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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(D)(1)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
NATIONAL VISION, INC.
(Name Of Subject Company (Issuer))
VISION HOLDING CORP.
VISION ACQUISITION CORP.
(Names of Filing Persons (Offerors))
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
(Title of Class of Securities)
63845P101
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
D.
Randolph Peeler
President
Vision Holding Corp.
One Boston Place, Suite 3300
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 227-0050
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)
COPY TO:
Steven M. Peck, Esq.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Telephone: (617) 772-8300
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
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| Transaction Valuation* |
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Amount Of Filing Fee |
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| $43,625,193 |
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$5,134.69 |
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The calculation of
the transaction valuation is based on 6,017,268 shares of common stock of National Vision, Inc.
(NVI) at a purchase price of $7.25 per share (including
shares of common stock issuable on the exercise of outstanding
options). |
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Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify
the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: N/A |
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Form or Registration No.: N/A |
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Filing Party: N/A |
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Date Filed: N/A |
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Check the box if the filing relates to preliminary communications made before the
commencement of a tender offer. |
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| Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates: |
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third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. |
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issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |
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going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. |
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amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender
offer: o
This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO relates to a tender offer by Vision Acquisition
Corp., a Georgia corporation (the Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Holding
Corp., a Delaware corporation (Parent), to purchase all the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share (the Shares), of National Vision, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the
Company), at a purchase price of $7.25 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest
thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated July
28, 2005 (the Offer to Purchase), and in the related Letter of Transmittal (the Letter of
Transmittal which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended and supplemented
from time to time, constitute the Offer). This Schedule TO is being filed on behalf of the
Purchaser and Parent.
The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, copies of
which are filed with this Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(2) hereto, respectively, are
incorporated by reference in answer to items 1 through 9 and item 11 of this Schedule TO, and is
supplemented by the information specifically provided herein.
Item 10. Financial Statements.
Not applicable.
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Item 12. Exhibits.
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| EXHIBIT |
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| NUMBER |
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DOCUMENT |
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(a)(1) |
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Offer to Purchase dated July 28, 2005. |
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(a)(2)
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Letter of Transmittal. |
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(a)(3)
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Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. |
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(a)(4)
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Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. |
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(a)(5)
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Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. |
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(a)(6)
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Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. |
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(a)(7)
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Joint Press Release issued by Parent and the Company on July 26, 2005 (incorporated by
reference to the Schedule TO-C filed by Parent and the Purchaser with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 26, 2005). |
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(a)(8)
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Summary Advertisement published July 28, 2005. |
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(b)
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None |
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(d)(1)
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Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 among Parent, the Purchaser and
the Company. |
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(d)(2)
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Confidentiality Agreement dated February 23, 2005 between the Company and Parent. |
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(g)
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None |
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(h)
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None |
Item 13: Information Required by Schedule 13E-3.
Not applicable.
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Signatures
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information
set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
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Vision Acquisition Corp.
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By: |
/s/
D. Randolph Peeler |
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Name: |
D. Randolph Peeler |
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Title: |
President |
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Vision Holding Corp.
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By: |
/s/
D. Randolph Peeler |
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Name: |
D. Randolph Peeler |
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Title: |
President |
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Dated: July 28, 2005
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Index to Exhibits
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| EXHIBIT |
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| NUMBER |
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DOCUMENT |
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(a)(1) |
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Offer to Purchase dated July 28, 2005. |
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(a)(2) |
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Letter of Transmittal. |
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(a)(3) |
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Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. |
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(a)(4) |
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Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. |
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(a)(5) |
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Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. |
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(a)(6) |
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Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. |
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(a)(7) |
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Joint Press Release issued by Parent and the Company on July 26, 2005 (incorporated by
reference to the Schedule TO-C filed by Parent and the Purchaser with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 26, 2005). |
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(a)(8) |
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Summary Advertisement published July 28, 2005. |
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(b) |
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None |
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(d)(1) |
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Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 among Parent, the Purchaser and
the Company. |
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(d)(2) |
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Confidentiality Agreement dated February 23, 2005 between the Company and Parent. |
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(g) |
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None |
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(h) |
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None |
5
exv99wxayx1y
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)
of
National Vision, Inc.
at
$7.25 Net Per Share
by
Vision Acquisition Corp.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL
EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON
AUGUST 31, 2005
UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED
The offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 (the Merger
Agreement), among Vision Holding Corp., Vision
Acquisition Corp. and National Vision, Inc. (the
Company or NVI). The Board
of Directors of the Company (i) has unanimously approved
the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement, including the offer to purchase for Cash (the
Offer) all outstanding shares of common stock
(including the associated preferred stock purchase rights) (the
Shares) of the Company and the merger (the
Merger), each as described herein,
(ii) has unanimously determined that the terms of the Offer
and the Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to the
stockholders of the Company and that the Merger is advisable,
and (iii) unanimously recommends that the stockholders of
the Company accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to
the Offer.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, there
being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration
of the Offer that number of Shares that would represent more
than sixty-seven percent of all outstanding Shares on a fully
diluted basis. The Offer is also subject to other conditions.
See Section 14 Certain Conditions of the
Offer of this Offer to Purchase.
This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal
contain important information, and you should carefully read
both in their entirety before you make a decision with respect
to the Offer.
July 28, 2005
IMPORTANT
Stockholders desiring to tender all or any portion of their
Shares should either (1) complete and sign the Letter of
Transmittal in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of
Transmittal, have their signature thereon guaranteed if required
by Instruction 1 to the Letter of Transmittal, mail or
deliver the Letter of Transmittal and any other required
documents to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
(the Depositary) and deliver the certificates
for such Shares to the Depositary along with the Letter of
Transmittal or, in the case of a book-entry transfer effected
pursuant to the procedures described in Section 2 of this
Offer to Purchase, deliver an Agents Message (as defined
herein) and any other required documents to the Depositary and
deliver such Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry
transfer described in Section 2 of this Offer to Purchase,
in each case prior to the expiration of the Offer, or
(2) request their broker, dealer, bank, trust company or
other nominee to effect the transaction for such stockholder.
Stockholders having Shares registered in the name of a broker,
dealer, bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such
broker, dealer, bank, trust company or other nominee if they
desire to tender such Shares.
A stockholder who desires to tender Shares and whose
certificates for such Shares are not immediately available or
who cannot comply in a timely manner with the procedure for
book-entry transfer, or who cannot deliver all required
documents to the Depositary prior to the expiration of the
Offer, may tender such Shares by following the procedures for
guaranteed delivery described in Section 2 of this Offer to
Purchase.
A summary of the principal terms of the Offer appears on
pages 1-6 of this Offer to Purchase.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to
Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. (the
Information Agent) at its address and
telephone number set forth on the back cover of this Offer to
Purchase. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the
Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or any
other tender materials may be obtained from the Information
Agent or from brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies or other
nominees.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
Vision Acquisition Corp. is offering to purchase all of the
outstanding common stock (including the associated preferred
stock purchase rights) of National Vision, Inc. for
$7.25 net per share, in cash. The following are some of the
questions you, as a stockholder of National Vision, Inc., or
NVI, may have and answers to those questions. We
urge you to read carefully the remainder of this offer to
purchase and the letter of transmittal because the information
in this summary is not complete. Additional important
information is contained in the remainder of this offer to
purchase and the letter of transmittal.
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Who is Offering to Buy My Shares? |
Our name is Vision Acquisition Corp. We are a Georgia
corporation formed for the sole purpose of making a tender offer
for all of the outstanding common stock of NVI. We are a direct,
wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Holding Corp., or
Parent, a Delaware corporation. Vision Holding Corp.
is wholly owned by affiliates of Berkshire Partners LLC, a
private equity firm that formed Vision Acquisition Corp. and
Vision Holding Corp. in order to make a tender offer for all of
the outstanding common stock of NVI. Berkshire Partners LLC and
its affiliated entities manage funds and accounts with committed
capital in excess of $3.5 billion. See
Introduction and Section 9
Certain Information Concerning Parent and the
Purchaser of this offer to purchase.
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What Shares Are Being Sought in the Offer? |
We are seeking to purchase all of NVIs outstanding shares
of common stock. See Introduction and
Section 1 Terms of the
Offer of this offer to purchase.
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How Much Are You Offering to Pay, What is the Form of Payment
and Will I Have to Pay Any Fees or Commissions? |
We are offering to pay $7.25 per share, net to you, in
cash. If you are the record owner of your shares and you tender
them to us in the offer, you will not have to pay brokerage fees
or similar expenses. If you own your shares through a broker or
other nominee, and your broker tenders your shares on your
behalf, your broker or nominee may charge you a fee for doing
so. You should consult your broker or nominee to determine
whether any charges will apply. See Introduction and
Section 1 Terms of the
Offer of this offer to purchase.
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Have Any Shareholders Entered Into Agreements With Vision
Holding Corp. or Vision Acquisition Corp. Requiring Them to
Tender Their Shares in the Offer? |
No. No shareholders holding shares of NVI common stock have
entered into tender agreements in which they are required to
tender their shares in the offer and vote in favor of the
merger. See Section 12 Purpose of the
Offer; the Merger Agreement; Plans for the Company
Tender Agreements of this offer to purchase.
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Do You Have the Financial Resources to Make the Payment? |
Yes. Certain of the funds and accounts managed by Berkshire
Partners LLC and its affiliates, directly or indirectly, will
contribute to us sufficient funds to pay for all of the shares
of NVI common stock that are accepted for payment by us in the
offer, and to make all other payments by us contemplated by the
merger agreement, including payments for all shares of NVI
common stock that are not accepted for payment in the offer and
that will be converted into the right to receive $7.25 per
share in cash in the merger described below, following the
successful completion of our offer. Our offer is not conditioned
on our obtaining any financing. See Section 10
Source and Amount of Funds of this offer
to purchase.
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Is Your Financial Condition Relevant to My Decision to Tender
in the Offer? |
No. We do not think our financial condition is relevant to your
decision whether to tender shares and accept the offer because:
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the offer is being made for all outstanding shares solely for
cash, |
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the offer and our ability to pay for shares in the offer, is not
subject to any financing condition, and |
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if we consummate the offer, we will acquire all remaining shares
for the same cash price in the merger. |
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How Will the Offer Affect My Option to Purchase Shares? |
NVI has agreed to take all actions (without providing additional
compensation) necessary to provide that each option outstanding
immediately prior to the first date on which Vision Acquisition
Corp. accepts for payment shares of NVI common stock tendered in
the offer (whether or not then vested or exercisable) that
represents the right to acquire shares of NVI common stock will
be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash
amount equal to the excess, if any, of (1) the offer price
per share over (2) the exercise price payable in respect of
such share of NVI common stock issuable under such option.
Therefore, as of the first date on which we accept for payment
shares tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the offer, all
unexercised options that have an exercise price equal to or
exceeding the offer price shall be immediately cancelled and
forfeited. The offer is conditioned upon, among other things,
NVI having received the consent of holders of stock options
granted under NVIs Restated Stock Option and Incentive
Award Plan, to cancel all such stock options as contemplated by
the merger agreement.
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How Long Do I Have to Decide Whether to Tender in the
Offer? |
You will have until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on
August 31, 2005 to tender your shares in the offer, unless
the expiration date of the offer is extended. Further, if you
cannot deliver everything that is required in order to make a
valid tender by that time, you may be able to use a guaranteed
delivery procedure, which is described later in this offer to
purchase. See Section 1 Terms of the
Offer and Section 2
Procedures for Tendering Shares of this
offer to purchase.
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Can the Offer Be Extended and, if so, Under What
Circumstances? |
Subject to the terms of the merger agreement, we can extend the
offer. We have also agreed in the merger agreement that:
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if sixty-seven percent or less of the shares outstanding on a
fully diluted basis have been tendered, at the request of NVI,
we will extend the offer in such increments as we may determine
until this condition is satisfied or waived, or until we
reasonably determine, after the date that is ninety days from
the day the offer is commenced, that the condition is not
capable of being satisfied or until the merger agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms; however, we are not
required to extend the offer beyond December 31, 2005; |
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if any filings under antitrust laws are required to be made in
connection with the offer or the merger, and if any waiting
period under applicable antitrust laws has not expired or been
terminated at the scheduled expiration date of the offer, at the
request of NVI, we will extend the offer in such increments as
we may determine until the expiration of the applicable waiting
period or until the merger agreement is terminated in accordance
with its terms; however, we are not required to extend the offer
beyond December 31, 2005; |
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if NVI fails to comply with or perform any of its obligations,
agreements or covenants under the merger agreement, and the cure
period relating to the failure has not expired, at the request
of NVI, we will extend the offer in such increments as we may
determine, but not greater than ten |
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days, until the failure is cured or expiration of the cure
period expires or until the merger agreement is terminated in
accordance with its terms, whichever occurs first; however, we
are not required to extend the offer beyond December 31,
2005; and |
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if NVI delivers a notice stating that it received a superior
acquisition proposal by another company within three business
days of the expiration date of the offer, we will extend the
offer for at least three business days. |
We may elect to provide a subsequent offering period
for the offer. A subsequent offering period, if one is included,
will be an additional period of time beginning after we have
purchased shares tendered during the offer, during which
stockholders may tender, but not withdraw, their shares and
receive payment for validly tendered shares. We do not currently
intend to include a subsequent offering period, although we
reserve the right to do so.
See Section 1 Terms of the
Offer and Section 12
Purpose of the Offer; the Merger Agreement; Plans for the
Company of this offer to purchase.
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How Will I Be Notified if the Offer is Extended? |
If we extend the offer, we will inform American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, the depositary for the offer,
of that fact and will make a public announcement of the
extension, not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the next business day after the day on which the offer was
scheduled to expire. See Section 1 Terms
of the Offer of this offer to purchase.
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What Are the Most Significant Conditions to the Offer? |
The most significant conditions are:
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we are not obligated to purchase any tendered shares unless the
number of shares validly tendered and not withdrawn before the
expiration date of the offer represents more than sixty-seven
percent of NVIs outstanding shares on a fully diluted
basis. |
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we are not obligated to purchase any tendered shares unless NVI
shall have consummated the transactions contemplated by a share
purchase agreement dated July 25, 2005 among the Company,
Consolidated Vision Group, Inc., and the shareholders of
Consolidated Vision Group, Inc., pursuant to which NVI will
acquire Consolidated Vision Group, Inc., including the debt
financing contemplated by that share purchase agreement. |
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we are not obligated to purchase any tendered shares if there is
a material adverse change in NVI or its business. |
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we are not obligated to purchase any tendered shares if
FirstSight Vision Services, Inc., a subsidiary of NVI which is
licensed as a specialized health care service plan under the
Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 of California,
does not obtain the approval of the California Department of
Managed Health Care, which regulates entities licensed under
that Act. |
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we are not obligated to purchase any tendered shares unless NVI
has received the written consent of holders of Company stock
options granted under NVIs Restated Stock Option and
Incentive Award Plan, to cancel all such stock options as
contemplated by the merger agreement. |
The offer is also subject to a number of other conditions. See
Section 14 Certain Conditions of the
Offer of this offer to purchase.
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How Do I Tender My Shares? |
To tender shares, you must deliver the certificates representing
your shares, together with a completed letter of transmittal and
any other documents required, to American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, the depositary for the offer,
not later than the time the tender offer expires. If your shares
are held in street name, the shares can be tendered by your
nominee through The Depository Trust Company. If you cannot
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deliver something that is required to be delivered to the
depositary by the expiration of the tender offer, you may have a
limited amount of extra time to do so by having a broker, a bank
or other fiduciary that is a member of the Securities Transfer
Agents Medallion Program or other eligible institution guarantee
that the missing items will be received by the depositary within
three American Stock Exchange trading days. For the tender to be
valid, however, the depositary must receive the missing items
within that three trading day period. See
Section 2 Procedures for Tendering
Shares of this offer to purchase.
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Until What Time Can I Withdraw Previously Tendered Shares? |
You can withdraw shares at any time until the offer has expired.
If we have not agreed to accept your shares for payment by
August 31, 2005, you can withdraw them at any time after
that date until we accept shares for payment. This right to
withdraw will not apply to any subsequent offering period, if
one is included. See Section 1 Terms of
the Offer and Section 3
Withdrawal Rights of this offer to
purchase.
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How Do I Withdraw Previously Tendered Shares? |
To withdraw shares, you must deliver a written notice of
withdrawal, or a facsimile of one, with the required information
to the depositary while you still have the right to withdraw the
shares. See Section 1 Terms of the
Offer and Section 3
Withdrawal Rights of this offer to
purchase.
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When and How Will I Be Paid for My Tendered Shares? |
Subject to the terms and conditions of the offer, we will pay
for all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn promptly after
the expiration of the offer. We will pay for the shares by
depositing the purchase price with American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, the depositary for the offer,
which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving
payments from us and transmitting such payments to you. In all
cases, payment for tendered shares will be made only after
timely receipt by American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company of certificates for such shares (or of a confirmation of
a book-entry transfer of such shares), a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other required
signature guarantees for such shares. See
Section 4 Acceptance for Payment and
Payment of this offer to purchase.
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What Does the NVI Board of Directors Think of the Offer? |
We are making the offer pursuant to a merger agreement among us,
Vision Holding Corp. and NVI. The NVI board of directors has
unanimously approved the merger agreement, our tender offer and
our proposed merger with NVI. The NVI board of directors has
unanimously determined that the offer and the merger are fair,
from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of NVI and
that the merger is advisable, and unanimously recommends that
stockholders accept the offer and tender their shares. See the
Introduction to this offer to purchase.
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Will the Tender Offer Be Followed By a Merger if all the
Shares Are Not Tendered in the Offer? |
If we accept for payment and pay for more than two-thirds of
NVIs outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis
(including shares purchased from NVI pursuant to an option
contained in the merger agreement), we will be merged with NVI.
If we accept for payment and pay for less than two-thirds of
NVIs outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis, then we
agree to vote all shares owned by us in favor of the merger at a
meeting to be held in order to approve the merger, and, if
two-thirds of the shares voting at the meeting approve the
merger, we will be merged with NVI. When that merger takes
place, Vision Holding Corp. will own all of the shares of NVI,
and all other NVI stockholders will receive $7.25 per share
in cash (or any higher price per share that is paid in the
offer). See the Introduction and
Section 12 Purpose of the Offer; the
Merger Agreement; Plans for the Company of
this offer to purchase.
5
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If I Decide Not to Tender, How Will the Offer Affect My
Shares? |
If the merger takes place, stockholders who do not tender in the
offer will receive the same amount of cash per share that they
would have received had they tendered their shares in the offer,
subject to their right to pursue appraisal under Georgia law.
Therefore, if the merger takes place and you do not perfect your
appraisal rights, the only difference to you between tendering
your shares and not tendering your shares is that you will be
paid earlier if you tender your shares. However, in the unlikely
event that the merger does not take place, NVIs public
float may be so small that there may be no public trading market
for the shares. Also, the shares may no longer trade on the
American Stock Exchange or any securities exchange, and NVI may
cease making filings with the SEC or otherwise cease being
required to comply with the SECs rules relating to
publicly held companies. See Section 7
Effect of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Exchange
Act Registration; Margin Regulations and
Section 12 Purpose of the Offer; the
Merger Agreement; Plans for the Company of
this offer to purchase.
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Are Appraisal Rights Available in Connection With Either the
Offer or the Merger? |
Appraisal rights are not available in connection with the offer.
If the merger is consummated, holders of shares at the effective
time of the merger who do not vote in favor of the merger will
have the right under Article 13 of the Georgia Business
Corporation Code to demand appraisal of their shares. Under
Article 13, stockholders who demand appraisal and comply
with the applicable statutory procedures will be entitled to
receive a judicial determination of the fair value of their
shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the merger, and to receive
payment of that fair value in cash, together with a fair rate of
interest, if any. The value so determined could be more or less
than or equal to the price per share to be paid in the merger.
See Section 12 Purpose of the Offer; the
Merger Agreement; Plans for the Company Appraisal
Rights of this offer to purchase and
Appendix II to this offer to purchase for the complete text
of Article 13 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code.
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What is the Market Value of My Shares as of a Recent Date? |
On July 25, 2005, the last trading day before NVI and
Vision Holding Corp. announced that they had signed the merger
agreement, the closing trade price of the shares reported on the
American Stock Exchange was $5.10 per share. On July 27,
2005, the last trading day before we commenced our tender offer,
the closing trade price of the shares was $7.12 per share. We
advise you to obtain a recent quotation for NVI shares in
deciding whether to tender your shares. See
Section 6 Price Range of the Shares;
Dividends on the Shares of this offer to
purchase.
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What Are the U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of
Tendering My Shares? |
The receipt of cash for shares pursuant to the offer or the
merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. In general, a stockholder who tenders
shares in the offer or receives cash in exchange for shares in
the merger will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal
income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the
amount of cash received and the stockholders adjusted tax
basis in the shares tendered in the offer or exchanged for cash
in the merger. If the shares tendered or exchanged constitute
capital assets in the hands of the stockholder, such gain or
loss will be capital gain or loss. In general, capital gains
recognized by an individual on shares held for more than one
year will be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax
rate of 15%. See Section 5 Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of
this offer to purchase.
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To Whom Can I Talk if I Have Questions About the Tender
Offer? |
Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. is acting as the
information agent for our tender offer. You can call Georgeson
Shareholder Communications Inc. at (866) 391-6923 (toll
free) or, if you are a bank or a broker, at (212) 440-9800.
See the back cover of this offer to purchase.
6
TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK OF NATIONAL VISION, INC.
INTRODUCTION
Vision Acquisition Corp., a Georgia corporation (the
Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation
(Parent), hereby offers to purchase all the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the Shares), of National Vision, Inc.,
a Georgia corporation (NVI or the
Company), including the associated rights
(the Rights) to purchase Series A
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan dated
as of January 17, 1997 (as amended from time to time, the
Company Rights Agreement), between NVI and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation, at a price of $7.25 per Share, net to the
seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and
subject to, the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase
and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with
any amendments or supplements hereto or thereto, collectively
constitute the Offer). Unless the context
otherwise requires, all references to the Shares shall be deemed
to include the associated Rights, and all references to the
Rights include the benefits that may inure to holders of the
Rights pursuant to the Company Rights Agreement.
Tendering stockholders whose shares are registered in their own
names and who tender directly to the Depositary (as defined
below) will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or
commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the
Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer. Stockholders who hold their Shares
through banks or brokers should check with such institutions as
to whether they charge any service fees. The Purchaser will pay
all fees and expenses of American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, which is acting as the Depositary (the
Depositary), and Georgeson Shareholder
Communications, Inc., which is acting as the Information Agent
(the Information Agent), incurred in
connection with the Offer. See Section 16 of this Offer to
Purchase.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 (the Merger
Agreement), among Parent, the Purchaser and NVI,
pursuant to which, following the consummation of the Offer and
the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, the Purchaser
will be merged with and into NVI (or, at Parents option,
NVI will be merged with and into the Purchaser), with the
surviving entity becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
(the Merger). In the Merger, each outstanding
Share (other than Shares owned by Parent, the Purchaser or the
Company or any subsidiary of Parent (other than the Purchaser)
or the Company or by stockholders, if any, who are entitled to
and properly exercise appraisal rights under Georgia law) will
be converted into the right to receive the price per Share paid
pursuant to the Offer in cash, without interest thereon.
The Merger Agreement is more fully described in Section 12
of this Offer to Purchase.
The Board of Directors of the Company (i) has
unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and
the Merger, (ii) has unanimously determined that the terms
of the Offer and the Merger are fair, from a financial point of
view, to the stockholders of the Company and that the Merger is
advisable, and (iii) unanimously recommends that the
stockholders of the Company accept the Offer and tender their
Shares pursuant to the Offer. The factors considered by the
Board of Directors of the Company in arriving at its decision to
approve the Merger Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and to
recommend that stockholders of the Company accept the Offer and
tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer are described in the
Companys Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 (the
Schedule 14D-9), which has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) and is being mailed to
stockholders of the Company concurrently herewith.
TM Capital Corp. (TM Capital)
has acted as the Companys financial advisor in connection
with the Offer and the Merger. The opinion of TM Capital,
dated July 25, 2005, to the Board of Directors of the
Company to the effect that, as of such date, the consideration
to be received by the holders of Shares in the Offer and the
Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view is
set forth in full as
7
an annex to the Schedule 14D-9. Stockholders should read
the Schedule 14D-9 and such opinion carefully in their
entirety.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things,
(a) there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 hereof) that
number of Shares which, together with that number of Shares
owned by the Purchaser, Parent and Parents other
subsidiaries, would represent more than sixty-seven percent of
the Fully Diluted Shares (as defined in Section 14 hereof)
on the date of purchase (the Minimum
Condition), (b) the Company having closed the
transactions contemplated by that certain Stock Purchase
Agreement among the Company, Consolidated Vision Group, Inc.
(CVG) and the shareholders of CVG, dated as
of July 25, 2005 (the CVG Agreement),
(c) FirstSight Vision Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Company which is licensed as a specialized health care service
plan under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975
of California (the Knox-Keene Act), obtaining
the approval of the California Department of Managed Health
Care, which regulates entities licensed under the Knox-Keene
Act, and (d) the Company having received the consent of
holders of Company stock options granted under the
Companys Restated Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan to
cancel all such Company stock options as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement.
Consummation of the Merger is subject to a number of conditions,
including approval by the stockholders of the Company, if such
approval is required under applicable law, and Shares having
been purchased pursuant to the Offer. In the event the Purchaser
acquires 90% or more of the outstanding Shares pursuant to the
Offer or otherwise, the Purchaser will be able to merge with and
into the Company (or Parent may elect to merge the Company with
and into the Purchaser) pursuant to the short-form
merger provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the
GBCC), without prior notice to, or any action
by, any other stockholder of the Company. See Section 12 of
this Offer to Purchase.
The Company has informed the Purchaser that, as of July 15,
2005, there were: 5,460,668 Shares issued and outstanding
and 556,600 Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise
of outstanding options or other rights to purchase Shares from
the Company, representing 6,017,268 Fully Diluted Shares. Based
upon the foregoing (after taking into effect Purchasers
acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Top Up Option (as defined
in Section 1 of this Offer to Purchase), if exercised), the
Minimum Condition will be satisfied if at least
4,031,570 Shares are validly tendered and not withdrawn
prior to the Expiration Date. The actual number of Shares
required to be tendered to satisfy the Minimum Condition will
depend upon the actual number of Fully Diluted Shares on the
date that the Purchaser accepts Shares for payment pursuant to
the Offer. If the Minimum Condition is satisfied and more than
two-thirds of the Fully Diluted Shares are tendered pursuant to
the Offer, and the Purchaser accepts for payment Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer, the Purchaser will be able to elect a
majority of the members of the Companys Board of Directors
and to effect the Merger without the affirmative vote of any
other stockholder of the Company. See Section 12 of this
Offer to Purchase.
Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale of
Shares pursuant to the Offer and the receipt of cash for Shares
pursuant to the Merger are described in Section 5 of this
Offer to Purchase.
THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND YOU SHOULD READ THEM CAREFULLY
AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT
TO THE OFFER.
8
THE TENDER OFFER
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, the
Purchaser will accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly
tendered prior to the Expiration Date and not theretofore
withdrawn in accordance with Section 3 of this Offer to
Purchase. The term Expiration Date means
12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 31, 2005
unless and until the Purchaser shall have extended the period of
time during which the Offer is open in accordance with the terms
of Merger Agreement, in which event the term Expiration
Date shall mean the latest time and date on which the
Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, will expire.
The Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company, and
expressly reserves the right (but shall not be obligated), to
extend the Offer, and thereby delay acceptance for payment of,
and the payment for, any Shares, by giving oral or written
notice of such extension to the Depositary, (a) for one or
more periods of time that the Purchaser determines, if at the
Expiration Date any of the conditions to the Purchasers
obligation to purchase Shares are not satisfied or waived, or in
increments not to exceed ten business days if all conditions
other than the Minimum Condition are satisfied; or (b) for
any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or
position of the Commission or the staff thereof applicable to
the Offer. The Purchaser expressly reserves the right to provide
a Subsequent Offering Period (as defined below) for the Offer in
accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase
price for tendered Shares, regardless of any extension of or
amendment to the Offer or any delay in paying for such
Shares.
The Purchaser expressly reserves the right (but shall not be
obligated), at any time and from time to time, to waive any
condition to the Offer or modify the terms of the Offer, by
giving oral or written notice of such waiver or modification to
the Depositary, except that, without the consent of the Company,
the Purchaser shall not (i) reduce the number of Shares
subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the price per Share to be
paid pursuant to the Offer, (iii) modify in any manner
adverse to the holders of Shares or add to the conditions of the
Offer, (iv) except as provided above, extend the Offer,
(v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer
or (vi) waive the Minimum Condition unless more than 50% of
the Shares outstanding on the Expiration Date shall have been
tendered and not withdrawn. Additionally, in the event the
Purchaser acquires more than 50% of the Shares in the Offer, the
Company has granted to the Parent and Purchaser an irrevocable
option to purchase up to 1,086,673 newly issued Shares (at a
purchase price per share equal to the per share price being paid
to holders tendering their Shares in the Offer), only to the
extent necessary to cause Purchaser to own 67%, 80% or 90%, as
applicable, of the Shares outstanding on the expiration date of
the Offer, following such issuance (the Top Up
Option).
In the event that the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied
or waived at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, at the
request of the Company, the Purchaser shall extend the
expiration date of the Offer in such increments as the Purchaser
may determine until the earliest to occur of (a) the
satisfaction or waiver of such condition, (b) Parent
reasonably determines, after the date that is ninety days
following commencement of the Offer, that such condition to the
Offer is not capable of being satisfied on or prior to
December 31, 2005 (the Outside Date),
(c) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance
with its terms and (d) the Outside Date.
No filing under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
HSR Act) will be required in connection with
the Offer or the Merger. However, in the event that the terms of
the Offer change and the Offer or the Merger requires a filing
under the HSR Act, and the waiting period in connection with
such filing under the HSR Act applicable to the purchase of
Shares pursuant to the Offer shall not have expired or been
terminated at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, at the
request of the Company, the Purchaser shall extend the
expiration date of the Offer in such increments as the Purchaser
may determine until the earliest to occur of (a) the
expiration or termination of such
9
waiting period, (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement
in accordance with its terms and (c) the Outside Date.
In the event that the Company fails to perform in any material
respect any obligation, or to comply in any material respect
with any agreement or covenant, to be performed by or complied
with by the Company under the Merger Agreement and the ten-day
cure period relating to such failure has not expired at the
scheduled expiration date of the Offer, at the request of the
Company, the Purchaser shall extend the expiration date of the
Offer in such increments as the Purchaser may determine, but not
greater than ten days, until the earliest to occur of
(a) the cure of such failure, (b) the expiration of
the cure period, (c) the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms and (d) the Outside Date.
In the event the Company delivers to Parent a Takeover Notice
(as defined in Section 12 of this Offer to Purchase) within
three business days of August 31, 2005, then the Purchaser
shall extend the Offer for a period of at least three business
days.
If by 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 31,
2005 (or any date or time then set as the Expiration Date), any
of or all of the conditions to the Offer have not been satisfied
or waived, the Purchaser, subject to the terms of the Merger
Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, reserves the right (but shall not be obligated)
(a) to terminate the Offer and not accept for payment or
pay for any Shares and return all tendered Shares to tendering
stockholders, (b) except as set forth above with respect to
the Minimum Condition, to waive all the unsatisfied conditions
and accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered
prior to the Expiration Date and not theretofore validly
withdrawn, (c) as set forth above, to extend the Offer and,
subject to the right of stockholders to withdraw Shares until
the Expiration Date, retain the Shares that have been tendered
during the period or periods for which the Offer is extended or
(d) to amend the Offer other than the terms that require
the Companys consent.
Any extension, waiver, amendment or termination will be followed
as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof. An
announcement in the case of an extension will be made no later
than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business
day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without
limiting the manner in which Purchaser may choose to make any
public announcement, subject to applicable law (including
Rules 14d-4(d) and 14d-6(c) under the Exchange Act, which
require that material changes be promptly disseminated to
holders of Shares), the Purchaser will have no obligation to
publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public
announcement other than by issuing a release to the Business
Wire. As used in this Offer to Purchase, business
day has the meaning set forth in Rule 14d-1 under
the Exchange Act.
If the Purchaser makes a material change in the terms of the
Offer or the information concerning the Offer or waives a
material condition of the Offer, the Purchaser will disseminate
additional tender offer materials and extend the Offer to the
extent required by Rules 14d-4(d), 14d-6(c) and 14e-1 under
the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which an offer must
remain open following material changes in the terms of such
offer or information concerning such offer, other than a change
in price or a change in the percentage of securities sought,
will depend upon the facts and circumstances then existing,
including the relative materiality of the changed terms or
information. With respect to a change in price or a change in
the percentage of securities sought, a minimum period of 10
business days is generally required to allow for adequate
dissemination to stockholders.
Pursuant to Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act, although
the Purchaser does not currently intend to do so, the Purchaser
may, subject to certain conditions, elect to provide a
subsequent offering period of from three business days to 20
business days in length following the expiration of the Offer on
the Expiration Date and acceptance for payment of the Shares
tendered in the Offer (a Subsequent Offering
Period). A Subsequent Offering Period would be an
additional period of time, following the expiration of the Offer
and the purchase of Shares in the Offer, during which
stockholders may tender Shares not tendered in the Offer.
10
During a Subsequent Offering Period, tendering stockholders will
not have withdrawal rights and the Purchaser will promptly
purchase and pay for any Shares tendered at the same price paid
in the Offer. Rule 14d-11 provides that the Purchaser may
provide a Subsequent Offering Period so long as, among other
things, (i) the initial 20-business day period of the Offer
has expired, (ii) the Purchaser offers the same form and
amount of consideration for Shares in the Subsequent Offering
Period as in the initial Offer, (iii) the Purchaser
immediately accepts and promptly pays for all securities
tendered during the initial Offer, (iv) the Purchaser
announces the results of the initial Offer, including the
approximate number and percentage of Shares deposited in the
initial Offer, no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time,
on the next business day after the Expiration Date and
immediately begins the Subsequent Offering Period and
(v) the Purchaser immediately accepts and promptly pays for
Shares as they are tendered during the Subsequent Offering
Period. The Purchaser will be able to include a Subsequent
Offering Period, if it satisfies the conditions above, after
August 31, 2005.
The Purchaser does not currently intend to include a
Subsequent Offering Period in the Offer, although it reserves
the right to do so in its sole discretion. Pursuant to
Rule 14d-7 under the Exchange Act, no withdrawal rights
apply to Shares tendered during a Subsequent Offering Period and
no withdrawal rights apply during the Subsequent Offering Period
with respect to Shares tendered in the Offer and accepted for
payment. The same consideration will be paid to stockholders
tendering Shares in the Offer or in a Subsequent Offering
Period, if one is included.
The Company has provided the Purchaser with the Companys
stockholder lists and security position listings for the purpose
of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares. This Offer to
Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other relevant
materials will be mailed to record holders of Shares, and will
be furnished to brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies and
similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees,
appear on the stockholder lists, or, if applicable, who are
listed as participants in a clearing agencys security
position listing, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial
owners of Shares.
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Procedures for Tendering Shares |
Valid Tender. For a stockholder validly to tender Shares
pursuant to the Offer, (a) the certificates for tendered
Shares, together with a Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, any required signature guarantees
and any other required documents, must, prior to the Expiration
Date, be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set
forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase; (b) in
the case of a transfer effected pursuant to the book-entry
transfer procedures described below under the caption
Book-Entry Transfer, either a Letter of Transmittal,
properly completed and duly executed, and any required signature
guarantees, or an Agents Message (as defined below), and
any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary
at one of such addresses, such Shares must be delivered pursuant
to the book-entry transfer procedures described below and a
Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined below) must be received by
the Depositary, in each case prior to the Expiration Date; or
(c) the tendering stockholder must, prior to the Expiration
Date, comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described
below under Guaranteed Delivery.
The valid tender of Shares pursuant to one of the procedures
described above will constitute a binding agreement between the
tendering stockholder and the Purchaser upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer.
The method of delivery of Shares, the Letter of Transmittal
and all other required documents, including delivery through the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined below), is at the
election and risk of the tendering stockholder. Shares will be
deemed delivered only when actually received by the Depositary
(including, in the case of a book-entry transfer, by Book-Entry
Confirmation). If delivery is by mail, registered mail with
return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In
all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely
delivery.
Book-Entry Transfer. The Depositary will establish an
account with respect to the Shares at The Depository Trust
Company (the Book-Entry Transfer Facility)
for purposes of the Offer within two business days after the
date of this Offer to Purchase. Any financial institution that
is a participant of the
11
Book-Entry Transfer Facilitys system may make book-entry
delivery of Shares by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
to transfer such Shares into the Depositarys account in
accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facilitys
procedures for such transfer. However, although delivery of
Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer into the
Depositarys account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility,
the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed,
with any required signature guarantees, or an Agents
Message, and any other required documents, must be, in any case,
received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on
the back cover of this Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration
Date for a valid tender of Shares by book-entry. The
confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares into the
Depositarys account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as
described above is referred to herein as a Book-Entry
Confirmation. Delivery of documents to the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with the Book-Entry
Transfer Facilitys procedures does not constitute delivery
to the Depositary.
The term Agents Message means a
message, transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and
received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry
Confirmation, which states that the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Shares that such
participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of
the Letter of Transmittal and that the Purchaser may enforce
such agreement against the participant.
Signature Guarantees. No signature guarantee is required
on the Letter of Transmittal if (a) the Letter of
Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term,
for purposes of this Section 2, includes any participant in
the Book-Entry Transfer Facilitys system whose name
appears on a security position listing as the owner of the
Shares) of Shares tendered therewith and such registered holder
has not completed either the box entitled Special Delivery
Instructions or the box entitled Special Payment
Instructions on the Letter of Transmittal or (b) such
Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution
(including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations
and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Security
Transfer Agents Medallion Program, or any other eligible
guarantor institution, as such term is defined in
Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each an Eligible
Institution). In all other cases, all signatures on
the Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution. See Instructions 1 and 5 to the Letter of
Transmittal. If the certificates for Shares are registered in
the name of a person other than the signer of the Letter of
Transmittal, or if payment is to be made or certificates for
Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be
returned to a person other than the registered holder of the
certificates surrendered, the tendered certificates must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either
case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered
holders or owners appear on the certificates, with the
signatures on the certificates or stock powers guaranteed as
aforesaid. See Instructions 1 and 5 to the Letter of
Transmittal.
Guaranteed Delivery. If a stockholder desires to tender
Shares pursuant to the Offer and such stockholders
certificates for Shares are not immediately available or the
book-entry transfer procedures cannot be completed on a timely
basis or time will not permit all required documents to reach
the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, such
stockholders tender may be effected if all the following
conditions are met:
(a) such tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;
(b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Purchaser,
is received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth
on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase prior to the
Expiration Date; and
(c) either (i) the certificates for tendered Shares
together with a Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and
duly executed, and any required signature guarantees, and any
other required documents are received by the Depositary at one
of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to
Purchase within three trading days after the date of execution
of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or (ii) in the case
of a book-entry transfer effected pursuant to the book-entry
transfer procedures described above under Book-Entry
Transfer, either a Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, and any required signature
guarantees, or an Agents Message, and any other required
documents, are received by
12
the Depositary at one of such addresses, such Shares are
delivered pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures above
and a Book-Entry Confirmation is received by the Depositary, in
each case within three trading days after the date of execution
of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. A trading
day is any day on which the American Stock Exchange is
open for business.
The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand to
the Depositary or transmitted by telegram, facsimile
transmission or mail to the Depositary and must include a
guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in
such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
Preferred Share Purchase Rights. Holders of Shares will
be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered to
effect a valid tender of such Share. Unless and until the
Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) occurs,
the Rights are represented by and transferred with the Shares.
Accordingly, if the Distribution Date does not occur prior to
the Expiration Date of the Offer, a tender of Shares will
constitute a tender of the associated Rights. If, however,
pursuant to the Rights Agreement or otherwise, a Distribution
Date does occur, certificates representing a number of Rights
equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered
to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly
tendered. If a Distribution Date has occurred, a tender of
Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering
shareholder to deliver certificates representing a number of
Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer to the Depositary within three trading days after the date
such certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the
right to require that it receive such certificates prior to
accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and
purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely
receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, such
certificates, if such certificates have been distributed to
holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay additional
consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. The
Rights Agreement has been amended as of July 25, 2005, to
exempt from the provisions of the Rights Agreement the Merger
Agreement, the acquisition of Shares by the Purchaser pursuant
to the Offer and the other transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement.
Other Requirements. Notwithstanding any provision hereof,
payment for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer will in all
cases be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of
(a) certificates for (or a timely Book-Entry Confirmation
with respect to) such Shares, (b) a Letter of Transmittal,
properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer,
an Agents Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal)
and (c) any other documents required by the Letter of
Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering stockholders may be paid at
different times depending upon when certificates for Shares or
Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually
received by the Depositary. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST
BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER ON THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SHARES,
REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING
SUCH PAYMENT.
Grant of Proxy. By executing a Letter of Transmittal (or,
in the case of a book-entry transfer, by delivery of an
Agents Message, in lieu of a Letter of Transmittal), a
tendering stockholder will irrevocably appoint designees of the
Purchaser as such stockholders attorneys-in-fact and
proxies in the manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal,
each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such
stockholders rights with respect to the Shares tendered by
such stockholder and accepted for payment by the Purchaser and
with respect to any and all other Shares or other securities or
rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after
August 31, 2005. All such proxies will be considered
coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such
appointment will be effective when, and only to the extent that,
the Purchaser accepts for payment Shares tendered by such
stockholder as provided herein. The Offer does not constitute a
solicitation of proxies, absent a purchase of Shares, for any
meeting of the Companys stockholders, which will be made
only pursuant to separate proxy solicitation materials complying
with the Exchange Act. Upon the effectiveness of such
appointment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents
given by such stockholder with respect to such Shares or other
securities or rights will, without further action, be revoked
and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or
revocations may be given (and, if given, will not be effective).
The designees of the Purchaser will thereby be empowered to
exercise all voting and other rights with respect to such Shares
and other securities or rights in respect of
13
any annual, special or adjourned meeting of the Companys
stockholders, actions by written consent in lieu of any such
meeting or otherwise, as they in their sole discretion deem
proper. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in
order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon
the Purchasers acceptance for payment of such Shares, the
Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting, consent and
other rights with respect to such Shares and other securities or
rights, including voting at any meeting of stockholders.
Determination of Validity. All questions as to the
validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and
acceptance of any tender of Shares will be determined by the
Purchaser in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. The Purchaser reserves the absolute right to
reject any or all tenders determined by it not to be in proper
form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may,
in the opinion of the Purchaser, be unlawful. The Purchaser also
reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity
in the tender of any Shares of any particular stockholder
whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in
the case of other stockholders. No tender of Shares will be
deemed to have been validly made until all defects or
irregularities relating thereto have been cured or waived. None
of the Purchaser, Parent, the Company, the Depositary, the
Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to
give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or
incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
The Purchasers interpretation of the terms and conditions
of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions thereto and any other related documents thereto)
will be final and binding.
Backup Withholding. In order to avoid backup
withholding of U.S. federal income tax on payments of
cash pursuant to the Offer, a stockholder surrendering Shares in
the Offer must, unless an exemption applies, provide the
Depositary with such stockholders correct taxpayer
identification number (TIN) on a Substitute
Form W-9 and certify under penalties of perjury that such
TIN is correct, that such stockholder is not subject to backup
withholding, and that such stockholder is a U.S. person
(including a U.S. resident alien). If a stockholder does
not provide such stockholders correct TIN or fails to
provide the certifications described above, the Internal Revenue
Service (the IRS) may impose a penalty on
such stockholder and payment of cash to such stockholder
pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding of
28%. All stockholders surrendering Shares pursuant to the Offer
should complete and sign the main signature form and the
Substitute Form W-9 included as part of the Letter of
Transmittal to provide the information and certification
necessary to avoid backup withholding (unless an applicable
exemption exists and is proved in a manner satisfactory to the
Purchaser and the Depositary). Certain stockholders (including,
among others, all corporations, individual retirement accounts
and certain foreign individuals and entities) are not subject to
backup withholding. Noncorporate foreign stockholders should
complete and sign the main signature form and the appropriate
Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status, a copy of which
may be obtained from the Depositary, in order to avoid backup
withholding. See Instruction 9 to the Letter of Transmittal.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, tenders of
Shares are irrevocable. Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer
may be withdrawn pursuant to the procedures set forth below at
any time prior to the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore
accepted for payment and paid for by the Purchaser pursuant to
the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time after
August 31, 2005.
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the
Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover
of this Offer to Purchase and must specify the name of the
person having tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of
Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of
the Shares to be withdrawn, if different from the name of the
person who tendered the Shares. If certificates for Shares have
been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, then,
prior to the physical release of such certificates, the serial
numbers shown on such certificates must be submitted to the
Depositary and, unless such Shares have been tendered by an
Eligible Institution, any and all signatures on the notice of
withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If
Shares have been tendered pursuant to the book-entry
14
transfer procedures described in Section 2 of this Offer to
Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name
and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to
be credited with the withdrawn Shares and otherwise comply with
the Book-Entry Transfer Facilitys procedures. Withdrawals
of tenders of Shares may not be rescinded, and any Shares
properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly
tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares
may be re-tendered by again following one of the procedures
described in Section 2 of this Offer to Purchase at any
time prior to the Expiration Date.
All questions as to the form and validity (including time of
receipt) of any notice of withdrawal will be determined by the
Purchaser in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. None of the Purchaser, Parent, the Company,
the Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will
be under any duty to give notification of any defects or
irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any
liability for failure to give any such notification.
In the event the Purchaser provides a Subsequent Offering Period
following the Offer, no withdrawal rights will apply to Shares
tendered during such Subsequent Offering Period or to Shares
tendered in the Offer and accepted for payment.
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| 4. |
Acceptance for Payment and Payment |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer
(including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and
conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Purchaser
will accept for payment and will pay for all Shares validly
tendered prior to the Expiration Date and not properly withdrawn
in accordance with Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase
promptly after the Expiration Date. The Purchaser, subject to
the Merger Agreement, expressly reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to delay acceptance for payment of or payment for
Shares in order to comply in whole or in part with any
applicable law, including, without limitation, the HSR Act. Any
such delays will be effected in compliance with
Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to a
bidders obligation to pay for or return tendered
securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of such
bidders offer).
In all cases, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant
to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the
Depositary of (a) the certificates for such Shares,
together with a Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and
duly executed, and any required signature guarantees or
(b) in the case of a transfer effected pursuant to the
book-entry transfer procedures described in Section 2 of
this Offer to Purchase, a Book-Entry Confirmation and either a
Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, and
any required signature guarantees, or an Agents Message,
and any other required documents. Accordingly, tendering
stockholders may be paid at different times depending upon when
certificates for Shares or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect
to Shares are actually received by the Depositary.
The per Share consideration paid to any stockholder pursuant to
the Offer will be the highest per Share consideration paid to
any other stockholder pursuant to the Offer.
For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have
accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly
tendered to the Purchaser and not properly withdrawn as, if and
when the Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the
Depositary of the Purchasers acceptance for payment of
such Shares. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the
Offer will be made by deposit of the purchase price therefore
with the Depositary, which will act as an agent for tendering
stockholders for the purpose of receiving payment from the
Purchaser and transmitting payment to tendering stockholders
whose Shares have been accepted for payment. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR
TENDERED SHARES, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF OR AMENDMENT TO
THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN PAYING FOR SUCH SHARES.
If the Purchaser is delayed in its acceptance for payment of or
payment for Shares or is unable to accept for payment or pay for
Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without
prejudice to the
15
Purchasers rights under the Offer (but subject to
compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act
(relating to a bidders obligation to pay for or return
tendered securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal
of such bidders offer) and the terms of the Merger
Agreement (requiring that the Purchaser pay for Shares accepted
for payment promptly after the Expiration Date)), the Depositary
may, nevertheless, on behalf of the Purchaser, retain tendered
Shares, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the
extent tendering stockholders are entitled to do so as described
in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase.
If any tendered Shares are not accepted for payment pursuant to
the terms and conditions of the Offer for any reason, the
certificates for such Shares will be returned (and, if
certificates are submitted for more Shares than are tendered,
new certificates for the Shares not tendered will be sent) in
each case without expense to the tendering stockholder (or, in
the case of Shares delivered by book-entry transfer of such
Shares into the Depositarys account at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures
described in Section 2 of this Offer to Purchase, such
Shares will be credited to an account maintained at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility), promptly after the expiration or
termination of the Offer.
The Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole
or from time to time in part, to Parent, or to one or more
direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Parent, the
right to purchase Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, but any
such transfer or assignment will not relieve the Purchaser of
its obligations under the Offer and will in no way prejudice the
rights of tendering stockholders to receive payment for Shares
validly tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer.
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| 5. |
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences |
The following is a discussion of certain U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger to
stockholders whose Shares are tendered and accepted for payment
pursuant to the Offer, or whose Shares are converted to cash in
the Merger. The discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable
Treasury regulations, and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof, each as in effect as of the date of
this Offer to Purchase, all of which may change, possibly with
retroactive effect. The discussion is for general information
only and does not purport to address all of the tax consequences
that may be relevant to particular stockholders in light of
their personal circumstances. The discussion applies only to
stockholders who hold their Shares as capital assets. The
discussion may not be applicable with respect to Shares received
pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise
as compensation, or with respect to holders of Shares who are
subject to special tax treatment under the Code, such as
non-U.S. persons, brokers, dealers or traders in securities
or commodities, partnerships or other entities treated as
partnerships or flow-through entities for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, persons who are subject to alternative
minimum tax, persons that have a functional currency other than
the U.S. dollar, life insurance companies, tax-exempt
organizations and financial institutions. The discussion also
may not apply to a holder of Shares in light of individual
circumstances, such as holding Shares as a hedge or as part of a
straddle or a hedging, constructive sale, integrated or other
risk-reduction transaction. Stockholders are urged to consult
their own tax advisors to determine the particular tax
consequences to them of the Offer and the Merger (including the
application and effect of any state, local or foreign income and
other tax laws).
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be
a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes
under the Code and may also be a taxable transaction under
applicable state, local or foreign income tax laws.
Generally, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a
tendering stockholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount of cash received by the
stockholder pursuant to the Offer or Merger and the aggregate
adjusted tax basis in the Shares tendered by the stockholder and
purchased pursuant to the Offer or converted into cash in the
Merger, as the case may be. Gain or loss will be calculated
separately for each block of Shares (i.e., Shares acquired at
the same cost in a single transaction) tendered and purchased
pursuant to the Offer or converted into cash in the Merger, as
the
16
case may be. If tendered Shares are held by a tendering
stockholder as capital assets, gain or loss recognized by such
stockholder will be capital gain or loss, which will be
long-term capital gain or loss if such stockholders
holding period for the Shares exceeds one year. In the case of a
tendering stockholder who is an individual, long-term capital
gains will be eligible for a maximum U.S. federal income
tax rate of 15%. The ability to use capital losses to offset
ordinary income is limited.
A stockholder (other than certain exempt stockholders including,
among others, corporations, individual retirement accounts and
certain foreign individuals and entities) that tenders Shares
may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% unless the
stockholder provides its TIN and certifies that such number is
correct (or properly certifies that it is awaiting a TIN),
certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding,
certifies that the stockholder is a U.S. person (including
a U.S. resident alien), and otherwise complies with the
applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A
stockholder that does not furnish a required TIN or that does
not otherwise establish a basis for an exemption from backup
withholding may be subject to a penalty imposed by the IRS. See
Backup Withholding under Section 2 of this
Offer to Purchase. Each stockholder should complete and sign the
Substitute Form W-9 included as part of the Letter of
Transmittal so as to provide the information and certification
necessary to avoid backup withholding.
If backup withholding applies to a stockholder, the Depositary
is required to withhold 28% from payments to such stockholder.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount
of the backup withholding can be credited against the
U.S. federal income tax liability of the person subject to
the backup withholding, provided that the required information
is timely given to the IRS. If backup withholding results in an
overpayment of tax, a refund can be obtained by the stockholder
by filing a U.S. federal income tax return.
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| 6. |
Price Range of the Shares; Dividends on the Shares |
Since August 27, 2001, the Shares have been listed for
trading on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol
NVI. The following table sets forth, for each of the
periods indicated, the high and low trade prices per Share.
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HIGH | |
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LOW | |
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Year Ended January 3, 2004:
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|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
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|
$ |
0.47 |
|
|
$ |
0.32 |
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Second Quarter
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|
|
0.69 |
|
|
|
0.25 |
|
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Third Quarter
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|
|
0.90 |
|
|
|
0.55 |
|
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Fourth Quarter
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|
|
2.75 |
|
|
|
0.67 |
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Year Ended January 1, 2005:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
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|
$ |
2.56 |
|
|
$ |
1.51 |
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Second Quarter
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|
|
2.62 |
|
|
|
1.54 |
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Third Quarter
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|
|
6.20 |
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|
|
2.06 |
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Fourth Quarter
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|
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9.25 |
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4.76 |
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Year Ending December 31, 2005:
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|
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|
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First Quarter
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|
$ |
7.59 |
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$ |
4.90 |
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Second Quarter
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5.47 |
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|
4.20 |
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Third Quarter (through July 25, 2005)
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5.15 |
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4.73 |
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On July 25, 2005, the last full trading day before the
public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement,
the closing trade price on the American Stock Exchange of the
Shares was $5.10 per Share. On July 27, 2005, the last full
trading day before commencement of the Offer, the closing trade
price on the American Stock Exchange of the Shares was $7.12 per
Share. Stockholders are urged to obtain current market
quotations for the Shares.
17
The Purchaser has been advised by the Company that the Company
has never declared or paid any cash dividends on the Shares, and
both the Companys indenture and credit facility prohibit
it from paying cash dividends.
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| 7. |
Effect of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Exchange
Act Registration; Margin Regulations |
Market for the Shares. The purchase of Shares pursuant to
the Offer will reduce the number of holders of Shares and the
number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly and could
adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining
Shares held by the public.
Exchange Act Registration. The Shares are currently
registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration may be
terminated upon application of the Company to the Commission if
the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange
nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of
registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act would reduce
the information required to be furnished by the Company to its
stockholders and to the Commission and would make certain
provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to the
Company, such as the short-swing profit-recovery provisions of
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the requirement of
furnishing a proxy or information statement pursuant to
Section 14(a) or 14(c) of the Exchange Act in connection
with stockholders meetings and the related requirement of
furnishing an annual report to stockholders. Furthermore, the
ability of affiliates of the Company and persons
holding restricted securities of the Company to
dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 or 144A
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be
impaired or eliminated. If the Company does not continue to
timely file the information and reports required under the
Exchange Act, the Shares would no longer be eligible for trading
on stock exchange listings or NASDAQ reporting. The Purchaser
intends to seek to cause the Company to apply for termination of
registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as soon after
the completion of the Offer as the requirements for such
termination are met.
Margin Regulations. The Shares are presently margin
securities under the regulations of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve Board (the Federal Reserve
Board), which has the effect, among other things, of
allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of the
Shares. Depending upon factors, such as the number of record
holders of Shares and the number and market value of publicly
held Shares, following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the
Offer, the Shares might no longer constitute margin
securities for the purposes of the Federal Reserve
Boards margin regulations, and, therefore, could no longer
be used as collateral for margin loans made by brokers. In
addition, if registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act
were terminated, the Shares would no longer constitute margin
securities.
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| 8. |
Certain Information Concerning the Company |
The Company is a Georgia corporation with its principal offices
at 296 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30045, telephone
number (770) 822-3600. The Company primarily operates
retail vision centers that sell a wide range of optical products
including eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses and a variety
of optical accessories. Independent optometrists operate their
own practices adjacent to or within substantially all of the
Companys vision centers, providing its customers with
access to eye examinations and contact lens fittings. The
Company also operates two centralized optical labs and
distribution centers.
Available Information. The Company is subject to the
informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in
accordance therewith, is required to file reports and other
information with the Commission relating to its business,
financial condition and other matters. Certain information as of
particular dates concerning the Companys directors and
officers, their remuneration, stock options and other matters,
the principal holders of the Companys securities and any
material interest of such persons in transactions with the
Company is required to be disclosed in the Companys proxy
statements distributed to the Companys stockholders and
filed with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information should be available for inspection at the
public reference facility of the Commission at 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such information
should be obtainable, by mail, upon payment of the
Commissions customary charges, by writing to the
Commissions principal office at 450 Fifth Street,
18
N.W., Washington, DC 20549. The Commission also maintains a Web
site on the Internet at http: //www.sec.gov/ that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the
Commission.
Certain Company Projections of Operating Results. During
the course of discussions between Berkshire Partners LLC
and the Company, the Company provided Berkshire
Partners LLC or its representatives with certain non-public
business and financial information about the Company. This
information included projections of (i) total net sales for
the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 fiscal years of (in
thousands) $233,801, $225,913, $196,839, $187,336, $183,885 and
$176,370, respectively, and (ii) net income for the 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 fiscal years of (in thousands)
$5,002, $1,974, $(713), $(1,082), $948 and $1,496, respectively,
for the Company. This information also included projections of
(i) total net sales for the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
fiscal years of (in thousands) $342,948, $333,376, $350,303,
$380,968 and $408,934, respectively, and (ii) net income
for the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 fiscal years of (in
thousands) $(1,323), $(1,331), $(213), $2,180, and $4,759
respectively, for the Company following its acquisition of CVG
as contemplated by the CVG Agreement.
The Company has advised the Purchaser and Parent that it does
not as a matter of course make public any projections as to
future performance or earnings, and the projections set forth
above are included in this Offer to Purchase only because this
information was provided to Parent. The projections were not
prepared with a view to public disclosure or compliance with the
published guidelines of the Commission or the guidelines
established by the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants regarding projections or forecasts. The projections
do not purport to present operations in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and the Companys
independent auditors have not examined or compiled the
projections and accordingly assume no responsibility for them.
The Company has advised the Purchaser and Parent that its
internal financial forecasts (upon which the projections
provided to Parent and the Purchaser were based in part) are, in
general, prepared solely for internal use and capital budgeting
and other management decisions and are subjective in many
respects and thus susceptible to interpretations and periodic
revision based on actual experience and business developments.
The projections also reflect numerous assumptions made by
management of the Company, including assumptions with respect to
the market for the Companys products and services, general
business, economic, market and financial conditions and other
matters, all of which are difficult to predict, many of which
are beyond the Companys control, and none of which were
subject to approval by Parent or the Purchaser. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing
the projections will prove accurate. It is expected that there
will be differences between actual and projected results, and
actual results may be materially greater or less than those
contained in the projections. The inclusion of the projections
herein should not be regarded as an indication that any of
Parent, the Purchaser, the Company or their respective
affiliates or representatives considered or consider the
projections to be a reliable prediction of future events, and
the projections should not be relied upon as such. None of
Parent, the Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective
affiliates or representatives has made or makes any
representation to any person regarding the ultimate performance
of the Company compared to the information contained in the
projections, and none of them intends to update or otherwise
revise the projections to reflect circumstances existing after
the date when made or to reflect the occurrence of future events
even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying
the projections are shown to be in error.
Except as otherwise stated in this Offer to Purchase, the
information concerning the Company contained herein has been
taken from or based upon publicly available documents on file
with the Commission and other publicly available information.
Although Parent and the Purchaser do not have any knowledge that
any such information is untrue, neither the Purchaser nor Parent
takes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of
such information or for any failure by the Company to disclose
events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or
accuracy of any such information.
19
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| 9. |
Certain Information Concerning Parent and the Purchaser |
The Purchaser is a newly formed Georgia corporation that is a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, was organized to
acquire the Company and has not conducted any unrelated
activities since its organization. All outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Purchaser are owned by Parent.
Parent, a Delaware corporation, was formed by affiliates of
Berkshire Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(Berkshire), for purposes of effecting the
Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement. Berkshire is a leading private equity firm
which, together with its affiliates, has in excess of
$3.5 billion of equity capital under management. The
principal executive office of each of Parent and the Purchaser
is located at the same address as Berkshires principal
executive office listed below, and its telephone number at that
address is the same telephone number as Berkshires
telephone number listed below.
Berkshires principal executive office is located at One
Boston Place, Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108.
Berkshires telephone number at that address is
(617) 227-0050.
Until immediately prior to the time that Purchaser will purchase
shares pursuant to the Offer, it is not anticipated that Parent
will have any significant assets or liabilities or engage in
activities other than those incident to its formation and
capitalization and the transactions contemplated by the Offer
and the Merger. Because Purchaser is newly formed and has
minimal assets under capitalization, no meaningful financial
information regarding Purchaser is available.
The name, citizenship, business address, present principal
occupation or employment and five-year employment history of
each of the directors and executive officers of the Purchaser
and Parent and each of the managing directors of Berkshire are
set forth in Appendix I hereto. Except as set forth in this
Offer to Purchase, during the past two years, none of Berkshire,
Parent or the Purchaser, nor, to their best knowledge, any of
the persons listed on Appendix I hereto, has had any
business relationship or transaction with the Company or any of
its executive officers, directors or affiliates that is required
to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Commission
applicable to the Offer. Except as set forth in this Offer to
Purchase, none of Berkshire, Parent, the Purchaser, any of their
executive officers, directors or affiliates, nor any of their
respective associates or majority-owned subsidiaries,
beneficially owns any securities of the Company or has effected
any transactions in the securities of the Company during the
past 60 days. Except as set forth in this Offer to
Purchase, there have been no contacts, negotiations or
transactions between Berkshire, Parent, the Purchaser or any of
their subsidiaries or, to their best knowledge, any of the
persons listed on Appendix I to this Offer to Purchase, on
the one hand, and the Company or its affiliates, on the other
hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender
offer or other acquisition of securities, and election of
directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of
assets.
Because the only consideration in the Offer and Merger is cash
and the Offer covers all outstanding Shares, and in view of the
absence of a financing condition on behalf of the Purchaser or
Parent and financial capacity of Parent and its affiliates, the
Purchaser believes the financial condition of Parent and its
affiliates is not material to a decision by a holder of Shares
whether to hold, sell or tender Shares pursuant to the Offer.
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| 10. |
Source and Amount of Funds |
The total amount of funds required by the Purchaser to purchase
all outstanding Shares pursuant to the Offer (assuming the
exercise of all outstanding options and after deducting the
proceeds of such exercise) related to the Offer and the Merger
is estimated to be approximately $45 million. Additionally,
the Purchaser will fund up to $31 million (but in no event
less than $25 million) of subordinated debt financing or
redeemable preferred stock financing upon commercially
reasonable terms to be mutually agreed upon by Parent and the
Company, in order to facilitate the purchase by the Company of
CVG as contemplated by the CVG Agreement. The Purchaser plans to
obtain all funds needed for the Offer and the Merger through
capital contributions or intercompany advances from Parent.
Parent expects to obtain
20
such funds from capital contributions that will be made,
directly or indirectly, by certain of the funds and affiliates
managed by Berkshire. Such funds have committed capital and
lines of credit with availability substantially in excess of all
required amounts. Currently, no alternative financing
arrangements are contemplated.
Following consummation of the Offer, and subject to the terms of
the Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2001, as amended,
between NVI and U.S. Bank N.A. , as successor to State
Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, NVI will be required
to offer to repurchase its outstanding notes issued under the
Indenture dated as of June 15, 2001. The funds for such
repurchase are expected to be obtained from the debt financing
contemplated by the CVG Agreement (See
Section 10 Source and Amount of
Funds).
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| 11. |
Contacts and Transactions with the Company; Background of the
Offer |
In February, 2005, the Companys financial advisor, TM
Capital contacted Berkshire and inquired as to whether Berkshire
had any interest in a transaction involving the Company.
Berkshire indicated that it would need further information in
order to determine whether it would have any interest in such a
transaction. TM Capital presented Berkshire with a draft
confidentiality agreement and, on February 23, 2005,
Berkshire and the Company executed and delivered a
confidentiality agreement covering confidential information of
the Company, and the Company delivered to Berkshire a
confidential information memorandum contemplating a minority
investment in the Company in order to facilitate the
Companys acquisition of CVG. CVG, which operated vision
centers under the Americas Best Contacts &
Eyeglasses name, was being marketed for possible sale by
Jefferies & Company, Inc.
(Jefferies).
On March 4, 2005, representatives of Berkshire met with
Reade Fahs and other representatives of NVIs senior
management and TM Capital. At the meeting, the Companys
management gave a presentation regarding the Companys
operations and financial position and discussed the
Companys plans with respect to a potential acquisition of
CVG. The Company and Berkshire discussed a potential transaction
in which Berkshire would finance a portion of the Companys
acquisition of CVG through the purchase of a substantial
minority equity interest in the Company.
Representatives of Berkshire visited the Companys
headquarters in Lawrenceville, Georgia on March 10, 2005
and discussed further the Companys strategy regarding the
CVG acquisition. They also visited the Company and CVGs
retail locations in the Atlanta area and had dinner with senior
management of the Company.
During the week of March 14, 2005, Berkshire engaged Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP as its legal counsel in connection
with a potential transaction and Ernst & Young, LLP to
assist in its accounting-related due diligence investigation of
the Company.
Between March 14, 2005 and March 23, 2005, Berkshire
negotiated with the Company the terms of a substantial minority
equity investment by Berkshire in the Company that would be used
to fund in part the Companys acquisition of CVG.
On March 27, 2005, Berkshire and the Company executed a
non-binding proposal that contemplated a $25 million
purchase of convertible preferred stock by Berkshire that paid
dividends at the rate of 5% per annum, payable in cash or
in kind at the option of the Company, and which would be
convertible into the Companys Shares with a conversion
price equal to the lesser of (i) 110% of the 30-day average
trading price of the Companys Shares immediately prior to
announcement of the transaction, which trading price on
March 27, 2005 was $5.76 and trended downward to a trading
price of $5.25 on May 27, 2005, and
(ii) $7.00 per share. The proposal was subject to
customary conditions, including the satisfactory completion of
Berkshires due diligence investigation of the Company and
CVG, satisfactory financing of the Companys remaining
purchase price for CVG and shareholder approval for the issuance
of the preferred stock required by applicable American Stock
Exchange rules, and contained an exclusivity provision whereby
the Company agreed to deal exclusively with Berkshire through
May 27, 2005 with respect to equity financing for the CVG
transaction.
21
During the week of March 28, 2005, Berkshire contacted
several potential sources of senior debt financing for the CVG
transaction, and continued its due diligence investigation of
the Company.
On March 30, 2005, the Company submitted a bid to acquire
CVG. This bid was rejected by CVG. Thereafter, TM Capital
engaged in discussions with Jefferies regarding the proposed
acquisition, and an understanding among the parties was reached
on April 19, 2005 to pursue the acquisition of CVG at an
enterprise value of $88 million, subject to completion of
mutually satisfactory documentation, due diligence and other
conditions.
Thereafter, during April, May and June 2005, the Company and
Berkshire, together with TM Capital, legal advisors, accounting
professionals, consultants, and providers of debt financing,
conducted a due diligence review of CVG through site visits and
review of requested information. Berkshire also continued with
its due diligence investigation of the Company. Additionally
during this time period, Randy Peeler, a Managing Director of
Berkshire, attended a regularly scheduled meeting of the
Companys Board to discuss with the Board the status of
Berkshires pursuit of an investment in the Company.
On May 3, 2005, representatives of the Company, Berkshire
and CVG met at the headquarters of CVG to perform due diligence
and meet the CVG senior management team. On May 4, 2005,
Jefferies provided TM Capital with a draft purchase agreement.
The terms of the draft purchase agreement were negotiated by
respective counsel during May and June 2005. On May 10,
2005, several potential sources of senior debt financing for the
CVG acquisition met at the headquarters of CVG to meet the CVG
senior management team.
As the due diligence review continued, Berkshire and the Company
became aware that CVG might not have the audited financial
statements for CVGs fiscal year ended December 28,
2002, which financial statements would be required to be
included in the Companys proxy statement to be delivered
in connection with obtaining the shareholder consent required to
approve the issuance of shares to Berkshire contemplated by the
Berkshire proposal. As the transaction progressed, Berkshire
determined that the legal, accounting and administrative costs
of remaining a publicly traded company, and the systems
integration and disclosure requirements with which the Company
would have to comply following the CVG acquisition, made an
investment in the Company as a public company a less favorable
investment than one that would allow the Company to no longer be
subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC.
On May 27, 2005, Mr. Peeler contacted Peter Socha, the
Chairman of the Board of the Companys Board of Directors,
to discuss the possibility of an acquisition of all of the
common stock of the Company by an affiliate of Berkshire in
conjunction with the Companys purchase of CVG.
Mr. Peeler indicated that the timing, cost and complexity
of effecting the CVG acquisition through the Company as a public
entity had become unattractive, and therefore Berkshire would
only be prepared to pursue the CVG acquisition with the Company
if the Company were prepared to undertake a simultaneous
acquisition of the Company by Berkshire. Mr. Peeler
suggested that such a transaction could be priced in the range
of $6.00 to $6.50 per share of Company Common Stock.
Mr. Socha and Mr. Peeler spoke again the next day, at
which time Mr. Socha indicated that he did not believe the
indicated price range reflected the true value of the Company in
a combination transaction with CVG. Mr. Socha and
Mr. Peeler agreed to defer any further discussion of price
pending the establishment of a special committee by the Board
and a preliminary review of legal documentation from both
Berkshire and CVG. Mr. Peeler also discussed with
Mr. Socha the possibility of structuring the transaction as
a tender offer, so as to permit a simultaneous closing of the
CVG transaction on an expedited basis as compared to a merger
transaction, and to avoid the issue of whether appropriate CVG
financial statements would be available for inclusion in the
Companys proxy statement relating to the approval of such
merger transaction.
On June 6, 2005, counsel for Berkshire spoke with counsel
for the Company about the structure of a potential acquisition
of the Company by an affiliate of Berkshire. On the call,
counsel for the Company informed counsel for Berkshire that the
Company had formed a special committee comprised of
Messrs. Socha, Snow and Flour (the Special
Committee) to negotiate the terms of such a
transaction. Counsel for the Company requested that Berkshire
not discuss any compensation or similar arrangements with
management of the Company until after the Company and Berkshire
reach agreement on price and
22
terms of the transaction. He indicated that the Companys
financial advisor was working on an analysis of pricing for the
transaction and that the Company and Special Committee would not
be prepared to discuss price until this work was complete.
Counsel for the Company indicated that the Special Committee
would want to ensure that any transaction would involve the
payoff of the Companys existing 12% bonds due 2009.
Counsel for Berkshire indicated that, although it would not seek
exclusivity to pursue such a transaction, due to the increased
complexity and cost of the transaction being discussed and the
possibility that the Company could engage in such a transaction
with another party, Berkshire would want its expenses reimbursed
if the Company chose not to engage in a sale transaction with
Berkshire. Counsel for the Company informed counsel for
Berkshire that it would bring Berkshires expense
reimbursement request back to the Special Committee for
consideration.
On June 10, 2005, counsel to Berkshire provided counsel to
the Company with the form of a draft Merger Agreement providing
for the acquisition of the Company by Berkshire pursuant to a
cash tender offer, conditioned upon, among other things, the
simultaneous acquisition by the Company of CVG. The draft Merger
Agreement was discussed and negotiated during June and July 2005.
From June 15, 2005 through June 29, 2005, the Company
and Berkshire negotiated the terms of an expense reimbursement
letter, which letter was signed on June 29, 2005.
During June 2005, Berkshire and the Company negotiated the terms
of a financing commitment from Freeport Financial, LLC
(Freeport). On June 29, 2005 the Company
and Freeport executed a commitment letter pursuant to which,
subject to the conditions contained therein, Freeport would
provide financing to fund a portion of the CVG transaction
purchase price and provide funds to repay the Companys
12% notes due 2009.
On July 11, 2005, the form of a draft definitive loan
agreement (the Loan Agreement) was circulated
among the Company and Freeport. The terms of the draft Loan
Agreement were discussed and negotiated by the Company,
Berkshire and Freeport during July 2005. During that period the
parties also conducted a due diligence review in connection with
such financing transaction.
During July 2005, CVG and the Company continued to negotiate the
terms of the CVG Agreement. On July 25, 2005, CVG and the
Company agreed to the terms of the CVG Agreement.
Mr. Socha and Mr. Peeler spoke again by phone on the
afternoon of July 17, 2005. Mr. Peeler repeated his
previous position that Berkshire was prepared to offer $6.00 to
$6.50 per share in cash for all of the Shares.
Mr. Socha acknowledged that this price would be a
significant premium to recent trading activity, but stated he
would not support the price due to his previously stated
position that the price range did not reflect the true value of
the company in a combination with CVG. The parties discussed the
merits of their respective positions and agreed to continue the
discussions later in the week. On July 22, 2005,
Mr. Socha and Mr. Peeler spoke again. Mr. Peeler
indicated that Berkshire was prepared to offer $6.50 to
$6.75 per share in cash for all of the Shares.
Mr. Socha stated he would not support the price for reasons
previously discussed. The parties acknowledged that they were
not prepared to reach agreement on price, and agreed to continue
the discussions early the next week.
On the afternoon of July 25, 2005, Mr. Socha and
Mr. Peeler spoke again by phone. Mr. Peeler indicated
that Berkshire was prepared to offer $7.00 per share in
cash for all of the Shares. Over the course of the conversation,
Mr. Peeler revised Berkshires offer to $7.25 per
share in cash for all of the Shares, and indicated that this was
Berkshires final and best offer. Mr. Socha
acknowledged that $7.25 per share was a significant premium
to recent trading activity, and that he would support a
transaction at that price.
In the evening on July 25, 2005, after the closing of the
financial markets and a meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Company to consider the transaction, the parties executed the
definitive Merger Agreement, and the Company and CVG executed
the CVG Agreement. A joint press release announcing the
transactions was issued the following morning, on July 26,
2005, prior to the opening of the financial markets.
23
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| 12. |
Purpose of the Offer; the Merger Agreement; Plans for the
Company |
Purpose
The purpose of the Offer is to enable Parent to acquire control
of the Company and is a first step to acquire all of the
outstanding Shares. The purpose of the Merger is to acquire all
outstanding Shares not tendered and purchased pursuant to the
Offer or otherwise.
The Merger Agreement
The following is a summary of material portions of the Merger
Agreement. This summary, however, may not contain all the
information that is important to you. A copy of the Merger
Agreement is included as exhibit (d)(1) to the
Schedule TO filed with the Commission. You should read the
Merger Agreement in its entirety for a more complete description
of the matters summarized below.
The Merger Agreement provides that, following the satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions described below under
Conditions to the Merger, the Purchaser will be
merged with and into the Company, with the Company being the
surviving corporation, or if Parent so elects at any time after
the Expiration Date, the Company will be merged with and into
the Purchaser, with the Purchaser being the surviving
corporation. In either case, each issued Share (other than
Shares owned by Parent, the Purchaser or the Company or a
subsidiary of Parent, the Purchaser or the Company or by
stockholders, if any, who are entitled to and who properly
exercise appraisal rights under Georgia law) will be converted
into the right to receive the highest price per Share paid
pursuant to the Offer in cash, without interest thereon.
Vote Required To Approve Merger. The GBCC requires, among
other things, that the adoption of any plan of merger of the
Company must be approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company and, if the short-form merger procedure
described below is not available, approved by the holders of
majority of the Companys outstanding voting securities.
The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the Offer,
the Merger and the Merger Agreement; consequently, the only
additional action of the Company that may be necessary to effect
the Merger is approval of the Merger Agreement by the
Companys stockholders if such short-form
merger procedure is not available. If required by the GBCC, the
Company will call and hold a meeting of its stockholders
promptly following the consummation of the Offer and the
purchase of the Shares tendered in the Offer for the purposes of
voting upon the approval of the Merger Agreement. At any such
meeting all Shares then owned by Parent or the Purchaser will be
voted in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement. If the
Purchaser acquires, through the Offer or otherwise (including
pursuant to its exercise of the Top Up Option), voting power
with respect to (a) the majority of the outstanding Shares,
and (b) two-thirds of all votes cast by the holders of the
outstanding Shares (which would be the case if the Minimum
Condition were satisfied and the Purchaser were to accept for
payment Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer), it would have
sufficient voting power to effect the Merger without the
affirmative vote of any other stockholder of the Company.
Short-Form Merger Procedure. The GBCC
provides that, if a parent company owns at least 90% of the
outstanding shares of each class of stock of a subsidiary, the
parent company may merge that subsidiary with and into the
parent company (or, at the parents option, merge itself
with and into the subsidiary) pursuant to the
short-form merger procedures without prior notice
to, or the approval of, the other stockholders of the
subsidiary. In order to consummate the Merger pursuant to these
provisions of the GBCC, the Purchaser would have to own at least
90% of the outstanding Shares.
Conditions to the Merger. The Merger Agreement provides
that the respective obligations of each party to effect the
Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain
conditions, including the following: (a) the Companys
stockholders shall have approved the Merger by an affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares, and
by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of
outstanding Shares (collectively, the Common Stock
Approval), if required; (b)(i) in the event a
filing under the HSR Act is required, any requisite waiting
period in connection with such filing (and any extension
thereof) applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have
been terminated or shall have expired, and (ii) any
consents, approvals and filings under any other foreign
antitrust law the absence of
24
which would prohibit the consummation of the Merger, shall have
been obtained or made; (c) no statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, temporary restraining order,
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order enacted,
entered, promulgated, enforced or issued by any Governmental
Entity (as defined below under Termination of the Merger
Agreement), or other legal restraint or prohibition
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect;
provided that each of the parties shall have used all reasonable
efforts to prevent the entry of any such injunction or other
order and to appeal as promptly as possible any such injunction
or other order that may be entered; and (d) the Purchaser
shall have accepted Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer;
provided, that the obligation of a party to effect the Merger
shall not be conditioned on the fulfillment of the condition set
forth in this clause (d) if the failure of Purchaser to
accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer shall have
constituted or resulted from a material breach of the Offer or
this Agreement by such party.
Termination of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement
may be terminated at any time prior to the effective time of the
Merger (the Effective Time), whether before
or after receipt of Common Stock Approval:
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a) |
by mutual written consent of Parent, the Purchaser and the
Company; |
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b) |
by either Parent or the Company: |
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i) |
if the Offer is not consummated on or before the Outside Date,
unless the failure to consummate the Offer is the result of a
willful and material breach of the Merger Agreement by the party
seeking to terminate the Merger Agreement; |
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ii) |
if any Governmental Entity issues an order, decree or ruling or
takes any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or
otherwise prohibiting the acceptance for payment of, or payment
for, the Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger and such
order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final
and nonappealable; or |
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iii) |
if as the result of the failure of any of conditions to the
Offer described below in Section 14 of this Offer to
Purchase, the Offer shall have terminated or expired in
accordance with its terms without the Purchaser having accepted
Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer; provided, however,
that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to
this clause (iii shall not be available to any party
whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations under the Merger
Agreement results in the failure of any such condition or if the
failure of such condition results from facts or circumstances
that constitute a willful breach of any representation or
warranty under the Merger Agreement by such party; or |
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iv) |
if the Purchaser fails to commence the Offer on or before
August 2, 2005 due to a failure of the condition to the
Offer described below in paragraph (a) of
Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase; provided, however,
that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement shall not be
available to the Company if its failure to fulfill any of its
obligations under the Merger Agreement results from facts or
circumstances that constitute a breach of any representation or
warranty under this Agreement by the Company; or |
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c) |
by Parent, if the Company breaches or fails to perform in any
material respect any of its representations, warranties or
covenants contained in the Merger Agreement (other than a breach
or failure to perform for which Parent has the right to
terminate the Merger Agreement described in (d)(ii) below),
which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to
the failure of a condition to the Offer described below in
Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase, and (ii) cannot
be or has not been cured within 20 days after the giving of
written notice to the Company of such breach (provided that
Parent is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant contained in the Merger Agreement); or |
25
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d) |
by Parent prior to the first acceptance of Shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer (the Acceptance Date): |
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i) |
if the Board of Directors of the Company (the
Board) or any committee thereof withdraws or
modifies in a manner adverse to Parent or the Purchaser, or
publicly proposes to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to
Parent or the Purchaser, its approval or recommendation of the
Merger Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, fails to recommend to
the Companys stockholders that they accept the Offer and
give the Company Stockholder Approval or publicly approves or
recommends, or publicly proposes to approve or recommend, any
Company Takeover Proposal (as defined below under Takeover
Proposal); or |
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ii) |
if the Company or any of its officers, directors,
representatives or agents willfully takes any of the actions
that are prohibited by the provisions described below under
Takeover Proposals; or |
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e) |
by the Company prior to the Acceptance Date in the circumstances
described below under Takeover Proposals in which
such termination is permitted, subject to compliance by the
Company with the notice provisions described below and the
termination fee provisions described below; or |
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f) |
by the Parent in the event that the CVG Agreement is terminated
by either the Company or CVG; or |
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g) |
by the Company prior to the Acceptance Date, if Parent breaches
or fails to perform in any material respect any of its
representations, warranties or covenants contained in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform cannot be or has
not been cured within 20 days after the giving of written
notice to Parent of such breach (provided that the Company is
not then in material breach of any representation, warranty or
covenant contained in this Agreement). |
Takeover Proposals. The Merger Agreement provides that
the Company shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any of
its subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any
officer, director or employee of, or any investment banker,
attorney or other advisor or representative of, the Company or
any Company Subsidiary to, (i) directly or indirectly
solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of, any Takeover
Proposal, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any
Takeover Proposal or (iii) directly or indirectly
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or
furnish to any person any information with respect to, or take
any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of
any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to
lead to, any Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that prior to
the Acceptance Date the Company may, to the extent necessary to
act in a manner consistent with the fiduciary obligations of the
Board, as determined in good faith by it after consultation with
outside counsel and TM Capital or another nationally recognized
independent financial advisor, in response to a Takeover
Proposal that the Board determines, in good faith after
consultation with outside counsel, is reasonably likely to lead
to a Superior Company Proposal (as defined below), that was not
solicited by the Company and that did not otherwise result from
a breach or a deemed breach of this provision, and subject to
compliance with the notification provisions described below,
(x) furnish information with respect to the Company to the
person making such Takeover Proposal (and its representatives)
pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement and
(y) participate in discussions or negotiations with such
person (and its representatives) regarding such Takeover
Proposal.
Takeover Proposal means (i) any proposal
or offer for a merger, consolidation, dissolution,
recapitalization or other business combination involving the
Company or any significant subsidiary of the Company, or
(ii) any proposal or offer to acquire in any manner,
directly or indirectly, over 15% of the equity securities or
consolidated total assets of the Company, in each case other
than pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
Superior Company Proposal means any proposal
made by a third party to acquire substantially all the equity
securities or assets of the Company, pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer, a merger, a
26
consolidation, a liquidation or dissolution, a recapitalization
or a sale of all or substantially all its assets, (i) on
terms which the Board determines in good faith to be superior
from a financial point of view to the holders of Shares to the
Offers, taking into account all the terms and conditions of such
proposal and the Merger Agreement (including any proposal by
Parent to amend the terms of the Offer, the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) and
(ii) that the Board determines in good faith is reasonably
capable of being completed, taking into account all financial,
regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal.
The Merger Agreement further provides that unless the Board,
after consultation with outside counsel, determines in its good
faith judgment that it is necessary to do so in order to fulfill
its fiduciary obligations, neither the Board nor any committee
thereof may (i) withdraw (or modify in a manner adverse to
Parent or the Purchaser) or publicly propose to withdraw (or
modify in a manner adverse to Parent or the Purchaser) the
approval or recommendation by the Board or any such committee of
the Merger Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, (ii) approve
any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition or
similar agreement relating to any Takeover Proposal or
(iii) approve or recommend, or publicly propose to approve
or recommend, any Takeover Proposal. The Company shall not take
the actions set forth in clauses (ii) or (iii) of the
preceding sentence unless: (i) the Board has received a
Superior Proposal, (ii) in light of such Superior Proposal
the Board shall have determined in good faith, after
consultation with outside counsel, that it is necessary to
withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger
Agreement, the Offer or the Merger in order to act in a manner
consistent with its fiduciary duty under applicable law,
(iii) the Company has notified Parent in writing of the
determinations described in clause (ii) above (the
Takeover Notice), (iv) at least three
business days following receipt by Parent of the Takeover
Notice, and taking into account any revised proposal made by
Parent since receipt of the Takeover Notice, such Superior
Proposal remains a Superior Proposal and the Board of Directors
of the Company has again made their determinations referred to
in clause (ii) above, (v) the Company is in compliance
with the provisions related to Takeover Proposals referenced
above, (vi) the Company has previously paid the Termination
Fee (as described in Fees and Expenses
Termination Fee below), and (vii) the Board
concurrently approves, and the Company concurrently enters into,
a definitive agreement, providing for the implementation of such
Superior Proposal.
In addition to the obligations of the Company described in the
preceding four paragraphs, the Merger Agreement provides that
the Company will promptly advise Parent orally and, within one
business day, in writing of any Takeover Proposal or of any
inquiry that could reasonably be expected to lead to any
Takeover Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such
Takeover Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the
identity of the person making any such Takeover Proposal or
inquiry. The Company shall keep Parent fully informed of the
status and details (including any change to the terms thereof)
of any such Takeover Proposal. In addition, the Company is
required to provide to Parent as soon as practicable after
receipt or delivery thereof with copies of all correspondence
and other written material sent or provided to the Company by
any third party in connection with any Takeover Proposal or sent
or provided by the Company to any third party in connection with
any Takeover Proposal.
The Merger Agreement provides that the provisions described
above will not prohibit the Company from taking and disclosing
to its stockholders a position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or making
any required disclosure to the Companys stockholders if,
in the good faith judgment of the Board, after consultation with
outside counsel, failure so to disclose would be inconsistent
with applicable law.
Fees and Expenses; Termination Fee. The Merger Agreement
provides that except as set forth below, all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Offer, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or
expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.
27
The Company will pay to Parent a fee of $1,600,000 million
(the Termination Fee) if:
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i. |
the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to the provisions
described above in clause (b)(iii) under Termination
of the Merger Agreement as a result of the failure of the
condition set forth in paragraph (d) of
Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase; |
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ii. |
the Company terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to
clause (e) under Termination of the Merger
Agreement; |
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iii. |
Parent terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to the
provisions described above in clause (d)(i) or (d)(ii)
under Termination of the Merger Agreement; |
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iv. |
after the date of the Merger Agreement, any person makes a
Takeover Proposal, and (A) the Offer remains open until the
later of (1) the scheduled expiration date immediately
following the date such Takeover Proposal is made and
(2) ten days after the date such Takeover Proposal is made,
(B) the Minimum Condition is not satisfied at such
expiration date, (C) the Merger Agreement is terminated
pursuant to the provisions described above in clause (b)(i)
or (b)(iii) (other than as a result of the failure of the
condition set forth in paragraph (d) of
Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase) and (D) within
12 months of such termination the Company enters into a
definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, the
transactions contemplated by such Takeover Proposal; or |
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v. |
(A) the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to
clause (c) under Termination of the Merger
Agreement as a result of willful breach by the Company,
(B) after such termination, a Takeover Proposal is made and
(C) within 12 months of such termination the Company
enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or
consummates, the transactions contemplated by any Takeover
Proposal. |
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Any fee due under the provisions described above shall be paid
by wire transfer of same-day funds on the date of termination of
the Merger Agreement (except that in the case of
clause (iv) or (v) above such payment shall be made on
the date of execution of such definitive agreement or, if
earlier, consummation of such transactions). |
If the Company becomes obligated to pay the Termination Fee
pursuant to clause (v) described above, Parent may elect at
any time not to receive the Termination Fee and, if such
election is made, may pursue any and all rights, claims and
causes of action it may have with respect to such breach under
law. If Parent elects to receive the Termination Fee, and the
Company pays the Termination Fee as described above, the payment
by the Company of such fee will be Parents and
Purchasers sole remedy with respect to such breach and
Parent and Purchaser shall waive, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any and all rights, claims and causes of
action (other than claims of, or causes of action arising from,
fraud) it may have against the Company with respect to such
breach.
Upon the earlier of (i) the termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms, or (ii) the
Effective Time, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees)
incurred by Parent in connection with the Offer, the Merger and
the other Transactions (Parent Transaction
Expenses) contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
Company; provided, that the Companys obligation to pay
Parent Transaction Expenses shall not apply in the event the
Agreement is terminated by the Company due to a breach by the
Parent of any of its representations, warranties or covenants
contained in the Merger Agreement (provided that the Company is
not then in material breach of any representation, warranty or
covenant contained in the Merger Agreement). In the event the
Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the
Parent Transaction Expenses shall be paid by the Company in six
equal monthly installments beginning in the first month such
Parent Transaction Expenses are due.
The Parent Transaction Expenses shall not exceed $2,000,000
without the prior written approval of the Company; provided,
however, the amount of the Parent Transaction Expenses plus the
Termination Fee required to be paid by the Company, shall not
exceed an aggregate amount of $2,600,000.
28
Conduct of Business. The Merger Agreement provides that
during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement to the
earliest to occur of the date of the termination of the Merger
Agreement, the date directors designated by Parent or Purchaser
have been elected to and shall constitute a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company (the Control
Date), and the Effective Time, except (i) as
consented to in writing by Parent, (ii) as expressly
permitted by the Merger Agreement or (iii) as disclosed on
the Companys disclosure schedule to the Merger Agreement,
the Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, carry on
their respective businesses taken as a whole in the usual,
regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
previously conducted and use all reasonable efforts to preserve
intact its current business organization, keep available the
services of its current officers and employees and keep their
relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees,
distributors and others having business dealings with them to
the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall be
unimpaired in all material respects at the Effective Time.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, but subject to
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, from the date
of the Merger Agreement to the earliest to occur of the date of
termination of the Merger Agreement, the Control Date or the
Effective Time the Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its subsidiaries to:
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i. |
(A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any
other distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock
except for dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company to its parent,
(B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock
or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in
respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its
capital stock, or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of capital stock or any other securities of the
Company or its subsidiaries or any rights, warrants or options
to acquire any such shares or other securities; |
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ii. |
issue, deliver, sell or grant (A) any shares of its capital
stock, (B) any Voting Company Debt (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) or other voting securities or (C) any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or any
options, warrants or rights to acquire, any such shares, Voting
Company Debt, voting securities or convertible securities or
(D) phantom stock, phantom stock
rights, stock appreciation rights or stock based performance
units (other than the issuance of Shares and associated Rights
upon the exercise of Company Stock Options (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) and the issuance of Shares upon the exercise
of the Rights). |
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iii. |
amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other
comparable charter or organizational documents); |
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iv. |
other than pursuant to the CVG Agreement, acquire or agree to
acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by
purchasing a substantial equity interest in or portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other
business organization or division thereof, or (B) any
assets that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; |
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v. |
(A) grant to any current or former officer, director or
employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries any increase
in compensation, except to the extent required under employment
agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included in the Filed SEC Documents (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) or, with respect to employees
(other than directors, officers or key employees) in the
ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice, (B)
grant to any current or former employee, officer or director of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries any increase in severance
or termination pay, except to the extent required under any
agreement in effect as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included in the Companys filings with
the Commission, (C) enter into any employment, consulting,
indemnification, severance or termination agreement with any
such employee, officer or director, (D) establish, adopt,
enter into or amend in any material respect any collective
bargaining agreement or Company Benefit Plan (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) or (E) take any action to accelerate any
rights or benefits, or make any material |
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determinations not in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior practice, under any collective bargaining agreement
or Company Benefit Plan; |
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vi. |
make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices
materially affecting the reported consolidated assets,
liabilities or results of operations of the Company, except
insofar as may have been required by a change in Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles; |
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vii. |
sell, lease (as lessor), license or otherwise dispose of or
subject to any lien or other encumbrance any material properties
or assets, except sales of obsolete assets in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice; |
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viii. |
(A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee
any such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt
securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, guarantee
any debt securities of another person, enter into any keep
well or other agreement to maintain any financial
statement condition of another person or enter into any
arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing,
except for short-term borrowings from persons that are not
directors, officers or employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or (B) make any loans,
advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
other person, other than to or in the Company or any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company; |
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ix. |
make or agree to make any new capital expenditure or
expenditures that are in excess of $150,000 individually or
$1,000,000 in the aggregate; |
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x. |
make or change any material tax election or settle or compromise
any material tax liability or refund; |
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xi. |
(A) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or
obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise) in excess of $50,000 individually or
$250,000 in the aggregate, other than the payment, discharge or
satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or in accordance with their terms, of liabilities
reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the most
recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto)
of the Company included in the Filed Company SEC Documents or
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (B) cancel any indebtedness in excess of $150,000
individually or $500,000 in the aggregate or waive any claims or
rights of substantial value or (C) waive the benefits of,
or agree to modify in any manner, any confidentiality,
standstill or similar agreement to which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is a party; |
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xii. |
enter into, renew, extend, amend, modify, waive any material
provision of, or terminate any lease or similar commitment, in
each case providing for payments in excess of $500,000 over the
term of such lease or commitment (or until the date on which
such lease or commitment may be terminated by the Company
without penalty); or |
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xiii. |
authorize, or commit or agree to take, any of the foregoing
actions. |
Board of Directors. The Merger Agreement provides that
promptly upon the first acceptance for payment of, and payment
by the Purchaser for, any Shares pursuant to the Offer, the
Purchaser shall be entitled to designate such number of
directors on the Board as will give the Purchaser, subject to
compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act,
representation on the Board equal to at least that number of
directors, rounded up to the next whole number, which is the
product of (a) the total number of directors on the Board
(giving effect to the directors elected pursuant to this
sentence) multiplied by (b) the percentage that
(i) such number of Shares so accepted for payment and paid
for by the Purchaser plus the number of Shares otherwise owned
by the Purchaser or any other subsidiary of Parent bears to
(ii) the number of such Shares outstanding, and the Company
shall, at such time, cause the Purchasers designees to be
so elected; provided that in the event that the Purchasers
designees are appointed or
30
elected to the Board, until the Effective Time the Board shall
have at least two directors who are directors on the date of the
Merger Agreement and who are not officers of the Company (the
Independent Directors); and provided further
that, in such event, if the number of Independent Directors is
reduced below two for any reason whatsoever, the remaining
Independent Director will be entitled to designate persons to
fill such vacancies who will be deemed to be Independent
Directors for purposes of the Merger Agreement or, if no
Independent Directors then remain, the other directors will
designate two persons to fill such vacancies who are not
officers, stockholders or affiliates of the Company, Parent or
the Purchaser, and such persons will be deemed to be Independent
Directors for purposes of the Merger Agreement. Subject to
applicable law, the Company is required under the Merger
Agreement to take all action requested by Parent necessary to
effect any such election, including mailing to its stockholders
the Information Statement containing the information required by
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
promulgated thereunder, and the Company will make such mailing
with the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9 (provided that the
Purchaser has provided to the Company on a timely basis all
information required to be included in the Information Statement
with respect to the Purchasers designees). In connection
with the foregoing, the Company is required to promptly, at the
option of the Purchaser, either increase the size of the Board
of Directors of the Company or obtain the resignation of such
number of its current directors as is necessary to enable the
Purchasers designees to be elected or appointed to the
Board of Directors of the Company as provided above.
Stock Options. The Merger Agreement provides that the
Board (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the
Company Stock Plans (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) shall
adopt such resolutions or take, or cause the Company to take,
such other actions as are required (including, without
limitation, obtaining all necessary consents of all holders of
Company Stock Options under the Companys Restated Stock
Option and Incentive Award Plan, but without compensating any
holder of any Company Stock Option for such consent) to adjust
the terms of all outstanding Company Stock Options (the
Exercisable Options) to provide that each
such Exercisable Option outstanding immediately following the
first acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer
shall be cancelled in exchange for a cash payment by the Company
as soon as practicable following the first acceptance for
payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer of an amount equal to
(i) the excess, if any, of (x) the highest price per
Share to be paid pursuant to the Offer over (y) the
exercise price per Share subject to such Exercisable Option,
multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares for which such
Exercisable Option shall not have been exercised. Parent will
advance the amount of funds to the Company that it requires in
order to comply with these provisions on terms mutually
acceptable to Parent and the Company.
The Merger Agreement provides that the Company Stock Plans shall
terminate as of the Effective Time, and the provisions in any
other Benefit Plan (as defined in the Merger Agreement)
providing for the issuance, transfer or grant of any capital
stock of the Company or any interest in respect of any capital
stock of the Company shall be deleted as of the Effective Time,
and the Company shall ensure that following the Effective Time
no holder of a Company Stock Option or any participant in any
Company Stock Plan or other Benefit Plan shall have any right
thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or the
surviving corporation in the Merger.
Employee Benefits. The Merger Agreement provides that
with respect to any employee benefit plan, as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained by Parent or
any of its subsidiaries (including any severance plan), for all
purposes, including determining eligibility to participate and
vesting, service with the Company or any Company Subsidiary
shall be treated as service with Parent or any of its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that such service need not be
recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in
any duplication of benefits.
Rights Agreement; Consequences if Rights Triggered. The
Merger Agreement provides that the Board of Directors of the
Company shall take all action requested in writing by Parent in
order to render the Rights inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Except as approved in writing by Parent, the Board of Directors
of the Company may not (i) amend the Company Rights
Agreement, (ii) redeem the Rights or (iii) take any
action with respect to, or make any determination under, the
Company Rights Agreement in each case in a manner adverse to
31
Parent or the Purchaser. The Merger Agreement further provides
that if any Distribution Date or Share Acquisition Date (each as
defined in the Company Rights Agreement) occurs under the
Company Rights Agreement at any time during the period from the
date of the Merger Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company
and Parent shall make such adjustment to the price being offered
for the Shares as the Company and Parents shall mutually agree
so as to preserve the economic benefits that the Company and
Parent each reasonably expected on the date of the Merger
Agreement to receive as a result of the consummation of the
Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the
Merger Agreement.
Indemnification and Insurance. Parent and the Purchaser
have agreed in the Merger Agreement that Parent shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, cause the Company (from and
after the Control Date) and the surviving corporation in the
Merger (from and after the Effective Time) to honor all the
Companys obligations to indemnify, defend and hold
harmless (including any obligations to advance funds for
expenses) the current and former directors and officers of the
Company and its subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages
or liabilities arising out of acts or omissions by any such
directors and officers occurring prior to the Effective Time to
the maximum extent that such obligations of the Company exist on
the date of the Merger Agreement, whether pursuant to the
Companys charter, the Companys by-laws, the GBCC,
individual indemnity agreements or otherwise, and such
obligations shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full
force and effect in accordance with the terms of the
Companys charter, the Companys by-laws, the GBCC and
such individual indemnity agreements from the Effective Time
until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations
with respect to any claims against such directors or officers
arising out of such acts or omissions. In the event a current or
former director or officer of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is entitled to indemnification, such director or
officer shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company
(from and after the Control Date) or the corporation surviving
the Merger (from and after the Effective Time) for reasonable
attorney fees and expenses incurred by such director or officer
in pursuing such indemnification, including payment of such fees
and expenses by the corporation surviving the Merger or the
Company, as applicable, in advance of the final disposition of
such action upon receipt of an undertaking by such current or
former director or officer to repay such payment if it shall be
adjudicated that such current or former director or officer was
not entitled to such payment.
The Merger Agreement also provides that from and after the
Control Date for a period of six years after the Effective Time,
Parent shall cause to be maintained in effect the current
policies of directors and officers liability
insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may
either (i) substitute therefor policies with reputable and
financially sound carriers or (ii) maintain self insurance
or similar arrangements through a financially sound insurance
affiliate of Parent with at least as high a rating as the
Companys current insurance carriers, in each case of at
least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous) with respect to
claims arising from or related to facts or events which occurred
at or before the Effective Time; provided, however, that Parent
shall not be obligated to make annual premium payments for such
insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 150% of the annual
premiums paid as of the date hereof by the Company for such
insurance (such 150% amount, the Maximum
Premium). If such insurance coverage cannot be
obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an annual premium in
excess of the Maximum Premium, Parent shall maintain the most
advantageous policies of directors and officers
insurance obtainable for an annual premium equal to the Maximum
Premium. In the Merger Agreement, the Company has represented to
Parent that the Maximum Premium is $345,000.
The Company has agreed in the Merger Agreement to maintain,
through the Effective Time, the Companys existing
directors and officers insurance in full force and
effect without reduction of coverage.
The Merger Agreement also provides that if the corporation
surviving the merger or any of its successors or assigns
(i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity
of such consolidation or merger and the continuing or surviving
entity does not assume the indemnification obligations of the
surviving corporation, or (ii) transfers all or
substantially all of its properties and assets to any person,
then, and in each such case, proper provision
32
shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the
corporation surviving the merger assume, as a matter of law or
otherwise, the obligations.
Reasonable Efforts; Notification. The Merger Agreement
provides that each of the parties shall use all reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all reasonable actions,
and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with
the other parties in doing, all things reasonably necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the
most expeditious manner practicable, the Offer, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental
Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and
filings (including filings with Governmental Entities, if any)
and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to
obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining
of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third
parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal
proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging the
Merger Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, when
reasonable, seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining
order entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated
or reversed and (iv) the execution and delivery of any
additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement and to fully carry out the
purposes of the Merger Agreement. In connection with and without
limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Board of Directors
of the Company have agreed to (i) take all action necessary
to ensure that no state takeover statute or similar statute or
regulation is or becomes applicable to the Merger Agreement, any
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement and
(ii) if any state takeover statute or similar statute or
regulation becomes applicable to the Merger Agreement, take all
action necessary to ensure that the Offer, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement may be
consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated
by the Merger Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of
such statute or regulation on the Offer, the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Nothing
in the Merger Agreement is deemed to require any party to waive
any substantial rights or agree to any substantial limitation on
its operations or to dispose of any significant asset or
collection of assets. As promptly as practicable after the
consummation of the Offer, the Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to notify Parent of any actions or nonactions of,
waivers, consents and approvals from, and registrations and
filings with, Governmental Entities, and any consents, approvals
or waivers from third parties, that would be required in
connection with the consummation of the Merger in the event that
Parent elects to merge the Company with and into the Purchaser
instead of merging the Purchaser into the Company.
The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent or
the Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the Company, of
(i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in
the Merger Agreement that is qualified as to materiality
becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect or any such
representation or warranty that is not so qualified becoming
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or (ii) the
failure by it to comply with or satisfy in any material respect
any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it under the Merger Agreement; provided, however,
that no such notification shall affect the representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the
conditions to the obligations of the parties under the Merger
Agreement.
Representations and Warranties. The Merger Agreement
contains various customary representations and warranties,
including representations relating to corporate existence and
power; capitalization; corporate authorizations; subsidiaries;
absence of conflicts; Commission filings; absence of certain
changes; contracts; absence of undisclosed liabilities;
government authorizations; litigation; compliance with laws;
absence of changes in benefit plans; excess parachute payments;
employment agreements; taxes; intellectual property; absence of
notes owing to the Company certain parties; accuracy of certain
disclosures; brokers and other fees and the opinion of the
Companys financial advisor.
The Merger Agreement also contains a provision whereby the
Company represents to the Purchaser that (i) the CVG
Agreement has been duly approved and authorized by all necessary
action on the part of the Company, (ii) the CVG Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
33
Company and CVG, (iii) the CVG Agreement constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and CVG,
enforceable against them in accordance with its terms,
(iv) neither the Company nor, to the Companys
knowledge, CVG, is in default of any of the terms and conditions
contained in the CVG Agreement, (v) the CVG Agreement has
not been amended or modified in any way, (vi) a true and
complete copy of the CVG Agreement has been provided to the
Parent, and (vii) the debt financing as contemplated by the
financing commitments set forth in the CVG Agreement are in full
force and effect and have not been amended or modified in any
way.
Certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement
provide exceptions for items that are not material
or that are not reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of the Merger
Agreement and the Offer, a Company Material Adverse
Effect means (a) a material adverse effect on the
business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, other than effects due to (1) general
economic, market or political conditions or (2) matters
generally affecting the industry in which such party operates,
(b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company
to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement or
(c) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company
to consummate the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or
Waiver. The Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties
at any time, whether before or after the Common Stock Approval
has been obtained; provided, however, that, after the Common
Stock Approval has been obtained, there shall be made no
amendment that by law requires further approval by the
Companys stockholders without the further approval of such
stockholders and provided, further, that after Purchasers
purchase of Shares in the Offer, no such amendment or
modification shall be made that reduces the amount or changes
the form of consideration payable upon the conversion of shares
of Company Common Stock (Merger
Consideration) or otherwise materially and adversely
affects the rights of the Companys stockholders under the
Merger Agreement, without the further approval of such
stockholders. The Merger Agreement may not be amended except by
an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
to the Merger Agreement.
At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may
(a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
in the Merger Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant
thereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements
or conditions contained therein. Any agreement on the part of a
party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party. The failure by any party to the Merger Agreement to
assert any of its rights under the Merger Agreement or otherwise
shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
A termination of the Merger Agreement, an amendment of the
Merger Agreement or an extension or waiver shall, in order to be
effective, require in the case of Parent, the Purchaser or the
Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized
designee of its Board of Directors; provided that in the case of
the Company and in the event the Offer has been consummated and
the Shares have been purchased pursuant to the Offer, such
action shall also require action by a majority of the
Independent Directors.
Parent Loan to Company. The Merger Agreement provides
that upon payment for shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to
the Offer, in order to facilitate the purchase by the Company of
CVG upon the terms and conditions set forth in the CVG
Agreement, Parent shall provide subordinated debt financing or
redeemable preferred stock financing to the Company in the
amount of up to $31,000,000 upon commercially reasonable terms
to be mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company; provided
that Parent may reduce the amount of such financing by the
amount, if any, paid pursuant to the Top Up Option.
Indenture. The Merger Agreement provides that the Company
shall use the proceeds from the Financing Commitments (as
defined below) contemplated in the CVG Agreement to redeem all
amounts outstanding under the Indenture, dated as of
December 7, 2001 and as subsequently amended, between the
34
Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the
Indenture), at a redemption price equal to
100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any.
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The Confidentiality Agreement |
Parent and the Company entered into a Confidentiality Agreement
on February 23, 2005 (the Confidentiality
Agreement). Pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement,
the Parent and the Company agreed to keep confidential certain
information provided by the Company or its representatives. The
Merger Agreement provides that certain information exchanged
pursuant to the Merger Agreement will be subject to the
Confidentiality Agreement.
CVG. The Company has entered into the CVG Agreement in
order to effect the Companys purchase all of the
outstanding stock of CVG, which is a privately held retailer of
optical products and services headquartered in Pennsauken, New
Jersey. CVG operates 111 optical stores under the brand name
Americas Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.
The Companys acquisition of CVG has been approved
unanimously by the boards of directors of the Company and CVG.
Pursuant to the CVG Agreement, the Company will pay
approximately $88 million in cash, approximately
$48 million of which will be used to repay debt and other
obligations of CVG and the remainder of which will be paid to
the CVG shareholders. It is anticipated that the CVG
acquisition, and the repayment of the amounts outstanding under
the Indenture to occur in conjunction with the CVG acquisition,
would be financed through a new credit facility to be arranged
by Freeport and contain customary conditions to close (the
Financing Commitments), as well as through a
cash investment by Parent contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
The Company would be obligated to pay a break up fee to
CVGs shareholders of $4 million (the Break
Up Fee) if the Companys acquisition of CVG as
contemplated by the CVG Agreement fails to close
(i) 120 days from the date the CVG Agreement was
executed, or (ii) 150 days from the date the CVG
Agreement was executed in the event the Company pays simple
interest to CVG on the Break Up Fee beginning on the
90th day following execution of the CVG Agreement, at a
rate of 6.25% per annum, due to its failure to close the
contemplated financing. The consummation of the Companys
acquisition of CVG is conditioned upon the simultaneous closing
of the Offer.
After the purchase of Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the
Offer, Parent may appoint its representatives to the
Companys Board of Directors in proportion to its ownership
of the outstanding Shares. See The Merger
Agreement Board of Directors above.
Other Plans. Following the completion of the Offer and
Merger, and the closing of the CVG Agreement, Parent intends to
operate the Company and CVG as a combined entity. Except as
otherwise indicated in this Offer to Purchase, Parent does not
have any current plans or proposals which relate to or would
result in (i) an extraordinary corporate transaction, such
as a merger, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a sale or transfer of a
material amount of assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (iii) any change in the present management of
the Company, (iv) any material change in the Companys
present capitalization or dividend policy, or (v) any other
material change in the Companys corporate structure or
business. Nevertheless, Parent intends to continue to review the
Company and its assets, corporate structure, dividend policy,
capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and
personnel and to consider, what, if any, changes would be
desirable in light of the circumstances then existing, and
reserves the right to take such actions or effect such changes
as it deems desirable.
The holders of Shares do not have appraisal rights as a result
of the Offer. However, if the Merger is consummated, holders of
Shares at the Effective Time will have certain rights pursuant
to the provisions of Article 13 of the GBCC (the
Appraisal Provisions) to dissent and demand
appraisal of their Shares.
35
Under the Appraisal Provisions, dissenting stockholders who
comply with the applicable statutory procedures will be entitled
to demand payment of fair value for their stock. If a
stockholder and the surviving corporation do not agree on such
fair value, the stockholder will have the right to a judicial
determination of fair value of such stockholders Shares
(exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) and to receive
payment of such fair value in cash, together with any interest
as determined by the court. Any such judicial determination of
the fair value of Shares could be based upon factors other than,
or in addition to, the price per Share to be paid in the Merger
or the market value of the Shares. The value so determined could
be more or less than the price per Share to be paid in the
Merger.
The foregoing summary of the Appraisal Provisions does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Appraisal Provisions. A complete text of
Article 13 of the GBCC is set forth in Appendix II
hereto. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE STEPS REQUIRED BY THE APPRAISAL
PROVISIONS FOR PERFECTING APPRAISAL RIGHTS MAY RESULT IN THE
LOSS OF SUCH RIGHTS.
Neither the Company, the Purchaser or the Parent have entered
into any binding agreements with any shareholders which would
require shareholders to tender their shares in connection with
the Offer.
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| 13. |
Dividends and Distributions |
As discussed in Section 12 of this Offer to Purchase, the
Merger Agreement provides that from July 25, 2005, to the
earliest to occur of the termination of the Merger Agreement,
the Control Date or the Effective Time, without the prior
written consent of Parent, the Company may not declare, set
aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
in respect of, any of its capital stock except for dividends and
distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company to its parent.
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| 14. |
Certain Conditions of the Offer |
The Merger Agreement provides that notwithstanding any other
term of the Offer or the Merger Agreement, Sub shall not be
required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-l(c)
under the Exchange Act (relating to Subs obligation to pay
for or return tendered shares of Company Common Stock promptly
after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for
any shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the
Offer unless (i) there shall have been validly tendered and
not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer that number
of shares of Company Common Stock which, together with that
number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent,
Purchaser and Parents other subsidiaries (including any
shares acquired pursuant to exercise of the Top Up Option),
would represent more than sixty-seven percent (67%) of the Fully
Diluted Shares (the Minimum Tender
Condition), (ii) if a filing under the HSR Act is
required, any waiting period with respect to such filing
applicable to the purchase of shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the Offer shall have expired or been terminated,
(iii) the Company shall have closed the transactions
contemplated by the CVG Agreement and received the debt
financing contemplated by the Financing Commitments,
(iv) the Company shall have received consents as set forth
on Schedule 3.05(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter (as
defined in the Merger Agreement), which consents waive any
default under or right to terminate the Contracts referred to
therein that would otherwise have resulted from the Offer, the
Merger or the other Transactions and (v) the Company shall
have obtained the written consent of holders of Company Stock
Options issued and outstanding under the Companys Restated
Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan to cancel all such Company
Stock Options as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The term
Fully Diluted Shares means all outstanding
securities, as of 12:00 midnight on the date of the expiration
of the Offer, entitled generally to vote in the election of
directors of the Company on a fully diluted basis, after giving
effect to the exercise or conversion of all options, rights and
securities exercisable (taking into account acceleration of
exercisability that would result from the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement) or convertible into such
36
voting securities. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other term
of the Offer or this Agreement, Purchaser shall not be required
to accept for payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for any
shares of Company Common Stock not theretofore accepted for
payment or paid for, and may terminate or amend the Offer,
(A) with the consent of the Company, or (B) without
the consent of the Company at any time on or after the date of
the Merger Agreement and before the first acceptance of such
Shares for payment or the payment therefore, when any of the
following conditions exists:
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a) |
there shall be threatened or pending any suit, action or
proceeding (other than by Parent or Purchaser, a stockholder of
Parent (that is not also a stockholder of the Company) or
Purchaser or any person affiliated with Parent or Purchaser)
which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, has a reasonable
likelihood of success or would require the expenditure of funds
that are material in relation to the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole to defend (i) challenging the
acquisition by Parent or Purchaser of any Company Common Stock,
seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of
the Offer or the Merger, or seeking to obtain from the Company,
Parent or Purchaser any damages that are material in relation to
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
(ii) seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership or
operation by the Company, Parent or any of their respective
subsidiaries of any material portion of the business or assets
of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or Parent
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or to compel the Company,
Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or
hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole or Parent and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, as a result of the Offer or
the Merger, (iii) seeking to prohibit or limit the
ownership or operation by the Company or CVG or any of their
respective subsidiaries of any material portion of the business
or assets of CVG and its subsidiaries taken as whole, or to
compel the Company or CVG or any of their respective
subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate any material portion
of the business or assets of CVG and its subsidiaries taken as
whole, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the CVG
Agreement, (iv) seeking to impose material limitations on
the ability of Parent or Purchaser to acquire or hold, or
exercise full rights of ownership of, any shares of Company
Common Stock, including the right to vote the Company Common
Stock acquired by it on all matters properly presented to the
stockholders of the Company or (vi) seeking to prohibit
Parent or any of its subsidiaries from effectively controlling
in any material respect the business or operations of the
Company, the Company Subsidiaries or CVG; |
| |
| |
b) |
any Law or Judgment enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
amended or issued with respect to, or deemed applicable to, or
any required consent or approval withheld with respect to,
(i) Parent, the Company, CVG or any of their respective
subsidiaries, or (ii) the Offer or the Merger, by any
Governmental Entity that is reasonably likely to result,
directly or indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to
in paragraph (a) above; |
| |
| |
c) |
since the date of the Merger Agreement there shall have occurred
any event, change, effect or development that, individually or
in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to
have, a Company Material Adverse Effect; |
| |
| |
d) |
the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have withdrawn
or modified in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser, or
publicly proposed to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to
Parent or Purchaser, its approval or recommendation of this
Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, failed to recommend to the
Companys stockholders that they accept the Offer or
approved or recommended, or publicly proposed to approve or
recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal; |
| |
| |
e) |
any of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in the Merger Agreement (as each such representation
or warranty would read if all qualifications as to materiality
or knowledge were deleted therefrom) shall not be true and
correct when made or at any time prior to the consummation of
the Offer as if made at and as of such time except where the
failure to |
37
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|
be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has
not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Company
Material Adverse Effect; |
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| |
f) |
the Company shall have failed to perform in any material respect
any obligation or to comply in any material respect with any
agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied
with by it under the Merger Agreement, which failure to perform
or comply cannot be or has not been cured within ten days after
the giving of written notice to the Company of such breach; |
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g) |
the CVG Agreement shall have been terminated by either the
Company or CVG; or |
| |
| |
h) |
the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance
with its terms; |
which, in the sole and good faith judgment of Purchaser or
Parent, in any such case, and regardless of the circumstances
giving rise to any such condition (including any action or
inaction by Parent or any of its affiliates), makes it
inadvisable to proceed with such acceptance for payment or
payment.
The foregoing conditions, including those contained in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of the
first paragraph of this Section 14, are for the sole
benefit of Purchaser and Parent and may be asserted by Purchaser
or Parent regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such
condition or may be waived by Purchaser and Parent in whole or
in part at any time and from time to time in their sole
discretion (subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement). The
failure by Parent, Purchaser or any other affiliate of Parent at
any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be
deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of any such right
with respect to particular facts and circumstances shall not be
deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and
circumstances and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing
right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
|
|
| 15. |
Certain Legal Matters |
Except as described in this Section 15, based on a review
of publicly available filings made by the Company with the
Commission and other publicly available information concerning
the Company and discussions of representatives of Parent with
representatives of the Company, none of the Purchaser, Parent or
the Company is aware of any license or regulatory permit that
appears to be material to the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that might be adversely affected
by the Purchasers acquisition of Shares (and the indirect
acquisition of the stock of the Companys subsidiaries) as
contemplated herein or of any approval or other action by any
Federal, state, local or foreign government or any court of
competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or
foreign that would be required or desirable for the acquisition
or ownership of Shares by the Purchaser as contemplated herein.
Should any such approval or other action be required or
desirable, Parent and the Purchaser currently contemplate that
such approval or other action will be sought, except as
described below under State Takeover Laws. While
(except as otherwise expressly described in this
Section 15) the Purchaser does not presently intend to
delay the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such
matter, there can be no assurance that any such approval or
other action, if needed, would be obtained or would be obtained
without substantial conditions or that failure to obtain any
such approval or other action might not result in consequences
adverse to the Companys business or that certain parts of
the Companys business might not have to be disposed of if
such approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not
taken or in order to obtain any such approval or other action.
If certain types of adverse action are taken with respect to the
matters discussed below, the Purchaser could, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, decline to accept
for payment or pay for any Shares tendered. See Section 14
of this Offer to Purchase for a description of certain
conditions to the Offer.
State Takeover Laws. Sections 14-2-1131 to 14-2-1133
of the GBCC, in general, prohibit a Resident Domestic
Corporation such as the Company from engaging in a
Business Combination (defined as a variety of
transactions, including mergers) with an Interested
Stockholder (defined generally as a person that is the
beneficial owner of 10% or more of a corporations
outstanding voting stock) for a period of five
38
years following the time that such person became an interested
stockholder unless: (a) prior to the time such person
became an interested stockholder, the board of directors of the
Resident Domestic Corporation approved either the Business
Combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder
becoming an Interested Stockholder; (b) upon consummation
of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at
least 90 percent of the voting stock of the Resident
Domestic Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction
commenced, excluding stock held by (i) persons who are
directors or officers, their affiliates, or associates;
(ii) subsidiaries of the Resident Domestic Corporation; and
(iii) any employee stock plan under which participants do
not have the right (as determined exclusively by reference to
the terms of such plan and any trust which is part of such plan)
to determine confidentially the extent to which shares held
under such plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer;
or (c) subsequent to becoming an Interested Shareholder,
such shareholder acquired additional shares resulting in the
Interested Shareholder being the beneficial owner of at least
90 percent of the outstanding voting stock of the Resident
Domestic Corporation, excluding for purposes of determining the
number of shares outstanding those shares owned by
(i) persons who are directors or officers of the Resident
Domestic Corporation, their affiliates, or associates;
(ii) subsidiaries of the Resident Domestic Corporation; and
(iii) any employee stock plan under which participants do
not have the right (as determined exclusively by reference to
the terms of such plan and any trust which is part of such plan)
to determine confidentially the extent to which shares held
under such plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer,
and the Business Combination was approved at an annual or
special meeting of shareholders by the holders of a majority of
the voting stock entitled to vote thereon, excluding from said
vote, for the purpose of this paragraph only, the voting stock
beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder or by
(i) persons who are directors or officers of the Resident
Domestic Corporation, their affiliates, or associates;
(ii) subsidiaries of the Resident Domestic Corporation; and
(iii) any employee stock plan under which participants do
not have the right (as determined exclusively by reference to
the terms of such plan and any trust which is part of such plan)
to determine confidentially the extent to which shares held
under such plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer.
The requirements of Sections 1131 to 1133 of the GBCC shall
not apply to Business Combinations with Interested Shareholders
unless the bylaws of the Resident Domestic Corporation
specifically provide that all of such requirements are
applicable to the Resident Domestic Corporation.
The sections of the GBCC described in the paragraph above do not
apply to the Merger Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, because
the Company did not elect to apply these sections to the Company
in its bylaws.
The foregoing description of Sections 1131 to 1133 of the
GBCC does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the provisions of Sections 1131 to
1133 of the GBCC.
Except as described herein, neither the Purchaser nor Parent has
attempted to comply with any state takeover statute or
regulation. The Purchaser reserves the right to challenge the
applicability or validity of any state law purportedly
applicable to the Offer or the Merger and nothing in this Offer
to Purchase or any action taken in connection with the Offer or
the Merger is intended as a waiver of such right. If it is
asserted that any state takeover statute is applicable to the
Offer or the Merger and an appropriate court does not determine
that it is inapplicable or invalid as applied to the Offer or
the Merger, the Purchaser might be required to file certain
information with, or to receive approvals from, the relevant
state authorities, and the Purchaser might be unable to accept
for payment or pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, or
be delayed in consummating the Offer or the Merger. In such
case, the Purchaser may not be obligated to accept payment or
pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer. See
Section 14 of this Offer to Purchase.
United States Antitrust Law. In the event the Offer
required a filing to be made under the HSR Act, the acquisition
of Shares under the Offer could be consummated after the
expiration of a 15-calendar day waiting period commenced by the
filing of a Notification and Report Form, which would be filed
by Parent, with respect to the Offer, unless Parent received a
request for additional information or
39
documentary material from the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice (the Antitrust
Division) or the Federal Trade Commission (the
FTC) or unless early termination of the
waiting period is granted. No such filing is required under the
HSR Act at this time. If, within the initial 15-day waiting
period, either the Antitrust Division or the FTC requested
additional information from Parent concerning the Offer, the
waiting period would be extended and would expire at
11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the tenth calendar day
after the date of substantial compliance by Parent with such
request. Only one extension of the waiting period pursuant to a
request for additional information is authorized by the HSR Act.
Thereafter, such waiting period may be extended only by court
order or with the consent of Parent. In practice, complying with
a request for additional information or material can take a
significant amount of time. In addition, if the Antitrust
Division or the FTC raises substantive issues in connection with
a proposed transaction, the parties frequently engage in
negotiations with the relevant governmental agency concerning
possible means of addressing those issues and may agree to delay
consummation of the transaction while such negotiations
continue. Expiration or termination of the applicable waiting
period under the HSR Act (solely in the event a filing is
required to be made under the HSR Act) is a condition to the
Purchasers obligation to accept for payment and pay for
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer.
The Antitrust Division and the FTC frequently scrutinize the
legality under the antitrust laws of transactions such as the
Purchasers proposed acquisition of the Company. At any
time before or after the Purchasers acquisition of Shares
pursuant to the Offer, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could
take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary
or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin
the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation
of the Merger or seeking the divestiture of Shares acquired by
the Purchaser or the divestiture of substantial assets of the
Company or its subsidiaries or Parent or its subsidiaries.
Private parties may also bring legal action under the antitrust
laws under certain circumstances. There can be no assurance that
a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made
or, if such a challenge is made, of the result thereof.
Foreign Antitrust Laws. The antitrust and competition
laws of certain foreign countries may apply to the Offer and the
Merger and related filings and notifications may be required.
Certain of such filings for approvals, if required or desirable,
may not be made or obtained prior to the expiration of the
Offer. After commencement of the Offer, Purchaser will seek
further information regarding the applicability of any such laws
and currently intends to take such action as may be required or
desirable. If any government or governmental authority or agency
takes any action prior to the completion of the Offer that might
have certain adverse effects, Purchaser will not be obligated to
accept for payment or pay for any Shares tendered.
Parent and the Purchaser have retained Georgeson Shareholder
Communications, Inc. to act as the Information Agent and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company to serve as the
Depositary in connection with the Offer. The Information Agent
and the Depositary each will receive reasonable and customary
compensation for their services, be reimbursed for certain
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and be indemnified against
certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith,
including certain liabilities and expenses under the
U.S. federal securities laws.
Neither the Purchaser nor Parent will pay any fees or
commissions to any broker or dealer or other person in
connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant
to the Offer. Brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies and other
members will be reimbursed by the Purchaser upon request for
customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in
forwarding material to their customers.
The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted
from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in
which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would
not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. Neither
the Purchaser nor Parent is aware of any jurisdiction in which
the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be
in compliance with the laws of such
40
jurisdiction. To the extent the Purchaser or Parent becomes
aware of any state law that would limit the class of offerees in
the Offer, the Purchaser will amend the Offer and, depending on
the timing of such amendment, if any, will extend the Offer to
provide adequate dissemination of such information to holders of
Shares prior to the expiration of the Offer. In any jurisdiction
where securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be
made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer is being made on
behalf of the Purchaser by one or more registered brokers or
dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
We have not authorized any person to give any information or
to make any representation on behalf of the Purchaser or Parent
not contained herein or in the Letter of Transmittal and, if
given or made, you must not rely upon such information or
representation as having been authorized.
Parent and the Purchaser have filed with the Commission the
Schedule TO pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange
Act, together with exhibits, furnishing certain additional
information with respect to the Offer, and may file amendments
thereto. In addition, the Company has filed the
Schedule 14D-9 pursuant to Rule 14d-9 under the
Exchange Act, together with exhibits, setting forth its
recommendation with respect to the Offer and the reasons for
such recommendation and furnishing certain additional related
information. Such Schedules and any amendments thereto,
including exhibits, should be available for inspection and
copies should be obtainable in the manner set forth in
Section 8 of this Offer to Purchase.
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VISION HOLDING CORP. |
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VISION ACQUISITION CORP. |
July 28, 2005
41
APPENDIX I
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF BERKSHIRE, PARENT AND THE
PURCHASER
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| 1. |
Directors and Executive Officers of Purchaser and Parent. |
The name, citizenship, business address, present principal
occupation or employment and material occupations, positions,
offices or employment for the past five years of each of the
directors and executive officers of Parent are set forth below.
Each director and executive officer is a citizen of the United
States and all occupations, offices or positions of employment
listed opposite an individuals name are with Berkshire.
The business address of each such director or executive officer
is Vision Holding Corp., c/o Berkshire Partners LLC, One
Boston Place, Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108. To the best
knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, none of the directors and
officers of Parent and Purchaser listed below has, during the
past five years, (1) been convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or (2) been a party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding that resulted in a judgment, decree or
final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or
prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities
laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state
securities laws.
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| Name |
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Present Principal Occupation or Employment and Employment History |
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D. Randolph Peeler
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Mr. Peeler is a director and President of Purchaser and Parent.
For more than the past five years, Mr. Peeler has been a
Managing Director for Berkshire and its affiliates.
Mr. Peeler also serves as a director for Casella Waste
Systems. |
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Lawrence Hamelsky
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Mr. Hamelsky is a director and Secretary of Purchaser and
Parent. For more than the past five years, Mr. Hamelsky has
been a Principal of Berkshire and its affiliates. |
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Bradley M. Bloom
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Mr. Bloom is a director and Treasurer of Purchaser and Parent.
For more than the past five years, Mr. Bloom has been a
Managing Director for Berkshire and its affiliates.
Mr. Bloom also serves as a director of Carters Inc. |
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| 2. |
Managing Directors of Berkshire. |
Funds and accounts managed by Berkshire and its affiliates hold,
directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding
equity of Parent, which in turn owns 100% of the issued and
outstanding equity of Purchaser. The principal executive offices
of Berkshire are located at One Boston Place,
Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108, telephone (617)227-0050.
The name, present principal occupation or employment and
material occupations, positions, offices and employment for the
past five years of each of the managing directors of Berkshire
are set forth below. Each managing director is a citizen of the
United States. The business address of each such managing
director is Berkshire Partners LLC, One Boston Place,
Suite 3300, Boston, MA 02108. To the best knowledge of
Berkshire, none of the managing directors of Berkshire listed
below has, during the past five years, (1) been convicted
in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or
similar misdemeanors) or (2) been a party to any judicial
or administrative proceeding that resulted in a judgment, decree
or final order enjoining the person from future violations of,
or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state
securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or
state securities laws.
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| Name |
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Present Principal Occupation or Employment and Employment History |
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Bradley M. Bloom
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Mr. Bloom is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Bloom also serves as a director of Carters
Inc. |
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Jane Brock-Wilson
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Ms. Brock-Wilson is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has
been a Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past
five years. |
42
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| Name |
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Present Principal Occupation or Employment and Employment History |
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Kevin T. Callaghan
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Mr. Callaghan is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been
a Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. |
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J. Christopher Clifford
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Mr. Clifford is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five years. |
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Carl Ferenbach
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Mr. Ferenbach is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been
a Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Ferenbach also serves as a director for Crown
Castle International, and U.S. Can Corporation. |
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Garth H. Greimann
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Mr. Greimann is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Greimann also serves as a director for Profit
Recovery Group International. |
| |
|
Ross M. Jones
|
|
Mr. Jones is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Jones also serves as a director for
Carters, Inc. |
| |
|
Richard K. Lubin
|
|
Mr. Lubin is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Lubin also serves as a director for
U.S. Can Corporation, and Amscan Holdings, Inc. |
| |
|
D. Randolph Peeler
|
|
Mr. Peeler is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director of Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Peeler also serves as a director for Casella
Waste Systems. |
| |
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Robert J. Small
|
|
Mr. Small is a Managing Director of Berkshire, and has been a
Managing Director for Berkshire for more than the past five
years. Mr. Small also serves as a director for Amscan
Holdings, Inc. and Hexcel Corporation. |
43
APPENDIX II
ARTICLE 13 OF THE GEORGIA BUSINESS CORPORATIONS
CODE DISSENTERS RIGHTS
Part 1. Right to Dissent
and Obtain Payment for Shares
§ 14-2-1301. Definitions
As used in this article, the term:
|
|
| (1) |
Beneficial shareholder means the person who is a
beneficial owner of shares held in a voting trust or by a
nominee as the record shareholder. |
| |
| (2) |
Corporate action means the transaction or other
action by the corporation that creates dissenters rights
under Code Section 14-2-1302. |
| |
| (3) |
Corporation means the issuer of shares held by a
dissenter before the corporate action, or the surviving or
acquiring corporation by merger or share exchange of that issuer. |
| |
| (4) |
Dissenter means a shareholder who is entitled to
dissent from corporate action under Code Section 14-2-1302
and who exercises that right when and in the manner required by
Code Sections 14-2-1320 through 14-2-1327. |
| |
| (5) |
Fair value, with respect to a dissenters
shares, means the value of the shares immediately before the
effectuation of the corporate action to which the dissenter
objects, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in
anticipation of the corporate action. |
| |
| (6) |
Interest means interest from the effective date of
the corporate action until the date of payment, at a rate that
is fair and equitable under all the circumstances. |
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| (7) |
Record shareholder means the person in whose name
shares are registered in the records of a corporation or the
beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights granted
by a nominee certificate on file with a corporation. |
| |
| (8) |
Shareholder means the record shareholder or the
beneficial shareholder. |
§ 14-2-1302. Right to dissent
(a) A record shareholder of the
corporation is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of
the fair value of his or her shares in the event of, any of the
following corporate actions:
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(1) Consummation of a plan of
merger to which the corporation is a party: |
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(A) If approval of the shareholders
of the corporation is required for the merger by Code
Section 14-2-1103 or the articles of incorporation and the
shareholder is entitled to vote on the merger, unless: |
|
|
| |
(i) The corporation is merging into
a subsidiary corporation pursuant to Code Section 14-2-1104; |
| |
| |
(ii) Each shareholder of the
corporation whose shares were outstanding immediately prior to
the effective time of the merger shall receive a like number of
shares of the surviving corporation, with designations,
preferences, limitations, and relative rights identical to those
previously held by each shareholder; and |
| |
| |
(iii) The number and kind of shares
of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately following
the effective time of the merger, plus the number and kind of
shares issuable as a result of the merger and by conversion of
securities issued pursuant to the merger, shall not exceed the
total number and kind of shares of the corporation authorized by
its articles of incorporation immediately prior to the effective
time of the merger; or |
44
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| |
(B) If the corporation is a
subsidiary that is merged with its parent under Code
Section 14-2-1104; |
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(2) Consummation of a plan of share
exchange to which the corporation is a party as the corporation
whose shares will be acquired, if the shareholder is entitled to
vote on the plan; |
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| |
(3) Consummation of a sale or
exchange of all or substantially all of the property of the
corporation if a shareholder vote is required on the sale or
exchange pursuant to Code Section 14-2-1202, but not
including a sale pursuant to court order or a sale for cash
pursuant to a plan by which all or substantially all of the net
proceeds of the sale will be distributed to the shareholders
within one year after the date of sale; |
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| |
(4) An amendment of the articles of
incorporation with respect to a class or series of shares that
reduces the number of shares of a class or series owned by the
shareholder to a fraction of a share if the fractional share so
created is to be acquired for cash under Code
Section 14-2-604; or |
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| |
(5) Any corporate action taken
pursuant to a shareholder vote to the extent that Article 9
of this chapter, the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a
resolution of the board of directors provides that voting or
nonvoting shareholders are entitled to dissent and obtain
payment for their shares. |
(b) A shareholder entitled to
dissent and obtain payment for his or her shares under this
article may not challenge the corporate action creating his or
her entitlement unless the corporate action fails to comply with
procedural requirements of this chapter or the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the corporation or the vote required
to obtain approval of the corporate action was obtained by
fraudulent and deceptive means, regardless of whether the
shareholder has exercised dissenters rights.
(c) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this article, there shall be no right of dissent in
favor of the holder of shares of any class or series which, at
the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at a meeting at which a plan of
merger or share exchange or a sale or exchange of property or an
amendment of the articles of incorporation is to be acted on,
were either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 shareholders, unless:
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|
| |
(1) In the case of a plan of merger
or share exchange, the holders of shares of the class or series
are required under the plan of merger or share exchange to
accept for their shares anything except shares of the surviving
corporation or another publicly held corporation which at the
effective date of the merger or share exchange are either listed
on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than
2,000 shareholders, except for scrip or cash payments in
lieu of fractional shares; or |
| |
| |
(2) The articles of incorporation
or a resolution of the board of directors approving the
transaction provides otherwise. |
§ 14-2-1303. Dissent by nominees and beneficial
owners
A record shareholder may assert dissenters rights as to
fewer than all the shares registered in his name only if he
dissents with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any
one beneficial shareholder and notifies the corporation in
writing of the name and address of each person on whose behalf
he asserts dissenters rights. The rights of a partial
dissenter under this Code section are determined as if the
shares as to which he dissents and his other shares were
registered in the names of different shareholders.
Part 2. Procedure for
Exercise of Dissenters Rights
§ 14-2-1320. Notice of dissenters rights
(a) If proposed corporate action
creating dissenters rights under Code
Section 14-2-1302 is submitted to a vote at a
shareholders meeting, the meeting notice must state that
shareholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters
rights under this article and be accompanied by a copy of this
article.
(b) If corporate action creating
dissenters rights under Code Section 14-2-1302 is
taken without a vote of shareholders, the corporation shall
notify in writing all shareholders entitled to assert
dissenters rights
45
that the action was taken and send them the dissenters
notice described in Code Section 14-2-1322 no later than
ten days after the corporate action was taken.
§ 14-2-1321. Notice of intent to demand payment
(a) If proposed corporate action
creating dissenters rights under Code
Section 14-2-1302 is submitted to a vote at a
shareholders meeting, a record shareholder who wishes to
assert dissenters rights:
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| |
(1) Must deliver to the corporation
before the vote is taken written notice of his intent to demand
payment for his shares if the proposed action is
effectuated; and |
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| |
(2) Must not vote his shares in
favor of the proposed action. |
(b) A record shareholder who does
not satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code
section is not entitled to payment for his shares under this
article.
§ 14-2-1322. Dissenters notice
(a) If proposed corporate action
creating dissenters rights under Code
Section 14-2-1302 is authorized at a shareholders
meeting, the corporation shall deliver a written
dissenters notice to all shareholders who satisfied the
requirements of Code Section 14-2-1321.
(b) The dissenters notice
must be sent no later than ten days after the corporate action
was taken and must:
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(1) State where the payment demand
must be sent and where and when certificates for certificated
shares must be deposited; |
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| |
(2) Inform holders of
uncertificated shares to what extent transfer of the shares will
be restricted after the payment demand is received; |
| |
| |
(3) Set a date by which the
corporation must receive the payment demand, which date may not
be fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days after the date the
notice required in subsection (a) of this Code section is
delivered; and |
| |
| |
(4) Be accompanied by a copy of
this article. |
§ 14-2-1323. Duty to demand payment
(a) A record shareholder sent a
dissenters notice described in Code Section 14-2-1322
must demand payment and deposit his certificates in accordance
with the terms of the notice.
(b) A record shareholder who
demands payment and deposits his shares under
subsection (a) of this Code section retains all other
rights of a shareholder until these rights are canceled or
modified by the taking of the proposed corporate action.
(c) A record shareholder who does
not demand payment or deposit his share certificates where
required, each by the date set in the dissenters notice,
is not entitled to payment for his shares under this article.
§ 14-2-1324. Share restrictions
(a) The corporation may restrict
the transfer of uncertificated shares from the date the demand
for their payment is received until the proposed corporate
action is taken or the restrictions released under Code
Section 14-2-1326.
(b) The person for whom
dissenters rights are asserted as to uncertificated shares
retains all other rights of a shareholder until these rights are
canceled or modified by the taking of the proposed corporate
action.
§ 14-2-1325. Payment
(a) Except as provided in Code
Section 14-2-1327, within ten days of the later of the date
the proposed corporate action is taken or receipt of a payment
demand, the corporation shall by notice to each dissenter
46
who complied with Code Section 14-2-1323 offer to pay to
such dissenter the amount the corporation estimates to be the
fair value of his or her shares, plus accrued interest.
(b) The offer of payment must be
accompanied by:
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|
| |
(1) The corporations balance
sheet as of the end of a fiscal year ending not more than
16 months before the date of payment, an income statement
for that year, a statement of changes in shareholders
equity for that year, and the latest available interim financial
statements, if any; |
| |
| |
(2) A statement of the
corporations estimate of the fair value of the shares; |
| |
| |
(3) An explanation of how the
interest was calculated; |
| |
| |
(4) A statement of the
dissenters right to demand payment under Code
Section 14-2-1327; and |
| |
| |
(5) A copy of this article. |
(c) If the shareholder accepts the
corporations offer by written notice to the corporation
within 30 days after the corporations offer or is
deemed to have accepted such offer by failure to respond within
said 30 days, payment for his or her shares shall be made
within 60 days after the making of the offer or the taking
of the proposed corporate action, whichever is later.
§ 14-2-1326. Failure to take action
(a) If the corporation does not
take the proposed action within 60 days after the date set
for demanding payment and depositing share certificates, the
corporation shall return the deposited certificates and release
the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares.
(b) If, after returning deposited
certificates and releasing transfer restrictions, the
corporation takes the proposed action, it must send a new
dissenters notice under Code Section 14-2-1322 and
repeat the payment demand procedure.
§ 14-2-1327. Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied
with payment or offer
(a) A dissenter may notify the
corporation in writing of his own estimate of the fair value of
his shares and amount of interest due, and demand payment of his
estimate of the fair value of his shares and interest due, if:
|
|
| |
(1) The dissenter believes that the
amount offered under Code Section 14-2-1325 is less than
the fair value of his shares or that the interest due is
incorrectly calculated; or |
| |
| |
(2) The corporation, having failed
to take the proposed action, does not return the deposited
certificates or release the transfer restrictions imposed on
uncertificated shares within 60 days after the date set for
demanding payment. |
(b) A dissenter waives his or her
right to demand payment under this Code section and is deemed to
have accepted the corporations offer unless he or she
notifies the corporation of his or her demand in writing under
subsection (a) of this Code section within 30 days
after the corporation offered payment for his or her shares, as
provided in Code Section 14-2-1325.
(c) If the corporation does not
offer payment within the time set forth in
subsection (a) of Code Section 14-2-1325:
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|
| |
(1) The shareholder may demand the
information required under subsection (b) of Code
Section 14-2-1325, and the corporation shall provide the
information to the shareholder within ten days after receipt of
a written demand for the information; and |
| |
| |
(2) The shareholder may at any
time, subject to the limitations period of Code
Section 14-2-1332, notify the corporation of his own
estimate of the fair value of his shares and the amount of
interest due and demand payment of his estimate of the fair
value of his shares and interest due. |
Part 3. Judicial Appraisal
of Shares
§ 14-2-1330. Court action
(a) If a demand for payment under
Code Section 14-2-1327 remains unsettled, the corporation
shall commence a proceeding within 60 days after receiving
the payment demand and petition the court to
47
determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If
the corporation does not commence the proceeding within the
60 day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose demand
remains unsettled the amount demanded.
(b) The corporation shall commence
the proceeding, which shall be a nonjury equitable valuation
proceeding, in the superior court of the county where a
corporations registered office is located. If the
surviving corporation is a foreign corporation without a
registered office in this state, it shall commence the
proceeding in the county in this state where the registered
office of the domestic corporation merged with or whose shares
were acquired by the foreign corporation was located.
(c) The corporation shall make all
dissenters, whether or not residents of this state, whose
demands remain unsettled parties to the proceeding, which shall
have the effect of an action quasi in rem against their shares.
The corporation shall serve a copy of the petition in the
proceeding upon each dissenting shareholder who is a resident of
this state in the manner provided by law for the service of a
summons and complaint, and upon each nonresident dissenting
shareholder either by registered or certified mail or statutory
overnight delivery or by publication, or in any other manner
permitted by law.
(d) The jurisdiction of the court
in which the proceeding is commenced under
subsection (b) of this Code section is plenary and
exclusive. The court may appoint one or more persons as
appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the
question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described
in the order appointing them or in any amendment to it. Except
as otherwise provided in this chapter, Chapter 11 of
Title 9, known as the Georgia Civil Practice
Act, applies to any proceeding with respect to
dissenters rights under this chapter.
(e) Each dissenter made a party to
the proceeding is entitled to judgment for the amount which the
court finds to be the fair value of his shares, plus interest to
the date of judgment.
§ 14-2-1331. Court costs and attorney fees
(a) The court in an appraisal
proceeding commenced under Code Section 14-2-1330 shall
determine all costs of the proceeding, including the reasonable
compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by the court,
but not including fees and expenses of attorneys and experts for
the respective parties. The court shall assess the costs against
the corporation, except that the court may assess the costs
against all or some of the dissenters, in amounts the court
finds equitable, to the extent the court finds the dissenters
acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in
demanding payment under Code Section 14-2-1327.
(b) The court may also assess the
fees and expenses of attorneys and experts for the respective
parties, in amounts the court finds equitable:
|
|
| |
(1) Against the corporation and in
favor of any or all dissenters if the court finds the
corporation did not substantially comply with the requirements
of Code Sections 14-2-1320 through 14-2-1327; or |
| |
| |
(2) Against either the corporation
or a dissenter, in favor of any other party, if the court finds
that the party against whom the fees and expenses are assessed
acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with
respect to the rights provided by this article. |
(c) If the court finds that the
services of attorneys for any dissenter were of substantial
benefit to other dissenters similarly situated, and that the
fees for those services should not be assessed against the
corporation, the court may award to these attorneys reasonable
fees to be paid out of the amounts awarded the dissenters who
were benefited.
§ 14-2-1332. Limitation of actions
No action by any dissenter to enforce dissenters rights
shall be brought more than three years after the corporate
action was taken, regardless of whether notice of the corporate
action and of the right to dissent was given by the corporation
in compliance with the provisions of Code Section 14-2-1320
and Code Section 14-2-1322.
48
The Letter of Transmittal, certificates for Shares and any other
required documents should be sent or delivered by each
stockholder of the Company or such stockholders broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the
Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below.
The Depositary for the Offer is:
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By Mail or Overnight Courier: |
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By Hand: |
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219 |
|
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Attn: Reorganization Department
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038 |
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the
Information Agent at its address set forth below. Additional
copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the
Information Agent. You may also contact your broker, dealer,
bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning
the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
17 State Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Banks and Brokers call: (212) 440-9800
All others call toll free: (866) 391-6923
exv99wxayx2y
Exhibit (a)(2)
Letter of Transmittal
To Tender Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)
of
National Vision, Inc.
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase Dated July 28, 2005
by
Vision Acquisition Corp.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
12:00 MIDNIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005, UNLESS THE OFFER
IS EXTENDED.
To: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
Depositary
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By Mail:
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By Overnight Courier: |
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By Hand: |
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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company |
|
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company |
|
Operations Center
|
|
Operations Center |
|
Attn: Reorganization Department |
|
Attn: Reorganization Department
|
|
Attn: Reorganization Department |
|
59 Maiden Lane |
|
6201 15th Avenue
|
|
6201 15th Avenue |
|
New York, NY 10038 |
|
Brooklyn, NY 11219
|
|
Brooklyn, NY 11219 |
|
|
Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other
than as set forth above, does not constitute a valid
delivery.
The instructions set forth in this Letter of Transmittal
should be read carefully before this Letter of Transmittal is
completed.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates
for Shares (as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith or,
unless an Agents Message (as defined in Section 2 of
the Offer to Purchase (as defined below)) is utilized, if
delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an
account maintained by the Depositary at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility (as defined in, and pursuant to the procedures set
forth in, Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase). Stockholders
who deliver Shares by book-entry transfer are referred to herein
as Book-Entry Shareholders and other stockholders
are referred to herein as Certificate Shareholders.
Stockholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver either the certificates for, or
a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase)
with respect to, their Shares and all other documents required
hereby to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as
defined in the Offer to Purchase) must tender their Shares in
accordance with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in
Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2.
Delivery of documents to a book entry transfer facility does
not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
|
|
| (1) |
Need not be completed by stockholders who deliver Shares (as
defined below) by book-entry transfer (Book-Entry
Stockholders). |
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| (2) |
Unless otherwise indicated, all Shares represented by Share
Certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have
been tendered. See Instruction 4. |
|
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| * |
The names and addresses of the registered holders of the
tendered Shares should be printed, if not already printed above,
exactly as they appear on the Share Certificates (as defined
below) tendered hereby. |
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| DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED |
| |
| Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) |
|
Share Certificate(s) and Share(s) Tendered |
| (Please Fill in, if Blank)* |
|
(Please Attach Additional Signed List, if Necessary) |
| |
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|
Total Number of Shares |
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|
Share Certificate |
|
Represented by Share |
|
Number of Shares |
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|
Number(s)(1) |
|
Certificate(s)(1) |
|
Tendered(2) |
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Total Shares Tendered |
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Holders of Shares will be required to tender one Right (as
defined below) for each Share tendered to effect a valid tender
of such Share. Unless and until the Distribution Date (as
defined in the Rights Agreement (as defined below)) occurs, the
Rights are represented by and transferred with the Shares.
Accordingly, if the Distribution Date does not occur prior to
the Expiration Date of the Offer, a tender of Shares will
constitute a tender of the associated Rights. If, however,
pursuant to the Rights Agreement or otherwise, a Distribution
Date does occur, certificates representing a number of Rights
equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered
to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly
tendered. If a Distribution Date has occurred, a tender of
Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering
stockholder to deliver certificates representing a number of
Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the
Offer to the Depositary within three trading days after the date
such certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the
right to require that it receive such certificates prior to
accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and
purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely
receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, such
certificates, if such certificates have been distributed to
holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay additional
consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer.
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| o |
Check here if tendered Shares are being delivered by
Book-Entry Transfer made to an account maintained by the
Depositary with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility and complete
the following (only participants in the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility may deliver shares by Book-Entry Transfer): |
Name of Tendering Institution:
Account Number:
Transaction Code Number:
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| o |
Check here if tendered Shares are being delivered pursuant to
a Notice Of Guaranteed Delivery previously sent to the
Depositary, enclose a Photocopy of such Notice Of Guaranteed
Delivery and complete the following: |
Name(s) of Registered Owner(s):
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:
If delivered by book-entry transfer check box:
o
Account Number:
Transaction Code Number:
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| o |
Check here if any of the certificates representing Shares
that you own have been lost or destroyed and see
Instruction 11. |
Number of Shares represented by the lost or destroyed
certificates:
2
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to Vision Acquisition Corp., a
Georgia corporation (the Purchaser) and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Vision Holding Corp., a Delaware
corporation, (Parent), the above-described shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
Shares), of National Vision, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the Company), together with the
associated rights (the Rights) to purchase
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan
dated as of January 17, 1997, between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation (as amended from time to time, the Rights
Agreement), upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Purchasers Offer to Purchase dated
July 28, 2005 (the Offer to Purchase) and this
Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or
supplements thereto or hereto, collectively constitute the
Offer), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to
the Shares shall be deemed to include the Rights, and all
references to the Rights include the benefits that may inure to
holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreements.
Upon the terms of the Offer, subject to, and effective upon,
acceptance for payment of, and payment for, the Shares tendered
herewith in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the
undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the
order of, the Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to
all the Shares that are being tendered hereby (and any and all
other Shares or other securities or rights issued in respect
thereof on or after August 31, 2005) and irrevocably
constitutes and appoints American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (the Depositary), the true and lawful
agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power
of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an
irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to the full extent
of the undersigneds rights with respect to such Shares
(and any such other Shares or securities or rights) (a) to
deliver certificates for such Shares (and any such other Shares
or securities or rights) or transfer ownership of such Shares
(and any such other Shares or securities or rights) on the
account books maintained by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of
transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the
Purchaser, (b) to present such Shares (and any such other
Shares or securities or rights) for transfer on the
Companys books and (c) to receive all benefits and
otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such
Shares (and any such other Shares or securities or rights), all
in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the
undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign
and transfer the tendered Shares (and any and all other Shares
or other securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of
such Shares on or after August 31, 2005) and, when the same
are accepted for payment by the Purchaser, the Purchaser will
acquire good title thereto, free and clear of all liens,
restrictions, claims and encumbrances and the same will not be
subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned will, upon
request, execute any additional documents deemed by the
Depositary or the Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to
complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the tendered
Shares (and any such other Shares or other securities or rights).
All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to
this Letter of Transmittal shall be binding upon the successors,
assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by,
and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned.
Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is
irrevocable.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints D. Randolph
Peeler and Lawrence Hamelsky, and each of them, and any other
designees of the Purchaser, the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of
the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote
at any annual, special or adjourned meeting of the
Companys stockholders or otherwise in such manner as each
such attorney-in-fact and proxy or his or her substitute shall
in his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, to
execute any written consent concerning any matter as each such
attorney-in-fact and proxy or his or her substitute shall in his
or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, and to
otherwise act as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or his or
her substitute shall in his sole discretion deem proper with
respect to, the Shares tendered hereby that have been accepted
for payment by the Purchaser prior to the time any such action
is taken and with respect to which the undersigned is entitled
to vote (and any and all other Shares or other securities or
rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after
August 31, 2005). This appointment is effective when, and
3
only to the extent that, the Purchaser accepts for payment such
Shares as provided in the Offer to Purchase. This power of
attorney and proxy are irrevocable and are granted in
consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Shares in
accordance with the terms of the Offer. Upon such acceptance for
payment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents
given by the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and any
such other Shares or securities or rights) will, without further
action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney,
proxies, consents or revocations may be given (and, if given,
will not be deemed effective) by the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares
pursuant to any of the procedures described in Section 2 of
the Offer to Purchase and in the Instructions hereto will
constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the
Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer.
Unless otherwise indicated herein under Special Payment
Instructions, please issue the check for the purchase
price and/or return any certificates for Shares not tendered or
accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered holder(s)
appearing under Description of Shares Tendered.
Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under Special
Delivery Instructions, please mail the check for the
purchase price and/or return any certificates for Shares not
tendered or accepted for payment (and accompanying documents, as
appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s)
appearing under Description of Shares Tendered. In
the event that both the Special Delivery
Instructions and the Special Payment
Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the
purchase price and/or return any certificates for Shares not
tendered or accepted for payment (and any accompanying
documents, as appropriate) in the name of, and deliver such
check and/or return such certificates (and any accompanying
documents, as appropriate) to, the person or persons so
indicated. Please credit any Shares tendered herewith by
book-entry transfer that are not accepted for payment by
crediting the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
designated above. The undersigned recognizes that the Purchaser
has no obligation pursuant to the Special Payment
Instructions to transfer any Shares from the name of the
registered holder thereof if the Purchaser does not accept for
payment any of the Shares so tendered.
4
SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Shares are not
tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the
purchase price of Shares accepted for payment is to be issued in
the name of someone other than the undersigned.
Issue o Check o Certificate(s)
to:
Name:
(Please Print)
Address:
(Include Zip Code)
(Employer Identification or Social Security Number)
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Shares are not
tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the
purchase price of Shares accepted for payment is to be sent to
someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an
address other than that above.
Mail o Check o Certificate(s)
to:
Name:
(Please Print)
Address:
(Include Zip Code)
(Employer Identification or Social Security Number)
5
SIGN HERE
(ALSO COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS
FORM)
(Signature(s) of Stockholder(s))
Dated: ______________________________ , 2005
(Must be signed by registered holder(s) as name(s) appear(s) on
the certificate(s) for the Shares or on a security position
listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered
holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If
signature is by trustee, executor, administrator, guardian,
attorney-in-fact, officer of corporation or others acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the
following information and see Instruction 5.)
Name(s):
Capacity (Full Title):
Address:
(Include Zip Code)
Daytime Area Code and Telephone
Number:
|
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| Employer Identification or Social Security Number: |
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(See Substitute Form W-9)
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(IF REQUIRED SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5)
(Please Print)
(Include Zip Code)
Daytime Area Code and Telephone
Number:
6
PAYERS NAME: American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company
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SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9 |
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PART 1 PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT
RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW. |
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SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER(S)
OR
EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER |
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DEPARTMENT OF THE
TREASURY INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE |
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PART 2 CERTIFICATES. UNDER PENALTIES OF
PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT (1) THE NUMBER SHOWN ON THIS FORM IS MY
CORRECT FOR A NUMBER TO BE ISSUED TO ME), AND (2) I AM NOT
SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING BECAUSE: (A) I AM EXEMPT FROM
BACKUP WITHHOLDING, OR (B) I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (THE IRS) THAT I AM SUBJECT
TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING AS A RESULT OF A FAILURE TO REPORT ALL
INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS, OR (C) THE IRS HAS NOTIFIED ME THAT I AM
NO LONGER SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING, AND (3) I AM A
U.S. PERSON (INCLUDING A U.S. RESIDENT ALIEN). |
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PAYERS REQUEST FOR
TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER (TIN) |
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Part 3 AWAITING
TINo
Part 4 EXEMPT
TINo
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CERTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS YOU MUST CROSS OUT
ITEM (2) IN PART 2 ABOVE IF YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY
THE IRS THAT YOU ARE SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING BECAUSE OF
UNDERREPORTING INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS ON YOUR TAX RETURNS.
HOWEVER, IF AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY THE IRS THAT YOU ARE SUBJECT
TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING, YOU RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FROM
THE IRS STATING THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO BACKUP
WITHHOLDING, DO NOT CROSS OUT SUCH ITEM (2). IF YOU ARE
EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING, CHECK THE BOX IN PART 4 ABOVE. |
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NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 28% OF ANY PAYMENTS
MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. |
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED
THE
BOX IN PART 3 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9. |
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CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
I CERTIFY UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT A TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED TO ME, AND EITHER
(A) I HAVE MAILED OR DELIVERED AN APPLICATION TO RECEIVE A
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO THE APPROPRIATE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE CENTER OR SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
OR (B) I INTEND TO MAIL OR DELIVER AN APPLICATION IN THE
NEAR FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I DO NOT PROVIDE A TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO THE DEPOSITARY, 28% PERCENT OF ALL
REPORTABLE PAYMENTS MADE TO ME WILL BE WITHHELD, BUT WILL BE
REFUNDED TO ME IF I PROVIDE A CERTIFIED TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER WITHIN 60 DAYS. |
7
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
1. Guarantee of Signatures.
No signature guarantee is required on the Letter of Transmittal
if (a) the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the
registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this
Section 2, includes any participant in the Book-Entry
Transfer Facilitys system whose name appears on a security
position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered
therewith and such registered holder has not completed either
the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions or
the box entitled Special Payment Instructions on the
Letter of Transmittal or (b) such Shares are tendered for
the account of a financial institution (including most
commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage
houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agents
Medallion Program, or any other eligible grantor
institution, as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15
of the Exchange Act (each an Eligible Institution).
In all other cases, all signatures on the Letter of Transmittal
must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. In all other
cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.
2. Requirements of Tender.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders
either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or, unless
an Agents Message (as defined below) is utilized, if
delivery of Shares is to be made pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to
Purchase. For a stockholder validly to tender Shares pursuant to
the Offer, either (a) a Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, together with any required
signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer,
an Agents Message, and any other required documents, must
be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth
herein prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to
Purchase) and either certificates for tendered Shares must be
received by the Depositary at one of such addresses or Shares
must be delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry
transfer set forth herein (and a Book-Entry Confirmation (as
defined in the Offer to Purchase) must be received by the
Depositary), in each case, prior to the Expiration Date, or
(b) the tendering stockholder must comply with the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below and in
Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
Stockholders whose certificates for Shares are not immediately
available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other
required documents to the Depositary or complete the procedures
for book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Date may tender
their Shares by properly completing and duly executing the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to
Purchase. Pursuant to such procedures, (a) such tender must
be made by or through an Eligible Institution, (b) a
properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Purchaser,
must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date
and (c) either (i) the certificates for tendered
Shares together with this Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, and any required signature
guarantees, and any other required documents must be received by
the Depositary within three trading days after the date of
execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or (ii) in
the case of a book-entry transfer effected pursuant to the
book-entry transfer procedures described in the Offer to
Purchase, either this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed
and duly executed, and any required signature guarantees, or an
Agents Message, and any other required documents, must be
received by the Depositary at one of such addresses, such Shares
must be delivered pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures
and a Book-Entry Confirmation must be received by the
Depositary, in each case within three trading days after the
date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. A
trading day is any day on which the American Stock
Exchange is open for business.
Agents Message means a message transmitted by
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the
Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, that
states that such Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an
express acknowledgment from the participant in such Book-Entry
Transfer Facility tendering the Shares that such participant has
received and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter of
Transmittal and that the Purchaser may enforce such agreement
against such participant.
The method of delivery of Shares, this Letter of Transmittal
and all other required documents, including delivery through any
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, is at the election and risk of the
tendering stockholder. Shares will be deemed delivered only when
actually received by the Depositary (including, in the case of a
book-entry
8
transfer, by Book-Entry Confirmation). If delivery is by
mail, registered mail, with return receipt requested, properly
insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be
allowed to ensure timely delivery.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be
accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. All
tendering stockholders, by execution of this Letter of
Transmittal, waive any right to receive any notice of the
acceptance of their Shares for payment.
3. Inadequate Space. If the
space provided herein is inadequate, the certificate numbers
and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate
schedule attached hereto.
4. Partial Tenders (Applicable
to Certificate Stockholders Only). If fewer than all the
Shares evidenced by any certificate submitted are to be
tendered, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered
in the box entitled Number of Shares Tendered. In
any such case, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the
Shares that were evidenced by the old certificate(s) will be
sent to the registered holder, unless otherwise provided in the
appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly after
the acceptance for payment of, and payment for, the Shares
tendered herewith. All Shares represented by certificates
delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered
unless otherwise indicated.
5. Signatures on Letter of
Transmittal, Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter
of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Shares
tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name as
written on the face of the certificate(s) without any change
whatsoever.
If any of the Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two
or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of
Transmittal.
If any tendered Shares are registered in different names on
several certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and
submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are
different registrations of certificates.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or stock
powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators,
guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others
acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons
should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence
satisfactory to the Purchaser of their authority so to act must
be submitted.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered
owner(s) of the Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no
endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers are
required unless payment is to be made to or certificates for
Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued to
a person other than the registered owner(s). Signatures on such
certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.
If the certificates for Shares are registered in the name of a
person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, or
if payment is to be made or certificates for Shares not tendered
or not accepted for payment are to be returned to a person other
than the registered holder of the certificates surrendered, the
tendered certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by
appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the
name or names of the registered holders or owners appear on the
certificates, with the signatures on the certificates or stock
powers guaranteed as aforesaid. See Instruction 1.
6. Stock Transfer Taxes. The
Purchaser will pay any stock transfer taxes with respect to the
transfer and sale of Shares to it or its order pursuant to the
Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made
to, or if certificates for Shares not tendered or accepted for
payment are to be registered in the name of, any person(s) other
than the registered owner(s), or if tendered certificates are
registered in the name of any person(s) other than the person(s)
signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock
transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered owner(s) or
such person(s)) payable on account of the transfer to such
person(s) will be deducted from the purchase price unless
satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption
therefrom is submitted.
Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be
necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the
certificates listed in this Letter of Transmittal.
9
7. Special Payment and Delivery
Instructions. If a check is to be issued in the name of,
and/or certificates for Shares not accepted for payment are to
be returned to, a person other than the signer of this Letter of
Transmittal or if a check is to be sent and/or such certificates
are to be returned to a person other than the signer of this
Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown
above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal
should be completed.
8. Waiver of Conditions. The
Purchaser reserves the absolute right in its sole discretion to
waive any of the specified conditions (other than the Minimum
Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), which may be
waived only with the consent of the Company unless more than 50%
of the Shares outstanding on the expiration date of the Offer
shall have been tendered and not withdrawn) of the Offer, in
whole or in part, in the case of any Shares tendered.
9. 28% Backup Withholding.
In order to avoid backup withholding of U.S. federal income
tax on payments of cash pursuant to the Offer, a stockholder
surrendering Shares in the Offer must, unless an exemption
applies, provide the Depositary with such stockholders
correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) on
Substitute Form W-9 in this Letter of Transmittal and
certify under penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct,
that such stockholder is not subject to backup withholding and
that such stockholder is a U.S. person (including a
U.S. resident alien). If a stockholder does not provide
such stockholders correct TIN or fails to provide the
certifications described above, the Internal Revenue Service
(the IRS) may impose a penalty on such stockholder
and payment of cash to such stockholder pursuant to the Offer
may be subject to backup withholding of 28%. All stockholders
surrendering Shares pursuant to the Offer should complete and
sign the main signature form and the Substitute Form W-9 to
provide the information and certification necessary to avoid
backup withholding (unless an applicable exemption exists and is
proved in a manner satisfactory to the Purchaser and the
Depositary).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount
of the backup withholding can be credited against the Federal
income tax liability of the person subject to the backup
withholding, provided that the required information is timely
given to the IRS. If backup withholding results in an
overpayment of tax, a refund can be obtained by the stockholder
upon filing an income tax return.
The stockholder is required to give the Depositary the TIN
(i.e., social security number or employer identification number)
of the record owner of the Shares. If the Shares are held in
more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner,
consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of
Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9
for additional guidance on which number to report.
The box in Part 3 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be
checked if the tendering stockholder has not been issued a TIN
and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the
near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked, the
stockholder or other payee must also complete the Certificate of
Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number in order to avoid backup
withholding. Notwithstanding that the box in Part 3 is
checked and the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification
Number is completed, the Depositary will withhold 28% on all
payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is
provided to the Depositary. However, such amounts will be
refunded to such stockholder if a TIN is provided to the
Depositary within 60 days.
Certain stockholders (including, among others, all corporations,
individual retirement accounts and certain foreign individuals
and entities) are not subject to backup withholding.
Noncorporate foreign stockholders should complete and sign the
main signature form and the appropriate Form W-8,
Certificate of Foreign Status, a copy of which may be obtained
from the Depositary, in order to avoid backup withholding. See
the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for more
instructions.
10. Requests for Assistance or
Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance may
be directed to Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. (the
Information Agent) at its address listed below.
Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of
Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and the
Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number
on Substitute Form W-9 may be obtained from the Information
Agent or from brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies or other
nominees.
10
11. Lost, Destroyed or Stolen
Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has
been lost, destroyed or stolen, the stockholder should promptly
notify the Depositary by checking the box immediately preceding
the special payment/special delivery instructions and indicating
the number of Shares so lost, destroyed or stolen, or call the
Transfer Agent for the Shares, American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company at (800)937-5449. The
stockholder will then be instructed by the Transfer Agent as to
the steps that must be taken in order to replace the
certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents
cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or
destroyed certificates have been followed.
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TOGETHER WITH ANY
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES, OR, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER,
AN AGENTS MESSAGE, AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST
BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE AND
EITHER CERTIFICATES FOR TENDERED SHARES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE
DEPOSITARY OR SHARES MUST BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THE
PROCEDURES FOR BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, IN EACH CASE PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE, OR THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER MUST COMPLY WITH
THE PROCEDURES FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
11
The Letter of Transmittal, certificates for Shares and any other
required documents should be sent or delivered by each
stockholder of the Company or such stockholders broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the
Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below.
The Depositary for the Offer is:
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By Mail or Overnight Courier:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219 |
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By Hand:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Attn: Reorganization Department
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038 |
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the
Information Agent at its address set forth below. Additional
copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the
Information Agent. You may also contact your broker, dealer,
bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning
the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
17 State Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Banks and Brokers call: (212) 440-9800
All others call toll free: (866) 391-6923
exv99wxayx3y
Exhibit (a)(3)
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
for
Tender of Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)
of
National Vision, Inc.
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00
MIDNIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005, UNLESS THE OFFER
IS EXTENDED.
As set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase (as
defined below), this form or one substantially equivalent hereto
must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) if
certificates representing shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the Shares), of National
Vision, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the Company),
together with the associated rights (the Rights) to
purchase Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights
Plan dated as of January 17, 1997, between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York
banking corporation (as amended from time to time, the
Rights Agreement) are not immediately available or
if the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on
a timely basis or time will not permit all required documents to
reach the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in
the Offer to Purchase). Unless the context otherwise requires,
all references herein to the Shares shall be deemed to include
the Rights, and all references to the Rights include the
benefits that may inure to holders of Rights pursuant to the
Rights Agreement. This form may be delivered by hand to the
Depositary or transmitted by telegram, facsimile transmission or
mail to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an
Eligible Institution (as defined in the Offer to Purchase). See
Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase.
The Depositary:
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By Mail or Overnight Courier: |
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By Hand: |
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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
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American Stock Transfer & Trust Company |
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Operations Center
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Attn: Reorganization Department |
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Attn: Reorganization Department
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59 Maiden Lane |
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6201 15th Avenue
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New York, NY 10038 |
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Brooklyn, NY 11219
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By Facsimile Transmission:
718-234-5001
Confirm By Telephone:
877-248-6417
DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION OF
INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH
ABOVE, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a
signature on a Letter of Transmittal is required to be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution under the instructions
thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable
space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.
The guarantee on the reverse side must be completed.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned hereby tenders to Vision Acquisition Corp., a
Georgia corporation (the Purchaser) and a wholly
owned subsidiary of Vision Holding Corp., a Delaware
corporation, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Purchasers Offer to Purchase dated
July 28, 2005 (the Offer to Purchase) and in
the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any
amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the
Offer), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
number of Shares set forth below, all pursuant to the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to
Purchase.
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| Name(s) of Record Holder(s): |
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Please Print
Zip
Code
Daytime Area Code and Tel.
No.:
Certificate Nos. (if
available):
(Check box if Shares will be tendered by book-entry transfer)
o The Depository Trust
Company
2
GUARANTEE
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
The undersigned, a firm that is a participant in the Security
Transfer Agents Medallion Program, or any other eligible
guarantor institution, as such term is defined in
Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each an Eligible
Institution), hereby guarantees to deliver to the
Depositary either the certificates representing the Shares
tendered hereby, in proper form for transfer, or a Book-Entry
Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with respect
to such Shares, in any such case together with a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, with any
required signature guarantees, or an Agents Message (as
defined in the Offer to Purchase), and any other required
documents, within three trading days (as defined in the Letter
of Transmittal) after the date hereof.
The Eligible Institution that completes this form must
communicate the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the
Letter of Transmittal and certificates for Shares to the
Depositary within the time period shown herein. Failure to do so
could result in a financial loss to such Eligible Institution.
Name of Firm:
Address:
Zip Code
Area Code and Tel. No:
Authorized Signature:
Name:
Please Print or Type
Title:
Dated: ______________________________ , 2005
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NOTE: |
DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE.
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL. |
3
exv99wxayx4y
Exhibit (a)(4)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)
of
National Vision, Inc.
at
$7.25 Net per Share
by
Vision Acquisition Corp.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00
MIDNIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005, UNLESS THE OFFER
IS EXTENDED.
July 28, 2005
To Brokers, Dealers, Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees:
We have been engaged by Vision Acquisition Corp., a Georgia
corporation (the Purchaser) and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Vision Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation
(Parent), and Parent to act as Information Agent in
connection with the Purchasers offer to purchase all
outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the Shares), of National Vision, Inc., a
Georgia corporation (the Company), together with the
associated rights (the Rights) to purchase
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan
dated as of January 17, 1997, between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation (as amended from time to time, the Rights
Agreement) at $7.25 per share (the Offer
Price), net to the seller in cash, without interest
thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in the Purchasers Offer to Purchase dated July 28,
2005 (the Offer to Purchase), and in the related
Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or
supplements thereto, collectively constitute the
Offer). Unless the context otherwise requires, all
references to Shares shall be deemed to include the associated
Rights, and all references to the Rights include the benefits
that may inure to holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights
Agreements.
Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your
clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in
the name of your nominee.
Enclosed herewith are copies of the following documents:
1. Offer to Purchase dated
July 28, 2005;
2. Letter of Transmittal to be used
by stockholders of the Company in accepting the Offer;
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3. |
Letter to Stockholders of the Company from the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company accompanied by the Companys
Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9; |
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4. |
A printed form of letter that may be sent to your clients for
whose account you hold Shares in your name or in the name of a
nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients
instructions with regard to the Offer; |
5. Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
with respect to Shares;
6. Guidelines for Certification of
Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute
Form W-9; and
7. Return envelope addressed to
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Depositary.
THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
(A) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 1 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE) THAT NUMBER OF SHARES
WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THAT NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED BY THE
PURCHASER, PARENT AND PARENTS OTHER SUBSIDIARIES, WOULD
REPRESENT MORE THAN SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE FULLY DILUTED
SHARES (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 14 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE)
ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE (THE MINIMUM CONDITION),
(B) THE COMPANY HAVING CLOSED THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
BY THAT CERTAIN STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF
JULY 25, 2005, AMONG THE COMPANY, CONSOLIDATED VISION
GROUP, INC. (CVG) AND THE SHAREHOLDERS OF CVG,
(C) FIRSTSIGHT VISION SERVICES, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF THE
COMPANY WHICH IS LICENSED AS A SPECIALIZED HEALTH CARE PLAN
UNDER THE KNOX-KEENE HEALTH CARE SERVICE PLAN ACT OF 1975 OF
CALIFORNIA, OBTAINING THE APPROVAL OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF MANAGED HEALTH CARE, WHICH REGULATES ENTITIES LICENSED UNDER
THAT ACT, AND (D) THE COMPANY HAVING RECEIVED THE CONSENT
OF HOLDERS OF COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE
COMPANYS RESTATED STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN TO
CANCEL ALL SUCH COMPANY STOCK OPTIONS AS CONTEMPLATED BY THE
MERGER AGREEMENT.
We urge you to contact your clients promptly. Please note that
the Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 midnight,
New York City time, on August 31, 2005, unless extended.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 (the Merger
Agreement), among Parent, the Purchaser and the Company
pursuant to which, following the consummation of the Offer and
the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, the Purchaser
will be merged with and into the Company (or, at Parents
option the Company will be merged with and into the Purchaser),
with the surviving entity becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent (the Merger). At the effective time of the
Merger, each outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by
Parent, the Purchaser or the Company or any subsidiary of Parent
or the Company or by stockholders, if any, who are entitled to
and properly exercise appraisal rights under Georgia law) will
be converted into the right to receive the price per Share paid
pursuant to the Offer in cash, without interest thereon, as set
forth in the Merger Agreement and described in the Offer to
Purchase. The Merger Agreement provides that the Purchaser may
assign any or all of its rights and obligations (including the
right to purchase Shares in the Offer) to Parent or any wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve
the Purchaser of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.
The Board of Directors of the Company (a) has unanimously
approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger,
(b) has unanimously determined that the terms of the Offer
and the Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to the
stockholders of the Company and that the Merger is advisable,
and (c) unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the
Company accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the
Offer.
In all cases, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant
to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the
Depositary of (a) the certificates for such Shares,
together with a Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and
duly executed, and any required signature guarantees or
(b) in the case of a transfer effected pursuant to the
book-entry transfer procedures described in Section 2 of
the Offer to Purchase, a Book-Entry Confirmation and either a
Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, and
any required signature guarantees, or an Agents Message,
and any other required documents. Accordingly, tendering
shareholders may be paid at different times depending upon when
certificates for Shares or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect
to Shares are actually received by the Depositary. Under no
circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase price of the
Shares to be paid by the Purchaser, regardless of any extension
of the Offer or any delay in making such payment.
Neither the Purchaser nor Parent will pay any fees or
commissions to any broker or dealer or other person (other than
the Information Agent, as described in the Offer to Purchase) in
connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant
to the Offer. You will be reimbursed by the Purchaser upon
request for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by
you in forwarding the enclosed Offer materials to your customers.
2
Questions and requests for additional copies of the enclosed
material may be directed to the Information Agent at its address
and telephone number set forth on the back cover of the enclosed
Offer to Purchase.
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Very truly yours, |
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Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. |
NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL
RENDER YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON THE AGENT OF THE PURCHASER,
PARENT, THE DEPOSITARY OR THE INFORMATION AGENT OR AUTHORIZE YOU
OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THE
OFFER NOT CONTAINED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE OR THE LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL.
3
exv99wxayx5y
Exhibit (a)(5)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
(Including the Associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights)
of
National Vision, Inc.
at
$7.25 Net per Share
by
Vision Acquisition Corp.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00
MIDNIGHT,
NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005, UNLESS THE OFFER
IS EXTENDED.
July 28, 2005
To Our Clients:
Enclosed for your consideration is an Offer to Purchase dated
July 28, 2005 (the Offer to Purchase) and the
related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with amendments
or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the
Offer) relating to the Offer by Vision Acquisition
Corp., a Georgia corporation (Purchaser) and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Holding Corp., a Delaware
corporation (Parent), to purchase all outstanding
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
Shares), of National Vision, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (the Company), together with the
associated rights (the Rights) to purchase
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan
dated as of January 17, 1997, between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation (as amended from time to time, the Rights
Agreement) upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in the Offer. Unless the context otherwise requires,
all references to the Shares shall be deemed to include the
associated Rights, and all references to the Rights include the
benefits that may inure to holders of the Rights pursuant to the
Rights Agreement. Also enclosed is the Letter to Stockholders of
the Company from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
accompanied by the Companys Solicitation/ Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9.
WE (OR OUR NOMINEES) ARE THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF SHARES HELD BY
US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. A TENDER OF SUCH SHARES CAN BE MADE ONLY BY
US AS THE HOLDER OF RECORD AND PURSUANT TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.
THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FURNISHED TO YOU FOR YOUR
INFORMATION ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED TO TENDER SHARES HELD BY US
FOR YOUR ACCOUNT.
We request instructions as to whether you wish to tender any of
or all the Shares held by us for your account pursuant to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Offer.
Your attention is directed to the following:
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1. |
The offer price is $7.25 per Share, net to the seller in
cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Offer. |
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2. |
The Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares. |
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3. |
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of July 25, 2005 (the Merger
Agreement), among Parent, the Purchaser and the Company
pursuant to which, promptly following the consummation of the
Offer and the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, the
Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company (or, at
Parents option, the Company will be merged with and into
the Purchaser), with the surviving entity becoming a wholly
owned subsidiary of Parent (the Merger). |
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At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding Share
(other than Shares owned by Parent, the Purchaser or the Company
or any subsidiary of Parent or the Company or by stockholders,
if any, who are entitled to and properly exercise appraisal
rights under Georgia law) will be converted into the right to
receive the price per Share paid pursuant to the Offer in cash,
without interest, as set forth in the Merger Agreement and
described in the Offer to Purchase. The Merger Agreement
provides that the Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights
and obligations (including the right to purchase Shares in the
Offer) to Parent or any wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, but
no such assignment shall relieve the Purchaser of its
obligations under the Merger Agreement. |
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4. |
The Board of Directors of the Company (a) has unanimously
approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement including the Offer and the Merger,
(b) has unanimously determined that the terms of the Offer
and the Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to the
stockholders of the Company and that the Merger is advisable,
and (c) unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the
Company accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the
Offer. |
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5. |
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW
YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005 (THE EXPIRATION
DATE), UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED BY THE PURCHASER, IN
WHICH EVENT THE TERM EXPIRATION DATE SHALL MEAN THE
LATEST TIME AT WHICH THE OFFER, AS SO EXTENDED BY THE PURCHASER,
WILL EXPIRE. |
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6. |
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things,
(a) there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer
to Purchase) that number of Shares which, together with that
number of Shares owned by the Purchaser, Parent and
Parents other subsidiaries, would represent more than
sixty-seven percent of the Fully Diluted Shares (as defined in
Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase) on the date of
purchase (the Minimum Condition), (b) the
Company having closed the transactions contemplated by a certain
share purchase agreement, dated as of July 25, 2005, among
the Company, Consolidated Vision Group, Inc. (CVG)
and the shareholders of CVG, (c) FirstSight Vision
Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company which is licensed as
a specialized health care service plan under the Knox-Keene
Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 of California, obtaining
the approval of the California Department of Managed Health
Care, which regulates entities licensed under that Act, and
(d) the Company having received the consent of holders of
Company stock options granted under the Companys Restated
Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan to cancel all such Company
stock options as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. |
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7. |
Any stock transfer taxes applicable to a sale of Shares to the
Purchaser will be borne by the Purchaser, except as otherwise
provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal. |
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8. |
Tendering stockholders will not be obligated to pay brokerage
fees or commissions to the Depositary or the Information Agent
or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of
Transmittal, transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares by the
Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. However, federal income tax
backup withholding at a rate of 28% may be required, unless an
exemption is provided or unless the required taxpayer
identification information is provided. See Instruction 9
of the Letter of Transmittal. |
If you wish to have us tender any of or all the Shares held by
us for your account, please so instruct us by completing,
executing, detaching and returning to us the instruction form on
the detachable part hereof. An envelope to return your
instructions to us is enclosed. If you authorize the tender of
your Shares, all such Shares will be tendered unless otherwise
specified on the detachable part hereof. Your instructions
should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit a
tender on your behalf prior to the Expiration Date.
Payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer
will in all cases be made only after timely receipt by American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the
Depositary) of (a) the certificates for such
Shares, together with a Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, and any required signature
guarantees or (b) in the case of a transfer effected
pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described in
Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase, a Book-Entry
Confirmation and either a Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, and any required signature
guarantees, or an Agents Message, and any other required
documents.
2
Accordingly, tendering stockholders may be paid at different
times depending upon when certificates for Shares or Book-Entry
Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by
the Depositary. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON
THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SHARES TO BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER,
REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING
SUCH PAYMENT.
The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted
from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in
which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would
not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. In any
jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws
require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the
Offer is being made on behalf of the Purchaser by One or more
registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws
of such jurisdiction.
INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE
OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
OF
NATIONAL VISION, INC.
The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter, the Offer
to Purchase of Vision Acquisition Corp., dated July 28,
2005 (the Offer to Purchase) and the related Letter
of Transmittal relating to shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the Shares), of National
Vision, Inc., a Georgia corporation, together with the
associated rights (the Rights) to purchase
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan
dated as of January 17, 1997, between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York
banking corporation (as amended from time to time, the
Rights Agreement).
This will instruct you to tender the number of Shares indicated
below held by you for the account of the undersigned, on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to
Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal.
Number of Shares to be Tendered:*
____________________ Shares
SIGN HERE
Signature(s)
Please Type or Print Name(s)
Type or Print Address(es)
Area Code and Telephone Number
Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.
Dated: ____________________, 2005
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Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all your
Shares are to be tendered. |
3
exv99wxayx6y
Exhibit (a)(6)
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
TO GIVE THE PAYER. Social Security numbers have
nine digits separated by two hyphens: e.g., 000-00-0000.
Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by
only one hyphen: e.g., 00-0000000. The table below will
help determine the number to give the payer.
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| For this type of account: |
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Give the SOCIAL SECURITY number of |
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1.
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Individual |
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The individual |
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2.
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Two or more individuals (joint account) |
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The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, any one
of the individuals(1) |
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3.
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Husband and wife (joint account) |
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The actual owner of the account or, if joint funds, either
person(l) |
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4.
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Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) |
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The minor(2) |
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5.
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Adult and minor (joint account) |
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The adult or, if the minor is the only contributor, the minor(l) |
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6.
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Account in the name of guardian or committee for a designated
ward, minor, or incompetent person |
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The ward, minor, or incompetent person(3) |
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7.
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a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is
also trustee) |
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The grantor-trustee(l) |
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b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid
trust under State law |
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The actual owner(l) |
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8.
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Sole proprietorship account |
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The owner(4) |
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| For this type of account: |
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Give the EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION number of |
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9.
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A valid trust, estate, or pension trust |
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The legal entity (Do not furnish the identifying number of the
personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity
itself is not designated in the account title.)(5) |
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10.
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Corporate account |
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The corporation |
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11.
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Religious, charitable, or educational organization account |
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The organization |
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12.
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Partnership account held in the name of the business |
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The partnership |
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13.
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Association, club, or other tax-exempt organization |
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The organization |
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14.
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A broker or registered nominee |
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The broker or nominee |
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15.
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Account with the Department of The public entity Agriculture in
the name of a public entity (such as a State or local
government, school district, or prison) that receives
agricultural program payments |
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The public entity |
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List first and circle the name of the person whose number you
furnish. |
| (2) |
Circle the minors name and furnish the minors social
security number. |
| (3) |
Circle the wards, minors or incompetent
persons name and furnish such persons social
security number. |
| (4) |
Show the name of the owner but you may also enter your business
or doing business as name. You may use either your
social security number or your employer identification number
(if you have one). |
| (5) |
List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or
pension trust. |
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| NOTE: |
If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the
number will be considered to be that of the first name listed. |
GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
PAGE 2
Obtaining a Number
If you dont have a taxpayer identification number or you
dont know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application
for a Social Security Number Card, or Form SS-4,
Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local
office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal
Revenue Service and apply for a number.
Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding
Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on ALL
payments include the following:
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A corporation. |
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A financial institution. |
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An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an
individual |
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retirement plan. |
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The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof. |
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A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United
States, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof. |
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A foreign government, a political subdivision of a foreign
government, or any agency or instrumentality thereof. |
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An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality
thereof. |
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A registered dealer in securities or commodities registered in
the United States or a possession of the United States. |
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A real estate investment trust. |
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A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a). |
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An entity registered at all times under the investment Company
Act of 1940. |
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A foreign central bank of issue. |
EXEMPT PAYEES DESCRIBED ABOVE SHOULD FILE FORM W-9 TO AVOID
POSSIBLE ERRONEOUS BACKUP WITHHOLDING. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE
PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE
EXEMPT ON THE FACE OF THE FORM AND CHECK THE BOX IN
PART 4, AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER. ALSO SIGN AND DATE THE
FORM.
Certain payments that are not subject to information reporting
are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see the
regulations under sections 6041, 6041A(a), 6045 and 6050A.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend,
interest, or other payments to give taxpayer identification
numbers to payers who must report the payments to the IRS. The
IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes. Payers must be
given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file
tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable
interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who
does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer.
Certain penalties may also apply.
Penalties
(1) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FURNISH TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. If you fail to furnish
your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject
to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is
due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
(2) CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO
WITHHOLDING. If you make a false statement with
no reasonable basis which results in no imposition of backup
withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500.
(3) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING
INFORMATION. Falsifying certifications or
affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including
fines and/or imprisonment.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
exv99wxayx8y
Exhibit (a)(8)
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a
solicitation of an offer to sell Shares (as defined below). The
Offer (as defined below) is made solely by the Offer to
Purchase, dated July 28, 2005 (the Offer to
Purchase), and the related Letter of Transmittal, and is
being made to all holders of Shares. The Offer is not being made
to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders
of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer
or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the
laws of such jurisdiction or any administrative or judicial
action pursuant thereto.
Notice of Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
National Vision, Inc.
at
$7.25 Net Per Share
by
Vision Acquisition Corp.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Vision Holding Corp.
Vision Acquisition Corp., a Georgia corporation
(Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Vision
Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (Parent), is
offering to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
Shares), of National Vision, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (NVI), together with the associated
rights (the Rights) to purchase Series A
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, issued pursuant to the Rights Plan dated
as of January 17, 1997 (the Rights Agreement)
between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
a New York banking corporation, for $7.25 per Share, net to the seller in cash (the
Offer Price), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related
Letter of Transmittal (which together, along with any amendments
or supplements thereto, constitute the Offer).
Stockholders who tender directly to the Depositary (as defined
below) will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or
commissions or, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of
Transmittal, stock transfer taxes, if any, on the purchase of
Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Stockholders who hold
their Shares through a broker or bank should consult such
institution as to whether it charges any service fees or
commissions. Following consummation of the Offer, Parent and
Purchaser intend to effect the merger described below. Unless
the context requires otherwise, all references to the Shares
herein include the associated Rights, and all references to the
Rights include the benefits that may inure to the holders of the
Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00
MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON AUGUST 31, 2005, UNLESS
THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
The Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated as of
July 25, 2005 by and among Parent, Purchaser and NVI,
pursuant to which, promptly after the completion of the Offer
and satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Merger (as
defined below), Purchaser will be merged with and into NVI and
NVI will continue as the surviving corporation and will become a
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The merger, as effected
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, is referred to
herein as the Merger. At the effective time of the
Merger (the Effective Time), each Share then
outstanding (other than Shares held by Parent, Purchaser or any
other wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or by dissenting
stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights)
will be canceled and extinguished and converted into the right
to receive the Offer Price in cash, payable to the holder
thereof, without interest. If Purchaser acquires, pursuant to
the Offer and the Top Up Option (as defined below), at least 90%
of the then issued and outstanding Shares, Purchaser intends to
effect the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of NVI
pursuant to Sections 1131 to 1133 of the Georgia Business
Corporations Code (a Short-Form Merger).
Additionally, NVI has granted to Parent and Purchaser an
irrevocable option (the Top Up Option), exercisable
if Parent and Purchaser accept for payment
pursuant to the Offer more than 50% of the Shares in the Offer,
to purchase up to 1,086,673 newly issued shares of Common Stock
from NVI, at a price per share equal to the Offer Price, only to
the extent necessary to cause Purchaser to own 67%, 80% or 90%,
as applicable, of the Shares outstanding on the expiration date
of the Offer, following such issuance (the Top Up
Option).
NVIs board of directors (1) has unanimously
approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, (2) has
unanimously determined that the terms of the Offer and the
Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to the
stockholders of NVI and that the Merger is advisable, and
(3) unanimously recommends that stockholders of NVI accept
the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things,
(a) there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to
the Expiration Date (as defined below) that number of Shares
which, together with that number of Shares owned by the
Purchaser, Parent and Parents other subsidiaries, would
represent more than sixty-seven percent of the Fully Diluted
Shares on the date of purchase (the Minimum
Condition), (b) the Company having closed the
transactions contemplated by that certain share purchase
agreement, dated as of July 25, 2005, (the CVG
Agreement) among the Company, Consolidated Vision Group,
Inc. (CVG), and the shareholders of CVG (the
CVG Agreement), (c) FirstSight Vision Services,
Inc., a subsidiary of the Company which is licensed as a
specialized health care service plan under the Knox-Keene Health
Care Service Plan Act of 1975 of California, obtaining the
approval of the California Department of Managed Health Care,
which regulates entities licensed under that Act, and
(d) the Company having received the consent of holders of
Company stock options granted under the Companys Restated
Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan to cancel all such Company
stock options as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. As used
herein, The term Fully Diluted Shares means all
outstanding securities, as of 12:00 midnight on the expiration
date of the Offer, entitled generally to vote in the election of
directors of NVI on a fully diluted basis, after giving effect
to the exercise or conversion of all options, rights and
securities exercisable(taking into account acceleration of
exercisability that would result from the transactions
contemplated hereby) or convertible into such voting securities.
The Offer is also subject to other terms and conditions
described in Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase.
TM Capital Corp. (TM Capital), NVIs financial
advisor, has delivered to NVI its written opinion, dated
July 25, 2005, to the effect that, as of that date and
based on and subject to the matters stated in such opinion, the
consideration to be received by the stockholders of NVI in the
Offer and the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view,
both before and after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated by the CVG Agreement, to such stockholders. A copy
of the written opinion of TM Capital is contained in NVIs
Solicitation/ Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with the Offer, a copy of which is being furnished to the
stockholders of NVI concurrently with the Offer to Purchase.
For purposes of the Offer, Purchaser will be deemed to have
accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly
tendered and not withdrawn if, as and when Purchaser gives oral
or written notice to American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company (the Depositary) of Purchasers
acceptance for payment of such Shares pursuant to the Offer.
Payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer
will be made by deposit of the purchase price therefor with the
Depositary, which will act as agent for the tendering
stockholders for the purposes of receiving payments from
Purchaser and transmitting such payments to the tendering
stockholders whose Shares have been accepted for payment. In all
cases, payment for Shares tendered and accepted for payment
pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by
the Depositary of (a) certificates for (or a timely
Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase)
with respect to) such Shares, (b) a Letter of Transmittal,
properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer,
an Agents Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase)),
and (c) any other documents required by the Letter of
Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering Stockholders may be paid at
different times depending upon when certificates for, or
Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to, the Shares are
actually received by the Depositary. Under no circumstances will
interest be paid on the purchase price to be paid by Purchaser
for the tendered Shares, regardless of any extension of the
Offer or any delay in making such payment. Tenders of Shares
made pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable, except that Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn pursuant to the
procedures set forth below at any time prior to the Expiration
Date and unless such Shares have already been accepted for
payment by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, may also be
withdrawn at any time after August 31, 2005 as described in
Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.
2
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written or facsimile
transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the
Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover
of the Offer to Purchase. Any such notice of withdrawal must
specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be
withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of
the registered holder of such Shares, if different from that of
the person who tendered such Shares. If certificates evidencing
Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Depositary, then, prior to the physical
release of such certificates, the serial numbers shown on the
particular certificates to be withdrawn must be submitted to the
Depositary, and the signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal
must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined in
Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase), unless such Shares
have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution.
If Shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry tender as set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to
Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name
and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
(as defined in the Offer to Purchase) to be credited with the
withdrawn Shares and otherwise comply with the Book-Entry
Transfer Facilitys procedures. Withdrawals of tenders of
Shares may not be rescinded and any Shares properly withdrawn
will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly tendered for
purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be
re-tendered at any time prior to the Expiration Date by
following one of the procedures described in Section 2 of
the Offer to Purchase.
The term Expiration Date means 12:00 midnight, New
York City time, on August 31, 2005 unless and until
Purchaser, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement,
extends the period for which the Offer is open, in which event
the term Expiration Date will mean the latest time
and date on which the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser,
expires.
All questions as to the form and validity (including, without
limitation, time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be
determined by Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose
determination shall be final and binding. None of Parent,
Purchaser, the Depositary, Georgeson Shareholder Communications
Inc. (the Information Agent), or any other person
will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or
irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any
liability for failure to give such notification.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement,
including the parties right to terminate the Merger
Agreement if Purchaser has not purchased Shares pursuant to the
Offer on or before August 31, 2005: (a) Purchaser may
extend the Offer for such period as Purchaser determines if any
of the conditions to Purchasers obligation to purchase
Shares are not satisfied or waived as of the Expiration Date of
the Offer, provided that such extension will be in increments of
not more than ten business days if only the Minimum Tender
Condition is not satisfied; (b) Purchaser may also extend
the offer for any period required by any rule, regulation,
interpretation or position of the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff that is applicable to the offer;
(c) NVI may require Purchaser to extend the offer for
additional periods to be determined by Purchaser if (i) the
Minimum Tender Condition is the only condition that is not
satisfied or waived at the Expiration Date, (ii) any
filings under antitrust laws are required to be made in
connection with the Merger Agreement and the waiting periods
under applicable antitrust laws have not expired or been
terminated, or (iii) NVI fails to perform or comply with
its obligations, covenants or agreements under the Merger
Agreement and the cure period relating to such failure has not
expired; and (d) if NVI delivers a notice of a superior
acquisition proposal to Parent within three business days of the
initial Expiration Date, Purchaser will extend the Offer for at
least three business days. In addition, if at the Expiration
Date of the Offer all of the conditions to the Offer have been
satisfied or waived, Purchaser may elect to provide a
subsequent offering period of up to 20 business days
in accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Oral or written notice of any extension of the Expiration Date
or the provision of a subsequent offering period would be given
to the Depositary and a public announcement would be made by no
later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next
business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
During an extension, all Shares previously tendered and not
withdrawn would remain subject to the Offer, subject to the
right of a tendering stockholder to withdraw such
stockholders Shares. During a subsequent offering period,
stockholders would not be able to withdraw Shares previously
tendered in the Offer and stockholders would not be able to
withdraw Shares tendered during the subsequent offering period.
The receipt by a stockholder of cash for Shares pursuant to the
Offer and the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United
States federal income tax purposes, and may also be a taxable
transaction under applicable
3
state, local or foreign tax laws. All stockholders are urged to
consult with their own tax advisors as to the particular tax
consequences to them of the Offer and the Merger.
The information required to be disclosed by
paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 14d-6 under the Exchange Act
is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein
by reference.
NVI has provided Purchaser with mailing labels containing the
names and addresses of all record holders of Shares and with
security position listings of Shares held in stock depositories,
together with all other available listings and computer files
containing names, addresses and security position listings of
record holders and beneficial owners of Shares. The Offer to
Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other relevant
documents will be mailed to record holders of Shares, will be
furnished (for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of
Shares) to the brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust
companies and others whose names, or the names of whose
nominees, appear on these lists and may be mailed directly to
beneficial owners.
The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal
contain important information which should be read carefully
before any decision is made with respect to the Offer.
Questions and requests for assistance or additional copies of
the Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and any other
tender offer documents may be directed to the Information Agent
at its telephone number and location listed below, and copies
will be furnished at Purchasers expense. Purchaser will
not pay fees to any broker or dealer or other person (other than
the Information Agent and the Depositary) for soliciting tenders
of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
17 State Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Banks and Brokers call: (212) 440-9800
All others call toll free: (866) 391-6923
July 28, 2005
4
Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
DATED AS OF JULY 25, 2005,
AMONG
Vision Holding Corp.,
Vision Acquisition Corp.,
AND
National Vision, Inc.
Execution Copy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I THE OFFER AND THE MERGER......................................1
Section 1.01. The Offer.................................................1
Section 1.02. Company Actions...........................................4
Section 1.03. The Merger................................................5
Section 1.04. Closing...................................................5
Section 1.05. Effective Time............................................5
Section 1.06. Effects...................................................5
Section 1.07. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws..................6
Section 1.08. Directors.................................................6
Section 1.09. Officers..................................................6
ARTICLE II EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT
CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES........................6
Section 2.01. Effect on Capital Stock...................................6
Section 2.02. Exchange of Certificates..................................7
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.................9
Section 3.01. Organization, Standing and Power..........................9
Section 3.02. Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests...................10
Section 3.03. Capital Structure........................................10
Section 3.04. Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability........11
Section 3.05. No Conflicts; Consents...................................12
Section 3.06. SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities...................13
Section 3.07. Information Supplied.....................................14
Section 3.08. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.....................14
Section 3.09. Taxes....................................................15
Section 3.10. Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans......................16
Section 3.11. ERISA Compliance; Excess Parachute Payments..............17
Section 3.12. Litigation...............................................18
Section 3.13. Compliance with Applicable Laws..........................18
Section 3.14. Contracts; Debt Instruments..............................19
Section 3.15. Intellectual Property....................................19
Section 3.16. Certain Notes Receivable.................................20
i
Section 3.17. Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses...................20
Section 3.18. Opinion of Financial Advisor.............................20
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB.............21
Section 4.01. Organization, Standing and Power.........................21
Section 4.02. Sub......................................................21
Section 4.03. Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability........21
Section 4.04. No Conflicts; Consents...................................21
Section 4.05. Information Supplied.....................................22
Section 4.06. Brokers..................................................22
Section 4.07. Financial Ability to Perform.............................22
Section 4.08. Litigation...............................................23
ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS....................23
Section 5.01. Conduct of Business......................................23
Section 5.02. No Solicitation..........................................25
Section 5.03. CVG Agreement............................................27
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS........................................27
Section 6.01. Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders
Meeting..................................................27
Section 6.02. Access to Information; Confidentiality...................28
Section 6.03. Reasonable Efforts; Notification.........................29
Section 6.04. Stock Options............................................30
Section 6.05. Benefit Plans............................................31
Section 6.06. Indemnification..........................................31
Section 6.07. Fees and Expenses........................................32
Section 6.08. Public Announcements.....................................33
Section 6.09. Transfer Taxes...........................................33
Section 6.10. Directors................................................34
Section 6.11. Rights Agreement; Consequences if Rights
Triggered................................................34
Section 6.12. Stockholder Litigation...................................35
Section 6.13. Parent Loan to Company...................................35
Section 6.14. Indenture................................................35
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.........................................35
Section 7.01. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect
The Merger...............................................35
ii
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER............................36
Section 8.01. Termination..............................................36
Section 8.02. Effect of Termination....................................37
Section 8.03. Amendment................................................38
Section 8.04. Extension; Waiver........................................38
Section 8.05. Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension
or Waiver................................................38
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS...........................................39
Section 9.01. Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties............39
Section 9.02. Notices..................................................39
Section 9.03. Definitions..............................................40
Section 9.04. Interpretation; Disclosure Letters.......................40
Section 9.05. Severability.............................................41
Section 9.06. Counterparts.............................................41
Section 9.07. Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries..............41
Section 9.08. Governing Law............................................41
Section 9.09. Assignment...............................................41
Section 9.10. Enforcement..............................................41
Section 9.11. Consents.................................................42
iii
Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of July 25, 2005, among Vision
Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Vision Acquisition Corp., a
Georgia corporation ("Sub") and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and
National Vision, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company
(in the case of the Company, acting on the recommendation of a special committee
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Special Committee"))
have approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition, Parent proposes to cause Sub
to make a tender offer (as it may be amended from time to time as permitted
under this Agreement, the "Offer") to purchase all the outstanding shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common
Stock"), including the associated Company Rights (as defined in Section 3.03),
at a price per share of Company Common Stock (including the associated Company
Right) of $7.25 (the "Offer Price"), net to the seller in cash, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company
(in the case of the Company, acting on the recommendation of the Special
Committee) have approved the merger (the "Merger") of Sub into the Company, or
(at the election of Parent) the Company into Sub, on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each issued share of Company
Common Stock not owned directly by Parent or the Company, other than Appraisal
Shares (as defined in Section 2.01(d)), shall be converted into the right to
receive the highest per share cash consideration paid pursuant to the Offer; and
WHEREAS Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Offer and the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Offer and
the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER AND THE MERGER
Section 1.01 The Offer.
(a) Commencement and Expiration of the Offer. Subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, as promptly as practicable after the date of this
Agreement (but in no event later than five business days after the public
announcement of this Agreement), Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to,
commence the Offer within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The obligation of Sub to,
and of Parent to cause Sub to, commence the Offer and accept for payment, and
pay for, any shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer are
subject to the conditions set forth in Exhibit A. The initial expiration date of
the Offer shall be at 12:00 midnight on the 20th business day following the
commencement of the Offer (determined using Rules 14d-1(g)(3) and 14d-2
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
1
"Exchange Act")). Sub expressly reserves the right to waive any condition to the
Offer or modify the terms of the Offer, except that, without the consent of the
Company, Sub shall not and Parent shall not permit Sub to (i) reduce the number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the price
per share of Company Common Stock to be paid pursuant to the Offer, (iii) modify
in any manner adverse to the holders of Company Common Stock or add to the
conditions set forth in Exhibit A, (iv) except as provided in Section 1.01(b),
extend the Offer, (v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer or
(vi) waive the Minimum Tender Condition, unless more than 50% of the Shares
outstanding on the expiration date of the Offer shall have been tendered and not
withdrawn.
(b) Sub's Ability to Extend the Offer. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 1.01(a), Sub may, without the consent of the Company, (A)
if at the scheduled or any extended expiration date of the Offer (whether
extended pursuant to this clause (A) or otherwise) any of the conditions to
Sub's obligation to purchase shares of Company Common Stock are not satisfied or
waived, extend the Offer for such period as Sub determines; provided that such
extension shall be in increments of not more than ten (10) business days if all
of the conditions set forth in Exhibit A other than the Minimum Tender Condition
have been satisfied or waived at such scheduled or extended expiration date, (B)
extend the Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation
or position of the SEC or the staff thereof applicable to the Offer and (C) if
at the scheduled or any extended expiration date of the Offer all of the
conditions set forth in Exhibit A have been satisfied or waived, Sub may extend
the Offer pursuant to an amendment to the Offer providing for a "subsequent
offering period" not to exceed twenty (20) business days to the extent permitted
under, and in compliance with, Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act.
(c) Company's Ability to Extend the Offer.
(i) In the event that the Minimum Tender Condition has not
been satisfied or waived at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, at the
request of the Company, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, extend the
expiration date of the Offer in such increments as Sub may determine until the
earliest to occur of (w) the satisfaction or waiver of such condition, (x)
Parent reasonably determines, after the date that is 90 days from the date of
commencement of the Offer, that such condition to the Offer is not capable of
being satisfied on or prior to the Outside Date (as defined in Section
8.01(b)(i)), (y) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms
and (z) the Outside Date.
(ii) In the event that a filing with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is required under the HSR Act, and
in the event that, following such filing, the waiting period under the HSR Act
applicable to the purchase of shares of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Offer shall not have expired or been terminated at the scheduled expiration date
of the Offer, at the request of the Company, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause
Sub to, extend the expiration date of the Offer in such increments as Sub may
determine until the earliest to occur of (a) the expiration or termination of
such waiting period, (b) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
its terms and (c) the Outside Date.
(iii) In the event that a failure to satisfy the conditions in
subsection (f) of Exhibit A attached hereto shall exist and the cure period
described therein shall not have
2
expired at the scheduled expiration date of the Offer, at the request of the
Company, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause Sub to, extend the expiration date of
the Offer in such increments as Sub may determine, but not greater than ten (10)
days, until the earliest to occur of (w) the cure of such failure, (x) the
expiration of such cure period, (y) the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms and (z) the Outside Date.
(iv) In the event a notice contemplated by Section
8.05(b)(iii) is delivered to Parent within three business days of the initial
expiration date of the Offer, then Sub shall extend the Offer for a period of
not less than three business days.
(d) Top Up Option.
(i) The Company hereby grants to Parent and Sub an
irrevocable option (the "Top Up Option") to purchase up to 1,086,673 newly
issued shares of Company Common Stock (the "Top Up Shares") for a consideration
per Top Up Share equal to the Offer Price.
(ii) Such Top Up Option shall be exercisable only in the
event that more than 50% of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding on
the expiration date of the Offer shall have been tendered and not withdrawn, and
then only to the extent necessary to cause Sub to own 67%, 80%, or 90%, as
applicable, of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding on the expiration
date of the Offer, after such issuance. Such Top Up Option shall not be
exercisable if the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto
exceeds the number of authorized shares of Company Common Stock available for
issuance.
(iii) In the event Parent and Sub wish to exercise the Top Up
Option, Parent shall cause Sub to provide the Company with one-day prior written
notice specifying the number of shares of Company Common Stock that are or will
be owned by Parent, Sub and their affiliates immediately following consummation
of the Offer and specifying a place and a time for the closing of such purchase.
The Company shall, promptly following receipt of such notice, deliver written
notice to Sub specifying the number of Top Up Shares. At the closing of the
purchase of the Top Up Shares, the portion of the purchase price owing upon
exercise of such Top Up Option which equals the product of (x) the number of
shares of Company Common Stock purchased pursuant to such Top Up Option,
multiplied by (y) the Offer Price, shall be paid to the Company in cash by wire
transfer of immediately available funds or by cashier's check.
(e) Payment Acceptance. On the terms and subject to the conditions
of the Offer and this Agreement, Parent shall cause Sub to accept for payment
and pay for all shares of Company Common Stock validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer that Sub becomes obligated to purchase pursuant
to the Offer promptly after the expiration of the Offer.
(f) SEC Filings. On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent
and Sub shall file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with
respect to the Offer, which shall contain an offer to purchase and a related
letter of transmittal and summary advertisement (such Schedule TO and the
documents included therein pursuant to which the Offer will be made, together
with any supplements or amendments thereto, the "Offer Documents"). Each of
Parent, Sub and the Company shall promptly correct any information
3
provided by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that such
information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and
each of Parent and Sub shall take all steps necessary to amend or supplement the
Offer Documents and to cause the Offer Documents as so amended or supplemented
to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to the Company's stockholders,
in each case as and to the extent required by applicable Federal securities
laws. Parent and Sub shall give the Company and its counsel a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment on the Offer Documents prior to their being
filed with the SEC or disseminated to the stockholders of the Company. Parent
and Sub shall provide the Company and its counsel in writing with any comments
Parent, Sub or their counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect
to the Offer Documents promptly after the receipt of such comments and shall
provide the Company and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to participate
in the response of Parent or Sub to such comments.
(g) Funding Obligations. Parent shall provide or cause to be
provided to Sub on a timely basis the funds necessary to purchase any shares of
Company Common Stock that Sub becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to the
Offer.
Section 1.02 Company Actions.
(a) Subject to Section 5.02(b), the Company hereby approves of and
consents to the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (collectively, the "Transactions").
(b) On the date the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC, the
Company shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the Offer (such Schedule 14D-9, as amended and
supplemented from time to time, the "Schedule 14D-9"), describing the
recommendations referred to in Section 3.04(b), or any permitted withdrawal or
modification in accordance with Section 5.02(b), and shall mail the Schedule
14D-9 to the holders of Company Common Stock. Each of the Company, Parent and
Sub shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the
Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent that such information shall have become
false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company shall take all
steps necessary to amend or supplement the Schedule 14D-9 and to cause the
Schedule 14D-9 as so amended or supplemented to be filed with the SEC and
disseminated to the Company's stockholders, in each case as and to the extent
required by applicable Federal securities laws. The Company shall provide Parent
and its counsel in writing with any comments the Company or its counsel may
receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly
after the receipt of such comments.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company shall cause its
transfer agent to promptly furnish Sub with mailing labels containing the names
and addresses of the record holders of Company Common Stock as of a recent date
and of those persons becoming record holders subsequent to such date, together
with copies of all lists of stockholders, security position listings and
computer files and all other information as Sub may reasonably request in the
Company's possession or control regarding the beneficial owners of Company
Common Stock, and shall furnish to Sub such information and assistance
(including updated lists of stockholders, security position listings and
computer files) as Parent may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to
the Company's stockholders. Subject to the requirements of applicable Law (as
4
defined in Section 3.05), and except for such steps as are necessary to
disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary to consummate
the Transactions, Parent and Sub shall hold in confidence pursuant to the
Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in Section 6.02) the information contained
in any such labels, listings and files, shall use such information only for the
purpose of communicating the Offer and disseminating any other documents
necessary to consummate the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions and, if
this Agreement shall be terminated, shall, upon request, deliver to the Company
all copies of such information then in their possession.
Section 1.03 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in
accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the "GBCC"), Sub shall be
merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time (as defined in Section
1.05). At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall
cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the
"Surviving Corporation"). The Surviving Corporation shall possess all the
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of the Company and Sub,
and the Surviving Corporation shall by operation of law become liable for all of
the debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Sub. The name of the
Surviving Corporation shall be National Vision, Inc. and the purpose thereof
shall be as set forth in Section 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent may elect at any
time after the expiration of the Offer and prior to the Merger, instead of
merging Sub into the Company as provided above, to merge the Company with and
into Sub; provided, however, that the Company shall not be deemed to have
breached any of its representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this
Agreement solely by reason of such election. In such event, the parties shall
execute an appropriate amendment to this Agreement to reflect the foregoing. At
the election of Parent, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
may be substituted for Sub as a constituent corporation in the Merger. In such
event, the parties shall execute an appropriate amendment to this Agreement in
order to reflect the foregoing.
Section 1.04 Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the Merger
shall take place at the offices of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, 100 Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 at 10:00 a.m. on the second business day
following the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by all
parties) of the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof, or at such other
place, time and date as shall be agreed in writing between Parent and the
Company. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement
as the "Closing Date".
Section 1.05 Effective Time. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall
prepare and give the Company and its counsel the opportunity to review, and on
the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter Parent shall file with the
Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, a certificate of merger or other
appropriate documents (in any such case, the "Certificate of Merger") executed
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the GBCC and shall make all other
filings or recordings required under the GBCC. The Merger shall become effective
at such time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with such Secretary of
State, or at such other time as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify
in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the
"Effective Time").
5
Section 1.06 Effects. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in
Section 14-2-1106 of the GBCC.
Section 1.07 Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.
(a) The Certificate of Incorporation of Sub as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended
as provided therein or by applicable Law.
(b) The By-laws of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.
Section 1.08 Directors. At the Closing, Parent shall designate the
directors of the Surviving Corporation and such directors shall hold office
until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective
successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.
Section 1.09 Officers. At the Closing, Parent shall designate the
officers of the Surviving Corporation and such officers shall hold office until
the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors
are duly elected or appointed and qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
EFFECT ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
Section 2.01 Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any
shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Sub:
(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each issued and outstanding share of
capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become a number of fully paid
and non-assessable shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Surviving Corporation ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock") equal to (i) the
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
Effective Time (excluding any shares of Company Common Stock that are owned by
any subsidiary of the Company or Parent other than Sub) divided by (ii) 1,000;
provided, however, that if the aggregate number of shares of Surviving
Corporation Common Stock into which the capital stock of Sub is to be converted
pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) is not a whole number, such number shall be
rounded up to the next higher whole number.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock. Each
share of Company Common Stock that is owned directly by the Company, Parent or
Sub shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and
retired and shall cease to exist, and no other consideration shall be delivered
or deliverable in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Company Common Stock.
6
(i) Subject to Sections 2.01(b) and 2.01(d), each issued
share of Company Common Stock shall be converted into the right to receive in
cash the highest price per share of Company Common Stock paid pursuant to the
Offer.
(ii) The cash payable upon the conversion of shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to this Section 2.01(c) is referred to
collectively as the "Merger Consideration". As of the Effective Time, all such
shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate representing any such shares of Company Common Stock shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive
Merger Consideration upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with
Section 2.02, without interest.
(d) Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, shares (the "Appraisal Shares") of Company Common Stock that
are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by any
person who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such
Appraisal Shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, Article 13
of the GBCC (the "Appraisal Provisions") shall be entitled to payment of the
fair value of such Appraisal Shares in accordance with the Appraisal Provisions;
provided, however, that if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise
shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under the Appraisal
Provisions, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such
holder's Appraisal Shares shall cease and such Appraisal Shares shall be deemed
to have been converted as of the Effective Time into, and to have become
exchangeable solely for the right to receive, Merger Consideration as provided
in Section 2.01(c). The Company shall serve prompt notice to Parent of any
demands received by the Company for appraisal of any shares of Company Common
Stock, and Parent shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment
with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do
any of the foregoing.
Section 2.02 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall select
a bank or trust company in the United States to act as paying agent (the "Paying
Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration upon surrender of
certificates representing Company Common Stock. Parent shall take all steps
necessary to enable and cause the Surviving Corporation to provide to the Paying
Agent on a timely basis, as and when needed after the Effective Time, cash
necessary to pay for the shares of Company Common Stock converted into the right
to receive cash pursuant to Section 2.01(c) (such cash being hereinafter
referred to as the "Exchange Fund"). If for any reason (including losses) the
Exchange Fund is inadequate to pay the amounts to which holders of shares of
Company Common Stock shall be entitled under this Section 2.02(a), Parent shall
take all steps necessary to enable or cause the Surviving Corporation promptly
to deposit in trust additional cash with the Paying Agent sufficient to make all
payments required under this Agreement, and Parent and the Surviving Corporation
shall in any event be liable for payment thereof. The Exchange Fund shall not be
used for any purpose except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
7
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after
the Effective Time, but in no event more than five (5) business days thereafter,
the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of
record of a certificate or certificates (the "Certificates") that immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock whose shares were converted into the right to receive Merger Consideration
pursuant to Section 2.01, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall be in
such form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and
(ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for
cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying
Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange
therefor the amount of cash into which the shares of Company Common Stock
theretofore represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant
to Section 2.01, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.
In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not
registered in the transfer records of the Company, payment may be made to a
person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is
registered, if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in
proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than
the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of
Parent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as
contemplated by this Section 2.02, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time
after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such
surrender the amount of cash, without interest, into which the shares of Company
Common Stock theretofore represented by such Certificate have been converted
pursuant to Section 2.01. If any holder of shares of Company Common Stock shall
be unable to surrender such holder's Certificates because such Certificates have
been lost, mutilated or destroyed, such holder may deliver in lieu thereof an
affidavit and indemnity bond in form and substance and with surety reasonably
satisfactory to the Surviving Corporation. No interest shall be paid or accrue
on the cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.
(c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. The
Merger Consideration paid in accordance with the terms of this Article II upon
conversion of any shares of Company Common Stock shall be deemed to have been
paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company
Common Stock, and after the Effective Time there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
Corporation of shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, any certificates
formerly representing shares of Company Common Stock are presented to the
Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent for any reason, they shall be canceled
and exchanged as provided in this Article II.
(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
that remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Stock for six months
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand, and any
holder of Company Common Stock who has not theretofore complied with this
Article II shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of its claim for
Merger Consideration.
8
(e) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the Paying
Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash from the Exchange
Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate has not been surrendered
prior to five years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such
earlier date on which Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate would
otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity (as
defined in Section 3.05)), any such shares, cash, dividends or distributions in
respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims
or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(f) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest any
cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Parent, on a daily basis. Any
interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to
Parent.
(g) Withholding Rights. Parent shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Company
Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be
deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code
(as defined in Section 3.11(b)), or under any provision of state, local or
foreign tax Law.
(h) Charges and Expenses. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all
charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with
the exchange of cash for shares of Company Common Stock.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:
Section 3.01 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of the Company
and each of its subsidiaries listed in the Company Disclosure Letter (as defined
below) (the "Company Subsidiaries") is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and
has all requisite corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental
franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals, and has made all
filings, registrations and declarations, in each case whether domestic or
foreign, necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties
and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, in each case
other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations, approvals,
filings, registrations and declarations the lack of which, individually or in
the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or a material adverse effect on the ability of
the Company to consummate the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions (a
"Company Material Adverse Effect"). The Company and each Company Subsidiary is
duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
9
business or their ownership or leasing of its properties make such qualification
necessary except where the failure to so qualify has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company
has made available to Parent true and complete copies of the certificate of
incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement (as so
amended, the "Company Charter"), and the by-laws of the Company, as amended to
the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the "Company By-laws"), and the
comparable charter and organizational documents of each Company Subsidiary, in
each case as amended through the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.02 Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.
(a) The letter, dated as of the date of this Agreement, from
the Company to Parent and Sub (the "Company Disclosure Letter") lists each
Company Subsidiary and its jurisdiction of organization. All the outstanding
shares of capital stock of each Company Subsidiary have been validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable and, except as set forth in the Company
Disclosure Letter, are owned by the Company, by another Company Subsidiary or by
the Company and another Company Subsidiary, free and clear of all pledges,
liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or
nature whatsoever (collectively, "Liens").
(b) Except for its interests in the Company Subsidiaries and
except for the ownership interests set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter,
the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, membership
interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other equity interest
in any person.
Section 3.03 Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Preferred Stock", and
together with the Company Common Stock, the "Company Capital Stock"). At the
close of business on July 15, 2005, (i) 5,460,668 shares of Company Common Stock
were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Company Common Stock were held by
the Company in its treasury, (iii) 556,600 shares of Company Common Stock were
subject to outstanding Company Stock Options (as defined in Section 6.04) and
182,926 additional shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance
pursuant to the Company Stock Plans (as defined in Section 6.04), and (iv)
500,000 shares of Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance in connection with
the rights (the "Company Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated
as of January 17, 1997 (as amended from time to time, the "Company Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., as
Rights Agent. Except as set forth above, at the close of business on July 15,
2005, no shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company were
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Assuming completion of the Offer
and the Merger prior to August 31, 2005, Company Stock Options to purchase not
more than 556,600 shares of Company Common Stock will be exercisable, including
any Company Stock Options exercisable as a result of the Offer and the Merger,
at an exercise price equal to or less than $2.38 per share of Company Common
Stock (the "Vested Company Stock Options"). There are no outstanding stock
appreciation rights linked to the price of Company Common Stock and granted
under any Company Stock Plan. All outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock
are, and all such shares that may be issued prior to the Effective Time will be
when issued, duly authorized, validly
10
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation
of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right,
subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the GBCC, the
Company Charter, the Company By-laws or any Contract (as defined in Section
3.05) to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound. There are not any
bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right
to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right
to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote
("Voting Company Debt"). Except as set forth above or in the Company Disclosure
Letter, as of the date of this Agreement, there are not any options, warrants,
rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, stock
appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts,
arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound (i) obligating the
Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be
issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity
interests in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable
into any capital stock of or other equity interest in, the Company or of any
Company Subsidiary or any Voting Company Debt, (ii) obligating the Company or
any Company Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking
or (iii) that give any person the right to receive any economic benefit or right
similar to or derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders
of Company Capital Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, there are not any
outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has made available to Parent a
complete and correct copy of the Company Rights Agreement, as amended to the
date of this Agreement. The Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and
complete list of the outstanding Company Stock Options, and the Vested Company
Stock Options, together with the number of shares of Company Common Stock
subject thereto and the exercise price thereof.
Section 3.04 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the Company
Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 3.04(c)) with respect to the Merger
if required by Law, to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Company, subject, in the case of the Merger, to receipt of the
Company Stockholder Approval (if required by Law). The Company has duly executed
and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid
and binding obligation (subject to the Company Stockholder Approval with respect
to the Merger if required by Law), enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights and by the effect of the principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company
Board"), at a meeting duly called and held, and upon recommendation of the
Special Committee, duly and
11
unanimously adopted resolutions (i) approving this Agreement, the Offer, the
Merger and the other Transactions, (ii) determining that the terms of the Offer
and the Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company and its
stockholders and that the Merger is advisable, (iii) recommending that the
holders of Company Common Stock accept the Offer and tender their shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer and (iv) recommending that the
Company's stockholders approve this Agreement. No further corporate action is
required by the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to the GBCC or
otherwise, in order for the Company to approve this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby. No state takeover statute or similar statute
or regulation applies or purports to apply to the Company with respect to this
Agreement, the Tender Agreements, the Offer, the Merger or any other
Transaction. The Company has been advised by each of its directors that, as of
the date of this Agreement, each such person intends to tender all shares of
Company Common Stock owned by such person pursuant to the Offer, except to the
extent of any restrictions created by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(c) The only vote of holders of any class or series of
Company Capital Stock necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement and the
Merger is the approval of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Company Common Stock and the approval of at least two-thirds of the
votes cast by the holders of outstanding Company Common Stock (collectively, the
"Company Stockholder Approval"). The affirmative vote of the holders of Company
Capital Stock, or any of them, is not necessary to consummate the Offer or any
Transaction other than the Merger.
Section 3.05 No Conflicts; Consents.
(a) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter,
the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement do not, and the
consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions and compliance
with the terms hereof will not, result in any violation of or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a
material benefit under, or to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed
rights or entitlements of any person under, or result in the creation of any
Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary under, any provision of (i) the Company Charter, the Company By-laws
or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary,
(ii) any contract, lease, license, indenture, note, bond, agreement, permit,
concession, franchise or other instrument filed as part of any Company SEC
Document (as defined below) (a "Contract") to which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets
is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in
Section 3.05(b), any judgment, order, injunction or decree, domestic or foreign
("Judgment"), or statute, law (including common law), legislation,
interpretation, ordinance, rule or regulation, domestic or foreign ("Law"),
applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective
properties or assets.
(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or
authorization ("Consent") of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
Federal, state, local or foreign government or any court of competent
jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other governmental
authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity") is
required to be
12
obtained or made by or with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Transactions, other than (i) compliance with and filings, if
necessary, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Schedule 14D-9,
(B) if required by Law, a proxy or information statement relating to the
approval of this Agreement by the Company's stockholders (the "Proxy
Statement"), (C) any information statement (the "Information Statement")
required under Rule 14f-1 in connection with the Offer, and (D) such schedules
or reports under Section 13 of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection
with this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions, (iii) the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Georgia and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other
jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business, (iv) such
filings as may be required in connection with the taxes described in Section
6.09 and (vi) such other items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) The Company and the Company Board have taken all action
necessary to (i) render the Company Rights inapplicable to this Agreement, the
Offer, the Merger and the other Transaction and (ii) ensure that (A) neither
Parent nor any of its stockholders, affiliates or associates is or will become
an "Acquiring Person" (as defined in the Company Rights Agreement) by reason of
this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger or any other Transaction), (B) a
"Distribution Date" (as defined in the Company Rights Agreement) shall not occur
by reason of this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger or any other Transaction and
(C) the Company Rights shall expire immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Section 3.06 SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company has
filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to
be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2003 (the "Company SEC
Documents"). As of its respective date, each Company SEC Document complied in
all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), as the case may be,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to
such Company SEC Document, and did not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1,
2005 (filed on March 25, 2005) (the "2004 Form 10-K"), its Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 2, 2005 (filed on May 17, 2005) and its
Current Reports on Form 8-K (filed on May 3, 2005 and May 17, 2005), together
with any amendments to such reports filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof,
taken together do 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 the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of the Company
included in the Company SEC Documents comply as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") (except, in the case of unaudited
statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis
during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes
13
thereto) and fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject,
in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).
Except as set forth in the Filed Company SEC Documents (as defined in Section
3.08), neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has 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
and its consolidated subsidiaries or in the notes thereto, other than
liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with prior practice since the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents. Except as set forth in
the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is
a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with an affiliate of such
party that is not disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents.
Section 3.07 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
(i) the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 or the Information Statement will,
at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended or
supplemented or at the time it is first published, sent or given to the
Company's stockholders, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Proxy Statement (if required
by Law) will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at
the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting (as defined in Section 6.01),
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
misleading. The Schedule 14D-9, the Information Statement and the Proxy
Statement (if required by Law) will comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, except that no representation is made by the Company with respect to
statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information
supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
Section 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed and publicly available prior to the
date of this Agreement (the "Filed Company SEC Documents") or in the Company
Disclosure Letter, from the date of the most recent audited financial statements
included in the Filed Company SEC Documents to the date of this Agreement, the
Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course, and during such
period there has not been:
(i) any event, change, effect or development that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) with respect
to any Company Capital Stock or any repurchase for value by the Company of any
Company Capital Stock;
(iii) any split, combination or reclassification of any
Company Capital Stock or any issuance or the authorization of any issuance of
any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of
Company Capital Stock;
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(iv) (A) any granting by the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to any current or former director, officer or employee of the Company
or any Company Subsidiary of any increase in compensation, except (i) with
respect to employees (other than directors, officers or key employees), in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) to the extent
required under employment agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent
audited financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents, (B)
any granting by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any such director,
officer or employee of any material increase in severance or termination pay,
except as was required under any employment, severance or termination policy,
practice or agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements included in the Filed Company SEC Documents or (C) any
entry by the Company or any Company Subsidiary into, or any amendment of, any
employment, severance or termination agreement with any such director, officer
or employee, except for such agreements or amendments with employees (other than
directors, officers or key employees) that are entered into in the ordinary
course of business consistent with prior practice;
(v) any termination of employment or departure of any
officer or other key employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(vi) any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices by the Company or any Company Subsidiary materially affecting the
consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company, except
insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP; or
(vii) any material elections with respect to Taxes (as defined
in Section 3.09) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or settlement or
compromise by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any material Tax
liability or refund.
Section 3.09 Taxes.
(a) Each of the Company and each Company Subsidiary has timely
filed, or has caused to be timely filed on its behalf, all Tax Returns required
to be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate,
except to the extent any failure to file or any inaccuracies in any filed Tax
Returns, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All Taxes shown to be due
on such Tax Returns, or otherwise owed, have been timely paid, except to the
extent that any failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, has not had
and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The most recent financial statements contained in the Filed
Company SEC Documents reflect an adequate reserve (in
accordance with GAAP) for all Taxes payable by the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries for all Taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of
such financial statements (in addition to any reserve for deferred Taxes
established to reflect timing differences between book and tax income). No
material deficiency with respect to
15
any Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed against the Company or any
Company Subsidiary, and no requests for waivers of the time to assess any such
Taxes are pending.
(c) The Federal income Tax Returns of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary consolidated in such Returns have not, since January 1, 2000, (i) to
the Company's knowledge, been examined by, or (ii) settled with, the United
States Internal Revenue Service. All material assessments for Taxes due with
respect to such completed and settled examinations or any concluded litigation
have been fully paid.
(d) There are no material Liens for Taxes (other than for current
Taxes not yet due and payable) on the assets of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is bound by any
agreement with respect to Taxes other than agreements between or among the
Company and Company Subsidiaries and no other person.
(e) No claim has been made in the past five years by any authority
in a jurisdiction within which the Company or any Company Subsidiary does not
file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(f) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has constituted
either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" (within the
meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock
qualifying or intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of
the Code (A) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or (B) in a
distribution that could otherwise constitute part of a "plan" or "series of
related transactions" (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in
conjunction with the Merger.
(g) For purposes of this Agreement:
"Taxes" includes all forms of taxation imposed by any Federal, state,
local, foreign or other Governmental Entity, including income, franchise,
property, sales, use, excise, employment, unemployment, payroll, social
security, estimated, value added, ad valorem, transfer, recapture,
withholding and other Taxes of any kind, including all interest, penalties
and additions thereto.
"Tax Return" means all Federal, state, local, provincial and foreign Tax
returns, declarations, statements, reports, schedules, forms and
information returns and any amended Tax return relating to Taxes.
Section 3.10 Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans. Except as
disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents or in the Company Disclosure
Letter, from the date of the most recent audited financial statements included
in the Filed Company SEC Documents to the date of this Agreement, there has not
been any adoption or amendment in any material respect by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary of any collective bargaining agreement or any bonus, pension,
profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership,
stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock, retirement, vacation, severance,
disability, death benefit, hospitalization, medical or other plan or arrangement
providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary (collectively,
16
"Company Benefit Plans"). Except as disclosed in the Filed Company SEC Documents
or in the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date of this Agreement there are
not any employment, consulting, indemnification, severance or termination
agreements or arrangements in effect between the Company or any Company
Subsidiary and any current or former employee, officer or director of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor does the Company or any Company
Subsidiary have any general severance plan or policy.
Section 3.11 ERISA Compliance; Excess Parachute Payments.
(a) The Company Disclosure Letter contains a list and brief
description of all material "employee pension benefit plans" (as defined in
Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA")) (sometimes referred to herein as "Company Pension Plans"), "employee
welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and all other
Company Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employees, officers
or directors of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has made
available to Parent true, complete and correct copies of (i) each Company
Benefit Plan (or, in the case of any unwritten Company Benefit Plan, a
description thereof), (ii) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 filed with
the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Company Benefit Plan (if any
such report was required), (iii) the most recent summary plan description for
each Company Benefit Plan for which such summary plan description is required
and (iv) each trust agreement and group annuity contract relating to any Company
Benefit Plan, if any.
(b) All Company Benefit Plans are in compliance in all material
respects with applicable Law (including, where applicable, the Code and ERISA).
All Company Pension Plans which are intended to be tax-qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code have been the subject of determination letters from the
Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such Company Pension Plans are
qualified and their related trusts are exempt from Federal income taxes under
Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), and no such determination letter has been revoked nor,
to the knowledge of the Company, has revocation been threatened. No such Company
Pension Plan has been amended since the date of its most recent determination
letter or application therefor in any respect that would adversely affect its
qualification, nor has any such Company Pension Plan been amended since December
31, 2004 in any respect that would materially increase its costs.
(c) No Company Pension Plan is a "defined benefit plan" within the
meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards
of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and neither the Company nor
any Company Subsidiary has any actual or contingent liability under any defined
benefit plan which it (or any affiliate) previously maintained or contributed to
(or was obligated to maintain or contribute to). None of the Company, any
Company Subsidiary, any officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
of the Company Benefit Plans which are subject to ERISA, including the Company
Pension Plans, or any trusts created thereunder, has engaged in a "prohibited
transaction" (as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code) or any other breach of fiduciary responsibility that could subject the
Company, any Company Subsidiary or any officer of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to any material tax or penalty on prohibited transactions
17
imposed by such Section 4975 or to any material liability under Section 502(i)
or 502(l) of ERISA.
(d) With respect to any Company Benefit Plan that is an employee
welfare benefit plan, (i) no such Company Benefit Plan is funded through a
"welfare benefits fund" (as such term is defined in Section 419(e) of the Code),
(ii) each such Company Benefit Plan that is a "group health plan" (as such term
is defined in Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code), complies in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f) of the Code and (iii) each
such Company Benefit Plan (including any such Plan covering retirees or other
former employees) may be amended or terminated without material liability to the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries on or at any time after the Effective Time,
except with respect to contributions, premiums or benefit claims (actual or
contingent) with respect to the period from the Effective Time to such
termination.
(e) Other than payments that may be made to the persons listed in
the Company Disclosure Letter (the "Primary Company Executives"), any amount
that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property)
as a result of the Offer, the Merger or any other Transaction by any employee,
officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates who is a
"disqualified individual" (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.280G-1) under any employment, severance or termination agreement, any
other compensation arrangement or any Company Benefit Plan currently in effect
would not be characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code). Set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter is
(i) the estimated maximum amount that could be paid to each Primary Company
Executive as a result of the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions under
all employment, severance and termination agreements, other compensation
arrangements and Company Benefit Plans currently in effect and (ii) the "base
amount" (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) for each Primary Company
Executive calculated as of the date of this Agreement and assuming the Offer and
the Merger occur on or prior to December 31, 2005.
Section 3.12 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Filed Company
SEC Documents or in the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any Company Subsidiary (and, as of the date of this
Agreement, the Company is not aware of any basis for any such suit, action or
proceeding) that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any Judgment
outstanding against the Company or any Company Subsidiary that, individually or
in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.13 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Except as disclosed in
the Filed Company SEC Documents or in the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws,
including those relating to occupational health and safety and the environment,
except for instances of noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate,
have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Filed Company SEC Documents or in the
Company Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company
nor
18
any Company Subsidiary has received any written communication during the past
two years from a Governmental Entity that alleges that the Company or a Company
Subsidiary is not in compliance in any material respect with any applicable Law.
This Section 3.13 does not relate to matters with respect to Taxes, which are
the subject of Section 3.09.
Section 3.14 Contracts; Debt Instruments.
(a) Except as disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents or the Company
Disclosure Letter, there are no contracts or agreements that are material to the
business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company
nor any Company Subsidiary is in violation of or in default under (nor does
there exist any condition which upon the passage of time or the giving of notice
or both would cause such a violation of or default under) any loan or credit
agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, permit, concession,
franchise, license or any other contract, agreement, arrangement or
understanding, to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or
assets is bound, except for violations or defaults that, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of that certain Share
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "CVG Agreement") among the
Company, Consolidated Vision Group, Inc. ("CVG") and the shareholders of CVG,
has been duly approved and authorized by all necessary action on the part of the
Company, and the CVG Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, CVG, and constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and, to the knowledge of the
Company, CVG, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, except to
the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and
by the effect of the principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability
is considered in a proceed in equity or at law). Neither the Company nor, to the
Company's knowledge, CVG, is in default of any of the terms and conditions
contained in the CVG Agreement. The CVG Agreement has not been amended or
modified in any way. A true and complete copy of the CVG Agreement has been
provided to the Parent. The Financing Commitments (as defined in the CVG
Agreement and referred to herein as the "Financing Commitments") are in full
force and effect and have not been amended or modified by the Company in any
way.
Section 3.15 Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries own, or are validly
licensed or otherwise have the right to use, all patents, patent rights
(including patent applications and licenses), material inventions that have been
identified as active patent matters but for which applications have not yet been
filed, know-how, trade secrets, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade
name rights, service marks, service mark rights, copyrights and other
proprietary intellectual property rights, databases and computer programs
(collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") which are used in the conduct of
the business of the Company or the Company
19
Subsidiaries as currently conducted and the consummation of the Transactions
will not breach, alter or impair any such Intellectual Property Rights.
(b) The Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a description of all
material Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company or the Company
Subsidiaries in the conduct of their business as currently conducted, and the
countries in which each of the described rights is applicable.
(c) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, no
claims are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) the
Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is infringing or otherwise adversely
affecting the rights of any person with regard to any Intellectual Property
Right or (ii) assert that any Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company
or any Company Subsidiary (the "Owned Intellectual Property Rights") are invalid
or unenforceable. To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, no person is infringing the rights of the Company or
any of the Company Subsidiaries with respect to any Owned Intellectual Property
Right.
(d) The Company has timely paid, or caused to be timely paid, all
maintenance, renewal and other similar fees, and has timely met any applicable
working requirements with respect to all Owned Intellectual Property Rights,
except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter. With respect to
Intellectual Property Rights other than Owned Intellectual Property Rights
("Licensed Intellectual Property Rights") that are material to the Company or
the Company Subsidiaries, the Company is in compliance in all material respects
with any applicable license or similar agreement, including the payment of all
license, maintenance, renewal and other similar fees.
(e) All Owned Intellectual Property Rights are free and clear of
any Liens and may be freely transferred, assigned, licensed or sublicensed
except as set forth in the Company Disclosure letter. The Company's licenses
with respect to all Licensed Intellectual Property Rights are free and clear of
any Liens except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter.
Section 3.16 Certain Notes Receivable. There are no notes receivable
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary owing by any director, officer,
shareholder or employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
Section 3.17 Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses. No broker,
investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than TM Capital
Corp. ("TM Capital"), the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the
Company, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
similar fee or commission in connection with the Offer, the Merger and the other
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The
estimated fees and expenses incurred and to be incurred by the Company in
connection with the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions (including the
fees of TM Capital and the fees of the Company's legal counsel) are set forth in
the Company Disclosure Letter.
Section 3.18 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received
the opinion of TM Capital as of the date of this Agreement, to the effect that,
as of such date but giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the CVG
Agreement, the consideration to be
20
received in the Offer and the Merger by the holders of Company Common Stock is
fair to such holders from a financial point of view and a copy of the signed
opinion has been provided to Parent.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB
Parent and Sub, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the
Company as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent and
Sub is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has all requisite corporate power
and authority and possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits,
authorizations and approvals in each case whether domestic or foreign necessary
to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to
conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such franchises,
licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which, individually
and in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the ability of Parent or Sub to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or a material adverse effect on the ability of
Parent or Sub to consummate the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions (a
"Parent Material Adverse Effect").
Section 4.02 Sub.
(a) Since the date of its incorporation, Sub has not carried on
any business or conducted any operations other than the execution of this
Agreement, the performance of its obligations hereunder and matters ancillary
thereto. Sub was incorporated solely for the purpose of consummating the
Transactions.
(b) The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 1,000 shares
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which have been validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent free and clear
of any Lien.
Section 4.03 Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability. Each
of Parent and Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and
delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by it
of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Parent and Sub. Parent, as sole stockholder of Sub, has approved
this Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub has duly executed and delivered this
Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and
by the effect of the principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 4.04 No Conflicts; Consents.
21
(a) The execution and delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this
Agreement, do not, and the consummation of the Offer, the Merger and the other
Transactions and compliance with the terms hereof will not, result in any
violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or to increased,
additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements of any person
under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or
assets of Parent or any of its subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the
charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Parent or any of its
subsidiaries, (ii) any contract, lease, license, indenture, note, bond,
agreement or other instrument (each, a "Contract") to which Parent or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets
is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in
Section 4.04(b), any Judgment or Law applicable to Parent or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case
of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that, individually and in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with,
any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to
Parent or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, other
than (i) compliance with and filings, if required, under the HSR Act, (ii) the
filing with the SEC of (A) the Offer Documents and (B) such reports under the
Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Offer,
the Merger and the other Transactions, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, (iv) such filings as
may be required in connection with the taxes described in Section 6.09 and (vi)
such other items that, individually and in the aggregate, have not had and would
not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.05 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in (i) the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 or the Information Statement
will, at the time such document is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended
or supplemented or at the time it is first published, sent or given to the
Company's stockholders, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Proxy Statement (if required
by Law) will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company's stockholders or at
the time of the Company 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 misleading. The Offer Documents
will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, except that no
representation is made by Parent or Sub with respect to statements made or
incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Company
for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
Section 4.06 Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial
advisor or other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial
advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Offer, the
Merger and the other Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of Parent.
22
Section 4.07 Financial Ability to Perform. Parent and Sub will have
cash funds sufficient as and when needed to pay all cash payments for shares of
Company Common Stock and options in the Offer and the Merger.
Section 4.08 Litigation. There is no suit, action or proceeding
pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against or affecting Parent
or Sub (and, as of the date of this Agreement, Parent is not aware of any basis
for any such suit, action or proceeding) that, individually or in the aggregate,
has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
ability of Parent or Sub to perform their respective obligations under this
Agreement or a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent or Sub to
consummate the Offer, the Merger and the Other Transactions (a "Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect"), nor is there any Judgment outstanding against Parent
or Sub that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be
expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Section 5.01 Conduct of Business.
(a) Conduct of Business by the Company. Except for matters set
forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, expressly agreed to in writing by Parent
or otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the date of this
Agreement to the earliest to occur of the date of the termination of this
Agreement, the date directors designated by Parent or Sub have been elected to
and shall constitute a majority of the Company Board (the "Control Date") or the
Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to,
conduct the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a
whole in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner
as previously conducted and use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact its
current business organization, keep available the services of its current
officers and employees and keep its relationships with customers, suppliers,
licensors, licensees, distributors and others having business dealings with them
to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall be unimpaired in all
material respects at the Effective Time. In addition, and without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, except for matters set forth in the Company
Disclosure Letter, expressly agreed to in writing by Parent or otherwise
expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement to the
earliest to occur of the date of the termination of this Agreement, the Control
Date or the Effective Time, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any
Company Subsidiary to, do any of the following without the prior written consent
of Parent:
(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock, other than
dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company to its parent, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of,
in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, or (C) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary or any other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or
options to acquire any such shares or other securities;
23
(ii) issue, deliver, sell or grant (A) any shares of its
capital stock, (B) any Voting Company Debt or other voting securities, (C) any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options, warrants or
rights to acquire, any such shares, Voting Company Debt, voting securities or
convertible or exchangeable securities or (D) any "phantom" stock, "phantom"
stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock-based performance units, other
than (1) the issuance of Company Common Stock (and associated Company Rights)
upon the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this
Agreement and in accordance with their present terms and (2) the issuance of
Company Common Stock upon the exercise of Company Rights;
(iii) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
comparable charter or organizational documents;
(iv) other than as contemplated by the CVG Agreement, acquire
or agree to acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a
substantial equity interest in or portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association
or other business organization or division thereof or (B) any assets that are
material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(v) (A) grant to any current or former director, officer or
employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary any increase in compensation,
except to the extent required under employment agreements in effect as of the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Filed
Company SEC Documents or, with respect to employees (other than directors,
officers or key employees) in the ordinary course of business consistent with
prior practice, (B) grant to any current or former employee, officer or director
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary any increase in severance or
termination pay, except to the extent required under any agreement in effect as
of the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the
Filed Company SEC Documents, (C) enter into any employment, consulting,
indemnification, severance or termination agreement with any such employee,
officer or director, (D) establish, adopt, enter into or amend in any material
respect any collective bargaining agreement or Company Benefit Plan or (E) take
any action to accelerate any rights or benefits, or make any material
determinations not in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior
practice, under any collective bargaining agreement or Company Benefit Plan;
(vi) make any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices materially affecting the reported consolidated assets, liabilities or
results of operations of the Company, except insofar as may have been required
by a change in GAAP;
(vii) sell, lease (as lessor), license or otherwise dispose of
or subject to any Lien any material properties or assets, except sales of
obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(viii) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
guarantee any such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt
securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary, guarantee any debt
24
securities of another person, enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to
maintain any financial statement condition of another person or enter into any
arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for
short-term borrowings from persons that are not directors, officers or employees
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, or (B) make any loans, advances or
capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than to or
in the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;
(ix) make or agree to make any new capital expenditure or
expenditures that are in excess of $150,000 individually or $1,000,000 in the
aggregate;
(x) make or change any material Tax election or settle or
compromise any material Tax liability or refund;
(xi) (A) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or
obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise)
in excess of $50,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, other than the
payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or in accordance with their terms, of liabilities
reflected or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the most recent
consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company included
in the Filed Company SEC Documents or incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (B) except for any redemptions pursuant
to the Indenture (as defined below), cancel any indebtedness in excess of
$150,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate or waive any claims or rights
of substantial value or (C) waive the benefits of, or agree to modify in any
manner, any confidentiality, standstill or similar agreement to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party;
(xii) enter into, renew, extend, amend, modify, waive any
material provision of, or terminate any lease or similar commitment, in each
case providing for payments in excess of $500,000 over the term of such lease or
commitment (or until the date on which such lease or commitment may be
terminated by the Company without penalty); or
(xiii) authorize, or commit or agree to take, any of the
foregoing actions.
(b) Other Actions. The Company and Parent shall not, and shall not
permit any of their respective subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or
that would reasonably be expected to, result in (i) any of the representations
and warranties of such party set forth in this Agreement that is qualified as to
materiality becoming untrue, (ii) any of such representations and warranties
that is not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect or (iii) any
condition to the Offer set forth in Exhibit A, or any condition to the Merger
set forth in Article VII, not being satisfied; provided, however, that the
obligations set forth in this Section 5.01(b) shall not be deemed to have been
breached as a result of actions by the Company expressly permitted under Section
5.02(b).
(c) Advice of Changes. The Company shall promptly advise Parent
orally and in writing of any change or event that has had or would reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
25
Section 5.02 No Solicitation.
(a) The Company shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any
Company Subsidiary to, nor shall it authorize or permit any officer, director or
employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or
representative (collectively, "Representatives") of, the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to, (i) directly or indirectly solicit, initiate or encourage the
submission of, any Company Takeover Proposal (as defined in Section 5.02(e)),
(ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any Company Takeover Proposal or
(iii) directly or indirectly participate in any discussions or negotiations
regarding, or furnish to any person any information with respect to, or take any
other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Company Takeover
Proposal; provided, however, that prior to the first acceptance for payment of
shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer the Company may, to the
extent necessary to act in a manner consistent with the fiduciary obligations of
the Company Board, as determined in good faith by it after consultation with
outside counsel and TM Capital or another nationally recognized independent
financial advisor, in response to a Company Takeover Proposal that the Company
Board determines, in good faith after consultation with outside counsel, is
reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Company Proposal (as defined in Section
5.02(e)), that was not solicited by the Company and that did not otherwise
result from a breach or (pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 5.02(a))
a deemed breach of this Section 5.02(a), and subject to compliance with Section
5.02(c), (x) furnish information with respect to the Company to the person
making such Company Takeover Proposal and its Representatives pursuant to a
customary confidentiality agreement and (y) participate in discussions or
negotiations with such person and its Representatives regarding such Company
Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that any
violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any
officer, director, investment banker, attorney or other advisor or
representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, whether or not such
person is purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary
or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.02(a) by the
Company.
(b) Unless the Company Board, after consultation with outside
counsel, determines in its good faith judgment that it is necessary to do so in
order to fulfill its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law, neither the
Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify in a manner
adverse to Parent or Sub, or publicly propose to withdraw or modify in a manner
adverse to Parent or Sub, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board or
any such committee of this Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, (ii) approve any
letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition or similar agreement
relating to any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) approve or recommend, or
publicly propose to approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal. The
Company shall not take the actions set forth in clauses (ii) or (iii) of the
preceding sentence unless it has terminated or concurrently terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(e).
(c) The Company promptly shall advise Parent orally and, within
one business day, in writing of any Company Takeover Proposal or any inquiry
with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Company
Takeover Proposal, the material terms and conditions of any such Company
Takeover Proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the person
making any such Company Takeover Proposal or inquiry. The
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Company shall (i) keep Parent fully informed of the status and details
(including any change to the terms thereof) of any such Company Takeover
Proposal and (ii) provide to Parent as soon as practicable after receipt or
delivery thereof with copies of all correspondence and other written material
sent or provided to the Company by any third party in connection with any
Company Takeover Proposal or sent or provided by the Company to any third party
in connection with any Company Takeover Proposal.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 5.02 shall prohibit the
Company from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated
by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any required
disclosure to the Company's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the
Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, failure so to disclose
would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable law.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement:
"Company Takeover Proposal" means (i) any proposal or offer for a merger,
consolidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other business combination
involving the Company or any significant subsidiary of the Company (as defined
in Regulation S-X of the Federal securities laws), or (ii) any proposal or offer
to acquire in any manner, directly or indirectly, over 15% of the equity
securities or consolidated total assets of the Company, in each case other than
pursuant to the Transactions.
"Superior Company Proposal" means any proposal made by a third party to
acquire substantially all the equity securities or assets of the Company,
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, a merger, a consolidation, a liquidation
or dissolution, a recapitalization or a sale of all or substantially all its
assets, (i) on terms which the Company Board determines in good faith to be
superior from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common Stock
to the Transactions, taking into account all the terms and conditions of such
proposal and this Agreement (including any proposal by Parent to amend the terms
of the Transactions) and (ii) that the Company Board determines in good faith is
reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial,
regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal.
Section 5.03 CVG Agreement. The Company shall comply with the terms
and conditions of the CVG Agreement and shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by the CVG Agreement in
accordance with the terms thereof and to enforce all of its rights thereunder.
The Company shall not waive or amend any term or condition contained in the CVG
Agreement without the express written consent of Parent. The Company shall not
waive or amend any term or condition contained in the Financing Commitments and
shall not incur any indebtedness in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the CVG Agreement other than in accordance with the terms of the
Financing Commitments.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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Section 6.01 Preparation of Proxy Statement; Stockholders Meeting.
(a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 6.01(b), the Company
shall, as soon as practicable following the expiration of the Offer and the
purchase of the shares of Company Common Stock pursuant thereto, prepare and
file with the SEC the Proxy Statement in preliminary form, and each of the
Company, Parent and Sub shall use their best efforts to respond as promptly as
practicable to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto. The Company shall
notify Parent promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff
and of any request by the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the
Proxy Statement or for additional information and shall supply Parent with
copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives,
on the one hand, and the SEC or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to
the Proxy Statement. If at any time prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder
Approval there shall occur any event that should be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and mail
to its stockholders such an amendment or supplement. The Company shall not mail
any Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, to which Parent
reasonably objects. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Proxy
Statement to be mailed to the Company's stockholders as promptly as practicable
after filing with the SEC.
(b) The Company shall, as soon as practicable following the
expiration of the Offer and the purchase of the shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant thereto, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its
stockholders (the "Company Stockholders Meeting") for the purpose of seeking the
Company Stockholder Approval. Subject to Section 5.02(b), the Company shall,
through the Company Board, recommend to its stockholders that they give the
Company Stockholder Approval. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 6.01(b) shall not be affected by the commencement, public proposal,
public disclosure or communication to the Company of any Company Takeover
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Sub or any other subsidiary of
Parent shall acquire at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each series of
Company Capital Stock, the parties shall, at the request of Parent, take all
necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon
as practicable after the expiration of the Offer without a stockholders meeting
in accordance with Section 14-2-1104 of the GBCC.
(c) Parent shall cause all shares of Company Common Stock
purchased pursuant to the Offer and, if exercised, the Top Up Option, and all
other shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, Sub or any other
subsidiary of Parent to be voted in favor of the approval of this Agreement.
Section 6.02 Access to Information; Confidentiality. The Company
shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, afford to Parent, and to
Parent's officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other
representatives, upon reasonable notice, reasonable access during normal
business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to all their
respective properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and,
during such period, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries
to, furnish promptly to Parent (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration
statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the
requirements of Federal or state securities laws and (b) all
28
other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent
may reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company may withhold the
documents and information described in the Company Disclosure Letter to the
extent required to comply with the terms of a confidentiality agreement with a
third party in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided further, that the
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain, as promptly as practicable,
any consent from such third party required to permit the Company to furnish such
documents and information to Parent. All information exchanged pursuant to this
Section 6.02 shall be subject to the confidentiality agreement dated as of
February 23, 2005 between the Company and Parent (the "Confidentiality
Agreement").
Section 6.03 Reasonable Efforts; Notification.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all reasonable actions, and to do, or cause to be done,
and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things
reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in
the most expeditious manner practicable, the Offer, the Merger and the other
Transactions, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities and the
making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with
Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be
necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary
consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, (iii) the defending of any
lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative,
challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, including,
when reasonable, seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered
by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed and (iv) the
execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the
Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. In
connection with and without limiting the foregoing, the Company and the Company
Board shall (i) take all action necessary to ensure that no state takeover
statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to any
Transaction, this Agreement or the Tender Agreements and (ii) if any state
takeover statute or similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to this
Agreement or the Tender Agreements, take all action necessary to ensure that the
Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions may be consummated as promptly as
practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to
minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on the Offer, the Merger and
the other Transactions. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require any
party to waive any substantial rights or agree to any substantial limitation on
its operations or to dispose of any significant asset or collection of assets.
As promptly as practicable after the consummation of the Offer, the Company
shall use all reasonable efforts to notify Parent of any actions or nonactions
of, waivers, consents and approvals from, and registrations and filings with,
Governmental Entities, and any consents, approvals or waivers from third
parties, that would be required in connection with the consummation of the
Merger in the event that Parent elects pursuant to Section 1.03 to merge the
Company with and into Sub instead of merging Sub into the Company.
(b) The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent or
Sub shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) any representation or
warranty made by it contained in this Agreement that is qualified as to
materiality becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect or
29
any such representation or warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect or (ii) the failure by it to comply with or
satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that
no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties
under this Agreement.
Section 6.04 Stock Options.
(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement,
the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Company
Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions and take, or cause the Company to
take, such other actions as are required (including, without limitation,
obtaining all necessary consents of all holders of Company Stock Options under
the Company's Restated Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan (each of whom is
set forth on Schedule 2 to the Company Disclosure Letter) but without
compensating any holder of any Company Stock Option) to adjust the terms of all
outstanding Company Stock Options heretofore granted under any Company Stock
Plan that will be exercisable at the time of the first acceptance for payment of
shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer (the "Exercisable Options")
to provide that each such Exercisable Option outstanding at the time of the
first acceptance for payment of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Offer shall be canceled in exchange for a cash payment by the Company as soon as
practicable following the first acceptance for payment of shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer of an amount equal to (i) the excess, if any,
of (x) the highest price per share of Company Common Stock to be paid pursuant
to the Offer over (y) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock
subject to such Exercisable Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of
Company Common Stock for which such Exercisable Option shall not theretofore
have been exercised. The Company will be responsible for any required reporting
to Federal, state or local tax authorities. Parent will advance such funds to
the Company as the Company requires in order to comply with the provisions of
this Section 6.04(a) and in order to pay all required amounts under the
Company's Management Incentive Plan, each on terms mutually acceptable to Parent
and the Company.
(b) All amounts payable pursuant to Section 6.04(a) shall be
subject to any required withholding of Taxes or proof of eligibility of
exemption therefrom and shall be paid without interest by the Company as soon as
practicable following the first acceptance for payment of shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer. The Company shall use its best efforts to
obtain all consents of the holders of Company Stock Options as shall be
necessary to effectuate the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, payment shall, at Parent's request, be withheld in
respect of any Company Stock Option until all necessary consents with respect to
such Company Stock Option are obtained.
(c) The Company Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective
Time, and the provisions in any other Benefit Plan providing for the issuance,
transfer or grant of any capital stock of the Company or any interest in respect
of any capital stock of the Company shall be deleted as of the Effective Time,
and the Company shall ensure that following the Effective Time no holder of a
Company Stock Option or any participant in any Company Stock Plan, or
30
other Company Benefit Plan shall have any right thereunder to acquire any
capital stock of the Company or the Surviving Corporation.
(d) The parties agree, pursuant to 26 C.F.R. Section
1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(B), that the payments to be made pursuant to Section 6.04(a)
are allocable to the period immediately following Closing. The parties agree to
treat such payments for all Tax purposes as occurring at the beginning of the
day after Closing, and agree to not take any position inconsistent with such
treatment on any Tax Return.
(e) In this Agreement:
"Company Stock Option" means any option to purchase Company Common
Stock granted under any Company Stock Plan.
"Company Stock Plans" means the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, the
Restated Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan and all agreements under which
there are outstanding options to purchase Company Common Stock granted to
employees, consultants or any other person.
Section 6.05 Benefit Plans. With respect to any "employee benefit
plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained by Parent or any of its
subsidiaries (including any severance plan), for all purposes, including
determining eligibility to participate and vesting, service with the Company or
any Company Subsidiary shall be treated as service with Parent or any of its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that such service need not be recognized to the
extent that such recognition would result in any duplication of benefits.
Section 6.06 Indemnification.
(a) Parent shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, cause
the Company (from and after the Control Date) and the Surviving Corporation
(from and after the Effective Time) to honor all the Company's obligations to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless (including any obligations to advance funds
for expenses) the current and former directors and officers of the Company and
its subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out
of acts or omissions by any such directors and officers occurring prior to the
Effective Time to the maximum extent that such obligations of the Company exist
on the date of this Agreement, whether pursuant to the Company Charter, the
Company By-laws, the GBCC, individual indemnity agreements or otherwise, and
such obligations shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and
effect in accordance with the terms of the Company Charter, the Company By-laws,
the GBCC and such individual indemnity agreements from the Effective Time until
the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any
claims against such directors or officers arising out of such acts or omissions.
In the event a current or former director or officer of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.06(a), such
director or officer shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company (from
and after the Control Date) or the Surviving Corporation (from and after the
Effective Time) for reasonable attorney fees and expenses incurred by such
director or officer in pursuing such indemnification, including payment of such
fees and expenses by the Surviving Corporation or the Company, as applicable, in
advance of the final disposition of such action
31
upon receipt of an undertaking by such current or former director or officer to
repay such payment if it shall be adjudicated that such current or former
director or officer was not entitled to such payment.
(b) From and after the Control Date and for a period of six years
after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause to be maintained in effect the
current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by
the Company (provided that Parent may either (i) substitute therefor policies
with reputable and financially sound carriers or (ii) maintain self insurance or
similar arrangements through a financially sound insurance affiliate of Parent
with at least as high a rating as the Company's current insurance carriers, in
each case of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions which are no less advantageous) with respect to claims arising from
or related to facts or events which occurred at or before the Effective Time;
provided, however, that Parent shall not be obligated to make annual premium
payments for such insurance to the extent such premiums exceed 150% of the
annual premiums paid as of the date hereof by the Company for such insurance
(such 150% amount, the "Maximum Premium"). If such insurance coverage cannot be
obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an annual premium in excess of the
Maximum Premium, Parent shall maintain the most advantageous policies of
directors' and officers' insurance obtainable for an annual premium equal to the
Maximum Premium. The Company represents to Parent that the Maximum Premium is
$345,000.
(c) The Company will maintain, through the Effective Time, the
Company's existing directors' and officers' insurance in full force and effect
without reduction of coverage.
(d) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or
assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger and the continuing or surviving entity does not assume the obligations of
the Surviving Corporation set forth in this Section 6.06, or (ii) transfers all
or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in
each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of the Surviving Corporation assume, as a matter of law or otherwise,
the obligations set forth in this Section 6.06.
Section 6.07 Fees and Expenses.
(a) Except as provided below, all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the Merger and the other Transactions shall be paid by the party
incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.
(b) The Company shall pay to Parent a fee of $1,600,000 (the
"Termination Fee") if: (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
8.01(b)(iii) as a result of the failure of the condition set forth in paragraph
(d) of Exhibit A; (ii) the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.01(e); (iii) Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(d)(i)
or 8.01(d)(ii); (iv) after the date of this Agreement, any person makes a
Company Takeover Proposal and (A) the Offer shall have remained open until the
later of (1) the scheduled expiration date immediately following the date such
Company Takeover Proposal is made and (2) ten days after the date such Company
Takeover Proposal is made, (B) the
32
Minimum Tender Condition is not satisfied at such expiration date, (C) this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(i) or 8.01(b)(iii) (other
than as a result of the failure of the condition set forth in paragraph (d) of
Exhibit A) and (D) within 12 months of such termination the Company enters into
a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, the transactions
contemplated by such Company Takeover Proposal; or (v) subject to Section
6.07(c), (A) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.01(c) as a
result of a willful breach by the Company, (B) after such termination, a Company
Takeover Proposal is made, and (C) within 12 months of such termination the
Company enters into a definitive agreement to consummate, or consummates, the
transactions contemplated by any Company Takeover Proposal. Any fee due under
this Section 6.07(b) shall be paid by wire transfer of same-day funds on the
date of termination of this Agreement (except that in the case of clause (iv) or
(v) above such payment shall be made on the date of execution of such definitive
agreement or, if earlier, consummation of such transactions).
(c) If the Company becomes obligated to pay a fee under Section
6.07(b) as a result of a termination pursuant to Section 8.01(c), Parent may
elect at any time not to receive the fee and, if such election is made, may
pursue any and all rights, claims and causes of action it may have under Law
with respect to the breach giving rise to such right of termination. If Parent
elects to receive the fee, and the Company pays the fee as required by Section
6.07(b), the payment by the Company of such fee shall be Parent's and Sub's sole
remedy with respect to such breach and each of Parent and Sub shall waive, to
the fullest extent permitted by Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of
action (other than claims of, or causes of action arising from, fraud) it may
have against the Company with respect to such breach.
(d) Upon the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, or (ii) the Effective Time, all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys
fees) incurred by Parent in connection with the Offer (the "Parent Transaction
Expenses"), the Merger and the other Transactions contemplated hereby shall be
paid by the Company; provided, however, that the Company's obligation as set
forth in this Section 6.07(d) shall not apply upon any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(g) hereto; and provided, further, that in the
case of clause (i) above, the Parent Transaction Expenses shall be paid by the
Company in six (6) equal monthly installments beginning in the first month such
Parent Transaction Expenses are due. In the case of clause (i) above, such
Parent Transaction Expenses shall not exceed $2,000,000 without the prior
written approval of the Company; provided, however, that in no event shall the
aggregate amount of (x) the Termination Fee, plus (y) the Parent Transaction
Expenses, required to be paid by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.07,
exceed $2,600,000.
Section 6.08 Public Announcements. Parent and Sub, on the one hand,
and the Company, on the other hand, shall consult with each other before
issuing, and provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any
press release or other public statements with respect to the Offer, the Merger
and the other Transactions and shall not issue any such press release or make
any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required
by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing
agreement with any national securities exchange.
33
Section 6.09 Transfer Taxes. All stock transfer, real estate
transfer, documentary, stamp, recording and other similar Taxes (including
interest, penalties and additions to any such Taxes) ("Transfer Taxes") incurred
in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by the party upon whom the
primary burden for payment is placed by the applicable law. Each party shall
cooperate with the other in preparing, executing and filing any Tax Returns with
respect to such Transfer Taxes and shall use reasonable efforts to avail itself
of any available exemptions from such Transfer Taxes, and shall cooperate in
providing any information and documentation that may be necessary to obtain such
exemptions.
Section 6.10 Directors. Promptly upon the first acceptance for
payment of, and payment by Sub for, any shares of Company Common Stock pursuant
to the Offer, Sub shall be entitled to designate such number of directors on the
Company Board as will give Sub, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act, representation on the Company Board equal to at least that number
of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, which is the product of (a)
the total number of directors on the Company Board (giving effect to the
directors elected pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by (b) the percentage
that (i) such number of shares of Company Common Stock so accepted for payment
and paid for by Sub plus the number of shares of Company Common Stock otherwise
owned by Sub or any other subsidiary of Parent bears to (ii) the number of such
shares outstanding, and the Company shall, at such time, cause Sub's designees
to be so elected; provided, however, that in the event that Sub's designees are
appointed or elected to the Company Board, until the Effective Time the Company
Board shall have at least two directors who are directors on the date of this
Agreement and who are not officers of the Company (the "Independent Directors");
and provided further that, in such event, if the number of Independent Directors
shall be reduced below two for any reason whatsoever, any remaining Independent
Directors (or Independent Director, if there shall be only one remaining) shall
be entitled to designate persons to fill such vacancies who shall be deemed to
be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or, if no Independent
Directors then remain, the other directors shall designate two persons to fill
such vacancies who are not officers, stockholders or affiliates of the Company,
Parent or Sub, and such persons shall be deemed to be Independent Directors for
purposes of this Agreement. Subject to applicable Law, the Company shall take
all action requested by Parent necessary to effect any such election, including
mailing to its stockholders the Information Statement containing the information
required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated
thereunder, and the Company shall make such mailing with the mailing of the
Schedule 14D-9 (provided that Sub shall have provided to the Company on a timely
basis all information required to be included in the Information Statement with
respect to Sub's designees). In connection with the foregoing, the Company shall
promptly, at the option of Sub, either increase the size of the Company Board or
obtain the resignation of such number of its current directors as is necessary
to enable Sub's designees to be elected or appointed to the Company Board as
provided above.
Section 6.11 Rights Agreement; Consequences if Rights Triggered. The
Company Board shall take all action requested in writing by Parent in order to
render the Company Rights inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger and the other
Transactions. Except as approved in writing by Parent, the Company Board shall
not (i) amend the Company Rights Agreement, (ii) redeem the Company Rights or
(iii) take any action with respect to, or make any determination under, the
Company Rights Agreement, in each case in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub. If
any Distribution Date or Stock Acquisition Date occurs under the Company Rights
34
Agreement at any time during the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, the Company and Parent shall make such adjustment to the Offer
Price as the Company and Parent shall mutually agree so as to preserve the
economic benefits that the Company and Parent each reasonably expected on the
date of this Agreement to receive as a result of the consummation of the Offer,
the Merger and the other Transactions.
Section 6.12 Stockholder Litigation. The Company shall give Parent
the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any stockholder
litigation against the Company and its directors relating to any Transaction;
provided, however, that the Company shall not enter into any such settlement
without Parent's consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 6.13 Parent Loan to Company. Upon payment for shares of
Company Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, in order to facilitate the purchase
by the Company of CVG upon the terms and conditions set forth in the CVG
Agreement, Parent shall provide subordinated debt financing or redeemable
preferred stock financing to the Company in the amount of up to $31,000,000 (but
in no event less than $25,000,000) upon commercially reasonable terms to be
mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company; provided that Parent may reduce
the amount of such financing by the amount, if any, paid pursuant to the Top Up
Option.
Section 6.14 Indenture. Following the consummation of the Offer, the
Company shall use the proceeds from the Financing Commitments to redeem all
notes outstanding under the Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2001 and as
subsequently amended, between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust
Company, as trustee, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 7.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect The
Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject
to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. The Company shall have obtained the
Company Stockholder Approval, if required.
(b) Antitrust. In the event a filing under the HSR Act is
required, the waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the
Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired. Any
consents, approvals and filings under any other foreign antitrust Law the
absence of which would prohibit the consummation of Merger, shall have been
obtained or made.
(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order enacted,
35
entered, promulgated, enforced or issued by any Governmental Entity or other
legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or the
other Transactions shall be in effect; provided, however, that prior to
asserting this condition each of the parties shall have used all reasonable
efforts to prevent the entry of any such injunction or other order and to appeal
as promptly as possible any such injunction or other order that may be entered.
(d) Acceptance of Shares Pursuant to the Offer. Sub shall have
accepted shares of Company Common Stock for payment pursuant to the Offer;
provided, that the obligation of a party to effect the Merger shall not be
conditioned on the fulfillment of the condition set forth in this clause (d) if
the failure of Sub to accept shares of Company Common Stock for payment pursuant
to the Offer shall have constituted or resulted from a material breach of the
Offer or this Agreement by such party.
(e) Consent of Option Holders. The Company shall have obtained the
written consent of holders of Company Stock Options issued and outstanding under
the Company's Restated Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan to cancel all such
Company Stock Options as contemplated in Section 6.04(a) hereto.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any
time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of Company
Stockholder Approval:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent, Sub and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company:
(i) if the Offer is not consummated on or before December
31, 2005 (the "Outside Date"), unless the failure to consummate the Offer is the
result of a willful and material breach of this Agreement by the party seeking
to terminate this Agreement;
(ii) if any Governmental Entity issues an order, decree or
ruling or takes any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer or the Merger and such order, decree, ruling
or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; or
(iii) if as the result of the failure of any of the conditions
set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement, the Offer shall have terminated or
expired in accordance with its terms without Sub having accepted shares of
Company Common Stock for payment pursuant to the Offer; provided, however, that
the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not be
available to any party whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations under
this Agreement results in the failure of any such condition or if the failure of
such condition results from facts or circumstances that constitute a willful
breach of any representation or warranty under this Agreement by such party; or
36
(iv) if Sub fails to commence the Offer as provided in
Section 1.01(a) on or before August 2, 2005 due to the failure of the condition
set forth in paragraph (a) of Exhibit A; provided, however, that the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (iv) shall not be available to
the Company if its failure to fulfill any of its obligations under this
Agreement results in the failure of the condition described in paragraph (a) of
Exhibit A or if the failure of the condition described in paragraph (a) of
Exhibit A results from facts or circumstances that constitute a breach of any
representation or warranty under this Agreement by the Company; or
(c) by Parent, if the Company breaches or fails to perform in any
material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained
in this Agreement (other than a breach or failure to perform for which Parent
has the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(d)(ii)),
which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a
condition set forth in Exhibit A, and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured
within 20 days after the giving of written notice to the Company of such breach
(provided that Parent is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement); or
(d) by Parent prior to the first acceptance of shares of Company
Common Stock for payment pursuant to the Offer:
(i) if the Company Board or any committee thereof withdraws
or modifies in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, or publicly proposes to
withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, fails to recommend to
the Company's stockholders that they accept the Offer and give the Company
Stockholder Approval or publicly approves or recommends, or publicly proposes to
approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal; or
(ii) if the Company or any of its officers, directors,
representatives or agents willfully takes any of the actions proscribed by
Section 5.02 but for the exceptions therein allowing certain actions to be taken
pursuant to the proviso in the first sentence of Section 5.02(a); or
(e) by the Company prior to the first acceptance of shares of
Company Common Stock for payment pursuant to the Offer in accordance with
Section 8.05(b); provided, however, that the Company shall have complied with
all provisions thereof, including the notice provisions therein;
(f) by the Parent in the event the CVG Agreement is terminated by
either the Company or CVG; or
(g) by the Company prior to the first acceptance of shares of
Company Common Stock for payment pursuant to the Offer, if Parent breaches or
fails to perform in any material respect any of its representations, warranties
or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform
cannot be or has not been cured within 20 days after the giving of written
notice to Parent of such breach (provided that the Company is not then in
material breach of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this
Agreement).
37
Section 8.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of
this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.01, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect. Such termination shall
be without any liability or obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the
Company, other than Section 3.17 (Brokers; Schedule of Fees and Expenses),
Section 4.06 (Brokers), the last sentence of Section 6.02 (Access to
Information; Confidentiality), Section 6.07 (Fees and Expenses), this Section
8.02 and Article IX (General Provisions), which provisions shall survive such
termination, and except to the extent that such termination results from the
willful and material breach by a party of any representation, warranty or
covenant set forth in this Agreement.
Section 8.03 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
at any time before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval;
provided, however, that after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, there
shall be made no amendment that by Law requires further approval by the
stockholders of the Company without the further approval of such stockholders;
and provided, further, that after Sub's purchase of shares in the Offer, no such
amendment or modification shall be made that reduces the amount or changes the
form of Merger Consideration or otherwise materially and adversely affects the
rights of the Company's stockholders hereunder, without the further approval of
such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
Section 8.04 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in
the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to the proviso of
Section 8.03, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to
assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute
a waiver of such rights.
Section 8.05 Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or
Waiver.
(a) A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, an
amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.03 or an extension or waiver
pursuant to Section 8.04 shall, in order to be effective, require in the case of
Parent, Sub or the Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly
authorized designee of its Board of Directors; provided, that in the case of the
Company and in the event the Offer has been consummated and the shares of
Company Common Stock have been purchased pursuant thereto, such action shall
also require action by a majority of the Independent Directors.
(b) The Company may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.01(e) only if (i) the Company Board has received a Superior Company Proposal,
(ii) in light of such Superior Company Proposal the Company Board shall have
determined in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that it is
necessary for the Company Board to withdraw or modify its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement, the Offer or the Merger in order to act in a
manner consistent with its fiduciary duty under applicable Law, (iii) the
Company has notified Parent in writing of the determinations described in clause
(ii) above, (iv) at least three
38
business days following receipt by Parent of the notice referred to in clause
(iii) above, and taking into account any revised proposal made by Parent since
receipt of the notice referred to in clause (iii) above, such Superior Company
Proposal remains a Superior Company Proposal and the Company Board has again
made the determinations referred to in clause (ii) above, (v) the Company is in
compliance with Section 5.02, (vi) the Company has previously paid the fee due
under Section 6.07 and (vii) the Company Board concurrently approves, and the
Company concurrently enters into, a definitive agreement providing for the
implementation of such Superior Company Proposal.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 9.01 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This
Section 9.01 (including any rights arising out of any breach of such
representations and warranties) shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the
parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
Section 9.02 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given (i) seven days after mailing by certified mail, (ii) when delivered
by hand, (iii) upon confirmation of receipt by telecopy or (iv) one business day
after sending by overnight delivery service, to the parties at the following
addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
(a) if to Parent or Sub, to
Vision Holding Corp.
c/o Berkshire Partners LLC
One Boston Place, Suite 3300
Boston, MA 02108
Attention: D. Randolph Peeler
Facsimile: 617-227-6105
with a copy to:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
100 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Steven M. Peck, Esq.
Facsimile: 617-772-8333
(b) if to the Company, to
National Vision, Inc.
c/o Peter Socha
39
James River Coal Company
901 East Byrd Street
Suite 1600
Richmond, VA 23219
Facsimile: 804-780-0643
with a copy to:
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
1100 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: David A. Stockton, Esq.
Facsimile: (404)815-6555
Section 9.03 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
An "affiliate" of any person means another person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or
is under common control with, such first person.
A "key employee" means an employee of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary whose total annual compensation (including incentive compensation),
for the 2004 fiscal year, exceeded $150,000.
A "material adverse effect" on a party means a material adverse effect on
the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or results
of operations of such party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than
effects due to (A) general economic, market or political conditions or (B)
matters generally affecting the industry in which such party operates.
A "person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company,
limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, Governmental
Entity or other entity.
A "subsidiary" of any person means another person, an amount of the voting
securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is
sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or other
governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the
equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first person.
"to the knowledge" of any specified corporation means to the actual
knowledge of any director or officer of such corporation. "To the knowledge" of
the Company means the actual knowledge of the directors of the Company and each
of Reade Fahs, J. Bruce Steffey, Paul A. Criscillis, Jr., Mitchell Goodman,
Robert Stein, Robert Schnelle, Desmond Taylor, Paul Gross and Charlie Folle, in
each case after due inquiry.
Section 9.04 Interpretation; Disclosure Letters. When a reference is
made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of
this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for
40
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include", "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation". Any matter disclosed in any section of the
Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed for the purposes of any
Sections of this Agreement for which such disclosed matter would apply to the
extent the Parent is reasonably put on notice by the nature of such disclosure.
Section 9.05 Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law,
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.
Section 9.06 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
Section 9.07 Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement, taken together with the Company Disclosure Letter and the
Confidentiality Agreement, (a) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the Transactions and (b) except for the provisions of
Article II, Section 6.04 and Section 6.06, are not intended to confer upon any
person other than the parties any rights or remedies.
Section 9.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
Section 9.09 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in
whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties without
the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in
its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under
this Agreement to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations under
this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.
Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
Section 9.10 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
41
enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any Georgia
or Massachusetts state court or any Federal court located in the State of
Georgia or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this being in addition to any
other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each
of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction
of any Georgia or Massachusetts state court or any Federal court located in the
State of Georgia or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or any Transaction, (b) agrees that it will not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request
for leave from any such court, and (c) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any action related to or arising out of this Agreement or any
Transaction.
Section 9.11 Consents. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits
consent by or on behalf of any party hereto, such consent shall be given in
writing in a manner consistent with the requirements for a waiver of compliance
as set forth in Sections 8.04 and 8.05. Sub hereby agrees that any consent or
waiver of compliance given by Parent hereunder shall be conclusively binding
upon it, whether given expressly on its behalf or not.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
42
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have duly executed this
Agreement, all as of the date first written above.
Vision Holding Corp.
By: /s/ David R. Peeler
----------------------------------------
Name: David R. Peeler
Title: President
Vision Acquisition Corp.
By: /s/ David R. Peeler
----------------------------------------
Name: David R. Peeler
Title: President
National Vision, Inc.
By: /s/ Peter T. Socha
----------------------------------------
Name: Peter T. Socha
Title: Chair, Special Committee of the
Board of Directors
43
Execution Copy
EXHIBIT A
CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer or this Agreement, Sub shall
not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-l(c) under the Exchange Act (relating
to Sub's obligation to pay for or return tendered shares of Company Common Stock
promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for any
shares of Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer unless (i) there
shall have been validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of
the Offer that number of shares of Company Common Stock which, together with
that number of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, Sub and Parent's
other subsidiaries (including any shares purchased pursuant to the Top Up
Option), would represent more than sixty-seven percent (67%) of the Fully
Diluted Shares (the "Minimum Tender Condition"), (ii) any waiting period under
the HSR Act applicable to the purchase of shares of Company Common Stock
pursuant to the Offer shall have expired or been terminated, (iii) the Company
shall have closed the transactions contemplated by the CVG Agreement and
received the debt financing contemplated by the Financing Commitments, (iv) the
Company shall have received consents from the persons listed in Schedule 3.05(b)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, which consents waive any default under or
right to terminate the Contracts referred to therein that would otherwise have
resulted from the Offer, the Merger or the other Transactions, and (v) the
Company shall have obtained the written consent of holders of Company Stock
Options issued and outstanding under the Company's Restated Stock Option and
Incentive Award Plan to cancel all such Company Stock Options as contemplated in
Section 6.04(a) of this Agreement. The term "Fully Diluted Shares" means all
outstanding securities, as of 12:00 midnight on the expiration date of the
Offer, entitled generally to vote in the election of directors of the Company on
a fully diluted basis, after giving effect to the exercise or conversion of all
options, rights and securities exercisable (taking into account acceleration of
exercisability that would result from the transactions contemplated hereby) or
convertible into such voting securities. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other
term of the Offer or this Agreement, Sub shall not be required to accept for
payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for any shares of Company Common Stock
not theretofore accepted for payment or paid for, and may terminate or amend the
Offer, (A) with the consent of the Company or (B) without the consent of the
Company at any time on or after the date of this Agreement and before the first
acceptance of such shares for payment or the payment therefor when any of the
following conditions exists:
(a) there shall be threatened or pending any suit, action or
proceeding (other than by Parent or Sub, a stockholder of Parent (that is not
also a stockholder of the Company) or Sub or any person affiliated with Parent
or Sub) which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, has a reasonable likelihood
of success or would require the expenditure of funds that are material in
relation to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to defend (i)
challenging the acquisition by Parent or Sub of any Company Common Stock,
seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of the Offer or the
Merger, or seeking to obtain from the Company, Parent or Sub any damages that
are material in relation to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
(ii) seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by the Company,
Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries of any material portion of the
business or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole or Parent
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or to compel the Company, Parent or any
of their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate any material
portion of the business or assets of the
1
Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole or Parent and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole, as a result of the Offer or the Merger, (iii) seeking to prohibit or
limit the ownership or operation by the Company or CVG or any of their
respective subsidiaries of any material portion of the business or assets of CVG
and its subsidiaries taken as whole, or to compel the Company or CVG or any of
their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate any material
portion of the business or assets of CVG and its subsidiaries taken as whole, as
a result of the transactions contemplated by the CVG Agreement, (iv) seeking to
impose material limitations on the ability of Parent or Sub to acquire or hold,
or exercise full rights of ownership of, any shares of Company Common Stock,
including the right to vote the Company Common Stock acquired by it on all
matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company or (vi) seeking to
prohibit Parent or any of its subsidiaries from effectively controlling in any
material respect the business or operations of the Company, the Company
Subsidiaries or CVG;
(b) any Law or Judgment enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated,
amended or issued with respect to, or deemed applicable to, or any required
consent or approval withheld with respect to, (i) Parent, the Company, CVG or
any of their respective subsidiaries, or (ii) the Offer or the Merger, by any
Governmental Entity that is reasonably likely to result, directly or indirectly,
in any of the consequences referred to in paragraph (a) above;
(c) since the date of this Agreement there shall have occurred any
event, change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(d) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have
withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, or publicly proposed
to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, failed to recommend
to the Company's stockholders that they accept the Offer or approved or
recommended, or publicly proposed to approve or recommend, any Company Takeover
Proposal;
(e) any of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in the Agreement (as each such representation or warranty would read
if all qualifications as to materiality or knowledge were deleted therefrom)
shall not be true and correct when made or at any time prior to the consummation
of the Offer as if made at and as of such time except where the failure to be so
true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(f) the Company shall have failed to perform in any material
respect any obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement
or covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with by it under this
Agreement, which failure to perform or comply cannot be or has not been cured
within ten days after the giving of written notice to the Company of such
breach;
(g) the CVG Agreement shall have been terminated by either the
Company or CVG; or
(h) this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms;
which, in the sole and good faith judgment of Sub or Parent, in any
such case, and regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition
(including any action or inaction by Parent or any of its affiliates), makes it
inadvisable to proceed with such acceptance for payment or payment.
The foregoing conditions, including those contained in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii), (iv) and (v) of the first paragraph of this Exhibit A, are for the sole
benefit of Sub and Parent and, subject to Section 1.01(a), may be asserted by
Sub or Parent regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such condition or
may be waived by Sub and Parent in whole or in part at any time and from time to
time in their sole discretion (subject to the terms of this Agreement). The
failure by Parent, Sub or any other affiliate of Parent at any time to exercise
any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, the
waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and circumstances
shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances
and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any
time and from time to time.
exv99wxdyx2y
Exhibit (d)(2)
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CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT |
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February 23, 2005 |
Ms. Jeanine Neumann
Director Client Services
Berkshire Partners, L.L.C.
One Boston Place
Suite 3300
Boston, MA 02108
Dear Ms. Neumann:
TM Capital Corp. (TM Capital) has been retained by National Vision, Inc. (the Company) as
its exclusive financial advisor in connection with the Companys evaluation of strategic
alternatives. You are being provided information concerning the Company exclusively in connection
with your investigation thereof. Restrictions concerning the use of such information shall be
applicable to you and to all of your affiliates.
TM Capital, as agent of the Company, is furnishing to you certain information (together with
any notes, analyses and other information related thereto or based thereon, referred to herein as
the Evaluation Material) concerning the Company, and may furnish additional Evaluation Material
in the future, which is strictly confidential. You agree that any Evaluation Material furnished to
you by officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives of the Company or TM Capital will
be kept strictly confidential. In no event shall you use such Evaluation Material for any purpose
except in connection with your investigation of the Company; provided, however, that you may
disclose the Evaluation Material only to your officers, directors, employees, legal counsel,
accountants or financial advisors (collectively, Representatives) who need to know such
information for the purpose of assisting you in reviewing the Company, all of whom shall be
informed by you of this Confidentiality Agreement and shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof.
You agree not to make such Evaluation Material available to any other person or group for any
other purpose whatsoever. You further agree that without the prior written consent of the Company,
you will not disclose to any third party the fact that you have received confidential Evaluation
Material on the Company, or that discussions or negotiations are taking place or have taken place,
or the status thereof.
The foregoing restrictions with respect to Evaluation Material furnished to you shall not
apply to any Evaluation Material which you demonstrate (i) is or becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of disclosure by you or your Representatives, (ii) is or becomes
available to you on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure to you by the Company or its
representatives, (iii) is or becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source
other than the Company or its representatives, which source was itself not prohibited from
disclosing such information by a contractual or other
July 26, 2005
Page 2
obligation to the Company or, (iv) is required to be disclosed by law (in which case you shall
advise and consult with the Company and its counsel prior to any proposed disclosure).
You acknowledge that neither the Company, nor TM Capital, nor any of their representatives,
makes any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any
Evaluation Material, and you agree that no such person will have any liability to you on any basis
resulting from your use of the Evaluation Material.
You agree not to initiate or maintain contact with any officer, director, employee or agent of
the Company with respect to the matters discussed herein, except with the express permission of the
Company or TM Capital. You further agree that, for a period of two years from the date hereof, you
will not employ, directly or indirectly solicit to employ or use any of the Evaluation Material to
solicit to employ any current employee of the Company without obtaining the prior written consent
of the Company; provided, however, that any solicitation directed to the general public in
publications or other media generally available to the public shall not be a violation of this
paragraph.
As a further condition to the furnishing of the Evaluation Material, for a period of two years
from the date hereof, unless specifically requested in writing in advance by the Company, you agree
that you will not, and that you will not assist or encourage others (including by providing
financing) to, directly or indirectly, (i) acquire or agree, offer, seek or propose (whether
publicly or otherwise) to acquire ownership of the Company or any of its securities, indebtedness
or assets, (ii) engage in any solicitation of proxies (as such terms are used in the proxy
rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act)), or form, join or in
any way participate in a group (as defined under the 1934 Act), with respect to any of the
Companys securities, or otherwise seek or propose to influence or control the Board of Directors,
management or policies of the Company, (iii) take any action which could reasonably be expected to
place the Company under a legal obligation to make a public announcement regarding a possible
transaction within the scope of the foregoing clauses, or (iv) enter into any discussions,
negotiations, agreement, arrangement or understandings with any third party with respect to any of
the foregoing. You represent and warrant to the Company that on the date hereof you own no common
stock or indebtedness of the Company. The preceding restrictions shall be applicable to you and to
all of your affiliates.
You and the Company acknowledge and agree that unless and until a final written definitive
agreement concerning a transaction has been executed, neither the Company nor you nor any of your
respective agents or Representatives will have any liability to the other with respect to a
transaction, whether by virtue of this letter agreement, any other written or oral expression with
respect to a transaction or otherwise. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company reserves
the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any and all proposals made by you or any of your
Representatives with regard to a transaction between the Company and you, and to terminate
discussions and negotiations with you at any time. You further understand that (i) the Company and
its representatives shall be free to conduct any process for a transaction involving the Company,
if and as they in their sole discretion shall determine (including, without limitation, negotiating
with any other interested parties and entering into a definitive agreement without prior notice to
you or any other person), and (ii) any procedures relating to such process or a transaction may be
changed at any time without notice to you or any other person.
You agree upon the request of either the Company or TM Capital to return to TM Capital all
Evaluation Material furnished to you without retaining any copies thereof or extracts therefrom.
The terms of this Confidentiality Agreement will survive the return of such Evaluation Material.
You acknowledge that a breach by you or any of your affiliates of any of the provisions of
this letter would cause irreparable harm to the Company for which it could not be adequately
compensated
July 26, 2005
Page 3
with money damages. Accordingly, in the event of any such breach, you agree that the Company shall
be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief and specific performance of the provisions
hereof without the necessity of proving actual damage or posting a bond or other security, which
shall be in addition to any and all other legal and equitable remedies available.
This agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but both of which shall constitute the same agreement. This agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to principles
of conflicts of laws. This agreement shall terminate two years from the date hereof.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement, please so indicate by executing this
agreement in the space provided below and return one copy of this letter to TM Capital.
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Very truly yours, |
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NATIONAL VISION, INC. By TM Capital Corp. for the benefit of NATIONAL VISION, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ Jerome S. Romano |
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Jerome S. Romano |
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Principal |
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Accepted and agreed to as of the date written below: |
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/s/ Berkshire Partners LLC |
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By: |
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Jeanine
Neumann |
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Date: |
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February 23, 2005 |
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