defa14a
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. _ )
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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o
Preliminary Proxy Statement
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o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as |
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permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
o Definitive Proxy Statement |
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o Definitive Additional Materials |
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þ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
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Allied
Capital Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
was determined): |
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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(5) Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
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(1) Amount previously paid: |
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(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.: |
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(3) Filing party: |
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(4) Date filed: |
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On October 26, 2009, Allied Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (Allied Capital),
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with Ares Capital
Corporation, a Maryland corporation (Ares Capital), and ARCC Odyssey Corp., a Maryland
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Ares Capital (Merger Sub). The Merger Agreement
provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement,
Merger Sub will merge with and into Allied Capital, with Allied Capital as the surviving company
(the Merger). Immediately following the Merger, Allied Capital will merge with and into Ares
Capital.
Upon consummation of the Merger, each share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of
Allied Capital issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be
converted into and become exchangeable for 0.325 common shares, par value $0.001 per share, of Ares
Capital. Based on the number of shares of Allied common stock outstanding on the date of the
Merger Agreement and not including the effect of outstanding in-the-money options, this will result
in approximately 58.3 million Ares Capital shares being exchanged for approximately 179.4 million
outstanding Allied Capital shares, subject to adjustment in certain limited circumstances.
Following consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Ares
Capitals Board of Directors will continue as directors of Ares Capital. However, Ares Capitals
Board of Directors will be increased by at least one member and Ares Capital will submit the name
of one member of Allied Capitals current Board of Directors for consideration to Ares Capitals
Nominating and Governance Committee to fill the vacancy.
The Merger Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and
incorporated herein by reference, contains (a) customary representations and warranties of Allied
Capital and Ares Capital, including, among others: corporate organization, capitalization,
corporate authority and absence of conflicts, third party and governmental consents and approvals,
reports and regulatory matters, financial statements, compliance with law and legal proceedings,
absence of certain changes, taxes, employee matters, intellectual property, insurance, investment
assets and certain contracts, (b) covenants of Allied Capital and Ares Capital to conduct their
respective businesses in the ordinary course until the Merger is completed and (c) covenants of
Allied Capital and Ares Capital not to take certain actions during this interim period.
Among other things, Allied Capital has agreed to, and will cause its affiliates, consolidated
subsidiaries, and its and each of their respective officers, directors, managers, employees and
other advisors, representatives and agents to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated all
discussions and negotiations with respect to a Takeover Proposal (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) from a third party and not to directly or indirectly solicit or take any other action
(including providing information) with the intent to solicit any inquiry, proposal or offer with
respect to a Takeover Proposal.
However, if Allied Capital receives a bona fide unsolicited Takeover Proposal from a third
party, and its Board of Directors determines in good faith, after consultation with reputable
outside legal counsel and financial advisers experienced in such matters, that failure to consider
such proposal would breach the duties of the directors under applicable law, and the Takeover
Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal (as defined in the
Merger Agreement), Allied Capital may engage in discussions and negotiations with such third party
so long as certain notice and other procedural requirements are satisfied. In addition, subject to
certain procedural requirements (including the ability of Ares Capital to revise its offer) and the
payment of a $30 million termination fee, Allied Capital may terminate the Merger Agreement and
enter into an agreement with a third party who makes a Superior Proposal.
The representations and warranties of each party set forth in the Merger Agreement (a) have
been qualified by confidential disclosures made to the other party in connection with the Merger
Agreement, (b) will not survive consummation of the Merger and cannot be the basis for any claims
under the Merger Agreement by the other party after the Merger is consummated, (c) are qualified in
certain circumstances by a materiality standard which may differ from what may be viewed as
material by investors, (d) were made only as of the date of the Merger Agreement or such other date
as is specified in the Merger Agreement, and (e) may have been included in the Merger Agreement for
the purpose of allocating risk between Allied Capital and Ares Capital rather than establishing
matters as facts.
Accordingly, the Merger Agreement is included with this filing only to provide investors with
information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement, and not to provide investors with any
factual information regarding the parties or their respective businesses. The Merger Agreement
should not be read alone, but should instead be read in conjunction with the other information
regarding the parties and the Merger that will be contained in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus that the parties will be filing in connection with the Merger as well as
in the Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings that each of Allied Capital and Ares Capital make
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Consummation of the Merger, which is currently anticipated to occur by the end of the first
quarter of 2010, is subject to certain conditions, including, among others, Allied Capital
stockholder approval, Ares Capital stockholder approval, required regulatory approvals (including
expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act), receipt of certain Ares Capital
and Allied Capital lender consents and other customary closing conditions.
The Merger Agreement also contains certain termination rights for Allied Capital and Ares
Capital and provides that, in connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement under
specified circumstances, Allied Capital may be required to pay Ares Capital a termination fee of
$30 million ($15 million if Allied Capital stockholders do not approve the Merger) and Ares Capital
may be required to pay Allied Capital a termination fee of $30 million.
The foregoing description of the Merger and the Merger Agreement does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is attached
hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated into this current report on Form 8-K by reference. The
exhibits and schedules to the Merger Agreement have been omitted from the attached Exhibit 2.1.
Upon request, Allied Capital shall furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit
to the SEC.
In a separate transaction on October 26, 2009, Ares Capital reached an agreement to acquire
Allied Capitals interests in its Senior Secured Loan Fund LLC (the SL Fund, formerly known as
the Unitranche Fund) for $165 million in cash. The SL Fund currently holds unitranche loans
totaling approximately $900 million. The SL Fund acquisition is expected to close by the end of
October and is subject to completion of final documentation and satisfaction of closing conditions.
On October 26, 2009, Allied Capital and Ares Capital issued a joint press release announcing
the entry into the Merger Agreement and that they reached an agreement for Ares Capital to acquire
Allied Capitals interests in the SL Fund. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit
99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference hereto.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC
This communication is being made in respect of the proposed business combination involving
Ares Capital and Allied Capital. In connection with the proposed transaction, Ares Capital plans
to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form N-14 that includes proxy statements of Ares
Capital and Allied Capital and that also constitutes a prospectus of Ares Capital. The definitive
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Ares Capital and Allied Capital,
respectively. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ARES CAPITAL AND ALLIED CAPITAL ARE URGED TO READ
THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR
ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration
Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the
SEC by each of Ares Capital and Allied Capital through the web site maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov. Free copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when
available) and other documents filed with the SEC can also be obtained on Ares Capitals website at
www.arescapitalcorp.com and on Allied Capitals website at www.alliedcapital.com.
PROXY SOLICITATION
Ares Capital, Allied Capital and their respective directors, executive officers and certain
other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Ares Capital and Allied
Capital stockholders in favor of the acquisition. Information regarding the persons who may, under
the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the Ares Capital and Allied
Capital stockholders in connection with the proposed acquisition will be set forth in the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Ares
Capitals executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on
March 9, 2009. You
can find information about Allied Capitals executive officers and directors in its definitive
proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 1, 2009. You can obtain free copies of these documents
from Ares Capital and Allied Capital in the manner set forth above.
Forward-Looking Statements
Information
set forth herein contains forward-looking statements,
which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Allied Capital and Ares Capital caution readers
that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual
results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the
business combination transaction involving Allied Capital and Ares Capital, including, among
others, future financial and operating results, Ares Capitals plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements: the failure of Allied Capital stockholders and Ares Capital
stockholders to approve the transaction; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated
successfully; and disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain
relationships with Allied Capitals and Ares Capitals private equity sponsors. Additional
factors that may affect future results are contained in Allied Capitals and Ares Capitals filings
with the SEC, which are available at the SECs web site http://www.sec.gov. Allied Capital and
Ares Capital disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in these materials
based on new information or otherwise.
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
ARCC ODYSSEY CORP.
and
ALLIED CAPITAL CORPORATION
Dated as of October 26, 2009
Table of Contents
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ARTICLE I THE MERGER |
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1 |
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1.1 The Merger |
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1.2 Closing |
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1.3 Effective Time |
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1.4 Effects of the Merger |
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1.5 Conversion of Capital Stock |
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1.6 Stock Options |
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1.7 Charter and Bylaws of the Surviving Company |
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4 |
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1.8 Directors and Officers |
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1.9 Effect on the Parent Common Stock |
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5 |
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ARTICLE II DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION |
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5 |
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2.1 Exchange Agent |
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2.2 Deposit of Merger Consideration |
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2.3 Delivery of Merger Consideration |
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5 |
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY |
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8 |
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3.1 Corporate Organization |
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8 |
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3.2 Capitalization |
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3.3 Authority; No Violation |
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3.4 Governmental Consents |
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12 |
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3.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters |
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3.6 Company Financial Statements |
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13 |
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3.7 Brokers Fees |
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16 |
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3.8 Absence of Changes or Events |
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3.9 Compliance with Applicable Law |
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3.10 State Takeover Laws |
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3.11 Opinion |
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3.12 Company Information |
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3.13 Taxes and Tax Returns |
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3.14 Litigation |
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3.15 Employee Matters |
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3.16 Certain Contracts |
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3.17 Insurance Coverage |
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3.18 Investment Assets |
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28 |
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3.19 [Reserved] |
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3.20 Intellectual Property |
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28 |
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3.21 Environmental Matters |
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3.22 Real Property |
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29 |
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3.23 Appraisal Rights |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
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3.24 Representations Regarding Ciena |
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3.25 Representations Regarding Callidus |
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30 |
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT |
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31 |
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4.1 Corporate Organization |
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4.2 Capitalization |
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4.3 Authority; No Violation |
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33 |
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4.4 Governmental Consents |
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34 |
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4.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters |
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4.6 Parent Financial Statements |
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36 |
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4.7 Brokers Fees |
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38 |
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4.8 Absence of Changes or Events |
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4.9 Compliance with Applicable Law |
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4.10 Opinion |
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4.11 Parent Information |
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4.12 Taxes and Tax Returns |
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4.13 Litigation |
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4.14 Employee Matters |
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4.15 Certain Contracts |
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4.16 Insurance Coverage |
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46 |
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4.17 Investment Assets |
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46 |
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4.18 [Reserved] |
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47 |
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4.19 Intellectual Property |
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4.20 Environmental Matters |
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4.21 Real Property |
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4.22 Investment Adviser and Administrator |
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47 |
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ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS |
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48 |
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5.1 Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time |
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5.2 Company Forbearances |
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5.3 [Reserved] |
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5.4 Parent Forbearances |
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ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
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6.1 Further Assurances |
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6.2 Regulatory Matters |
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6.3 Stockholder Approval |
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6.4 NASDAQ Listing |
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6.5 Employee Matters |
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6.6 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance |
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6.7 No Solicitation |
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6.8 Parent Recommendations |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
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6.9 Access to Information |
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6.10 Takeover Statutes and Provisions |
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6.11 Tax Matters |
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6.12 Merger of Surviving Company |
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6.13 Stakeholder Litigation |
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6.14 Resignations |
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6.15 Section 16 Matters |
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6.16 Managed Funds Approvals |
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69 |
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ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
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69 |
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7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation To Effect the Merger |
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7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent |
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7.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company |
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71 |
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT |
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8.1 Termination |
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8.2 Termination Fee |
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8.3 Effect of Termination |
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8.4 Fees and Expenses |
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8.5 Amendment |
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8.6 Extension; Waiver |
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ARTICLE IX CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
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ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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87 |
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10.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements |
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10.2 Notices |
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10.3 Interpretation |
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10.4 Counterparts |
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10.5 Entire Agreement |
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10.6 Governing Law; Jurisdiction |
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10.7 Publicity |
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10.8 Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries |
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10.9 No Specific Performance |
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10.10 Disclosure Schedule |
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90 |
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10.11 Conforming Amendment |
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90 |
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Index of Defined Terms
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Section |
Administration Agreement |
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9 |
Administrator |
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4.22(a) |
Affiliate |
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9 |
Agreement |
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Preamble |
Articles of Merger |
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1.3 |
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception |
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3.3(a) |
Bankruptcy Code |
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Bankruptcy Event |
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Bankruptcy Laws |
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9 |
BDC |
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9 |
Business Day |
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9 |
Business Employees |
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6.5(b) |
Callidus |
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9 |
Certificate |
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1.5(d) |
Ciena |
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9 |
Closing |
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1.2 |
Closing Date |
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1.2 |
COBRA |
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9 |
Code |
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9 |
Company |
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Preamble |
Company Adverse Recommendation Change |
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6.7(c) |
Company Articles |
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9 |
Company Benefit Plans |
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3.15(a) |
Company Bylaws |
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9 |
Company Capitalization Date |
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3.2(a) |
Company Common Stock |
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1.5(b) |
Company Credit Agreement |
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9 |
Company D&O Policies |
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6.6(b) |
Company Disclosure Schedule |
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10.10 |
Company Exemptive Order |
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9 |
Company Insurance Policy |
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3.17(a) |
Company Intellectual Property Rights |
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3.20 |
Company Interim Financials |
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9 |
Company Managed Funds |
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9 |
Company Material Contract |
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3.16(a) |
Company Matters |
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9 |
Company Outstanding Debt |
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9 |
Company Private Note Agreement |
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9 |
Company Private Notes |
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9 |
Company Property |
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3.22(a) |
Company Public Notes |
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9 |
Company Quarterly Report |
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9 |
Company Recommendation |
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6.7(c) |
Company REIT |
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9 |
Index of Defined Terms
(continued)
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Section |
Company Requisite Regulatory Approvals |
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3.4 |
Company Right |
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9 |
Company SEC Reports |
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3.5(b) |
Company Stock Option |
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1.6(a) |
Company Stock Option Plan |
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9 |
Company Stockholders Meeting |
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6.3(a) |
Confidentiality Agreement |
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9 |
Conforming Amendment |
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10.11 |
Consolidated Subsidiary |
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9 |
Contract |
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9 |
Current Premium |
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6.6(b) |
Disclosure Schedule |
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10.10 |
DOJ |
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6.1(a) |
EDGAR |
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9 |
Effective Time |
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1.3 |
Employees |
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9 |
Environmental Laws |
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9 |
ERISA |
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9 |
ERISA Affiliate |
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3.15(d) |
ERISA Plan |
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3.15(d) |
Exchange Act |
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9 |
Exchange Agent |
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2.1 |
Exchange Agent Agreement |
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2.1 |
Exchange Fund |
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2.2 |
Exchange Ratio |
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9 |
Financing Consents |
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9 |
FIRPTA Certificate |
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7.2(e) |
FTC |
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6.1(a) |
GAAP |
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9 |
Governmental Entity |
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9 |
HSR Act |
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9 |
Indemnified Liabilities |
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6.6(a) |
Indemnified Parties |
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6.6(a) |
Initial Shares |
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9 |
Intellectual Property Rights |
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3.20 |
Investment Adviser |
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4.22(a) |
Investment Advisers Act |
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9 |
Investment Advisory Agreement |
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9 |
Investment Company Act |
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9 |
IRS |
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9 |
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus |
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3.4 |
knowledge |
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9 |
Law |
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9 |
Lease |
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9 |
2
Index of Defined Terms
(continued)
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Section |
Leased Real Property |
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3.22(b) |
Letter of Transmittal |
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2.3(a) |
liabilities |
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9 |
Liens |
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9 |
Managed Fund |
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9 |
Material Adverse Effect |
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9 |
Merger |
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Recitals |
Mergers |
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Recitals |
Merger Consideration |
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1.5(c) |
Merger Sub |
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Preamble |
Merger Sub Common Stock |
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1.5(a) |
MGCL |
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9 |
Multiemployer Plan |
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3.15(d) |
NASDAQ |
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9 |
NYSE |
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9 |
Notice of a Superior Proposal |
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6.7(d) |
Order |
|
9 |
Organizational Documents |
|
9 |
Owned Real Property |
|
3.22(b) |
Parent |
|
Preamble |
Parent Adverse Recommendation Change |
|
6.8(a) |
Parent Articles |
|
9 |
Parent Average Closing Price |
|
1.6(c) |
Parent Benefit Plans |
|
4.14 |
Parent Bylaws |
|
9 |
Parent Capitalization Date |
|
4.2(a) |
Parent Common Stock |
|
9 |
Parent Disclosure Schedule |
|
10.10 |
Parent Insurance Policy |
|
4.16 |
Parent Intellectual Property Rights |
|
4.19 |
Parent Interim Financials |
|
9 |
Parent Managed Fund Contracts |
|
9 |
Parent Managed Funds |
|
9 |
Parent Material Contracts |
|
4.15(a) |
Parent Matters |
|
9 |
Parent Quarterly Report |
|
9 |
Parent Recommendation |
|
6.8(a) |
Parent Requisite Regulatory Approvals |
|
4.4 |
Parent SEC Reports |
|
4.5(b) |
Parent Stockholders Meeting |
|
6.3(b) |
party |
|
9 |
PBGC |
|
9 |
Permit |
|
9 |
Person |
|
9 |
3
Index of Defined Terms
(continued)
|
|
|
|
|
Section |
Previously Disclosed |
|
9 |
Prior Quarter |
|
6.11(b) |
Proceeding |
|
9 |
Property Agreements |
|
9 |
REA |
|
9 |
Real Property |
|
3.22(b) |
Reference Price |
|
9 |
Registration Statement |
|
3.4 |
Registration Statement Tax Opinion |
|
9 |
Regulatory Approvals |
|
9 |
REIT |
|
3.13(c) |
Representatives |
|
6.7(a) |
Reverse Termination Fee |
|
8.2(a) |
RIC |
|
3.13(b) |
Rights |
|
3.2(a) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Act |
|
9 |
SEC |
|
9 |
Securities Act |
|
9 |
Schedule of Investments |
|
5.3 |
SDAT |
|
1.3 |
Second Merger |
|
Recitals |
Special Termination Event |
|
9 |
Special Termination Fee |
|
8.2(a)(ii) |
Superior Proposal |
|
9 |
Surviving Company |
|
Recitals |
Takeover Approval |
|
6.7(c)(ii) |
Takeover Proposal |
|
9 |
Takeover Statutes |
|
3.10 |
Tax |
|
9 |
Tax Dividend |
|
9 |
Tax Return |
|
9 |
Termination Date |
|
8.1(b)(i) |
Termination Fee |
|
8.2(a)(i) |
Transactions |
|
9 |
Voting Debt |
|
3.2(a) |
WARN |
|
3.15(k) |
WARN Notice |
|
6.5(g) |
4
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 26, 2009 (this Agreement), among
Allied Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the Company), Ares Capital
Corporation, a Maryland corporation (Parent), and ARCC Odyssey Corp., a Maryland
corporation and wholly owned direct Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub).
RECITALS
A. The Boards of Directors of the Company and Parent have determined that it is advisable and
in the best interests of their respective companies and their respective stockholders to consummate
the strategic business combination transaction provided for in this Agreement in which Merger Sub
shall, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, merge with and into
the Company (the Merger), with the Company as the surviving company in the Merger
(sometimes referred to in such capacity as the Surviving Company). Immediately after the
Merger, the Surviving Company shall merge with and into Parent (the Second Merger, and
together with the Merger, the Mergers).
B. The parties intend the Mergers together to be treated as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and intend for this Agreement to constitute a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of the Code.
C. The parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and other
agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and other
agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in accordance
with the MGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company. The
Company shall be the surviving company in the Merger and shall continue its existence as a
corporation under the Laws of the State of Maryland, subject to Section 6.12. As of the Effective
Time, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease.
1.2 Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement,
the closing of the Merger (the Closing) shall take place at 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, at the offices of Proskauer Rose LLP, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036-8299, on the
date that is three Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of the latest to occur of the
conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions), unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the parties to this Agreement (the Closing Date).
1.3 Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles
of merger (the Articles of Merger) that shall be filed with and accepted for record by
the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the SDAT) on the Closing
Date. The term Effective Time shall be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective as
set forth in the Articles of Merger.
1.4 Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have
the effects set forth in the MGCL.
1.5 Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub or the holder of any of the
following securities:
(a) Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub (the
Merger Sub Common Stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Surviving Company.
(b) All shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the Company Common Stock) that
are owned by Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) shall be
cancelled and shall cease to exist and no shares of the Parent Common Stock or any other
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Subject to Section 1.5(e), each share of the Company Common Stock, except
for shares of the Company Common Stock owned by Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub), shall be converted, in accordance with the procedures
set forth in Article II, into the right to receive a number of shares of the Parent
Common Stock as determined by the Exchange Ratio (the Merger Consideration).
(d) All of the shares of the Company Common Stock converted into the right to receive
the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article I shall no longer be outstanding
and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and
each certificate previously representing any such shares of the Company Common Stock (each, a
Certificate) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Merger
Consideration, cash in lieu of fractional shares into which the shares of the Company Common
Stock represented by such Certificate have been converted pursuant to Section 2.3(f)
and any dividends or other distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.3(c).
(e) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, if the outstanding
shares of the Parent Common Stock shall have themselves been increased, decreased, changed
into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities as a result of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, combination
or exchange of shares, or if a stock dividend (other than as a result of shares delivered
pursuant to Parents dividend reinvestment plan) or dividend payable in any
2
other securities shall be declared with a record date within such period, or if any
other similar event shall have occurred, the Merger Consideration, the Exchange Ratio and the
Reference Price shall be appropriately adjusted to provide to the holders of the Company
Common Stock and the Company Stock Options the same economic effect as contemplated by this
Agreement prior to such event.
1.6 Stock Options.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Companys Board of Directors shall adopt such
resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary and sufficient to cause all
outstanding unvested and unexercisable options to purchase shares of the Company Common Stock
issued pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan (each outstanding option to purchase shares
of the Company Common Stock issued pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plan, whether or not
vested and exercisable, a Company Stock Option) to be fully vested and exercisable.
In addition, at least three Business Days prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall
provide the Company Stock Option holders the opportunity to provide the Company with a notice
to exercise some or all of the outstanding Company Stock Options held by them, such exercise
to be effective as of the Effective Time; provided that the resolutions and actions of the
Companys Board of Directors to cause all unvested and unexercisable Company Stock Options to
be fully vested and exercisable as of the Effective Time, and the exercise of such Company
Stock Options by the holders thereof, shall be contingent on the Effective Time occurring.
The Company Common Stock acquired upon such exercise shall be converted at the Effective Time
into the right to receive the Merger Consideration and Parent shall take, or cause to be
taken, all actions reasonably necessary to issue, as soon as reasonably practicable (but in
no event later than five Business Days) after the Effective Time, shares of the Parent Common
Stock in respect thereof to the holders of the Company Stock Options exercised, in accordance
with their terms, pursuant to this Section 1.6(a).
(b) At the Effective Time, each Company Stock Option, whether previously vested or
unvested, that has not been exercised (whether pursuant to Section 1.6(a) or otherwise) and
that has an exercise price per share:
(i) equal to or greater than the product of (a) the Parent Average Closing Price and (b)
the Exchange Ratio, shall be cancelled without any payment therefor and
(ii) less than the product of (a) the Parent Average Closing Price and (b)
the Exchange Ratio, shall be cancelled and shall only entitle the holder thereof
to receive, at the election of the holder, either
(A) a lump sum cash amount, as soon as reasonably practicable (but in no event later
than ten Business Days) after the Effective Time, equal to the product of (u) x (w), where
(u) is the excess of the Parent Average Closing Price multiplied by the Exchange Ratio over
the exercise price per share under such Company Stock Option and (w) is the total number of
shares of the Company Common Stock subject to the Company Stock Option for which this
election is made, less applicable withholdings, or
3
(B) a number of shares of the Parent Common Stock equal to (i) the product of (x) the
total number of shares of the Company Common Stock subject to the Company Stock Option for
which this election is made times (y) the excess of (1) the Parent Average Closing Price
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio over (2) the exercise price per share under such Company
Stock Option, less applicable withholdings, divided by (ii) the Parent Average Closing Price;
provided, that each holder of Company Stock Options who would otherwise have been
entitled to receive a fraction of a share of the Parent Common Stock (with all calculations
rounded to three decimal places) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest) in
an amount equal to the product of (i) such fractional part of a share of the Parent Common
Stock multiplied by (ii) the Parent Average Closing Price.
At least three Business Days prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall provide the
Company Stock Option holders the opportunity to make the election provided by this
Section 1.6(b) with respect to some or all of the outstanding Company Stock Options
held by them, such election to be effective as of the Effective Time; provided that
the resolutions and actions of the Companys Board of Directors authorizing the election
provided by this Section 1.6(b) and a holders election pursuant to this Section
1.6(b) shall be contingent on the Effective Time occurring; provided,
further, that if any Company Stock Option holder fails to make an election pursuant
to this Section 1.6(b), such holder shall be deemed to have made an election to
receive shares of the Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Section 1.6(b)(ii)(B).
Parent shall take, or cause to be taken, all actions reasonably necessary to issue to the
holders of the Company Stock Options who have made an election to receive shares of the
Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Section 1.6(b)(ii)(B), shares of the Parent
Common Stock to the extent of such holders election as soon as reasonably practicable (but
in no event later than five Business Days) after the Effective Time.
(c) For purposes of this Section 1.6, Parent Average Closing Price
means the average closing price per share of the Parent Common Stock on NASDAQ (as reported
by Bloomberg L.P. or, if not reported thereby, by another authoritative source mutually
agreed by the parties) for the five consecutive trading days immediately preceding the
Closing Date.
(d) Prior to the Closing Date, the Companys Board of Directors shall adopt such
resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary and sufficient to effectuate the
provisions of this Section 1.6(d) and to cause the Company Stock Option Plan to be
terminated as of the Effective Time.
1.7 Charter and Bylaws of the Surviving Company. The charter of Merger Sub, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Charter of the Surviving Company as of
the Effective Time. The bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Company until thereafter amended in accordance with
applicable Law and the terms of such bylaws.
1.8 Directors and Officers. Subject to applicable Law, the directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Company
4
and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify, or their
earlier death, resignation or removal. The officers of Parent immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Company and shall hold office until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualify, or their earlier death, resignation or removal.
At the Effective Time, Parents Board of Directors shall be increased by at least one member and
Parent shall submit the name of one member of the Companys Board of Directors for consideration to
Parents Nominating and Governance Committee to fill the vacancy.
1.9 Effect on the Parent Common Stock. Each share of the Parent Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding.
ARTICLE II
DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION
2.1 Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall appoint Parents
transfer agent to act as exchange agent (the Exchange Agent) hereunder, pursuant to an agreement
(the Exchange Agent Agreement), the form of which shall be subject to the Companys prior
approval (such prior approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
2.2 Deposit of Merger Consideration. At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
deposit with the Exchange Agent, in trust for the benefit of holders of shares of the Company
Common Stock, (a) certificates representing the Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to
Section 1.5(c) (or otherwise shall make shares of the Parent Common Stock available for
such issuance) minus the aggregate number of shares of the Parent Common Stock that is represented
by the fractional shares for which the Exchange Agent shall pay an amount in cash to the holders
thereof and (b) cash sufficient to pay the cash for fractional shares in accordance with
Section 2.3(f) and any dividends or other distributions pursuant to Section 2.3(c).
Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent, from time to time as needed, additional cash
sufficient to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.3(f) and any
dividends and other distributions pursuant to Section 2.3(c). Any cash and certificates of
the Parent Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent (or shares of the Parent Common Stock
otherwise made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Section 2.2) shall
hereinafter be referred to as the Exchange Fund.
2.3 Delivery of Merger Consideration.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, but in any event within
five Business Days, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record of Certificate(s)
that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of the Company
Common Stock that were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant
to Section 1.5(c) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Parent Common
Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor and any dividends and other
distributions pursuant to Section 2.3(c), (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to Certificate(s) shall
pass, only upon delivery of Certificate(s) (or affidavits of loss in lieu of
5
such Certificates)) to the Exchange Agent and shall be substantially in such form and
have such other provisions as shall be prescribed by Parent and the Exchange Agent Agreement
(the Letter of Transmittal) and (ii) instructions for use in surrendering
Certificate(s) in exchange for the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional
shares of the Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor and any
dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section
2.3(c).
(b) Subject to Section 2.3(f), upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of its
Certificate or Certificates, accompanied by a properly completed Letter of Transmittal, a
holder of the Company Common Stock shall be entitled to receive promptly after the Effective
Time the Merger Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Parent Common
Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor in respect of the shares of the Company
Common Stock represented by its Certificate or Certificates and any dividends or other
distributions to which such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 2.3(c). The
Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose other than the purposes provided for in
the immediately preceding sentence. Until so surrendered, each such Certificate shall
represent after the Effective Time, for all purposes, only the right to receive, without
interest, the Merger Consideration and, subject to Section 2.3(f), any cash in lieu
of fractional shares of the Parent Common Stock to be issued or paid in consideration
therefor upon surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Article II, and
any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to this
Article II.
(c) No dividends or other distributions with respect to the Parent Common Stock shall
be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of the
Parent Common Stock represented thereby, in each case unless and until the surrender of such
Certificate in accordance with this Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate in
accordance with this Article II, the record holder thereof shall be entitled to
receive, without interest, (i) the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record
date after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to the whole shares of the
Parent Common Stock represented by such Certificate and not paid and/or (ii) at the
appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions payable with respect
to shares of the Parent Common Stock represented by such Certificate with a record date after
the Effective Time (but before such surrender date) and with a payment date subsequent to the
issuance of the Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to such Certificate.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of a transfer of
ownership of a Certificate representing the Company Common Stock that is not registered in
the stock transfer records of the Company, the shares of the Parent Common Stock and cash in
lieu of fractional shares of the Parent Common Stock comprising the Merger Consideration, and
any dividends or other distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.3(c), shall be
issued or paid in exchange therefor to a Person other than the Person in whose name the
Certificate so surrendered is registered if the Certificate formerly representing such
Company Common Stock shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer.
To the extent Parent reasonably determines that
6
any transfer or other similar Taxes required by reason of the payment or issuance to a
Person other than the registered holder of the Certificate are required to be paid, the
Person requesting such payment or issuance shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of
Parent that the Tax has been paid by such Person or is not applicable.
(e) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books
of the Company of the shares of the Company Common Stock that were issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time other than to settle transfers of the Company Common
Stock that occurred prior to the Effective Time. Subject to Section 2.3(d), if,
after the Effective Time, Certificates representing such shares are presented for transfer to
the Exchange Agent, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration and,
subject to Section 2.3(f), any cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Parent Common
Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Article II, and any dividends or other distributions to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to this Article II.
(f) No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of the Parent Common Stock
shall be issued upon the conversion of the Company Common Stock pursuant to Section
1.5(c), and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote
or to any rights of a holder of the Parent Common Stock. Each holder of shares of the
Company Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled
to receive a fraction of a share of the Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all
Certificates delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without
interest) in an amount equal to the product of (i) such fractional part of a share of the
Parent Common Stock multiplied by (ii) the Reference Price. For purposes of this Section
2.3(f), all fractional shares to which a single record holder would be entitled shall be
aggregated and calculations shall be rounded to three decimal places.
(g) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of the
Company as of the first anniversary of the Effective Time may be paid to Parent, upon
Parents written demand to the Exchange Agent. In such event, any former stockholders of the
Company who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look
only to Parent with respect to the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of any fractional
shares and any unpaid dividends and other distributions on the Parent Common Stock
deliverable in respect of each share of the Company Common Stock such stockholder holds as
determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, without any interest thereon.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Company, Merger
Sub, the Exchange Agent or any other Person shall be liable to any former holder of shares of
the Company Common Stock for any amount delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant
to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws.
(h) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost,
stolen or destroyed and, if reasonably required by Parent or the Exchange Agent, the posting
by such Person of a bond in such amount as Parent may determine is reasonably necessary as
indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such
7
Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of any fractional shares
and any unpaid dividends and other distributions on the Parent Common Stock, in each case,
deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.
(i) Parent or the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from amounts
payable pursuant to this Agreement, including the Merger Consideration, to any holder of the
Company Common Stock such amounts as it determines in good faith are required to be deducted
and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or under any
provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and
paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the recipient.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
No representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Article III (other than
the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a) (first and last sentence),
3.3(a) and 3.3(b)(i), which shall be true and correct in all material respects,
Section 3.2, which shall be true and correct except to a de minimis extent (relative to
Section 3.2 taken as a whole) or except in any way that reasonably is not adverse to
Parent, and Sections 3.1(b), 3.7, 3.8(a), 3.13(b) (the last
sentence), 3.16(a) and 3.23, which shall be true and correct in all respects) shall
be deemed untrue, and the Company shall not be deemed to have breached a representation or
warranty, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, event or circumstance unless such fact,
circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all other facts, events or circumstances
inconsistent with any representation contained in this Article III (read for this purpose
without regard to any individual reference to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or words of
similar import set forth in this Article III) has had or is reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
Subject to the foregoing, except with respect to matters that have been Previously Disclosed,
the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows as of the date hereof and as of the
Effective Time:
3.1 Corporate Organization.
(a) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws
of the State of Maryland and in good standing with the SDAT. The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry
on its business as it is now being conducted in all material respects, and is duly licensed
or qualified to do business in all material respects as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location
of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification
necessary. The Company has duly elected to be regulated as a
8
BDC pursuant to the Investment Company Act and such election has not been revoked or
withdrawn and is in full force and effect.
(b) True, complete and correct copies of the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws,
as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been publicly filed by the
Company and are available to Parent.
(c) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company (i) is duly incorporated or duly
formed, as applicable to each such Consolidated Subsidiary, and validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the requisite corporate
(or similar) power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted in all material respects and (iii) is duly
licensed or qualified to do business in all material respects as a foreign corporation or
other business entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by
it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such
licensing or qualification necessary.
3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 400,000,000 shares of stock
of which, as of October 23, 2009 (the Company Capitalization Date), no more than
179,361,775 shares were issued and outstanding, all of which were the Company Common Stock.
No shares of authorized capital stock of the Company have been classified as anything but the
Company Common Stock. As of the Company Capitalization Date, there were outstanding Company
Stock Options to purchase an aggregate of 24,540,171 shares of the Company Common Stock. As
of the Company Capitalization Date, there were 28,552,687 shares of the Company Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the Company Stock Option Plan. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability with respect to
the Company attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement, no bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which
stockholders of the Company may vote (Voting Debt) are issued or outstanding. As
of the Company Capitalization Date, except pursuant to this Agreement as set forth in this
Section 3.2 (including as contemplated in Section 3.2(b)), the Company does
not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights,
commitments or agreements of any character (Rights) calling for the purchase or
issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of the Company Common Stock,
Voting Debt or any other equity securities of the Company or any securities representing the
right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of the Company Common Stock, Voting Debt or
other equity securities of the Company. There are no obligations of the Company or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
capital stock of the Company, Voting Debt or any equity security of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise
receive any shares of capital stock, Voting Debt or any other equity security of the Company
or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (ii) pursuant to which the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries
9
is or could be required to register shares of the Companys capital stock or other
securities under the Securities Act. All of the Company Common Stock sold has been sold
pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act or an
appropriate exemption therefrom and in accordance with the Investment Company Act.
(b) Other than awards under the Company Stock Option Plan that are outstanding as of
the Company Capitalization Date, no other equity-based awards issued by the Company or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries are outstanding as of the Company Capitalization Date. The
Company has Previously Disclosed a true, complete and correct list of the aggregate number of
shares of the Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of each Company Stock Option
granted under the Company Stock Option Plan that were outstanding as of the Company
Capitalization Date and the exercise price for each such Company Stock Option. Since the
Company Capitalization Date through the date hereof, the Company has not (i) issued or
repurchased any shares of the Company Common Stock, Voting Debt or other equity securities of
the Company, other than the issuance of shares of the Company Common Stock in connection with
the exercise of the Company Stock Options or settlement in accordance with the terms of the
Company Stock Option Plan that were outstanding on the Company Capitalization Date or (ii)
issued or awarded any options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock
units, deferred equity units, awards based on the value of the Companys capital stock or any
other equity-based awards. From January 1, 2009 through the date of this Agreement, except
as expressly provided for in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has (A) accelerated the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to
any material stock-based compensation awards or long term incentive compensation awards, (B)
with respect to executive officers of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
entered into or amended any material employment, severance, change of control or similar
agreement (including any agreement providing for the reimbursement of excise Taxes under
Section 4999 of the Code) or (C) adopted or amended any material Company Benefit Plan (as
defined below), except to the extent required by applicable Law.
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company, directly
or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens, and all of such shares or equity ownership
interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free
of preemptive rights. No Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company has or is bound by any
outstanding Rights calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount
based on, any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated
Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any
shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary.
3.3 Authority; No Violation.
(a) The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the Transactions (other than the Second Merger). The execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
10
Transactions (other than the Second Merger) have been duly and validly approved by the
Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that
this Agreement and the terms of the Merger and the related Transactions (other than the
Second Merger) are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
has approved the Company Matters and has directed that the Company Matters be submitted to
the Companys stockholders for approval at a duly held meeting of such stockholders and has
adopted a resolution to the foregoing effect. Except for receipt of the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Company Common Stock entitled to vote
to approve the Company Matters pursuant to this Agreement, the Merger and the other
Transactions (other than the Second Merger) have been authorized by all necessary corporate
action. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and
(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub) constitutes the
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity (the
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception)).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the
consummation by the Company of the Transactions (other than the Second Merger), nor
compliance by the Company with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i)
violate any provision of the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws, or (ii) assuming that
the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 3.3(a) and Section
3.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any Law or Order applicable to the
Company, any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets
or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any
benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without the giving of notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or
a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, require
the consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to or filing with any third-party with
respect to, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or
assets of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any Permit, Contract or other obligation to which the Company or
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their
respective properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause (ii), any such
violation, conflict, breach, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration or creation
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
(c) Neither the consummation by the Company of the Transactions nor compliance by the
Company with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement will, assuming that the
consents, rating agency confirmations, approvals, authorizations, notices and filings
Previously Disclosed are duly obtained or made, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of
any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that,
with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under,
11
accelerate the performance required by, require the consent, confirmation, approval or
authorization of, or notice to or filing with any third-party with respect to, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any Company Managed Fund Contract.
3.4 Governmental Consents. Except for (i) the Regulatory Approvals that have been
Previously Disclosed by the Company in Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(collectively, the Company Requisite Regulatory Approvals), (ii) the filing with the SEC of a
joint proxy statement in definitive form relating to the meeting of the Companys stockholders and
the meeting of Parents stockholders to be held in connection with this Agreement and the
Transactions (the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus) and of a registration statement on Form N-14
or such other appropriate SEC form (the Registration Statement) in which the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus will be included as a prospectus (the Prospectus), and declaration of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with and
the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT, (iv) any notices or filings under
the HSR Act and (v) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the
securities or Blue Sky Laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of
the Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and approval of listing of such Parent Common
Stock on NASDAQ and the Company Public Notes on NASDAQ, NYSE or other applicable exchanges, no
material consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are
necessary in connection with the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other
Transactions. No consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity
are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement other
than (i) the reporting of this Agreement on a Current Report on Form 8-K or (ii) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to the Company.
3.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters.
(a) The Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in all material respects,
have timely filed all reports, schedules, registrations, statements, certifications and other
documents, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they
were required to file since January 1, 2008 with the SEC, the NYSE and any other Governmental
Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be filed by them since January 1,
2008 pursuant to the Laws of any Governmental Entity, and have paid all fees and assessments
due and payable in connection therewith. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1,
2008, no Governmental Entity has initiated or has pending any Proceeding or investigation
into the business, disclosures or operations of the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2008, no Governmental Entity
has resolved any Proceeding or investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of
the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there
is no unresolved or threatened comment, exception or stop order by any Governmental Entity
with respect to any filing by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, relating
to any examinations or inspections of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2008, there have been no formal inquiries
by, or disagreements or disputes with, any Governmental Entity with respect to
12
the business, operations, policies or procedures of the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(b) An accurate and complete copy of each (i) prospectus, final registration statement,
report, schedule and definitive proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to the Investment Company Act, the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act since January 1, 2008 (the Company SEC Reports)
and (ii) communication mailed by the Company to its stockholders since January 1, 2008 is
publicly available. No such Company SEC Report or communication, at the time filed,
furnished or communicated (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements,
on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively),
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective
dates, all Company SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is subject to any
cease-and-desist or other order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any
Contract, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any
commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any Order by, or has been
ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or since January 1, 2008 has adopted any policies,
procedures or board resolutions at the request of, any Governmental Entity that currently
restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business (or to the Companys knowledge
that, upon consummation of the Mergers, would restrict in any material respect the conduct of
the business of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries), or that in any material
manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk
management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business,
other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated BDCs or their
Consolidated Subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries been
advised in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, verbally, since January 1, 2008 by
any Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting
any of the foregoing.
3.6 Company Financial Statements.
(a) The financial statements, including the related consolidated schedules of
investments, of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by
reference) in the Company SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) and the
Company Interim Financials (i) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, in all
material respects, the books and records of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
(ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash
flows, changes in stockholders equity and consolidated financial position of the Company and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates
therein set forth (subject in the case of unaudited statements and the Company Interim
Financials to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and
13
amount), (iii) have complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the
SEC or, in the case of the Company Interim Financials, as of the date hereof, in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto and (iv) have been prepared in all material respects in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case,
as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. As of the date hereof, the books
and records of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have been maintained in all
material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting
requirements and reflect only actual transactions. KPMG LLP has not resigned, threatened
resignation or been dismissed as independent public accountants of the Company as a result of
or in connection with any disagreements with the Company on a matter of accounting principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.
(b) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any material
liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent,
determined, determinable or otherwise and whether due or to become due), except for (A) in
the case of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, liabilities that are reflected or
reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company included in the Company
Interim Financials, (B) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice since September 30, 2009 and (C) liabilities incurred since September 30,
2009 pursuant to Contracts entered into after September 30, 2009 not in violation of this
Agreement (as if this Agreement was in effect on September 30, 2009).
(ii) Other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, neither the Company nor any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to, and has no commitment to become a party to,
any joint venture, partnership agreement or any similar Contract (including any Contract
relating to any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among the Company or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate, including any
structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity, on the other hand) where the
purpose or intended effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material
transaction involving the Company in the Companys consolidated financial statements.
(iii) None of the Consolidated Subsidiaries of the Company is required to file any
forms, reports, schedules, statements or other documents with the SEC.
(c) Since January 1, 2008, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, Employee, auditor,
accountant or representative of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has
received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices,
procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
or their respective internal accounting controls, including any complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim that the Company or any of its
14
Consolidated Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable or illegal accounting or auditing
practices or maintains inadequate internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and (ii) no attorney representing the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of
securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its
officers, directors, Employees or agents to the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to any
securitization transaction with respect to the assets of the Company or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or off-balance sheet arrangement with respect to the Company (as defined in Item
303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act). To the Companys knowledge,
since January 1, 2008, KPMG LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the
financial statements of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Company
SEC Reports (including the related notes), has been (i) independent with respect to the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries within the meaning of Regulation S-X, and (ii) in
compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the
related rules of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(e) The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have
made all certifications required by, and would be able to make such certifications as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date as if required to be made as of such dates, pursuant
to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any related rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC, and the statements contained in any such certifications are complete
and correct, and the Company is otherwise in compliance with all applicable effective
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable listing standards and corporate
governance rules of the NYSE.
(f) The Company has in all material respects:
(i) designed and maintained a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that all
information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in
the reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms
of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Companys
management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to
allow the Companys principal executive officer and principal financial officer to make the
certifications required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports;
(ii) designed and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance concerning the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP,
including reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in
15
accordance with managements general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP
and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with managements general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; the Companys management, with
the participation of the Companys principal executive and financial officers, has completed
an assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal controls over financial
reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 in compliance with the requirements of
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and such assessment concluded that such internal
controls were effective using the framework specified in the Companys Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008;
(iii) (A) disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its auditors and the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (1) any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses (as defined in the relevant Statement of Auditing Standards) in the
design or operation of the Companys internal controls over financial reporting that could
adversely affect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (2)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other Employees who have a
significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting and (B) identified for
the Companys auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
(iv) provided to Parent true and correct copies of any of the foregoing disclosures to
its auditors or the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company that have been
made in writing from January 1, 2008 through the date hereof, and will promptly provide to
Parent true and correct copies of any such disclosures that are made after the date hereof.
3.7 Brokers Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor
any of their respective officers, directors, Employees or agents has utilized any broker, finder or
financial advisor or incurred any liability for any brokers fees, commissions or finders fees in
connection with the Merger or the other Transactions, other than to Bank of America/Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Sandler ONeill & Partners, L.P. pursuant to letter
agreements, true, complete and correct copies of which have been previously delivered to Parent.
3.8 Absence of Changes or Events. Since September 30, 2009, (a) there has not been
any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, and (b) there has not been any action that, if it had
been taken after the date hereof, would have required the consent of Parent under Section 5.1 or
5.2.
3.9 Compliance with Applicable Law.
(a) The Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has
been operated since January 1, 2008, in all material respects, with all applicable
16
Laws, including, if and to the extent applicable, the Investment Company Act, the
Investment Advisers Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Environmental Laws and the
Code other than, in the case of Environmental Laws only, as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the
Company. Each of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has
been operated since January 1, 2008 in compliance, with all listing standards and corporate
governance standards of the NYSE or other listing exchange or self regulating organization
applicable to the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries, other than as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company. The Company has complied with the SEC Order.
(b) (i) The Company and each Company Managed Fund has complied since January 1, 2008
(or, if later, its launch date or the date the Company or one of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries began managing the Company Managed Fund), and is in compliance, in all material
respects with its investment policies and restrictions and portfolio valuation methods, if
any, as such policies and restrictions may be set forth in its registration statement,
offering circulars, indentures or plan documents (as they may be amended from time to time)
and applicable Laws, if any, other than any non-compliance that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the
Company.
(c) The Company has written policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1
under the Investment Company Act that are reasonably designed to prevent material violations
of the Federal Securities Laws, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the
Investment Company Act. Since January 1, 2008, there have been no Material Compliance
Matters for the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(2) under the Investment
Company Act, other than those that have been reported to the Companys Board of Directors and
satisfactorily remedied or are in the process of being remedied or those that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company.
(d) The Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries will hold immediately prior
to the Closing, all Permits required in order to permit the Company and each of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to own or lease their properties and assets and to conduct their
businesses under and pursuant to all applicable Law, in each case, other than any failure to
hold any Permit that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. All such Permits are valid and
in full force and effect, except for those the failure of which to be valid or to be in full
force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. No violations with respect to such
Permits have occurred that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, and no Proceeding is pending and
served or threatened in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, pending and not served
or otherwise threatened to suspend, cancel, modify, revoke or materially limit any such
Permits, which Proceeding would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
be material to the operations of
17
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each Employee of the
Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries who is required to be registered or
licensed as a registered representative, investment adviser representative, sales person or
an equivalent person with any Governmental Entity is duly registered as such and such
registration is in full force and effect, except for such failures to be so registered or for
such registration to remain in full force and effect that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to be material to the operations of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each Company Managed Fund that is required to register as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act is so registered or is properly relying on an exemption from
registration under the Investment Company Act.
(f) No affiliated person (as defined under the Investment Company Act) of the Company
has been subject to disqualification to serve in any capacity contemplated by the Investment
Company Act for any investment company (including a BDC) under Sections 9(a) and 9(b) of the
Investment Company Act, unless, in each case, such Person has received exemptive relief from
the SEC with respect to any such disqualification. The Company has made available to Parent,
prior to the date of this Agreement, a copy of any material exemptive order or other relief
issued by the SEC in respect of any such disqualification. There is no material Proceeding
pending and served or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would result in any
such disqualification.
(g) Any Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company acting as an investment adviser as
defined in the Investment Advisers Act to a Company Managed Fund is duly registered with the
SEC under the Investment Advisers Act or is not subject to registration under the Investment
Advisers Act. No Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company is registered or required to be
registered under the Exchange Act as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
(h) Since January 1, 2008, the Company has not received any written notification, or to
the Companys knowledge oral notification, from a Governmental Entity asserting that it is
not in compliance in all material respects with any material Laws or Permits.
3.10 State Takeover Laws. The Board of Directors of the Company has approved this
Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions as required to render inapplicable to this
Agreement, the Merger and such other Transactions the restrictions on business combinations set
forth in any moratorium, control share, fair price, takeover or interested stockholder
Law, including Subtitles 6 and 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL (any such laws, Takeover Statutes).
3.11 Opinion. The Board of Directors of the Company has received the opinion of each
of Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Sandler ONeill &
Partners, L.P., to the effect that, as of the date hereof, and based upon and subject to the
factors and assumptions set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of
view to the holders of the Company Common Stock.
18
3.12 Company Information. The information relating to the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries that is provided by the Company or its Representatives for inclusion in
the Registration Statement, or in any application, notification or other document filed with any
Governmental Entity in connection with the Transactions, will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading. The portions of the Registration
Statement relating to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and other portions within the
reasonable control of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries will comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act. The Registration Statement will comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act.
3.13 Taxes and Tax Returns.
(a) Each of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed
(including all applicable extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on
or prior to the date of this Agreement (all such Tax Returns being accurate and complete in
all material respects), has paid all material Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly
paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are
due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities other
than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been
finally determined and have been adequately reserved against under GAAP. For taxable years
ending on or after December 31, 2003, no Tax Return of the Company or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has been examined by the IRS or other relevant taxing authority except where
such examination has not, and would not reasonably be expected to, give rise to liabilities
in excess of $25,000 or as set forth on Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
and any liability with respect thereto has been satisfied or any liability with respect to
deficiencies asserted as a result of such examination is covered by reserves that are
adequate under GAAP. There are no material disputes pending, or written claims asserted, for
Taxes or assessments upon the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries for which the
Company does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither the Company nor any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or
indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement
exclusively between or among the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries). Within the past
five years (or otherwise as part of a plan (or series of related transactions) within the
meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code of which the Merger is also a part), neither the
Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been a distributing corporation or a
controlled corporation in a distribution intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the
Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is required to include in
income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been
proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has
been submitted by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Neither the Company
nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a listed transaction within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2). If the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a reportable transaction within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b),
19
such entity has properly disclosed such transaction in accordance with the applicable
Tax regulations.
(b) The Company made a valid election under Part I of Subchapter M of Subtitle A,
Chapter 1, of the Code to be taxed as a regulated investment company (a RIC).
The Company has qualified as a RIC at all times since December 31, 2002 and expects to
continue to so qualify through the Effective Time. No challenge to the Companys status as a
RIC is pending or has been threatened orally or in writing. The Company is not required to
pay a Tax Dividend for (i) the taxable year ending December 31, 2009 or (ii) to the
knowledge of the Company, for the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending on the date the
Transactions are consummated, with such payments determined without regard to Section 108(i)
of the Code.
(c) Company REIT made a valid election under Part II of Subchapter M of Subtitle A,
Chapter 1, of the Code to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a REIT).
Company REIT has qualified as a REIT at all times since its formation. No challenge to
Company REITs status as a REIT is pending or has been threatened in writing.
(d) The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including
withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442 and 3402 of the Code or any comparable
provision of any state, local or foreign Laws) and have, within the time and in the manner
prescribed by applicable Law, withheld from and paid over all amounts required to be so
withheld and paid over under applicable Laws.
(e) The Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be
expected to prevent the Mergers together from qualifying as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(f) The Company has no earnings and profits for U.S. federal income Tax purposes
described in Section 852(a)(2)(B) of the Code.
(g) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company that is a partnership, joint venture,
or limited liability company has been since its formation treated for U.S. federal income Tax
purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not as a corporation
or an association taxable as a corporation.
(h) Section 3.13(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists each asset the disposition
of which would be subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code as prescribed in
Internal Revenue Service Notice 88-19, 1988-1 C.B. 486, or Treasury Regulation Section
1.337(d)-5, Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-6 or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7
and the amount of net unrealized built-in gain (within the meaning of Section 1374(d) of
the Code) on each such asset.
(i) No claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that
20
the Company or any such Consolidated Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(j) Neither the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries has requested any extension of time within which to file any
material Tax Return, which material Tax Return has not yet been filed.
(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has requested a
private letter ruling from the IRS or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.
(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liability for
the Taxes of another Person other than the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign
Law), as a transferee, successor or payable pursuant to a contractual obligation.
(m) There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of
the assets of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
3.14 Litigation.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to any, and
there are no pending or, to the Companys knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative,
arbitral or other Proceedings of any nature against the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or to which any of their assets are subject that is seeking unspecified damages,
damages in excess of $100,000, or any injunctive or other equitable relief other than, in the
case of Proceedings initiated between the date hereof and the Closing Date only, such
Proceedings as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
(b) There is no material Order or regulatory restriction (other than regulatory
restrictions of general application that apply to similarly situated companies or their
Consolidated Subsidiaries) imposed upon the Company, any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or
the assets of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation
of the Merger, would apply to Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries).
(c) Since January 1, 2008, there have not been, nor are there currently pending, any
internal investigations or inquiries being conducted by the Company, the Companys Board of
Directors (or any committee thereof) or any third party at the request of any of the
foregoing concerning any financial, accounting, Tax, conflict of interest, self-dealing,
fraudulent or deceptive conduct or other misfeasance or malfeasance issues.
3.15 Employee Matters.
(a) The Company has Previously Disclosed a true, complete and correct list of each
employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not
21
subject to ERISA, and each material employment, consulting, bonus, incentive or deferred
compensation, vacation, stock option or other equity-based, severance, termination,
retention, change of control, profit-sharing, fringe benefit, health, medical or other
similar plan, program, agreement or commitment, whether written or unwritten entered into,
maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or to
which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is obligated to contribute or which
otherwise provides benefits to any current, former or future employee, officer or director of
the Company or any beneficiary or dependent thereof (the Company Benefit Plans).
(b) With respect to each of the Company Benefit Plans maintained by the Company or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, the Company has provided to Parent or has previously
publicly filed, true, complete and correct copies of the following (as applicable): (i) the
written document evidencing such Company Benefit Plan; (ii) the summary plan description;
(iii) the three most recent annual reports, financial statements and/or actuarial reports;
(iv) the most recent determination letter from the IRS; (v) the three most recent Form 5500s
that have been filed with the IRS, including all schedules thereto; (vi) any related trust
agreements, insurance contracts or documents of any other funding arrangements; (vii) any
notices to or from the IRS or any office or representative of the Department of Labor
relating to any pending compliance issues in respect of any such Company Benefit Plan; and
(viii) all material amendments, material modifications or material supplements to any such
Company Benefit Plan.
(c) With respect to each of the Company Benefit Plans, (i) all contributions, premiums
and other payments required to be made with respect to any Company Benefit Plan have been
made on or before their due dates under applicable Law and the terms of such Company Benefit
Plan, (ii) the Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries have operated and
administered each such Company Benefit Plan in material compliance with all applicable Laws
and the terms of each such plan, and (iii) the terms of each such Company Benefit Plan
maintained by the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries are in material compliance with
all applicable Laws. Each Company Benefit Plan maintained by the Company or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401 has received a favorable
determination or opinion letter from the IRS to such effect and, to the knowledge of the
Company, no fact, circumstance or event has occurred or exists since the date of such
determination letter that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified
status of any such Company Benefit Plan. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened or anticipated material Proceedings by, on behalf of or against any of
the Company Benefit Plans, any fiduciaries of such Company Benefit Plans (with respect to
whom the Company has an indemnification obligation with respect to their duties to any such
Company Benefit Plans), or against the assets of such Company Benefit Plans or any trust
maintained in connection with such Company Benefit Plans (other than routine claims for
benefits).
(d) Each trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with the Company
or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries would be deemed to be a single employer within the
meaning of Section 4001(b) of ERISA (an ERISA Affiliate), has, to the knowledge of
the Company, since January 1, 2008, fulfilled its obligations under the
22
minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each ERISA Plan which it
sponsors or maintains or to which it has an obligation to contribute and is in material
compliance with ERISA and the Code with respect to each such ERISA Plan. To the knowledge of
the Company, since January 1, 2008, no ERISA Affiliate has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum
funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any ERISA plan, (ii) failed to
make any contribution or payment to any ERISA Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or made any
amendment to any ERISA Plan, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a
material Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code, or (iii)
incurred any material liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than a liability to the PBGC
for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1,
2008, no complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan has been made by any
ERISA Affiliate that would reasonably be expected to result in any material liability to such
ERISA Affiliate, whether such liability is contingent or otherwise and if any ERISA Affiliate
were to withdraw from any such Multiemployer Plan, such withdrawal would not result in any
material liability to any ERISA Affiliate. For purposes of this Section 3.15(e), ERISA
Plan means any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA)
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of 4971 of the
Code, other than a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA (a Multiemployer Plan). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations
contained in this Section 3.15(d) shall be deemed to be breached only if and to the extent
that the underlying event or occurrence would reasonably be expected to result in any
material liability to the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary.
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries maintain or contribute
to, or within the last six years have maintained or contributed to, (i) any employee benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is subject to Section 412 of the Code
or Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or (ii) a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or a multiple employer plan within the meaning of
Sections 4063/4064 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code.
(f) Except as Previously Disclosed, no Company Benefit Plan is under audit or is the
subject of a material Proceeding by the IRS, the Department of Labor, the SEC or any other
Governmental Entity, nor is any such audit or material Proceeding pending or, to the
Companys knowledge, threatened.
(g) Except as Previously Disclosed, or as provided for by the terms of this Agreement,
neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions
will, either alone or in conjunction with any other event, (i) result in any payment or
benefit becoming due or payable, or required to be provided, to any director, employee or
individual treated as an independent contractor of the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, (ii) materially increase the amount or value of any benefit or compensation
otherwise payable or required to be provided to any such director, employee or individual
treated as an independent contractor, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of
payment, vesting or funding of any such benefit or compensation, (iv) result in any amount
failing to be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code or (v) result in any
23
limitation (x) on the right of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries prior
to the Effective Time, or (y) the right of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries on
and after the Effective Time to amend, merge or terminate any Company Benefit Plan maintained
by the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or related trust.
(h) Except as Previously Disclosed, neither the Company nor its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has any liability with respect to an obligation to provide post-employment group
health benefits (whether or not insured) with respect to any Person beyond such Persons
retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by Section 4980B of
the Code or applicable Law.
(i) All the Company equity awards have been granted in material compliance with the
terms of the applicable Company Benefit Plans and applicable Law.
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or
otherwise bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union
and there are no organizational campaigns, petitions or other activities or Proceedings of
any labor union, workers council or labor organization seeking recognition of a collective
bargaining unit with respect to, or otherwise attempting to represent, any of the employees
of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or compel the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to bargain with any such labor union, works council or labor
organization. There are no labor related controversies, strikes, slowdowns, walkouts or
other work stoppages pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened and neither the
Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has experienced any such labor related
controversy, strike, slowdown, walkout or other work stoppage within the past three years.
Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise
bound by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any Governmental Entity relating to
employees or employment practices. The Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries are
in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to labor, employment, termination of
employment or similar matters, including but not limited to Laws relating to discrimination,
disability, labor relations, hours of work, payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity,
immigration, workers compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, occupational
safety and health, family and medical leave, and employee terminations, and have not engaged
in any unfair labor practices or similar prohibited practices. Except as would not result in
any material liability to the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, there are no
Proceedings of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries brought by or on behalf of any applicant for
employment, any current or former employee, any Person alleging to be a current or former
employee, any class of the foregoing, or any Governmental Entity, relating to any such Law,
or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of
employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection
with the employment relationship. The Company has provided to Parent a copy of all written
policies and procedures related to the Companys and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
employees.
24
(k) Within the last six months, neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has incurred any liability or obligation that remains unsatisfied under the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) or any similar Laws
regarding the termination or layoff of employees, nor has the Company taken any undisclosed
action that may contribute to establishing any liability or obligation under such employee
termination advance notification laws.
3.16 Certain Contracts.
(a) The Company has Previously Disclosed a complete and accurate list of, and true and
complete copies have been delivered or made available (including via EDGAR) to Parent of, all
Contracts (in each case, other than any Company Benefit Plans) (the Company Material
Contracts) to which, as of the date hereof, it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
is a party, or by which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be bound, or, to the
knowledge of the Company, to which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their
respective assets or properties may be subject:
(1) any loan or credit agreements, notes, bonds,
mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments
pursuant to which any indebtedness of the Company or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount
in excess of $500,000 is outstanding or may be incurred;
(2) any Contract, with (A) any Consolidated Subsidiaries
of the Company, (B) any current or former Employee or
controlling stockholder of it or except with respect to
investments set forth in the Company SEC Reports or Company
Interim Financials, any Affiliate of such Person, or (C) any
associate or member of the immediate family (as such terms
are respectively defined in Rule 12b-2 and Rule 16a-1 of the
Exchange Act) of a Person identified in clause (A) or (B) of
this paragraph, in each case in excess of $250,000
(individually or together with all related Contracts);
(3) any Contract that creates future payment
obligations, including settlement agreements, in excess of
$250,000 and that by its terms does not terminate, or is not
terminable upon notice, without penalty within 90 days or
less, or any Contract that creates or would create a Lien on
any asset of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries
(other than Liens consisting of restrictions on transfer
agreed to in respect of investments entered into in the
ordinary course of business or as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Company);
25
(4) except with respect to investments set forth in the
Company SEC Reports or Company Interim Financials, any
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other
similar Contract that is not entered into in
the ordinary course of business and is material to the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(5) any non-competition or non-solicitation Contract or
any other Contract that limits, purports to limit, or would
reasonably be expected to limit in each case in any material
respect the manner in which, or the localities in which, any
material business of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) is or could be conducted or
the types of business that the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries conducts or may conduct;
(6) any Contract relating to the acquisition or
disposition of any business or operations (whether by merger,
sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise) involving value in
excess of $250,000 (individually or together with all related
Contracts) as to which there are any ongoing obligations or
that was entered into on or after January 1, 2008 other than
Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business with
respect to investments set forth in the Company SEC Reports or
the Company Interim Financials;
(7) any Contract that obligates the Company or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries to conduct any business that is
material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, on an exclusive basis with any third party,
or upon consummation of the Merger, will obligate Parent, the
Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries to
conduct business with any third-party on an exclusive basis;
(8) any Contract with a Governmental Entity;
(9) any Company Managed Fund Contract;
(10) any Contract relating to any collateral management,
investment advisory or other management or advisory fees in
excess of $250,000 per year payable by or to the Company or
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries; or
(11) any other Contract that is a material contract
within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the
26
SECs Regulation
S-K or that is material to the Company or its financial
condition or results of operations.
(b) Each Company Material Contract is (i) valid and binding on the Company or its
applicable Consolidated Subsidiary and, to the Companys knowledge, each other
party thereto, (ii) enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception), and (iii) is in full force and effect other than as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
nor, to the Companys knowledge, any other party thereto, is in breach of any provisions of
or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default)
under, and has not taken any action resulting in the termination of, acceleration of
performance required by, or resulting in a right of termination or acceleration under, any
Company Material Contract other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. No
Company Material Contract has been amended, modified or supplemented other than as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company. No event has occurred with respect to the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries that, with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or
both, would constitute a material breach, violation or default under, give rise to a right of
termination, modification, cancellation, foreclosure, prepayment or acceleration under or
result in the imposition of a Lien pursuant to, any of the Company Material Contracts other
than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
3.17 Insurance Coverage.
(a) Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all material
insurance policies that are owned by the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries and that
name the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary as an insured, including, without limitation,
fidelity or surety bonds and self-insurance arrangements and those which pertain to the
assets, Employees, agents or operations of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries
(each, a Company Insurance Policy).
(b) The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries are insured against (i) such losses
and risks and in such amounts as are customary in the businesses in which they are engaged,
and (ii) any and all reasonably foreseeable liability for any and all of the litigation
described in the Company Quarterly Report and Section 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule. In addition, Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth in
respect of the Company Insurance Policies (i) a description of claims made and reported
involving amounts in excess of $100,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount paid out under each
such policy during the period from January 1, 2008 through the date hereof.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, neither the Company nor any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received any notice or other
27
communication regarding any
actual or threatened in writing: (a) cancellation or invalidation of any Company Insurance
Policy (if not rescinded); (b) refusal or denial of any material coverage, reservation of
rights or rejection of any material claim under any
Company Insurance Policy; or (c) material adjustment in the amount of the premiums
payable with respect to any Company Insurance Policy.
(d) There have been no disputes regarding denial or nonpayment of claims under any
Company Insurance Policy since January 1, 2008 other than with respect to claims that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries maintain insurance coverage with
reputable insurers reasonably believed by the Company to be financially sound.
3.18 Investment Assets.
Each of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has good title to all securities,
indebtedness and other financial instruments owned by it, free and clear of any material
Liens, except to the extent such securities, indebtedness or other financial instruments, as
applicable, are pledged in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice to
secure obligations of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries under the Company
Outstanding Debt and except for Liens consisting of restrictions on transfer agreed to in
respect of investments entered into in the ordinary course of business.
3.19 [Reserved].
3.20 Intellectual Property. The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries own, or are validly licensed or
otherwise have the right to use, all patents, patent applications, patent rights, trademarks,
trademark applications, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, service
mark applications, service mark rights, copyrights, computer programs (including source code and
object code), trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary intellectual property rights
(collectively, Intellectual Property Rights) that are material to the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole (hereinafter, Company Intellectual
Property Rights). No claims are pending for which the Company has received written notice or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened (i) that the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries is infringing or otherwise adversely affecting the rights of any Person with regard to
any Intellectual Property Right, or (ii) that any Company Intellectual Property Right is invalid or
unenforceable. To the knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or using
without authorization the rights of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with
respect to any Intellectual Property Right.
3.21 Environmental Matters. There are no material Proceedings of any kind, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened, against the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, arising under any
Environmental Law. There are no Orders by or with any Governmental Entity, imposing
any material liability or obligation on the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
under or in respect of any Environmental Law. There are and have been no substances, materials,
chemicals, wastes, pollutants, or contaminants classified as hazardous or toxic, or that are
otherwise defined in or regulated under any Environmental Law,
28
or other conditions at any property
owned, operated, or otherwise used by, or the subject of a security interest on behalf of it or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, that reasonably could be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. The Company has
provided to Parent all material environmental reports, assessments, audits, studies,
investigations, data, environmental permits and other material written environmental information in
the custody, possession or control of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
concerning the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
3.22 Real Property.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, the Company or a Consolidated
Subsidiary of the Company owns fee simple title to, or has a valid leasehold interest in,
each of the real properties reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Company
included in the Company SEC Reports and the Company Interim Financials and as Previously
Disclosed (each, a Company Property and collectively, the Company
Properties), which are all of the real estate properties owned or leased by them, free
and clear of Liens, except (i) inchoate Liens imposed for construction work in progress (now
or at any time prior to Closing) or otherwise incurred in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) mechanics, workmens and repairmens Liens (other than inchoate Liens for work in
progress), and (iii) real estate Taxes, charges of any nature for public utility services and
special assessments, none of which is delinquent. Neither the Company nor any Consolidated
Subsidiary of Company has received written notice that it is currently in default under any
Property Agreement, Lease or REA other than such defaults that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the
Company. In addition, neither the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company has
any knowledge of facts or circumstances that, with the giving of notice or the passage of
time or both, would constitute a default or event of default under any such Property
Agreement, Lease or REA, either by the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company
that is a party thereto, or by any other parties to such Property Agreement, Lease or REA
other than such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.
(b) Section 3.22(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and
accurate list of all real property owned (the Owned Real Property) or leased (the
Leased Real Property) by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (the
Owned Real Property together with the Leased Real Property, the Real Property),
including in each case the address and a description of the use of such Real Property.
Except as set forth on Section 3.22(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the
Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to any Lease for
real property. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, all of the Leases to
which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is party are in full force and
effect and enforceable by the Company or the Consolidated Subsidiary which is a party thereto
in accordance with their terms except to the extent that such enforceability may be
29
limited
by the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries (nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto) is in breach of
or default under (and to the knowledge of the Company no event has occurred which with notice
or the passage of time or both would constitute a breach or default under) any of the Leases,
excluding, however, any breaches or defaults that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the
Company. The Company has provided Parent with true, complete and correct copies of all
Leases.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received written
notice of any pending or contemplated condemnation, expropriation or other Proceeding in
eminent domain affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein, except
for such Proceedings as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. Neither the Company nor any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received any written notice that the current use and
occupancy of the Real Property violates in any material respect any easement, covenant,
condition, restriction or similar provision in any instrument of record or other unrecorded
agreement affecting the Real Property, as applicable, other than such violations as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to the Company.
3.23 Appraisal Rights. In accordance with Section 3-202(c)(1) of the MGCL, no appraisal rights shall be available
to holders of the Company Common Stock in connection with the Merger.
3.24 Representations Regarding Ciena. The Company has considered and accounted for Cienas voluntary filing for bankruptcy
protection, the letters of credit, current regulatory issues, ongoing investigations and
litigation, including all allegations and claims of any type, in performing the valuation of Ciena
at September 30, 2009.
3.25 Representations Regarding Callidus. To the knowledge of the Company:
(a) Callidus is a limited liability company duly formed and validly existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and in good standing with the Delaware Secretary of State.
Callidus has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own or lease all
of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted in all
material respects, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in all material respects
as a foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction in which the
nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties
and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary. True and
correct copies of the Callidus certificate of formation and limited liability company
agreement, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available
to Parent.
(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, the operations of Callidus are
conducted in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws.
30
Without in any
way limiting the foregoing, Callidus is not required to be registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act. Since January 1, 2008, neither the Company nor,
to the Companys knowledge, Callidus has received any written notice from any Governmental
Entity asserting that Callidus is not in compliance in all material respects with applicable
Law.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
No representation or warranty of Parent contained in this Article IV (other than the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1(a) (first and last sentence), 4.3(a) and
4.3(b)(i), which shall be true and correct in all material respects, Section 4.2, which shall be
true and correct except to a de minimis extent (relative to Section 4.2 taken as a whole) or except
in any way that reasonably is not adverse to the Company, and Sections 4.1(b), 4.7, 4.8(a), and
4.15(a), which shall be true and correct in all respects) shall be deemed untrue, and Parent shall
not be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty, as a consequence of the existence of
any fact, event or circumstance unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken
together with all other facts, events or circumstances inconsistent with any representation
contained in this Article IV (read for this purpose without regard to any individual reference to
materiality, Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import set forth in this Article IV)
has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
Subject to the foregoing, except with respect to matters that have been Previously Disclosed,
Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows as of the date hereof and as of the
Effective Time:
4.1 Corporate Organization.
(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and in good standing with the SDAT. Each of
Parent and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease all of
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted in all
material respects, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in all material respects
as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted
by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or
leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary. Parent has duly elected
to be regulated as a BDC pursuant to the Investment Company Act and such election has not
been revoked or withdrawn and is in full force and effect.
(b) True, complete and correct copies of the Parent Articles and Parent Bylaws, as in
effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been publicly filed (or provided) by
Parent and are available to the Company.
(c) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent (i) is duly incorporated or duly formed, as
applicable to each such Consolidated Subsidiary, and validly existing and in good standing
under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) has the requisite
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corporate (or
similar) power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted in all material respects and (iii) is duly licensed
or qualified to do business in all material respects as a foreign corporation or other
business entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or
the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such
licensing or qualification necessary.
4.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 200,000,000 shares of the Parent
Common Stock of which, as of October 25, 2009 (the Parent Capitalization Date), no
more than 109,592,728 shares were issued and outstanding, all of which were the Parent Common
Stock. No shares of authorized capital stock of Parent have been classified as anything but
the Parent Common Stock. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Parent Common Stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights, with no personal liability with respect to Parent attaching to the
ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement, no Voting Debt is issued or
outstanding. As of the Parent Capitalization Date, except pursuant to this Agreement as set
forth in this Section 4.2 (including as contemplated in Section 4.2(b)) and
Parents dividend reinvestment plan, Parent does not have and is not bound by any Rights
calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of
the Parent Common Stock, Voting Debt or any other equity securities of Parent or any
securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of the Parent
Common Stock, Voting Debt or other equity securities of Parent. There are no obligations of
Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of capital stock of Parent, Voting Debt or any equity security of Parent or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise
receive any shares of capital stock, Voting Debt or any other equity security of Parent or
its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (ii) pursuant to which Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries is or could be required to register shares of Parent capital stock or other
securities under the Securities Act. All of the Parent Common Stock sold has been sold
pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act or an
appropriate exemption therefrom and in accordance with the Investment Company Act.
(b) Parent has no issued and outstanding equity-based awards or, as of the date hereof,
any plans providing for such awards. Since the Parent Capitalization Date through the date
hereof, Parent has not (i) issued or repurchased any shares of the Parent Common Stock,
Voting Debt or other equity securities of Parent or (ii) issued or awarded any options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, deferred equity units, awards
based on the value of Parents capital stock or any other equity-based awards. From January
1, 2009 through the date of this Agreement, neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has (A) accelerated the vesting of or lapsing of restrictions with respect to
any material stock-based compensation awards or long term incentive compensation awards, (B)
with respect to executive officers of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, entered
into or amended any material employment, severance, change of control or similar agreement
(including any agreement providing for the
32
reimbursement of excise Taxes under Section 4999
of the Code) or (C) adopted or amended any material Parent Benefit Plan (as defined below),
except to the extent required by applicable Law.
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of each Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent are owned by Parent, directly or
indirectly, free and clear of any Liens, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests
are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of
preemptive rights. No Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent has or is bound by any outstanding
Rights calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any
shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary or any
securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital
stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary.
4.3 Authority; No Violation.
(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions (other than the Second Merger).
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions (other
than the Second Merger) have been duly and validly approved by the Boards of Directors of
each of Parent and Merger Sub. The Board of Directors of Parent has determined that this
Agreement and the terms of the Merger and the related Transactions (other than the Second
Merger) are advisable and in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders, has approved
the Parent Matters and has directed that the Parent Matters be submitted to Parents
stockholders for approval at a duly held meeting of such stockholders and has adopted a
resolution to the foregoing effect. Except for receipt of the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares of the Parent Common Stock entitled to vote to approve the Parent Matters
pursuant to this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions (other than the Second
Merger) have been authorized by all necessary corporate action. This Agreement has been duly
and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and (assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by the Company) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each
of Parent
and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its
terms (except as may be limited by the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception).
(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub, nor
the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub of the Transactions (other than the Second Merger),
nor compliance by Parent or Merger Sub with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement,
will (i) violate any provision of the Parent Articles, Parent Bylaws or the bylaws or charter
of Merger Sub or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in
Section 4.3(a) and Section 4.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any Law or
Order applicable to Parent, any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or
the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without the
giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the
termination of or a right of termination or
33
cancellation under, accelerate the performance
required by, require the consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to or filing with
any third-party with respect to, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
respective properties or assets of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries under, any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Permit, Contract or other obligation to which
Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of
their respective properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause (ii), any such
violation, conflict, breach, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration or creation
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(c) Neither the consummation by Parent of the Transactions nor compliance by Parent
with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement will, assuming that the consents,
rating agency confirmations, approvals, authorizations, notices and filings Previously
Disclosed are duly obtained or made, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any
provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with
or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under,
result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the
performance required by, require the consent, confirmation, approval or authorization of, or
notice to or filing with any third-party with respect to, any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any Parent Managed Fund Contract.
4.4 Governmental Consents. Except for (i) the Regulatory Approvals that have been Previously Disclosed by Parent in
Section 4.4 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the Parent Requisite Regulatory
Approvals), (ii) the filing with the SEC of the Registration Statement, and declaration of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with and
the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT, (iv) any notices or filings under
the HSR Act and (v) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the
securities or Blue Sky Laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of
the Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and approval of listing of such Parent Common
Stock on NASDAQ and the Company Public Notes on NASDAQ, NYSE or other
applicable exchanges, no material consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with
any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the consummation by Parent or Merger Sub
of the Merger and the other Transactions. No consents or approvals of or filings or registrations
with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by Parent
of this Agreement other than (i) the reporting of this Agreement on a Current Report on Form 8-K or
(ii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
4.5 Reports; Regulatory Matters
(a) Parent and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in all material respects, have
timely filed all reports, schedules, registrations, statements, certifications and other
documents, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they
were required to file since January 1, 2008 with the SEC, NASDAQ and any other Governmental
Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be filed by them
34
since January 1,
2008 pursuant to the Laws of any Governmental Entity, and have paid all fees and assessments
due and payable in connection therewith. To the knowledge of Parent, since January 1, 2008,
no Governmental Entity has initiated or has pending any Proceeding or investigation into the
business, disclosures or operations of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. To
the knowledge of Parent, since January 1, 2008, no Governmental Entity has resolved any
Proceeding or investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of Parent or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Parent, there is no unresolved or
threatened comment, exception or stop order by any Governmental Entity with respect to any
filing by Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries relating to any examinations or
inspections of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the
Parent, since January 1, 2008, there have been no formal inquiries by, or disagreements or
disputes with, any Governmental Entity with respect to the business, operations, policies or
procedures of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(b) An accurate and complete copy of each (i) prospectus, final registration statement,
report, schedule and definitive proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by Parent
or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to the Investment Company Act, the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act since January 1, 2008 (the Parent SEC Reports)
and (ii) communication mailed by Parent to its stockholders since January 1, 2008 is publicly
available. No such Parent SEC Report or communication, at the time filed, furnished or
communicated (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates
of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, all
Parent SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.
(c) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is subject to any
cease-and-desist or other order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any
Contract, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any
commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any Order by, or has been
ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or since January 1, 2008 has adopted any policies,
procedures or board resolutions at the request of, any Governmental Entity that currently
restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business (or to Parents knowledge that,
upon consummation of the Mergers, would restrict in any material respect the conduct of the
business of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries), or that in any material manner
relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or
compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business, other than those
of general application that apply to similarly situated BDCs or their Consolidated
Subsidiaries, nor has Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries been advised in writing
or, to the knowledge of Parent, verbally, since January 1, 2008 by any Governmental Entity
that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any of the foregoing.
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4.6 Parent Financial Statements
(a) The financial statements, including the related consolidated schedules of
investments, of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by
reference) in the Parent SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) and the
Parent Interim Financials (i) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, in all
material respects, the books and records of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii)
fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash flows,
changes in stockholders equity and consolidated financial position of Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates
therein set forth (subject in the case of unaudited statements and the Parent Interim
Financials to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and amount), (iii) have
complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC or, in the case of
the Parent Interim Financials, as of the date hereof, in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto and (iv) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with
GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in
such statements or in the notes thereto. As of the date hereof, the books and records of
Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have been maintained in all material respects in
accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect
only actual transactions. KPMG LLP has not resigned, threatened resignation or been
dismissed as independent public accountants of Parent as a result of or in connection with
any disagreements with Parent on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.
(b) (i) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any material
liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent,
determined, determinable or otherwise and whether due or to become due), except for (A) in
the case of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, liabilities that are reflected or
reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of Parent included in the Parent Interim
Financials, (B) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice since September 30, 2009 and (C) liabilities incurred since
September 30, 2009 pursuant to Contracts entered into after September 30, 2009 in
violation of this Agreement (as if this Agreement was in effect on September 30, 2009).
(ii) Other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent, neither Parent nor any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to, and has no commitment to become a party to, any
joint venture, partnership agreement or any similar Contract (including any Contract
relating to any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among Parent or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate, including any structured
finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity, on the other hand) where the purpose or
intended effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction
involving Parent in Parents consolidated financial statements.
(iii) None of the Consolidated Subsidiaries of Parent is required to file any forms,
reports, schedules, statements or other documents with the SEC.
36
(c) Since January 1, 2008, (i) neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
nor, to the knowledge of Parent, any director, officer, Employee, auditor, accountant or
representative of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received or otherwise
had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether
written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or
methods of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their respective internal
accounting controls, including any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Parent or
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable or illegal accounting or
auditing practices or maintains inadequate internal controls over financial reporting (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and (ii) no attorney
representing Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by
Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation
of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by Parent or any of its
officers, directors, Employees or agents to the Board of Directors of Parent or any committee
thereof or to any director or officer of Parent.
(d) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to any
securitization transaction with respect to the assets of Parent or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or off-balance sheet arrangement with respect to Parent (as defined in Item
303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act). To Parents knowledge, since
January 1, 2008, KPMG LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial
statements of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included in Parents SEC Reports
(including the related notes), has been (i) independent with respect to Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries within the meaning of Regulation S-X, and (ii) in compliance with
subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the
SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(e) The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of Parent have made
all certifications required by, and would be able to make such certifications as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date as if required to be made as of such dates,
pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any related rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC, and the statements contained in any such certifications
are complete and correct, and Parent is otherwise in compliance with all applicable effective
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable listing standards and corporate
governance rules of NASDAQ.
(f) Parent has in all material respects:
(i) designed and maintained a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that all
information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by Parent in the
reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Parents management as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to allow Parents
principal executive officer and
37
principal financial officer to make the certifications
required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports;
(ii) designed and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance concerning the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP,
including reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with
managements general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain
accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
managements general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any differences; Parents management, with the participation of
Parents principal executive and financial officers, has completed an assessment of the
effectiveness of Parents internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2008 in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and such assessment concluded that such internal controls were effective
using the framework specified in Parents Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2008;
(iii) (A) disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its auditors and the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Parent (1) any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses (as defined in the relevant Statement of Auditing Standards) in the
design or operation of Parents internal controls over financial reporting that could
adversely affect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (2)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other Employees who have a
significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting and (B) identified for
Parents auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
(iv) provided to the Company true and correct copies of any of the foregoing
disclosures to its auditors or the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
Parent that have been made in writing from January 1, 2008 through the date hereof, and
will promptly provide to the Company true and correct copies of any such disclosures that
are made after the date hereof.
4.7 Brokers Fees. Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor any of their respective
officers, directors, Employees or agents has utilized any broker, finder or financial advisor or
incurred any liability for any brokers fees, commissions or finders fees in connection with the
Merger or the other Transactions, other than to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. pursuant to a letter
agreement, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously delivered to the Company.
4.8 Absence of Changes or Events. Since September 30, 2009, (a) there has not been any Effect that, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent
and (b) there has not been any action that, if it had been taken after the date hereof, would have
required the consent of the Company under Section 5.1 and 5.4.
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4.9 Compliance with Applicable Law.
(a) Parent and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has been
operated since January 1, 2008, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws,
including, if and to the extent applicable, the Investment Company Act, the Investment
Advisers Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Environmental Laws and the Code other
than, in the case of Environmental Laws only, as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. Each of
Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has been operated since
January 1, 2008 in compliance with all listing standards and corporate governance standards
of NASDAQ or other listing exchange or self regulating organization applicable to the Parent
or its Consolidated Subsidiaries other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(b) (i) Parent and each Parent Managed Fund has complied since January 1, 2008 (or, if
later, its launch date or the date the Company or one of its Consolidated Subsidiaries began
managing the Company Managed Fund), and is in compliance, in all material respects with its
investment policies and restrictions and portfolio valuation methods, if any, as such
policies and restrictions may be set forth in its registration statement, offering circulars,
indentures or plan documents (as they may be amended from time to time) and applicable Laws,
if any, other than any non-compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(c) Parent has written policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the
Investment Company Act that are reasonably designed to prevent material violations of the
Federal Securities Laws, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the Investment
Company Act. Since January 1, 2008, there have been no Material Compliance Matters for
Parent, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(2) under the Investment Company Act, other
than those that have been reported to Parents Board of Directors and satisfactorily remedied
or are in the process of being remedied or those that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(d) Parent and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries will hold immediately prior to the
Closing, all Permits required in order to permit Parent and each of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries to own or lease their properties and assets and to conduct their businesses
under and pursuant to all applicable Law, in each case, other than any failure to hold any
Permit that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. All such Permits are valid and in full force
and effect, except for those the failure of which to be valid or to be in full force and
effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. No violations with respect to such Permits have
occurred that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent, and no Proceeding is pending and served or
threatened in writing or, to the knowledge of Parent, pending and not served or
39
otherwise
threatened to suspend, cancel, modify, revoke or materially limit any such Permits, which
Proceeding would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to
the operations of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each Employee
of Parent and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries who is required to be registered or
licensed as a registered representative, investment adviser representative, sales person or
an equivalent person with any Governmental Entity is duly registered as such and such
registration is in full force and effect, except for such failures to be so registered or for
such registration to remain in full force and effect that, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to be material to the operations of Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each Parent Managed Fund that is required to register as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act is so registered or is properly relying on an exemption from
registration under the Investment Company Act.
(f) No affiliated person (as defined under the Investment Company Act ) of Parent has
been subject to disqualification to serve in any capacity contemplated by the Investment
Company Act for any investment company (including a BDC) under Sections 9(a) and 9(b) of the
Investment Company Act, unless, in each case, such Person has received exemptive relief from
the SEC with respect to any such disqualification. Parent has made available to the Company,
prior to the date of this Agreement, a copy of any material exemptive order or other relief
issued by the SEC in respect of any such disqualification. There is no material Proceeding
pending and served or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened that would result in any such
disqualification.
(g) Any Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent acting as an investment adviser as defined
in the Investment Advisers Act to a Parent Managed Fund is duly registered with the SEC under
the Investment Advisers Act or is not subject to registration under the Investment Advisers
Act. No Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent is registered or required to be registered under
the Exchange Act as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
(h) Since January 1, 2008, Parent has not received any written notification, or to
Parents knowledge oral notification, from a Governmental Entity asserting that it is not in
compliance in all material respects with any material Laws or Permits.
4.10 Opinion. The Board of Directors of Parent has received the opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc., to the effect that, as of the date hereof, and based upon and subject to the factors and
assumptions set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to Parent.
4.11 Parent Information. The information relating to Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries that is provided by
Parent or its Representatives for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any application,
notification or other document filed with any Governmental Entity in connection with the
Transactions, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are
made, not misleading. The portions of the Registration Statement relating to Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries and other portions within the
40
reasonable control of Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange
Act. The Registration Statement will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act.
4.12 Taxes and Tax Returns.
(a) Each of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed
(including all applicable extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on
or prior to the date of this Agreement (all such Tax Returns being accurate and complete in
all material respects), has paid all material Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly
paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are
due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities other
than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been
finally determined and have been adequately reserved against under GAAP. For taxable years
ending on or after December 31, 2003, no Tax Return of Parent or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has been examined by the IRS or other relevant taxing authority except where
such examination has not, and would not reasonably be expected to, give rise to liabilities
in excess of $25,000 or as set forth on Section 4.12(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule and
any liability with respect thereto has been satisfied or any liability with respect to
deficiencies asserted as a result of such examination is covered by reserves that are
adequate under GAAP. There are no material disputes pending, or
written claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for which Parent does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither
Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing,
allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or
arrangement exclusively between or among Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries). Within
the past five years (or otherwise as part of a plan (or series of related transactions)
within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code of which the Merger is also a part), neither
Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been a distributing corporation or a
controlled corporation in a distribution intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the
Code. Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is required to include in
income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been
proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has
been submitted by Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Neither Parent nor any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a listed transaction within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2). If Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has participated in a reportable transaction within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b), such entity has properly disclosed such transaction in
accordance with the applicable Tax regulations.
(b) Parent made a valid election under Part I of Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1,
of the Code to be taxed as a RIC. Parent has qualified as a RIC at all times since its
formation and expects to continue to so qualify through the Effective Time. No challenge to
the Parents status as a RIC is pending or has been threatened orally or in writing.
41
(c) Merger Sub is a newly formed entity created for the purpose of undertaking the
Merger. Prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub will not have engaged in any other business
activities and will have incurred no liabilities or obligations other than as contemplated by
this Agreement.
(d) Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects
with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including
withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442 and 3402 of the Code or any comparable
provision of any state, local or foreign Laws) and have, within the time and in the manner
prescribed by applicable Law, withheld from and paid over all amounts required to be so
withheld and paid over under applicable Laws.
(e) Parent is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected
to prevent the Mergers together from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(f) Parent has no earnings and profits for U.S. federal income Tax purposes described
in Section 852(a)(2)(B) of the Code.
(g) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent that is a partnership, joint venture, or
limited liability company has been since its formation treated for U.S. federal
income Tax purposes as a partnership or disregarded entity, as the case may be, and not
as a corporation or an association taxable as a corporation.
(h) Section 4.12(h) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule lists each asset the disposition
of which would be subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code as prescribed in
Internal Revenue Service Notice 88-19, 1988-1 C.B. 486, or Treasury Regulation Section
1.337(d)-5, Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-6 or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7
and the amount of net unrealized built-in gain (within the meaning of Section 1374(d) of
the Code) on each such asset.
(i) No claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where
Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that Parent or any
such Consolidated Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(j) Neither Parent nor any other Person on behalf of Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries has requested any extension of time within which to file any material Tax
Return, which material Tax Return has not yet been filed.
(k) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has requested a private
letter ruling from the IRS or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.
(l) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liability for the
Taxes of another Person other than Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), as a
transferee, successor or payable pursuant to a contractual obligation.
42
(m) There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of
the assets of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
4.13 Litigation.
(a) Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to any, and
there are no pending or, to the Parents knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative,
arbitral or other Proceedings of any nature against Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or to which any of their assets are subject that is seeking unspecified damages,
damages in excess of $100,000, or any injunctive or other equitable relief other than, in the
case of Proceedings initiated between the date hereof and the Closing Date only, such
Proceedings as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
(b) There is no material Order or regulatory restriction (other than regulatory
restrictions of general application that apply to similarly situated companies or their
Consolidated Subsidiaries) imposed upon Parent, any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or the
assets of Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the
Merger, would apply to Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries).
(c) Since January 1, 2008, there have not been, nor are there currently pending, any
internal investigations or inquiries being conducted by Parent, Parents Board of Directors
(or any committee thereof) or any third party at the request of any of the foregoing
concerning any financial, accounting, Tax, conflict of interest, self-dealing, fraudulent or
deceptive conduct or other misfeasance or malfeasance issues.
4.14 Employee Matters. Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any employees or any employee
benefit plans as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, or any employment, bonus, incentive or deferred
compensation, vacation, stock option or other equity based, severance, termination, retention,
change of control, profit sharing, fringe benefit, health, medical or other similar plan, program,
agreement or commitment, whether written or unwritten (Parent Benefit Plans).
4.15 Certain Contracts.
(a) Parent has Previously Disclosed a complete and accurate list of, and true and
complete copies have been delivered or made available (including via EDGAR) to the Company
of, all Contracts (in each case, other than any Parent Benefit Plans) (the Parent
Material Contracts) to which, as of the date hereof, it or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be bound,
or, to the knowledge of Parent, to which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their
respective assets or properties may be subject:
(1) any loan or credit agreements, notes, bonds,
mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments
pursuant to which any indebtedness of Parent or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries in an aggregate
43
principal amount in
excess of $500,000 is outstanding or may be incurred;
(2) any Contract other than this Agreement, with (A) any
Consolidated Subsidiaries of Parent, (B) any current or former
Employee or controlling stockholder of it or except with
respect to investments set forth in the Parent SEC Reports or
Parent Interim Financials any Affiliate of such Person, or (C)
any associate or member of the immediate family (as such
terms are respectively defined in Rule 12b-2 and Rule 16a-1 of
the Exchange Act) of a Person identified in clause (A) or (B)
of this paragraph, in each case in excess of $250,000
(individually or together with all related Contracts);
(3) any Contract that creates future payment
obligations, including settlement agreements, in excess of
$250,000 and that by its terms does not terminate, or is
not terminable upon notice, without penalty within 90 days or
less, or any Contract that creates or would create a Lien on
any asset of Parent or its Consolidated Subsidiaries (other
than Liens consisting of restrictions on transfer agreed to in
respect of investments entered into in the ordinary course of
business or as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Parent);
(4) except with respect to investments set forth in the
Parent SEC Reports or Parent Interim Financials, any
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other
similar Contract that is not entered into in the ordinary
course of business and is material to Parent and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(5) any non-competition or non-solicitation Contract or
any other Contract that limits, purports to limit, or would
reasonably be expected to limit in each case in any material
respect the manner in which, or the localities in which, any
material business of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) is or could be conducted or the types of
business that Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
conducts or may conduct;
(6) any Contract relating to the acquisition or
disposition of any business or operations (whether by merger,
sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise) involving value in
excess of $250,000 (individually or together with all
44
related
Contracts) as to which there are any ongoing obligations or
that was entered into on or after January 1, 2008 other than
Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business with
respect to investments set forth in the Parent SEC Reports or
Parent Interim Financials;
(7) any Contract that obligates Parent or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to conduct any business that is
material to Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, on an exclusive basis with any third party or, upon
consummation of the Merger, will obligate Parent, the
Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries to
conduct business with any third-party on an exclusive basis;
(8) any Contract with a Governmental Entity;
(9) any Parent Managed Fund Contract;
(10) any Contract relating to any collateral management,
investment advisory or other management or advisory fees in
excess of $250,000 per year payable by or to Parent or any of
its Consolidated Subsidiaries; or
(11) any other Contract that is a material contract
within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SECs Regulation
S-K or that is material to Parent or its financial condition
or results of operations.
(b) Each Parent Material Contract is (i) valid and binding on Parent or its applicable
Consolidated Subsidiary and, to Parents knowledge, each other party thereto, (ii)
enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception),
and (iii) is in full force and effect other than as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor, to Parents knowledge, any other
party thereto, is in breach of any provisions of or in default (or, with the giving of notice
or lapse of time or both, would be in default) under, and has not taken any action resulting
in the termination of, acceleration of performance required by, or resulting in a right of
termination or acceleration under, any Parent Material Contract other than as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Parent. No Parent Material Contract has been amended, modified or
supplemented other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. No event has occurred
with respect to Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that, with or without the
giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach, violation or
default under, give rise to a right of termination,
45
modification, cancellation, foreclosure,
prepayment or acceleration under or result in the imposition of a Lien pursuant to, any of
the Parent Material Contracts other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.
4.16 Insurance Coverage.
(a) Section 4.16(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all material
insurance policies that are owned by Parent or its Consolidated Subsidiaries and that name
Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary as an insured, including, without limitation, fidelity or
surety bonds and self-insurance arrangements and those which pertain to the assets,
Employees, agents or operations of the Parent or its Consolidated Subsidiaries (each, a
Parent Insurance Policy).
(b) Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries are insured against (i) such losses and
risks and in such amounts as are customary in the businesses in which they are
engaged and (ii) any and all reasonably foreseeable liability for any and all of the
litigation described in the Parent Quarterly Report and Section 4.13(a) of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule. In addition, Section 4.16(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets
forth in respect of the Parent Insurance Policies (i) a description of claims made and
reported involving amounts in excess of $100,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount paid out under
each such policy during the period from January 1, 2008 through the date hereof.
(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent, neither Parent nor any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries has received any notice or other communication regarding any actual
or threatened in writing: (a) cancellation or invalidation of any Parent Insurance Policy
(if not rescinded); (b) refusal or denial of any material coverage, reservation of rights or
rejection of any material claim under any Parent Insurance Policy; or (c) material adjustment
in the amount of the premiums payable with respect to any Parent Insurance Policy.
(d) There have been no disputes regarding denial or nonpayment of claims under any
Parent Insurance Policy since January 1, 2008 other than with respect to claims that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries maintain insurance coverage with reputable
insurers reasonably believed by Parent to be financially sound.
4.17 Investment Assets. Each of Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has good title to all securities,
indebtedness and other financial instruments owned by it, free and clear of any material Liens,
except to the extent such securities, indebtedness or other financial instruments, as applicable,
are pledged in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice to secure obligations
of Parent or its Consolidated Subsidiaries under outstanding indebtedness and except for Liens
consisting of restrictions on transfer agreed to in respect of investments entered into in the
ordinary course of business.
46
4.18 [Reserved].
4.19 Intellectual Property. Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries own, or are validly licensed or otherwise have the
right to use, all Intellectual Property Rights that are material to the conduct of the business of
Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole (hereinafter, Parent Intellectual
Property Rights). No claims are pending for which Parent has received written notice or, to the
knowledge of Parent, threatened (i) that Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is
infringing or otherwise adversely affecting the rights of any Person with regard to any
Intellectual Property Right, or (ii) that any Parent Intellectual Property Right is invalid or
unenforceable. To the knowledge of Parent, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or using
without authorization the rights of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with
respect to any Intellectual Property Right.
4.20 Environmental Matters. There are no material Proceedings of any kind, pending or, to the knowledge of Parent,
threatened, against Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, arising under any Environmental
Law. There are no Orders by or with any Governmental Entity, imposing any material liability or
obligation on Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries under or in respect of any
Environmental Law. There are and have been no substances, materials, chemicals, wastes,
pollutants, or contaminants classified as hazardous or toxic, or that are otherwise defined in or
regulated under any Environmental Law, or other conditions at any property owned, operated, or
otherwise used by, or the subject of a security interest on behalf of it or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, that reasonably could be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to give rise to
a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. Parent has provided to the Company all material
environmental reports, assessments, audits, studies, investigations, data, environmental permits
and other material written environmental information in the custody, possession or control of
Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, concerning Parent or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.
4.21 Real Property. Neither Parent nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries own any real property.
4.22 Investment Adviser and Administrator
To the knowledge of Parent:
(a) Ares Capital Management LLC (the Investment Adviser) is a limited
liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, Ares Operations LLC (the Administrator) is a limited liability
company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. True, complete and correct copies of the certificates of formation and limited
liability company agreements of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, each as in
effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available to the Company.
Each of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator has the requisite limited liability
company power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted in all material respects, and is duly licensed or
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted
by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by
47
it makes
such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or
qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
(b) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Parent SEC
Reports, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the
operations, affairs or regulatory status of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator that
would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(c) The Investment Adviser is duly registered with the SEC as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is not prohibited by such act or the Investment
Company Act from acting as the investment adviser of Parent under the Investment Advisory
Agreement as contemplated by the Parent SEC Reports. There does not exist any proceeding or,
to Parents knowledge, any facts or circumstances the existence of which would be reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registration of the Investment Adviser with the SEC or the
ability of the Investment Adviser to perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory
Agreement.
(d) There is no action, suit or proceeding or, inquiry or investigation before or
brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of Parent, threatened, against or affecting either the Investment Adviser or
the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports or which would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
(e) The Investment Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by Parent and the Investment Adviser, is in full force and effect, and no party thereto is in
default or breach of any of its obligations thereunder. The Administration Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Parent and the Administrator, is in full
force and effect, and no party thereto is in default or breach of any of its obligations
thereunder. Each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement
constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Investment Adviser and the
Administrator, respectively, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
(f) Neither the Investment Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its
certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, except for such violations
or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time. Subject to applicable Law, except as Previously Disclosed, as contemplated or permitted by
this Agreement or with the prior written consent of the other parties, which prior written consent
shall not be unreasonably
48
delayed, conditioned or withheld, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, each party shall, and shall cause each of its respective
Consolidated Subsidiaries to, (a) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and (b) use reasonable best efforts to (i) maintain and preserve
intact its business organization, listing exchange status and advantageous business relationships,
and (ii) maintain in effect all material Permits that are required by such party and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to carry on their respective businesses.
5.2 Company Forbearances. Subject to applicable Law, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, except as Previously Disclosed or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Parent (which prior written consent
shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld):
(a) Other than pursuant to the Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this
Agreement or as set forth on Section 5.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, issue,
deliver, sell, grant or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or dispose of or encumber or
pledge, or authorize the creation of, or amend the terms of (i) any shares of its capital
stock, (ii) any Company Voting Debt or other voting securities, (iii) any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any other Rights to acquire, any such
shares or other securities or (iv) any phantom stock, phantom stock rights, stock
appreciation rights or stock-based performance units.
(b) (i) Make, declare, pay or set aside or establish a record date for payment of any
dividend on or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its
capital stock or the capital stock of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether in cash,
stock or property or any combination thereof, except for required dividends on the capital
stock of the Company REIT to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of income or excise
Taxes on the Company REIT, as reasonably determined by the Company or dividends payable by
any directly or indirectly wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company to the Company
or another directly or indirectly wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company, (ii)
adjust, split, combine, reclassify or take similar action with respect to 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 (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire, any shares of its capital stock or the capital stock of any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or any other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire
any such shares or other securities as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) Sell, transfer, lease, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or discontinue
any of its assets, deposits, business or properties, except for sales, transfers, leases,
mortgages, encumbrances or other dispositions or discontinuances (i) as set forth in Section
5.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) other such transactions in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice and in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$500,000 or (iii) encumbrances required to secure the Company Outstanding Debt pursuant to
the terms of such debt as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
49
(d) Acquire or agree to acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of
control in a fiduciary or similar capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted
in good faith, in each case, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice) all or any portion of the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other
Person, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise or make any other
investments, except in a transaction conducted in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice and in an amount that individually or together with other such
transactions does not exceed $500,000.
(e) Amend the Company Articles, the Company Bylaws or other governing documents or
similar governing documents of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(f) Implement or adopt any change in its Tax or financial accounting principles,
practices or methods, other than as required by applicable Law, GAAP or applicable regulatory
requirements.
(g) Except as required under applicable Law or the terms of any Company Benefit Plan
existing as of the date hereof or as is set forth in Section 5.2(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule or provided for by this Agreement, (i) increase in any manner the compensation or
benefits (including, without limitation, any increase in severance, change of control or
termination pay) of any of the current, former or newly hired Employees of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii) pay any amounts to Employees of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or increase any amounts or rights of any such Employees not
required by any current plan, program or agreement unless in connection with ordinary course
payroll and expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect as of the date hereof,
(iii) become a party to, establish, amend, commence participation in, terminate or commit
itself to the adoption of any stock option plan or other stock-based compensation plan,
compensation, severance, pension, retirement, profit-sharing, welfare benefit, or other
employee benefit plan or agreement or employment agreement with or for the benefit of any
Employee (or newly hired Employees) of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (iv)
other than as provided for in this Agreement, accelerate the vesting of or lapsing of
restrictions with respect to any stock-based compensation or other long-term incentive
compensation under any Company Benefit Plans, (v) cause the funding of any rabbi trust or
similar arrangement or take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of
compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, or (vi) enter into any employment,
consulting, indemnification, severance or termination Contract with any Employee (other than
immaterial at will employment arrangements).
(h) Take any action or knowingly fail to take any action that would, or would
reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers together from qualifying as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(i) (i) 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 of its debt securities or the debt securities of any Consolidated Subsidiary, guarantee
any debt of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, enter into any keep well or other
50
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 draw downs with respect to
existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
or (ii) except pursuant to Previously Disclosed commitments existing as of the date of this
Agreement that are set forth on Section 5.2(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, 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 and Consolidated Subsidiary of
the Company that is set forth on Section 5.2(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(j) Make or agree to make any new capital expenditure or expenditures in the aggregate
in excess of $100,000.
(k) File or amend any Tax Return other than in the ordinary course of business; make,
change or revoke any Tax election; or settle or compromise any material Tax liability or
refund.
(l) Take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, that is reasonably likely to
cause Company REIT to fail to qualify as a REIT.
(m) Enter into any new line of business.
(n) Terminate, enter into, amend, modify or renew any Contract referenced in Section
3.16(a)(1), (2)(B), 2(C), (3), (5) (other than, in respect of non-solicitation Contracts, in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11)
in a manner materially adverse to the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as
applicable.
(o) Settle any Proceeding against it, except for a Proceeding that (i) is settled in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in an amount or for
consideration not in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate, (ii) would not impose any material
restriction on the conduct of business of it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or,
after the Effective Time, Parent, the Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated
Subsidiaries, (iii) would not create precedent for Proceedings that are reasonably likely to
be material to it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or, after the Effective Time,
Parent, the Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) would not
admit fault, liability or guilt.
(p) (i) Pay, discharge or satisfy any indebtedness for borrowed money, other than the
payment, discharge or satisfaction, required pursuant to the terms of Company Outstanding
Debt as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) cancel any material indebtedness
(individually or in the aggregate) or waive or amend any claims or rights of substantial
value (other than in accordance with ordinary course restructurings of portfolio companies in
an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000) or (iii) waive material benefits of, or agree
to modify in any material manner, any confidentiality (other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice), standstill or similar agreement to which it or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party.
51
(q) Merge or consolidate the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with any
Person or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring,
recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.
(r) Agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its Board
of Directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.2.
5.3 [Reserved].
5.4 Parent Forbearances. Subject to applicable Law, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, except as Previously Disclosed or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company (which prior written consent shall
not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld):
(a) Issue, deliver, sell, grant, dispose of, encumber or pledge any shares of its
capital stock, other than (i) shares in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150 million
aggregate value on or before March 31, 2010 and at a price no less than 80% of net asset
value, (ii) after March 31, 2010, shares in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400 million
aggregate value (including any value represented by shares issued prior to March 31, 2010)
and at a price no less than 90% of net asset value, (iii) shares at a price per share greater
than the net asset value per share of the Parent Common Stock or (iv) other shares of its
capital stock not otherwise shares of the Parent Common Stock.
(b) Make, declare, pay or set aside or establish a record date for payment any dividend
on or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital stock
or the capital stock of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether in cash, stock or
property or any combination thereof, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice.
(c) Amend the Parent Articles, Parent Bylaws or other governing documents or similar
governing documents of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (other than to increase the
number of shares of authorized Parent Common Stock), in each case, in any manner that would
reasonably be expected to be adverse to holders of the Company Common Stock.
(d) Take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action that would, or would
reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers together from qualifying as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(e) Agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its Board
of Directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.4.
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ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1 Further Assurances.
(a) Subject to the Company Right, the parties shall cooperate with each other and use
their reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, in good faith, all actions, and
to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, including to promptly prepare and file
all necessary documentation, to effect all applications, notices, petitions and filings,
to obtain as promptly as practicable all Permits of all Governmental Entities and all
permits, consents, approvals, confirmations and authorizations of all third parties, in each
case, that are necessary or advisable to consummate the Transactions (including the Merger)
including, without limitation, the consents set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule or Section 4.3(b) of Parent Disclosure Schedule, and to comply with the
terms and conditions of all such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all such
third parties and Governmental Entities. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Company Requisite Regulatory Approvals and the
FIRPTA Certificate and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Parent
Requisite Regulatory Approvals. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to modify
the Company Exemptive Order so that it would apply to Parent as the Companys successor.
In furtherance (but not in limitation) of the foregoing, Parent shall promptly (but in
no event later than 21 days of the date hereof) file any required applications, notices or
other filings under the HSR Act. Subject to applicable Law, the Company and Parent shall
have the right to review in advance, and, to the extent practicable, each shall consult the
other on all the information relating to the Company or Parent, as the case may be, and any
of their respective Consolidated Subsidiaries, that appear in any filing made with, or
written materials submitted to, any third-party or any Governmental Entity in connection with
the Transactions. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the parties shall act
reasonably and as promptly as practicable. The parties shall consult with each other with
respect to the obtaining of all Permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third
parties and Permits of all Governmental Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the
Transactions and each party will keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to
completion of the Transactions. Parent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand,
shall each, in connection with the efforts referenced in this Section 6.1(a) to obtain all
requisite Permits for the Transactions under the HSR Act, use its reasonable best efforts to
(i) cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing or submission and
in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any Proceeding initiated by
a private party; (ii) keep the other party informed of any communication received by such
party from, or given by such party to, the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC), the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the DOJ), or any other Governmental Entity
and of any communication received or given in connection with any Proceeding by a private
party, in each case regarding any of the Transactions; and (iii) subject to applicable Law,
permit the other party to review, in advance, any written communication given by it to or
received from, and consult with
53
each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, the
FTC, the DOJ, or any other Governmental Entity or, in connection with any Proceeding by a
private party, any other Person, and to the extent permitted by the FTC, the DOJ, or other
applicable Governmental Entity or other Person, give the other party the opportunity to
attend and participate in such meetings and conferences subject to applicable Law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other covenant contained herein, in connection with
the receipt of any necessary Permits, including under the HSR Act or under any applicable
foreign antitrust laws, nothing shall require either Parent or the
Company to (i) divest or hold separate any material part of its businesses or operations
or (ii) agree not to compete in any geographic area or line of business or agree to take, or
not to take, any other action or comply with any other term or condition, in each case in
such a manner as would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Subject to subsection (c) below, from the date of this Agreement until the Closing,
Parent and the Company shall, and shall cause their Representatives to, reasonably cooperate
in connection with obtaining the Financing Consents, any restructuring of any Company
Outstanding Debt or Parent Indebtedness or any outstanding debt of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or, in the
circumstance where the Financing Consents cannot be obtained, obtaining any replacement,
amended, modified or alternative financing, including the following (it being understood and
agreed that in no event shall any party be required to take any action in respect of the
following to the extent that doing so would be commercially unreasonable):
(i) assisting with the preparation of appropriate and customary materials for rating
agency presentations, offering documents, bank information memoranda (including the delivery
of customary representation letters) and similar documents reasonably required in connection
with the Financing Consents, any restructuring or any alternative financing;
(ii) assisting with the preparation of any pledge and security documents, any loan
agreement, currency or interest hedging agreement, other definitive financing documents on
terms reasonably satisfactory to Parent, or other certificates, legal opinions or documents
as may be reasonably requested by Parent;
(iii) facilitating the pledging of collateral;
(iv) subject to receipt by the Company or Parent, as applicable, of customary
confidentiality undertakings, furnishing to financing sources identified by Parent or the
Company, as the case may be, as promptly as practicable, such financial and other pertinent
information regarding the applicable party as may be reasonably requested by the other
party, including all financial statements and other financial data of the type and form
customarily required by bank lenders, of the type required by Regulation S-X and Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act for registered offerings of debt securities and of the type and
form customarily included in offering documents used in private
54
placements under Rule 144A
of the Securities Act, to consummate any offerings of debt securities;
(v) providing monthly financial statements to the extent the relevant party
customarily prepares such financial statements within the time such statements are
customarily prepared;
(vi) obtaining such accountants comfort letters, legal opinions, surveys and title
insurance as reasonably requested by the parties or their financing sources in connection
with any financing;
(vii) causing its independent accountants to cooperate with and assist in preparing
customary and appropriate information packages and offering materials as may be reasonably
requested for use in connection with a financing;
(viii) making available appropriate officers and employees, on reasonable advance
notice, to meet with prospective lenders and investors in meetings, presentations, road
shows and due diligence sessions, or to execute documents in accordance with this Section
6.1(b),
(ix) introducing Parent to appropriate representatives of the Companys lending
sources in order to discuss the Financing Consents; and
(x) taking all corporate or entity actions, subject to the occurrence of the Closing,
reasonably requested by Parent to permit the consummation of the Financing Consents, any
restructuring of any Company Outstanding Debt or any other outstanding debt of Company and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any alternative financing and to permit the proceeds
thereof to be made available to Parent at the Closing.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) nothing in this Agreement
shall require either Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries or the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries to make payments or provide other consideration for the repayment,
restructuring or amendment of terms of indebtedness in connection with the Mergers in order
to obtain the Financing Consents, other than customary consent fees required in connection
with the change of control, and (ii) Section 6.1(b) and this Section 6.1(c)
shall exclusively govern the obligations of each party to take (or omit to take) any action
in respect of the Financing Consents, any restructuring of any Company Outstanding Debt or
any outstanding debt of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or, in the
circumstance where the Financing Consents cannot be obtained, any action to obtain any
replacement, amended, modified or alternative financing.
(d) If the Financing Consents are obtained, Parent agrees to execute and deliver, or
cause to be executed and delivered, by or on behalf of the Surviving Company, at or prior to
the Effective Time, one or more supplemental indentures, guarantees, certificates, opinions
and other instruments required for the due assumption of the Company Outstanding Debt.
6.2 Regulatory Matters.
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(a) Parent and the Company shall as promptly as practicable, but in no case later than
30 days after the date of this Agreement, prepare and file with the SEC the Registration
Statement. Each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the
Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable
after such filing, and the Company and Parent shall promptly mail or deliver the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to their respective stockholders upon such effectiveness. Parent shall
also use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities Law or Blue
Sky permits and approvals required to carry out the Transactions,
and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to furnish all information concerning
the Company and the holders of the Company Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in
connection with any such action.
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall, upon request, furnish to the other all
information concerning itself, its Consolidated Subsidiaries, directors, officers and
stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection
with the Registration Statement or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by
or on behalf of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Consolidated Subsidiaries to
any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the other Transactions. The
information supplied or to be supplied by either Parent or the Company, as the case may be,
for inclusion in the Registration Statement shall not at the time the Registration Statement
is filed with the SEC or declared effective by the SEC 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the
Effective Time each party shall notify the other party as promptly as practicable (i) upon
becoming aware of any event or circumstance that should be described in an amendment to the
Registration Statement or in a supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and (ii)
after the receipt by it of any written or oral comments of the SEC with respect to, or of any
written or oral request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to, the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement, and shall promptly supply the other party
with copies of all correspondence between it or any of its Representatives and the SEC with
respect to any of the foregoing filings.
(c) Subject to applicable Law, each of Parent and the Company shall promptly advise the
other upon receiving any communication from any Governmental Entity, the consent or approval
of which is required for consummation of the Transactions, that causes such party to believe
that there is a reasonable likelihood that any Regulatory Approval will not be obtained or
that the receipt of any such approval may be materially delayed or conditioned. To the
extent permitted by applicable Law, each party shall consult with the other party prior to
responding to any communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the
Transactions.
6.3 Stockholder Approval.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted
resolutions approving the Company Matters, including the Merger, on the
56
terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, and directing that the Company Matters, including the Merger, be
submitted to the Companys stockholders for their consideration. Subject to the Company
Right, the Board of Directors of the Company shall submit to its stockholders the Company
Matters on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and any other matters
required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the
Transactions. In furtherance of that obligation, subject to the Company
Right, the Company shall take, in accordance with applicable Law and the Company
Articles and the Company Bylaws, all action necessary to send a notice as promptly as
practicable (but in no event later than ten Business Days) following the date on which the
SEC declares the Registration Statement effective of which the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus forms a part, to convene a meeting of its stockholders (the Company
Stockholders Meeting), as promptly as practicable thereafter, to consider and vote upon
approval of the Company Matters including the Merger, on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement as well as any other such matters. The record date for the Company
Stockholders Meeting shall be determined in prior consultation with and subject to the prior
written approval of Parent (which prior written approval shall not be unreasonably delayed,
conditioned or withheld). Subject to Section 6.7, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from the Companys stockholders the vote required
to approve the Company Matters, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
including by recommending to the Companys stockholders the approval of the Company Matters
and including such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and by, at the
request of Parent, postponing or adjourning the Company Stockholders Meeting to obtain a
quorum or solicit additional proxies; provided that the Company shall not postpone or
adjourn the Company Stockholders Meeting for any other reason without the prior written
consent of Parent (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned
or withheld). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Companys obligations
pursuant to this Section 6.3(a) shall not be affected by (i) the commencement, public
proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company or its stockholders of any
Takeover Proposal or (ii) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change (other than a Company
Right).
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of Parent has adopted
resolutions approving the Parent Matters on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and directing that the Parent Matters be submitted to Parents stockholders for
their consideration. The Board of Directors of Parent shall submit to its stockholders the
Parent Matters on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and any other matters
required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the
Transactions. In furtherance of that obligation, Parent shall take, in accordance with
applicable Law and the Parent Articles and the Parent Bylaws, all action necessary to send a
notice as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than ten Business Days) following
the date on which the SEC declares the Registration Statement effective of which the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus forms a part, to convene a meeting of its stockholders (the
Parent Stockholders Meeting), as promptly as practicable thereafter, to consider
and vote upon approval of the Parent Matters including the Merger, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement as well as any other such matters. The record date
for the Parent Stockholders Meeting shall be determined in
57
prior consultation with and
subject to the prior written approval of the Company (which prior written approval shall not
be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld). Subject to Sections 6.8(a) and
6.8(b), the Board of Directors of Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain
from Parents stockholders the vote required to approve the Parent Matters, including by
recommending to Parents stockholders the approval of the Parent Matters and including such
recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and
by, at the request of the Company, postponing or adjourning the Parent Stockholders
Meeting to obtain a quorum or solicit additional proxies; provided that Parent shall
not postpone or adjourn the Parent Stockholders Meeting for any other reason without the
prior written consent of the Company (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably
delayed, conditioned or withheld). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Parents obligations pursuant to this Section 6.3(b) shall not be affected by a
Parent Adverse Recommendation Change.
6.4 NASDAQ Listing. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of the Parent Common
Stock to be issued in the Merger in exchange for the Company Common Stock to be approved for
listing on the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance, as promptly as practicable, and in
any event prior to the Effective Time.
6.5 Employee Matters.
(a) The Company shall cause the employment or services of all Employees of the Company
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (other than those identified by Parent prior to the Closing
as not requiring termination) to be terminated immediately prior to the Effective Time;
provided, however, that such termination of employment or services shall be contingent upon
the Effective Time actually occurring.
(b) On or prior to the Closing Date, Parent or its Affiliates may, but shall be under
no obligation to, make an offer of employment, effective as of the Effective Time or
thereafter, or hire any of the Employees of the Company who are actively employed with the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that any
such offer of employment to an Employee shall be contingent upon the Effective Time actually
occurring. Employees of the Company who continue as Employees of Parent or who affirmatively
accept an offer of employment from a controlled Affiliate of Parent and commence working for
Parent or its controlled Affiliates on the Closing Date are hereinafter referred to as the
Business Employees. Parent or its controlled Affiliates shall determine, in its or
their sole and absolute discretion, the terms and conditions of employment to be offered to
any Business Employee and are under no obligation to employ any Business Employee for any
particular period of time. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent Parent or its
controlled Affiliates from terminating the employment of any Business Employee at any time
after the Effective Time for any reason (or no reason). Parent agrees that any employee
benefit plans in which the Business Employees are eligible to participate shall take into
account for purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit accrual thereunder, except for
benefit accrual under defined benefit pension plans, or to the extent it would result in a
duplication of benefits, service by Business Employees with the Company and its Affiliates as
if such service were with Parent or its controlled Affiliates, to the same extent such
service was credited under a comparable Company
58
Benefit Plan. Parent shall, or shall cause
its controlled Affiliates to: (i) waive any preexisting condition limitations otherwise
applicable to Business Employees and their
eligible dependents under any benefit plan of Parent or its controlled Affiliates that
provides health or medical benefits in which such Business Employees may be eligible to
participate following the Closing (a Parent Welfare Plan), other than any
limitations that were in effect with respect to such employees as of the Closing under the
analogous Company Benefit Plan, (ii) honor any deductible, co-payment and out-of-pocket
maximums incurred by any Business Employee and his or her eligible dependents under the
health plans in which they participated immediately prior to the Closing during the portion
of the calendar year prior to the Closing in satisfying any deductibles, co-payments or
out-of-pocket maximums under Parent Welfare Plans that provide health or medical benefits in
which they are eligible to participate after the Closing in the same plan year in which such
deductibles, co-payments or out-of-pocket maximums were incurred and (iii) waive any waiting
period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement that would otherwise be applicable
to any Business Employee and his or her eligible dependents on or after the Closing, in each
case to the extent such Business Employee or eligible dependent had satisfied any similar
limitation or requirement under an analogous Company Benefit Plan prior to the Closing.
(c) Not later than 10 Business Days prior to and contingent upon the Effective Time,
the Company shall terminate all of the Company Benefit Plans maintained by the Company or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries subject to the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 409A of
the Code; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
terminate (1) any obligation it has to make payments under any employment or retention
agreements or payments otherwise provided for in this Agreement or (2) any Company Benefit
Plan identified by Parent at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing. Payments in
respect of terminated Company Benefit Plans shall be made upon the Closing to the extent
permitted by Sections 401(a) and 409A of the Code. To the extent payment upon Closing is not
permitted by Sections 401(a) and 409A of the Code, the Company shall vest payments and
benefits under such terminated Company Benefit Plans and payments and benefits under
employment or retention agreements for employees who will not continue in the employ of
Parent and its Affiliates. To the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, the Company
shall establish and fund a rabbi trust or similar funding arrangement for any such payments
not made at Closing, which will be distributed at the earliest time permitted in accordance
with the terms of such underlying Company Benefit Plans and the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code. The rabbi trust shall provide that upon satisfaction of all amounts the
remainder will revert to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent or its
controlled Affiliates shall continue, or cause to be continued for the duration of the
applicable COBRA continuation period, the health and medical benefits for the Employees of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under the arrangements that exist immediately
prior to the Effective Time (the Company Health Plans); provided, that if
it is not possible for Parent or its controlled Affiliates to continue the Company Health
Plans as a result of the termination of such Company Health Plan as of the Closing Date, the
Parent or its controlled Affiliate shall either (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain replacement arrangements that replicate the Company Health Plans or (ii) cause such
benefits to be provided pursuant to the health and medical benefit arrangements of a
controlled Affiliate that most closely approximate the
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benefits provided pursuant to the
Company Health Plans. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all
necessary action to cause the account balances and/or
accrued benefits of the Company Employees under the Company 401(k) Plan, to be fully
vested and non-forfeitable as of the Closing Date provided that such actions shall be
contingent on the Effective Time occurring. Each Business Employee with an outstanding plan
loan under the Company 401(k) Plan shall be permitted to roll over his or her eligible
rollover distribution from the Company 401(k) Plan to a qualified defined contribution plan
maintained by Parent or its controlled Affiliate for the Business Employees, including any
outstanding plan loan or promissory note under the Company 401(k) Plan to the extent
allowable under such plan. Except as set forth above, at or prior to the Effective Time (or,
if not permitted under applicable Law, as soon as practicable after the Effective Time in
accordance with their terms) the Company shall pay out to each Employee of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries all benefits accrued by such Employee of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries under the Company Benefit Plans. The Company shall provide Parent
reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon all documentation, including any
resolutions to be adopted by the Company, and to effectuate the termination of the Company
Benefit Plans and vesting of the Companys matching contributions under the Company 401(k)
Plan.
(d) In the event that (i) any Employee of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiary
who does not have a retention agreement does not continue in the employ of Parent or its
controlled Affiliate on or after the Closing or (ii) the employment of any Business Employee
who does not have a retention agreement is terminated by Parent or its controlled Affiliate
without cause within twelve months following the Closing, then the Company (in the case of
the foregoing Section 6.5(d)(i)) or the Parent (in the case of the foregoing Section
6.5(d)(ii)), agrees to, or will cause its controlled Affiliate to, provide such Employee with
severance benefits no less than the severance benefits set forth on Section 5.2(g) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.
(e) The Company shall be permitted to pay retention/annual bonuses and miscellaneous
transaction-related compensation, consistent with the terms set forth on Section 5.2(g) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, to Employees of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.5 to the contrary, nothing contained
herein, whether express or implied, shall be treated as an amendment or other modification of
any employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Affiliates, or shall limit the
right of Parent or its respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any
employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Affiliates following the Effective
Time. If (i) a party other than the parties hereto makes a claim or takes other action to
enforce any provision in this Agreement as an amendment to any employee benefit plan
maintained by Parent or any of its Affiliates, and (ii) such provision is deemed to be an
amendment to such employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Affiliates even
though not explicitly designated as such in this Agreement, then, solely with respect to the
employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Affiliates at issue, such provision
shall lapse retroactively and shall have no amendatory effect with respect thereto.
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(g) No provision of this Section 6.5 shall create any third party beneficiary or other
rights in any Business Employee (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof) in respect
of employment with Parent or any of its Affiliates and no provision of this Section 6.5 shall
create any rights in any Business Employee (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof)
in respect of any compensation or benefits that may be provided, directly or indirectly,
under any employee benefit plan or arrangement that has been or may be established by Parent
or any of its Affiliates. No provision of this Agreement shall constitute a limitation on
rights to amend, modify or terminate at any time any employee benefit plans or arrangements
of Parent of any of its Affiliates.
(h) The Company shall be responsible for fulfilling all requirements under WARN,
including but not limited to issuing all notices required under WARN or similar state laws (a
WARN Notice) and/or to make any payments required to be made to any Employee of the
Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries under WARN or similar state laws; provided, that
Parent shall have an opportunity to review and approve such WARN Notice no later than seven
Business Days before such WARN Notice will be issued to an Employee of the Company or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, such approval by Parent to not be unreasonably withheld.
6.6 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.
(a) Following the Effective Time, Parent shall, to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable Law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless and advance expenses to the present and
former directors and officers of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, and any
such Person presently or formerly serving at the request of the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as a director, officer, employee, trustee or fiduciary of any other
Person or under or with respect to any employee benefit plan (in each case, when acting in
such capacity) (each, an Indemnified Party and collectively, the Indemnified
Parties) against all costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, penalties, amounts paid in settlement or other
liabilities (collectively, Indemnified Liabilities) incurred in connection with any
Proceeding arising out of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time
(including the Transactions), whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective
Time. In the event of any such Indemnified Liabilities, (i) Parent shall advance to such
Indemnified Party upon request reimbursement of documented expenses reasonably incurred to
the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law provided that the Person to whom expenses
are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined
that such Person is not entitled to indemnification and complies with other applicable
provisions imposed under the Investment Company Act and interpretations thereof by the SEC or
its staff and (ii) Parent and the applicable Indemnified Parties shall cooperate in the
defense of such matter. If any Indemnified Party is required to bring any action to enforce
rights or to collect moneys due under this Section 6.6(a) and is successful in
obtaining a decision that it is entitled to enforcement of any right or collection of any
money in such action, Parent shall reimburse such
Indemnified Party for all of its expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
bringing and pursuing such action, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs.
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(b) For a period of six years following the Effective Time, Parent shall obtain a
directors and officers liability insurance policy that serves to reimburse the present and
former officers and directors of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries
(determined as of the Effective Time) with respect to Proceedings against such directors or
officers arising from facts or events occurring on or prior to the Effective Time, which
insurance shall contain identical or better coverage and amounts, and contain terms and
conditions no less advantageous, as that coverage currently provided by the Companys current
policies (the Company D&O Policies); provided, that in no event shall
Parent be required to expend more than 200% of the current amount expended by the Company for
the Company D&O Policies for a twelve-month period (the Current Premium) to
maintain or procure directors and officers insurance coverage for a comparable six-year
period, which annual premium is set forth on Section 6.6(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule; provided, further, that if Parent is unable to maintain or obtain
the insurance called for by this Section 6.6(b), Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to obtain as much comparable insurance as is available for 200% of the Current Premium;
provided, further, that officers and directors of the Company or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries may be required to make application and provide customary
representations and warranties to the responsible insurance carrier for the purpose of
obtaining such insurance. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.6(b) to the contrary,
(i) Parent may fulfill its (and the Surviving Companys) obligations under this Section
6.6(b) by purchasing, and (ii) the Company may purchase for up to 200% of the Current Premium
a directors and officers insurance policy or a tail policy under the Company D&O
Policies, in either case that (A) has an effective term of six years from the Effective Time,
(B) covers those Persons who are currently covered by the Company D&O Policies and for
actions and omissions occurring on or prior to the Effective Time and (C) contains terms with
respect to coverage and amounts that are identical or better than those contained in the
Company D&O Policies provided, that, if the Company purchases such insurance policy
or tail policy, Parents obligation under this Section 6.6(b) shall be deemed to have been
satisfied in full.
(c) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under Section 6.6(a), upon
learning of any Proceeding described above, shall promptly notify Parent; provided,
that failure so to notify shall not affect the obligations of Parent under Section 6.6(a)
unless and to the extent that Parent is actually and materially prejudiced as a consequence.
(d) If Parent or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any
other entity and is not the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or
transfers all or substantially all of its assets to any other entity, then and in each case,
Parent shall cause proper provision to be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent
shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.6.
(e) At the Effective Time, Parent shall automatically, fully, unconditionally and
irrevocably assume and agree to perform and discharge, jointly and severally with the
Surviving Company, all of the obligations of the Company under each indemnification agreement
between the Company and any of its directors and officers listed on Section 6.6(e) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule (substantially in the form filed under Exhibit
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10.37 to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003) and any other
similar agreements.
(f) The provisions of this Section 6.6 are (i) intended to be for the benefit of, and
shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives and
(ii) in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or
contribution that any such person may have by Contract or otherwise.
6.7 No Solicitation.
(a) The Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates, Consolidated Subsidiaries, and
its and each of their respective officers, directors, trustees, managers, employees,
consultants, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and other advisors, representatives
and agents (collectively, Representatives) to, immediately cease and cause to be
terminated immediately any discussions or negotiations with any parties that may be ongoing
with respect to, or that are intended to or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a
Takeover Proposal. The Company shall promptly demand that each Person (other than Parent or
its Affiliates or Representatives) that has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement
with respect to the Companys consideration of a possible Takeover Proposal immediately
return or destroy (which destruction shall be certified in writing by such Person to the
Company) all confidential information heretofore furnished to such Person. Prior to the
Effective Time, subject to Section 6.7(c), the Company shall not, and shall cause its
Affiliates, Consolidated Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives not to,
(i) directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, induce, knowingly encourage or take any other
action with the intent to solicit, initiate, induce or encourage (including by way of
furnishing or disclosing information) any inquiries or the making or submission or
implementation of any proposal or offer (including any proposal or offer to its stockholders)
with respect to any Takeover Proposal, (ii) enter into any agreement, arrangement,
discussions or understanding with respect to any Takeover Proposal (including any letter of
intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding or confidentiality agreement) or
enter into any Contract or understanding (including any letter of intent, agreement in
principle, memorandum of understanding or confidentiality agreement) requiring it to abandon,
terminate or fail to consummate, or that is intended to or that would reasonably be expected
to result in the abandonment of, termination of or failure to consummate, the Merger or any
other Transaction, (iii) initiate or participate in any way in any negotiations or
discussions regarding, or furnish or disclose to any Person (other than Parent or its
Affiliates or Representatives) any information with respect to, or take any other action to
facilitate or in furtherance of any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes,
or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal, or (iv) grant any approval
pursuant to any Takeover Statute to any Person (other than Parent or its Affiliates) or
transaction (other than the Transactions) or waiver or release under any standstill or any
similar agreement with respect to equity securities of the Company.
(b) The Company shall advise Parent in writing of any request for information or any
Takeover Proposal and the terms and conditions of such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry
(including the identity of the Person (or group of Persons)
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making such request, Takeover
Proposal or inquiry) and the Company shall promptly provide to Parent copies of any written
materials received by the Company in connection with any of the foregoing, and the identity
of the Person (or group of Persons) making any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry or
with whom any discussions or negotiations are taking place. The Company agrees that it shall
keep Parent informed on a reasonably current basis of the status and the material terms and
conditions (including amendments or proposed amendments) of any such request, Takeover
Proposal or inquiry and keep Parent informed on a reasonably current basis of any information
requested of or provided by the Company and as to the status of all discussions or
negotiations with respect to any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry.
(c) If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Company
Stockholders Meeting, (i) the Company receives a bona fide unsolicited Takeover Proposal
(under circumstances in which the Company has complied in all material respects with the
provisions of Sections 6.7(a) and (b)); (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
determined in good faith, after consultation with reputable outside legal counsel and
financial advisors experienced in such matters, that (x) failure to consider such Takeover
Proposal would be a breach of the duties of the directors of the Company under applicable Law
and (y) such Takeover Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior
Proposal; and (iii) the Company gives Parent at least two (2) Business Days prior written
notice of the identity of the Person making such Takeover Proposal, the terms and conditions
of such Takeover Proposal and the Companys intention to furnish information to, or
participate in discussions or negotiations with, the Person making such Takeover Proposal
then, subject to compliance with this Section 6.7(c), the Company may:
(i) engage in negotiations or discussions with such Person who has made the
unsolicited bona fide Takeover Proposal and provide information in response to a request
therefor by a Person who has made such Takeover Proposal if the Company (A) receives from
such Person an executed confidentiality agreement with terms (including standstill) no less
favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (except for
such changes specifically necessary for the Company to comply with its obligations under
this Agreement) and (B) provides Parent a copy of all such information that has not
previously been delivered to Parent simultaneously with delivery to such Person, and
(ii) after fulfilling its obligations under Section 6.7(d) below, adopt, approve or
recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend, including entering into an
agreement with respect thereto, a Takeover Proposal (a Takeover Approval).
If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Company
Stockholders Meeting, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good
faith, after consultation with reputable outside legal counsel and financial advisors
experienced in such matters, that recommendation of the Company Matters to the Companys
stockholders would be a breach of the duties of the directors of the Company under applicable
Law, the Company may (A) withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in
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a manner adverse to
Parent), or publicly propose to withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse
to Parent), the approval, adoption, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the
Board of Directors of the Company of the Company Matters, including the recommendation of the
Board of Directors of the Company (the Company Recommendation) and (B) take any
action or make any statement, filing or release, in connection with the Company Stockholders
Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the Company Recommendation (any action described in
clause (A) and (B) referred to collectively with any Takeover Approval as a Company
Adverse Recommendation Change).
(d) Upon any determination that a Takeover Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal,
the Company shall provide to Parent a written notice (a Notice of a Superior
Proposal) (i) advising Parent that the Board of Directors of the Company has received a
Superior Proposal, (ii) specifying in reasonable detail the material terms and conditions of
such Superior Proposal, including the amount per share that the stockholders of the Company
will receive and including a copy of all written materials provided to or by the Company in
connection with such Superior Proposal and (iii) identifying the Person making such Superior
Proposal. The Company shall cooperate and negotiate in good faith with Parent during the
five calendar day period following the Notice of a Superior Proposal (it being understood
that any amendment to the financial terms or any other material term of such Superior
Proposal shall require a new notice and a new five calendar day period) to make such
adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Company to
proceed with a Company Recommendation without a Company Adverse Recommendation Change. If
Parent does not make an offer that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its
reasonable good faith judgment (after consultation with reputable outside legal counsel and
financial advisors experienced in such matters ) to be as favorable to the holders of the
Company Common Stock (other than Parent and its Affiliates), as such Superior Proposal, and
the Company has complied in all material respects with Section 6.7(c) above, the Company may
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(iii).
(e) Other than as permitted by Section 6.7(c), neither the Company nor the
Board of Directors of the Company shall make any Company Adverse Recommendation Change.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Company Adverse Recommendation Change
shall change the approval of the Company Matters or any other approval of the Board of
Directors of the Company, including in any respect that would have the effect of causing any
Takeover Statute or other similar statute to be applicable to the Transactions.
(f) The Company shall provide Parent with prompt written notice of any meeting of the
Companys Board of Directors at which the Companys Board of Directors is reasonably expected
to consider any Takeover Proposal (such written notice shall in any event be reasonably in
advance of such meeting).
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6.8 Parent Recommendations.
(a) If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to Parent
Stockholders Meeting, the Board of Directors of Parent shall have determined in good faith,
after consultation with reputable outside legal counsel and financial advisors experienced in
such matters, that recommendation of the Parent Matters to Parents stockholders would be a
breach of the duties of the directors of Parent under applicable Law, Parent may (A) withdraw
or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Company), or publicly propose to
withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Company), the approval,
adoption, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Board of Directors of Parent
of the Parent Matters, including the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Parent (the
Parent Recommendation), and (B) take any action or make any statement, filing or
release, in connection with the Parent Stockholders Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with
the Parent Recommendation (any action described in clause (A) and (B) being referred to as a
Parent Adverse Recommendation Change).
(b) Other than as permitted by Section 6.8(a), neither Parent nor the Board of
Directors of Parent shall make any Parent Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, no Parent Adverse Recommendation Change shall change the
approval of the Parent Matters or any other approval of the Board of Directors of Parent.
6.9 Access to Information.
(a) Upon reasonable notice, subject to applicable Law, each of the Company and Parent
shall, and shall cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, afford to the officers,
employees, accountants, counsel, advisors, agents and other Representatives of the other
party, reasonable access, during normal business hours during the period prior to the
Effective Time, to all its properties, books, Contracts, commitments and records, and, during
such period, such party shall, and shall cause its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, make
available (including via EDGAR) to the other party (i) a copy of each report, schedule,
registration statement and other document filed or received by it during such period pursuant
to the requirements of applicable Laws (other than reports or documents that such party is
not permitted to disclose under applicable Law) and (ii) all other information concerning its
business, properties and personnel as the other party may reasonably request. From the date
of this Agreement through the Closing, subject to applicable Law, each of Parent and the
Company shall promptly provide each other with monthly and quarterly information regarding
its portfolio company investments for informational purposes. Prior to the Closing, the
Company shall provide Parent with all information reasonably requested by Parent regarding
the Companys portfolio companies, including information of third parties, and cooperate
fully with Parent in connection with its diligence of the Companys portfolio companies.
(b) All information and materials provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject
to the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.
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(c) No investigation by a party hereto or its representatives shall affect the
representations and warranties of the other party set forth in this Agreement.
6.10 Takeover Statutes and Provisions. Neither Parent nor the Company will take any
action that would cause the Transactions to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover
Statute. Each of Parent and the Company shall take all necessary steps within its control to
exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) those Transactions from, or if necessary challenge
the validity or applicability of, any applicable Takeover Statute, as now or hereafter in effect.
6.11 Tax Matters.
(a) Tax Representation Letters. Prior to the Effective Time (or at such other
times as requested by counsel), each of Parent and the Company shall execute and deliver to
Proskauer Rose LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP tax representation letters (which will be used
in connection with the tax opinions contemplated by Sections 7.2(d) and 7.3(d)) in form and
substance as set forth in Exhibits B and C.
(b) Tax Information. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
deliver to Parent a statement, accurate in all material respects, no later than the Closing
Date, of (i) the assets of the Company appearing in the Consolidated Statement of Investments
included in the Companys SEC filings, showing the basis of such assets for federal income
Tax purposes by lot and the holding periods of such assets for such purposes, based on the
books and records of the Company as of the close of the quarter immediately preceding the
Closing Date (the Prior Quarter) (provided that, if the Closing Date is less than
30 days after the close of the Prior Quarter, the information shall be provided on the basis
of the books and records of the Company as of the close of the quarter immediately preceding
the Prior Quarter; (ii) the capital loss carryforwards of the Company for federal income Tax
purposes and the taxable year(s) of the Company (or its predecessors) in which such capital
losses were recognized; (iii) any limitations on the use of such losses imposed under Section
382 of the Code (determined without regard to the Transactions); (iv) any unrealized gain or
loss in such assets for federal income Tax purposes, based on the books and records of the
Company as of the close of the Prior Quarter (provided that, if the Closing Date is less than
30 days after the close of the Prior Quarter, the information shall be provided on the basis
of the books and records of the Company as of the close of the quarter immediately preceding
the Prior Quarter), and (v) such other Tax information reasonably and timely requested by
Parent.
(c) RIC Status. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, except as Previously Disclosed or as expressly contemplated or permitted by
this Agreement, (i) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Parent take any
action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably
likely to cause the Company to fail to qualify as a RIC, and (ii) Parent shall not, and
shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the
prior written consent of the Company, take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action,
67
which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to cause Parent to fail to qualify as a
RIC.
(d) Tax Opinions. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause Sullivan &
Cromwell LLP to, and Parent shall use its best efforts to cause Proskauer Rose LLP to, issue
a Registration Statement Tax Opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit G. The
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the tax opinion described in Section 7.3(d) and
Parent shall use its best efforts to obtain the tax opinion described in Section 7.2(d).
6.12 Merger of Surviving Company. Immediately after the occurrence of the Effective
Time and in accordance with the MGCL, Surviving Company shall merge with and into Parent, with
Parent as the surviving entity.
6.13 Stakeholder Litigation. The parties to this Agreement shall cooperate and
consult with one another in connection with any Proceeding by the Companys stockholders and other
stakeholders or Parents stockholders and other stakeholders against any of them or any of their
respective directors, officers or Affiliates with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions.
In furtherance of and without in any way limiting the foregoing, each of the parties shall use its
respective reasonable best efforts to prevail in such Proceeding so as to permit the consummation
of the Transactions in the manner contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company agrees that it will not compromise or settle any Proceeding commenced against it or its
directors, officers and/or employees relating to this Agreement or the Transactions (including the
Merger) without Parents prior written consent, except for any Proceeding that is settled in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in an amount or for consideration not in
excess of $500,000 and that would not (i) impose any material restriction on the business of the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or after the Effective Time, Parent, the Surviving
Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries, (ii) create precedent for claims that are
reasonably likely to be material to the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or, after
the Effective Time, Parent, the Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries or
(iii) admit fault, liability or guilt.
6.14 Resignations. To the extent requested by Parent in writing at least two
Business Days prior to the Closing Date, on the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be
delivered to Parent duly signed resignations, effective at or immediately after the Closing, of the
directors and officers of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries designated by Parent and
shall take such other action as is necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
6.15 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of each of Parent and the
Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of the Company
Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to the Company Common Stock) or
acquisitions of the Parent Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to the Parent
Common Stock) resulting from the Transactions by each individual who is subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company or will become
subject to such reporting requirements with respect to Parent, in each case, to be exempt pursuant
to Rule 16b-3.
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6.16 Managed Funds Approvals. The Company and Parent shall each use its respective
reasonable best efforts to obtain or make all consents (including by voting or consenting with
respect of its own interests), rating agency confirmations, approvals, authorizations, notices and
filings required to consummate the Transactions without violating, conflicting with, resulting in a
breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constituting a default (or an event
that, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default)
under, resulting in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under,
accelerating the performance required by any party, in connection with any Company Managed Fund
Contract. Neither the Company nor Parent shall otherwise knowingly dissuade or impede, any vote or
other action necessary to obtain such consents in anticipation of the Closing.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
7.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective
obligations of the parties to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to
the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approvals. (i) The Company Matters shall have been approved by
the requisite affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon,
and (ii) the Parent Matters shall have been approved by the requisite affirmative vote of the
stockholders of Parent entitled to vote thereon.
(b) NASDAQ Listings. The shares of the Parent Common Stock to be issued under
this Agreement in connection with the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on the
NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.
(c) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become
effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no Proceedings for that purpose shall have
been initiated by the SEC.
(d) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No Order issued by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction or other Law preventing or making illegal the consummation
of the Merger or any of the other Transactions shall be in effect.
(e) Regulatory Approvals. All Regulatory Approvals required by applicable Law
to consummate the Transactions, including the Mergers, shall have been obtained and shall
remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods required by applicable Law
in respect thereof shall have expired (including expiration of the applicable waiting period
under the HSR Act).
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent. The obligation of Parent to effect the
Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Parent, at or prior to the Effective Time,
of the following conditions:
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(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of
the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time, without
regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such
representations and warranties (except to the extent that any such representation and
warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and
warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this Section
7.2(a)(i) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any representations and
warranties of the Company (other than Section 3.2, which must be true and correct
except to a de minimis extent (relative to Section 3.2 taken as a whole) or except in
any way that reasonably is not adverse to Parent and Sections 3.3(a) and
3.3(b)(i), which must be true and correct in all material respects) are not so true
and correct, without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification
to such representations and warranties, unless the failure of such representations and
warranties of the Company to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (ii) Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in this
Section 7.2(a)(i) have been satisfied.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have
performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time; and Parent shall have received a certificate
signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company to such effect.
(c) Absence of Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this
Agreement there shall not have occurred any condition, change or event (other than, subject
to the proviso at the end of this clause (c), any Effect Previously Disclosed) that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes
of this clause (c), an Effect that has been Previously Disclosed shall (i) be limited solely
to the information with respect to the Effect included in the Disclosure Schedule or filing,
as applicable, and (ii) not include any additional facts, developments or other information
in respect to such Effect (including, without limitation, future facts, developments or other
information in respect of such Effect) that arise following the date hereof. Notwithstanding
anything in the foregoing to the contrary, in no event shall any Ciena Matter be considered
or otherwise taken into account for purposes of this Section 7.2(c).
(d) Federal Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received the opinion of its
counsel, Proskauer Rose LLP, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit D, dated
the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations
and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are consistent with the state of facts
existing at the Closing Date, the Mergers together will be treated as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel may require
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and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of officers of the Company
and Parent, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits B and C. If
counsel for Parent will not render such an opinion, counsel for the Company may render such
opinion to Parent.
(e) FIRPTA Certificate. The Company shall have delivered within 30 days prior
to the Closing Date a duly executed certificate (the FIRPTA Certificate) stating
that the Company is not and has not been within five years of the date of the certificate a
United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the
Code in accordance with Treasury Regulations promulgated under Sections 897 and 1445 of the
Code.
(f) Lender Approvals. All Financing Consents shall have been obtained and
shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) No Bankruptcy Event. No Bankruptcy Event shall have occurred with respect
to the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (other than the Bankruptcy Event that
has already occurred with respect to Ciena).
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to
effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of
Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time,
without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such
representations and warranties (except to the extent that any such representation and
warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and
warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this
Section 7.3(a)(i) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any representations and
warranties of the Company (other than Section 4.2, which must be true and correct
except to a de minimis extent (relative to Section 4.2 taken as a whole) or except in
any way that reasonably is not adverse to the Company and Sections 4.3(a) and
4.3(b)(i), which must be true and correct in all material respects) are not so true
and correct, without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification
to such representations and warranties, unless the failure of such representations and
warranties of Parent and Merger Sub to be so true and correct, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect
to Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (ii) the Company shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of Parent and Merger Sub to the effect that the conditions set forth
in Section 7.3(a)(i) have been satisfied.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
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performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time; and the Company shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of Parent to such effect.
(c) Absence of Parent Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this
Agreement there shall not have occurred any condition, change or event (other than, subject
to the proviso at the end of this clause (c), any Effect Previously Disclosed) that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect in respect of Parent; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (c),
an Effect that has been Previously Disclosed shall (i) be limited solely to the information
with respect to the Effect included in the Disclosure Schedule or filing, as applicable, and
(ii) not include any additional facts, developments or other information in respect to such
Effect (including, without limitation, future facts, developments or other information in
respect of such Effect) that arise following the date hereof.
(d) Federal Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received the opinion of its
counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit D,
dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts,
representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are consistent with the state
of facts existing at the Closing Date, the Mergers together will be treated as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion,
counsel may require and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of
officers of the Company and Parent, in form and substance as set forth in Exhibits B
and C. If counsel for the Company will not render such an opinion, counsel for
Parent may render such opinion to Company.
(e) No Bankruptcy Event. No Bankruptcy Event shall have occurred with respect
to Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective
Time, whether before or after approval of the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company or
the Parent Matters by the stockholders of Parent:
(a) by mutual consent of the Company and Parent in a written instrument authorized by
the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Parent;
(b) by either the Company or Parent, if:
(i) any Governmental Entity that must grant a Regulatory Approval has denied approval
of the Merger and such denial has become final and nonappealable or any Governmental Entity
of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final and nonappealable Order, or promulgated
any other Law permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal the
consummation of the Transactions;
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(ii) the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before June 30, 2010 (the
Termination Date);
(iii) the stockholders of the Company shall have failed to approve the Company Matters
by the requisite vote of the Companys stockholders at a duly held meeting of the Companys
stockholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Company Matters have
been voted upon;
(iv) the stockholders of Parent shall have failed to approve the Parent Matters by the
requisite vote of Parents stockholders at a duly held meeting of Parents stockholders or
at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Parent Matters have been voted upon;
or
(v) a Special Termination Event shall have occurred.
provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any party that has
breached in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner
that shall have proximately contributed to the occurrence of the failure of a
condition to the consummation of the Merger;
(c) by the Company, if:
(i) there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any
of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of
Parent or Merger Sub, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate, would
result in, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the
failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3, and which is not cured
within 15 Business Days following written notice to Parent or by its nature or
timing cannot be cured within such time period (provided that the Company is
not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions
set forth in Section 7.1, 7.2(a) or 7.2(b) not to be satisfied);
(ii) prior to obtaining approval of the Parent Matters by the stockholders of
Parent (A) a Parent Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred, (B) Parent
shall have failed to include in the Registration Statement the recommendation of
Parents Board of Directors that Parents stockholders vote in favor of the Parent
Matters or (C) Parent shall have failed to take a vote of its stockholders on the
Parent Matters prior to the Termination Date;
(iii) at any time prior to the time the approval of stockholders with respect
to the Company Matters is obtained, (A) the Company is not in material breach of any
of the terms of this Agreement, (B) the Board of Directors of the Company authorizes
the Company, subject to complying with the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 6.7(d)), to enter into, or the Company enters into, any letter of
intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement,
merger agreement or other similar Contract with respect to a Superior Proposal and
(C) the Company prior to such termination pays to Parent
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in immediately available
funds any fees required to be paid pursuant to Section 8.2(a); or
(iv) Parent breaches, in any material respect, any of its obligations under
Section 6.3(b) or Section 6.8.
(d) by Parent, if:
(i) there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any
of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the
Company, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if
occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth
in Section 7.2, and which is not cured within 15 Business Days following written
notice to the Company or by its nature or timing cannot be cured within such time
period (provided that Parent is not then in material breach of this
Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1, 7.3(a) or
7.3(b) not to be satisfied);
(ii) if, prior to obtaining approval of the Company Matters by the stockholders
of the Company (A) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change and/or Takeover Approval
shall have occurred, (B) the Company shall have failed to include in the
Registration Statement the recommendation of the Companys Board of Directors that
the Companys stockholders vote in favor of the Company Matters, including the
Merger and the other Transactions, (C) a tender or exchange offer relating to any shares of the Company Common Stock shall have been commenced and the Company shall
not have sent to its stockholders, within 10 Business Days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a
statement disclosing that the Companys Board of Directors recommends rejection of
such tender or exchange offer, (D) a Takeover Proposal is publicly announced and the
Company fails to issue, within 10 Business Days after such Takeover Proposal is
announced, a press release that reaffirms the recommendation of the Companys Board
of Directors that the Companys stockholders vote in favor of the Company Matters,
including the Merger and the other Transactions, or (E) the Company shall have
failed to take a vote of its stockholders on the Company Matters prior to the
Termination Date; or
(iii) the Company breaches, in any material respect, any of its obligations
under Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.7.
The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 shall
give written notice of such termination to the other party in accordance with Section
10.2, specifying the provision or provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is
effected.
8.2 Termination Fee.
(a) (i) If this Agreement shall be terminated by (a) Parent pursuant to Section
8.1(d)(i) (solely to the extent that the Company has committed a willful breach), 8.1
(d)(ii)
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or 8.1(d)(iii) or (b) by the Company pursuant to Section
8.1(c)(iii), then the Company shall upon the date of such termination (or, in the case of
a termination by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(iii), prior to such
termination), pay Parent a non-refundable fee in an amount equal to $30.0 million (the
Termination Fee), as liquidated damages and full compensation hereunder, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing to the Company by
Parent.
(ii) If this Agreement shall be terminated by Parent or the Company pursuant to
Section 8.1(b)(iii), then the Company shall upon the date of such
termination pay Parent a non-refundable fee in an amount equal to $15.0 million (the
Special Termination Fee), as liquidated damages and full compensation
hereunder, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
in writing to the Company by Parent. If this Agreement is terminated, in no event
shall the maximum aggregate liability of the Company hereunder exceed the amount of
the Termination Fee or Special Termination Fee, as applicable.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated (1) by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section
8.1(b)(iv) or by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(c)(i) (solely to the
extent that Parent has committed a willful breach), (ii) or (iv) or (2) due
to a Financing Issue, then Parent shall upon the date of such termination pay the Company a
non-refundable fee in an amount equal to $30 million (the Reverse Termination Fee)
as liquidated damages and full compensation hereunder, payable by wire transfer of
immediately available funds
to an account designated in writing to Parent by the Company. If this Agreement is
terminated, in no event shall the maximum aggregate liability of Parent and Merger Sub
collectively hereunder exceed the amount of the Reverse Termination Fee.
(c) The parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.2
are an integral part of the Transactions, that without these agreements each party would not
have entered into this Agreement, and that any amounts payable pursuant to this Section
8.2 do not constitute a penalty. If Parent fails to pay as directed in writing by the
Company any amounts due to the Company pursuant to this Section 8.2 within the time
periods specified in this Section 8.2 or the Company fails to pay Parent any amounts
due to Parent pursuant to this Section 8.2 within the time periods specified in this
Section 8.2, Parent or the Company, as applicable, shall pay the costs and expenses
(including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred by the Company or Parent, as
applicable, in connection with any action, including the filing of any lawsuit, taken to
collect payment of such amounts, together with interest on such unpaid amounts at the prime
lending rate prevailing during such period as published in The Wall Street Journal,
calculated on a daily basis from the date such amounts were required to be paid until the
date of actual payment.
8.3 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either
the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and
have no effect, and none of Parent, the Company, any of their respective Affiliates or Consolidated
Subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of any of them shall have any liability of any
nature whatsoever under this Agreement, or in connection with the Transactions,
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except that Section 6.9(b), Article VIII and
Article X (including, in each case, any applicable definitions) shall survive any termination of
this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liabilities
for damages incurred or suffered by another party arising out of the breach by such party of any
provision of this Agreement.
8.4 Fees and Expenses. Subject to Section 8.2, except with respect to (i) costs and
expenses of printing and mailing the Registration Statement and all filing and other fees paid to
the SEC in connection with the Merger, and (ii) all filing and other fees in connection with any
filing under the HSR Act, which shall be borne equally by Parent and the Company, all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid
by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.
8.5 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties, by action taken or
authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of Parent
Matters by the stockholders of Parent or the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company;
provided, however, that after any approval of the Parent Matters by the stockholders of Parent or
the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company, there may not be, without further approval
of such stockholders, any amendment of this Agreement that requires such further approval under
applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of each of the parties.
8.6 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, each party, by
action taken or authorized by its Board of Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (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 of the other parties contained in
this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties 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 a written instrument signed on behalf of such party,
but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation,
covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other non-compliance.
ARTICLE IX
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Administration Agreement means the Amended and Restated Administration
Agreement between Parent and Ares Operations LLC dated as of June 1, 2007.
Affiliate of a Person means any other Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control
with the first Person. In the case of a BDC that is externally managed, Affiliate includes
its investment adviser.
Bankruptcy Code means Title 11, United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.,
as amended from time to time.
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Bankruptcy Event shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to a Person if
either:
(a) a case or other Proceeding shall be commenced, without the application or consent
of such Person, in any court, seeking the liquidation, reorganization, debt arrangement,
dissolution, winding up, or composition or readjustment of debts of such Person, the
appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, sequestrator (or other
similar official) or the like for such Person or all or substantially all of its assets or
any similar action with respect to such Person, in each case, under any Bankruptcy Laws, and
such case or Proceeding shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in effect, for a period
of 90 consecutive days; or an order for relief in respect of such Person shall be entered in
an involuntary case under the federal Bankruptcy Laws or other similar laws now or hereafter
in effect; or
(b) such Person shall commence a voluntary case or other Proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Laws now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking
possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) for such Person or all or substantially all of its assets under any
Bankruptcy Laws, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall
fail to, or admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts generally as they become due,
or, if a corporation or similar entity, its board of directors or similar governing body
shall vote to implement any of the foregoing.
Bankruptcy Laws means the Bankruptcy Code and all other applicable
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, suspension of payments, or similar debtor relief laws from time
to time in effect affecting the rights of creditors generally.
BDC means a Business Development Company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of
the Investment Company Act.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which
banks are required or authorized to close in the City of New York.
Callidus means, collectively, Callidus Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
Ciena means Ciena Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, and any predecessor company including Business Loan Express.
Ciena Matters means all Proceedings that directly or indirectly arise out of,
or are related to, (i) the business of Ciena, its Consolidated Subsidiaries or Affiliates,
(ii) the bankruptcy cases of Ciena, its Consolidated Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or (iii) the
participation in, operation, or supervision (or alleged lack thereof) of Ciena, its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
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Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company 401(k) Plan means the Allied Capital Corporation 401(k) Plan.
Company Articles means the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
as in full force and effect.
Company Bylaws means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company as in full
force and effect.
Company Credit Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of August 28, 2009 by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto.
Company Exemptive Order means an order issued by the SEC granting an exemption
from Section 12(d)(3) of the Investment Company Act (Application No. 812-13561).
Company Interim Financials means the draft financial statements of the Company
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the three and nine-month periods ending
September 30, 2009, a copy of which has been provided to Parent.
Company Financing Consent means all consents, confirmations, approvals or
authorizations, or notices required under the Contracts governing the Company Credit
Agreement and the Company Private Notes necessary to consummate the Transactions, including
the Mergers, without violating, conflicting with, resulting in a breach of any provision of
or the loss of any benefit under, constituting a default (or an event that, with or without
the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, resulting
in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerating the
performance required by any party to such Contracts.
Company Managed Fund Contracts means, collectively, the indentures, collateral
management agreements and all other investment advisory, management,
servicing, administration and other agreements that perform a similar function by which
the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company is bound with respect to the
Company Managed Funds.
Company Managed Funds means a Managed Fund to which the Company or a
Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company acts as investment manager, collateral manager,
manager, adviser, servicer, sub-servicer, sub-adviser or similar capacity, including, without
limitation, (i) Senior Secured Loan Fund LLC (formerly known as Unitranche Fund LLC), (ii)
Allied Capital Senior Debt Fund, L.P. and Allied Capital Senior Debt Funding 2007-1, (iii)
AGILE Fund I, LLC, (iv) Knightsbridge CLO 2007-1 Limited, (v) Knightsbridge CLO 2008-1
Limited, (vi) Emporia Preferred Funding I, Ltd., (vii) Emporia Preferred Funding II, Ltd.,
and (viii) Emporia Preferred Funding III, Ltd.
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Company Matters means (i) the proposed Merger and (ii) any other matters
required to be approved or adopted by the stockholders of the Company in order to effect the
Transactions (excluding the Second Merger).
Company Outstanding Debt means the Company Private Notes, the Company Public
Notes and the Company Credit Agreement.
Company Private Note Agreement means that certain Amended, Restated and
Consolidated Note Agreement dated as of August 28, 2009 by and among the Company and the
institutional investors party thereto.
Company Private Notes means the Series A-1 Senior Notes due June 15, 2010, the
Series A-2 Senior Notes due June 15, 2010, the Series B-1 Senior Notes due June 15, 2011, the
Series B-2 Senior Notes due June 15, 2011, the Series C-1 Senior Notes due March 31, 2012,
the Series C-2 Senior Notes due March 31, 2012, and the Series CMW Senior Notes due April 1,
2012, in each case outstanding under the Company Private Note Agreement.
Company Public Notes means:
(i) $400,000,000 6.625% Notes due July 15, 2011 issued pursuant to that Indenture, dated
as of June 16, 2006, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York (the
Indenture), as amended by that First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25,
2006;
(ii) $250,000,000 6.00% Notes due April 1, 2012 issued pursuant to the Indenture as
amended by that Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 8, 2008; and
(iii) $200,000,000 6.875% Notes due April 15, 2047 issued pursuant to the Indenture as
amended by that Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 28, 2007.
Company Quarterly Report means the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
Company REIT means, collectively, Allied Capital REIT, Inc., a Maryland
Corporation.
Company Right means the right of the Company to take any action that
constitutes a Company Adverse Recommendation Change pursuant to Section 6.7.
Company Stock Option Plan means the Allied Capital Corporation Amended Stock
Option Plan.
Confidentiality Agreement means the Confidentiality and Nondisclosure
Agreement, dated July 1, 2009, between Parent and the Company.
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Consolidated Subsidiary, when used with respect to any Person, means any bank,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other Person, whether incorporated or
unincorporated, that is consolidated with such Person for financial reporting purposes under
GAAP.
Contract means any agreement, contract, lease, mortgage, power of attorney,
evidence of indebtedness, indenture, letter of credit, undertaking, covenant not to compete,
license, instrument, obligation, purchase or sales order, arrangement or other commitment,
whether oral or written, and shall include each amendment, supplement and modification to the
foregoing, to which a Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which
any of them may be bound or to which to their knowledge any of their assets or properties may
be subject.
EDGAR means the SECs Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System.
Employees means, with respect to a Person, its directors, officers, employees,
consultants, or individuals treated as independent contractors.
Environmental Laws means Laws regulating, relating to or imposing liability or
standards of conduct concerning the generation, treatment, use, storage, handling, disposal,
release or exposure to hazardous or toxic substances, materials, chemicals, wastes,
pollutants or contaminants, pollution or the environment, as in effect on or prior to the
date of this Agreement.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Ratio means, initially, each share of the Company Common Stock shall
be converted into 0.325 shares of the Parent Common Stock (the Initial Shares)
subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 1.5(e).
Extension of Credit means any loan, revolving credit facility, letter of
credit, repurchase agreement or other extension of credit or commitment to extend credit,
together with all security agreements and guarantees relating thereto.
Financing Consents means, collectively, the Company Financing Consent and the
Parent Financing Consent.
Financing Issue is a circumstance where this Agreement is terminated (A) by
Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(ii) as a result of the failure to satisfy the condition
set forth in Section 7.2(f) or (B) by either party pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(ii) in the
event that each of the conditions set forth Article VII (other than Section 7.2(f)) have been
satisfied or waived as of such date.
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GAAP means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Governmental Entity means any federal, state, local, or foreign government or
other governmental body, any agency, commission or authority thereof, any regulatory or
administrative authority, any quasi-governmental body, any self-regulatory agency, any court,
tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body, or any political subdivision, department or branch of
any of the foregoing.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
Investment Advisers Act means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended,
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
Investment Advisory Agreement means the Amended and Restated Investment
Advisory and Management Agreement, made as of June 1, 2006, between Parent and Ares Capital
Management LLC.
Investment Company Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service.
knowledge means (i) for the Company, the actual knowledge of its executive
officers and directors set forth in Section 9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, after
reasonable inquiry and (ii) for Parent, the actual knowledge of its executive officers and
directors set forth in Section 9 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, after reasonable inquiry.
Law means any federal, state, local, municipal, or foreign constitution,
treaty, law (including the common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ, decree or injunction or any Permit or similar right granted by any Governmental
Entity.
Lease means all lease documents, including the lease agreements and all
modifications or amendments thereto, under which the Company or any of its Consolidated
Subsidiaries is either the landlord or a tenant.
liabilities means all obligations and liabilities (including accounts
payable), absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, contingent, matured
or unmatured, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, incurred or consequential,
whether due or to become due and regardless of when or by whom asserted.
Liens means all security interests, community property interests, liens,
claims, pledges, contracts, limitations in voting rights, charges, conditions, easements,
covenants, warrants, demands, equitable interests, mortgages, options, purchase rights,
rights of first refusal or encumbrances or restrictions of any nature whatsoever, including
any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other
attribute of ownership.
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Managed Fund means any collective or pooled investment vehicle that meets the
definition of investment company in Section 3 of the Investment Company Act or is excepted
or exempt therefrom by virtue of Section 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5) or 3(c)(7) thereof or Rule 3a-7
thereunder.
Material Adverse Effect means, with respect to Parent or the Company, as the
case may be, any event, state of facts, circumstance, development, change, effect or
occurrence (each, an Effect) that is, or would reasonably be expected to be,
materially adverse to (i) the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or
results of operations of such party and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
other than (A) any Effect resulting, directly or indirectly, from (1) changes in general
economic, social or political conditions or the securities, credit or financial markets in
general, (2) general changes or developments in the industries in which such party and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries operate, including general changes in Law across such industries or
geographic areas, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), to the extent
such changes or developments referred to therein would reasonably be expected to have a
materially disproportionate adverse impact on such party and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industries and in the geographic
markets in which such party conducts its businesses after taking into account the size of
such party relative to such other participants, or (3) the announcement of this Agreement or
the Transactions or the identities of the parties to this Agreement or (4) any actions or
omissions of a party taken with the prior written consent of the other party or any actions
taken by the parties mutually, or (B) any failure to meet internal projections for any period
or any decline in the price of shares of the Parent Common Stock or the Company Common Stock,
as the case may be, on NASDAQ or the NYSE, as the case may be (provided that the underlying
causes of such failure shall be considered in determining whether there is a Material Adverse
Effect) or (ii) the ability of such party to timely consummate the Merger and the other
Transactions.
MGCL means the Maryland General Corporation Law.
NASDAQ means The NASDAQ Global Select Market.
NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange.
Order means any award, writ, stipulation, determination, decision, injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, subpoena or verdict entered, issued, made or rendered by, or
any Contract with, any Governmental Entity.
Organizational Documents means, with respect to a Person other than a natural
person, (i) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of a corporation;
(ii) the certificate of formation and operating agreement of a limited liability company;
(iii) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership of a general partnership;
(iv) the limited partnership agreement and the certificate of limited partnership of a
limited partnership; (v) any charter or similar document adopted or filed in connection with
the creation, formation or organization of any other Person; (vi) any stockholder or similar
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agreement among holders of securities of an issuer; and (vii) an amendment to any of the
foregoing.
Parent Articles means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Parent, as
amended.
Parent Bylaws means the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Parent.
Parent Common Stock means shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share,
of Parent.
Parent Financing Consent means all consents, confirmations, approvals or
authorizations, notices or confirmation (or similar pronouncement from a rating agency)
required under the Contracts governing the Parent Indebtedness necessary to consummate the
Transactions, including the Mergers, without violating, conflicting with, resulting in a
breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constituting a default (or an
event that, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute
a default) under, resulting in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation
under, accelerating the performance required by any party to such Contracts.
Parent Indebtedness means (i) the senior secured revolving credit facility
among Parent, the lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
administrative agent, as amended to date; (ii) the $314.0 million principal amount of
asset-backed notes issued through Parents wholly owned subsidiary, ARCC CLO 2006 LLC, (iii)
the revolving facility among, inter alia, Ares Capital CP Funding, LLC, as the borrower,
Parent, as the originator and the servicer, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as the
administrative agent, as amended to date; and (iv) the revolving facility among, inter alia,
Ares Capital CP Funding II, LLC, as the borrower, Parent, as the servicer and the transferor,
and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the Note Purchaser.
Parent Interim Financials means the draft financial statements of Parent and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the three and nine-month periods ending September
30, 2009, a copy of which has been provided to the Company.
Parent Managed Fund Contracts means, collectively, the indentures, collateral
management agreements and all other investment advisory, management, servicing,
administration and other agreements that perform a similar function by which Parent or any
Consolidated Subsidiary of Parent is bound with respect to the Parent Managed Funds.
Parent Managed Funds means a Managed Fund to which Parent or an Affiliate that
is controlled by Parent acts as investment manager, collateral manager, manager, adviser,
servicer, sub-servicer, sub-adviser or similar capacity, including, without limitation, (i)
Ivy Hill Middle Market Credit Fund, Ltd., (ii) Ivy Hill Middle Market Credit Fund II, Ltd.,
(iii) FirstLight Funding I, Ltd., (iv) CoLTS 2005-1 Ltd., (v) CoLTS 2005-2 Ltd., (vi) CoLTS
2007-1 Ltd., (vii) Ares Capital CP Funding LLC, (viii) Ares Capital CP Funding II LLC, and
(ix) ARCC Commercial Loan Trust 2006.
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Parent Matters means (i) the proposed issuance of the Parent Common Stock in
connection with the Merger, (ii) any matters required to be approved under Section 23(b) of
the Investment Company Act and (iii) any other matters required to be approved or adopted by
the stockholders of Parent in order to effect the Transactions (excluding the Second Merger).
Parent Quarterly Report means Parents Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009.
party means any party to this Agreement.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Permit means any license, permit, variance, exemption, franchise, consent,
approval, authorization, qualification, or order of any Governmental Entity.
Person means an individual, a (general or limited) partnership, a corporation,
a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture,
an unincorporated organization, a Governmental Entity or other legal entity or organization
or group (which term shall include a group as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act).
Previously Disclosed means information (i) set forth by the Company or Parent,
as the case may be, in the applicable Disclosure Schedule or (ii) previously disclosed in
their respective annual reports on Form 10-K for the 2008 fiscal year or quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2009 or the Company Quarterly Report or
the Parent Quarterly Report, as applicable or in the case of the Company, in its Current
Report on Form 8-K dated September 1, 2009 (but in each case excluding any risk factor
disclosures contained under the heading Risk Factors, any disclosure of risks included in
any forward-looking statements disclaimer or any other statements that are similarly
non-specific or predictive or forward-looking in nature).
Proceeding means an action, charge, complaint, claim, demand, suit,
arbitration, inquiry, notice of violation, investigation, litigation, lawsuit, audit,
bankruptcy or other
proceeding (including a partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether civil,
criminal, administrative, investigative or informal.
Property Agreements means each certificate, permit or license from any
Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any of the Company Properties or any agreement,
easement or any other right that is necessary to permit the lawful use and operation of the
buildings and improvements on any of the Company Properties or that is necessary to permit
the lawful use and operation of all driveways, roads and other means of egress and ingress to
and from any of the Company Properties.
REA means all operation and reciprocal easement agreements or other similar
agreements under which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party
Reference Price means $3.47.
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Registration Statement Tax Opinion means the opinion (and consent of counsel
to its use) supporting the tax matters and consequences to the stockholders discussed in the
Registration Statement.
Regulatory Approvals means all applications and notices with, and receipt of
consents, authorizations, approvals, exemptions or nonobjections from any Governmental
Entity.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SEC Order means SEC Release No. 55931, dated June 20, 2007, entitled In the
Matter of Allied Capital Corporation.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
promulgated thereunder.
Special Termination Event means if prior to the Closing the Board of Directors
of Parent determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that there is a reasonable
likelihood that the liabilities for any monetary net losses related to Ciena exceeds 66 2/3%
of the fair value of Ciena as of September 30, 2009 as such fair value is determined by the
Companys Board of Directors, then Parent shall promptly provide the Company with written
notice of the determination (including the reasoning therefor) (the Ciena Notice).
The Board of Directors of Parent shall make a determination within 15 Business Days of
receiving new and material information relating to the Ciena Matters. During a period of
five Business Days following the delivery of the Ciena Notice to the Company, either Parent
or the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by providing written notice
therefor to the other party. In the event of any such termination, no termination fees will
be payable hereunder.
Superior Proposal means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal that was not
knowingly solicited by, or the result of any knowing solicitation by, the Company or any
of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or by any of their respective Affiliates or
Representatives in violation of this Agreement, made by a third party to purchase 80% of the
outstanding equity securities of the Company pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer,
merger, consolidation or business combination or all or at least 80% of the assets of the
Company on a consolidated basis (a) on terms which the Companys Board of Directors
determines in good faith (based on the written opinion, with only customary qualifications,
of the Companys independent financial advisor) to be superior for the stockholders of the
Company (in their capacity as stockholders), taken as a group, from a financial point of view
as compared to the Merger (after giving effect to the payment of the Reverse Termination Fee
and any alternative proposed by Parent in accordance with Section 6.7), (b) that is
reasonably likely to be consummated (taking into account, among other things, all legal,
financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, including any conditions, and the
identity of the offeror) in a timely manner and (c) in respect of which any required
financing has been determined in good faith by the Companys Board of Directors
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(including a
majority that are not interested persons as defined in the Investment Company Act) to be
reasonably likely to be obtained, as evidenced by a written commitment of a reputable
financing source.
Takeover Proposal means any inquiry, proposal, discussions, negotiations or
offer from any Person or group of Persons (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates)
relating to any direct or indirect acquisition, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, including any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock
acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or similar transaction, of (a)
assets or businesses that constitute or represent 20% or more of the total assets, net
revenue or net income of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
(b) 20% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting
interests in, the Company or in any of the Companys Consolidated Subsidiaries directly or
indirectly holding, individually or taken together, the assets or businesses referred to in
clause (a) above, in each case other than the Merger and the other Transactions.
Tax or Taxes means all federal, state, local, and foreign income,
excise, gross receipts, gross income, ad valorem, profits, gains, property, capital, sales,
transfer, use, payroll, employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise,
backup withholding, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated and other taxes,
charges, levies or like assessments together with all penalties and additions to tax and
interest thereon, whether disputed or not.
Tax Dividend means a dividend or dividends, with a record date and ex-dividend
date prior to the Effective Time, which, together with all previous dividends, shall have the
effect of distributing to the Companys stockholders all of its previously undistributed (i)
investment company taxable income within the meaning of Section 852(b) of the Code
(determined without regard to Section 852(b)(2)(D) of the Code), (ii) amounts constituting
the excess of (A) the amount specified in Section 852(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Code over (B) the
amount specified in Section 852(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Code, and (iii) net capital gain (within
the meaning of Section 1222(11) of the Code), if any, in each case recognized in taxable
periods or years ending on or before the Effective Time.
Tax Return means a report, return, statement, form or other information
(including any schedules, attachments or amendments thereto) required to be supplied to a
Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes including, where permitted or required,
consolidated, combined or unitary returns for any group of entities.
Transactions means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
the Mergers.
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ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for
Section 6.6 and for those other covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that by their
terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time.
10.2 Notices. All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent via facsimile (with
confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or delivered by an
express courier (with confirmation) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to the Company, to:
Allied Capital Corporation
1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Attention: John M. Scheurer
Facsimile: (202) 721-6101
with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Attention: Cynthia Krus
Facsimile: (202) 637-3593
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention: Mark J. Menting
Facsimile: (212) 558-3588
If to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
Ares Capital Corporation
2000 Avenue of the Stars
12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention: Michael Weiner
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Facsimile: (310) 201-4141
and
Ares Capital Corporation
280 Park Avenue, 22nd Floor Building East
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Joshua Bloomstein
Facsimile: (212) 750-1777
with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:
Proskauer Rose LLP
2049 Century Park East
Suite 3200
Los Angeles, California 90067-3206
Attention: Michael Woronoff and Monica Shilling
Facsimile: (310) 557-2193
Each such notice or other communication shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of
receipt).
10.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of or Exhibit or
Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for 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. All schedules and exhibits hereto shall be deemed part of this Agreement and included
in any reference to this Agreement. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in
this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions and covenants and
restrictions contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way
be affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency
determines that any term, provision, covenant or restriction is invalid, void or
unenforceable, it is the express intention of the parties that such term, provision, covenant or
restriction be enforced to the maximum extent permitted. Accounting terms that are not otherwise
defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them under GAAP. To the extent that the
definition of an accounting term defined in this Agreement is inconsistent with the meaning of such
term under GAAP, the definition set forth in this Agreement shall control.
10.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts
(including by facsimile or other electronic means), all of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other parties (including by facsimile or other electronic means), it being
understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.
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10.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments
referred to in this Agreement), together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between
the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
10.6 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the Laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made and performed
entirely within such state, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles that would
cause the application of the Laws of another jurisdiction, except to the extent governed by the
Investment Company Act, in which case the latter shall control. The parties hereto agree that any
Proceeding brought by any party to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of
or in connection with, this Agreement or the Transactions shall be brought in any federal or state
court located in the State of Maryland. Each of the parties hereto submits to the jurisdiction of
any such court in any Proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter
arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the Transactions and hereby irrevocably
waives the benefit of jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or otherwise in such
Proceeding. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any Proceeding in any
such court or that any such Proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any
legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated
hereby.
10.7 Publicity. The initial press release with respect to the Transactions shall be
a joint press release reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company. Thereafter, so long as this
Agreement is in effect, none of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates shall
issue or cause the publication of any press release or other announcement with respect to this
Agreement, the Merger, or the other Transactions without the prior approval of (i) in the case of
the Company or
any of its Affiliates, Parent and (ii) in the case of Parent or any of its Affiliates, the
Company; provided, however, that either party may, without the prior consent of the other party
(but after prior consultation with the other party to the extent practicable under the
circumstances) issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement to
the extent required by Law or the rules and regulations of NASDAQ or NYSE, as applicable.
10.8 Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned by any of the parties
(whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties.
Any purported assignment in contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each
of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in Section 6.6, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to in
this Agreement) is not intended to and does not confer upon any Person other than the parties
hereto any rights or remedies under this Agreement.
10.9 No Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge and agree that no party shall
be entitled to seek or obtain an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement by
the other parties or to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that
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the sole and exclusive remedy of (i) the Company, the Companys stockholders, any of their
respective Affiliates or any other Person with respect to any such breach shall be as set forth in
Section 8.2(b), and (ii) Parent, Parents stockholders, Merger Sub, any of their respective
Affiliates or any other Person with respect to any such breach shall be as set forth in Section
8.2(a).
10.10 Disclosure Schedule. Before entry into this Agreement, Parent and the Company
each delivered to the other party a schedule (the Parent Disclosure Schedule and the Company
Disclosure Schedule, respectively, each, a Disclosure Schedule) that sets forth, among other
things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express
disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more
representations or warranties contained in Article III or IV, as applicable, or to one or more
covenants contained herein; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the mere inclusion of an item as an exception to a representation or warranty shall
not be deemed an admission that such item represents a material exception or material fact, event
or circumstance or that such item has had or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each Disclosure Schedule shall be numbered to correspond with the sections and subsections
contained in this Agreement. The disclosure in any section or subsection of each Disclosure
Schedule, shall qualify only (i) the corresponding section or subsection, as the case may be, of
this Agreement, (ii) other sections or subsections of this Agreement to the extent specifically
cross-referenced in such section or subsection thereof, and (iii) other sections or subsections of
this Agreement to the extent it is reasonably apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such
disclosure would be applicable to such other sections or subsections.
10.11 Conforming Amendment. If Parent determines to merge the Company into Parent
directly instead of merging Merger Sub into the Company, then, upon the prior approval of the
Company (such prior approval not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld), the parties
hereto shall enter into an amendment (the Conforming Amendment) to this Agreement with the other
parties reflecting such structural change and amending such provisions of this Agreement as may be
necessary to effectuate the Conforming Amendment.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, Merger Sub and Parent have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
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ALLIED CAPITAL CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ John M. Scheurer
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Name: John M. Scheurer |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ Michael J. Arougheti
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Name: Michael J. Arougheti |
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Title: President |
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ARCC ODYSSEY CORP.
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By: |
/s/ Joshua M. Bloomstein
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Name: Joshua M. Bloomstein |
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Title: Authorized Signatory |
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[Agreement and Plan of Merger]