0001193125-18-243393.txt : 20180809 0001193125-18-243393.hdr.sgml : 20180809 20180809061105 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-18-243393 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEFA14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 FILED AS OF DATE: 20180809 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20180809 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20180809 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DUN & BRADSTREET CORP/NW CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001115222 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING, COLLECTION AGENCIES [7320] IRS NUMBER: 223725387 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEFA14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-15967 FILM NUMBER: 181003076 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 103 JFK PARKWAY STREET 2: 103 JFK PARKWAY CITY: SHORT HILLS STATE: NJ ZIP: 07078 BUSINESS PHONE: 9739215500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 103 JFK PARKWAY STREET 2: 103 JFK PARKWAY CITY: SHORT HILLS STATE: NJ ZIP: 07078 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NEW D&B CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20000523 DEFA14A 1 d603966d8k.htm 8-K 8-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 9, 2018 (August 8, 2018)

 

 

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-15967   22-3725387
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

103 JFK Parkway, Short Hills, NJ   07078
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 921-5500

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

     1  

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

     3  

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

     3  

Item 7.01: Regulation FD Disclosure

     4  

SIGNATURES

  

EX-2.1: Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 8, 2018, by and among The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Star Parent, L.P. and Star Merger Sub, Inc.

  

EX-3.1: Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company

  

EX-10.1: Offer Letter of Employment with Mr. Thomas J. Manning, dated August 8, 2018

  

EX-99.1: Press Release of the Company, dated August 8, 2018

  

EX-99.2: Employee Letter, dated August 8, 2018

  


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Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 8, 2018, The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (the “Company” or “we”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, Star Parent, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and Star Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement.

The Merger

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than (i) shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any other direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or the Company, including treasury shares and (ii) shares that are owned by dissenting stockholders who are entitled to, and who have timely perfected and not withdrawn a demand for (or lost their right to), appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law), will be converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to $145.00 per share, without interest and subject to applicable withholding (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”).

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each outstanding Company stock option will immediately vest and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Company stock option multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price under such Company stock option and (ii) each outstanding Company restricted stock unit will be cancelled and converted in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock incentive plan into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Company stock unit multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of specified closing conditions, including (i) the approval of the Merger by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock entitled to vote at a stockholders meeting, (ii) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, (iii) the approval of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and (iv) other customary closing conditions, including (a) the absence of any law or order prohibiting the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (b) the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties (subject to customary materiality qualifiers) and (c) each party’s performance of its obligations and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement.

The Merger Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants of the parties customary for a transaction of this type, including, among other things, covenants not to solicit alternative transactions or to provide information or enter into discussions in connection with alternative transactions, subject to certain exceptions described below and to allow the Board to exercise its fiduciary duties.

During the period beginning on the date of the Merger Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. New York time on September 22, 2018 (the “Go-Shop Period”), the Company and its representatives may initiate, solicit, encourage and facilitate any alternative acquisition proposal from third parties, participate in discussions and negotiations regarding any acquisition proposal and provide nonpublic information to any persons related to any acquisition proposal (pursuant to a confidentiality agreement with each such person which complies with the terms of the Merger Agreement). Following expiration of the Go-Shop Period and until the earlier of the effective time of the Merger and the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company will be subject to customary “no-shop” restrictions on its ability to solicit, initiate, encourage or facilitate any competing acquisition proposals from third parties, participate in discussions or negotiations with such third parties regarding such competing acquisition proposals or provide nonpublic information to such third parties, except that, until October 7, 2018, the Company may continue solicitation of, or discussions or negotiations with, third parties engaged by the Company during the Go-Shop Period from whom a written acquisition proposal was received during the Go-Shop Period that the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (each such third party, an “Excluded Party”).

 


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The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and Parent, including, among others, if the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are not consummated on or before May 8, 2019 (the “Termination Date”), if the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in compliance with its terms in order to accept a superior proposal or if approval by the Company’s stockholders is not obtained following a vote of stockholders taken thereon. In addition, the Merger Agreement includes the following termination rights and termination fees or expense reimbursements:

 

   

if the Merger Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company in connection with the Company’s entry into a definitive agreement with an Excluded Party with respect to a Superior Proposal prior to the 15th day after expiration of the Go-Shop Period, then the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee equal to $81.4 million;

 

   

if the Merger Agreement is terminated (i) by Parent because the Board changes its recommendation with respect to the Merger, or the Company materially breaches certain of its covenants under the Merger Agreement relating to the no-shop restrictions; or (ii) by the Company in connection with the Company’s entry into a definitive agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal with any person other than an Excluded Person after the Go-Shop Period, or with an Excluded Person after the Cut-Off Time, then the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee equal to $203.6 million;

 

   

if the Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company (i) because Parent or Merger Sub have breached their respective representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements in the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances and have failed to cure such breach within a certain period or (ii) because Parent has failed to consummate the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement notwithstanding the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to do so and certain notice of such failure from the Company to Parent, then Parent will be required to pay the Company a termination fee equal to $380.1 million;

 

   

if the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances related to the failure to receive certain regulatory approvals, then Parent will be required to pay the Company a termination fee equal to $380.1 million; and

 

   

if the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent or the Company following a no vote by the Company’s stockholders, the Company has agreed to reimburse Parent’s expenses up to $25 million.

The Parent and its equity financing sources have provided the Company with limited guarantees in favor of the Company guaranteeing the payment of Parent’s reverse termination fee if such amount becomes payable under the Merger Agreement.

The representations, warranties and covenants of each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement have been made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement. In addition, such representations, warranties and covenants (i) have been made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement, (ii) have been qualified by confidential disclosures made by the parties in connection with the Merger Agreement, (iii) are subject to materiality qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement which may differ from what may be viewed as material by investors, (iv) were made only as of the date of the Merger Agreement or such other date as is specified in the Merger Agreement and (v) have been included in the Merger Agreement for the purpose of allocating risk between the contracting parties rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, the Merger Agreement is included with filing only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement, and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding the parties or their respective businesses. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as

 

2


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characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the public disclosures by the parties or their subsidiaries. The Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information regarding the parties that is or will be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents that the parties file with the SEC.

The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement attached as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Debt and Equity Commitments

Parent has obtained common equity, preferred equity and debt financing commitments for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the aggregate net proceeds of which, together with available cash of the Company and its subsidiaries and Parent and Merger Sub, will be sufficient to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including for Parent to pay the aggregate merger consideration, to repay existing indebtedness of the Company and to pay all related fees and expenses.

Parent has received equity financing commitments in an aggregate amount of up to $1,943 million, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in equity commitment letters, each dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement.

In addition, Parent has received preferred equity financing commitments in an aggregate amount of up to $1,050 million for the transaction, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the preferred equity commitment letter, dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement. The obligations of the preferred equity sources to purchase preferred equity are subject to a number of customary conditions.

Bank of America, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada (the “Lenders”) have committed to provide debt financing for the transaction, consisting of a $400 million senior secured revolving credit facility, a $3.13 billion senior secured term loan facility, a $200 million senior secured 364-day bridge loan facility and a $850 million senior unsecured bridge loan facility, each on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a debt commitment letter dated as of the date of the Merger Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to provide the debt financing are subject to a number of customary conditions.

 

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On August 8, 2018, the Board appointed Thomas J. Manning, who has served as the interim Chief Executive Officer since February 12, 2018, as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective as of the signing of the Merger Agreement. Biographical and other information regarding Mr. Manning is set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement in respect of its 2018 Annual Meeting, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2018.

In connection with his appointment, on August 8, 2018, the Compensation & Benefits Committee of the Board approved the material terms of Mr. Manning’s compensation arrangement as Chief Executive Officer of (i) a monthly base salary of $100,000, (ii) a special cash incentive bonus of $800,000 payable no later than 60 days after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, assuming continued service with the Company on date of the Merger, (iii) reimbursement for work site commuting and living arrangements in the Short Hills, New Jersey area, and a per diem for meals and miscellaneous expenses and (iv) tax assistance (for taxable items other than salary and equity) and tax preparation assistance through Deloitte Tax LLP while Mr. Manning serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Company through the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Mr. Manning is eligible to participate in those benefits programs available to executives of the Company generally.

The foregoing summary of Mr. Manning’s compensation generally is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Offer Letter of Employment of Mr. Thomas J. Manning, dated August 8, 2018, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

Item 5.03

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

On August 8, 2018, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to amend and restate the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) in order to add a new Article X thereto (the “By-Law Amendment”).

The By-Law Amendment, which was effective upon adoption by the Board, provides that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, including any claim alleging aiding and abetting of such breach of a fiduciary duty, (iii) any action or proceeding against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Company asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, (iv) any action or proceeding asserting a claim related to or involving the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (v) any action or proceeding asserting an

 

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“internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware, or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), in all cases subject to such court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity owning, purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of the By-Law Amendment.

The By-Laws, as amended, are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this report and are incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing summary of the By-Law Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the By-Laws, as amended.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On August 8, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the entry into the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 7.01 by reference herein. Also on August 8, 2018, the Company issued a letter to its employees. A copy of the letter is filed as an exhibit to this report is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated in this Item 7.01 by reference herein.

This information that is furnished shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information and exhibits in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and mail to its stockholders a proxy statement in connection with the proposed Merger. We urge investors and security holders to read the proxy statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information regarding the proposed Merger. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other related documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You also may obtain the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC relating to the proposed Merger for free by accessing the Company’s website at www.dnb.com by clicking on the link for “Investor Relations”, then clicking on the link for “Financial Information” and selecting “Annual Reports and Proxies.”

The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Merger. Information regarding the interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed Merger will be included in the proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. You may find additional information about the Company’s directors and executive officers in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 27, 2018. You can obtain free copies of these documents from the Company using the contact information above.

Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “commit,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “would,” “will,” and other similar words or expressions.

Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and stockholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and include known and

 

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unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which the Company is unable to predict or control, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transactions include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure of the parties to satisfy conditions to completion of the proposed merger, including the failure of the Company’s stockholders to approve the proposed merger or the failure of the parties to obtain required regulatory approvals; the risk that regulatory or other approvals are delayed or are subject to terms and conditions that are not anticipated; reliance on third parties to support critical components of the Company’s business model; the Company’s ability to protect its information technology infrastructure against cyber attacks and unauthorized access; risks associated with potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws; customer demand for the Company’s products; risks associated with recent changes in the Company’s executive management team and Board of Directors; the integrity and security of the Company’s global databases and data centers; the Company’s ability to maintain the integrity of its brand and reputation; the Company’s ability to renew large contracts and the related revenue recognition and timing thereof; the impact of macroeconomic challenges on the Company’s customers and vendors; future laws or regulations with respect to the collection, compilation, storage, use, cross-border transfer, publication and/or sale of information and adverse publicity or litigation concerning the commercial use of such information; the Company’s ability to acquire and successfully integrate other businesses, products and technologies; adherence by third-party members of Dun & Bradstreet Worldwide Network, or other third parties who license and sell under the Dun & Bradstreet name, to the Company’s quality standards and to the renewal of their agreements with Dun & Bradstreet; the effects of foreign and evolving economies, exchange rate fluctuations, legislative or regulatory requirements and the implementation or modification of fees or taxes to collect, compile, store, use, transfer cross-border, publish and/or sell data; the impact of the announcement of, or failure to complete, the proposed merger on our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, vendors and other business partners; and potential or actual litigation. In addition, these statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC.

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s control. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the Company are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) The following exhibits are filed with this report.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description of Exhibit

2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 8, 2018, by and among The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Star Parent, L.P. and Star Merger Sub, Inc.
3.1    Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, as amended on August 8, 2018
10.1    Offer Letter of Employment with Mr. Thomas J. Manning, dated August 8, 2018
99.1    Press Release of the Company, dated August 8, 2018
99.2    Employee Letter, dated August 8, 2018


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation

  (Registrant)

Date: August 8, 2018

 

/s/ Richard S. Mattessich

 

Richard S. Mattessich

Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

EX-2.1 2 d603966dex21.htm EX-2.1 EX-2.1
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Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION,

STAR PARENT, L.P.

and

STAR MERGER SUB, INC.

Dated as of August 8, 2018


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I THE MERGER; CLOSING; EFFECTIVE TIME      2  

1.1

 

The Merger

     2  

1.2

 

Closing

     2  

1.3

 

Effective Time

     2  
ARTICLE II CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION      3  

2.1

 

The Certificate of Incorporation

     3  

2.2

 

The Bylaws

     3  
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION      3  

3.1

 

Directors

     3  

3.2

 

Officers

     3  
ARTICLE IV EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES      3  

4.1

 

Effect on Capital Stock

     3  

4.2

 

Exchange of Shares

     4  

4.3

 

Treatment of Stock Plans

     7  

4.4

 

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution

     9  
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      9  

5.1

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

     9  

5.2

 

Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub

     31  
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS      40  

6.1

 

Interim Operations

     40  

6.2

 

Acquisition Proposals

     44  

6.3

 

Proxy Filing

     50  

6.4

 

Stockholders Meeting

     51  

6.5

 

Filings; Other Actions; Notification

     51  

6.6

 

Access and Reports

     55  

6.7

 

Stock Exchange De-listing

     56  

6.8

 

Publicity

     56  

6.9

 

Employee Benefits

     56  

6.10

 

Expenses

     58  

6.11

 

Financing and Cooperation

     59  

6.12

 

Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

     64  

6.13

 

Agreements Concerning Parent and Merger Sub and the Company

     66  

6.14

 

Transaction Litigation

     66  

 

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(continued)

 

         Page  

6.15

 

Existing Company Indebtedness

     67  

6.16

 

Cash Distribution

     70  

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS

     71  

7.1

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger

     71  

7.2

 

Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub

     72  

7.3

 

Conditions to Obligations of the Company

     73  

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION

     73  

8.1

 

Termination by Mutual Consent

     72  

8.2

 

Termination by Either Parent or the Company

     72  

8.3

 

Termination by the Company

     74  

8.4

 

Termination by Parent

     75  

8.5

 

Effect of Termination and Abandonment

     75  

8.6

 

Payments; Non Recourse Parties

     80  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL

     81  

9.1

 

Survival

     81  

9.2

 

Modification or Amendment

     81  

9.3

 

Waiver of Conditions

     81  

9.4

 

Counterparts

     82  

9.5

 

GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     82  

9.6

 

Specific Performance

     83  

9.7

 

Notices

     84  

9.8

 

Entire Agreement

     86  

9.9

 

No Third Party Beneficiaries

     86  

9.10

 

Obligations of Parent and of the Company

     87  

9.11

 

Definitions

     87  

9.12

 

Severability

     87  

9.13

 

Interpretation; Construction

     87  

9.14

 

Assignment

     88  

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 8, 2018 (hereinafter called this “Agreement”), by and among The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Star Parent, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and Star Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub,” with the Company and Merger Sub sometimes being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Constituent Corporations,” and the Constituent Corporations, together with Parent, the “Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation (the “Merger”);

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (ii) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders and (iii) resolved to recommend that this Agreement be adopted by the Company’s stockholders;

WHEREAS, each of the boards of directors of Parent and Merger Sub has unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and (ii) determined that this Agreement and such transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and Merger Sub, respectively;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and material inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the Equity Financing Sources, (collectively, the “Guarantors”) are each entering into a limited guarantee, dated as of the date hereof, in favor of the Company (collectively, the “Limited Guarantees”) with respect to certain obligations of Parent and Merger Sub under this Agreement;

WHEREAS, Parent shall, or shall cause the direct holder of the stock of Merger Sub to, immediately following execution and delivery of this Agreement, adopt this Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub; and

WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement and to set forth certain conditions to the Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:


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ARTICLE I

The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Surviving Corporation”), and the separate corporate existence of the Company, with all of its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in Article II. The Merger shall have the effects specified in the DGCL, this Agreement and the Certificate of Merger (as defined in Section 1.3).

1.2 Closing. Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Company and Parent, the closing for the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York, 10006 at 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the third (3rd) business day following the day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement; provided, that in the event that the Marketing Period has not ended at the time of the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing), the Closing shall occur on the earlier of (x) a date during the Marketing Period specified by Parent in writing on no fewer than three (3) business days’ prior written notice to the Company and (y) the second (2nd) business day following the final day of the Marketing Period, but subject, in each case, to the satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing). The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”. For purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein, the term “business day” means any day other than Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by Law (as defined in Section 5.1(i)) to be closed in New York City.

1.3 Effective Time. At the Closing, the Company and Parent will cause a certificate of merger complying with the requirements of the DGCL (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as may be agreed by the Parties in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the “Effective Time”).

 

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ARTICLE II

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation

2.1 The Certificate of Incorporation. At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the “Charter”), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law; provided that this Section 2.1 is subject to compliance with Section 6.12(f).

2.2 The Bylaws. At the Effective Time, the bylaws of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (the “Bylaws”), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law; provided that this Section 2.2 is subject to compliance with Section 6.12(f).

ARTICLE III

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

3.1 Directors. The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the only directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.

3.2 Officers. The officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office until his or her successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV

Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates

4.1 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the Company or on the part of the sole stockholder of Merger Sub:

(a) Merger Consideration. Each share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (each, a “Share”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time other than (i) Shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any other direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent and Shares owned by the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, including Shares held in treasury by the Company, in each case not held on behalf of third parties and (ii) Shares (“Dissenting Shares”) that are owned by stockholders (“Dissenting Stockholders”) who are entitled to, and who have timely perfected and not withdrawn a demand for (or lost their right to), appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL (each Share referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii) of this Section 4.1(a) being an “Excluded Share” and, collectively, “Excluded Shares”) shall be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $145 per Share (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”), without interest. At the Effective Time, all of the Shares (other than Excluded Shares) shall

 

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cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each certificate (a “Certificate”) formerly representing any of the Shares (other than Excluded Shares) and each non-certificated Share represented by book-entry (a “Book-Entry Share”) (other than Excluded Shares) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without interest, and each Certificate formerly representing Shares and each Book-Entry Share owned by Dissenting Stockholders shall thereafter only represent the right to receive the payment to which reference is made in Section 4.2(f).

(b) Treatment of Excluded Shares. Each Dissenting Share, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, shall cease to be outstanding, shall be cancelled without payment of any consideration therefor and shall cease to exist, subject to any rights the holder thereof may have under Section 4.2(f). Each Share that is an Excluded Share pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.1(a) shall remain outstanding and shall be unaffected by the Merger.

(c) Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

4.2 Exchange of Shares.

(a) Paying Agent. Prior to or simultaneously with the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a nationally recognized financial institution selected by Parent with the Company’s prior approval (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (the “Paying Agent”), in trust for the benefit of the Company’s stockholders, a cash amount in immediately available funds necessary for the Paying Agent to make the payments contemplated by Section 4.1(a) (such cash being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”). The Paying Agent shall also act as the agent for the Company’s stockholders for the purpose of receiving and holding their Certificates and Book-Entry Shares and shall obtain no rights or interests in the Shares represented thereby. The Paying Agent agreement pursuant to which Parent shall appoint the Paying Agent (the “Paying Agent Agreement”) shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and Parent. Any interest and other income resulting from investment of the Exchange Fund by the Paying Agent, such investment to be made pursuant to and in accordance with the Paying Agent Agreement, shall become a part of the Exchange Fund, and any amounts in excess of the amounts payable under Section 4.1(a) shall be promptly returned to the Surviving Corporation. To the extent that there are any losses with respect to any such investments, or the Exchange Fund diminishes for any reason below the level required for the Paying Agent to make prompt cash payment under Section 4.1(a), Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, promptly replace or restore the cash in the Exchange Fund so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all times maintained at a level sufficient for the Paying Agent to make such payments under Section 4.1(a). Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to make, and the Paying Agent shall make, delivery of the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any purpose that is not expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

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(b) Exchange Procedures.

(i) Promptly after the Effective Time (and in any event within one (1) business day thereafter), the Surviving Corporation shall, or shall cause the Paying Agent to, mail to each holder of record of a Certificate representing Shares (other than holders of Excluded Shares) (A) a letter of transmittal in customary form specifying that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) to the Paying Agent, such letter of transmittal to be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree, and (B) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) in exchange for the Per Share Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) to the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a cash amount in immediately available funds (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)) equal to (x) the number of Shares represented by such Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon due surrender of the Certificates. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, a check for any cash to be exchanged upon due surrender of the Certificate may be issued to such transferee if the Certificate formerly representing such Shares is presented to the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents reasonably required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock transfer or similar Taxes have been paid or are not applicable.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any holder of Book-Entry Shares shall not be required to deliver a Certificate or an executed letter of transmittal to the Paying Agent to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to this Article IV. In lieu thereof, each holder of record of one or more Book-Entry Shares whose Shares were converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration shall, upon receipt by the Paying Agent of an “agent’s message” in customary form (or such other evidence, if any, as the Paying Agent may reasonably request), be entitled to receive, and Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to pay and deliver as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, the Per Share Merger Consideration in respect of each such Share (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)), and the Book-Entry Shares of such holder shall forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable to a holder of Book-Entry Shares.

(c) Transfers. From and after the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of the Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificate or Book-Entry Share is presented to the Surviving Corporation, Parent or the Paying Agent for transfer, it shall be cancelled and exchanged for the cash amount in immediately available funds to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to this Article IV.

 

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(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any investments thereof) that remains unclaimed by the Company’s stockholders by the first anniversary of the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation. Any holder of Shares (other than Excluded Shares) who has not theretofore complied with this Article IV shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation for payment of the Per Share Merger Consideration (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)) upon due surrender of its Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof as provided in Section 4.2(e)) or Book-Entry Shares, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, the Paying Agent or any other Person shall be liable to any former stockholder of the Company for any amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity or group (which term will include a “group” as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of any kind or nature.

(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the record owner thereof and, if required by Parent, the posting by such record owner of a bond in customary amount and upon such terms as may be reasonably required by Parent as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it or the Surviving Corporation with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent shall deliver, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, a check in the amount (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings as provided in Section 4.2(g)) equal to (i) the number of Shares represented by such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate multiplied by (ii) the Per Share Merger Consideration (without any interest thereon).

(f) Appraisal Rights. No Person who has properly perfected a demand for appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL shall be entitled to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares owned by such Person unless and until such Person shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such Person’s right to appraisal under the DGCL or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL. Each Dissenting Stockholder shall be entitled to receive only the payment provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to Shares owned by such Dissenting Stockholder. The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal, withdrawals, attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL that are received by the Company relating to the rights of appraisal of the Company’s stockholders and (ii) the opportunity to participate in (and shall consult with Parent with respect to) all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demand for appraisal under the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal, settle any such demands, or waive any failure to timely deliver a written demand for appraisal in accordance with the DGCL in respect of the Dissenting Shares, or agree to do any of the foregoing. If any Dissenting Stockholder shall have effectively waived, withdrawn or lost its rights under Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to any Dissenting Shares, or if a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to any Dissenting Shares, such Dissenting Shares shall thereupon be treated as though they had been converted into the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration, without interest, pursuant to this Article IV.

 

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(g) Withholding Rights. Each of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement (including the consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Shares, Company Options, RSUs and PSUs (each as defined in Section 4.3)) such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (or the vesting of any RSU or PSU), or any other applicable state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, such deducted and withheld amounts (i) shall be remitted by the Company, Parent, the Surviving Corporation, Merger Sub or the Paying Agent, as applicable, to the applicable Governmental Entity, and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or the Paying Agent, as the case may be.

4.3 Treatment of Stock Plans.

(a) Company Options. At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Shares granted under the Stock Plans (each, a “Company Option”), whether vested or unvested, shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and converted into only the right to receive (without interest) an amount in cash (less applicable withholdings) equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of (A) the Per Share Merger Consideration over (B) the exercise price per share of such Company Option, and (ii) the number of Shares underlying such Company Option, which amount shall be paid by Parent or the Surviving Corporation as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event within ten (10) business days) following the Effective Time; provided, however, that any such Company Option with respect to which the exercise price per share of such Company Option is equal to or greater than the Per Share Merger Consideration shall be cancelled in exchange for no consideration or payment.

(b) RSUs. At the Effective Time, (A) any vesting conditions applicable to each outstanding restricted stock unit or phantom unit granted under the Stock Plans that is not a PSU (each, an “RSU”) shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, accelerate in full, and (B) each RSU shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and shall only entitle the holder of such RSU to receive (without interest), an amount in cash (less applicable withholdings) equal to (x) the number of Shares subject to such RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (including for this purpose the number of Shares resulting from any dividend equivalents related to such RSU) multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration, which amount shall be paid by the Surviving Corporation as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event within ten (10) business days) following the Effective Time; provided, that, with respect to any RSUs that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be paid at the Effective Time without triggering a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made at the earliest time permitted under the applicable Stock Plan and award agreement that will not trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(c) PSUs. At the Effective Time, each outstanding restricted stock unit granted under the Stock Plans that is subject to any vesting condition relating to the achievement of performance goals, measures or metrics (each, a “PSU”), shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, be cancelled and shall only entitle the holder of such PSU to receive (without interest), an amount in cash (less applicable withholdings) equal to (x) the number of Shares subject to such PSU based on the achievement of the performance goals attributable to such PSU multiplied by (y) the Per Share Merger Consideration, which amount shall be paid by the Surviving Corporation as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event within ten (10) business days) following the Effective Time; provided, that, with respect to any PSUs that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be paid at the Effective Time without triggering a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made at the earliest time permitted under the applicable Stock Plan and award agreement that will not trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Section 4.3(c) the following rules shall apply with respect to PSUs for which actual performance has not been determined by the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, the number of Shares subject to such PSUs at the Effective Time shall be determined assuming the applicable performance goals, measures and metrics were achieved at target level performance.

(d) Any payment to which a holder of Company Options, RSUs or PSUs becomes entitled pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be made through the Surviving Corporation’s payroll no later than ten (10) business days following the Effective Time in accordance with Section 4.3(a), Section 4.3(b) and Section 4.3(c), as applicable. Parent and Merger Sub shall ensure that the Surviving Corporation has an amount in cash sufficient to pay all amounts required by the foregoing sentence. All such payments will be less any applicable withholding Taxes.

(e) Employee Stock Purchase Plan. With respect to the Company’s 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company Board or the applicable committee thereof, as applicable, will adopt resolutions or take other actions as may be required to provide that each individual participating in any Offering Period (as defined in the ESPP) in progress on the date of this Agreement will not be permitted to (i) increase his or her payroll contribution rate pursuant to the ESPP from the rate in effect when that Offering Period commenced or (ii) make separate non-payroll contributions to the ESPP on or following the date of this Agreement, except as may be required by applicable Law. No individual who is not participating in the ESPP as of the date of this Agreement will be allowed to commence participation in the ESPP following the date of this Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will take all action that may be necessary to (A) cause any Offering Period that would otherwise be outstanding at the Effective Time to be terminated no later than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs; (B) make any pro rata adjustments in accordance with the ESPP that may be necessary to reflect the shortened Offering Period, but otherwise treat such shortened Offering Period as a fully

 

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effective and completed Offering Period for all purposes pursuant to the ESPP; (C) cause the exercise of each outstanding purchase right pursuant to the ESPP prior to the Effective Time; and (D) provide that no further Offering Period or Purchase Period (as defined in the ESPP) will commence pursuant to the ESPP after the date of this Agreement. On such exercise date, the Company will apply the funds credited as of such date pursuant to the ESPP within each participant’s ESPP account to the purchase of whole Shares in accordance with the terms of the ESPP. Immediately prior to and effective as of the Effective Time (but subject to the consummation of the Merger), the Company will terminate the ESPP.

(f) Corporate Actions. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the Company Board and the Compensation and Benefits Committee, as applicable, shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions which are necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 4.3(a), Section 4.3(b), Section 4.3(c) and Section 4.3(e), it being understood and agreed that from and after the Effective Time, no participant in any Stock Plan or other Benefit Plan will have any right thereunder to acquire any equity securities of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries. All Company Options, RSUs and PSUs, the ESPP and all Stock Plans, will terminate as of the Effective Time without ongoing liability to Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries other than to make the payments set forth in this Section 4.3, and the provisions in any other Benefit Plan or Contract providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be cancelled as of the Effective Time, and the Company will take all action necessary in consultation with Parent to effect the foregoing.

4.4 Adjustments to Prevent Dilution. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the issued and outstanding Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class by reason of any reclassification, stock split (including a reverse stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger, issuer tender offer or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, then the Per Share Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to provide to Parent and the holders of Shares the same economic effect as contemplated in this Agreement prior to such event and as so adjusted shall, from and after the date of such event, be the Per Share Merger Consideration; provided, however, nothing in this Section 4.4 shall be construed to permit the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person to take any action except to the extent consistent with, and not otherwise prohibited or restricted by, the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

Representations and Warranties

5.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the Company Reports (as defined in Section 5.1(e)(i)), other than with respect to Section 5.1(b)), filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (including the exhibits and schedules thereto, but excluding, in each case, any disclosures contained or referenced therein under the captions “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements” and any similar cautionary disclosures contained therein) prior to the date hereof or in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to Parent by the Company prior to

 

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entering into this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure; provided, however, that the disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall not be construed as an admission of liability under any applicable Law or for any other purpose and shall not be construed as an admission that such item is in fact material or creates a measure of materiality for purposes of this Agreement or otherwise), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:

(a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept exists in the jurisdiction where such entity is organized) in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, rights and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, except where the failure to be so organized or in good standing, or to have such power or authority, are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the Company’s and its Significant Subsidiaries’ certificates of incorporation and bylaws or comparable governing documents, each as amended to the date of this Agreement, and each as so made available is in effect on the date of this Agreement.

As used in this Agreement, the term (i) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person and/or by one or more of its Subsidiaries; (ii) “Significant Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”); (iii) ”Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and (iv) “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, effect or circumstance (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or taken together with all other Effects has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following, and no Effect arising out of or resulting from the following, shall constitute or be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred:

 

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(A) any changes in global, national or regional economic conditions, except to the extent that such changes in conditions have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

(B) any changes in conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, except to the extent that such changes in conditions have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

(C) any change in the market price or trading volume of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (provided, that the exception in this clause (C) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any Effect underlying such change in the market price or trading volume has resulted in or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and only then to the extent otherwise permitted by this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect);

(D) any change in the credit rating or the credit outlook of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (provided, that the exception in this clause (D) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any Effect underlying such change in the credit rating has resulted in or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and only then to the extent otherwise permitted by this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect);

(E) any regulatory, legislative or political conditions or securities, credit, financial or other capital markets conditions, in each case in the United States or any foreign jurisdiction, including actual or anticipated results of elections, instability in the executive or other branch or agency of any government, investigations or prosecutions of governmental figures, trade wars and tariffs, interest rates or exchange rates for the currencies of any country, except to the extent that such changes in the conditions have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

(F) any failure, in and of itself, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published plans, projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics for any period (provided, that the exception in this clause (F) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any Effect underlying such failure has resulted in or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and only then to the extent otherwise permitted by this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect);

 

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(G) the negotiation, execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the public announcement, pendency or completion of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with its employees or with its suppliers or customers (other than for purposes of the representation and warranty contained in Section 5.1(d) (and in Section 7.2(a) and Section 8.4(b) to the extent related to such portions of such representation));

(H) any Transaction Litigation (as defined in Section 6.14) or other civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, claim, hearing, arbitration, investigation or other proceeding threatened, made or brought by any of the current or former stockholders of the Company (on their own behalf or on behalf of the Company) against the Company, any of its executive officers or other employees or any member of the Company Board or any committee thereof arising out of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement;

(I) changes or proposed changes in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or in Laws applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the repeal, enforcement or interpretation thereof, except to the extent that such changes have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

(J) any geopolitical conditions, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, cyberterrorism (including by means of cyber-attack by or sponsored by a Governmental Entity), terrorism or military actions, or any escalation or worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war (whether or not declared), sabotage, cyberterrorism (including by means of cyber-attack by or sponsored by a Governmental Entity), terrorism or military actions threatened or underway as of the date of this Agreement, except to the extent that such changes in conditions have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

(K) any change resulting from or arising out of a hurricane, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster, except to the extent that such changes have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to the adverse effect that such changes have on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (in which case only the incremental disproportionate impact may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

 

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(L) any action expressly required to be taken by this Agreement or any failure to act to the extent expressly prohibited by this Agreement (other than compliance with Section 6.1) or taken at the written request of Parent or Merger Sub;

(M) any change to the extent resulting or arising from the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, a Guarantor, Parent, Merger Sub or the respective Affiliates of the foregoing, the respective financing sources of or investors in the foregoing, the respective principals or employees of the foregoing, or the respective plans or intentions of the foregoing with respect to the Company or its business; or

(N) the availability or cost of equity, debt or other financing to Parent or Merger Sub (provided, that the exception in this clause (N) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any Effect underlying such matter has resulted in or contributed to, or would reasonably be expected to result in or contribute to, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and only then to the extent otherwise permitted by this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect).

(b) Capital Structure.

(i) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 200,000,000 Shares, of which 37,126,051 Shares were outstanding as of the close of business on August 6, 2018 (the “Capitalization Date”), (ii) 10,000,000 shares of series common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which none were outstanding as of the close of business on the Capitalization Date and (iii) 10,000,000 preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share (of which 500,000 shares are designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shares, $0.01 par value per share and 1,400,000 are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share), of which none were outstanding as of the close of business on the Capitalization Date, and from the Capitalization Date through the date of this Agreement, the Company has not issued any Shares, series common stock, or preferred shares, other than Shares issued in connection with the exercise of Company Options outstanding prior to the date of this Agreement. All of the outstanding Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No Shares are held by any Subsidiary of the Company. As of the Capitalization Date, other than 4,553,225 Shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 Non-Employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan, the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated With Respect to Awards Granted Under the Plan on or after January 1, 2013), as amended from time to time, the 2000 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Replacement Plan for Certain Directors Holding Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Equity-Based Awards and the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the “Stock Plans”), the Company has no Shares reserved for issuance. Section 5.1(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (x) the total number of outstanding Company Options, RSUs, the number of Shares resulting from any dividend equivalents related to such RSUs, and PSUs (assuming target and maximum performance vesting of PSUs for which the applicable performance period has not completed as of the date of this Agreement) as of the Capitalization Date and (y) a correct and complete list of all outstanding Company Options (by grant date), RSUs and PSUs as of the Capitalization Date and the exercise price, if applicable, with respect to each such Company Option, and from the Capitalization Date through the date of this Agreement, the Company has not granted any other Company Options, RSUs or PSUs. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity securities of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and owned by the

 

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Company or by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, pledge, security interest, claim or other encumbrance (each, a “Lien”), other than Permitted Liens and any restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable securities Laws. Except as set forth above, there are no preemptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, performance units, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, commitments or rights of any kind that obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or to acquire (including options, warrants or other rights of any kind), any equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are authorized, issued or outstanding. Upon any issuance of any Shares in accordance with the terms of the Stock Plans, such Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of any Liens. All grants of Company Options, RSUs and PSUs were validly issued and properly approved by the Company Board (or a committee thereof) in accordance with the applicable Stock Plan and applicable Law, including the applicable requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the Company’s stockholders on any matter. For purposes of this Agreement, a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company shall include any Subsidiary of the Company of which all of the shares of capital stock of such Subsidiary are owned by the Company (or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company).

(ii) (A) Section 5.1(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries and the ownership interest of the Company in each such Subsidiary, as well as the ownership interest of any Person (other than the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries) in each such Subsidiary and (B) the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ capital stock, equity interest or other direct or indirect ownership interest in any other Person. Other than as set forth on Section 5.1(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any ownership or equity interest in any Person.

For the purpose of this Agreement, “Permitted Liens” shall mean (A) statutory Liens for Taxes, special assessments or other governmental or quasi-governmental charges not yet due and payable or which may hereafter be paid without penalty or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, in each case for which sufficient reserves have been established in the financial statements and books and records of the Company in accordance with GAAP (where required by GAAP), (B) landlords’, warehousemens’, mechanics’, materialmens’, repairmans’, carriers’ or similar Liens that relate to obligations not due and payable and arise in the ordinary course of business, (C) Liens incurred or deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pension programs mandated under applicable Laws or other social security regulations, (D) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations promulgated by Governmental Entities, (E) the interests of the lessors and sublessors of any leased properties, (F) easements, rights of way and other imperfections of title or encumbrances that do not materially interfere with the present use of, or materially detract from the value of, the property related thereto, (G) Liens disclosed in Section 5.1(b)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter granted in the ordinary course of business and (H) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property.

 

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(c) Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness.

(i) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger and any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, subject only to adoption of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote on such matter at a stockholders’ meeting duly called and held for such purpose (the “Requisite Company Vote”). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery by each of Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).

(ii) (A) The Company Board has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Merger, (iii) resolved to recommend that this Agreement be adopted by the Company’s stockholders at a stockholders’ meeting duly called and held for such purpose (the “Company Recommendation”) and (iv) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company at the Stockholders Meeting for their adoption and approval and (B) the Company Board received the oral opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) (to be confirmed in writing) that as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken in preparing such opinion as set forth therein, the Per Share Merger Consideration to be paid to the holders of Shares (other than Excluded Shares and Shares held by any Affiliate of Parent) pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. It is agreed and understood that such opinion is for the benefit of the Company Board and may not be relied on by Parent or Merger Sub.

(d) Governmental Filings and Approvals; No Violations; Certain Contracts.

(i) Other than the filings, reports, approvals and/or notices (A) pursuant to Section 1.3, (B) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), and as set forth in Section 5.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (C) under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”) or foreign or state securities or “blue sky” laws, including the filing and dissemination of the Proxy Statement and (D) under stock exchange rules, no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by the Company with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to be obtained by the Company from, any domestic or foreign governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, court or other legislative, executive or judicial governmental entity (each, a “Governmental Entity”), in

 

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connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (1) those the failure of which to make or obtain are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (2) those to the extent resulting or arising from the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, a Guarantor, Parent, Merger Sub or the respective Affiliates of the foregoing, the respective financing sources of or investors in the foregoing, the respective principals or employees of the foregoing, or the respective plans or intentions of the foregoing with respect to the Company or its business.

(ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or comparable governing documents of any Subsidiary of the Company, (B) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) or a default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under, the loss of a benefit under or the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the assets, rights or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any material agreement, lease, license, contract, note, mortgage, indenture, arrangement or other obligation (each, a “Contract”) or by which any of their respective rights, properties or assets are bound binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 5.1(d)(i), a violation of any Law to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) of this Section 5.1(d)(ii), for any such breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration, loss of benefit or change (1) that, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (2) to the extent resulting or arising from the identity of, or any facts or circumstances relating to, a Guarantor, Parent, Merger Sub or the respective Affiliates of the foregoing, the respective financing sources of or investors in the foregoing, the respective principals or employees of the foregoing, or the respective plans or intentions of the foregoing with respect to the Company or its business.

(e) Company Reports; Financial Statements.

(i) The Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis, all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 2016 (the “Applicable Date”) (the forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents filed or furnished by the Company since the Applicable Date and those filed or furnished by the Company subsequent to the date hereof, including any amendments thereto, the “Company Reports”). Each of the Company Reports, at the time of its filing or being furnished, complied or, if not yet filed or furnished, will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to the Company Reports. As of their respective dates (or, if amended prior to the date hereof, as of the

 

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date of such amendment), the Company Reports did not, and any Company Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC subsequent to the date hereof will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by reference therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date hereof, (A) there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC or its staff, (B) the Company has not received notice from the SEC that any of the Company Reports is subject to ongoing review, outstanding comment or outstanding investigation by the SEC and (C) none of the Subsidiaries of the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(ii) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE.

(iii) (A) Each of the consolidated balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports filed prior to the date hereof (including the related notes and schedules) presents fairly, in all material respects, and, in the case of Company Reports filed after the date hereof, will present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of its date and (B) each of the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss), consolidated cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity included in or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports filed prior to the date hereof (including any related notes and schedules) presents fairly, in all material respects, and, in the case of Company Reports filed after the date hereof, will present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of its operations, its consolidated cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity, as the case may be, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods set forth therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to notes and normal year-end adjustments), in the case of each of clause (A) and clause (B), in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods included (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to the absence of notes and normal year-end audit adjustments that will not be material in amount or effect). The Company has been and is in material compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(iv) The Company has established and maintains, and at all times since the Applicable Date has maintained, “disclosure controls and procedures” and “internal control over financial reporting” (in each case as defined pursuant to Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 promulgated under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that all (i) material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports and other documents that it files or furnishes pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC; and (ii) such material information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company’s independent registered public accountant has issued (and not subsequently withdrawn or qualified) an attestation report concluding that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. Since December 31, 2017, no

 

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events, facts or circumstances have occurred such that management would not be able to complete its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act when next due and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, and conclude, after such assessment, that such system was effective and did not identify (i) any material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting and (ii) any allegation of fraud that involves management of the Company or any other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures. Since January 1, 2016, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither the Company nor its principal executive officer or principal financial officer has received notice from any Governmental Entity challenging or questioning the accuracy, completeness, form or manner of filing of such certifications.

(v) Since the Applicable Date, neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has identified or been made aware of (A) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal control over financial reporting utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries; or (B) any fraud that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal control over financial reporting utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(f) Absence of Certain Changes.

(i) Other than actions taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2017 and through the date of this Agreement the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any material transaction other than according to, the ordinary course of such businesses. Since December 31, 2017 and through the date of this Agreement, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or that, subject to the qualifications set forth in clauses (A) through (N) of the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect”, would prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(ii) Since June 30, 2018 through the date of this Agreement, the Company has not taken, or agreed, authorized or committed to take, any action that would be prohibited by clauses (i) - (iii), (v) - (xii), (xiv), (xv) or (xvii) of Section 6.1(a) if taken or proposed to be taken after the date of this Agreement.

(g) Litigation and Liabilities.

(i) (A) There are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations or other proceedings by or before any Governmental Entity (including cease and desist letters and invitations to take a patent license) (each of the foregoing, “Proceedings”) pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective assets or properties and (B) neither the

 

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Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or subject to the provisions of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Entity specifically imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, in the case of each of (A) or (B), either are (1) reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (2) reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in the case of this clause (2), other than any Transaction Litigation brought after the date hereof.

(ii) The Company does not have any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company, other than liabilities and obligations (A) set forth in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (and the notes thereto) included in the Company Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, (B) incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2018, (C) incurred in connection with the Merger or any other transaction or agreement contemplated by this Agreement, (D) in connection with any Permitted Lien (as defined in Section 5.1(b)) or (E) that are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

The term “Company’s Knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge of those persons set forth in Section 5.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

As used in this Agreement, the term “ordinary course of business” shall mean in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

(h) Employee Benefits.

(i) Section 5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list of each material Benefit Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “Benefit Plan” means all benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements (whether or not in writing) covering any current or former director, officer, employee or individual independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Service Provider”) maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or under which the Company has or would reasonably expect to have any liability or obligation, including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), whether or not subject to ERISA, and deferred compensation, severance, termination, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock-based, incentive, retention, change in control, retirement, profit sharing, fringe benefit and welfare plans, contracts, policies or arrangements. True and complete copies of all Benefit Plans (other than any Benefit Plan mandated by applicable Law) listed on Section 5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter have been made available to Parent. To the extent applicable, with respect to each material Benefit Plan (other than any Benefit Plan that is maintained primarily for Service Providers working outside of the United States (each a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”)), the Company has made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of (1) the most recent determination letter, if any, from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for any Benefit Plan that is intended to qualify pursuant to Section 401(a) of the Code; (2) the most recent summary plan descriptions provided to

 

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participants; (3) any current related trust agreements or insurance contracts; (4) any material notices since the Applicable Date to or from the IRS or any office or representative of the United States Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) or any other Governmental Entity; and (5) the most recent actuarial valuation.

(ii) Each Benefit Plan, other than Non-U.S. Benefit Plans, has been established, maintained, funded and administered in compliance with its terms and ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Benefit Plan that is subject to ERISA (an “ERISA Plan”) that is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, and to the Company’s Knowledge, nothing has occurred that would be reasonably expected to adversely affect the qualification or tax exemption of any such Benefit Plan. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, has engaged in a transaction or breach of fiduciary duty with respect to any ERISA Plan that is reasonably expected to subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty imposed by Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 409 or 502(i) of ERISA.

(iii) Each Non-U.S. Benefit Plan has been established, maintained, funded and administered in compliance with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by any applicable Laws except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each Non-U.S. Benefit Plan required to be registered or that is intended to receive favorable tax treatment under applicable tax Laws has been registered, and to the extent applicable, determined to satisfy the requirements of such tax Laws. Except as required by applicable Law or maintained by a Governmental Entity, no material Non-U.S. Benefit Plan is a defined benefit pension plan.

(iv) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has any current or contingent liability or obligation in respect of a plan that is subject to Section 412 or 302 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA. With respect to each such Benefit Plan(A) the Company and its ERISA Affiliates have complied in all respects with the minimum funding requirements of Sections 412 of the Code and 302 of ERISA except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and no waiver from minimum funding standards (as described in Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA) is in effect, (B) there have been no violations of the applicable benefits restrictions under Section 436 of the Code except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (C) no lien on the assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has arisen under ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code, nor does the Company or any ERISA Affiliate expect such lien to arise, (D) since the Applicable Date, there have been no events described in Sections 4043 or 4062(e) of ERISA, nor does the Company or any ERISA Affiliate expect such events to occur, except in each case with respect to any such event for which reporting is waived, and (E) the premiums described in Section 4006 of ERISA payable to the PBGC under Section 4007 of ERISA have been timely paid except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “ERISA Affiliate” means any corporation or trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

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(v) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has maintained, established, participated in or contributed to, or is or has been obligated to contribute to, or has otherwise incurred any obligation or liability (including any contingent liability) under, any plan that is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 4063 or Section 4063 of ERISA).

(vi) No Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree life insurance, health or other welfare benefits to any person, except as may be required by Section 4980B of the Code or any similar Law. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company has adequately reserved the right to amend or terminate each such Benefit Plan to reflect the changes made since December 31, 2014, and those anticipated to be effective January 1, 2019 under the plans set forth in items 2 and 3 on Section 5.1(h)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

(vii) As of the date hereof, there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened proceedings or litigation relating to the Benefit Plans, other than routine claims for benefits, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(viii) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger will, either alone or in conjunction with any other event (whether contingent or otherwise), (A) result in, or accelerate the time of payment or vesting of, any payment (including severance, change in control, stay or retention bonus or otherwise) becoming due under any Benefit Plan (other than severance pay required by any Law); (B) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Benefit Plan; or (C) result in the acceleration of the time of funding, payment or vesting of any such benefits under any Benefit Plan. No payment or benefit that will be made by the Company or any Subsidiary will be characterized as a parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to gross-up or indemnify any individual with respect to any Tax.

(ix) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each arrangement subject to Section 409A of the Code (if any) has been maintained and administered in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including proposed and final regulations, notices and rulings) thereunder such that no Taxes or interest will be due at or after the Closing in respect of such arrangement failing to be in compliance therewith. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to “gross-up” or otherwise indemnify any individual for the imposition of the excise tax under Section 409A of the Code.

(i) Compliance with Laws; Licenses. The businesses of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been since the Applicable Date, and are not being, conducted in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute or ordinance, common law, or any rule, regulation, standard, judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, arbitration award, agency

 

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requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Entity (collectively, “Laws”), except for violations that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except with respect to regulatory matters covered by Section 6.5, to the Company’s Knowledge, no investigation, audit or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an intention to conduct the same, except for such investigations or reviews, the outcome of which is not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or, subject to the qualifications set forth in clauses (G), (L) and (M) of the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect”, reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has obtained and is in compliance with all licenses, permits, certifications, approvals, registrations, consents, authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions and orders issued or granted by a Governmental Entity necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted, except those the absence of which, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(j) Material Contracts.

(i) Except for (1) this Agreement, (2) Contracts filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports not less than two business days prior to the date hereof and (3) Contracts set forth on Section 5.1(j)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, as of the date hereof, a party to:

(A) any Contract that would be required to be filed by the Company as a “material contract” pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act;

(B) any Contract that (x) materially limits or otherwise materially restricts the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries to engage or compete in any business or geographic area (or that, following the Merger, would by its terms apply such limits or other restrictions to Parent or its Subsidiaries) or (y) has any standstill or similar agreement pursuant to which the Company or its Subsidiaries has agreed not to acquire any assets or securities of another Person;

(C) any Contract under which the Company or its Subsidiaries has (1) licensed or been granted rights from a third party in any Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 5.1(p)(vi)) that is material to the continued operation of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than Contracts with respect to generally commercially available off-the-shelf software or any software licensed under a “free software,” “copyleft” or similar license; or (2) licensed or granted rights to any material Company Intellectual Property, other than in the case of (1) and (2), non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(D) any Contract containing a put, call, right of first refusal or similar right pursuant to which the Company or its Subsidiaries could be required to purchase or sell, or otherwise acquire or transfer, as applicable, any material equity interests of any Person or to contribute material capital;

(E) any Contract containing “most favored nation,” “exclusivity” or similar provisions, in each case other than any such Contracts that (1) may be cancelled without material liability or penalty to the Company or its Subsidiaries upon notice of ninety (90) days or less or (2) are immaterial to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(F) any Contract (other than the Existing Indentures) that prohibits the payment of dividends or distributions in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company or that prohibits the incurrence of indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(G) any Contract (1) providing for the disposition or acquisition of capital stock or other equity interests or assets by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any case for consideration in excess of $1,000,000, to the extent the Company continues to have any indemnification or similar obligations outstanding thereunder or (2) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will acquire any material ownership interest in, or material assets of, any other Person;

(H) any Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has “earn-out” or other material contingent payment obligations;

(I) any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans or credit agreements, security agreements, swaps, derivatives or hedging agreements or other Contracts relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit or other indebtedness (in each case, other than foreign exchange forward Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), in each case in excess of $20,000,000, other than (1) accounts receivables and payables in the ordinary course of business; (2) loans to Subsidiaries of the Company in the ordinary course of business; and (3) extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business;

(J) any Contract providing for cash severance payments in excess of $1,000,000 (other than those pursuant to which such severance payment is required by applicable Law);

(K) any Contract that provides for the establishment or governance of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or other similar agreement with any third Person (it being understood that this clause (K) does not include commercial arrangements where there is no joint ownership by the Company and its counterparty of equity in a Person);

(L) any Contract with a customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) under which the Company and its Subsidiaries generated revenue in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for the fiscal year ended 2017 or (2) under which the Company and its Subsidiaries is expected to generate revenue in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for fiscal year 2018;

 

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(M) any Contract with a vendor or supplier (including outsourcing services) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) under which the Company and its Subsidiaries made payments in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for the fiscal year ended 2017 or (2) under which the Company and its Subsidiaries is expected to make payments in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for fiscal year 2018;

(N) any Contract that is a collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor union, works council, or other labor organization;

(O) any Contract with a Governmental Entity that is a settlement, conciliation, or similar agreement that imposes any material monetary or other material obligation upon the Company or its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement;

(P) any Government Contract under which the Company and its Subsidiaries (1) generated revenue in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate for the fiscal year ended 2017 or (2) is expected to generate revenue in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate for fiscal year 2018; or

(Q) any Contract that is between the Company or its Subsidiaries and any of their respective directors or officers or any Person beneficially owning five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Shares.

Each such Contract described in clauses (A) through (Q) above of this Section 5.1(j)(i) (and those Contracts that would be Material Contracts but for the exception of being filed as exhibits to the Company Reports) is referred to herein as a “Material Contract.

(ii) Each of the Material Contracts (and those Contracts that would be Material Contracts but for the exception of being filed as exhibits to the Company Reports) is valid and binding on the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s Knowledge, each other party thereto and is in full force and effect, except for any scheduled expiration of such Contracts in accordance with their terms and except for such failures to be valid and binding or to be in full force and effect that, individually or in the aggregate with other such failures, are not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party is in default under any Material Contract, in each case except for such defaults that, individually or in the aggregate with other such defaults, are not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of each Material Contract, including all material amendments, waivers and changes thereto.

(k) Real Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have title, in fee or valid leasehold, easement or other rights, in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, to the land, buildings, structures and other improvements thereon and fixtures thereto necessary to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to conduct their business as currently conducted. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the Owned Real Property, (A) the

 

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Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, has good and marketable title to the real property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Owned Real Property”), free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and (B) there are no outstanding options or rights of first refusal to purchase the Owned Real Property, or any portion thereof or interest therein.

(l) Takeover Statutes. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Section 5.2(i), no “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation enacted under state or federal Laws in the United States (each, a “Takeover Statute”) is applicable to the Company, the Shares, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(m) Environmental Matters. Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect: (A) the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been, in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws since the Applicable Date; (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries possess all permits, licenses, registrations, identification numbers, authorizations and approvals required under applicable Environmental Law for the operation of the business as presently conducted; (C) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written claim, notice of violation or citation concerning any violation or alleged violation of any applicable Environmental Law during the past two (2) years which has not been resolved; and (D) there are no writs, injunctions, decrees, orders or judgments outstanding, or any judicial actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, concerning compliance by the Company or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Law.

Notwithstanding any other representation or warranty in this Article V, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.1(e), 5.1(f) and 5.1(g) and this Section 5.1(m) constitute the sole representations and warranties of the Company relating to any Environmental Law.

As used herein, the term “Environmental Law” means any applicable Law, regulation, code, license, permit, order, judgment, decree or injunction from any Governmental Entity concerning (A) the protection of the environment (including air, water, soil and natural resources) or (B) the use, storage, handling, release or disposal of Hazardous Substances, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

As used herein, the term “Hazardous Substance” means any substance presently listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic or radioactive under any applicable Environmental Law, including petroleum and any derivative or by-products thereof.

(n) Taxes.

(i) Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (A) all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (or in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to be included) have been duly and timely filed (taking into account any valid extension of time within which to file), and all Tax Returns filed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries or in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been included are true,

 

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complete and accurate; (B) all Taxes due and payable by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and all Taxes that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts owing or paid to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, Affiliate, shareholder or third party have been duly and timely paid to the appropriate Tax Authority; and (C) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or agreed to extend the time with respect to any Tax assessment or deficiency of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(ii) There are no Liens for material amounts of Taxes upon the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than Permitted Liens.

(iii) There are not pending, or threatened in writing, any audits, actions, claims, examinations, administrative proceedings, court proceedings or other similar proceedings before any Tax Authority (each, a “Tax Proceeding”) in respect of material amounts of Taxes or material Tax matters of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

(iv) All deficiencies asserted or assessments or adjustments made against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to material amounts of Tax for any taxable period for which the period of assessment or collection remains open, if any, have been paid in full or finally settled.

(v) There are no unresolved written claims by a Tax Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is or may be subject to Tax in that jurisdiction.

(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries was either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a transaction intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law) in the past two (2) years.

(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has “participated” in a “listed transaction” as set forth in Treasury Regulation § 1.6011-4(b)(2).

(viii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is a party to or bound by, or currently has any material liability pursuant to, any Tax sharing, allocation, indemnification or similar agreement or arrangement, other than any customary commercial agreement or arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is unrelated to Taxes; (B) is or has been a member of a group (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) filing a consolidated, combined, affiliated, unitary, aggregate or similar income (or other material) Tax Return; (C) has any liability for any Taxes of any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law), as a transferee or successor or by operation of Law; or (D) has entered into a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code (or any predecessor provision) or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law.

 

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(ix) The Company is not and has not been, in the five (5)-year period ending on the date hereof, a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.

(x) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that would reasonably be expected to preclude the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from making a valid election under Section 965(h) or Section 965(n) of the Code.

(xi) Notwithstanding any other representation or warranty in this Article V, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.1(b)(ii), 5.1(e), 5.1(f), 5.1(g), 5.1(h) and this Section 5.1(n) constitute the sole representations and warranties of the Company relating to any Tax, Tax Return or Tax matter.

As used in this Agreement, (A) the term “Tax” (including, with correlative meaning, the term “Taxes”) includes all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, gains, franchise, gross receipts, customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding, excise, production, value added, occupancy and other taxes, duties or assessments of any kind, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and additions, (B) the term “Tax Return” includes all returns and reports (including declarations, disclosures, schedules, claims for refund and information returns) filed or required or permitted to be filed with a Tax Authority relating to Taxes (including amendments or attachments thereto) and (C) the term “Tax Authority” means any Governmental Entity, board, bureau, body, Person, department or authority of any United States federal, state or local jurisdiction or any non-United States jurisdiction, having jurisdiction with respect to any Tax (including the power to impose, determine the amount of, or collect any Tax).

(o) Labor Matters.

(i) Section 5.1(o) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list of any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union, works council or like organization that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise bound by. To the Company’s Knowledge there are no pending or threatened activities or proceedings of any labor or trade union to organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with regard to their employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no such activities or proceedings have occurred within the past two (2) years. There is no strike, dispute, lockout, slowdown, work stoppage or other material labor dispute against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened directly against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no such labor disputes have occurred since the Applicable Date.

(ii) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to labor and employment, including Laws relating to discrimination, equal opportunity, harassment, hours of work and the payment of wages or overtime wages, classification of employees and independent contractors and other individual service providers, health and safety, workers’ compensation, layoffs and plant closings, labor relations and collective bargaining.

 

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(p) Intellectual Property.

(i) Section 5.1(p)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all material (A) Patents, (B) Trademarks and (C) Copyrights, in each case, that are included in the Company Intellectual Property and are the subject of a registration or a pending application for registration (collectively, the “Registered Intellectual Property”). To the Company’s Knowledge, the Registered Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting and enforceable, and is not subject to any outstanding order, judgment or decree adversely affecting the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ use thereof or rights thereto. There are no claims pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing, challenging the validity, enforceability or ownership of any material Registered Intellectual Property. Except as would not have, or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have a valid and enforceable right to use all Intellectual Property used by them, including in their software, solutions, products or services. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries own the Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

(ii) (A) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property rights of any third party, and there are no claims pending or threatened in writing relating to the same, and (B) to the Company’s Knowledge, no Person is infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating any Company Intellectual Property rights, except, in each case (A) and (B), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2017, the software, solutions, products and services of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (A) are free of material bugs, defects, errors, viruses and other contaminants and (B) have not been subject to a recall or, to the Company’s Knowledge, material customer complaints.

(iv) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws with respect to data privacy, collection and use, (B) to the Company’s Knowledge, such information technology assets and systems are sufficient for the current needs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (C) to the Company’s Knowledge, since January 1, 2017 there have been no material breaches or outages of (or deletions or damages to or unauthorized access to or disclosure of) information technology assets and systems owned or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries (or data stored or transmitted thereby). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has ensured that all Processing of Personal Data carried out by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, to the extent applicable, is in compliance with the GDPR, . For purposes of this Agreement, “GDPR” means Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016, and “Personal Data”, “Processing” and “Supervisory Authority” shall each have the respective meaning set out in Article 4 of the GDPR.

 

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(v) Notwithstanding any other representation or warranty in this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.1(e), 5.1(f), 5.1(g) and 5.1(j) and this Section 5.1(p) constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company relating to Intellectual Property.

(vi) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property rights or similar proprietary rights, including such rights in and to (A) trademarks, service marks, certification marks, logos, trade and corporate names, Internet domain names, trade dress, any applications and registrations for the foregoing and the renewals thereof, and all goodwill associated therewith and symbolized thereby (collectively, “Trademarks”); (B) patents (including utility and design patents) and the applications for the same, including any divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof (collectively, “Patents”); (C) trade secrets and know-how; (D) copyrights, including copyrights in all published and unpublished works of authorship and any registrations and applications, renewals, extensions, restorations and reversions thereof (“Copyrights”); and (E) software, including computer programs and software source and object codes, data and databases.

(q) Anti-Corruption Compliance.

(i) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s Knowledge and when acting on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, any officer, director, or employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries has, since January 1, 2013, taken any action that would cause any of the foregoing to be in material violation of any provision of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anticorruption laws.

(ii) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s Knowledge and when acting on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, any officer, director, or employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, has, since January 1, 2013, made, offered, authorized, or received any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other similar unlawful payment in material violation of the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anticorruption laws.

(r) Economic Sanctions Compliance.

(i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are and, since January 1, 2013, have been in material compliance with all applicable economic sanctions laws or trade restrictions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or Her Majesty’s Treasury (collectively, “Sanctions”).

 

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(ii) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors or officers is a Person (A) that is organized, located or resident in a country or territory with which dealings are broadly restricted, prohibited, or made sanctionable under any Sanctions (including Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria), (B) with whom dealings are restricted or prohibited by, or are sanctionable under any Sanctions, or (C) a person or entity owned or controlled by any person or entity identified in (A) or (B).

(iii) Without limiting the foregoing, since January 1, 2013, to the Company’s Knowledge, there have been no claims or investigations, nor are there any pending or threatened (in writing) claims or investigations, by any governmental agency or regulatory authority of potential violations against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to compliance with Sanctions.

(s) Export Controls Compliance.

(i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has, since January 1, 2013, conducted its export transactions in material compliance with all applicable United States export and re-export control laws, economic sanctions laws, and all other applicable export control laws in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, “Export Control Laws”).

(ii) Since January 1, 2013, to the Company’s Knowledge, there have been no claims or investigations, or any actual or threatened (in writing) legal or regulatory enforcement proceedings against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries alleging a violation of any of the Export Control Laws.

(t) Insurance. All material errors and omissions, general liability, business interruption, product liability, property liability and any other material insurance policies maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Insurance Policies”) are in full force and effect and all premiums due with respect to all Insurance Policies have been paid as of the date of this Agreement, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Proxy Statement; Other Information. The Proxy Statement (as defined Section 6.3) will not, at the time it is filed with the SEC, or at the time it is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company or at the time of the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section 6.4), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. No representation is made by the Company with respect to statements made in the Proxy Statement based on information supplied, or required to be supplied, by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

 

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(v) Brokers and Finders. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective officers, directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability or obligation for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with the Merger, other than J.P. Morgan.

(w) Government Contracts. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, since the Applicable Date, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has (i) been suspended or debarred from bidding on government contracts by a Governmental Entity; (ii) been audited or investigated by any Governmental Entity with respect to any Government Contract other than in the ordinary course of business; (iii) conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a mandatory disclosure to any Governmental Entity with respect to any alleged or potential irregularity, misstatement or omission arising under or relating to a Government Contract; (iv) received from any Governmental Entity any written notice of breach, cure, show cause or default with respect to any Government Contract or (v) had any Government Contract terminated by any Governmental Entity for default or failure to perform.

As used herein, the term “Government Contract” means any customer Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and a Governmental Entity or entered into by any Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a subcontractor at any tier in connection with a Contract between another Person and a Governmental Entity.

5.2 Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub. Except as set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to the Company by Parent prior to entering into this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter” and, together with the Company Disclosure Letter, the “Disclosure Letters”) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure, Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

(a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted, except where the failure to be so organized or in good standing, or to have such power or authority, are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Parent has made available to the Company a complete and correct copy of the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation and bylaws, or similar governing document, of Parent and Merger Sub, each as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(b) Authority. No vote of the holders of any class or series of partnership interest of Parent is necessary pursuant to applicable Law, the limited partnership agreement of Parent or otherwise to approve this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite partnership or corporate power and authority and

 

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has taken all partnership or corporate action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, and, with respect to Parent, the Commitment Letters and the Definitive Agreements contemplated by the Commitment Letters, and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such other agreements and to consummate the Merger and any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement and such other agreements. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent and Merger Sub and assuming due execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

(c) Governmental Filings and Approvals; No Violations; Etc.

(i) Other than the filings, reports, approvals and/or notices (A) pursuant to Section 1.3, (B) under the HSR Act, (C) under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or foreign or state securities or “blue sky” laws, (D) under stock exchange rules and (E) the filings, approvals and/or notices listed in Section 5.2(c)(i) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by Parent or Merger Sub with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to be obtained by Parent or Merger Sub from, any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except those the failure of which to make or obtain are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(ii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or similar governing documents of Parent or Merger Sub; (B) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) or a default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under, the loss of a benefit under or the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the assets of Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to, any material Contract binding upon Parent or Merger Sub; or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 5.2(c)(i), a violation of any Law to which Parent or Merger Sub is subject, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) of this Section 5.2(c)(ii), for any such breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration, loss of benefit or change that, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the officers of Parent, threatened against Parent or Merger Sub that seek to enjoin, or are reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor Merger

 

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Sub is a party to or subject to the provisions of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Entity specifically imposed upon Parent or Merger Sub which, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) Financing Ability.

(i) Parent has received and accepted as of the date of this Agreement (A) executed equity commitments letters, dated as of the date hereof, between the Parent and the Equity Financing Sources identified therein, including all exhibits, schedules, annexes and amendments to such letter in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Equity Commitment Letters”), pursuant to which each of the Equity Financing Sources has committed to provide, subject to the terms and conditions therein, cash in an amount up to the aggregate amount set forth therein for the purposes of financing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Equity Financing”), which Equity Commitment Letters provide that the Company is a third party beneficiary thereof and is entitled to enforce such agreements, in each case to the extent expressly provided for in the enforcement provisions of the Equity Commitment Letters, (B) executed preferred securities commitment letters, dated as of the date hereof, between Parent and the Preferred Financing Sources identified therein, including all exhibits, schedules, annexes and amendments to such letter in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Preferred Commitment Letters”), pursuant to which each of the Preferred Financing Sources has committed to provide, subject to the terms and conditions therein, cash in an amount up to the aggregate amount set forth therein for the purposes of financing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Preferred Financing”) and (C) an executed debt commitment letter, dated as of the date hereof, between Merger Sub and the Debt Financing Sources identified therein, including all exhibits, schedules, annexes and amendments to such letter in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Debt Commitment Letter” and, together with the Equity Commitment Letters and Preferred Commitment Letters, the “Commitment Letters” ), pursuant to which the Debt Financing Sources party to the Debt Commitment Letter have committed to lend the amounts set forth therein (the provision of such funds as set forth therein, but subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, the “Debt Financing” and, together with the Equity Financing and Preferred Financing, the “Financing”) and the related fee letter, of which only the fee amounts, price caps, other economic terms and “market flex” and “securities demand” terms have been redacted; provided, that in accordance with customary practice, such redacted terms are confidential and do not affect the conditionality of or the amount of cash proceeds available to Parent and Merger Sub from the Debt Financing (the “Fee Letter”). Except for the redactions to the Fee Letter described above, Parent has delivered to the Company true, correct and complete copies of the executed Commitment Letters and the Fee Letter as of the date hereof.

(ii) The Commitment Letters have not been amended, restated or otherwise modified or waived prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, no such amendment, restatement or modification is contemplated (other than any amendment to add or replace lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar entities as permitted by Section 6.11(a)) and the respective commitments contained in the Commitment Letters have not been withdrawn, rescinded, amended, restated or otherwise modified in any respect prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, the Commitment Letters are in full force and effect and constitute the legal, valid and binding

 

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obligation of Parent and Merger Sub and, to Parent’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, and there are no conditions precedent or contingencies (including pursuant to any “market flex” and “securities demand” provisions) related to the funding of the full amount of the Financing pursuant to the Commitment Letters, other than as expressly set forth in the Commitment Letters. Assuming the satisfaction of the conditions contained in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2, the net proceeds contemplated by the Financing, together with available cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any (it being acknowledged that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the amount or availability of cash as of the Effective Time), Parent and Merger Sub, will, in the aggregate, be sufficient to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, and to make (A) the payment of any amounts required to be paid pursuant to Article IV, (B) the payment of any debt required to be repaid, redeemed, retired, cancelled, terminated or otherwise satisfied or discharged in connection with the Merger, and (C) the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Financing and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be paid by Parent or Merger Sub (collectively, the “Required Payments”). As of the date of this Agreement, no event has occurred which would or would reasonably be expected to constitute a breach or default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would or would reasonably be expected to constitute a default) on the part of Parent or any of its Affiliates under the Commitment Letters or, to Parent’s knowledge, any other party to the Commitment Letters. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 and the completion of the Marketing Period, Parent has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the Financing will not be satisfied or that the full amount of the Financing will not be available to Parent and Merger Sub on the Closing Date. Except for Fee Letters with respect to fees and related arrangements with respect to the Debt Financing, of which Parent has delivered correct and complete copies to the Company prior to the date of this Agreement, of which only the fee amounts, price caps, other economic terms and “market flex” and “securities demand” terms have been redacted; provided, that in accordance with customary practice, such redacted terms are confidential and do not affect the conditionality of or the amount of cash proceeds available to Parent and Merger Sub from the Debt Financing, there are no side letters or other Contracts or arrangements related to the funding of the full amount of the Financing necessary to fund the Required Payments other than as expressly set forth in the Commitment Letters and delivered to the Company prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Parent has fully paid or caused to be paid all commitment fees or other fees required to be paid on or prior to the date hereof in connection with the Financing. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub under this Agreement are not subject to any conditions regarding the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to obtain financing (or obtain financing on terms acceptable to Parent or Merger Sub) for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(iii) None of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates has entered into any Contract with any Person prohibiting such Person from providing or seeking to provide debt or preferred equity financing to any Person in connection with a transaction relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Compliant” means, with respect to the Required Information, that (A) such Required Information does not, when taken as a whole, contain any untrue statement of material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, or, when taken as a whole, omit to state any material fact regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries necessary to

 

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make such Required Information not materially misleading under the circumstances under which such statements have been made, (B) the financial statements and other financial information included in such Required Information are sufficient to permit the Company’s independent auditors to issue customary “comfort” letters with respect to such financial statements and financial information to the financing sources providing the portion of the Financing consisting of debt securities (including “negative assurance” comfort that is customary in the context of a transaction where the most recent financial statements are not more than 135 days old) in order to consummate any offering of debt securities as is customary for Rule 144A offerings of high-yield debt securities on any day of the Marketing Period, and which such auditors have confirmed they are prepared to issue on the last day of the Marketing Period, (C) the Company’s independent auditors have not withdrawn, or have not advised the Company or its Subsidiaries in writing that they intend to withdraw, any audit opinion with respect to the audited financial statements contained in the Required Information (it being understood that the Required Information will satisfy this clause (C) if the Company’s independent auditors or another independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Parent have delivered an unqualified audit opinion with respect to such financial statements), and (D) the Company shall not have publicly announced its intention to or determined that it is required to restate any financial statements contained in the Required Information (it being understood that the Required Information will satisfy this clause (D) if such restatement is completed and the applicable Required Information has been amended or the Company has announced or determined that no restatement shall be required, as applicable).

As used in this Agreement, the term “Marketing Period” means the first period of fifteen (15) consecutive business days commencing after the date on which the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 are satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at or immediately prior to the Closing) and during which: (a) Parent has the Required Information from the Company that is Compliant; provided that (x) if the Company in good faith reasonably believes it has provided such Required Information, it may deliver to Parent a written notice to that effect (stating when it believes it completed such delivery), in which case the Company shall be deemed to have provided the Required Information on the date specified in the notice (which date shall not be earlier than the date of such notice) unless Parent in good faith reasonably believes the Company has not completed the delivery of such Required Information and, not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) two (2) business days following the date of the delivery of such notice by the Company, delivers a written notice to the Company to that effect (stating with specificity which Required Information has not been delivered) and (y) for avoidance of doubt, if at any time during such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period, the Required Information provided at the commencement of such period ceases to be Required Information as a result of updated historical information being required to be delivered pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii) of the definition thereof or such Required Information ceases to be Compliant, then such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period shall be deemed not to have commenced until Parent shall have received Required Information that is Compliant, and such delivery shall result in a restart of the Marketing Period; and (b) nothing has occurred and no condition exists that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 to fail to be satisfied assuming the Closing were to be scheduled for any time during such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period; provided that (i) the Marketing Period shall not commence prior to September 4, 2018, (ii) November 23, 2018 shall be disregarded and shall not count as a business day for purposes of calculating such fifteen (15) consecutive business days, (iii) such fifteen (15) consecutive business day period shall either end on or prior to December 21, 2018 or

 

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commence on or after January 2, 2019, and (iv) the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to have commenced if the Required Information is not Compliant; provided, further, that in all circumstances the Marketing Period shall end on any earlier date that is the date on which the proceeds of the Debt Financing are obtained.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Required Information” means (i) the historical financial statements required pursuant to Section 5 of Exhibit D of the Debt Commitment Letter (as in effect on the date of this Agreement) and, with respect to any quarterly financial statements (other than with respect to the fourth quarter of any fiscal year), such quarterly financial statements have been reviewed by the Company’s independent auditors as provided in the procedures specified by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in AU-722, Interim Financial Information (provided that the filing by the Company of such required financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K or its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as applicable, within such time periods will be deemed to satisfy the foregoing requirement); (ii) such information and data reasonably requested by Parent that is already prepared by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the form requested, is in the possession of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not in the possession of Parent or its Affiliates and that is necessary for Parent to prepare the pro forma financial statements identified in Section 6 of Exhibit D of the Debt Commitment Letter, it being understood that such information shall include historical financial information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries necessary to prepare such pro forma financial statements and not include information relating to (x) the proposed aggregate amount of debt and equity financing, together with assumed interest rates, dividends (if any), fees and expenses relating to the incurrence of such debt or equity financing, for the transactions contemplated hereby, (y) the assumed pro forma capitalization of the Company after giving effect to the Closing, the Financing and the refinancing or repayment of any indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith and (z) any post-Closing or pro forma assumed cost savings, synergies and similar adjustments (and the assumptions relating thereto) (all of which adjustments and assumptions contemplated by subclauses (x)-(z) hereof shall be the responsibility of Parent); (iii) such other customary financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries that is reasonably available and as may be reasonably and timely requested in writing by Parent and necessary to permit Parent to prepare a customary preliminary offering memorandum for offerings of high-yield debt securities pursuant to Rule 144A, it being understood that in no event shall Required Information be deemed to include or shall the Company be required to provide (1) a description of all or any component of the Financing, including any “description of notes”, (2) risk factors relating solely to all or any component of the Financing, (3) separate subsidiary financial statements or any other information of the type required by Rule 3-09, Rule 3-10 or Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X or “segment reporting”, (4) Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K or (5) other information customarily excluded from an offering memorandum involving an offering of high-yield debt securities pursuant to Rule 144A and (iv) customary authorization letters or management representation letters with respect to the financial statements and financial information to the Debt Financing Sources.

(iv) Solvency. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is entering into this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Assuming (w) satisfaction of the conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the Merger, (x) the representations and warranties of

 

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the Company set forth in Article IV are accurate and complete, (y) the Required Information fairly presents the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the periods covered thereby and the consolidated results of earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby and (z) any financial forecasts of the Company made available to Parent as of the date hereof have been prepared in good faith upon assumptions that were reasonable at such time (it being understood that the Company is not making any representation and warranty with respect thereto as a result of such assumption in this clause (iv)), then immediately after the Effective Time and giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Financing), Parent and the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will, after giving effect to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, including the funding of the Financing and any Alternative Financing, payment of the Per Share Merger Consideration, and payment of all other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the payment of all related fees and expenses, be Solvent at and after the Closing. As used in this Section 5.2(e)(iv), the term “Solvent” shall mean, with respect to a particular date, that on such date, after giving effect to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (a) the sum of the assets, at a fair valuation, of Parent, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) and Parent will exceed their debts, (b) Parent, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) has not incurred and does not intend to incur, and Parent does not believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as such debts mature, and (c) Parent, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will have sufficient capital and liquidity with which to conduct their businesses. For purposes of this Section 5.2(e)(iv), “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means any (i) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured, and (ii) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured; provided, however, that, for purposes of any contingent or unmatured claims, the amount of “debt” shall be deemed the maximum estimated amount of liabilities reasonably likely to result from such contingent or unmatured claims.

(f) Limited Guarantees. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent has delivered to the Company true, correct and complete copies of the Limited Guarantees, duly executed by the Guarantors in favor of the Company. The Limited Guarantees are in full force and effect and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, and have not been amended, withdrawn or rescinded in any respect as of the date hereof. As of the date hereof, no event has occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would result in a default by a Guarantor under a Limited Guarantee.

(g) Capitalization of Merger Sub. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists solely of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which are validly issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at all times through the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent or a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent, free and clear of all Liens. Merger Sub has not conducted

 

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any business prior to the date hereof and has no, and at no time prior to the Effective Time will have any, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(h) Brokers. No agent, broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could have any liability prior to the Effective Time.

(i) Ownership of Company Capital Stock. Except as set forth on Section 5.2(i) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, other than as a result of this Agreement, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective general or limited partners, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, managers or members beneficially owns any Shares, including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(j) Takeover Statutes. No Takeover Statute or anti-takeover provision in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub is applicable to Parent or Merger Sub, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(k) Certain Arrangements.

(i) Parent has delivered to the Company a true, correct and complete copy of the agreement set forth on Section 5.2(k) of the Parent Disclosure Letter. Such agreement is in full force and effect and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and, to the knowledge of the officers of Parent, the other parties thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, and has not been amended, withdrawn or rescinded in any respect as of the date hereof.

(ii) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Contracts or commitments to enter into Contracts (whether oral or written, binding or informal) between Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and (a) any director, officer or management employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, on the other hand, that relate in any way to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including employment, investment or other arrangements that would be triggered by the consummation of the Merger) or (b) any stockholder of the Company (in its capacity as such), on the other hand, pursuant to which such stockholder would be entitled to receive consideration of a different amount or nature than the consideration set forth in Section 4.1(a) or pursuant to which such stockholder agrees to vote against any Superior Proposal or agree to vote in favor of the Merger.

(l) Information Supplied. The statements made in the Proxy Statement based on information supplied, or required to be supplied, by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein will not, at the time the Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC, or at the time it is first mailed to the stockholders of the

 

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Company or at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not false or misleading, and will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(m) No Other Company Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.1 or in any certificate delivered in connection with this Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub hereby acknowledge and agree that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, nor any other Person, has made or is making any other express or implied representation or warranty to any Person with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective business or operations, including with respect to any information provided, disclosed or delivered to Parent or Merger Sub, including in or via virtual or actual data rooms, information memoranda, management presentations, due diligence discussions, emails, telephone calls, or in-person meetings. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, nor any other Person, will have or be subject to any liability or indemnification obligation to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person resulting from the delivery, dissemination or any other distribution to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person, or the use by Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person, of any such information provided or made available to them by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, or any other Person, including any information, documents, estimates, projections, forecasts or other forward-looking information, business plans, cost-related plans or other material provided or made available to Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person in or via virtual or actual data rooms, confidential information memoranda, management presentations, due diligence discussions, emails, telephone calls, or in-person meetings.

(n) Non-Reliance on Company Estimates, Projections, Forecasts, Forward-Looking Statements and Business Plans. In connection with the due diligence investigation of the Company by Parent and Merger Sub, Parent and Merger Sub have received and may continue to receive from the Company certain estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as certain business plan and cost-related plan information, regarding the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses and operations. Parent and Merger Sub hereby acknowledge that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, with which Parent and Merger Sub are familiar, that Parent and Merger Sub are taking full responsibility for making their own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as such business plans and cost-related plans, so furnished to them (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, forward-looking information, business plans or cost-related plans), and that Parent and Merger Sub will have no claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, or any other Person, with respect thereto. Accordingly, Parent and Merger Sub hereby acknowledge that neither the Company nor any of

 

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its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, nor any other Person, has made or is making any representation or warranty with respect to such estimates, projections, forecasts, forward-looking statements, business plans or cost-related plans (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, forward-looking statements, business plans or cost-related plans). Nothing in this Section 5.2(n) shall affect any representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.1 or any certificate delivered in connection with this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

Covenants

6.1 Interim Operations.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries that, after the date hereof and prior to the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII and the Effective Time (unless Parent shall otherwise approve in writing (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)), and except as otherwise expressly required or permitted by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law, the business of it and its Subsidiaries shall be conducted in all material respects in the ordinary course of business and, to the extent consistent with the foregoing and the restrictions in the next sentence, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to preserve their business organizations substantially intact, maintain satisfactory relationships with Governmental Entities, customers, suppliers, employees and other business relationships having significant business dealings with them) and keep available the services of their key employees and agents; provided that any action specifically permitted by the exceptions to the restrictions set forth in clauses (i)—(xviii) of this Section 6.1(a) shall be deemed in compliance with this sentence. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII and the Effective Time, except (w) as otherwise expressly required or permitted by this Agreement, (x) as Parent may approve in writing (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (y) as is required by applicable Law or (z) as set forth in Section 6.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company will not and will not permit its Subsidiaries to:

(i) adopt any change in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other applicable governing documents;

(ii) merge or consolidate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person, except for any such transactions among wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

(iii) make any acquisition of any business or any assets in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate, other than acquisitions of assets acquired from the Company’s vendors or suppliers in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(iv) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer, encumber or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant, transfer, lease, license, guarantee or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for, or give any Person a right to subscribe for or acquire (including options, warrants or other rights of any kind), any shares of capital stock or other equity securities (other than (A) in respect of Company Options, RSUs and PSUs outstanding as of the date of this Agreement as required by their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (B) the issuance of shares by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company);

(v) make any loans, advances, guarantees or capital contributions to or investments in any Person in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate (in each case, other than to or in the Company, any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company);

(vi) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock (except for (A) dividends paid by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to any other direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and (B) the payment of any dividend declared prior to the date hereof and related dividend equivalents on those RSUs that were being credited with dividend equivalents prior to the date hereof; provided that in no event shall such dividend exceed $0.5225 per Share) or enter into any agreement with respect to the voting of its capital stock;

(vii) reclassify, split, combine, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock (other than the retention or acquisition of any Shares tendered by current or former employees or directors in order to pay the exercise price of any Company Options or Taxes in connection with the exercise or vesting of Company Options, RSUs or PSUs);

(viii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee such indebtedness of another Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business under the Existing Credit Agreements in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed, as of any time, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreements as of June 30, 2018 by more than $50,000,000 and that may be repaid at any time without premium or penalty;

(ix) make any material changes with respect to financial accounting policies or procedures, except as required by GAAP;

(x) except as with respect to Transaction Litigation, which shall be governed by Section 6.14, and appraisal litigation which shall be governed by Section 4.2(f), settle, waive or release any litigation or other proceedings before a Governmental Entity if such

 

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settlement, waiver or release (A) with respect to the payment of monetary damages, involves the payment of monetary damages that exceed $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate, net of any amount covered by insurance or indemnification or (B) with respect to any non-monetary terms and conditions therein, imposes or requires actions that would have a material effect on the continuing operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(xi) except as would not reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect Parent or any of its Affiliates (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) after the Effective Time, (A) make, revoke or change any Tax election; (B) settle, consent to or compromise any Tax Proceeding or any Tax claim or assessment or surrender a right to a Tax refund, respectively, in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate; (C) consent to any extension or waiver of any limitation period with respect to any Tax claim or assessment; (D) file an amended Tax Return; (E) enter into a closing agreement with any Tax Authority regarding an amount of Taxes or Tax matter; (F) change any method of Tax accounting; or (G) take any action that would reasonably be expected to preclude the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from making a valid election under Section 965(h) or Section 965(n) of the Code;

(xii) transfer, sell, lease, license, mortgage, pledge, surrender, encumber, divest, cancel, abandon or allow to lapse or expire or otherwise dispose of any material assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries, other than (A) Permitted Liens, (B) transactions solely among the Company and/or its wholly owned Subsidiaries that would not result in a material increase in the Tax liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (C) non-exclusive licenses to customers and resellers in the ordinary course of business with respect to any Intellectual Property or (D) transactions involving the sales, leases, licenses or other dispositions of assets (other than pursuant to clause (C)) with a fair market value not in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate or (E) abandonment of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii) other than as required pursuant to the terms in effect on the date of the Agreement of any Benefit Plan or as required by applicable Law: (A) enter into or amend any agreement providing compensation or benefits to any Service Provider, except for amendments that do not materially increase compensation or benefits, (B) enter into, adopt, amend, modify or terminate any compensation or benefit plans (other than routine amendments or renewals to benefit plans that do not materially increase benefits or result in materially increased costs), (C) accelerate the vesting or payment of any cash or equity award held by any former or current Service Provider, (D) hire or engage the services of any individual who is expected to hold a position of vice president or above and have an annual base salary equal to or above $300,000, or (E) increase the compensation provided to any current or former Service Provider, except for any such increases that result from actions otherwise permitted under this paragraph (xiii) or (F) pay any material bonus or incentive compensation; or (G) to fund the plans or arrangements set forth on Section 6.1(a)(xiii) of the Parent Disclosure Letter;

(xiv) enter into any Contract which would limit (i) the incurrence of indebtedness or (ii) the declaration and payment of the dividends in respect of the Shares, RSUs and PSUs pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(vi) by the Company or its Subsidiaries;

 

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(xv) except as required by applicable Law or GAAP, (A) revalue in any material respect any of its properties, assets, including writing off notes or accounts receivables, other than in the ordinary course of business or (B) make any material change in any of its accounting principles or practices;

(xvi) (A) incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures other than capital expenditures not to exceed $41,000,000 in the aggregate during any six (6) month period from June 30, 2018 to the Closing Date (provided, that such amount shall be committed or incurred in the ordinary course of business on a pro-rated basis for the portion of any six (6) month period elapsed between the date hereof and the Closing Date); (B) enter into, modify, amend or terminate any Material Contract (which, for purposes of this Section 6.1(a)(xvi), shall be deemed not to include any Benefit Plans), other than Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business with customers, suppliers or independent contractors or regarding real property (but not a Contract that would constitute a Material Contract under Section 5.1(j)(i)(B) or any Contract that cannot be cancelled without material liability or penalty to the Company or its Subsidiaries upon notice of ninety (90) days or less); (C) maintain insurance at less than current levels or otherwise in a manner inconsistent with past practice; (D) engage in any transaction with, or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, any Affiliate of the Company or other Person covered by Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404; (E) effectuate a “plant closing,” “mass layoff” (each as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 or any similar Law) or other collective employee layoff, collective redundancy, or similar event; (F) grant any material refunds, credits, rebates or other allowances to any end user, customer, reseller or distributor, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business; or (G) waive or release any material claim other than in the ordinary course of business;

(xvii) propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; or

(xviii) agree, authorize or commit to do any of the foregoing.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time, and nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations. Prior to the Effective Time, each of Parent and the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

6.2 Acquisition Proposals.

(a) Go Shop. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the forty-fifth (45th) calendar day after the date of this Agreement (the day beginning at 12:01a.m. (New York City time) immediately following such forty-fifth (45th) calendar day, the “Go-Shop Period End Date”), the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, consultants, accountants and other advisors or representatives (such directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, consultants, accountants and other advisors or representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) shall have the right to, directly or indirectly:

 

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(i) initiate, solicit and encourage any inquiry or the making of any proposal or offer from any Person that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal and to otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt by any Person to make an Acquisition Proposal, including by way of (A) releasing, waiving, modifying and not enforcing existing standstill provisions in order to make Acquisition Proposals to the Company Board in accordance with the terms hereof until the later of (1) the Go-Shop Period End Date and the earlier of the date on which such Person ceases to be an Excluded Person and the Cut-Off Date and (B) providing access to non-public information to such Person and its Representatives, Affiliates, and prospective equity and debt financing sources, so long as such Person has executed a confidentiality agreement with customary terms, taken as a whole, that are not materially less restrictive to such Person than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in Section 9.8) (it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need not contain a standstill provision that covers, or otherwise prohibit the making, or amendment, of an Acquisition Proposal during, the period described in clause (A) above or, to the extent so determined by the Company in accordance with Section 6.2(j), any period thereafter (any such confidentiality agreement, an “Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement”)); provided, that the Company shall substantially concurrently (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter) make available to Parent and Merger Sub any non-public information concerning the business, operations, performance or condition of the Company or its Subsidiaries that the Company provides to any such Person that was not previously made available to Parent or Merger Sub; provided, further, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not pay, agree to pay or cause to be paid, or reimburse, agree to reimburse or cause to be reimbursed, the expenses of any such Person in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, other than in connection with any Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal resulting in a valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3(b);

(ii) initiate, engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Person regarding any Acquisition Proposal; or

(iii) otherwise cooperate with, assist or participate in or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions or negotiations with, or any effort or attempt to make any Acquisition Proposal by, any Person.

(b) No Solicitation. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.2, from (A) the Go-Shop Period End Date, with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 6.2(b) below, or (B) the date hereof, with respect to clauses (iv) and (v) of this Section 6.2(b) below, until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of the directors and officers of it or its Subsidiaries shall, and the Company shall instruct and direct, and use reasonable best efforts to cause (and the failure of the Company to direct its Representatives to comply with this Section 6.2 promptly upon knowledge of any breach by such Representatives of Section 6.2 shall be deemed a breach of this Section 6.2 by the Company), its and its Subsidiaries’ other Representatives not to, directly or indirectly:

 

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(i) initiate, solicit, propose or knowingly encourage or facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal;

(ii) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions (other than informing any Person of the provisions contained in this Section 6.2(b)) or negotiations regarding, or provide any non-public information or data to any Person relating to, any Acquisition Proposal or any proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal;

(iii) otherwise knowingly encourage or facilitate any effort or attempt to make an Acquisition Proposal;

(iv) take any action to exempt any third party from the restrictions on “business combinations” contained in Section 203 of the DGCL or any other applicable Takeover Statute or otherwise cause such restrictions not to apply; or

(v) authorize, approve, endorse, recommend, or execute or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other Contract relating to an Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, to the extent expressly permitted by Section 6.2(c)) (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”).

Notwithstanding the occurrence of the Go-Shop Period End Date, until the date which is fifteen (15) days after the Go-Shop Period End Date (the “Cut-Off Date”), the Company may continue to engage in the activities described in Section 6.2(a) with respect to any Excluded Person (for so long as such Person is an Excluded Person), together with such Excluded Person’s Affiliates, Representatives and prospective financing sources (all in their capacities as such), including with respect to any amended Acquisition Proposal submitted by the Excluded Person following the Go-Shop Period End Date but prior to the Cut-Off Date (and not after the condition in Section 7.1(a) has been satisfied), and the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.2(b)(i), (ii) or (iii) shall not apply with respect thereto.

(c) Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (and subject to Section 6.2(a) and the last paragraph of Section 6.2(b)), at any time prior to, but not after the condition in Section 7.1(a) has been satisfied, the Company and its Representatives may (A) provide information to any Person (including to such Person’s Representatives, Affiliates, and prospective equity and debt financing sources (in their capacities as such)) in response to a request therefor by such Person but only if such Person has made a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal and the Company did not materially breach Section 6.2(b) in respect of such Person and receives from such Person an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, and substantially concurrently (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter) makes available to Parent and Merger Sub any non-public information concerning the business, operations, performance or condition of the Company or its Subsidiaries that the Company provides to any such Person that was not previously made available to Parent or Merger Sub; (B) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to such a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; or (C) after having complied with Section 6.2(g),

 

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authorize, adopt, approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable or propose to authorize, adopt, approve, recommend or declare advisable (publicly or otherwise) such bona fide written Acquisition Proposal, if and only to the extent that, (x) prior to taking any action described in clause (A), (B) or (C) above, the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof determines in good faith after consultation with its outside legal counsel that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (y) in each such case referred to in clause (A) or (B), prior to taking such action the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof has determined in good faith after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and (z) in the case referred to in clause (C) above, the Company Board or any such duly constituted committee thereof determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal.

(d) Notice of Acquisition Proposals. The Company agrees that it will promptly (and, in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours) notify Parent if any proposals, offers or requests for non-public information with respect to an Acquisition Proposal are received by, or any discussions or negotiations regarding an Acquisition Proposal are sought to be initiated or continued with, it or any of its Representatives, which notice shall include a summary of the material terms and conditions of any such proposals, offers or requests, the identity of the Person making any such proposals, offers or requests for information, and, if applicable, copies of any requests, proposals or offers, including proposed agreements, made in writing, and thereafter shall keep Parent reasonably informed, on a prompt basis (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours, of the material terms of any such proposals, offers or requests (including any amendments thereto) and any material developments with respect to the status of any such proposals, offers or requests or discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.

(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

Acquisition Proposal” means (i) any proposal or offer from any Person with respect to a merger, investment, joint venture, partnership, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, license, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction or series of related transactions involving the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that would result in such Person beneficially owning 20% or more of the total voting power of any class of equity securities of the Company or 20% or more of the consolidated total assets or revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) any direct or indirect acquisition by any Person resulting in, or proposal or offer, which if consummated would result in, any Person becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of 20% or more of the total voting power or of any class of equity securities of the Company, or 20% or more of the consolidated total assets (including equity securities of its Subsidiaries) or revenues of the Company, in the case of each of clause (i) and clause (ii), other than the Merger.

Excluded Person” means any Person from whom the Company or any of its Representatives has received after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Go-Shop Period End Date, a written Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board determines in good faith (such determination to be made no later than two (2) business days after the Go-Shop Period End Date), after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel,

 

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constitutes a Superior Proposal or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal; provided that (x) any Person shall cease to be an Excluded Person if, at any time after the Go-Shop Period End Date, the Acquisition Proposal submitted by such Person is withdrawn or terminated (it being understood that any amendment, modification or replacement of such Acquisition Proposal shall not be deemed a withdrawal of such Acquisition Proposal if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal, as so amended, modified or replaced, constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal) and (y) no investment fund or financial sponsor with whom the Company has executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with a potential Acquisition Proposal or private investment in the Company during the period beginning on December 28, 2017 and ending on the date of this Agreement nor any of their respective controlled Affiliates shall be considered an Excluded Person. For the avoidance of doubt, an Excluded Person, together with its Affiliates, shall all be deemed the same Excluded Person.

Intervening Event” means any event, occurrence, development or state of facts or circumstances (but specifically excluding any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal) occurring after the date hereof and that was neither known to, nor reasonably foreseeable by, the Company Board prior to the date hereof, but becomes known to the Company Board after the date of this Agreement.

Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that does not arise out of or result from a material violation by the Company of Section 6.2(b) and would result in any Person becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total assets (on a consolidated basis) or more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity securities of the Company that the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof has determined in its good faith judgment after consultation with outside legal counsel and its financial advisor (after taking into account any revisions to the terms of the transaction contemplated by Section 6.2) is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal, regulatory and financial (including as to financing), timing and other aspects of the proposal and would, if consummated, result in a transaction more favorable to the Company’s stockholders (in their capacities as such) from a financial point of view than the Merger (after taking into account any revisions to this Agreement made or proposed by Parent in accordance with Section 6.2(g)).

(f) No Change of Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 6.2, the Company Board and each committee of the Company Board shall not:

(i) (A) withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify), in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company Recommendation with respect to the Merger, (B) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement, (C) authorize, approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable, or publicly propose to authorize, approve, recommend or otherwise declare advisable, any Acquisition Proposal or proposal reasonably likely to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, or (D) fail to recommend, in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, against any Acquisition Proposal that is a tender offer or exchange offer subject to Regulation 14D promulgated under the Exchange Act within ten (10) business days after the

 

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commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of such tender offer or exchange offer, it being understood and agreed that any communication made in accordance with Section 6.2(h), or the failure by the Company Board or any committee thereof to take a position with respect to such tender offer or exchange offer, shall not be deemed a Change of Recommendation if such communication is made or such position is taken prior to the tenth (10th) business day after the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of such tender offer or exchange offer (any action described in clauses (A) through (D), a “Change of Recommendation”); or

(ii) authorize, cause or permit the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than any Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(c) and other than pursuant to the termination of this Agreement in compliance with Section 6.2(g) and Section 8.3(a)) relating to any Acquisition Proposal.

(g) Change of Recommendation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time prior to the time, but not after, the condition in Section 7.1(a) has been satisfied, the Company Board may make a Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal or in response to an Intervening Event, in either case, if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, or may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3(b) to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to such a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that the Company Board shall not take such action unless:

(i) the Company shall have complied in all material respects with this Section 6.2(g);

(ii) the Company shall have provided prior written notice (a “Determination Notice”) to Parent at least five (5) business days in advance (the “Notice Period”) to the effect that the Company Board intends to take such action and specifying in reasonable detail the circumstances giving rise to such proposed action, including, in the case such action is proposed to be taken in connection with a Superior Proposal, the information specified by Section 6.2(d) with respect to such Superior Proposal;

(iii) the Company shall have, and shall have caused its financial and legal advisors to be available, during the Notice Period, for negotiations with Parent and its Representatives in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement such that the failure to take such action would no longer be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law; provided, however, that in the event of any material revisions to the terms of such Superior Proposal, the Company shall be required to deliver a new Determination Notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of this Section 6.2(g)(iii) with respect to such new Determination Notice and the revised Superior Proposal contemplated thereby, except that the Notice Period commencing upon the delivery of such new Determination Notice shall be reduced to three (3) business days (it being understood that the delivery of any such new Determination Notice shall not shorten the original five (5) business day Notice Period);

 

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(iv) at or following the end of such Notice Period (inclusive of any Notice Period following the delivery of any new Determination Notice(s) in accordance with Section 6.2(g)(iii)), the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that, in the case of a Change of Recommendation in connection with a Superior Proposal, such Acquisition Proposal remains a Superior Proposal (including taking into account any adjustments in the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in connection with Section 6.2(g)(iii) above) and that failure to take such action would continue to be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law (taking into account any revisions to this Agreement made or proposed in writing by Parent prior to the end of the latest Notice Period pursuant to clause (iii) above); and

(v) in the event of a termination of this Agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, the Company shall have validly terminated this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.3(b) and prior to or concurrently with such termination paid the Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 8.5(b)(iii).

(h) Certain Permitted Disclosure. Nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall be deemed to prohibit the Company or the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under U.S. federal or state Law with regard to an Acquisition Proposal, including taking and disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to the Company’s stockholders), or (ii) making any “stop-look-and-listen” communication to the Company’s stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act (or any similar communications to the Company’s stockholders); provided, that any public disclosure (other than “stop-look-and-listen” communications or similar communications of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof that relates to any determination or the approval, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof with respect to any Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be a Change of Recommendation unless, in connection with such disclosure, the Company Board or committee thereof publicly states that its recommendation with respect to this Agreement has not changed.

(i) Existing Discussions. Without limiting the rights of the Company under Section 6.2(c), from and after the Go-Shop Period End Date or, with respect to any Excluded Person, the Cut-Off Date (or such earlier time that such Person ceases to be an Excluded Person), the Company agrees that it will (and will cause its Subsidiaries and will instruct and direct, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause (and the failure of the Company to direct its Representatives to comply with this Section 6.2 promptly upon knowledge of any breach by such Representatives of Section 6.2 shall be deemed a breach of this Section 6.2 by the Company), its and their respective Representatives to) (A) immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, communications, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal, (B) promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days thereof) deliver a written notice to each such Person to the effect that the Company is ending all activities, communications, discussions or negotiations with respect to such Person effective as of such date, which notice will request the prompt return or destruction of all non-public information concerning the Company or its

 

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Subsidiaries theretofore furnished to any such Person with whom a confidentiality agreement was entered into at any time and shall cease providing any further information to any such Person or its Representatives and (C) terminate all access granted to any such Person and its Representatives to any physical or electronic data room. The Company agrees that it will take the necessary steps to promptly inform the individuals or entities referred to in the first sentence hereof of the obligations undertaken in this Section 6.2.

(j) Standstill Provisions. From the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not release any third party from, or waive, amend or modify any provision of, or grant permission under or fail to enforce, any standstill provision in any confidentiality agreement in connection with an Acquisition Proposal to which the Company is a party that remains in effect following the execution of this Agreement; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company may waive any such standstill provision to the extent necessary to permit a third party to make an Acquisition Proposal, in each case to the extent permitted by and in accordance with this terms of this Section 6.2.

6.3 Proxy Filing. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement (and in any event within 20 business days), a proxy statement in preliminary form relating to the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section 6.4) (such proxy statement, including any amendment or supplement thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) and, subject to Section 6.2, shall include the Company Recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The Company will provide Parent and its legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on drafts of the Proxy Statement and other documents related to the Stockholders Meeting prior to filing such documents with the applicable Governmental Entity and mailing such documents to the Company’s stockholders. The Company will consider in good faith for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and such other documents related to the Stockholders Meeting all comments reasonably and promptly proposed by Parent or its legal counsel and the Company agrees that all information relating to Parent and its Subsidiaries included in the Proxy Statement shall be in form and content satisfactory to Parent, acting reasonably.

6.4 Stockholders Meeting. The Company will take, in accordance with applicable Law and its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, all action necessary to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene a meeting of holders of Shares (the “Stockholders Meeting”) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date that the SEC staff informs the Company that it has no further comments on the preliminary Proxy Statement, to consider and vote upon the adoption of this Agreement, and the Company shall conduct in a timely manner a “broker search” in accordance with Rule 14a-13 of the Exchange Act in connection therewith; provided that in no event shall the Company be required to hold the Stockholders Meeting prior to the fifth business day after the earlier of (x) the Cut-Off Date and (y) the first date from and after the Go-Shop Period End Date as of which no Person qualifies as an Excluded Person. Following the distribution of the Proxy Statement pursuant to Section 6.3, the date of the Stockholders Meeting may not be adjourned or postponed, except the Stockholder Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time and at any time by the Company (and shall be adjourned or postponed by the Company at the reasonable request of Parent in circumstances

 

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described in clauses (b) or (d)): (a) with the consent of Parent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); (b) for the absence of a quorum; (c) as the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof determines in good faith is required by applicable Law, including in connection with the discharge of the fiduciary duties of the Company Board to the extent necessary to allow for the filing or distribution of any supplemental or amended disclosure with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which the Company Board has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) is necessary under applicable Laws and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated to and reviewed by the Company’s stockholders prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting; or (d) to solicit additional proxies if the Company or Parent reasonably believes doing so may be necessary to obtain the Requisite Company Vote. Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, the Company Board shall recommend such adoption and shall use reasonable best efforts to take customary lawful actions to solicit such adoption of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Company Board makes a Change of Recommendation, the Company nevertheless shall continue to submit this Agreement to the stockholders of the Company for adoption at the Stockholders Meeting unless this Agreement shall been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Stockholders Meeting.

6.5 Filings; Other Actions; Notification.

(a) Proxy Statement. The Company shall promptly notify Parent of the receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and of any request by the SEC for any amendment or supplement thereto or for additional information and shall promptly provide to Parent copies of all correspondence between the Company and/or any of its Representatives and the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement. The Company and Parent shall each use its reasonable best efforts to promptly provide responses to the SEC with respect to all comments received in respect of the Proxy Statement by the SEC and the Company shall cause the definitive Proxy Statement to be mailed as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event no later than five (5) business days) after the date the SEC staff advises that it has no further comments thereon or that the Company may commence mailing the Proxy Statement.

(b) Cooperation. (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) their respective reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable, including, subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.5, preparing and filing as promptly as reasonably practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings and to obtain as promptly as practicable all consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, Parent and the Company shall have the right to review in advance and, to the extent practicable, each will consult with the other on and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, all of the information relating to Parent or the Company, as the case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted

 

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to, any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing rights, each of the Company and Parent shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable.

(ii) Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to contest, defend and appeal any threatened or pending legal action by a Governmental Entity or private party that would adversely affect the ability of the Parties to consummate, or otherwise delay the consummation of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby; provided that Transaction Litigation shall be governed by Section 6.14).

(iii) Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company or its Subsidiaries to take or agree to take any action with respect to its business or operations unless the effectiveness of such agreement or action is conditioned upon Closing.

(c) Certain Regulatory Matters.

(i) Without limiting the generality of, and in furtherance of, the other provisions of this Section 6.5, each of the Parties, as applicable, agrees to prepare and file, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, any necessary and appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act and any filings, notices or reports advisable or required under any applicable non-U.S. antitrust, competition, merger control, foreign investment or national security or similar Laws. As promptly as practicable following the date hereof, the Parties shall take the actions set forth on Schedule 6.5(c)(i). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to this Section 6.5, each of the Company and Parent agree to, as promptly as reasonably practicable, provide or cause to be provided to each and every U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state, local or foreign court or Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable antitrust, competition, foreign investment, national security or similar Laws non-privileged information and documents requested by any such Governmental Entity or that are necessary, proper or advisable to permit consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of, and in furtherance of, the other provisions of this Section 6.5, each of Parent and Merger Sub agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, any and all steps and to make, or cause to be made, any and all undertakings necessary to obtain any consents required under or in connection with each applicable antitrust (including the HSR Act), competition, merger review, foreign investment, national security, or similar Law, or requirement of any Governmental Entities charged with overseeing any of the foregoing (collectively, “Foreign Investment and Antitrust Laws”), and to enable all waiting periods under each applicable Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law to expire, to obtain all clearances under each applicable Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law, and to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under each applicable Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law, whether asserted by any Governmental Entity or any other Person (including to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any injunction, restraining order or other Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or

 

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restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby), in each case so as to permit and cause the Closing and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to occur as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and in any event no later than the Termination Date, including offering, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order or any other type of agreements, transactions, or arrangements for: (A) the sale, license, assignment, transfer, divestiture or other disposition of any capital stock, assets, business or portion of business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries; and (B) any conduct remedy or other restriction, requirement or limitation on operation or ownership of the assets, business, or portion of assets or the businesses of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries (provided that neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall be required to take (and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not take) any such actions pursuant to this Section 6.5(c)(ii) that are not conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing).

(iii) From the date hereof until the earlier of (x) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII and (y) the Effective Time, Parent shall not, and shall not permit Merger Sub or any of their respective controlled Affiliates to, take any action with the intention to, or that could reasonably be expected to (including by way of acquiring or agreeing to acquire (or being acquired or agreeing to be acquired) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in or otherwise making any investment in (or by selling equity or other investments or by permitting transfers of equity or other investments in itself to), any Person located in the United States or any other country or region in the world and principally operating in the same lines of business as the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or portion thereof, or otherwise acquiring or agreeing to acquire or make any investment in any assets, or agreeing to a commercial or strategic relationship with any such Person) (or by selling equity or other investments or by permitting transfers of equity or other investments in itself that would reasonably be expected to) (A) impose any material delay in the obtaining of, or increase the risk of not obtaining, any consent, approval, authorization, declaration, waiver, license, franchise, permit, certificate or order of any Governmental Entity under applicable Foreign Investment and Antitrust Laws necessary to consummate the Merger or the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period, (B) materially increase the risk of any Governmental Entity under applicable Foreign Investment and Antitrust Laws entering an Order prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (C) materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(iv) Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Section 6.5, each of Parent and Merger Sub shall use its respective reasonable best efforts to file as promptly as reasonably practicable application(s) to the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) pursuant to section 178 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”) for the purposes of seeking the FCA’s approval for Parent and the Merger Sub acquiring control (within the meaning of the FSMA) of Dun & Bradstreet Limited as a result of the Merger and thereafter to use their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain the FCA’s notice in writing that it has determined to approve such acquisitions of control resulting from the Merger. For the avoidance of doubt, references to the FSMA shall be read, where applicable, with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Controller) (Exemptions) Order 2009 (the “2009 Order”) and control is determined in accordance with FSMA as amended by the 2009 Order.

 

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(v) Without limiting the generality of, and in furtherance of, the other provisions of this Section 6.5, except, in the case where the Parties reasonably determine the Person is not a “foreign person” under 31 C.F.R. § 800.216, each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the CFIUS Approval, including (A) as promptly as practicable submitting a draft joint voluntary notice to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) with respect to the Merger in accordance with 31 C.F.R § 800.401(f), (B) as promptly as practicable submitting a formal joint voluntary notice to CFIUS with respect to the Merger in accordance with 31 C.F.R § 800.401(a) after receipt of confirmation that CFIUS has no further comment to the draft filing, (C) responding to any information request by CFIUS or any other agency or branch of the U.S. government in connection with the CFIUS review or investigation of the transactions contemplated hereby within three (3) business days of receiving such request, or within such longer period as permitted by CFIUS and (D) taking the actions set forth on Section 6.5(c)(iv) of the Parent Disclosure Letter. “CFIUS Approval” shall mean that (1) CFIUS has issued a written notice that the Merger does not constitute a “covered transaction” pursuant to 31 C.F.R. § 800.207, (2) CFIUS has issued a written notice to the parties that it has concluded a review or investigation of the notification voluntarily provided pursuant to the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, and all rules and regulations thereunder (“DPA”), with respect to the Merger, and has terminated all actions under the DPA, or (3) if CFIUS has sent a report to the President of the United States requesting the President’s decision, the President has announced a decision not to take any action to suspend or prohibit the transactions contemplated hereby.

(vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the avoidance of doubt, Parent and Merger Sub agree that the failure to achieve CFIUS Approval shall not relieve Parent or Merger Sub of their obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are not contingent on Parent or Merger Sub’s achieving CFIUS Approval.

(d) Status. Subject to applicable Laws and the instructions of any Governmental Entity, the Company and Parent each shall keep the other reasonably apprised of the status of matters relating to completion of the Merger, including, subject to applicable Law, promptly furnishing the other with copies of material notices or other material communications received by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of its Subsidiaries, from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor Parent shall permit any of its officers or any other Representatives to participate in any meeting or substantive telephone discussion with any Governmental Entity in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry with respect to the Merger unless, to the extent practicable, (i) it consults with the other Party in advance and (ii) to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, gives the other Party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting or substantive telephone discussion.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.5, materials provided to the other party pursuant to this Section 6.5 may be redacted (i) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company or other similarly confidential information, (ii) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements, and (iii) as necessary to address reasonable privilege concerns.

(f) Parent shall pay all filing fees in connection with the HSR Act, any other Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law, including CFIUS.

 

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6.6 Access and Reports. Subject to applicable Law, upon reasonable notice, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) afford Parent’s officers and other authorized Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout the period prior to the Effective Time, to its employees, properties, books, contracts and records and, during such period, the Company shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to Parent all information concerning its business, properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested; provided, that no investigation pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made by the Company herein; provided, further, that the foregoing shall not require the Company or its Subsidiaries to permit any inspection, or to disclose any information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company would (a) unreasonably interfere with the Company’s business operations, (b) result in a waiver or otherwise jeopardize the protection of any applicable privilege (including attorney-client privilege) or other immunity or protection or (c) contravene any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses or, in any material respect, any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their assets or properties are bound. In the event that the Company withholds information on the basis of the foregoing clauses (a) through (c), the Company shall inform the Parent as to the general nature of what is being withheld and the Company and Parent shall cooperate in good faith to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure that does not suffer from any of the foregoing impediments, including through the use of commercially reasonable efforts to (i) obtain the required consent or waiver of any third party required to provide such information and (ii) implement appropriate and mutually agreeable measures to permit the disclosure of such information in a manner to remove the basis for the objection. All requests for access or information made pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall be directed to the specific executive officer or other Person designated by the Company. All such information shall be governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

6.7 Stock Exchange De-listing. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and rules and policies of the NYSE to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the Shares from the NYSE and the deregistration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time.

6.8 Publicity. The initial press release regarding the Merger shall be a joint press release and thereafter (unless and until a Change of Recommendation has occurred or in connection with Section 6.2(f), and then in either case only in connection therewith) none of the Parties shall issue any press releases or otherwise make any public announcements or make any filings with any third party and/or any Governmental Entity (including any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service) with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of, in the case of Merger Sub or Parent, the Company, and, in the case of the Company, Parent, except as may be required by Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service or by the request of any Governmental Entity; provided, however, that the Parties may make disclosures to the extent consistent with prior public disclosures by the Parties made in accordance with this Section 6.8. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.8 shall not be interpreted to prohibit Parent, Merger Sub or their respective

 

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Affiliates from making ordinary course communications regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to existing or prospective general and limited partners, equity holders, members, managers and investors of any Affiliates of such Person, in each case, who are subject to customary confidentiality restrictions.

6.9 Employee Benefits.

(a) As of the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries will continue the employment of the individuals employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to Effective Time (the “Continuing Employees”). Parent agrees that during the one-year period immediately following the Effective Time (or, if shorter, during a Continuing Employee’s period of employment), Parent shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, to each Continuing Employee (1) base salary or base wages that are no less than the base salary or base wages provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (2) target annual cash bonus opportunities provided to each Continuing Employee that are no less than the target annual cash bonus opportunities provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time and (3) employee benefits (other than equity-based benefits, nonqualified pension and deferred compensation benefits, retiree health and other post-employment welfare benefits and, solely with respect to Continuing Employees primarily based in the U.S., defined benefit pension benefits) that, taken as a whole, are substantially similar in the aggregate to the employee benefits (other than equity-based benefits, nonqualified pension and deferred compensation benefits, retiree health and other post-employment welfare benefits and, solely with respect to Continuing Employees primarily based in the U.S., nonqualified pension benefits and defined benefit pension benefits) provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence, in the event Closing occurs on or prior to December 31, 2018, with respect to Continuing Employees primarily based in the U.S. for the period of time between and including Closing and December 31, 2018, retiree health and other post-employment welfare benefits shall be deemed included into each reference to “employee benefits” in clause (3) of the immediately preceding sentence.

(b) Parent agrees that for at least the period of time set forth next to the applicable Benefit Plan on Section 6.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, Parent shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, to each Continuing Employee severance benefits that are no less favorable in the aggregate than the severance benefits set forth on Section 6.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter with respect to the severance plan(s) in which such Continuing Employee participated immediately prior to the Closing.

(c) For purposes of vesting, determination of benefit level (including, without limitation, with respect to severance, vacation and sick time credit, but, unless required by Law with respect to Continuing Employees primarily based outside of the U.S., excluding benefit accrual or benefit levels under any defined benefit pension plan) and eligibility to participate under the employee benefit plans, programs and policies of Parent and its Subsidiaries providing benefits to any Continuing Employee after the Effective Time (including the Benefit Plans) (the “New Plans”), each Continuing Employee shall be credited with his or her years of service with the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective predecessors before the Effective Time, to

 

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the same extent and for the same purpose as such Continuing Employee was entitled, before the Effective Time, to credit for such service under any similar Benefit Plan in which such Continuing Employee participated or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits with respect to the same period of service. In addition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause each Continuing Employee to be immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time, in any and all New Plans to the extent coverage under such New Plan is replacing comparable coverage under a Benefit Plan in which such Continuing Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time (such plans, collectively, the “Old Plans”), and (ii) for purposes of each New Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits to any Continuing Employee, cause any evidence of insurability requirements, all pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work requirements of such New Plan to be waived for such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents, to the extent such conditions were inapplicable or waived under the comparable Old Plan. Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any eligible expenses incurred by any Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the Old Plan ending on the date such Continuing Employee’s participation in the corresponding New Plan begins to be taken into account under such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year.

(d) Parent hereby acknowledges that a “Change in Control” or other event with similar import, within the meaning of the Benefit Plans that contain such terms, will occur upon the Effective Time.

(e) The Company, and the Company Board, shall, to the extent necessary, take appropriate action, prior to or as of the Effective Time, to approve, for purposes of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the disposition and cancellation or deemed disposition and cancellation of Shares, Company Options, RSUs and PSUs pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by applicable individuals and to cause such dispositions and/or cancellations to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall satisfy in all material respects all notification, consultation and other processes necessary to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which shall include any required notifications and consultation and other processes with respect to any works council, economic committee, union or similar body as required to either (i) obtain an opinion or acknowledgment from any works council, economic committee, union or similar body or (ii) establish that the Parties are permitted to effect the Closing without such opinion or acknowledgment. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Section 6.9 express or implied, shall limit or otherwise prevent or restrict the Company or its Subsidiaries from providing compensation, benefits, and other employment terms and conditions to Continuing Employees in accordance with the requirements of applicable Law or Contract with any labor union, works council or other labor organization.

 

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(g) In the event that Closing occurs prior to the determination and payment of annual bonuses under any Bonus Plan (as defined in the Company Disclosure Letter) with respect to 2018, Seller shall, and shall cause its applicable Affiliates to, determine annual bonuses under such Bonus Plan in a manner consistent with Section 6.9(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter and pay such annual bonuses under such Bonus Plan no later than two and one-half months following the end of the 2018 calendar year.

(h) Following the date hereof, Parent and the Company will cooperate expeditiously and in good faith to establish a retention plan to incentivize and retain designated Service Providers to remain employed by the Company, it being understood that Parent will exercise reasonable best efforts to facilitate the development of such retention plan within (10) business days following the date hereof and Parent and the Company will cooperate to begin to communicate with Service Providers designated to participate in such retention plan promptly thereafter.

(i) The provisions of this Section 6.9 are solely for the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to, or shall, (i) constitute the establishment or adoption of or an amendment to any employee benefit or compensation plan, program, agreement or arrangement or otherwise be treated as an amendment or modification of any Benefit Plan, New Plan or other benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, (ii) limit the right of Parent, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Benefit Plan, New Plan or other benefit plan, agreement or arrangement following the Effective Time, (iii) create any third-party beneficiary or other right (including, but not limited to, a right to employment) in any Person, including any current or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, any participant in any Benefit Plan, New Plan or other benefit plan, agreement or arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof) or (iv) guarantee employment for any period of time for, or preclude the ability of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to terminate any Continuing Employee for any reason.

6.10 Expenses. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with the transactions contemplated in Article IV. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5(f), Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) and Section 8.5, whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such expense.

6.11 Financing and Cooperation.

(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange the Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Commitment Letters (including any “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions applicable thereto) and shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, any replacement of all or any portion of any facilities (or commitments thereof) described in, or any waiver of any provision or remedy under, the Commitment Letters, if such amendment, modification, replacement or waiver (i) reduces the aggregate amount of the Financing available to Parent (including by changing the amount of fees to be paid or original issue discount except by operation of the “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions) to an amount below the amount required for the Required Payments, (ii) imposes new or additional conditions or otherwise expands or amends or modifies

 

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in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub any of the conditions to the receipt of any portion of the Financing that is required to fund the Required Payments or (iii) would or would reasonably be expected to (A) materially delay or prevent the Closing, (B) make the funding of the Financing (or satisfaction of the conditions to obtaining the Financing) in an amount required for the Required Payments less likely to occur or (C) adversely impact the ability of either Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, to enforce its rights against other parties to the Commitment Letters or the Definitive Agreements (as defined below), in any material respect (collectively, the “Prohibited Amendments”). Subject to the limitations set out in the first sentence of this Section 6.11(a), either Parent and Merger Sub may amend, supplement, modify or replace the Commitment Letters as in effect as of the date of this Agreement to add or replace lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar entities who had not executed the Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that, no such addition shall relieve the original Financing Sources of their obligations under the Commitment Letters prior to the funding of the Financing, except as set forth in the Commitment Letters. Parent shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of any such amendment, modification, replacement or waiver. For purposes of this Agreement (other than with respect to any representations made by either Parent or Merger Sub), (x) the term “Financing” shall be deemed to include the financing contemplated by the Commitment Letters as permitted to be amended, modified or replaced pursuant to this Section 6.11 (including any Alternative Financing (as defined below) and (y) the term “Commitment Letters” shall be deemed to include the Commitment Letters as may be permitted to be amended, modified or replaced pursuant to this Section 6.11 and any commitment letters with respect to any Alternative Financing and any related fee letters.

(b) Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to obtain the proceeds of the Financing on the terms and conditions described herein and in the applicable Commitment Letter at or prior to the Closing, including using their reasonable best efforts to: (i) maintain in effect the Commitment Letters pursuant to their respective terms (except for amendments not prohibited by Section 6.11(a)) until the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are consummated, (ii) negotiate and enter into definitive agreements with respect to the Financing on the terms and conditions (including any “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions applicable thereto) contained in the Commitment Letters (“Definitive Agreements”) or on other terms not less favorable to Parent, in the aggregate, than the terms and conditions (including any “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions applicable thereto) contained in the respective Commitment Letters, (iii) satisfy on a timely basis (or obtain the waiver of) all conditions to funding in the Commitment Letters applicable to either Parent or Merger Sub that are within their control and consummate the Financing at or prior to the Closing in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Commitment Letters at or prior to the Closing and otherwise comply with its obligations thereunder, and (iv) enforce their rights under the Commitment Letters in a timely and diligent manner in the event of a breach or other failure to fund the Financing required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, on the Closing Date by the Financing Sources; provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to take any enforcement action unless all conditions precedent set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but which are then capable of being satisfied) and the Company stands ready, willing and able to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and Merger Sub shall give the Company prompt notice: (i) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could reasonably be expected to give rise to any breach or default) by any party to the Commitment Letters or any Definitive Agreement of which they become aware; (ii) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any Financing Source with respect to any actual or threatened breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to the Commitment Letters or any Definitive Agreement or any provisions of the Commitment Letters or any Definitive Agreement that would result in the Financing not being available or that would or would reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impede the Closing; and (iii) if for any reason either Parent or Merger Sub believes in good faith that there is any material possibility that they will not be able to obtain all or any portion of the Financing necessary to fund the Required Payments on the terms, in the manner, or from the sources contemplated by the Commitment Letters or the Definitive Agreements. At the written request of the Company, Parent shall inform the Company in reasonable detail of the status of its efforts to arrange the Debt Financing or Preferred Financing.

(d) In the event any portion of the Debt Financing or Preferred Financing becomes unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated in the Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters, each of Parent and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to, as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such event, take, or cause to be taken, all actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange and obtain alternative financing from the same or alternative sources (i) on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to Parent than those contemplated in the Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters (and with respect to any replacement of the Debt Financing, with conditions to the funding of such alternative financing not more onerous, when taken as a whole, than those conditions and terms contained in the Debt Commitment Letter as of the date of this Agreement) and (ii) in an amount sufficient (when taken together with the Equity Financing and the available portion of the Debt Financing and Preferred Financing) to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to pay related fees and expenses (such alternative financing, the “Alternative Financing”); provided that, Parent shall have no obligation to pay any fees in excess of what it was obligated to pay under the original Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters (taking into account any “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions applicable thereto) nor obtain Debt Financing or Preferred Financing on terms materially worse than the terms contained in the original Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters (including any “market flex” and/or “securities demand” provisions applicable thereto). Parent shall promptly deliver to the Company true and complete copies of all agreements pursuant to which any such alternative source shall have committed to provide Parent and Merger Sub with any portion of the Financing necessary to fund the Required Payments.

(e) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to, shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to use reasonable best efforts to, and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives to provide all cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing (for the purposes

 

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of this Section 6.11(e), the term “Debt Financing” shall be deemed to include customary high-yield non-convertible debt securities offering to be issued or incurred in lieu of all or a portion of any bridge facility contemplated by the Debt Commitment Letter or pursuant to any “market flex” or “securities demand” provisions of the fee letter associated with the Debt Commitment Letter), which reasonable best efforts shall include:

(i) preparing and furnishing to Parent and Merger Sub as promptly as reasonably practicable all Required Information;

(ii) using reasonable best efforts to prepare and furnish to Parent (and, in the case of any required pro forma financial statements, reasonably cooperating with Parent with respect to its preparation of pro forma financial statements) all other financial and pertinent information as may be reasonably requested by either Parent or the Debt Financing Sources and their respective agents to prepare (A) customary bank information memoranda, lender presentations, offering memoranda and private placement memoranda (including under Rule 144A under the Securities Act) and (B) materials for rating agency presentations in connection with such Debt Financing, in each case to the extent such information relates to the business, financial performance or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(iii) providing customary authorization and/or management representation letters to the Debt Financing Sources authorizing the distribution of information to prospective lenders or holders;

(iv) participating (including by making members of senior management with appropriate seniority and expertise available to participate) in a reasonable number of meetings, due diligence sessions, presentations, “road shows”, drafting sessions and sessions with the rating agencies in connection with the Debt Financing upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours;

(v) reasonably cooperating with the Debt Financing Sources’ and their respective agents’ customary due diligence and marketing efforts, including access to documentation reasonably requested by Persons in connection with capital markets transactions;

(vi) furnishing Parent and the Debt Financing Sources promptly, and in any event no later than three (3) business days prior to Closing, with all required documentation and information under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, that any lender, provider or arranger of the Debt Financing has reasonably requested at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date in connection with the Debt Financing;

(vii) assisting Parent and Merger Sub in obtaining corporate and facilities ratings from any rating agencies in connection with the Debt Financing;

(viii) assisting with the execution and delivery as of (but not before and not to be effective until) the Closing any pledge and security documents, other definitive financing documents, or other related certificates or documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent or Merger Sub (including a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to due diligence items related to the offering memorandum and solvency matters in

 

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the form set forth as an annex to the Debt Commitment Letter [and Preferred Commitment Letters]) and otherwise facilitating the pledging of collateral (including cooperation in connection with the pay-off of existing indebtedness to the extent contemplated by this Agreement and the release of related Liens and termination of security interests (including delivering prepayment or termination notices as required by the terms of any existing indebtedness and delivering termination agreements and/or UCC-3 or equivalent financing statements or notices); and

(ix) requesting its and/or its Subsidiaries’ independent auditors to cooperate with the Debt Financing, including by using commercially reasonable efforts to provide “customary” comfort letters (including as to “customary” negative assurances) in connection with the Debt Financing and facilitating direct contact with such independent auditors for participation in a reasonable number of due diligence sessions and other meetings upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Debt Financing Sources” means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide or arrange the Debt Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Debt Commitment Letter and any joinder agreements pursuant thereto or relating thereto, the term “Debt Financing Related Parties” means the Debt Financing Sources and other lenders from time to time party to agreements contemplated by or related to the Debt Financing, including any engagement letters, indentures or credit agreements, and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Debt Financing and their respective successors and assigns, the term “Preferred Financing Sources” means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide the Preferred Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Preferred Commitment Letters and any joinder agreements pursuant thereto or relating thereto, the term “Preferred Financing Related Parties” means the Preferred Financing Sources and other lenders from time to time party to agreements contemplated by or related to the Preferred Financing and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Preferred Financing and their successors and assigns, the term “Equity Financing Sources” means the Persons (if any) that have committed to provide or otherwise entered into agreements in connection with the Equity Financing in connection with the Merger, including the parties to the Equity Commitment Letters and any joinder agreements entered into pursuant thereto or relating thereto and the term “Equity Financing Related Parties” means the Equity Financing Sources and any arrangers, bookrunners, administrative agents, collateral agents and Affiliates of the foregoing, and members, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives involved in the Equity Financing and their successors and assigns, the term “Financing Sources” means, collectively, the Debt Financing Sources, Preferred Financing Sources and the Equity Financing Sources, and the term “Financing Source Related Parties” means, collectively, the Debt Financing Related Parties, Preferred Financing Related Parties and the Equity Financing Related Parties.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.11 to the contrary, (i) nothing in this Section 6.11 shall require such cooperation to the extent it would interfere unreasonably with the business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (ii) prior to the Closing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any commitment or other similar fee or incur or become subject to any other expense, liability or obligation in connection with the Debt Financing or the Preferred Financing that is not subject to reimbursement by Parent hereunder; (iii) none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their Representatives shall be required to (A) authorize, execute or enter into or perform any agreement or take any action or commit to take any action with respect to the Debt Financing or the Preferred Financing that is not contingent upon the Closing or that would be effective prior to the Closing (other than any customary authorization letters or management representation letters referred to in Section 6.11(e)(iii)), (B) enter into any resolution, consent, approval or similar corporate action, including any relating to approving the Debt Financing or the Preferred Financing or any guarantee or pledge of assets in connection therewith that is not contingent on the Closing or (C) make any representation, warranty or certification as to which the Company has determined such representation, warranty or certification is not true; and (iv) nothing shall obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide, or cause to be provided, any legal opinion by its counsel, or to provide any information or take any action to the extent it would result in a violation of Law or loss of any privilege (although the Company shall use commercially reasonably efforts to seek alternative ways to provide such information in a manner that would not result in a loss of any privilege).

(g) The Company hereby consents to the use of its and its Subsidiaries’ logos in connection with the Financing; provided that such logos are used solely in a manner that is not intended to or reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective reputations or goodwill.

(h) All non-public or otherwise confidential information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries obtained by Parent or its Representatives pursuant to this Section 6.11 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that Parent and Merger Sub shall be permitted to disclose confidential information to potential debt and equity financing sources, rating agencies, and their respective counsel for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and their Representatives without the prior written consent of the Company if such potential debt and equity financing sources, rating agencies, and their respective counsel who receive such information are subject to a confidentiality agreement no less restrictive than the Confidentiality Agreement with respect to such information or as provided in the applicable Commitment Letter.

(i) Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and its and their directors, officers, employees and representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with the arrangement of the Financing and the performance of their respective obligations under Section 6.11(e) and any information utilized in connection therewith (other than information provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries), except to the extent such losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith by such indemnified persons. To the extent the Closing does not occur, Parent shall promptly (and, in any event, within thirty (30) days) following the written request by the Company, reimburse the Company and its Subsidiaries for reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries (including those of its accountants (including independent accountants assisting with providing the Required Information or in connection with preparation of pro forma financial information), consultants, legal counsel, agents and other Representatives) in connection with cooperation provided pursuant to this Section 6.11.

 

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(j) In no event will Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates enter into any Contract (i) prohibiting or seeking to prohibit any bank or other potential provider of debt financing from providing or seeking to provide debt financing to any Person or (ii) prohibiting or seeking to prohibit any provider of equity financing (other than the Equity Financing Sources) from providing or seeking to provide equity financing to any Person in each case in connection with a transaction relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or in connection with the Merger; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to any Guarantor, Equity Financing Source, Preferred Financing Source (other than any Preferred Financing Source that is not providing more than a nominal amount of Equity Financing) or any Affiliates of the foregoing.

6.12 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.

(a) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law (and the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law; provided, that the Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification), each present and former director and officer of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or related to such Indemnified Parties’ service as a director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries or services performed by such persons at the request of the Company or its Subsidiaries at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, including with respect to (i) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) actions to successfully enforce this Section 6.12.

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall, and, if the Company is unable to, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time to, obtain and fully pay the premium for the non-cancellable, irrevocable extension of (i) the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, and (ii) the Company’s existing fiduciary liability insurance policies, in each case for a claims reporting or discovery period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time from one or more insurance carriers with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s insurance carrier as of the date hereof with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance (collectively, “D&O Insurance”) with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the insureds as the Company’s existing policies with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of him or her serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior

 

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to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the transactions or actions contemplated by this Agreement). If the Company and the Surviving Corporation for any reason fail to obtain such “tail” insurance policies as of the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, continue to maintain in effect for a period of at least six (6) years from and after the Effective Time the D&O Insurance in place as of the date hereof with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the insureds as provided in the Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof, or the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, use reasonable best efforts to purchase comparable D&O Insurance for such six-year period with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable as provided in the Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be permitted, or Parent or the Surviving Corporation be required, to expend for such policies pursuant to this sentence an annual premium amount in excess of 300% of the annual premiums currently paid by the Company for such insurance; and provided, further, that if the annual premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, the Company or the Surviving Corporation shall obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding such amount.

(c) If Parent or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns shall (i) consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.12.

(d) The provisions of this Section 6.12 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties.

(e) The rights of the Indemnified Parties under this Section 6.12 shall be in addition to any rights such Indemnified Parties may have under the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or under any applicable Laws or under any Contracts with such Indemnified Parties. All rights to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and rights to advancement of expenses relating thereto now existing in favor of any Indemnified Party as provided in the certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation or bylaws of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any indemnification agreement between such Indemnified Party and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall survive the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect any right thereunder of any such Indemnified Party.

(f) From and after the Effective Time until the sixth (6th) anniversary thereof, the organizational documents of the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of individuals who were, prior to the Effective Time, directors, officers or employees of the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or any of their predecessor entities, than are presently set forth in the organizational documents of the Company and its applicable Subsidiary, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any such individuals.

 

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6.13 Agreements Concerning Parent and Merger Sub and the Company.

(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall not engage in any activity of any nature except for activities related to or in furtherance of the Merger. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall take any action that is reasonably likely to prevent or delay the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.5(e)(iii) and 8.6, Parent hereby guarantees the due, prompt and faithful payment, performance and discharge by Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation of, and the compliance by Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation with, all of their respective covenants, agreements, obligations and undertakings under this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and covenants and agrees to take all actions necessary or advisable to ensure such payment, performance and discharge by Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation hereunder. Parent shall, or shall cause the direct holder of the stock of Merger Sub to, immediately following execution and delivery of this Agreement, adopt this Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub in accordance with applicable Law and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub.

6.14 Transaction Litigation. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall promptly notify Parent, and each of Parent and Merger Sub shall promptly notify the Company, of all (i) notices and other communications received by it from any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such party to obtain such consent could be material to the Company, its Subsidiaries or Parent and (ii) civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, investigations or other proceedings commenced or, to such Person’s knowledge, threatened against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, the Company Board or any committee thereof, or against Parent or Merger Sub, in each case in connection with, arising from or otherwise relating to the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (“Transaction Litigation”) (including by providing copies of all pleadings with respect thereto) and thereafter keep such other Party reasonably informed of any material developments with respect to the status thereof. The Company shall (a) give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense, settlement or prosecution of any Transaction Litigation and (b) consult with Parent with respect to the defense, settlement and prosecution of any Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not offer to make or make any payment with respect to any Transaction Litigation or enter into any settlement or similar agreement relating to any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed (it being understood that it would be unreasonable for Parent to withhold or condition consent to any payment, settlement or other agreement in connection with any Transaction Litigation that only requires (x) the issuance of additional disclosure and/or (y) the payment of money in

 

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connection with such settlement in an amount that does not exceed any insurance proceeds that the Company reasonably expects to receive (after consultation with the applicable insurer, in which counsel for Parent shall be permitted to participate) with respect to such claim and any deductible in respect thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, any litigation relating to Dissenting Stockholders shall be governed by Section 4.2(f).

6.15 Existing Company Indebtedness.

(a) The Company shall deliver to Parent copies of payoff letters specifying the aggregate amount required to be paid to fully satisfy all obligations (including principal, interest fees, breakage costs, premiums, expenses and other amounts payable under the Existing Credit Agreements but excluding contingent indemnification obligations and other obligations that expressly survive the termination of the Existing Credit Agreements) that will be outstanding as of the Closing under the Existing Credit Agreements and providing for the release, simultaneously with the receipt of payment thereunder, of all Liens and other security over the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries securing all such obligations.

(b) The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly commence, at Parent’s expense, after the receipt of a written request from Parent to do so, tender offers to purchase, and/or consent solicitations with respect to, one or more series of Existing Senior Notes on such terms and conditions as specified by Parent and in compliance with all applicable terms and conditions of the Existing Indenture (collectively, the “Existing Notes Offers”); provided that (i) the provisions of Section 6.15(e) and Section 6.15(f) shall have been satisfied, and shall continue to be satisfied, in all respects, (ii) Parent shall have provided the Company with drafts of the offer to purchase, related letter of transmittal and other related documents (collectively, the “Existing Notes Offer Documents”) and (iii) the closing of any Existing Notes Offer shall be conditioned on the Closing and shall otherwise comply with all applicable Laws and SEC rules and regulations. The terms and conditions specified by Parent for any Existing Notes Offer shall be only such terms and conditions as are customarily included in offers to purchase debt securities similar to the applicable Existing Senior Notes and in similar situations and shall otherwise be in compliance with all applicable Laws and the terms and conditions of the Existing Indenture. Nothing in this Section 6.15 or in any other provision of this Agreement shall require the Company or any of its Affiliates to purchase, or accept for purchase, any Existing Senior Notes tendered or otherwise submitted for payment prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Subject to Section 6.15(e) and Section 6.15(f), if requested by Parent in writing, in lieu of commencing Existing Notes Offers for any Existing Senior Notes (or in addition thereto) pursuant to Section 6.15(b), the Company shall to the extent permitted by the Existing Indenture use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) issue a notice of optional redemption (collectively, the “Existing Notes Redemption Notice”) for all of the outstanding principal amount of one or more series of Existing Senior Notes pursuant to the requisite provisions of the Existing Indenture or (ii) take actions reasonably requested by Parent that are reasonably necessary for the satisfaction, discharge and/or defeasance of one or more series of Existing Senior Notes pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Existing Indenture, and shall redeem or satisfy, discharge and/or defease, as applicable, such Existing Senior Notes at the Closing in accordance with the terms of the Existing Indenture (collectively, the “Existing Notes

 

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Redemption”); provided that to the extent that any action described in clause (i) or (ii) can be conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing, it will be so conditioned, and, on or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the trustee under the Existing Indenture cash or cash equivalents sufficient to effect such redemption, satisfaction, discharge and/or defeasance (and in the event of any loss with respect to the funds deposited with such trustee Parent shall deposit additional funds sufficient to satisfy such redemption, satisfaction, discharge and/or defeasance, as applicable).

(d) In the event that the Company commences an Existing Notes Offer, the Company covenants and agrees that, promptly following any related consent solicitation expiration date, assuming the requisite consents are received, each of the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries as is necessary shall (and shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the trustee under the Existing Indenture to) execute a supplemental indenture to such Existing Indenture, which shall implement the amendments described in the applicable Existing Notes Offer Documents, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the conditions to the Existing Notes Offers); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors or other representatives, have any obligation to authorize, adopt or execute any supplemental indenture or other agreement that would become effective prior to the Closing. Concurrently with the Closing, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to accept for payment and thereafter promptly pay for, any Existing Senior Notes that have been validly tendered pursuant to and in accordance with the Existing Notes Offers and not properly withdrawn using funds provided by Parent.

(e) Parent shall prepare all necessary and appropriate documentation in connection with any Existing Notes Offers and Existing Notes Redemptions, including the Existing Notes Offer Documents and the Existing Notes Redemption Notice, as applicable; provided, that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to timely furnish the trustee with such executed officers’ certificates, legal opinions and other documentation reasonably requested by the Parent or trustee in connection with any Existing Notes Offers and Existing Notes Redemptions. The Company shall, no less frequently than weekly, or to the extent reasonably requested, more frequently, keep Parent reasonably informed regarding the status, results and timing of the Existing Notes Offers. The Existing Notes Offer Documents (including all amendments or supplements thereto) and all mailings to the holders of any Existing Senior Notes in connection with any Existing Notes Offers and Existing Notes Redemptions shall be subject to the prior review of, and comment by, the Company and its legal counsel, and shall be reasonably acceptable to them. If, at any time prior to the completion of the Existing Notes Offers, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or either Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, discovers any information that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Existing Notes Offer Documents, so that the Existing Notes Offer Documents shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, such Party that discovers such information shall use reasonable best efforts to promptly notify the other Parties, and an appropriate amendment or supplement prepared by Parent describing such information shall be disseminated by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries to the holders of the applicable Existing Senior Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.15(e), the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other Law to the extent applicable in connection with the Existing Notes Offers and such compliance will not be deemed a breach hereof.

 

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(f) In connection with any Existing Notes Offer and any Existing Notes Redemption, Parent may select one or more dealer managers, information agents, depositaries and other agents, in each case as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, to provide assistance in connection therewith and the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, enter into customary agreements with such parties so selected and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to timely furnish the dealer manager(s), information agent(s), depositaries and other agents with such executed officers’ certificates, legal opinions and other documentation reasonably requested by the Parent, dealer manager(s), information agent(s), depositaries and other agents in connection with an Existing Notes Offer; provided that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless, or pay the fees or reimburse the costs and expenses of, any such party, which indemnification, fee and reimbursement obligations shall be borne by Parent pursuant to separate agreements with such parties to which neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be a party or have any obligations under, in each case, that are effective prior to the Closing. Parent shall reimburse the Company and its Subsidiaries for all of their reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Existing Notes Offers or any Existing Notes Redemptions promptly following the incurrence thereof. Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Affiliates from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by any such Person, or to which any such Person may become subject, that arise out of, or is in any way in connection with, the Existing Notes Offers, Existing Notes Redemptions, or any actions taken or not taken by the Company, or taken at the request of Parent, pursuant to this Section 6.15 or the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent such losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith and/or breach of this Agreement by the foregoing indemnified persons. The foregoing reimbursement and indemnification shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

Existing Credit Agreements” means (a) the Revolving Five Year Credit Agreement, dated June 19, 2018, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank N.A. as Syndication Agents, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A., PNC Bank, National Association and Suntrust Bank, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents, and the lenders thereto (the “Existing Revolver Agreement”) and (b) the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated June 19, 2018, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank N.A. as Syndication Agents, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., MUFG Union Bank, N.A., PNC Bank, National Association and Suntrust Bank, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents, and the lenders thereto.

Existing Indenture” means that certain indenture governing the 4.00% Senior Notes due 2020 and the 4.375% Senior Notes due 2022, dated as of March 14, 2006, among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee for the 4.375% Senior Notes and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee for the 4.00% Senior Notes, as amended, supplemented, modified, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

 

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Existing Senior Notes” means (a) the 4.375% senior notes due 2022 and (b) the 4.00% senior notes due 2020.

6.16 Cash Distribution.

(a) If requested by Parent by written notice (an “Intercompany Funding Notice”) to the Company, delivered no later than ten (10) business days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause certain of its Foreign Subsidiaries (in each case, as identified by Parent in the Intercompany Funding Notice and mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company in good faith) to loan, transfer or distribute all of such Foreign Subsidiary’s legally or contractually unrestricted cash balances held in commercial bank accounts in the name of the Company or such Foreign Subsidiaries, in excess of the amount needed for such Foreign Subsidiary’s day-to-day working capital needs, to a member of the Company’s consolidated group for U.S. federal income Tax purposes that is the direct or indirect owner of such Foreign Subsidiary (or the Company, as requested by Parent) (the “Cash Transfer”), such that the amounts so transferred will be available in the bank accounts of the Company no later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date. The Company shall cooperate in good faith with Parent and keep Parent reasonably informed regarding the planning and progress of the Cash Transfer and shall act diligently in order to effectuate each such Cash Transfer in advance of Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall require the Company or any of its Foreign Subsidiaries to distribute, transfer, lend, or cause to be distributed, transferred, or loaned any amounts (i) to the extent that such distribution, transfer or loan would be reasonably likely to, as mutually agreed by Parent and the Company in good faith, interfere with such Foreign Subsidiaries’ operating cash needs arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) to the extent that such distribution, transfer or loan would be subject to withholding or other Taxes or subject the Company and its Subsidiaries to losses or expenses in advance of the Effective Time, unless such losses or expenses are recoverable pursuant to Section 6.16(b), or (iii) to the extent that such distribution, transfer or loan would violate applicable Law, a restriction set forth in any Material Contract, or the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(b) In the event that the Closing does not occur, Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and its and their Representatives from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments, Taxes (including loss of tax attributes) and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with any action taken in accordance with Section 6.16(a). Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, in the event that the Closing does not occur, Parent shall, promptly upon request by the Company, reimburse the Company for all Taxes that are payable to the extent incurred as a result of such Cash Transfer and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses that are incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the Cash Transfer, including hedging costs, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of counsel and accountants in connection with any such Cash Transfer and any additional reasonable and documented out of pocket costs actually incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with this Section 6.16. Without limiting the Company’s obligations set forth in Section 6.16(a), the Parties agree and acknowledge that (i) other than in the event of a Willful and Material Breach by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company’s compliance or failure to comply with this Section 6.16 shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining whether the condition referred to in Section 7.2(b) shall have been satisfied and (ii) the completion of the Cash Transfer is not a condition to the Parent or Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the Closing when required in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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Foreign Subsidiaries” means Subsidiaries of the Company that are organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States (or any political subdivision thereof).

ARTICLE VII

Conditions

7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligation of each Party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by holders of Shares constituting the Requisite Company Vote.

(b) Regulatory Consents. (i) The waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or otherwise been terminated, (ii) all required notifications to the FCA of changes in control of Dun & Bradstreet Limited required as a result of the Merger shall have been delivered to the FCA and the FCA shall have given notice in writing for the purposes of section 189 of the FSMA that it has determined to approve such acquisition of control or shall be treated, by virtue of section 189(6) of the FSMA, as having approved such acquisitions of control and (iii) the approvals set forth in Section 7.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall have been obtained.

(c) Orders. No court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Merger (collectively, an “Order”).

7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the second sentence of Section 5.1(f)(i) (Absence of Certain Changes) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an specific date, in which case any such representation and warranty need only be so true and correct as of such specific date), (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh sentences of Section 5.1(b)(i) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an specific date, in which case any such representation and warranty need only be so true and correct as of such specific date), (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 5.1(a) (Organization, Good Standing and Qualification), Section 5.1(b) (Capital Structure) (other than

 

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the first, fourth, fifth and seventh sentences of Section 5.1(b)(i), which are subject to clause (ii) above), Section 5.1(c) (Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness), Section 5.1(l) (Takeover Statutes) and Section 5.1(v) (Brokers) shall be true and correct in all material respects (without giving effect to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case any such representation and warranty need only be so true and correct as of such specific date), and (iv) all of the other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case any such representation and warranty need only be so true and correct as of such specific date); provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this Section 7.2(a)(iv) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any such representations and warranties are not so true and correct unless the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (v) Parent shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2(a) have been satisfied.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date and Parent shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer of the Company to the effect that the condition set forth in this Section 7.2(b) has been satisfied.

(c) Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, (i) no Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred that is continuing and (ii) no Effect shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and Parent shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer of the Company to the effect that the condition set forth in this Section 7.2(c) has been satisfied.

7.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality qualifications set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty need only be so true and correct as of such specific date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to prevent or have a material adverse effect on the

 

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ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by a senior executive officer of Parent and Merger Sub to the effect that the condition set forth in this Section 7.3(a) has been satisfied.

(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company shall have received at the Closing a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by a senior executive officer of the Company to the effect that the condition set forth in this Section 7.3(b) has been satisfied.

ARTICLE VIII

Termination

8.1 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after adoption of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders referred to in Section 7.1(a), by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent.

8.2 Termination by Either Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Parent or the Company if:

(a) the Merger shall not have occurred by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the nine (9) month anniversary of this Agreement (the “Termination Date”); provided, that a Party shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(a) if the failure of the Merger to occur by the Termination Date is primarily attributable to a failure of such Party to perform any of its covenants or other agreements under this Agreement;

(b) this Agreement has been submitted to the Company’s stockholders for adoption at the Stockholders Meeting (as it may be adjourned or postponed) at which a vote was held with respect to the adoption of the Merger and the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained at such meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof); or

(c) any Order permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall become final and non-appealable (whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote); provided, that unless such Order was primarily caused by a material breach by the Company of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under this Agreement, Parent shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.2(c) if the relevant Order arises under any U.S. Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law, unless Parent pays or causes to be paid to the Company in immediately available funds the Parent Termination Fee in accordance with Section 8.3(c)(iii) prior to or concurrently with such termination.

 

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8.3 Termination by the Company.

This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned by the Company:

(a) at any time prior to the time the Requisite Company Vote is obtained, if (i) the Company Board authorizes the Company, in accordance with Section 6.2, to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal; and (ii) concurrently with the termination of this Agreement the Company enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal; provided that the Company pays or causes to be paid on its behalf to Parent in immediately available funds the Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 8.5(b)(iii) prior to or concurrently with such termination; or

(b) at any time prior to the Effective Time, if there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Parent or Merger Sub in this Agreement, or any such representation or warranty shall have become untrue after the date of this Agreement, such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b) would not be satisfied, except if such breach or untruth is capable of being cured by the Termination Date, the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.3(c) prior to the delivery by the Company to Parent of written notice of such breach or untruth, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such termination, stating the Company’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.3(c) and the basis for such termination, it being understood that the Company will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.3(c) if such breach or untruth has been cured prior to the earlier of (i) such thirtieth (30th) calendar day after such notice is given or (ii) one (1) business days prior to the Termination Date; provided, further, that the Company is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VII not to be capable of being satisfied; or

(c) at any time prior to the Effective Time, (i) if all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior the Closing, but which conditions at such time are capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur) have been satisfied or waived, (ii) the Company has irrevocably confirmed to Parent in writing that (1) all conditions set forth in Section 7.3 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing and other than those conditions the satisfaction of which the Company has irrevocably waived, subject to the occurrence of the Closing and the performance by Parent of all of its obligations in connection with the Closing, including the payment of all amounts owing under Article IV) and (2) the Company is willing, prepared and able to consummate the Closing and (iii) Parent and Merger Sub fail to consummate the Closing by the later of (A) the second (2nd) business day following the date of the notice described in the foregoing clause (ii) and (B) the date on which the Closing was required to have occurred pursuant to Section 1.2 (and the Company was willing, prepared and able to consummate the Closing during normal business hours throughout such period).

8.4 Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by Parent if:

 

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(a) the Company has committed a Willful and Material Breach of its obligations under Section 6.2;

(b) the Company Board or any duly constituted committee thereof shall have made a Change of Recommendation; or

(c) there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Company in this Agreement, or any such representation and warranty shall have become untrue after the date of this Agreement, such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) would not be satisfied, except if such breach or untruth is capable of being cured by the Termination Date, Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.4(c) prior to the delivery by Parent to the Company of written notice of such breach or untruth, delivered at least thirty (30) days prior to such termination, stating Parent’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.4(c) and the basis for such termination, it being understood that Parent will not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.4(c) if such breach or untruth has been cured prior to the earlier of (i) such thirtieth (30th) calendar day after such notice is given or (ii) one (1) business day prior to the Termination Date; provided, further, that Parent is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VII not to be capable of being satisfied.

8.5 Effect of Termination and Abandonment.

(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to this Article VIII, written notice thereof shall be given to the other party or parties hereto, specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability to any Person on the part of any Party (or of any of its Representatives or Affiliates); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, (i) the provisions set forth in (x) Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) and Section 6.16(b) (the provisions set forth in this clause (x), collectively, the “Parent Reimbursement Obligations”), (y) this Section 8.5 and (z) Article IX shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) no such termination shall relieve any Party of any liability or damages to any other Party resulting from any fraud or any Willful and Material Breach of this Agreement prior to such termination, in which case the non-breaching party shall be entitled to sue for damages up to the amount of the Parent Termination Fee; provided, further, that in no event shall a Party be entitled to receive both damages pursuant to this Section 8.5(a) and the Company Termination Fee or the Parent Termination Fee (as applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein. For purposes of this Agreement, “Willful and Material Breach” means a material breach that is a consequence of a deliberate act undertaken by the breaching Party, or the deliberate failure by the breaching Party to take an act it is required to take under this Agreement, with knowledge or intent that the taking of or failure to take such act would, or would reasonably be expected to, cause a breach of this Agreement.

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(i) (A) this Agreement is terminated (1) by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(a) and, at the time of such termination, all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 (other than the condition set forth in Section 7.1(a)) and Section 7.3 have been satisfied or are capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur at the time of such termination, (2) by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(b), or (3) by Parent pursuant to Section 8.4(c), (B) after the date of this Agreement and prior to the event that gave rise to such termination, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made to the Company Board or any Person shall have publicly announced an Acquisition Proposal, and such Acquisition Proposal shall have not have been publicly withdrawn in good faith prior to such event or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 8.2(b), prior to the Stockholders Meeting and (C) during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending twelve (12) months after the date of termination, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have (1) consummated an Acquisition Proposal or (2) entered into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal and an Acquisition Proposal is later consummated (provided that, solely for purposes of this Section 8.5(b)(i), the term “Acquisition Proposal” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.2(e), except that all references to “20%” therein shall be changed to “50%”);

(ii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.4(a) or Section 8.4(b); or

(iii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 8.3(b);

then the Company shall pay Parent the Company Termination Fee, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Parent, which payment shall be made (A) promptly (but in no event later than the consummation of such Acquisition Proposal, in the case of a payment made pursuant to Section 8.5(b)(i), (B) promptly (but in no event later than five (5) days) after the date of such termination, in the case of a payment made pursuant to Section 8.5(b)(ii), and (C) prior to or concurrently with such termination, in the case of a payment made pursuant to Section 8.5(b)(iii). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Company be required to pay Parent the Company Termination Fee on more than one occasion. “Company Termination Fee” means an amount equal to $203,600,764 (subject to reduction pursuant to the last sentence of Section 8.5(d) (if applicable)), except that “Company Termination Fee” shall mean an amount equal to $$81,440,306 (subject to reduction pursuant to the last sentence of Section 8.5(d) (if applicable)) in the event that the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3(b) to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with an Excluded Person with respect to a Superior Proposal and such termination occurs prior to the Cut-Off Date.

(c) In the event that:

(i) this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(a) and, at the time of such termination, the Company would have been entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3(d);

(ii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 8.3(c) or Section 8.3(d);

 

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(iii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 8.2(c) as a result of an Order that arises under U.S. Foreign Investment or Antitrust Law, unless such Order was primarily caused by a material breach by the Company of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or

(iv) (A) this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(a), (B) at the time of such termination, (1) the condition set forth in Section 7.1(b) shall not have been satisfied (in the case of this clause (1), only if such condition has not been satisfied solely as a result of the failure of the waiting period (or any extension thereof) under the HSR Act to have expired or been terminated) or (2) the condition set forth in Section 7.1(c) shall not have been satisfied (in the case of this clause (2) only if such condition has not been satisfied solely as a result of an Order arising under a U.S. Foreign Investment and Antitrust Law), (C) the failure of the condition set forth in Section 7.1(b) or Section 7.1(c) to be satisfied was not primarily caused by a material breach by the Company of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under this Agreement and (D) all other conditions set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but which conditions at such time were capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur);

then Parent shall promptly, (x) but in no event later than five (5) days after the date of such termination, in the case of a termination by the Company, or (y) prior to or concurrently with such termination, in the case of a termination by Parent, pay the Company an amount equal to $380,054,760 (the “Parent Termination Fee”). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Parent be required to pay the Company the Parent Termination Fee on more than one occasion.

(d) In the event this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 8.2(b), then the Company shall be required to reimburse Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Merger, the Financing and the other transactions contemplated herein (including all fees and expenses of financing sources, counsel, accountants, investment banks, advisors and consultants) in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate (the “Expense Reimbursement”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Parent, which payment shall be made promptly (but in no event later than five (5) days) following the delivery by Parent of an invoice, together with reasonable supporting documentation, therefor. The payment of the Expense Reimbursement shall not relieve the Company of any subsequent obligation to pay the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b), but shall reduce on a dollar for dollar basis the Company Termination Fee if such Company Termination Fee subsequently becomes due and payable under Section 8.5(b)(i).

(e) (i) Each of the Parties acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 8.5 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, the Parties would not have entered into this Agreement. Accordingly, if the Company fails to promptly pay the Company Termination Fee or Expense Reimbursement when due pursuant to Section 8.5(b) or Section 8.5(d), or if Parent fails to promptly pay the Parent Termination Fee or the Parent Reimbursement Obligations when due pursuant to Section 8.5(c), Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) or Section 6.16(b), and, in order to obtain such

 

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payment, Parent commences a suit that results in a final and non-appealable judgment against the Company for the amount of the Company Termination Fee or Expense Reimbursement, or any portion thereof, or the Company commences a suit that results in a final and non-appealable judgment against Parent for the amount of the Parent Termination Fee or the Parent Reimbursement Obligations, or any portion thereof, then the Company shall pay to Parent, or Parent shall pay to the Company, as the case may be, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees) of the prevailing Party in connection with such suit, together with interest on the amount of such payment from the date such payment was required to be made until the date of payment at the U.S. prime rate as indicated by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. on the date of such payment, in each case in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 (such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs as described in this Section 8.5(e)(i), subject to the cap set forth in this sentence, the “Enforcement Costs”).

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, upon termination of this Agreement in any circumstance in which Parent has the right to receive payment of the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b), the payment of the Company Termination Fee from the Company pursuant to Section 8.5(b) and, if applicable, the Enforcement Costs set forth in Section 8.5(e)(i) shall be, subject to Section 9.6, the sole and exclusive remedy in such circumstances of any Parent Related Party (as defined in Section 8.6(a)) against the Company, its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives for any loss suffered as a result of any breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement or the failure of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated, and upon payment of such amounts, none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their Representatives shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of Parent and Merger Sub expressly acknowledges and agrees that: in light of the difficulty of accurately determining actual damages with respect to the foregoing, upon any such termination of this Agreement in circumstances in which Parent has the right to receive the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b), the payment of the Company Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b) (and any Enforcement Costs, if applicable), which constitutes a reasonable estimate of the monetary damages that will be suffered by Parent and Merger Sub by reason of breach or termination of this Agreement in such circumstances, shall be in full and complete satisfaction of any and all monetary damages of Parent and Merger Sub in such circumstances arising out of or related to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any breach of this Agreement), the termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any claims or actions under applicable Law arising out of such breach, termination or failure. This Section 8.5(e)(ii) shall not limit the right of Parent or Merger Sub to specific performance of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.6; provided, however, that in no event will Parent or Merger Sub be entitled to both the payment of the Company Termination Fee, on the one hand, and specific performance of this Agreement to consummate the Merger, on the other hand.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, upon termination of this Agreement in any circumstance in which the Company has the right to receive payment of the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(c), the payment of the

 

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Parent Termination Fee from Parent pursuant to Section 8.5(c) and, if applicable, the Enforcement Costs set forth in Section 8.5(e)(i) shall be, subject to Section 9.6, the sole and exclusive remedy in such circumstances of the Company, its Affiliates and their Representatives against any Parent Related Party for any loss suffered as a result of any breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement or the failure of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated, and upon payment of such amounts, none of the Parent Related Parties or any of their Representatives shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Parent or Merger Sub breaches this Agreement (whether willfully (including a Willful and Material Breach), intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise) or fails to perform hereunder (whether willfully (including a Willful and Material Breach), intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise), then, except for the right to seek specific performance in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of Section 9.6, the sole and exclusive remedies of the Company, its Affiliates and their Representatives against any Parent Related Party for any loss suffered as a result of any breach of any covenant or agreement in this Agreement or the failure of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated shall be for either (x) the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.3 and receive payment of the Parent Termination Fee if and when payable and, if applicable, the Enforcement Costs described in Section 8.5(e)(i), or (y) for the Company to seek to recover monetary damages from Parent in accordance with the first proviso of Section 8.5(a)(ii), in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of the Parent Termination Fee, in connection with any termination of this Agreement in a circumstance in which the Parent Termination Fee is not payable, and upon payment of any such amount, no Parent Related Party shall have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event will the Company be entitled to both the Parent Termination Fee (or monetary damages) and specific performance of this Agreement to consummate the Merger. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that: (i) in light of the difficulty of accurately determining actual damages with respect to the foregoing, upon any such termination of this Agreement, the payment of the Parent Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(c) (and any Enforcement Costs, if applicable), which constitutes a reasonable estimate of the monetary damages that will be suffered by the Company by reason of breach or termination of this Agreement shall be in full and complete satisfaction of any and all monetary damages of the Company arising out of or related to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any breach of this Agreement), the termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any claims or actions under applicable Law arising out of any such breach, termination or failure; and (ii) in no event shall the Company be entitled to seek or obtain any recovery or judgment in excess of an amount equal to the Parent Termination Fee against Parent, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective former, current or future stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, agents, other Representatives or the Financing Source Related Parties or any of their respective assets.

 

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8.6 Payments; Non-Recourse Parties.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, under no circumstances will the collective monetary damages payable by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates for breaches under this Agreement, the Limited Guarantees or the Equity Commitment Letters exceed an amount equal to the sum of the Parent Termination Fee and, if applicable, the Enforcement Costs. In no event will any of the Company or any of its Affiliates seek or obtain, nor will they permit any of their Representatives or any other Person acting on their behalf to seek or obtain, nor will any Person be entitled to seek or obtain, any monetary recovery or award in excess of the Parent Termination Fee and, if applicable, the Enforcement Costs against (i) Parent, Merger Sub or the Guarantors; or (ii) the former, current and future holders of any equity, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, attorneys, Financing Source Related Parties, Affiliates (other than Parent, Merger Sub or the Guarantors), members, managers, general or limited partners and assignees of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Guarantors (the Persons in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Parent Related Parties”), and in no event will the Company or any of its Subsidiaries be entitled to seek or obtain any monetary damages of any kind, including consequential, special, indirect or punitive damages, in excess of the Parent Termination Fee against the Parent Related Parties for, or with respect to, this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Preferred Commitment Letters, the Equity Commitment Letters and the Limited Guarantees (subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein and in Section 9.6 of this Agreement) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and, other than obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement, in no event will any Parent Related Party or any other Person have any liability for monetary damages to the Company or any other Person relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the Merger

(b) In no event will the Company seek or obtain, nor will it permit any of its Representatives to seek or obtain, nor will any Person be entitled to seek or obtain, any monetary recovery or monetary award against any Non-Recourse Party (as defined in the Equity Commitment Letters, which exclude, for the avoidance of doubt, Parent and Merger Sub) or any Financing Source Related Party with respect to this Agreement, the Debt Commitment Letter, the Preferred Commitment Letters, the Equity Commitment Letters or the Limited Guarantees or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including any breach by the Guarantors, Parent or Merger Sub), the termination of this Agreement, the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or any claims or actions under applicable Laws arising out of any such breach, termination or failure, other than (i) from any Person that is party to, and solely pursuant to the terms of, any confidentiality agreement with the Company, (ii) from Parent or Merger Sub to the extent expressly provided for in this Agreement and (iii) from the Guarantors under, and solely pursuant to the terms of, the Limited Guarantees and the Equity Commitment Letters. Without limiting the liability of the Guarantors under the Limited Guarantees or the third party beneficiary rights of the Company to the extent expressly specified in the Equity Commitment Letters, it is agreed that none of the Financing Source Related Parties will have any liability to the Company or any of its Affiliates relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Financing or otherwise, whether at law or equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise, and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates will have any rights or claims against any of the Financing Source Related Parties hereunder or thereunder. In addition, in no event will any Financing Source Related Party be liable for consequential, special, exemplary, punitive or indirect damages (including any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) or damages of a tortuous nature.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous and General

9.1 Survival. This Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Article IV, Section 6.9 (Employee Benefits), Section 6.10 (Expenses) Section 6.12 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), Section 6.11(i), Section 6.15(f) and Section 6.16(b) shall survive the consummation of the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in this Section 9.1, no representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the Merger.

9.2 Modification or Amendment. Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the Parties may modify or amend this Agreement, solely by a written agreement executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective Parties; provided, however, that following receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, there shall be no amendment to or waiver of the provisions of this Agreement which by Law or in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NYSE would require further approval by the holders of Shares without such approval; provided, further, that any modification, amendment or waiver of Sections 8.5(e), 8.6, 9.2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 and 9.12, or of any defined term used in any of the foregoing Sections, in each case to the extent such modification, amendment or waiver would affect the rights of a Financing Source Related Party or a Non-Recourse Party under such Section in manner that is materially adverse, shall also be approved in writing by the Financing Source or Non-Recourse Party to the Commitment Letters (or any Definitive Agreements resulting therefrom) affiliated with such Financing Source Related Party or Non-Recourse Party.

9.3 Waiver of Conditions. The conditions to each of the respective Parties’ obligations to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are for the sole benefit of such Party and may be waived by such Party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law; provided, however, that any such waiver shall only be effective if made in writing. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder or under applicable Law shall not constitute a waiver of such rights and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no single or partial exercise by any Party of any of its rights hereunder precludes any other or further exercise of such rights or any other rights hereunder or under applicable Law.

9.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement.

9.5 GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL BE INTERPRETED, CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH PRINCIPLES WOULD DIRECT A MATTER TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of

 

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the State of Delaware or, if such Court of Chancery shall lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal courts of the United States of America located in the County of New Castle, Delaware, solely in respect of the interpretation and enforcement of the provisions of (and any claim or cause of action arising under or relating to) this Agreement and of the documents referred to in this Agreement, and in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or that such action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in said courts or that the venue thereof may not be appropriate or that this Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the Parties irrevocably agree that all claims relating to such action, proceeding or transactions shall be heard and determined in such courts. The Parties hereby consent to and grant any such court jurisdiction over the person of such Parties and, to the extent permitted by Law, over the subject matter of such dispute and agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 9.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and irrevocably agree (i) that any legal proceeding, whether in law or in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise, involving the Debt Financing Related Parties or the Preferred Financing Related Parties arising out of, or relating to, the Merger, the Financing or the performance of services thereunder or related thereto or any transactions expressly contemplated thereby will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the State of New York in the Borough of Manhattan and any appellate court thereof, and each Party submits for itself and its property with respect to any such legal proceeding to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court; (ii) not to bring or permit any of their Affiliates to bring or support anyone else in bringing any such legal proceeding in any other court; (iii) to waive and hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which any of them may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of, and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of, any such legal proceeding in any such court; and (iv) any such legal proceeding will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (except as expressly contemplated by the provisions of the Debt Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letters).

(b) EACH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST OR INVOLVING ANY FINANCING SOURCE RELATED PARTY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE FINANCING). EACH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES HEREBY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY OR FINANCING SOURCE WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) EACH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE

 

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IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) EACH PARTY AND ITS AFFILIATES HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 9.5.

9.6 Specific Performance.

(a) The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy would occur in the event that the Parties do not perform the provisions of this Agreement (including any Party failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder in order to consummate this Agreement) in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) the Parties will be entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches (or threatened breaches) of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof; (B) the provisions of Section 8.5 are not intended to and do not adequately compensate the Company, on the one hand, or Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, for the harm that would result from a breach of this Agreement, and will not be construed to diminish or otherwise impair in any respect any Party’s right to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief; and (C) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without that right, the Parties would not have entered into this Agreement. The Parties hereby agree not to raise any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement by any Party, and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of any Party under this Agreement. Any Party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement will not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with such injunction or enforcement, and each Party irrevocably waives any right that it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or other security. The Parties further agree that (i) by seeking the remedies provided for in this Section 9.6, a Party shall not in any respect waive its right to seek any other form of relief that may be available to a party under this Agreement in the event that this Agreement has been terminated or in the event that the remedies provided for in this Section 9.6 are not available or otherwise are not granted, and (ii) nothing set forth in this Section 9.6 shall require any Party to institute any proceeding for (or limit any party’s right to institute any proceeding for) specific performance under this Section 9.6 prior or as a condition to exercising any termination right under Article VIII (and pursuing damages after such termination), nor shall the commencement of any legal proceeding pursuant to this Section 9.6 or anything set forth in this Section 9.6 restrict or limit any Party’s right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the terms of Article VIII or pursue any other remedies under this Agreement that may be available then or thereafter.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 9.6(a), the Parties hereby further acknowledge and agree that the Company shall be entitled to specific performance of Parent’s obligation to cause the Equity Financing to be funded and to cause Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Closing in accordance with Section 1.2 if, and only if, (A) all conditions set forth in Section 7.1

 

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and Section 7.2 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at or immediately prior to the Closing, but which conditions at such time are capable of being satisfied if the Closing were to occur) have been satisfied or have been waived by Parent at the time when the Closing would be required to occur pursuant to Section 1.2, (B) Parent and Merger Sub fail to consummate the Closing on the date when the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 1.2, (C) the Marketing Period has ended and the Debt Financing and Preferred Financing (and/or, if applicable, the Alternative Financing) has been funded or will be funded in accordance with the terms thereof at the Closing if the Equity Financing is funded at the Closing and (D) the Company has irrevocably confirmed in a written notice to Parent that, if specific performance is granted and the Equity Financing, Preferred Financing and Debt Financing are funded, the Company is prepared to consummate the Closing, and Parent and Merger Sub fail to complete the Closing within three (3) business days after the delivery of the Company’s irrevocable written confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company may concurrently pursue both (A) a grant of specific performance of Parent’s obligation to cause the Equity Financing to be funded and to consummate the Closing to the extent permitted by this Section 9.6(b) and (B) the payment of the Parent Termination Fee, the Parent Reimbursement Obligations and the Enforcement Costs if any are due pursuant to Section 8.5(e)(i); provided that under no circumstances shall the Company be entitled to receive both (A) a grant of specific performance of Parent’s obligation to cause the Equity Financing to be funded and to consummate the Closing and (B) the payment of the Parent Termination Fee, the Parent Reimbursement Obligations and the Enforcement Costs if any due pursuant to Section 8.5(e)(i) or monetary damages.

9.7 Notices. All notices, requests, instructions, consents or other documents to be given hereunder by any Party to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile, email or overnight courier:

If to Parent or Merger Sub:

Star Parent, L.P.

c/o CC Capital

200 Park Ave., 58th Floor

New York, NY 10166

Attention:    Douglas Newton

Email:         newton@cc.capital

with a copy to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention:     Daniel E. Wolf, P.C.

                      Peter Martelli, P.C.

                      Lauren Colasacco

Fax:               (212) 446-4900

Email:            daniel.wolf@kirkland.com

                       peter.martelli@kirkland.com

                       lauren.colasacco@kirkland.com

 

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If to the Company:

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation

103 JFK Parkway, 4th Floor

Short Hills, New Jersey 07078

Attention:        Christie A. Hill, Esq.

Email:              hillc@dnb.com

with a copy to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

Attention:        Ethan Klingsberg

                        Paul M. Tiger

Fax:                 (212) 225-3999

Email:              eklingsberg@cgsh.com

                         ptiger@cgsh.com

or to such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice as provided above. Any notice, request, instruction, consent or other document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving Party upon actual receipt, if delivered personally; three (3) business days after deposit in the mail, if sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of successful transmission, if sent by facsimile or email (provided, that if given by facsimile or email such notice, request, instruction or other document shall be followed up within one business day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described herein); or on the next business day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by an overnight courier. If the last day for the giving of any notice or the performance of any act required or permitted under this Agreement is a day that is not a business day, then the time for the giving of such notice or the performance of such action shall be extended to the next succeeding business day.

9.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any exhibits hereto) and the documents, instruments and other agreements among the Parties contemplated by this Agreement or referred to herein, including the Company Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter, the Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 23, 2018, between CC Capital Partners, LLC and the Company (as may be amended from time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”), the other agreements entered into in connection with preserving the confidentiality of information, the Limited Guarantees and the Equity Commitment Letters, constitute the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the Parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. EACH PARTY AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, ANY

 

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CERTIFICATE DELIVERED HERETO, THE LIMITED GUARANTEES AND THE EQUITY COMMITMENT LETTERS, NEITHER PARENT AND MERGER SUB NOR THE COMPANY MAKES OR HAS RELIED ON ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, STATEMENTS, INFORMATION OR INDUCEMENTS, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS RELIANCE ON ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, STATEMENTS, INFORMATION OR INDUCEMENTS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY STATEMENTS OR OTHER INFORMATION, MADE BY, OR MADE AVAILABLE BY, ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, NOTWITHSTANDING THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO THE OTHER OR THE OTHER’S REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING, AND WAIVES ANY CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION RELATING THERETO.

9.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except (a) as provided in Section 6.12 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), (b) for the right of the Company’s stockholders and equity award holders, after the Effective Time, to receive the aggregate consideration payable pursuant to Article IV and (c) for the right of the Financing Source Related Parties or Non-Recourse Parties, as relevant, pursuant to Sections 8.5(e), 8.6, 9.2, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 and 9.12, each of which shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, each Financing Source Related Party or Non-Recourse Party, as appropriate, which rights set forth in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 9.9 are hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed by Parent and Merger Sub, Parent and the Company hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the other Parties, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that the rights of third-party beneficiaries under Section 6.12 and under clause (b) of this Section 9.9 shall not arise unless and until the Effective Time occurs. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with Section 9.3 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the Parties. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

9.10 Obligations of Parent and of the Company. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of the Company to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of the Company to cause such Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on the part of the Surviving Corporation to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.

 

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9.11 Definitions. Each of the terms set forth in Annex A is defined in the Section of this Agreement set forth opposite such term.

9.12 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties intend that the remedies and limitations thereon contained in Section 8.5(e) and Section 8.6 be construed as an integral provision of this Agreement and that such remedies and limitations shall not be severable in any manner that increases a party’s liability or obligations hereunder or under the Financing or the Limited Guarantees.

9.13 Interpretation; Construction.

(a) The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(b) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

(c) The word “extent” and the phrase “to the extent” used in this Agreement shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such word or phrase shall not mean simply “if”.

(d) The Parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

(e) The rule known as the ejusdem generis rule shall not apply, and, accordingly, general words introduced by the word “other” shall not be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact that they are preceded by words indicating a particular class of acts, matters or things.

 

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(f) Each Party has or may have set forth information in its respective Disclosure Letter in a section thereof that corresponds to the section of this Agreement to which it relates. The fact that any item of information is disclosed in a Disclosure Letter to this Agreement shall not be construed to mean that such information is required to be disclosed by this Agreement.

(g) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural form of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.

9.14 Assignment. This Agreement and the rights, interests and obligations hereunder shall not be assignable by operation of law or otherwise without the prior written consent of (x) the Company (in the case of an assignment by either Parent or Merger Sub) or (y) Parent (in the case of an assignment by the Company); provided, that (i)_Parent and Merger Sub each shall be permitted to assign all of its rights (but not obligations) under this Agreement to any of their respective Affiliates without the consent of the Company unless such assignment would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) Parent may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations pursuant to this Agreement to the Debt Financing Sources pursuant to the terms of the Debt Commitment Letter for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assigning as collateral in respect of the Debt Financing; provided, further, that (A) no assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder and (B) no such assignment shall affect the obligations of any Person who has committed to provide Equity Financing or Preferred Financing under the applicable Equity Commitment Letter or Preferred Commitment Letter or the Guarantors under the Limited Guarantees. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 9.14, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.14 shall be null and void.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the Parties as of the date first written above.

 

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Thomas Manning

  Name:
  Title:

 

STAR PARENT, L.P.
By:  

/s/ Douglas Newton

  Name:
  Title:

 

STAR MERGER SUB, INC.
By:  

/s/ Douglas Newton

  Name:
  Title:

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER]


Table of Contents

ANNEX A

DEFINED TERMS

 

Term

  

Section

2009 Order    6.5(c)(iv)
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement    6.2(a)(i)
Acquisition Proposal    6.2(e)
Affiliate    5.1(a)
Agreement    Preamble
Alternative Acquisition Agreement    6.2(b)(v)
Alternative Financing    6.11(d)
Applicable Date    5.1(e)(i)
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception    5.1(c)(i)
Benefit Plan    5.1(h)(i)
Book-Entry Share    4.1(a)
business day    1.2
Bylaws    2.2
Capitalization Date    5.1(b)(i)
Cash Transfer    6.16(a)
Certificate    4.1(a)
Certificate of Merger    1.3
CFIUS    6.5(c)(iv)
CFIUS Approval    6.5(c)(iv)
Change of Recommendation    6.2(f)(i)
Charter    2.1
claim    5.2(e)(iv)
Closing    1.2
Closing Date    1.2
Code    4.2(g)
Commitment Letters    5.2(e)(i)
Company    Preamble
Company Board    Recitals
Company Disclosure Letter    5.1
Company Intellectual Property    5.1(p)(vi)
Company Material Adverse Effect    5.1(a)
Company Option    4.3(a)
Company Recommendation    5.1(c)(ii)
Company Reports    5.1(e)(i)
Company Termination Fee    8.5(b)(iii)
Company’s Knowledge    5.1(g)
Compliant    5.2(e)
Confidentiality Agreement    9.8
Constituent Corporations    Preamble
Continuing Employees    6.9(a)
Contract    5.1(d)(ii)
control, controlling, controlled by, under common control with    5.1(a)

 

 

Ann. A-1


Table of Contents

Term

  

Section

Copyrights    5.1(p)
Cut-Off Date    6.2(b)
D&O Insurance    6.12(b)
debt    5.2(e)(iv)
Debt Commitment Letter    5.2(e)(i)
Debt Financing    5.2(e)(i)
Debt Financing Related Parties    6.11(e)
Debt Financing Sources    6.11(e)
Definitive Agreements    6.11(b)
Determination Notice    6.2(g)(ii)
DGCL    1.1
Disclosure Letters    5.2
Dissenting Shares    4.1(a)
Dissenting Stockholders    4.1(a)
Effect    5.1(a)
Effective Time    1.3
Enforcement Costs    8.5(e)(i)
Environmental Law    5.1(m)
Equity Commitment Letters    5.1(e)(i)
Equity Financing    5.2(e)(i)
Equity Financing Related Parties    6.11(e)
Equity Financing Sources    6.11(e)
ERISA    5.1(h)(i)
ERISA Affiliate    5.1(h)(iv)
ERISA Plan    5.1(h)(ii)
ESPP    4.3(e)
Exchange Act    5.1(a)
Exchange Fund    4.2(a)
Excluded Person    6.2(e)
Excluded Share    4.1(a)
Existing Credit Agreements    6.15(f)
Existing Indenture    6.15(f)
Existing Notes Offer Documents    6.15(b)
Existing Notes Offers    6.15(b)
Existing Notes Redemption    6.15(c)
Existing Notes Redemption Notice    6.15(c)
Existing Revolver Agreement    6.15(f)
Existing Senior Notes    6.15(f)
Expense Reimbursement    8.5(d)
Export Control Laws    5.1(s)(i)
extent, to the extent    9.13(c)
FCA    6.5(c)(iv)
FCPA    5.1(q)(i)
Fee Letter    5.2(e)(i)
Financing    5.2(e)(i)

 

Ann. A-2


Table of Contents

Term

  

Section

Financing Source Related Parties    6.11(e)
Financing Sources    6.11(e)
Foreign Investment and Antitrust Laws    6.5(c)(ii)
Foreign Subsidiaries    6.16
FSMA    6.5(c)(iv)
GAAP    5.1(a)(I)
GDPR    5.1(p)(iv)
Go-Shop Period End Date    6.2(a)
Government Contract    5.1(w)
Governmental Entity    5.1(d)(i)
Guarantors    Recitals
Hazardous Substance    5.1(m)
hereof, herein, hereunder    9.13(b)
HSR Act    5.1(d)(i)
include, includes, including    9.13(a)
Indemnified Parties    6.12(a)
Insurance Policies    5.1(t)
Intellectual Property    5.1(p)(vi)
Intercompany Funding Notice    6.16(a)
Intervening Event    6.2(e)
IRS    5.1(h)(i)
J.P. Morgan    5.1(c)(ii)
Laws    5.1(i)
Lien    5.1(b)
Limited Guarantees    Recitals
Marketing Period    5.1(e)(iii)
Material Contract    5.1(j)
Merger    Recitals
Merger Sub    Preamble
New Plans    6.9(b)
Non-U.S. Benefit Plan    5.1(h)(i)
Notice Period    6.2(g)(ii)
NYSE    5.1(a)(C)
Old Plans    6.9(b)
Order    7.1(c)
ordinary course of business    5.1(g)(ii)
Owned Real Property    5.1(k)
Parent    Preamble
Parent Disclosure Letter    5.2
Parent Reimbursement Obligations    8.5(a)
Parent Related Parties    8.6(a)
Parent Termination Fee    8.5(c)
Parties    Preamble
Patents    5.1(p)(vi)
Paying Agent    4.2(a)

 

Ann. A-3


Table of Contents

Term

  

Section

Paying Agent Agreement    4.2(a)
PBGC    5.1(h)(i)
Per Share Merger Consideration    4.1(a)
Permitted Liens    5.1(b)
Person    4.2(d)
Personal Data    5.1(p)(iv)
Preferred Commitment Letters    5.2(e)(i)
Preferred Financing    5.2(e)(i)
Preferred Financing Related Parties    6.11(e)
Preferred Financing Sources    6.11(e)
Proceedings    5.1(g)(i)
Processing    5.1(p)(iv)
Prohibited Amendments    6.11(a)
Proxy Statement    6.3
PSU    4.3(d)
Registered Intellectual Property    5.1(p)(i)
Representatives    6.2(a)
Required Information    5.1(e)(iii)
Required Payments    5.2(e)(ii)
Requisite Company Vote    5.1(c)(i)
RSU    4.3(b)
Sanctions    5.1(r)(i)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act    5.1(e)(i)
SEC    5.1
Securities Act    5.1(d)(i)
Service Provider    5.1(h)(i)
Share    4.1(a)
Significant Subsidiary    5.1(a)
Solvent    5.2(e)(iv)
Stock Plans    5.1(b)
Stockholders Meeting    6.4
Subsidiary    5.1(a)
Superior Proposal    6.2(e)
Supervisory Authority    5.1(p)(iv)
Surviving Corporation    1.1
Takeover Statute    5.1(l)
Tax    5.1(n)
Tax Authority    5.1(n)
Tax Proceeding    5.1(n)(iii)
Tax Return    5.1(n)
Taxes    5.1(n)
Termination Date    8.2(a)
Trademarks    5.1(p)(iv)
Transaction Litigation    6.14
Willful and Material Breach    8.5(a)

 

Ann. A-4

EX-3.1 3 d603966dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

THE DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION

(August 7, 2018)

 

 

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (the “Corporation”) for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on such date, and at such time and place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Special Meeting. (A) Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, by the Secretary of the Corporation or any other officer (i) whenever directed by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer, or (ii) upon the written request to the Secretary of the Corporation (a “Special Meeting Request”) in accordance with these By-Laws by holders of record of not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation (the “Requisite Percent”).

(B) In order for a special meeting upon stockholder request (a “Stockholder Requested Special Meeting”) to be called in accordance with clause (A) above, one or more Special Meeting Requests stating the purpose or purposes of the special meeting and the matters proposed to be acted upon thereat must be signed and dated by the Requisite Percent of record holders of Common Stock (or their duly authorized agents), must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and accompanied by the information, representations and agreements required by Article I, Section 11(A)(2) or 11(B) of these By-Laws, as applicable, as to any business proposed to be conducted and any nominations proposed to be presented at such special meeting and as to the stockholder(s) requesting the special meeting (including the beneficial owners on whose behalf the request is made). Only business within the purpose or purposes described in the Special Meeting Request may be conducted at a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters to the stockholders at any Stockholder Requested Special Meeting. Upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation of the Special Meeting Request, the Board of Directors shall fix the date of the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting which shall be held at such day and hour as the Board of Directors may fix, but not more than 90 days after the receipt of the Special Meeting Request (provided that such request complies with all applicable provisions of these By-Laws), and due notice is given thereof in accordance with Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws.

(C) In determining whether a special meeting of stockholders has been requested by the record holders of shares representing in the aggregate at least the Requisite Percent, multiple Special Meeting Requests delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation will be considered together only if each such Special Meeting Request (x) identifies substantially the same purpose


or purposes of the special meeting and substantially the same matters proposed to be acted on at the special meeting, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, and (y) has been dated and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated Special Meeting Request. Any requesting stockholder may revoke his, her or its Special Meeting Request at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation. Any disposition by a requesting stockholder after the date of the Special Meeting Request of any shares of Common Stock of the Corporation (or of beneficial ownership of such shares by the beneficial owner on whose behalf the request was made) shall be deemed a revocation of the Special Meeting Request with respect to such shares, and each requesting stockholder and the applicable beneficial owner shall certify to the Secretary of the Corporation on the day prior to the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting as to whether any such disposition has occurred. If the unrevoked valid Special Meeting Requests represent in the aggregate less than the Requisite Percent, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may cancel the Stockholder Requested Special Meeting. If none of the stockholders who submitted the Special Meeting Requests appears or sends a duly authorized agent to present the matters to be presented for consideration that were specified in the Special Meeting Request, the Corporation need not present such matters for vote at such meeting, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.

(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Stockholder Requested Special Meeting shall not be held if: (i) the Special Meeting Request does not comply with these By-Laws; (ii) the Special Meeting Request relates to an item of business that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law; (iii) the Special Meeting Request is received by the Corporation during the period commencing 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders and ending on the date of the next annual meeting; (iv) an identical or substantially similar item (a “Similar Item”), as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (and for the purposes of this clause (iv), the election of directors shall be deemed a “Similar Item” with respect to all items of business involving the election or removal of directors), was presented at a meeting of stockholders held not more than 120 days before the Special Meeting Request is received by the Secretary of the Corporation; (v) the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer has called or calls for an annual or special meeting of stockholders to be held within 90 days after the Special Meeting Request is received by the Secretary of the Corporation and the business to be conducted at such meeting is a Similar Item, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors; or (vi) such Special Meeting Request was made in a manner that involved a violation of the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other applicable law.

Section 3. Notice of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice of the date, time, place and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting of stockholders, shall be delivered personally, mailed or otherwise given by any other lawful means not earlier than sixty (60), nor less than ten (10), days previous thereto, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting at such address as appears on the records of the Corporation.


Section 4. Quorum. The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation; but if at any regularly called meeting of stockholders there be less than a quorum present, the stockholders present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law at the meeting until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

Section 5. Organization and Conduct of Business. The Chairman of the Board, or in the Chairman’s absence or at the Chairman’s direction, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or at the Chief Executive Officer’s direction, any officer of the Corporation shall call all meetings of the stockholders to order and shall act as Chairman of such meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation or, in such officer’s absence, an Assistant Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting. If neither the Secretary of the Corporation nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting, the Chairman of the meeting shall determine the order of business and shall have the authority in his or her discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including, without limitation, by imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the Corporation or their duly appointed proxies) who may attend any such meeting, whether any stockholder or stockholders’ proxy may be excluded from any meeting of stockholders based upon any determination by the Chairman, in his or her sole discretion, that any such person has unduly disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat, and the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of stockholders. The Chairman of the meeting shall have authority to adjourn any meeting of stockholders.

Section 6. Proxies. At all meetings of stockholders, any stockholder entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority: (1) a stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy, and execution of the writing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature; or (2) a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined


that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic transmissions are valid, the inspector or inspectors of stockholder votes or, if there are no such inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied. Subject to the limitation set forth in the last clause of the first sentence of this Section 6, a duly executed proxy that does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it, before the vote pursuant to that proxy, by a writing delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing the proxy, or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Secretary of the Corporation before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of a writing or transmission created pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Section 6 may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

Proxies shall be filed with or otherwise delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation of the meeting prior to or at the commencement of the meeting to which they relate.

Section 7. Voting Rights. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of statute or applicable stock exchange or other rules or regulations or of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

Section 8. Record Date for Stockholder Notice, Voting and Payment. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders (a) entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or (b) entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date (i) in the case of clause (a) above, shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, and (ii) in the case of clause (b) above, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If for any reason the Board of Directors shall not have fixed a record date for any such purpose, the record date for such purpose shall be determined as provided by law. Only those stockholders of record on the date so fixed or determined shall be entitled to any of the foregoing rights, notwithstanding the transfer of any such stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date so fixed or determined.


Section 9. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, as required by applicable law. During such period, the list shall be kept, at the Corporation’s election, either (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 10. Inspection of Elections. The Board of Directors, in advance of all meetings of the stockholders, shall appoint one or more inspectors of stockholder votes, who may be stockholders or their proxies, but not directors of the Corporation or candidates for office. In the event that the Board of Directors fails to so appoint inspectors of stockholder votes or, in the event that one or more inspectors of stockholder votes previously designated by the Board of Directors fails to appear or act at the meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors of stockholder votes to fill such vacancy or vacancies. Inspectors of stockholder votes appointed to act at any meeting of the stockholders, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall be sworn faithfully to execute the duties of inspector of stockholder votes with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by them. Inspectors of stockholder votes shall, subject to the power of the Chairman of the meeting to open and close the polls, take charge of the polls, and, after the voting, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken.

Section 11. (A) Business of Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws, (b) by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11 and who was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of the shares of the Corporation) both at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the meeting, or (d) pursuant to Article I, Section 13 of these By-Laws; provided, however, that only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these By-Laws. Notwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary, clauses (c) and (d) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit nominations or other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before a meeting of stockholders.


(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before a meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation and must provide any updates or supplements of such notice at the time and in the forms required by this Section 11, and in the case of business other than nominations, such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice of a proposal to be presented at an annual meeting shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day nor later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than twenty (20) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Any stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, (ii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant and (iii) the completed and signed representation and agreement described in paragraph (C)(5) of this Section 11; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-Laws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (iii) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (iv) a description of any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, in such proposal or business, as applicable, including a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and a description of any material benefit that such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, reasonably would expect to derive from such business or action, as applicable; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the


beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class, series and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the latter of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iv) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (v) a representation whether such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (1) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (2) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (vi) a copy of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the proposal of business or action or nomination between or among such stockholder and such beneficial owner, if any, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreements, arrangements or understandings in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (vii) a copy of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (viii) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, derivative, swap, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall convey any voting rights in such shares or shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner or any other direct or indirect opportunity of such stockholder or beneficial owner to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (each, a “Derivative Instrument”) and a representation that such stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such Derivative Instrument in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date of notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (ix) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (x) any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by (1) a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner, or directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest, (2) a limited liability company in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a member, or directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest or (3) any other entity in which such stockholder or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest, (xi) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or beneficial owner is entitled to, in whole or in part, based on any increase or decrease in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the Corporation, or any


Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date) and (xii) any other information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or any successor provision of the Exchange Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder) in such stockholder’s capacity as a proponent of a stockholder proposal or nomination, as applicable. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, including, without limitation, information that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(B) Business of Special Meetings of Stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. Nominations of stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders if the stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.


(C) General. (1) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 (in the case of an annual or special meeting of stockholders) or Article I, Section 13 (in the case of an annual meeting of stockholders only) of these By-Laws shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine (a) whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (A)(2)(c)(v) of this Section 11) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 11, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this paragraph (C)(1), to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(2) For purposes of this Section 11 and Article I, Section 13 of these By-Laws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(3) For purposes of this Section 11, no adjournment or postponement nor notice of adjournment or postponement of any meeting shall be deemed to constitute a new notice of such meeting for purposes of this Section 11, and in order for any notification required to be delivered by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 to be timely, such notification must be delivered within the periods set forth above with respect to the originally scheduled meeting.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-Law; provided, however, that any references in these By-Laws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Sections 11 of this Article I.


(5) To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation under this Section 11, at the request of the Secretary of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 11) to the Secretary of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background, qualification and independence of such person (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (iii) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, applicable law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

(6) A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 11 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to), or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

Section 12. Action by Written Consent. (A) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders may be effected by a consent in writing by stockholders as provided by, and subject to the limitations in, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

(B) A request by a stockholder for a record date, in accordance with Article Eighth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, must be delivered by the holders of record of the Requisite Percent as provided by, and subject to the limitations in, Article Eighth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.


Section 13. Proxy Access.

(A) Proxy Access Right.

(1) Subject to the terms and conditions of these By-Laws, the Corporation shall include in its proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of, and the other Required Information (as defined in clause (2) of this Section 13(A)) with respect to, any Stockholder Nominee (as defined in Section 13(D)(1) below) nominated by an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in Section 13(B)(1) below) for election or reelection to the Board of Directors at such annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with this Section 13.

(2) “Required Information” means (a) the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice (as defined in Section 13(E)(1) below) concerning each Stockholder Nominee that the Corporation determines is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy materials by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (b) if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement (the “Statement”) of the Eligible Stockholder, not to exceed 500 words, in support of each Stockholder Nominee, which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the annual meeting of stockholders.

(3) This Section 13 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the Corporation’s proxy materials.

(B) Eligible Stockholders.

(1) “Eligible Stockholder” means one or more stockholders or beneficial owners that (a) expressly elect at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have a Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials, (b) Own and have Owned (as defined in Section 13(C) below) continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares that represents at least three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the “Required Shares”), and (c) satisfy such additional requirements as are set forth in these By-Laws, including subsections (2) and (3) below.

(2) For purposes of determining qualification as an Eligible Stockholder, the outstanding shares Owned by one or more stockholders and beneficial owners that each stockholder and/or beneficial owner has Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice may be aggregated; provided that the number of stockholders and beneficial owners whose Ownership of shares is aggregated for such purpose shall not exceed thirty-five (35) and that any and all requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 13 are satisfied by each such stockholder and beneficial owner (except as noted with respect to aggregation) or as otherwise provided in this Section 13.

(3) For purposes of determining qualification as an Eligible Stockholder, two or more funds that are under common management and investment control shall be treated as one stockholder or beneficial owner.


(4) No stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may be a member of more than one group constituting an Eligible Stockholder under this Section 13.

(C) Ownership Requirements.

(1) A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares as to which such person possesses both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares, and (b) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (a) and (b) above shall not include any shares (i) sold by such person or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, including any short sale, (ii) borrowed by such person or any of its affiliates for any purposes, (iii) purchased by such person or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (iv) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such person or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (1) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such person’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, and/or (2) hedging, offsetting, or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such person or its affiliate.

(2) A stockholder or beneficial owner shall be deemed to “Own” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as such stockholder or beneficial owner retains the right to instruct how the shares are voted with respect to the election of directors and possesses the full economic interest in the shares.

(3) A person’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement pursuant to Article I, Section 6 of these By-Laws.

(4) A stockholder or beneficial owner’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned such shares provided that the person has the power to recall such loaned shares on five (5) business days’ notice, the person recalls the loaned shares within five (5) business days of being notified that its Stockholder Nominee will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting of stockholders, and the person holds the recalled shares through such annual meeting.

(5) The terms “Owned,” “Owning,” “Ownership” and other variations of the word “Own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, shall have correlative meanings.

(D) Stockholder Nominees.

(1) “Stockholder Nominee” means any nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 13, and who is identified in a timely and proper Stockholder Notice.


(2) The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees that may be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 13 shall not exceed the greater of two (2) or twenty percent (20%) of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 13 with respect to the annual meeting of stockholders, or if such calculation does not result in a whole number, the closest whole number below twenty percent (20%); provided, however, that this maximum number shall be reduced by (x) any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 13 but either is subsequently withdrawn or that the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee, (y) any director who had been a Stockholder Nominee at any of the preceding two (2) annual meetings of stockholders and whose reelection at the upcoming annual meeting of stockholders is being recommended by the Board of Directors, and (z) any candidate who will be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or other understanding with any stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, by such stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation).

(3) In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the deadline in Section 13(F) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting of stockholders and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the maximum number of Stockholder Nominees shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.

(4) In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 13 exceeds this maximum number, the Corporation shall determine which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials in accordance with the following provisions: each Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each group constituting an Eligible Stockholder) will select one Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the maximum number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its respective Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation. If the maximum number is not reached after each Eligible Stockholder (or in the case of a group, each group constituting an Eligible Stockholder) has selected one Stockholder Nominee, this selection process will continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the maximum number is reached.

(5) Following the determination of which Stockholder Nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 13 is thereafter nominated by the Board of Directors, thereafter is not included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this Section 13), no other Stockholder Nominee or any other nominee shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for director election in substitution thereof for that particular annual meeting of stockholders.


(6) Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders will be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 13 for the next two (2) annual meetings of stockholders if such Stockholder Nominee either (a) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting of stockholders for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these By-Laws, provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice or (b) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election at least equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors.

(7) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:

(a) the Eligible Stockholder (or any member of any group of stockholders that together is such Eligible Stockholder) or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its respective agreements, representations, or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 13), any of the information in the Stockholder Notice (or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 13) was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the requirements of this Section 13 have otherwise not been met;

(b) the Stockholder Nominee (1) is not independent for purposes of membership on the Board of Directors, the audit committee, compensation & benefits committee, and nominating and governance committee of the Board of Directors under the listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the shares of the Corporation are listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (2) does not qualify as a “non-employee director” under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, or as an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision), (3) is or has been, within the past three (3) years, (i) an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, or (ii) an officer or director of a competitor, as listed on the Corporation’s principal competitors list last approved by the Board of Directors prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Notice, (4) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding within the past ten (10) years, (5) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (6) who, if elected as a director, would not be in compliance with all applicable law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation, or would not satisfy any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining the eligibility of proposed nominees;

(c) a notice is delivered to the Corporation (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) under Article I, Section 11 of these By-Laws indicating that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board of Directors; or


(d) the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board of Directors would cause the Corporation to be in violation of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, or any applicable state or federal law, rule, regulation or listing standard.

(E) Stockholder Notice Requirements.

(1) “Stockholder Notice” means a notice given by or on behalf of an Eligible Stockholder that specifies the name of the Stockholder Nominee(s) nominated for election or reelection to the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section 13.

(2) A Stockholder Notice shall include:

(a) the written consent of each Stockholder Nominee to being named in the Corporation’s proxy materials as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

(b) a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under Exchange Act Rule 14a-18; and

(c) the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (in the case of a group, each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the Corporation, which written agreement will include the Eligible Stockholder’s:

(i) disclosure of, and certification as to, the number of shares it Owns and has Owned (as defined in Section 13(C) above) continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice and agreement to continue to Own such shares through the annual meeting of stockholders, which information shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed by the Eligible Stockholder with the SEC;

(ii) agreement to provide (1) the information specified under Article I, Section 11 of these By-Laws, and (2) written statements from the record holder and intermediaries as required under Section 13(G) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares, in each case through and as of the business day immediately preceding the date of the annual meeting of stockholders;

(iii) representations and warranties that it (1) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Corporation, and does not presently have any such intent, (2) has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of stockholders any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 13, (3) has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not been and will not be a participant (as defined in Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 14A) in, a solicitation within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting of stockholders other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or a nominee of the Board of Directors, and (4) will not distribute any form of proxy for the annual meeting of stockholders other than the form distributed by the Corporation;


(iv) agreement to (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless (jointly with all other group members, in the case of a group member) the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss, damages, expenses or other costs (including attorney’s fees) in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of any nomination submitted by the Eligible Stockholder pursuant to this Section 13, (3) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting of stockholders, (4) file all materials described below in Section 13(G)(1)(c) with the SEC, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or whether any exemption from filing is available for such materials thereunder, and (5) provide to the Corporation prior to the annual meeting of stockholders such additional information as necessary or reasonably requested by the Corporation; and

(v) in the case of a nomination by a group of stockholders or beneficial owners that together is an Eligible Stockholder, the written agreement described in clause (c) of this Section 13(E)(2) (or another agreement or instrument) shall include a designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination.

(F) Delivery of Stockholder Notice.

(1) To be timely under this Section 13, the Stockholder Notice must be delivered by a stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day nor later than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the date (as stated in the Corporation’s proxy statement) the definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than twenty (20) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the first anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, to be timely the Stockholder Notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation.

(2) In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice in accordance with this Section 13.


(G) Agreements of the Eligible Stockholder.

(1) An Eligible Stockholder must:

(a) within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide one or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously, in compliance with this Section 13;

(b) include in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC a statement certifying that it Owns and has Owned the Required Shares in compliance with this Section 13;

(c) file with the SEC any solicitation or other communication by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to the Corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders, one or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees or any Stockholder Nominee, regardless of whether any such filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A or whether any exemption from filing is available for such solicitation or other communication under Exchange Act Regulation 14A; and

(d) as to any group of funds whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder, within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, provide documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation that demonstrates that the funds satisfy Section 13(B)(3).

(2) The information provided pursuant to this Section 13(G) shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 13.

(H) Agreements of the Stockholder Nominee.

(1) Within the time period prescribed in Section 13(F) for delivery of the Stockholder Notice, the Eligible Stockholder must also deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation a written representation and agreement (which shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 13) signed by each Stockholder Nominee and representing and agreeing that such Stockholder Nominee:

(a) is not and will not become a party to any (i) Voting Commitment that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (ii) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Stockholder Nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law;

(b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Stockholder Nominee or, if elected as a director, in connection with service or action as a director, in each case, that has not been disclosed to the Corporation; and


(c) if elected as a director, will comply with all applicable law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

(2) At the request of the Corporation, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request, submit all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors and provide to the Corporation such other information as it may reasonably request. The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Corporation to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies this Section 13.

(I) Additional Provisions.

(1) The Board of Directors (and any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall have the power and authority to interpret this Section 13 and to make any and all determinations necessary or advisable to apply this Section 13 to any persons, facts or circumstances, including the power to determine (a) whether one or more stockholders or beneficial owners qualifies as an Eligible Stockholder, (b) whether a Stockholder Notice complies with this Section 13 and has otherwise met the requirements of this Section 13, (c) whether a Stockholder Nominee satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this Section 13, and (d) whether any and all requirements of this Section 13 (or any applicable requirements of Article I, Section 11 of these By-Laws) have been satisfied. Any such interpretation or determination adopted in good faith by the Board of Directors (or any other person or body authorized by the Board of Directors) shall be binding on all persons, including the Corporation and its stockholders (including any beneficial owners).

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting or the Board of Directors, if (a) the Eligible Stockholder, or (b) a qualified representative of the Eligible Stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded and no vote shall be taken with respect to such Stockholder Nominee(s), notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this paragraph (I)(2), to be considered a qualified representative of the Eligible Stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Eligible Stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Eligible Stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Eligible Stockholder to act for such Eligible Stockholder as proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the annual meeting of stockholders.

(3) In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), each Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder


Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary of the Corporation and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any such defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials pursuant to this Section 13.

(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13, the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement (or portion thereof) that it, in good faith, believes would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard. Nothing in this Section 13 shall limit the ability of the Corporation to solicit proxies against any Stockholder Nominee or to include in its proxy materials its own statements or any other additional information relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number, Election and Tenure. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of such number of directors, not less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15), as shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. The directors shall be elected at such time and for such terms as set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation. Directors shall (except as hereinafter provided for the filling of vacancies and newly created directorships) be elected by the holders of a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote for the election of directors at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at any such meeting. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the voting power present means that the number of shares voted “for” a director must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that director. If a director is not elected, the director shall offer to tender his or her resignation to the Board. The Board Affairs Committee will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will act on the Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results. The director who tenders his or her resignation will not participate in the Board’s decision. Directors shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which their terms expire and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. A majority of the total number of directors then in office (but not less than one-third (1/3) of the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 2. Vacancies. Newly created directorships in the Board of Directors that result from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director; and the directors so chosen shall hold office for a term as set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation. If any applicable provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware expressly confers power on stockholders to fill such a directorship at a special meeting of stockholders, such a directorship may be filled at such meeting only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class.


Section 3. Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or as may be specified in the notice of any meeting. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors from time to time determines and publicizes among all directors. A notice of any such regular meetings, the time, date or place of which has been so publicized, shall not be required. Special meetings shall be held at such times and places as are specified in the applicable notice thereof. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Director, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary if directed by a majority of the directors, by providing oral or written notice including by telegraph, telex or transmission of a telecopy, e-mail or other means of transmission, duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Except to the extent otherwise required by applicable law, the notice of any meeting need not specify the purposes thereof. A meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders at the same place at which such annual meeting is held. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need not have been given to any director who attends such meeting, and such attendance shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting (except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened), or who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in accordance with applicable law.

Section 4. Elections by Preferred Stockholders or Holders of Series Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock or Series Common Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to Article SEVENTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation unless expressly provided by such terms. The number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock or Series Common Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed by or pursuant to the By-Laws. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the terms of such series, the number of directors that may be so elected by the holders of any such series of stock shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and vacancies among directors so elected by the separate vote of the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock or Series Common Stock shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors elected by such series, or, if there are no such remaining directors, by the holders of such series in the same manner in which such series initially elected a director.

Section 5. Elections Subject to Vote of More than One Class of Stock. If at any meeting for the election of directors, the Corporation has outstanding more than one class of stock, and one or more such classes or series thereof are entitled to vote separately as a class, and there shall be a quorum of only one such class or series of stock, that class or series of stock shall be entitled to elect its quota of directors notwithstanding absence of a quorum of the other class or series of stock.


Section 6. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may designate three (3) or more directors to constitute an executive committee, one of whom shall be designated Chairman of such committee. The members of such committee shall hold such office until the next election of the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify. Any vacancy occurring in the committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings of the committee shall be held at such times and on such notice and at such places as it may from time to time determine. The committee shall act, advise with and aid the officers of the Corporation in all matters concerning its interest and the management of its business, and shall generally perform such duties and exercise such powers as may from time to time be delegated to it by the Board of Directors, and shall have authority to exercise all the powers of the Board of Directors, so far as may be permitted by law, in the management of the business and the affairs of the Corporation whenever the Board of Directors is not in session or whenever a quorum of the Board of Directors fails to attend any regular or special meeting of such Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing grant of authority, the executive committee is expressly authorized to declare dividends, whether regular or special, to authorize the issuance of stock of the Corporation and to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 or any successor provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The committee shall have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which are required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to have the seal affixed thereto. The fact that the executive committee has acted shall be conclusive evidence that the Board of Directors was not in session at such time or that a quorum of the Board had failed to attend the regular or special meeting thereof.

The executive committee shall keep regular minutes of its transactions and shall cause them to be recorded in a book kept in the office of the Corporation designated for that purpose, and shall report the same to the Board of Directors at their regular meeting. The committee shall make and adopt its own rules for the government thereof and shall elect its own officers.

Section 7. Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time establish such other committees to serve at the pleasure of the Board which shall be comprised of such members of the Board and have such duties as the Board shall from time to time establish. Any director may belong to any number of committees of the Board. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. The Board may also establish such other committees with such members (whether or not directors) and such duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

Section 8. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in accordance with applicable law.


Section 9. Telephonic Meetings. The members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such a meeting.

Section 10. Fees and Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors may establish policies for the compensation of directors and for the reimbursement of the expenses of directors, in each case, in connection with services provided by directors to the Corporation.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1. Election of Officers. The Board of Directors, as soon as may be after each annual meeting of the stockholders, shall elect officers of the Corporation, including a Chairman of the Board or President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors may also from time to time elect such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers) as it may deem proper or may delegate to any elected officer of the Corporation the power to appoint and remove any such other officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties. Any Vice President may be designated Executive, Senior or Corporate, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations as the Board of Directors may determine. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

Section 2. Tenure. All officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office for such term as may be determined by the Board of Directors or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified. Any officer may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board then in office, or, in the case of appointed officers, by any elected officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Powers and Duties. Each of the officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors or appointed by an officer in accordance with these By-Laws shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law, by the By-Laws or by the Board of Directors and, in the case of appointed officers, the powers and duties prescribed by the appointing officer, and, unless otherwise prescribed by the By-Laws or by the Board of Directors or such appointing officer, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily pertain to that office. The Chairman of the Board or such other individual, as determined by the Board of Directors, shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall have the general direction of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section 4. Absence or Disability. Unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws, in the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may, during such period, delegate such officer’s powers and duties to any other officer or to any director and the person to whom such powers and duties are delegated shall, for the time being, hold such office.


ARTICLE IV

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

Section 1. Certificates for Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Corporation, or as otherwise permitted by law, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.

Section 2. Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation by the holder of the shares in person or by such holder’s attorney upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a like number of shares, or as otherwise provided by law with respect to uncertificated shares.

Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate for shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and upon delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require.

ARTICLE V

CORPORATE BOOKS

The books of the Corporation may be kept outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE VI

CHECKS, NOTES, PROXIES, ETC.

All checks and drafts on the Corporation’s bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall be hereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. Proxies to vote and consents with respect to securities of other corporations owned by or standing in the name of the Corporation may be executed and delivered from time to time on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or by such officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE VII

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.


ARTICLE VIII

CORPORATE SEAL

The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation. In lieu of the corporate seal, when so authorized by the Board of Directors or a duly empowered committee thereof, a facsimile thereof may be impressed or affixed or reproduced.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended, added to, rescinded or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting of the stockholders or, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice given not less than two (2) days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-Laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders to alter, amend or repeal Sections 2 and 11 of Article I, Sections 1 and 2 of Article II or this proviso to this Article IX of these By-Laws or to adopt any provision inconsistent with any of such Sections or with this proviso.

ARTICLE X

EXCLUSIVE FORUM; PERSONAL JURISDICTION

(A) Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, including any claim alleging aiding and abetting of such breach of a fiduciary duty, (iii) any action or proceeding against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, (iv) any action or proceeding asserting a claim related to or involving the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (v) any action or proceeding asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware, or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), in all cases subject to such court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity owning, purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this bylaw.

(B) If any action or proceeding the subject matter of which is within the scope of paragraph (A) above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce paragraph (a) above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

EX-10.1 4 d603966dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

STRICTLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

August 8, 2018

Thomas J. Manning

c/o Dun & Bradstreet

103 JFK Parkway

Short Hill, NJ 07078

Dear Tom:

On behalf of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Board of Directors (“the Board”), I am pleased to confirm the offer for you to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective August 8, 2018. In this position you will report directly to the Board, and be located in our Short Hills, NJ office. I am looking forward to your helping us build the future of Dun & Bradstreet.    

The purpose of this letter is to provide clarity to you on the compensation and benefits programs for which you will be eligible. The details of our offer are below.

Base Salary: Your base salary will continue to be at a monthly rate of $100,000 (annualized rate of $1,200,000), less deductions and withholdings that are required by law and that may be designated by you, and will be payable on the same payroll schedule as our other employees, currently semi-monthly.

Special Cash Incentive Bonus: You are eligible for a special cash incentive bonus of $800,000, contingent upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, assuming continued service with Dun & Bradstreet on the closing date. The payment will be made no later than 60 days after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. This payment will be subject to normal payroll deductions and is not considered creditable compensation for benefits purposes.

Work Site Commuting and Living Arrangements: We anticipate that you will continue to commute weekly to and from your permanent residence. We will cover the costs associated with your commuting to Short Hills, NJ, as well as your living arrangements in the Short Hills, area. This includes air transportation, car service to and from the airport, rental car in NJ, living accommodation and a per diem for meals and miscellaneous expenses. The Company support for these arrangements is

 

LOGO


LOGO

 

taxable and will be included in your Dun & Bradstreet W-2 earnings. Our relocation vendor, the MIGroup, will be the contact for the administration of your commuting and living arrangements. We will also provide you with tax assistance (for those taxable items other than salary, equity and bonus) as well as tax preparation through Deloitte Tax LLP, while you are serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer through the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Tax assistance will be provided such that your ultimate tax liability will be similar to the level you would have paid excluding the work site commuting and living arrangements.

Stock Ownership Guidelines: Dun & Bradstreet’s Stock Ownership Guidelines align a senior leader’s individual financial interest with that of Dun & Bradstreet’s shareholders and, also, encourage senior leaders of Dun & Bradstreet to act like owners focused on the creation of longer term value. Positions at Dun & Bradstreet covered by stock ownership guidelines include all members of the Executive Leadership Team. These positions play a key role in implementing our strategy and have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our long-term business performance. In your position the expected level of stock ownership is the value equivalent to a multiple of six times your base salary. Under these guidelines, you may not dispose of company shares until you have met your target ownership.

Your employment with the Company is for no specific period and constitutes at-will employment. This means that you or Dun & Bradstreet can end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and without prior notice, for any reason not prohibited by law. Additionally, as we discussed, you are not eligible for the Company’s Career Transition Plan.

Proprietary Information: You understand that you have been and/or will be provided access to the Company’s Proprietary Information to perform your work at the Company prior to the start of employment. As the disclosure or misuse of the Company’s Proprietary Information would likely cause it severe injury, you agree that you will keep secret and will not use or disclose any Proprietary Information. You also agree that you will not publish or cause to be published, release or cause to be released or otherwise make available to any third party any originals or copies of Proprietary Information or of documents containing Proprietary Information unless you have received prior written consent from the Company. (All terms are defined in the Employee Agreement).

I believe the above summary covers the major points of our offer. Your participation in the referenced plans and programs will be governed by the rules of the applicable compensation and benefit plans and programs of Dun & Bradstreet.


LOGO

 

Tom, the Board and I look forward to working with you to advance the Company’s strategy.

If you accept the terms of employment as outlined above, please sign the enclosed copy of this letter where indicated, and return it to Roslynn Williams.

Sincerely,

James N. Fernandez

Chairman of the Board, Dun & Bradstreet

 

Accepted:         Date:    
  Thomas J. Manning      
EX-99.1 5 d603966dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 1 of 4

 

Exhibit 99.1

Dun & Bradstreet Enters Into a Definitive Agreement to Be Acquired by

Investor Group Led by CC Capital, Cannae Holdings and Thomas H. Lee Partners

Dun & Bradstreet Shareholders to Receive $145.00 per Share in Cash

Transaction Valued at $6.9 Billion

SHORT HILLS, N.J. – August 8, 2018 – Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE:DNB) (the “Company”), the global leader in commercial data, analytics and insights for businesses, today announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an investor group (the “Investor Group”) led by CC Capital, Cannae Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (“THL”), along with a group of other distinguished investors.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by Dun & Bradstreet’s Board of Directors, Dun & Bradstreet shareholders will receive $145.00 in cash for each share of common stock they own, in a transaction valued at $6.9 billion including the assumption of $1.5 billion of Dun & Bradstreet’s net debt and net pension obligations.

The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 30% over Dun & Bradstreet’s closing share price of $111.63 on February 12, 2018, the last day of trading prior to Dun & Bradstreet’s announcement of a strategic review and an indication of its willingness to consider all options for value creation.

Thomas J. Manning will lead the Company as Chief Executive Officer through the closing of the transaction. James N. Fernandez, a director of the Company since 2004 and Lead Director since February 2018, will serve as Chairman of the Board through the closing of the transaction.

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the value creation opportunities available to the Company as part of a full portfolio and business assessment and exploration of strategic alternatives with multiple financial sponsors. As a result of this process, the Dun & Bradstreet Board of Directors unanimously determined that this all-cash transaction with the Investor Group is in the best interest of our shareholders and our Company,” said Mr. Manning.

Chinh Chu, Senior Managing Director and Founder of CC Capital, stated, “Dun & Bradstreet is a high-quality business with a 177-year history of serving its global customer base. We look forward to working with our partners and Dun & Bradstreet’s talented team to unlock the immense potential within this venerable company.”

William P. Foley II, Chairman of Cannae Holdings, said, “In an increasingly data-driven world, Dun & Bradstreet’s insight-driven business model and interconnectivity across industries has positioned the Company for continued success. We are excited to grow the Company, increase operating efficiencies and improve the Dun & Bradstreet customer experience by providing enhanced business solutions.”

Thomas Hagerty, a Managing Director at THL added, “We are honored to partner with an established leader in the commercial data and insight industry with a long history of excellence in helping customers and partners around the globe. As a private company, Dun & Bradstreet will be well positioned to reinvigorate growth and create increased value for all stakeholders.”

The transaction will be financed through a combination of committed equity financing provided by the Investor Group, as well as debt financing that has been committed to by BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and RBC Capital Markets.

The merger agreement provides for a “go-shop” period, during which Dun & Bradstreet – with the assistance of J.P. Morgan – will actively solicit, evaluate and potentially enter into negotiations with and provide due diligence access to parties that offer alternative proposals. The go-shop period is 45 days. Dun & Bradstreet will have the right to terminate the merger agreement to enter into a superior proposal subject to the conditions and procedures specified in the merger agreement, which Dun & Bradstreet will


CONFIDENTIAL

Page 2 of 4

 

be filing presently on Form 8-K. There can be no assurance this process will result in a superior proposal. Dun & Bradstreet does not intend to disclose developments about this process unless and until its Board of Directors has made a decision with respect to any potential superior proposal.

The transaction is expected to close within six months, subject to Dun & Bradstreet shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. The Dun & Bradstreet Board is unanimously recommending that shareholders vote to adopt the merger agreement at an upcoming special meeting of the shareholders.

Upon the completion of the transaction, Dun & Bradstreet will become a privately held company and shares of Dun & Bradstreet common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.

J.P. Morgan is serving as financial advisor to Dun & Bradstreet, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as legal counsel.

Financial advisors to the buyer include BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and RBC Capital Markets. Citigroup is acting as sole equity private placement agent to the buyer. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to the buyer.

Second Quarter 2018 Teleconference Update

Dun & Bradstreet will also announce today its second quarter 2018 results, which will be available on the “Investor Relations” section of the Dun & Bradstreet website at www.dnb.com. In light of the announced transaction, the earnings conference call scheduled for August 9, 2018 at 8 a.m. ET will no longer take place.

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet helps companies around the world improve their business performance. The global leader in commercial data and analytics, we glean insight from data to enable our customers to connect with the prospects, suppliers, clients and partners that matter most. Since 1841, companies of every size rely on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity.

About CC Capital

CC Capital is a private investment firm founded in 2016 by Chinh Chu, with a focus on investing in and operating high-quality companies for the long term. Prior to founding CC Capital, Mr. Chu had a successful 25-year career at Blackstone and played an instrumental role in building its Private Equity business. Over the course of his career at Blackstone, Mr. Chu led several industry verticals for the Private Equity group, including financial services, technology, chemicals, and healthcare products. He served as co-chairman of the firm’s Private Equity Investment Committee and served on the firm’s Executive Committee. More information about CC Capital can be found at www.cc.capital.

About Cannae Holdings, Inc.

Cannae is a diversified holding company with over $1 billion in book value in assets and boasts a strong track record of investing in a diverse range of assets. Cannae holds majority and minority equity investment stakes in a number of entities, including Ceridian Holdings, LLC, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, LLC and T-System Holding LLC. Principals at Cannae have successfully acquired over 100 companies with aggregate consideration in excess of $30 billion for Fidelity National Financial. Inc., Cannae and related companies over the last 20 years. More information about Cannae can be found at www.cannaeholdings.com.


CONFIDENTIAL

Page 3 of 4

 

About Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. is a premier private equity firm investing in growth companies, headquartered in North America, exclusively in four industry sectors: Business & Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Healthcare, and Media, Information Services & Technology. Using the firm’s deep domain expertise and the internal operating capabilities of its Strategic Resource Group, THL seeks to create deal sourcing advantages, and to accelerate growth and improve operations in its portfolio companies in partnership with management teams. Since its founding in 1974, THL has raised over $22 billion of equity capital, acquired over 140 portfolio companies and completed over 360 add-on acquisitions which collectively represent a combined enterprise value at the time of acquisition of over $200 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “commit,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “would,” “will,” and other similar words or expressions.

Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and stockholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which the Company is unable to predict or control, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transactions include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure of the parties to satisfy conditions to completion of the proposed Transaction, including the failure of the Company’s stockholders to approve the proposed Transaction or the failure of the parties to obtain required regulatory approvals; the risk that regulatory or other approvals are delayed or are subject to terms and conditions that are not anticipated; reliance on third parties to support critical components of the Company’s business model; the Company’s ability to protect its information technology infrastructure against cyber attack and unauthorized access; risks associated with potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws; customer demand for the Company’s products; risks associated with recent changes in the Company’s executive management team and Board of Directors; the integrity and security of the Company’s global databases and data centers; the Company’s ability to maintain the integrity of its brand and reputation; the Company’s ability to renew large contracts and the related revenue recognition and timing thereof; the impact of macroeconomic challenges on the Company’s customers and vendors; future laws or regulations with respect to the collection, compilation, storage, use, cross-border transfer, publication and/or sale of information and adverse publicity or litigation concerning the commercial use of such information; the Company’s ability to acquire and successfully integrate other businesses, products and technologies; adherence by third-party members of Dun & Bradstreet Worldwide Network, or other third parties who license and sell under the Dun & Bradstreet name, to the Company’s quality standards and to the renewal of their agreements with Dun & Bradstreet; the effects of foreign and evolving economies, exchange rate fluctuations, legislative or regulatory requirements and the implementation or modification of fees or taxes to collect, compile, store, use, transfer cross-border, publish and/or sell data; the impact of the announcement of, or failure to complete, the proposed Transaction on our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, vendors and other business partners; and potential or actual litigation. In addition, these statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s control. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the Company are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.


CONFIDENTIAL

Page 4 of 4

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The Company will file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a proxy statement in connection with the proposed Transaction. We urge investors and security holders to read the proxy statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information regarding the proposed Transaction. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other related documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You also may obtain the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC relating to the proposed Transaction for free by accessing the Company’s website at www.dnb.com by clicking on the link for “Investor Relations”, then clicking on the link for “Financial Information” and selecting “Annual Reports and Proxies.”

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding the interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed Transaction will be included in the proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. You may find additional information about the Company’s directors and executive officers in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 27, 2018. You can obtain free copies of these documents from the Company using the contact information above.

Dun & Bradstreet

Media

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, 212-355-4449

Matthew Sherman / Michael Freitag / Jeffrey Kauth

Or

Dun & Bradstreet

Emile Lee, 973-921-5525

LeeE@DNB.com

Investors/Analysts

Kathy Guinnessey, 973-921-5892

kathy.guinnessey@dnb.com

Investor Group Media Contact

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, 212-355-4449

Jon Keehner / Julie Oakes / Tim Ragones

CC-Capital-JF@joelefrank.com

EX-99.2 6 d603966dex992.htm EX-99.2 EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

Employee Letter

Team,

As you may have just read, we have exciting news that I strongly believe puts us on the best possible path toward the next stage in the evolution – and growth – of Dun & Bradstreet. Today, we announced our intention to become a private company in a transaction that will better position us to service our customers and partners. This path forward helps to ensure that our organization remains the global leader in commercial data, analytics and insights for businesses. Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Dun & Bradstreet Board of Directors, an investor group led by CC Capital, Cannae Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (“THL”), along with a group of other distinguished investors, will acquire Dun & Bradstreet in a transaction valued at approximately $6.9 billion. Read the full press release here: [HYPERLINK TO RELEASE].

Our Board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the value creation opportunities available to the Company as part of a full portfolio and business assessment and exploration of strategic alternatives with multiple financial sponsors. Having spent significant time considering a variety of options, the Board recognizes the tremendous value to shareholders and the flexibility that being a privately held company provides for Dun & Bradstreet. The interest and offer from the investor group are confirmation of the value in Dun & Bradstreet.

CC Capital is a private investment firm founded in 2016 by Chinh Chu with a focus on owning and operating high-quality companies for the long term. Prior to founding CC Capital, Mr. Chu had a successful 25-year career at Blackstone, where he played an instrumental role in building Blackstone’s Private Equity business and served as the Co-Chairman of the Private Equity Group. Mr. Chu currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fidelity & Guaranty Life (NYSE: FG), a prior investment in which he partnered with Bill Foley.

Bill Foley, in part through his investment firm Cannae Holdings, has an unparalleled investing track record. He has created $68 billion in public market value through his companies Fidelity National Financial (“FNF”) where he was formerly Chairman of the Board and Fidelity National Information Services (“FIS”) where he was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Board. Mr. Foley built FNF into the largest title insurance company in the world. He has successfully completed over 100 strategic acquisitions throughout his career.

THL is a premier private equity firm investing in middle market growth companies, headquartered in North America, exclusively in four industry sectors: Business & Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Healthcare, and Media, Information Services & Technology. Using the firm’s deep domain expertise and the internal operating capabilities of its Strategic Resource Group, THL seeks to create deal sourcing advantages, and to accelerate growth and improve operations in its portfolio companies in partnership with management teams.

With this transaction, everyone who is a shareholder – and many of you are – will receive a cash payment of $145.00 for each share you own upon completion of the transaction. As for next steps, the transaction is subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions. Following the close of the transaction, which we expect to occur within six months, Dun & Bradstreet will be a privately held company and will no longer be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

I will continue to lead Dun & Bradstreet as Chief Executive Officer through the closing of the transaction period. During this time, we anticipate the Company will operate much as it does today, and we must continue to deliver for our customers.

You likely have a lot of important questions about this news, and we anticipated some in these Frequently Asked Questions. I will address any others you may have at tomorrow’s Global Town Hall meeting starting at 11 a.m. ET where I’ll leave ample time to respond to them.


On behalf of the Board and management team, thank you for your dedication to the Company. There is much work to do and today’s announcement commences an exciting new chapter for Dun & Bradstreet, one of the most widely recognized brands in business. We hope you share our enthusiasm about the many opportunities along our journey ahead.

Regards,

Tom

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “commit,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “would,” “will,” and other similar words or expressions.

Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and stockholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which the Company is unable to predict or control, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transactions include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure of the parties to satisfy conditions to completion of the proposed Transaction, including the failure of the Company’s stockholders to approve the proposed Transaction or the failure of the parties to obtain required regulatory approvals; the risk that regulatory or other approvals are delayed or are subject to terms and conditions that are not anticipated; reliance on third parties to support critical components of the Company’s business model; the Company’s ability to protect its information technology infrastructure against cyber attack and unauthorized access; risks associated with potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws; customer demand for the Company’s products; risks associated with recent changes in the Company’s executive management team and Board of Directors; the integrity and security of the Company’s global databases and data centers; the Company’s ability to maintain the integrity of its brand and reputation; future laws or regulations with respect to the collection, compilation, storage, use, cross-border transfer, publication and/or sale of information and adverse publicity or litigation concerning the commercial use of such information; the effects of foreign and evolving economies, exchange rate fluctuations, legislative or regulatory requirements and the implementation or modification of fees or taxes to collect, compile, store, use, transfer cross-border, publish and/or sell data; the impact of the announcement of, or failure to complete, the proposed Transaction on our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, vendors and other business partners; and potential or actual litigation. In addition, these statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s control. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the Company are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The Company will file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a proxy statement in connection with the proposed Transaction. We urge investors and security holders to read the proxy statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information regarding the proposed Transaction. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other related documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You also may obtain the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC relating to the proposed Transaction for free by accessing the Company’s website at www.dnb.com by clicking on the link for “Investor Relations”, then clicking on the link for “Financial Information” and selecting “Annual Reports and Proxies.”

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information regarding the interests of these directors and executive officers in the proposed Transaction will be included in the proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC. You may find additional information about the Company’s directors and executive officers in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 27, 2018. You can obtain free copies of these documents from the Company using the contact information above.

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