
by Parent.
(ii) In addition to, and not in limitation of, Parent's
right to participate in the defense, compromise or settlement of any
Specified Claim pursuant to Section 4.5(e)(i), Piper Jaffray and such
Indemnitee shall, and shall cause their respective affiliates to, (1)
cooperate with Parent, including in connection with any investigation
or other inquiry, in respect of any Specified Claim, and (2) if
requested by Parent, promptly notify Parent of any material
developments regarding, or material communications to Piper Jaffray or
such Indemnitee from any Governmental Authority or third party with
respect to, any Specified Claim.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
neither Piper Jaffray nor any Indemnitee may settle or compromise any
Specified Claim in any respect without the express prior written
consent of Parent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld. For
purposes of this Section 4.5(e)(iii), the parties recognize that
Parent's liability with respect to Specified Claims is limited to $17.5
million whereas Piper Jaffray's liability with respect to Specified
Claims is potentially unlimited beyond $17.5 million. Accordingly, the
withholding of Parent's consent as to any particular Specified Claim
shall not be deemed reasonable if Parent does not give due
consideration to the total possible financial exposure arising out of
such Specified Claim, regardless of whether such exposure would be
borne by Parent on the one hand, or Piper Jaffray or any Indemnitee on
the other hand. For example, Parent must give due consideration to the
total possible financial exposure arising out of a Specified Claim even
though in the event of an adverse outcome substantially all of the
liability would be borne by Piper Jaffray as opposed to Parent as a
result of Parent's liability for Specified Claims being limited to
$17.5 million.
(f) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to
compromise or settle a Third-Party Claim the defense of which it shall have
assumed pursuant to Section 4.5(b) or Section 4.5(c) and any such settlement or
compromise made or caused to be made of a Third-Party Claim in accordance with
this Article IV shall be binding on the Indemnitee, in the same manner as if a
final judgment or decree had been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction
in the amount of such settlement or compromise. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, the
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Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to admit Liability on behalf of the
Indemnitee and shall not compromise or settle a Third-Party Claim unless the
compromise or settlement includes, as a part thereof, an unconditional release
of the Indemnitee from liability with respect to such Third-Party Claim and does
not require the Indemnitee to make any payment that is not fully indemnified
under this Agreement or to be subject to any non-monetary remedy, in each case
without the express prior consent of the Indemnitee (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed).
(g) The provisions of Sections 4.2 through 4.6 shall not
apply to Spin-Off Tax Liabilities, Income Tax Liabilities, Other Tax Liabilities
and Tax-Related Losses (as such terms are defined in the Tax Sharing Agreement),
which are governed exclusively by the Tax Sharing Agreement.
SECTION 4.6 Additional Matters. (a) Any claim on account of a
Liability that does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by
written notice given by the Indemnitee to the related Indemnifying Party. Such
Indemnifying Party shall have a period of 30 days after the receipt of such
notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not
respond within such 30-day period, such Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to
have agreed to accept responsibility to make payment. If such Indemnifying Party
does not respond within such 30-day period or rejects such claim in whole or in
part, such Indemnitee shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available
to such Party as contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) In the event of payment by or on behalf of any
Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim,
such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of
such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such
Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party
Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or
against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying
Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying
Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.
(c) In the event of an Action in which the Indemnifying
Party is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnified Party or Indemnifying
Party shall so request, the Parties shall endeavor to substitute the
Indemnifying Party for the named defendant, if at all practicable. If such
substitution or addition cannot be achieved for any reason or is not requested,
the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying Party to manage the Action as
set forth in this Section.
(d) Piper Jaffray shall, and shall cause its other
Indemnitees to, and Parent shall, and shall cause its other Indemnitees to, make
available to each other, their counsel and other representatives, all
information and documents reasonably available to them that relate to any
Third-Party Claim, and otherwise cooperate as may reasonably be required in
connection with the investigation, defense and settlement thereof, subject to
the terms and conditions of a mutually acceptable joint defense agreement.
SECTION 4.7 Remedies Cumulative. The remedies provided in this
Article IV shall be cumulative and shall not preclude assertion by any
Indemnitee of any other rights or the
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seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party; provided,
that the procedures set forth in Section 4.5 shall be the exclusive procedures
governing any indemnity action brought under this Agreement, except as otherwise
specifically provided in any of the Ancillary Agreements.
SECTION 4.8 Survival of Indemnities. The rights and
obligations of each of Parent and Piper Jaffray and their respective Indemnitees
under this Article IV shall survive the sale or other transfer by any Party of
any Assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities.
ARTICLE V
CERTAIN ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
SECTION 5.1 Notices to Third Parties. In addition to the
actions described in Section 5.2, the members of the Parent Group and the
members of the Piper Jaffray Group shall cooperate to make all other filings and
to give notice to and obtain any Consent or Governmental Approval that is
required or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
SECTION 5.2 Licenses and Permits. Each Party shall cause the
appropriate members of its Group to prepare and file with the appropriate
Governmental Authorities applications for the transfer or issuance, as may be
necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, to its Group of all material
Governmental Approvals required for the members of its Group to operate its
Business after the Distribution Date. The members of the Piper Jaffray Group and
the members of the Parent Group shall cooperate and use all reasonable efforts
to secure the transfer or issuance of the Governmental Approvals.
SECTION 5.3 Intercompany Agreements; Intercompany Accounts.
(a) All contracts, licenses, agreements, commitments or other arrangements,
formal or informal, between any member of the Parent Group, on the one hand, and
any member of the Piper Jaffray Group, on the other hand, in existence as of the
Distribution Date, shall terminate effective as of the Distribution Date, except
(i) as specifically provided herein, for this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement (including each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated
by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the
Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups), (ii) for any
contracts, licenses, agreements, commitments or other arrangements to which any
Person other than the Parties or their respective wholly owned Subsidiaries is a
party, or (iii) as otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing on or after the
date hereof and prior to the Distribution Date. From and after the Distribution
Date, no member of either Group shall have any rights under any such contract,
license, agreement, commitment or arrangement with any member of the other
Group, except as specifically provided herein or in the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
5.3(a), after the Distribution Date, the Parties shall be obligated to pay only
those intercompany accounts between members of the Piper Jaffray Group and
members of the Parent Group outstanding as of
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the Distribution Date that arose in connection with transfers of goods and
services in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices
(which the Parties shall use reasonable efforts to settle prior to the
Distribution Date) and any intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable
accrued as of the Distribution Date that are reflected in the books and records
of the Parties or otherwise documented in writing in accordance with past
practices, and all other intercompany accounts outstanding as of the
Distribution Date shall be deemed to be settled as of the Distribution Date,
except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.4 Guarantee Obligations. (a) Parent and Piper
Jaffray shall cooperate, and shall cause their respective Groups to cooperate,
to terminate, or to cause a member of the Parent Group to be substituted in all
respects for any member of the Piper Jaffray Group in respect of, all
obligations of any member of the Piper Jaffray Group under any Parent
Liabilities for which such member of the Piper Jaffray Group may be liable, as
guarantor, original tenant, primary obligor or otherwise. If such a termination
or substitution is not effected by the Distribution Date, (i) Parent shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Piper Jaffray Indemnitees for any Indemnifiable
Loss arising from or relating thereto, and (ii) without the prior written
consent of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of
Piper Jaffray, from and after the Distribution Date, Parent shall not, and shall
not permit any member of the Parent Group or any of its Affiliates to, renew or
extend the term of, increase its obligations under, or transfer to a third
party, any loan, lease, contract or other obligation for which any member of the
Piper Jaffray Group is or may be liable unless all obligations of the Piper
Jaffray Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of Piper Jaffray; provided, that the
limitations in clause (ii) shall not apply in the event that a member of the
Parent Group obtains a letter of credit from a financial institution reasonably
acceptable to Piper Jaffray and for the benefit of Piper Jaffray with respect to
such obligation of the Piper Jaffray Group.
(b) Parent and Piper Jaffray shall cooperate, and shall
cause their respective Groups to cooperate, to terminate, or to cause a member
of the Piper Jaffray Group to be substituted in all respects for any member of
the Parent Group in respect of, all obligations of any member of the Parent
Group under any Piper Jaffray Liabilities for which such member of the Parent
Group may be liable, as guarantor, original tenant, primary obligor or
otherwise. If such a termination or substitution is not effected by the
Distribution Date, (i) Piper Jaffray shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Parent Indemnitees for any Liabilities arising from or relating thereto, and
(ii) without the prior written consent of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
or any Assistant Treasurer of Parent, from and after the Distribution Date,
Piper Jaffray shall not, and shall not permit any member of the Piper Jaffray
Group to, renew or extend the term of, increase its obligations under, or
transfer to a third party, any loan, lease, contract or other obligation for
which any member of the Parent Group is or may be liable unless all obligations
of the Parent Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by
documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of Parent; provided,
that the limitations in clause (ii) shall not apply in the event that a member
of the Piper Jaffray Group obtains a letter of credit from a financial
institution reasonably acceptable to Piper Jaffray and for the benefit of Parent
with respect to such obligation of the Parent Group.
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SECTION 5.5 Further Assurances. (a) In addition to the actions
specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement and except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.5 with respect to commercially reasonable efforts, each of
the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts, prior to, on and after the
Distribution Date, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or
cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Each
Party has appointed the individual(s) identified on Schedule 5.5(a) opposite
such Party's name to act as its agent and attorney-in-fact with full right and
power to execute any instruments necessary to transfer any Asset and Liabilities
allocated to any other Person.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and
after the Distribution Date, each Party shall cooperate with the other Party,
and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting
Party, to cause to be executed and delivered all instruments, including
instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings
with, and to obtain all consents, approvals or authorizations of, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement,
indenture or other instrument (including any Consents or Governmental
Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be
requested to take by any other Party from time to time, consistent with the
terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the
transfers of the Piper Jaffray Assets and the assignment and assumption of the
Piper Jaffray Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.
(c) On or prior to the Distribution Date, Parent and
Piper Jaffray, in their respective capacities as direct and indirect
stockholders of their respective Subsidiaries, shall each properly ratify any
actions that are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by Parent and
Piper Jaffray, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to
effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. On or prior to the
Distribution Date, Parent and Piper Jaffray shall take all actions as may be
necessary to approve the stock-based employee benefit plans of Piper Jaffray in
order to satisfy any applicable requirement, including Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations of the
NYSE to the extent practicable prior to the Distribution.
(d) Each of the Parties shall, and shall cause the
members of their respective Groups to, at the request of the other, use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, any consent,
substitution, approval or amendment required to novate (including with respect
to any federal government contract) or assign all obligations under agreements,
leases, licenses and other obligations or Liabilities of any nature whatsoever
that constitute Piper Jaffray Liabilities, or to obtain in writing the
unconditional release of all parties to such arrangements other than any member
of the Piper Jaffray Group, so that, in any such case, Piper Jaffray and its
Group will be solely responsible for such Liabilities.
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ARTICLE VI
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
SECTION 6.1 Agreement for Exchange of Information. (a) Each of
Parent and Piper Jaffray, on behalf of its respective Group, agrees to provide,
or cause to be provided, to the other Party, at any time before, on or after the
Distribution Date, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request
therefor from such other Party, any Information in the possession or under the
control of such respective Group that the requesting Party reasonably needs (i)
to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on
the requesting Party (including under applicable securities laws) by a
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the requesting Party, (ii) for
use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative or other proceeding or in
order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation or other
similar requirements, or (iii) to comply with its obligations under this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that
any Party reasonably determines that any such provision of Information could be
commercially detrimental to such Party or any member of its Group, violate any
law or agreement to which such Party or member of its Group is a party, or waive
any attorney-client privilege applicable to such Party or member of its Group,
the Parties shall take all reasonable measures to permit the compliance with the
obligations pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) in a manner that avoids any such
harm or consequence. Parent and Piper Jaffray intend that any transfer of
Information that would otherwise be within the attorney-client privilege shall
not operate as a waiver of any potentially applicable privilege.
(b) Each Party shall make its employees and facilities
available and accessible during normal business hours and on reasonable prior
notice to provide an explanation of any Information provided hereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
6.1(a), after the Distribution Date, Piper Jaffray shall provide, or cause to be
provided, to Parent in such form as Parent shall request, at no charge to
Parent, all financial and other data and Information as Parent determines
necessary or advisable in order to prepare Parent's financial statements and
reports or filings with any Governmental Authority.
SECTION 6.2 Ownership of Information. Any Information owned by
one Group that is provided to a requesting Party pursuant to Section 6.1 shall
be deemed to remain the property of the providing Party. Unless specifically set
forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting
or conferring rights of license or otherwise in any such Information.
SECTION 6.3 Compensation for Providing Information. The Party
requesting such Information agrees to reimburse the other Party for the
reasonable out-of-pocket costs, if any, of creating, gathering and copying such
Information, to the extent that such costs are incurred for the benefit of the
requesting Party by or on behalf of such other Party's Group. Except as may be
otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other
Ancillary Agreement, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the
providing Party's standard methodology and procedures.
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SECTION 6.4 Record Retention. To facilitate the possible
exchange of Information pursuant to this Article VI and other provisions of this
Agreement after the Distribution Date, the Parties agree to use their reasonable
best efforts to retain all Information in their respective possession or control
on the Distribution Date in accordance with the policies of Parent as in effect
on the Distribution Date. No Party will destroy, or permit any of the members of
the Group to destroy, any Information that the other Party may have the right to
obtain pursuant to this Agreement prior to the seventh anniversary of the date
hereof without first using its reasonable best efforts to notify the other Party
of such proposed destruction and giving the other Party the opportunity to take
possession of such Information prior to such destruction; provided, however,
that in the case of any Information relating to Liabilities relating to, arising
out or resulting from any environmental law, such period shall be extended to
the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any
extensions thereof).
SECTION 6.5 Limitation of Liability. No Party shall have any
liability to the other Party in the event that any Information exchanged or
provided pursuant to this Agreement that is an estimate or forecast, or which is
based on an estimate or forecast, is found to be inaccurate, in the absence of
willful misconduct or fraud by the Party providing such Information. No Party
shall have any liability to the other Party if any Information is destroyed
after using its reasonable best efforts in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.4.
SECTION 6.6 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of
Information. . The rights and obligations granted under this Article VI are
subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on
the sharing, exchange or confidential treatment of Information set forth in any
Ancillary Agreement. The provisions of Section 6.1 through 6.5 shall not apply
to any exchange of Information relating to Income Taxes or Other Taxes (as such
terms are defined in the Tax Sharing Agreement), which is governed exclusively
by the Tax Sharing Agreement.
SECTION 6.7 Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation. (a)
After the Distribution Date, except in the case of an adversarial Action by one
Party against another Party (which shall be governed by such discovery rules as
may be applicable thereto), each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to
make available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and
future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members
of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents
within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to
the extent that any such Person (giving consideration to business demands of
such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books,
records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any
Action in which the requesting Party may from time to time be involved,
regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which
indemnification may be sought hereunder. The requesting Party shall bear all
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including allocated costs of in-house counsel
and other personnel) in connection therewith.
(b) If an Indemnifying Party or Parent chooses to defend
or to seek to compromise or settle any Third-Party Claim, Parent or Piper
Jaffray, as the case may be, shall use its reasonable best efforts to make
available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and
future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members
of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents
within
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its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the
extent that any such Person (giving consideration to business demands of such
directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or
other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense,
settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the
case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in such defense, settlement or
compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall
cooperate and consult, and to cause each member of its respective Group to
cooperate and consult, to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any
Actions.
(d) Without limiting any provision of this Section 6.7,
each of the Parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its
respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any
infringement or similar claim with respect to any intellectual property and
shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to
claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any intellectual
property of a third Person in a manner that would hamper or undermine the
defense of such infringement or similar claim.
(e) The obligation of the Parties to provide witnesses
pursuant to this Section 6.7 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to
facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to provide as witnesses,
directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents without regard to
whether any such individual could assert a possible business conflict (subject
to the exception set forth in the first sentence of Section 6.7(a)).
(f) In connection with any matter contemplated by this
Section 6.7, the Parties will enter into a mutually acceptable joint defense
agreement so as to maintain to the extent practicable any applicable
attorney-client privilege or work product immunity of any member of any Group.
SECTION 6.8 Confidentiality. (a) Subject to Section 6.9, each
of Parent and Piper Jaffray, on behalf of itself and each member of its
respective Group, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective directors,
officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and
representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of
care that applies to Parent's confidential and proprietary information pursuant
to policies in effect as of the Distribution Date, all Information concerning
each such other Group that is either in its possession (including Information in
its possession prior to any of the date hereof, the Contribution Effective Time
or the Distribution Date) or furnished by any such other Group or its respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors
and representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary
Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such Information other than for
such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except,
in each case, to the extent that such Information has been (i) publicly
disclosed through no fault of such Party or any member of such Group or any of
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel
and other advisors and representatives, or (ii) later lawfully acquired from
other sources by such Party (or any member of such Party's Group) on a
non-public basis which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality
obligation.
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(b) Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or
permit to be released or disclosed, any such Information to any other Person,
except its directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and
other advisors and representatives who need to know such Information (who shall
be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such Information),
except in compliance with Section 6.9. Without limiting the foregoing, when any
Information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement, each Party will promptly after request of the other
Party either return to the other Party all Information in a tangible form
(including all copies thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based
thereon) or certify to the other Party that it has destroyed such Information
(and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon).
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any of
the Ancillary Agreements to the contrary, Parent and Piper Jaffray agree that
each Party (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Party) may
disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the "tax
treatment" and "tax structure" (as those terms are defined in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or any of the Ancillary Agreements and all materials of any kind (including
opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to such Person relating to
such tax treatment and tax structure. This authorization does not extend to
disclosure of any other information, including (without limitation) (i) the
identity of any Party (or any representative thereof), (ii) the existence and
status of any negotiations, or (iii) financial, business, legal or personal
information of or regarding a Party (or any of its representatives) to the
extent not related to the tax treatment or tax structure of such transactions.
SECTION 6.9 Protective Arrangements. In the event that any
Party or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel
that it is required to disclose any Information pursuant to applicable law or
receives any demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to
disclose or provide Information of the other Party (or any member of the other
Party's Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such
Party shall notify the other Party prior to disclosing or providing such
Information and shall cooperate at the expense of the requesting Party in
seeking any reasonable protective arrangements requested by such other Party.
Subject to the foregoing, the Person that received such request may thereafter
disclose or provide Information if and to the extent required by such law (as so
advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority;
provided, that the Person shall only disclose such portion of the Information so
required to be disclosed or provided.
ARTICLE VII
NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1 No Representations or Warranties. Piper Jaffray,
on behalf of itself and all members of the Piper Jaffray Group, understands and
agrees that, except as expressly set forth herein or in any other Ancillary
Agreement, (a) no member of the Parent Group or any other Person is, in this
Agreement or in any other agreement or document, making any representation or
warranty of any kind whatsoever, express or implied, to Piper Jaffray or any
member of the Piper Jaffray Group in any way with respect to any of the
transactions
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contemplated hereby or the business, assets, condition or prospects (financial
or otherwise) of, or any other matter involving, the Assets, Liabilities or
businesses of Parent, any member of the Parent Group, Piper Jaffray or any
member of the Piper Jaffray Group, any Piper Jaffray Assets, any Piper Jaffray
Liabilities or the Piper Jaffray Business, (b) Piper Jaffray and each member of
the Piper Jaffray Group shall take all of the Piper Jaffray Assets, the Piper
Jaffray Business and Piper Jaffray Liabilities on an "as is, where is" basis,
and all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a specific purpose or
otherwise are hereby expressly disclaimed, and (c) none of Parent or any members
of the Parent Group or any other Person makes any representation or warranty
with respect to the Separation, the Merger, the Contribution, the Distributions
or the entering into of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except as expressly set forth
herein or in any other Ancillary Agreement, Piper Jaffray and each member of the
Piper Jaffray Group shall bear the economic and legal risk that the Piper
Jaffray Assets shall prove to be insufficient or that the title of any member of
the Piper Jaffray Group to any Piper Jaffray Assets shall be other than good and
marketable and free from encumbrances.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
SECTION 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by
Parent in its sole discretion at any time prior to the consummation of the
Distribution.
SECTION 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of any
termination of this Agreement prior to consummation of the Distribution, no
Party (or any member of its Group or any of its or its Group's directors or
officers) shall have any Liability or further obligation to the other Party.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Complete Agreement; Representations. (a) This
Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and the Ancillary Agreements shall
constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and
writings with respect to such subject matter.
(b) Parent represents on behalf of itself and each other
member of the Parent Group and Piper Jaffray represents on behalf of itself and
each other member of the Piper Jaffray Group as follows:
(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other
power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action
necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform each of this
Agreement and each other Ancillary Agreement (collectively, the
"Transaction Agreements") to which it is a party and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements to which it is
a party; and
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(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by such Person (if such Person is a Party) and constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms
thereof (assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the other
Party), and each of the other Transaction Agreements to which it will
be a party will be duly executed and delivered by it and will
constitute a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in
accordance with the terms thereof (assuming the due execution and
delivery thereof by the other party or parties to such Transaction
Agreement).
SECTION 9.2 Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, and regardless whether or not the
Separation or the Distribution is consummated, all third-party fees, costs and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements will be paid by the Party incurring
such fees, costs or expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall
promptly reimburse Piper Jaffray for all of its out-of-pocket third-party fees,
costs and expenses incurred directly in connection with the Separation or the
Distribution, including third-party fees, costs and expenses related to the
Registration Statement, to the extent incurred prior to the Distribution or, if
incurred thereafter, to the extent such third-party fees, costs and expenses,
including the amount thereof, were approved by Parent in writing prior to the
Distribution.
SECTION 9.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (other than
the laws regarding choice of laws and conflicts of laws that would apply the
substantive laws of any other jurisdiction) as to all matters, including matters
of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies.
SECTION 9.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands
and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
to a Party when (a) delivered to the appropriate address by hand or by
nationally recognized overnight courier service (costs prepaid); (b) sent by
facsimile with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment; or
(c) received or rejected by the addressee, if sent by certified mail, return
receipt requested, in each case to the following addresses and facsimile numbers
and marked to the attention of the person (by name or title) designated below
(or to such other address, facsimile number or person as a Party may designate
by notice to the other Party):
If to Parent or any member of the Parent Group:
U.S. Bancorp
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (612) 303-0898
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If to Piper Jaffray or any member of the Piper Jaffray Group:
Piper Jaffray Companies
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attention: General Counsel
Fax: (612) 303-1772
SECTION 9.5 Amendment, Modification or Waiver. This Agreement
may be amended, modified, waived or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by a
written agreement signed by all of the Parties. The waiver by such Parties of
any breach of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach.
SECTION 9.6 Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. (a) This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and
permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
and obligations hereunder shall be assigned or otherwise transferred, in whole
or in part, by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party.
(b) Except for the provisions of Sections 4.2 through 4.8
relating to indemnification, which are also for the benefit of the Indemnitees,
this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and is not intended to
confer upon any other Persons any rights or remedies hereunder.
SECTION 9.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
SECTION 9.8 Negotiation. In the event of any dispute or
disagreement between any member of the Parent Group, on the one hand, and any
member of the Piper Jaffray Group, on the other hand, arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including with
respect to the interpretation or performance of any provision thereof), the
dispute or disagreement, upon written request of Parent or Piper Jaffray, as
applicable, shall be referred to representatives of the Parties for decision,
Parent being represented by its Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel and
Piper Jaffray being represented by its Chief Financial Officer or General
Counsel. Such representatives of the Parties shall promptly meet in a good faith
effort to resolve the dispute or disagreement or determine a means to resolve
the dispute or disagreement. If such representatives do not agree upon a
decision within 30 days after reference of the matter to them, each of Parent
and Piper Jaffray shall be free to exercise all rights and remedies available to
them under this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.
SECTION 9.9 Specific Performance. From and after the
Distribution, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of,
any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement, the Parties agree that the party or parties to this Agreement or such
Ancillary Agreement who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right
to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its or their
rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and
all other rights
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and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be
cumulative. The Parties agree that, from and after the Distribution, the
remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for
any loss, that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy
at law would be adequate is hereby waived, and that any requirements for the
securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived.
SECTION 9.10 Minnesota Forum. Each of the Parties agrees that,
notwithstanding anything herein or in any of the Ancillary Agreements, all
actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment
arising out of or in connection with the foregoing agreements, shall be tried
and determined exclusively in the state or federal courts in the State of
Minnesota, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any
such action or proceeding for itself and in respect to its property, generally
and unconditionally, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts. Each
of the Parties hereby expressly waives any right it may have to assert, and
agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise,
in any such action or proceeding: (1) any claim that it is not subject to
personal jurisdiction in the aforesaid courts for any reason; (2) any claim that
it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or
from any legal process commenced in such courts; and (3) any claim that (i) any
of the aforesaid courts is an inconvenient or inappropriate forum for such
action or proceeding, (ii) venue is not proper in any of the aforesaid courts
and (iii) this Agreement or any such Ancillary Agreement, or the subject matter
hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by any of the aforesaid courts.
SECTION 9.11 Interpretation; Conflict with Ancillary
Agreements. The Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are
solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the
Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall govern in the event of any
conflict between any provision of this Agreement and that of any Ancillary
Agreement.
SECTION 9.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement
or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or
unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
adverse to any Party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first above written.
U.S. BANCORP
By: /s/ Lee R. Mitau
--------------------------------
Name: Lee R. Mitau
Title: Executive Vice President
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
By: /s/ James L. Chosy
--------------------------------
Name: James L. Chosy
Title: Secretary