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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
(NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY)
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
(NAME OF PERSON FILING STATEMENT)
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COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE
(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
957150-10-5
(CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
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B. ALLEN LAY
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
1065 EAST WALNUT STREET
CARSON, CA 90746
(310) 886-8200
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED
TO RECEIVE NOTICES AND COMMUNICATIONS
ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) FILING THIS STATEMENT)
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COPY TO:
JAY J. MILLER, ESQ.
430 EAST 57TH STREET
SUITE 5D
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 758-5577
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ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY.
The name of the subject company is Westbrae Natural, Inc, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and the address of the principal executive office
of the Company is 1065 East Walnut Street, Carson, CA 90746. The title of the
class of equity securities to which this statement relates is Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares").
ITEM 2. TENDER OFFER OF THE BIDDER.
This Statement relates to the tender offer (the "Offer") disclosed in a
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1/13D, dated September 12, 1997 (the
"Schedule 14D-1"), of Hain Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
("Purchaser" ) a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hain Food Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to purchase all outstanding Shares at a price
of $3.625 per Share (such amount, or any greater amount paid pursuant to the
Offer, the "Per Share Amount"), net to the seller in cash, without interest
thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
to Purchase dated September 12, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the
related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together
constitute the "Offer").
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger among
Parent, Purchaser and the Company, dated as of September 11, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement"). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions contained therein, and in accordance with
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL"), as promptly as
practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions contained
therein, and the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, Purchaser will be
merged with and into the Company (the "Merger").
The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) there having been
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer a
number of Shares which would represent at least a majority of the Shares
outstanding on a fully diluted basis (the "Minimum Condition") and (ii) Parent
obtaining, prior to the expiration of the Offer, sufficient financing to
enable the consummation of the Offer and the Merger (the "Financing
Condition").
According to the Schedule 14D-1, the address of the principal executive
office of Purchaser and of Parent is 50 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard,
Uniondale, New York 11553.
ITEM 3. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.
(a) The name and business address of the Company, which is the person
filing this statement, are set forth in Item 1 above.
(b) Each material contract, agreement, arrangement and understanding
between the Company or its affiliates and (i) its executive officers,
directors or affiliates and (ii) the Purchaser, Parent, its executive
officers, directors or affiliates is described in Annex A hereto or set
forth below.
MERGER AGREEMENT. The following is a summary of certain provisions of the
Merger Agreement. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text thereof which is incorporated herein by reference and a copy of
which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
as an exhibit to Parent's and the Purchaser's Schedule 14D-1 The Merger
Agreement may be examined and copies may be obtained at the places and in the
manner set forth in Section 12 of the Offer to Purchase.
The Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to the provisions of
the Merger Agreement, as promptly as practicable but in no event later than
five business days after the announcement of the execution of the Merger
Agreement, the Purchaser will, and Parent will cause the Purchaser to,
commence the Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that the obligation of the
Purchaser to, and of Parent to cause the Purchaser to, accept for payment, and
pay for, any shares of Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer will be
subject to the (i) the Minimum Condition, (ii) the Financing Condition and
(iii) conditions set forth in "Conditions to the
Offer" below and to the other conditions of the Merger Agreement. On the terms
and subject to the conditions of the Offer and the Merger Agreement, the
Purchaser will, and Parent will cause the Purchaser to, pay for all shares of
Common Stock validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer that the
Purchaser becomes obligated to purchase pursuant to the Offer as soon as
practicable after the expiration of the Offer. The Purchaser expressly
reserves the right to modify the terms of the Offer and to waive any condition
of the Offer, except that, without the consent of the Company, the Purchaser
will not (i) reduce the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Offer,
(ii) reduce the price per share of Common Stock to be paid pursuant to the
Offer, (iii) modify or add to the conditions set forth in "Conditions to the
Offer" below or otherwise amend the Offer in any manner materially adverse to
the Company's stockholders, (iv) except as provided in the next two sentences,
extend the Offer, or (v) change the form of consideration payable in the
Offer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser may, without the consent
of the Company, (i) extend the Offer for a period of not more than 10 business
days beyond the initial expiration date of the Offer (which initial expiration
date will be 20 business days following commencement of the Offer), if on the
date of such extension less than 90% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
have been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer,
(ii) extend the Offer from time to time if at the initial expiration date or
any extension thereof the Minimum Condition or any of the other conditions to
the Purchaser's obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock set forth in
paragraphs (a), (b) and (e) of "Conditions to the Offer" below will not be
satisfied or waived, until such time as such conditions are satisfied or
waived, (iii) extend the Offer for any period required by any rule,
regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or the staff thereof
applicable to the Offer and (iv) extend the Offer for any reason for a period
of not more than 10 business days beyond the latest expiration date that would
otherwise be permitted under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence. In
addition, the Purchaser will at the request of the Company extend the Offer
for five business days if at any scheduled expiration date of the Offer any of
the conditions to the Purchaser's obligation to purchase shares of Common
Stock will not be satisfied; provided, however, that the Purchaser will not be
required to extend the Offer beyond November 30, 1997.
The Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that following the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions described below under "Conditions to the Merger" and
in accordance with the DGCL, the Purchaser will be merged with and into the
Company, and each then outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by the
Company or by any subsidiary of the Company and Shares owned by Parent, the
Purchaser or any other subsidiary of Parent or held by stockholders, if any,
who are entitled to and who properly exercise dissenters' rights under the
DGCL), will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to
the price per Share paid pursuant to the Offer, without interest.
Approval of Company Stockholders. If required by applicable law in order to
consummate the Merger, the Company will duly call, give notice of, convene and
hold a special meeting (the "Special Meeting") of its stockholders as soon as
practicable following the consummation of the Offer for the purpose of
considering and taking action upon the Merger Agreement and the Merger. In
addition to receiving notice of such Special Meeting, stockholders would
receive a Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement"), soliciting the vote of the
stockholders of the Company with respect to the Merger Agreement and the
Merger at the Special Meeting. Section 253 of the DGCL would permit the Merger
to occur without a vote of the Company's stockholders (a "short-form merger")
if the Purchaser were to acquire at least 90% of all of the outstanding Shares
in the Offer. If the Purchaser acquires 90% or more of the outstanding Shares
in the Offer, the Purchaser intends to cause the Merger to occur as a short-
form merger.
Conditions to the Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that the Merger is
subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions: (1) the
Merger Agreement shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of
the holders of the Shares, if required by applicable law, in order to
consummate the Merger, (2) no statute, rule or regulation shall have been
enacted or promulgated by any governmental authority which prohibits the
consummation of the Merger; and there shall be no order or injunction of a
court of competent jurisdiction in effect precluding consummation of the
Merger and (3) Parent, the Purchaser or their affiliates shall have purchased
Shares pursuant to the Offer, except that this condition shall not apply if
Parent, the Purchaser or their affiliates shall have failed to purchase Shares
pursuant to the Offer in breach of their obligations under the Merger
Agreement.
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Termination of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement may be terminated
and the transactions contemplated therein may be abandoned at any time prior
to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), whether before or
after shareholder approval thereof: (1) by the mutual written consent of
Parent and the Company; (2) by either of the Company or Parent (a) if the
Offer will have expired without any Shares being purchased therein, other than
by a party whose failure to fulfill an obligation under the Merger Agreement
was the cause of the failure of Parent or the Purchaser to purchase such
shares, (b) if any Federal, state or local government or any court,
administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity") will have
issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action (which order,
decree, ruling or other action the parties hereto will use their reasonable
efforts to lift), which permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits
the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares pursuant to the Offer or
the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action will have become
final and non-appealable or (c) if the Offer has not been consummated prior to
November 30, 1997; (3) by the Company if (a) to the extent described under the
second paragraph under "Takeover Proposals," the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Company Board") approves or recommends a Superior Proposal (as
defined below) and (b) the Company has paid to the Parent an amount in cash
equal to the sum of the Termination Fee (as defined below); or (4) by Parent
(a) if, due to an occurrence, not involving a breach by Parent or the
Purchaser of their obligations hereunder, which makes it impossible to satisfy
any of the conditions set forth in "Conditions to the Offer" below, (b) if
prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company will have
breached any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained
in the Merger Agreement which (I) would give rise to the failure of a
condition set forth in "Conditions to the Offer" below and (II) cannot be or
has not been cured, in all material respects, within 30 days after the giving
of written notice to the Company or (c) if either Parent or the Purchaser is
entitled to terminate the Offer as a result of the occurrence of any event set
forth in paragraphs (d), (f) and (g) of "Conditions to the Offer" below.
Takeover Proposals; No Solicitation. The Company has agreed in the Merger
Agreement that it will not, nor will it permit any officer or director of the
Company or any officer or director of its subsidiaries to, nor will it
authorize or permit, any officer, director or employee of, or any investment
banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of, the Company or any of
its subsidiaries to, (1) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of, any
Takeover Proposal (as defined below), (2) except as provided in the next
paragraph, enter into any agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal or
(3) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to
any person any non-public information with respect to the Company, or take any
other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal;
provided, however, that prior to the acceptance for payment of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the Offer, to the extent required by the fiduciary
obligations of the Company Board, as determined in good faith by a majority of
the members thereof based on the written advice of outside counsel, the
Company may, in response to an unsolicited written bona fide Takeover Proposal
that contains no financing condition from a person that the Company Board
reasonably believes has the financial ability to make a Superior Proposal,
furnish non-public information with respect to the Company to such person
pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement and participate in
discussions or negotiations with such person. For purposes of the Merger
Agreement, "Takeover Proposal" means any written proposal that contains no
financing condition for a merger or other business combination involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any proposal or offer to acquire in any
manner, directly or indirectly, more than 20% of the equity securities of the
Company or more than 20% of the Company's consolidated total assets, other
than the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement provides that neither the Company Board nor any
committee thereof will (1) withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or
modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or the Purchaser, the approval or
recommendation by the Company Board or any such committee of the Offer, the
Merger Agreement or the Merger or (2) approve or recommend, or propose to
approve or recommend, any Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company Board, to the extent required by the fiduciary obligations
thereof, as determined in good faith by a majority of the members thereof
based on the written advice of outside counsel, may approve or recommend (and,
in connection therewith withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation
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of the Offer, the Merger Agreement or the Merger) a Superior Proposal. For
purposes of the Merger Agreement, "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide
Takeover Proposal made by a third party on terms which the Company Board
determines in its good faith judgment to be more favorable to the Company's
stockholders than the Offer and the Merger.
The Merger Agreement provides that nothing contained therein shall prohibit
the Company and its Board of Directors from complying with Rule 14e-2 under
the Exchange Act, or issuing a communication meeting the requirements of Rule
14d-9(e) under the Exchange Act, with respect to any tender offer; provided,
however, that the Company may not, except as permitted by the second preceding
paragraph, withdraw or modify its position, with respect to the Offer or the
Merger or approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, a takeover
proposal.
Fees and Expenses. The Merger Agreement provides that the Company will pay
to Parent, upon demand a fee of $1 million (the "Termination Fee"), payable in
same day funds, if (1) after the date of the Merger Agreement, any person or
"group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") will have publicly made a Takeover
Proposal, (2) the Offer will have remained open until at least the scheduled
expiration date immediately following the date such Takeover Proposal is made
(and in any event for at least ten business days following the date such
Takeover Proposal is made), (3) the Minimum Condition will not have been
satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, (4) the Merger Agreement will
thereafter be terminated pursuant to its terms and (5) the Company Board,
within 10 business days after the public announcement of the Takeover
Proposal, either fails to recommend against acceptance of such Takeover
Proposal by the Company's stockholders or announces that it takes no position
with respect to the acceptance of such Takeover Proposal by the Company's
stockholders. The Merger Agreement further provides that if (1) the Company
will terminate the Merger Agreement for reasons described in clause (3) under
"Termination of the Merger Agreement" above, (2) Parent will terminate the
Merger Agreement for reasons described in clause (4)(c) under "Termination of
the Merger Agreement" above, or (3) either the Company or Parent terminates
the Merger Agreement for reasons described in clause (2)(a) under "Termination
of the Merger Agreement" above as a result of the existence of any condition
set forth in paragraph (d) of "Conditions to the Offer" below; the Company
will pay to Parent, an amount (the "Expense Reimbursement Amount"), equal to
$200,000, which will be payable in same day funds. The estimated Amount will
be paid concurrently with any such termination. Parent shall reimburse the
Company to the extent such Expense Reimbursement Amount exceeds its actual
expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate payment by the Company
for reason described in this paragraph above will not exceed $1 million. If
Parent terminates the Merger Agreement upon failure by the Parent to satisfy
the Financing Condition for reasons not attributable to the Company, Parent
shall pay to the Company an amount equal to $100,000.
Conduct of Business by the Company. The Merger Agreement provides that
during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement to the earlier of the
Effective Time of the Merger and the appointment or election of the
Purchaser's designees to the Company Board pursuant to the terms of the Merger
Agreement (such earlier time, the "Control Time"), the Company will, and will
cause its subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses in the usual,
regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore
conducted and, to the extent consistent therewith, use all reasonable efforts
to preserve intact their current business organizations, keep available the
services of their current officers and employees and preserve their
relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors
and others having business dealings with them to the end that their goodwill
and ongoing businesses will be unimpaired at the Effective Time. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as contemplated by the Merger
Agreement or otherwise approved in writing by Parent, during the period from
the date of the Merger Agreement to the Control Time, the Company will not,
and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to: (1)(a) declare, set aside or
pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions in respect of, any of
its capital stock, other than dividends and distributions by any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company to its parent, (b) split,
combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock or (c) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
other securities thereof or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any
such shares
4
or other securities; (2) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber
any shares of its capital stock (including shares issued and held in
treasury), any other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities
or convertible securities, other than the issuance of Common Stock upon the
exercise of Company Options outstanding on the date of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with their present terms; (3) amend its certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or other comparable charter or organizational
documents; (4) acquire or agree to acquire (a) by merging or consolidating
with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association or other business organization or division thereof or (b) any
assets that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except purchases of inventory in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (5) sell, lease,
license, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets, except sales of inventory in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (6)(a) incur any
indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another
person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
guarantee any debt securities of another person, enter into any "keep well" or
other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another
person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the
foregoing, except for short-term borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice and pursuant to existing agreements not
to exceed in the aggregate $250,000, or (b) make any loans, advances or
capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than to
the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
except for travel advances and loans to employees in amounts not to exceed
$10,000 in the aggregate; (7) make or agree to make any new capital
expenditure or expenditures which, individually, is in excess of $50,000 or,
in the aggregate, are in excess of $250,000; (8)(a) grant to any officer of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries any increase in compensation, except as
was required under employment agreements in effect as of December 31, 1996,
(b) grant to any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries any
increase in severance or termination pay, except as was required under
employment, severance or termination agreements in effect as of December 31,
1996, (c) enter into any employment, severance or termination agreement with
any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (d) amend any benefit
plan in any respect; (9) make any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices materially affecting the Company's assets, liabilities or business,
except insofar as may have been required by a change in generally accepted
accounting principles; (10) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any material
claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted,
contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or
satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
or in accordance with their terms; (11) except in the ordinary course of
business, modify, amend or terminate any material contract or waive or release
or assign any material rights or claims; (12) make any material tax election
or settle or compromise any material income tax liability; or (13) authorize
any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions. In addition,
the Merger Agreement provides the Company will not, and will not permit any of
its subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or that could reasonably be
expected to, result in (i) any of the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to materiality
becoming untrue, (ii) any of such representations and warranties that are not
so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect or (iii) except as
otherwise permitted by the terms of the Merger Agreement, any of the
conditions to the Offer set forth under "Conditions to the Offer" below, or
any of the conditions to the Merger set forth under "Conditions to the Offer"
above, not being satisfied.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its subsidiaries to, take any action that would or that could
reasonably be expected to result in (1) any of its representations and
warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to
materiality becoming untrue, (2) any of such representations and warranties
that are not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect or (3)
except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of the Merger Agreement
described above under "Takeover Proposals", any of the conditions to the Offer
or to the Merger not being satisfied.
In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that the Company shall promptly
advise the Purchaser orally and in writing of any change or event having, or
which, insofar as can reasonably be foreseen, would have, a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
5
Board of Directors of the Company. The Merger Agreement provides that upon
the purchase and payment by Parent or the Purchaser of Shares representing at
least a majority of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis, Parent
shall be entitled to designate such number of directors on the Board of
Directors of the Company which represents a percentage of the Board of
Directors of the Company equaling the percentage of Shares purchased. If
requested by Parent, the Company shall cause such persons designated by Parent
to constitute at least the same percentage of each committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company and each board of directors of each subsidiary of the
Company.
The Merger Agreement further provides that in the event that Parent's
designees are elected to the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger, until the Effective Time of the Merger the Board
of Directors of the Company shall have at least two directors who are
directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement. In such event, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors not designated by Parent shall
be required to (i) amend or terminate the Merger Agreement, (ii) exercise or
waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies under the Merger
Agreement, or (iii) take any other action by the Board of Directors of the
Company under or in connection with the Merger Agreement.
Stock Options. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding
Company Option granted under the Option Plans or otherwise shall be
surrendered to the Company and shall be forthwith cancelled and the Company
shall pay to each holder of a Company Option, by check, an amount equal to (i)
the product of the number of the Shares which are issuable upon exercise of
such Company Option, multiplied by the Offer Price, less (ii) the aggregate
exercise price of such Company Option. Except as may be otherwise agreed to by
Parent or the Purchaser and the Company, the Company's Option Plans shall
terminate as of the Effective Time and the provisions in any other plan,
program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of any other
interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries shall be deleted as of the Effective Time and no holder of
Company Options or any participant in the Option Plans or any other plans,
programs or arrangements shall have any rights thereunder to acquire any
equity securities of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any subsidiary
thereof.
Subordinated Debt. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, Parent will
cause the Company to redeem all of the Company's 8% Senior Subordinated Notes
A and 8% Senior Subordinated Notes B in an amount equivalent to the
outstanding principal amount thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon
but not in excess of $2.2 million.
Conditions to the Offer. Notwithstanding any other terms of the Offer or the
Merger Agreement, the Purchaser will not be required to accept for payment or,
subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule
14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to the Purchaser's obligation to pay
for or return tendered Shares promptly after termination or withdrawal of the
Offer), pay for, and may delay the acceptance for payment of or, subject to
the restriction referred to above, the payment for, any tendered Shares, and
may terminate or amend the Offer as to any Shares not then paid for, if (i)
the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied, (ii) the Financing Condition has
not been satisfied or (iii) at any time on or after the date of the Merger
Agreement and before the time of acceptance for payment for any such Shares,
any of the following events will have occurred:
(a) there will be threatened or pending any suit, action or proceeding by
any Governmental Entity against the Purchaser, Parent, the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company (i) seeking to prohibit or impose any material
limitations on Parent's or the Purchaser's ownership or operation (or that
of any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates) of all or a material
portion of their or the Company's businesses or assets, or to compel Parent
or the Purchaser or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates to dispose
of or hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of the
Company or Parent and their respective subsidiaries, in each case taken as
a whole, (ii) challenging the acquisition by Parent or the Purchaser of any
Shares under the Offer, seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or
consummation of the Offer or the Merger or the performance of any of the
other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or seeking to
obtain from the Company, Parent or the Purchaser any damages that are
material in relation to
6
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) seeking to impose
material limitations on the ability of the Purchaser, or render the
Purchaser unable, to accept for payment, pay for or purchase some or all of
the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, (iv) seeking to impose
material limitations on the ability of Purchaser or Parent effectively to
exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares, including, without
limitation, the right to vote the Shares purchased by it on all matters
properly presented to the Company's stockholders, or (v) which otherwise is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the operations,
business, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(b) there will be any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
injunction enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated, or deemed applicable,
pursuant to an authoritative interpretation by or on behalf of a Government
Entity, to the Offer or the Merger, or any other action will be taken by
any Governmental Entity that is reasonably likely to result, directly or
indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through
(v) of paragraph (a) above;
(c) there will have occurred any other event, change or effect after the
date of the Merger Agreement which, either individually or in the
aggregate, would have, or be reasonably likely to have, a material adverse
effect on the operations, business, properties or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(d) (i) the Company Board or any committee thereof will have withdrawn or
modified in a manner adverse to Parent or the Purchaser its approval or
recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the Merger Agreement, or
approved or recommended any Takeover Proposal or (ii) the Company Board or
any committee thereof will have resolved to do any of the foregoing;
(e) there will have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading in, or
limitation on prices for, securities on the New York Stock Exchange or on
the London Stock Exchange, for a period in excess of 24 hours (excluding
suspensions or limitations resulting solely from physical damage or
interference with such exchanges not related to market conditions), (ii) a
declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in
respect of banks in the United States (whether or not mandatory), (iii) a
commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national
calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, (iv) any
limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any United States governmental
authority on the extension of credit generally by banks or other financial
institutions or (v) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the
time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening
thereof;
(f) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to materiality will not be true
and correct in any material respect and any such representations and
warranties that are not so qualified will not be true and correct, in each
case as if such representations and warranties were made as of such time;
(g) the Company will have failed to perform in any material respect any
obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement or
covenant of the Company to be performed or complied with by it under the
Merger Agreement and such failure would result in a material adverse effect
on the operations, business, properties or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(h) any person acquires beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act), of at least 20% of the outstanding
Common Stock of the Company (other than any person not required to file a
Schedule 13D under the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act); or
(i) the Merger Agreement will have been terminated in accordance with its
terms.
Subject to the provisions of the Merger Agreement set forth under "The
Offer" above, the foregoing conditions (i) may be asserted by Parent and the
Purchaser regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such condition and
(ii) are for the sole benefit of Parent and the Purchaser and may be waived by
Parent or the Purchaser, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time
in the sole discretion of Parent or the Purchaser.
7
The failure by Parent or the Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the
foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such
right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and
from time to time.
Indemnification. The Purchaser and Parent have agreed in the Merger
Agreement that all rights to indemnification for acts or omissions occurring
prior to the Effective Time existing on the date of the Merger Agreement in
favor of the current or former directors or officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries as provided under certain indemnification agreements and in their
respective certificates of incorporation or by-laws shall survive the Merger
and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms for
a period of not less than six years from the Effective Time.
Reasonable Notification. The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms
and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, each of the parties
shall use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to
do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in
doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Offer and the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Operative Agreements.
Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver. The Merger
Agreement provides that in the event the Purchaser's designees are appointed
or elected to the Board of Directors of the Company as described above under
"Board of Directors," after the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to
the Offer and prior to the Effective Time, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Independent Directors shall be required for the Company to amend or
terminate the Merger Agreement, exercise or waive any of its rights or
remedies under the Merger Agreement or extend the time for performance of the
Purchaser's and Parent's respective obligations under the operative
agreements.
Representations and Warranties. In the Merger Agreement, the Company has
made customary representations and warranties to Parent and the Purchaser with
respect to, among other things, its organization, capitalization, financial
statements, public filings, conduct of business, employee benefit plans, labor
relations and employment matters, compliance with laws, subsidiaries, tax
matters, litigation, vote required to approve the Merger Agreement,
undisclosed liabilities, information supplied, the absence of any material
adverse changes in the Company since December 31, 1996, brokers, fees and
expenses, intellectual property, environmental protection, transactions with
affiliates and contracts.
THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. In connection with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, Parent and the Purchaser entered into a Stockholders Agreement,
dated as of September 11, 1997 (the "Stockholders Agreement"), with Delaware
State Employees' Retirement Fund, The Declaration of Trust for the Defined
Benefit Plan of ICI American Holdings Inc., the Declaration of Trust for the
Defined Benefit Plans of ICI Zeneca Holdings Inc., Baccharis Capital, Inc.,
Princeton/Montrose Partners, Southern California Ventures II, Natural Venture
Partners I, Robert J. Cresci, Allan Dalfen, Anthony J. Harnett, B. Allen Lay,
Jay J. Miller, Stephen P. Monticelli, F. Noel Perry, Henry W. Poett, III,
Donald R. Stroben and Stephen Schorr (collectively, the "Stockholders"), the
record and/or beneficial owners of an aggregate of 4,098,654 Shares, or
approximately 68.9% of the Shares outstanding on September 11, 1997 (66.4% of
the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis). As an inducement and a
condition to entering into the Merger Agreement, Parent required that the
Stockholders agree, and the Stockholders agreed, to enter into the
Stockholders Agreement.
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Stockholders
Agreement. This summary is not a complete description of the terms and
conditions thereof and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text thereof which is incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which has
been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Schedule 14D-1. The
Stockholders Agreement may be examined, and copies thereof may be obtained, as
set forth in Section 12 of the Offer to Purchase.
Tender of Shares. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Stockholders
have agreed to tender all of the Shares beneficially owned by them at the
Offer Price and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
8
Offer, representing in the aggregate of 4,098,654 Shares, or approximately
68.9% of the currently outstanding Shares of the Company. The effect of the
Stockholders agreeing to tender certain Shares pursuant to the Stockholders
Agreement is that the Purchaser would satisfy the Minimum Condition.
Voting. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Stockholders have
agreed, for a period ending upon the earlier of the consummation of the Merger
and four-months following the termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with its terms (the "Term"), at any meeting of the holders of
Shares, however called, or in connection with any written consent of the
holders of Shares, to vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares (if any) then
held of record or beneficially owned by such Stockholder, (i) in favor of the
Merger, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Merger Agreement and
the approval of the terms thereof and each of the other actions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement and any actions
required in furtherance thereof, and (ii) against any Takeover Proposal and
against any action or agreement that would impede, frustrate, prevent or
nullify the Merger Agreement, or result in a breach in any respect of any
covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligations or agreement of
the Company under the Merger Agreement or which would result in any of the
conditions set forth in Annex A to the Merger Agreement or set forth in
Article VI of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled; provided, however,
that nothing contained in the Stockholders Agreement shall be construed as
requiring any Stockholder who also is a director of the Company to propose,
endorse, approve or recommend the Merger Agreement or any transaction
contemplated thereby in such Stockholder's fiduciary capacity as a director of
the Company.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Stockholders have further
agreed, during the Term, that the Stockholders shall not (i) tender, or
consent to any tender of, any or all such Stockholder's Shares, pursuant to
any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) transfer, or consent to any transfer of, any or
all of such Stockholder's Shares, Company Options or any interest therein,
(iii) enter into any contract, option or other agreement or understanding with
respect to any transfer of any or all of such Shares, Company Options or any
interest therein, (iv) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other
authorization in or with respect to such Shares or Company Options, (v)
deposit such Shares or Company Options into a voting trust or enter into a
voting agreement or arrangement with respect to such Shares or Company
Options, or (vi) take any other action that would in any way restrict, limit
or interfere with the performance of their obligations under the Stockholders
Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or by the Merger Agreement.
The Stockholders have further agreed to be bound by the provisions of the
Merger Agreement relating to prohibitions on solicitations of Acquisition
Proposals to the same extent as the Company. For purposes of the Stockholders
Agreement "Acquisition Proposal" means a Takeover Proposal but excludes any
Superior Proposal which a Stockholder, in his capacity as director, would be
required to approve or recommend in accordance with his fiduciary duties.
Each Stockholder has also granted Parent an irrevocable proxy to vote each
Stockholder's Shares in favor of the Merger Agreement and against any
Acquisition Proposal. Each Stockholder will be indemnified under the
Stockholders Agreement as if he or it were acting in the capacity of a
director of the Company under the Merger Agreement.
Termination. The covenants and agreements contained in the Stockholders
Agreement with respect to the Shares shall terminate upon the earlier of the
consummation of the Merger and four months following the termination of the
Merger agreement in accordance with its terms; provided, however, in the event
the Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company upon the receipt of a
Superior Proposal in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Stockholders
Agreement shall terminate on the date of termination of the Merger Agreement.
Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Other Agreements. Each
Stockholder has made certain customary representations, warranties and
covenants, including with respect to (i) ownership of the Shares, (ii) the
authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Shareholders
Agreement, (iii) the absence of required consents or contractual conflicts
relating to the Stockholders Agreement, (iv) the absence of encumbrances on
and in respect of its Shares, (v) no finder's fees, (vi) the solicitation of
Acquisition Proposals, (vii) transfers of Shares, (viii) waiver of appraisal
rights and (ix) further assurances.
9
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. Pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreements
entered into as of June 27, 1994 and August 20, 1997 by Parent and the Company
(together, the "Confidentiality Agreement"), the parties agreed to provide,
among other things, for the confidential treatment of their discussions
regarding the Offer and the Merger and the exchange of certain confidential
information concerning the Company. The Confidentiality Agreement is
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of it has been filed with the SEC
as an exhibit to the Schedule 14D-9.
ITEM 4. THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION.
(a) Recommendations of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby and determined that each of the Offer and
the Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, the stockholders of the
Company. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that all holders of
Shares accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. The
Board has agreed to tender its shares as part of this Offer.
(b) Background: Reasons for the Recommendation.
On June 24, 1997, at the invitation of Mr. Irwin Simon, CEO of Parent, Mr.
B. Allen Lay, CEO of the Company and Mr. Andrew Jacobson, President of
Westbrae Natural Foods Inc., met with Mr. Simon to discuss Parent's business
and desire to acquire attractive companies with strong market positions in the
natural food industry.
In early August, Mr. Robert Cresci, a Director of the Company, contacted Mr.
Andrew R. Heyer, Chairman of Parent, to arrange a meeting between Mr. Cresci,
Mr. Lay and Mr. Simon. On August 8, 1997, Mr. Simon and Mr. Heyer met with Mr.
Cresci and Mr. Lay in New York City to discuss Parent's possible interest in
acquiring the Company. At that meeting the Company agreed to provide to Parent
additional information regarding the Company.
On August 20, 1997, Parent entered into a Confidentiality Agreement with the
Company agreeing to keep certain information confidential and to use the
information solely for the purpose of evaluating the Company as a merger
candidate.
On August 21, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized Mr. Lay
to negotiate a definitive Merger Agreement with Parent on terms and conditions
acceptable to the Board.
Between August 25 and August 27, 1997 members of the Company's senior
management, including B. Allen Lay, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Stephen Schorr, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, and Mr.
Jacobson met with Mr. Simon, Mr. Jack Kaufman, Parent's Chief Financial
Officer, and Mr. Ben Brecher, Parent's Vice President -- Operations and
representatives of Parent's lender to discuss the Company's business,
valuation parameters of the Company and to discuss generally the terms and
conditions of a possible transaction, including Parent's requirement that the
Stockholders sign a Stockholders Agreement providing for the sale of the
Shares in the Offer and the obligation of the Parent to obtain financing.
On September 4, 1997, Parent delivered a draft of a non-binding letter of
intent (the "Letter of Intent") to the Company outlining a proposal for Parent
to acquire the Company.
On September 5, 1997, after circulating the draft Letter of Intent to the
Company's Board of Directors, Mr. Lay executed the Letter of Intent which
provided, among other things, that the Company negotiate exclusively with
Parent for a limited period of time. Press releases announcing the non-binding
Letter of Intent were issued by the Company and Parent on September 8, 1997.
On September 10, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors met. At that meeting
the Company's Board of Directors unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and
the Offer and the Merger contemplated by it. The
10
Merger Agreement was executed by the Company, Parent and Purchaser on
September 11, 1997 and a press release announcing the execution of the Merger
was issued by Parent on September 12, 1997.
In making the determinations and recommendations set forth in Item 4(a)
above, the Company's Board of Directors considered a number of factors,
including, without limitation, the following:
--The terms and conditions of the Offer and the Merger Agreement;
--Various presentations by management at Board of Directors meetings held
on and before September 10, 1997 regarding the financial condition,
results of operations, business and prospects of the Company, including
the rapid consolidation of the industry in which the Company participates
and prospects of the Company if it were to remain independent;
--The lack of liquidity of the Shares due to the small trading volume which
has led to large fluctuations in the quoted value of the stock. The $3.625
price of the per Share Offer represents the high end of the per share
range of the second quarter and a 52% premium over the low for the same
period;
--Consolidations in the natural food business have been occurring at a
rapid pace in both the retail and distributor segments of the business.
Producers such as the Company may be in a disadvantaged position dealing
with these much larger entities in the future. The merger of the Company
and parent should provide "critical mass" and be beneficial in dealing
with the future customer base.
--That the Merger Agreement permits the Company if, and only to the extent
that, the Board of Directors of the Company after consulting with
independent counsel and upon advice of such counsel, determines in good
faith that such action is required by the Board of Directors to comply
with its fiduciary duty to stockholders imposed by Delaware law to furnish
information in response to requests which were not solicited by the
Company after the date of the Merger Agreement to third parties pursuant
to confidentiality agreements, and to participate in discussions and
negotiations with any third party that has submitted an unsolicited
proposal in writing to the Company to acquire the Company;
--The termination provisions of the Merger Agreement which were a condition
to Parent's proposal, providing that Parent would be entitled to a fee of
$1 million inclusive of reimbursement of expenses upon termination of the
Merger Agreement under certain circumstances; and
--The representation of Parent and the Purchaser that Parent has, or has
commitments to obtain, sufficient funds to permit Purchaser to consummate
the Offer and the Merger.
The Board of Directors did not assign relative weights to the factors or
determine that any factor was of particular importance. Rather, the Board of
Directors viewed its position and recommendations as being based on the
totality of the information presented to and considered by it.
ITEM 5. RECENT TRANSACTIONS AND INTENT WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES.
(a) No transactions in the Shares have been effected during the past 60 days
by the Company or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, by any executive
officer, director, affiliate or subsidiary of the Company.
(b) To the best of the Company's knowledge, to the extent permitted by
applicable securities laws, rules or regulations, except for (i) Shares the
sale of which may result in liability for the holder (s) under Section 16 (b)
of the Exchange Act, (ii) Shares which are subject to restrictions on transfer
and (ii) gifts of Shares to family members or charitable organizations, each
executive officer, director and affiliate of the Company currently intends to
tender all Shares over which he has sole dispositive power to the Purchaser.
ITEM 6. CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS BY SUBJECT COMPANY.
(a) The Company is not engaged in any negotiation in response to the Offer
which relates to or would result in (i) an extraordinary transaction, such as
a merger or reorganization, involving the Company or any subsidiary
11
of the Company; (ii) a purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of
assets by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; (iii) a tender offer
for or other acquisition of securities by or of the Company; or (iv) any
material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the
Company.
(b) There are no transactions, Board of Directors' resolutions, agreements
in principle or signed contracts in response to the Offer that relate to or
would result in one or more of the events referred to in Item 6(a) above.
ITEM 7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED.
None
ITEM 8. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
Exhibit 99.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 11, 1997, among
the Company, Purchaser and the Parent.
Exhibit 99.2. Stockholders Agreement dated September 11, 1997 among Parent,
the Purchaser and the Stockholders.
Exhibit 99.3. Confidentiality Agreement dated June 27, 1994 between the
Company and Parent.
Exhibit 99.4. Confidentiality Agreement dated August 20, 1997 between the
Company and Parent.
Exhibit 99.5. Form of Letter addressed to stockholders of the Company dated
September 12, 1997.
Exhibit 99.6. The Company's (formerly known as Vestro Natural Foods Inc.)
Information Statement pursuant to Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 thereunder (attached hereto as
Annex A).
12
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Westbrae Natural, Inc.
/s/ B. Allen Lay
By: ________________________________
NAME: B. ALLEN LAY
TITLE: PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
13
EXHIBIT 99.6
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
1065 EAST WALNUT STREET
CARSON, CA 90746
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 14 (F) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND RULE 14F-1 THEREUNDER
This Information Statement is being mailed on or about September 15, 1997,
to the holders of record of the Shares at the close of business on or about
September 10, 1997 as a part of the Company's Solicitation/ Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the Offer by Hain Acquisition
Corp. (the "Schedule 14D-9"). You are receiving this Information Statement in
connection with the possible election of persons designated by the Purchaser
to a majority of the seats on the Board of Directors of the Company. The
Merger Agreement requires the Company to use all reasonable efforts to cause
the Purchaser Designees (as defined below) to be elected to the Board of
Directors under the circumstances described therein. This Information
Statement is required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
thereunder. See "Board of Directors and Executive Officers-Right to Designate
Directors; The Purchaser Designees."
You are urged to read this Information Statement carefully. You are not,
however, required to take any action. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 14D-9.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Purchaser commenced the Offer on September
12, 1997. The Offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight Eastern Time, on
Thursday, October 9, 1997, unless the Offer is extended.
The terms of the Merger Agreement, a summary of the events leading up to the
Offer and the execution of the merger Agreement and other information
concerning the Offer and the Merger are contained in the Offer to Purchase,
the related Letter of Transmittal and the Schedule 14D-9, copies of which are
being delivered to the Company's shareholders contemporaneously herewith.
The information contained in this Information Statement concerning Purchaser
and the Purchaser designees has been furnished to the Company by Purchaser,
and the Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of
such information.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
GENERAL
The Shares are the only class of voting securities of the Company
outstanding. Each Share has one vote. As of September 10, 1997, there were
5,950,588 Shares outstanding. The Board of Directors currently consists of
nine members, each of whom is elected to a one year term. Each director holds
office until such director's successor is elected and qualified or until such
director's earlier resignation or removal.
RIGHT TO DESIGNATE DIRECTORS; THE PURCHASER DESIGNEES
The Merger Agreement provides that upon the purchase and payment by Parent
or the Purchaser of Shares representing at least a majority of the outstanding
Shares on a fully diluted basis, Parent shall be entitled to designate such
number of directors on the Board of Directors of the Company which represents
a percentage of the Board of Directors of the Company equaling the percentage
of Shares purchased. If requested by Parent, the Company shall cause such
persons designated by Parent to constitute at least the same percentage of
each
A-1
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and each board of directors
of each subsidiary of the Company.
The Merger Agreement further provides that in the event that Parent's
designees are elected to the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger, until the Effective Time of the Merger the Board
of Directors of the Company shall have at least two directors who are
directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement. In such event, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors not designated by Parent shall
be required to (i) amend or terminate the Merger Agreement, (ii) exercise or
waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies under the Merger
Agreement, or (iii) take any other action by the Board of Directors of the
Company under or in connection with the Merger Agreement.
The designees of the Purchaser to serve as members of the Board of Directors
of the Purchaser have not been identified, but the Purchaser anticipates such
persons, when and if designated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, shall
consist of current executive officers and directors of Parent and the
Purchaser identified in Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase.
CURRENT DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth the name of each current director of the
Company, his age, position and office with the Company and period he has
served as a director:
POSITION AND OFFICE DIRECTOR
NAME AGE WITH COMPANY SINCE
---- --- --------------------------------- --------
Robert J. Cresci............ 53 Director 1990
Allan Dalfen................ 54 Director 1992
Anthony J. Harnett.......... 52 Director 1994
B. Allen Lay................ 62 Chairman of the Board, President, 1987
Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Jay J. Miller............... 64 Director 1966
Stephen P. Monticelli....... 42 Director 1994
F. Noel Perry............... 44 Director 1995
Henry W. Poett, III......... 58 Director 1987
Donald R. Stroben........... 66 Director 1987
Robert J. Cresci has been a Managing Director of Pecks Management Partners
Ltd., an investment management firm, since September 1990. Mr. Cresci
currently serves on the boards of Bridgeport Machines, Inc., ServTech, Inc.,
EIS International, Inc., Sepracor, Inc., Olympic Financial, Ltd., GeoWaste,
Inc., Hitox, Inc., Natures Elements, Inc., Garnet Resources Corporation,
HarCor Energy, Inc., Meris Laboratories, Inc., Film Roman, Inc., Educational
Medical, Inc. and several private companies.
Allan Dalfen was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from
February, 1993 to January, 1995. From 1979 to 1992, Mr. Dalfen was President
and Chief Executive Officer of Weider Health and Fitness, a manufacturer of
health and fitness equipment, sports nutrition products and fitness
publications. He is currently President of KSD Fitness and is a Director of
Herristic Development Group, Inc.
Anthony J. Harnett was the owner of Bread & Circus, a leading natural
products retailer, from 1975 through 1992. He currently serves as Chairman of
Harnett's, a homeopathic retail pharmacy.
B. Allen Lay was elected by the Board of Directors as President and Chief
Executive Officer on January 12, 1995 and Chairman of the Board on August 6,
1996. Mr. Lay has served as a General Partner of Southern California Ventures,
a venture capital firm, since May, 1983. He is a director of PairGain
Technologies, Physical Optics Corp., Kofax Imaging, ViaSat Inc. Helisys Inc.
and Medclone Inc. Mr. Lay has served in a number of
A-2
interim management roles, most recently as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Meridian Data Inc. from July, 1993 to December, 1994.
Jay J. Miller has been a practicing attorney in the State of New York for
more than thirty years. Mr. Miller is a director of Total-Tel USA
Communications, Inc. a long distance telephone service provider, and Edison
Control Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of concrete piping
systems. He is also a Chairman of the Board of Amtrust Pacific Ltd., a New
Zealand real estate company.
Stephen P. Monticelli is founder and President of Mosaic Ventures LLC, a
private investment firm. From 1991 to 1995 he was a partner and Managing
Director of Baccharis Capital, Inc., a venture capital and buyout firm. From
1987 to 1991, Mr. Monticelli was a Principal in the Private Ventures group of
The Fremont Group (formerly known as Bechtel Investments, Inc.), a private
family investment firm. Prior to 1987, he was a management consultant with
Marakon Associates and a Certified Public Accountant with Deloitte and Touche.
F. Noel Perry is the founder and a Managing Director of Baccharis Capital,
Inc., a private venture capital partnership which concentrates its interests
in the natural and organic food area. Mr. Perry currently serves on the Board
of several private companies and served on the Board of Earth's Best before
its sale.
Henry W. Poett, III was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from April, 1992 to January, 1993. Previously, he was Executive Vice
President-Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from May, 1990
to March, 1992. Mr. Poett is currently a partner in Dalton Partners, a
management services company. Mr. Poett was an independent management
consultant from 1989 to 1990. He served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of Transcisco Industries Inc. from 1987 to 1988. From 1984 to 1987, he
was Chief Executive officer of Wilsey Foods, Inc., a packager, marketer and
distributor of food products. He is a director of Biovation Inc., Wilsey
Bennett Company, and Armanino Foods.
Donald R. Stroben was Chairman of the Board of the Company from January,
1987 to January, 1993. He has served as a Managing General Partner of
Princeton/Montrose Partners, a venture capital firm, since December 1981. Mr.
Stroben currently serves as a director of Etz Lavud Ltd. (ASE) and several
private companies, Mr. Stroben is also past Chairman of the Board of Laura
Scudder's, Inc., a snack food manufacturer.
During 1996, the Board held four meetings. Each director attended at least
75% of the meetings held. Where formal action has otherwise been required, the
Board has acted by unanimous written consent as permitted under applicable
corporate law and the Company's By-Laws. The Company's Board of Directors
currently has an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs. Stroben and Poett and a
Compensation Committee consisting of Messrs. Miller and Cresci. The Board
currently has no Nominating Committee.
CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth information covering the executive officers
of the Company. All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
There are no family relationships among any officers or directors of the
Company.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
B. Allen Lay................ 62 Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Schorr.............. 51 Vice President, Finance, Secretary, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Lay currently serves as a director of the Company. See CURRENT DIRECTORS
OF THE COMPANY for employment and background information concerning Mr. Lay.
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Mr. Schorr joined the Company in July, 1988 as Vice President, Finance. He
is an officer and director of each of the Company's subsidiaries. From
December, 1982 through June, 1988, he held the positions of Vice President,
Finance and Corporate Controller of Linear Corporation, a manufacturer of
electronic components.
SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
Andrew Jacobson (36) has been President of the Company's subsidiaries,
Westbrae Natural Foods, Inc. and Little Bear Organic Foods, Inc. since joining
the Company in November, 1992. From 1985 to 1992, Mr. Jacobson was employed by
Tree of Life Inc., a major national natural, products distributor, in several
executive capacities culminating as Director of Sales of Tree of Life West,
Sun Valley and Hayward, CA. Mr. Jacobson is a member of the Board of Directors
of the National Nutritional Foods Association.
Myron Cooper, 63, is Vice President, Technical Services of Westbrae and
Little Bear. Prior to joining Vestro in 1988, Mr. Cooper held executive
positions in operations, marketing, product development and quality control
with Kellogg's, Fairmont Foods and Hain Pure Food Company. Mr. Cooper holds a
Ph.D. in Food Science and Biochemistry. He is Vice President of the Soy Foods
of America Association and a member of the California Organic Advisory Board.
A-4
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation which the Company paid
during the three years ended December 31, 1996 to the Chief Executive officer
and to its other executive officers.
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OPTIONS ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS GRANTED COMPENSATION
------------------ ---- -------- ------- ------- ------------
B. Allen Lay, CEO 1996 $124,000 $20,000(f) 120,000(h)
1995 $115,000(a)(b) 120,000 $5,000(c)
Allan Dalfen, CEO 1994 $120,000(d) $ 3,120(e)
Andrew Jacobson, Pres., 1996 $124,000 $29,700(f)
Westbrae Natural 1995 $120,000 $15,000(f)
Foods, Inc. 1994 $120,000 $ 3,120(e)
Stephen Schorr, CFO 1996 $108,000 $23,000(f) 10,000(h)
1995 $105,000 $ 9,300(f) 30,000
1994 $105,000 $ 2,000 20,000(g)
- --------
(a) Represents amounts paid as a consulting fee to SCV Management Company of
which Mr. Lay is a general partner.
(b) Began employment on January 12, 1995.
(c) Consulting fee paid prior to becoming CEO.
(d) Represents amounts paid as a consulting fee to Dalfen Corporation of which
Mr. Dalfen is the sole shareholder.
(e) Paid under a management bonus agreement which provided for the payment of
6% of pretax income above $500,000 in a year to Mr. Dalfen and Mr.
Jacobson.
(f) Bonus paid under an incentive plan covering substantially all employees of
the Company.
(g) Replaced options that expired in 1994.
(h) See Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year table below.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
POTENTIAL
REALIZABLE VALUE
AT ANNUAL
RATES OF STOCK
APPRECIATION
----------------
OPTIONS % OF TOTAL EXERCISE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED GRANTED PRICE DATE 5% 10%
---- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------- --------
B. Allen Lay........... 120,000 62 $1.875 07/12/2001 $62,217 $137,497
Stephen Schorr......... 10,000 5 $ 3.00 10/25/2006 $18,880 $ 47,853
STOCK OPTIONS
The Company adopted a Stock Option Plan at its May 23, 1988 Annual Meeting.
This plan provides for options to purchase up to 150,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock to be granted at prices not less than the fair market
value on the date of grant. Both incentive and non-incentive options may be
issued under the 1988 Plan. At December 31, 1996, there were 149,500 incentive
options outstanding under the 1988 Plan, of which options to purchase 49,625
shares were currently exercisable. During the year ended December 31, 1996, no
options were granted or exercised under this plan.
During 1993, the Company granted a stock option to Mr. Jacobson to purchase
329,875 shares of its Common Stock at a price of $1.29 per share. This option
is exercisable in installments through November 1, 1997.
A-5
On July 26, 1995, the Board of Directors granted to each of the eight non-
employee Directors, a non-qualified option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common
Stock, of the Company. Each option is exercisable, at a price of $1.875 per
share, the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of
grant, for a period of five years from the date of grant and vest in three
equal installments on each anniversary date with credit given for up to two
years of prior service by an option holder. The grant of the options was
ratified by shareholders at the Annual Meeting on June 20, 1996. At December
31, 1996 options to purchase 160,000 shares were outstanding of which 133,333
were currently exercisable. During 1996, no options were exercised.
On January 31, 1996, and at subsequent six month intervals, nonqualified
options to purchase 60,000 shares each of the Company's Common Stock were
issued to Mr. Lay, totalling 300,000 shares. Each option was granted at the
then-current market value and has a term of five years. Each option is
immediately exercisable in full.
At the Company's Annual Meeting on June 20, 1996, shareholders voted to
adopt the 1996 Incentive Stock Plan. This plan provides for options to
purchase up to 150,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. During the year
ended December 31, 1996, options to purchase 74,500 shares were granted under
this plan.
A-6
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is certain information concerning persons known by the
Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company outstanding on March 31, 1997.
NUMBER OF
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED SHARES (1) CLASS (1)
------------------- ---------------- ----------
NAP & Company.................................. 983,940 16.5%
Nominee for Delaware State
Employee's Retirement Fund
1 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21203
Baccharis Capital, Inc. ....................... 702,814 11.8%
2420 Sand Hill Rd.
Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Allan Dalfen................................... 609,155 10.2%
509 No. Palm Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Princeton/Montrose Partners.................... 548,016 9.2%
243 No. Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Scottish Invest. Trust PLC..................... 527,111 8.9%
6 Albyn Place
Edinburgh, Scotland EH24 NL
Southern Calif. Ventures II.................... 365,345 6.1%
A California Limited Partnership
406 Amapola Avenue
Suite 205
Torrance, CA 90501
Natural Venture Partners I..................... 351,407 5.9%
250 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02194
The following table sets forth the beneficial share ownership of each
director of the Company, and the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by all officers and directors as a group as of March 31, 1997:
NUMBER OF
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED SHARES (8) CLASS (1)
------------------- ---------------- ----------
Robert J. Cresci (2).......................... 1,425,629 23.9%
Allan Dalfen.................................. 609,155(7) 10.2%
Anthony J. Harnett (3)........................ 364,741 6.1%
B. Allen Lay (4).............................. 682,916 11.2%
Jay J. Miller................................. 105,144 1.8%
Stephen P. Monticelli......................... 23,333 .4%
F. Noel Perry (5)............................. 709,481 11.9%
Henry W. Poett, III........................... 28,786 .5%
Donald R. Stroben (6)......................... 568,016 9.5%
Officers and directors as a group (10
persons)..................................... 4,543,487 76.0%
- --------
(1) Based upon an aggregate of 5,950,588 shares of Common Stock outstanding
and currently exercisable stock options to purchase an aggregate of
746,858 shares of Common Stock. Each of the above shareholders have sole
voting and sole dispositive power with respect to the shares beneficially
owned.
A-7
(2) Mr. Cresci is the investment advisor for Nap & Company, Fuelship & Company
and Northman and Company.
(3) Mr. Harnett is a partner of Natural Venture Partners I.
(4) Mr. Lay is a General Partner of Southern California Ventures II.
(5) Mr. Perry is a Managing Director of Baccharis Capital, Inc.
(6) Mr. Stroben is a Managing General Partner of Princeton/Montrose Partners.
(7) Includes 263,900 shares of the Company's Common Stock purchased in 1993 at
a price of $1.29 per share and 131,950 shares of the Company's Common
Stock purchased in 1995 under a Severance and Settlement Agreement at a
price of $1.29 per share. Mr. Dalfen paid the Company $66,000 for the
shares and executed a note payable to the Company for $444,025. The note
is interest bearing at the rate of 5.75%, due on December 31, 1997 and is
secured by the shares of stock purchased.
(8) Shares include currently exercisable stock options to purchase shares of
Common Stock as follows:
Robert J. Cresci................................................. 20,000
Allan Dalfen..................................................... 20,000
Anthony J. Harnett............................................... 13,333
B. Allen Lay..................................................... 300,000
Jay J. Miller.................................................... 20,000
Stephen P. Monticelli............................................ 13,333
F. Noel Perry.................................................... 6,667
Henry W. Poett, III.............................................. 20,000
Donald R. Stroben................................................ 20,000
Officers and directors as a group (10 persons)................... 450,833
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Company currently rents warehouse and office space from a partnership,
in which Mr. Poett is a partner, for which it paid rentals of $196,000 in
1996. The rent paid for such space is believed to be not less favorable to the
Company than that which would be paid under an arm's length transaction. The
lease expires on September 30, 1997, subject to earlier termination by the
lessor or the Company under certain circumstances.
The Company has used the law office of Mr. Miller for certain legal
services. It is believed that the fees paid for such services are not greater
than those which would have been paid to an unaffiliated party.
A-8
EXHIBIT 99.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
THE HAIN FOOD GROUP, INC.
HAIN ACQUISITION CORP.
and
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
dated as of
September 11, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Page
----
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER AND MERGER
Section 1.1 The Offer...........................................2
Section 1.2 Company Actions.....................................4
Section 1.3 Directors...........................................5
Section 1.4 The Merger..........................................6
Section 1.5 Effective Time......................................7
Section 1.6 Closing.............................................7
Section 1.7 Directors of the Surviving Corporation..............7
Section 1.8 Officers of the Surviving Corporation...............7
Section 1.9 Stockholders' Meeting...............................8
Section 1.10 Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders..............8
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock..........................9
Section 2.2 Exchange of Certificates.............................9
Section 2.3 Dissenters' Rights..................................11
Section 2.4 Company Plans.......................................11
Section 2.5 Company Subordinated Debt...........................12
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.1 Organization.......................................13
Section 3.2 Capitalization.....................................13
Section 3.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement...............14
Section 3.4 No Conflict........................................15
Section 3.5 SEC Reports and Financial Statements...............15
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes.........................16
Section 3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities.........................16
-i-
Page
----
Section 3.8 Litigation.........................................17
Section 3.9 Liens; Insurance...................................17
Section 3.10 Contracts; Permits.................................18
Section 3.11 Employee Benefit Plans.............................18
Section 3.12.. Taxes..............................................20
Section 3.13 Intellectual Property..............................21
Section 3.14 Employment Matters.................................22
Section 3.15 Compliance with Laws...............................22
Section 3.16 Vote Required......................................22
Section 3.17 Environmental Matters..............................22
Section 3.18 Accounts Receivable................................24
Section 3.19 Inventory..........................................24
Section 3.20 Product Warranty...................................24
Section 3.21 Information in Proxy Statement.....................25
Section 3.22 Brokers or Finders; Schedule of Fees and Expenses 25
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND THE PURCHASER
Section 4.1 Organization........................................25
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity of Agreement................25
Section 4.3 Brokers or Finders..................................26
Section 4.4 Financing...........................................26
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 Conduct of Business.................................26
Section 5.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality..............29
Section 5.3 Consents and Approvals..............................29
Section 5.4 No Solicitation.....................................30
Section 5.5 Additional Agreements...............................31
Section 5.6 Publicity...........................................32
Section 5.7 Notification of Certain Matters.....................32
Section 5.8 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification............32
-ii-
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
the Merger..........................................33
Section 6.2 Condition to Parent's and the Purchaser's Obligations
to Effect the Merger................................33
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Termination...........................................33
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination.................................35
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Fees and Expenses..................................35
Section 8.2 Amendment and Modification.........................36
Section 8.3 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties......36
Section 8.4 Notices............................................36
Section 8.5 Interpretation.....................................37
Section 8.6 Counterparts.......................................38
Section 8.7 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.....38
Section 8.8 Severability.......................................38
Section 8.9 Governing Law......................................38
Section 8.10 Assignment.........................................38
Annex A Certain Conditions of the Offer
Exhibit 1 Stockholders Agreement
Schedule 1 Disclosure Schedule
Schedule 1.8 Officers of the Surviving Corporation
-iii-
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
DEFINED TERM SECTION NO.
- ------------ -----------
Agreement.............................................. Recitals
Balance Sheet.......................................... 3.12(a)
By-laws................................................ 1.4
Certificate of Incorporation........................... 1.4
Certificate of Merger.................................. 1.5
Certificates........................................... 2.2(b)
Closing................................................ 1.6
Closing Date........................................... 1.6
Code................................................... 3.11(a)
Common Stock........................................... Recitals
Company................................................ Recitals
Company Board.......................................... 1.2(a)
Company Option......................................... 2.4(a)
Company Reimbursement Amount........................... 8.1(d)
Confidentiality Agreement.............................. 5.2(a)
Contracts.............................................. 3.10(a)
Control Time........................................... 5.1(a)
Copyrights............................................. 3.13(c)
DGCL................................................... 1.4
Disclosure Documents................................... 3.0
Disclosure Schedule.................................... 3.0
Dissenting Shares...................................... 2.3
Dissenting Stockholders................................ Recitals
Effective Time......................................... 1.5
Encumbrances........................................... 3.2(d)
Environmental Laws..................................... 3.17(a)
Environmental Permits.................................. 3.17(a)
ERISA.................................................. 3.11(a)
ERISA Affiliate........................................ 3.11(a)
Exchange Act........................................... 1.1(a)
Expense Reimbursement Amount........................... 8.1(c)
Financial Statements................................... 3.5
Financing.............................................. 1.1(a)
Financing Commitment Letter............................ 1.1(a)
Financing Condition.................................... 1.1(a)
-iv-
fully diluted basis.................................... Annex A
GAAP................................................... 3.5(b)
Governmental Entity.................................... 3.8
Hazardous Substance.................................... 3.17(a)
HSR Act................................................ 5.3(b)
Independent Directors.................................. 1.3(c)
Intellectual Property.................................. 3.13(c)
Interim Balance Sheet.................................. 3.5(c)
Interim Financial Statements........................... 3.5(c)
Licenses............................................... 3.13(c)
Lien................................................... 3.4
Material Adverse Effect................................ 3.0
Merger................................................. Recitals
Merger Consideration................................... 2.1(c)
Minimum Condition...................................... Annex A
Notes.................................................. 2.5
Offer.................................................. Recitals
Offer Documents........................................ 1.1(b)
Offer Price............................................ Recitals
Offer to Purchase...................................... 1.1(b)
Option Plans and Awards................................ 2.4(a)
Parent................................................. Recitals
Patents................................................ 3.13(c)
Paying Agent........................................... 2.2(a)
PCB.................................................... 3.17(a)
Permits................................................ 3.10(b)
Plans.................................................. 3.11(a)
Preferred Stock........................................ 3.2(a)
Proxy Statement........................................ 1.9(a)
Purchaser.............................................. Recitals
Purchaser Common Stock................................. 2.1
Schedule 14D-1......................................... 1.1(b)
Schedule 14D-9......................................... 1.2(b)
SEC.................................................... 1.1(a)
SEC Documents.......................................... 3.5
Secretary of State..................................... 1.5
Securities Act......................................... 3.5
Shares................................................. Recitals
Special Meeting........................................ 1.9(a)
-v-
Stockholders Agreement................................. Recitals
Subsidiary............................................. 3.0
Superior Proposal...................................... 5.4(b)
Surviving Corporation.................................. 1.4
Takeover Proposal...................................... 5.4(b)
Tax.................................................... 3.12(c)
Taxes.................................................. 3.12(c)
Tax Return............................................. 3.12(c)
Termination Fee........................................ 8.1(b)
Title IV Plan`......................................... 3.11(a)
Trademarks............................................. 3.13(c)
Transactions........................................... Recitals
Voting Debt............................................ 3.2(b)
-vi-
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of September 11, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), by and among The Hain Food Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
- ----------
("Parent"), Hain Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
- --------
subsidiary of Parent (the "Purchaser"), and Westbrae Natural, Inc., a Delaware
---------
corporation (the "Company").
-------
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of Parent, the Purchaser and
the Company has approved, and deems it advisable and in the best interests of
its respective stockholders to consummate, the acquisition of the Company by
Parent upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, in furtherance of such acquisition, Parent proposes to cause
the Purchaser to make a tender offer (as it may be amended from time to time as
permitted under this Agreement, the "Offer") to purchase all the issued and
-----
outstanding shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
------
the Company (the "Common Stock"), at a price per share of Common Stock of
------------
$3.625, net to the seller in cash (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and
-----------
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Parent, the Purchaser and certain stockholders of the Company are
entering into a stockholders agreement (the "Stockholders Agreement") in the
----------------------
form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 pursuant to which such stockholders shall
agree to take certain actions to support the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a) determined that
the Offer and the Merger (as defined below) are fair to and in the best
interests of the stockholders of the Company, (b) approved (i) the acquisition
of the Company by Parent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, (ii) the Offer and the Merger, (iii) this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) the transactions contemplated by the
Stockholder Agreement (collectively, the "Transactions") and (c) resolved to
------------
recommend acceptance of the Offer and adoption of this Agreement by such
stockholders;
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, the Purchaser
and the Company have approved the merger of the Purchaser into the Company (the
"Merger"), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
------
Agreement, whereby, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock not owned
directly or indirectly by Parent or the Company, except shares of Common Stock
held by persons who object to the Merger and comply with all the provisions of
Delaware law concerning the right of holders of Common Stock to
-2-
dissent from the Merger and require appraisal of their shares of Common Stock
("Dissenting Stockholders"), shall be converted into the right to receive the
---------- ------------
per share consideration paid pursuant to the Offer; and
WHEREAS, Parent, the Purchaser and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Offer and the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Offer and
the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER AND MERGER
Section 1.1 The Offer.
---------
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as promptly as
practicable but in no event later than five business days after the announcement
of the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause
the Purchaser to, commence (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) the Offer.
------------
The obligation of the Purchaser to, and of Parent to cause the Purchaser to,
accept for payment, and pay for, any shares of Common Stock tendered pursuant to
the Offer shall be subject to the (i) the Minimum Condition (as defined in Annex
A), (ii) the condition that the Purchaser shall have received the Financing (as
defined below) contemplated by the commitment letter dated September 11, 1997
(the "Financing Commitment Letter"), pursuant to which, subject to certain terms
---------------------------
and conditions thereof, the lenders named therein have committed to provide all
of the Financing (the "Financing") necessary to consummate the Offering and the
---------
Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (the "Financing Condition") and
-------------------
(iii) conditions set forth in Annex A attached hereto and to the other
conditions of this Agreement. On the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer and this Agreement, the Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause the
Purchaser to, pay for all shares of Common Stock validly tendered and not
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer that the Purchaser becomes obligated to purchase
pursuant to the Offer as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Offer.
The Purchaser expressly reserves the right to modify the terms of the Offer and
to waive any condition of the Offer, except that, without the consent of the
Company, the Purchaser shall not (i) reduce the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the price per share of Common Stock to be paid
pursuant to the Offer, (iii) modify or add to the conditions set forth in Annex
A or otherwise amend the Offer in any manner materially adverse to the Company's
stockholders, (iv) except as provided in the next two sentences, extend the
Offer, or (v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer.
-3-
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser may, without the consent of the
Company, (i) extend the Offer for a period of not more than 10 business days
beyond the initial expiration date of the Offer (which initial expiration date
shall be 20 business days following commencement of the Offer), if on the date
of such extension less than 90% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have
been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, (ii)
extend the Offer from time to time if at the initial expiration date or any
extension thereof the Minimum Condition or any of the other conditions to the
Purchaser's obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock set forth in
paragraphs (a), (b) and (e) of Annex A shall not be satisfied or waived, until
such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived, (iii) extend the Offer for
any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or the staff thereof applicable
---
to the Offer and (iv) extend the Offer for any reason for a period of not more
than 10 business days beyond the latest expiration date that would otherwise be
permitted under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence. In addition, the
Purchaser shall at the request of the Company extend the Offer for five business
days if at any scheduled expiration date of the Offer any of the conditions to
the Purchaser's obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock shall not be
satisfied; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be required to extend
the Offer beyond November 30, 1997.
(b) As soon as practicable on the date the Offer is commenced, Parent
and the Purchaser shall file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule
14D-1 with respect to the Offer (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto and including the exhibits thereto, the "Schedule 14D-l"). The Schedule
--------------
14D-1 will include disclosure sufficient to satisfy the requirements of Rule
13e-3 under the Exchange Act. The Schedule 14D-1 will include, as exhibits, the
offer to purchase pursuant to which the Offer shall be made (the "Offer to
--------
Purchase") and a form of letter of transmittal and summary advertisement
- --------
(collectively, together with any amendments and supplements thereto, the "Offer
-----
Documents"). The Offer Documents will comply in all material respects with the
- ---------
provisions of applicable federal securities laws and, on the date filed with the
SEC and on the date first published, sent or given to the Company's
stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, except that no representation is made by Parent or
the Purchaser with respect to information furnished by the Company to Parent or
the Purchaser, in writing, expressly for inclusion in the Offer Documents. The
Company shall furnish to Parent and the Purchaser all information concerning the
Company and its affiliates required to be set forth in the Offer Documents. The
information supplied by the Company to Parent or the Purchaser, in writing,
expressly for inclusion in the Offer Documents and by Parent or the Purchaser to
the Company, in writing, expressly for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9 (as
hereinafter defined) will not, at the time so provided, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact re-
-4-
quired to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(c) Each of Parent and the Purchaser will take all steps necessary to
cause the Offer Documents to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to
holders of the Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable
federal securities laws. Each of Parent and the Purchaser, on the one hand, and
the Company, on the other hand, will promptly correct any information provided
by it for use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that it shall have
become false or misleading in any material respect and the Purchaser will take
all steps necessary to cause the Offer Documents as so corrected to be filed
with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case as
and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company
and its counsel shall be given the opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-1
(including, without limitation, all documents filed therewith as exhibits)
before it is filed with the SEC. In addition, Parent and the Purchaser will
provide the Company and its counsel in writing with any comments, whether
written or oral, Parent, the Purchaser or their counsel may receive from time to
time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly
after the receipt of such comments.
Section 1.2 Company Actions.
---------------
(a) The Company hereby approves of and consents to the Offer and
represents that the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board"), at
-------------
a meeting duly called and held, have (i) determined that the terms of the Offer
and the Merger and the other Transactions are fair to and in the best interests
of the Stockholders of the Company, (ii) approved (A) the acquisition of the
Company by Parent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement and (B) the Offer, the Merger and the other Transactions, (iii)
approved this Agreement, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of
the Company accept the Offer, tender their Shares thereunder to the Purchaser
and approve and adopt this Agreement and the Merger; provided, that such
recommendation may be withdrawn, modified or amended if, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors, only after receipt of advice from outside legal counsel,
failure to withdraw, modify or amend such recommendation would reasonably be
expected to result in the Board of Directors violating its fiduciary duties to
the Company's stockholders under applicable law and the Company pays the fees
and expenses required by Section 8.1 hereof. The Company represents that the
Company Board has approved the acquisition of Shares by the Purchaser pursuant
to the Offer, the Merger and the Stockholders Agreement.
(b) Concurrently with the commencement of the Offer, the Company
shall file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-
9 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto and including the
exhibits thereto, the "Schedule 14D-9") which shall, subject to the provisions
--------------
of Section 5.4(b), contain the recommendation re-
-5-
ferred to in clause (iv) of Section 1.2(a) hereof. The Schedule 14D-9 will
comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal
securities laws and, on the date filed with the SEC and on the date first
published, sent or given to the Company's Stockholders, shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
that no representation is made by the Company with respect to information
furnished by Parent or the Purchaser for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. The
Company further agrees to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9
to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to holders of the Shares, in
each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.
Each of the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and the Purchaser, on the other
hand, agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the
Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent that it shall have become false and
misleading in any material respect and the Company further agrees to take all
steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9 as so corrected to be filed with the
SEC and to be disseminated to holders of the Shares, in each case as and to the
extent required by applicable federal securities laws. Parent and its counsel
shall be given the opportunity to review the Schedule 14D-9 before it is filed
with the SEC. In addition, the Company agrees to provide Parent, the Purchaser
and their counsel with any comments, whether written or oral, that the Company
or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with
respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after the receipt of such comments or
other communications.
(c) In connection with the Offer, the Company will promptly furnish
or cause to be furnished to the Purchaser mailing labels, security position
listings and any available listing, or computer file containing the names and
addresses of all recordholders of the Shares as of a recent date, and shall
furnish the Purchaser with such additional information (including, but not
limited to, updated lists of holders of the Shares and their addresses, mailing
labels and lists of security positions) and assistance, and cause its
representatives and advisors to provide such assistance, as the Purchaser or its
agents may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to stockholders of the
Company.
Section 1.3 Directors.
---------
(a) Promptly upon the purchase of and payment for any Shares by
Parent or any of its subsidiaries which represents at least a majority of the
outstanding Shares (on a fully diluted basis, as defined in Section 1.1(a)),
Parent shall be entitled to designate such number of directors, rounded up to
the next whole number, on the Company Board as is equal to the product of the
total number of directors on such Company Board (giving effect to the directors
designated by Parent pursuant to this sentence) multiplied by the percentage
that the number of Shares so accepted for payment bears to the total number of
Shares then outstanding. In furtherance thereof, the Company shall, upon
request of the Purchaser, use its best
-6-
reasonable efforts promptly either to increase the size of the Company Board or
secure the resignations of such number of its incumbent directors, or both, as
is necessary to enable Parent's designees to be so elected to the Company Board,
and shall take all actions available to the Company to cause Parent's designees
to be so elected. At such time, the Company shall, if requested by Parent, also
cause persons designated by Parent to constitute at least the same percentage
(rounded up to the next whole number) as is on the Company Board of (i) each
committee of the Company Board, (ii) each board of directors (or similar body)
of each Subsidiary (as defined in Section 3.1) of the Company and (iii) each
committee (or similar body) of each such board.
(b) The Company shall promptly take all actions required pursuant to
Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-l promulgated thereunder in order
to fulfill its obligations under Section 1.3(a), including mailing to
stockholders together with Schedule 14D-9 the information required by such
Section 14(f) and Rule 14f-1 as is necessary to enable Parent's designees to be
elected to the Company Board. Parent or the Purchaser will supply the Company
and be solely responsible for any information with respect to either of them and
their nominees, officers, directors and affiliates required by such Section
14(f) and Rule 14f-1. The provisions of this Section 1.3 are in addition to and
shall not limit any rights which the Purchaser, Parent or any of their
affiliates may have as a holder or beneficial owner of Shares as a matter of law
with respect to the election of directors or otherwise.
(c) In the event that Parent's designees are elected to the Company
Board, until the Effective Time (as defined below), the Company Board shall have
at least two directors who are directors on the date hereof (the "Independent
-----------
Directors"); provided that, in such event, if the number of Independent
- ---------
Directors shall be reduced below two for any reason whatsoever, any remaining
Independent Directors (or Independent Director, if there be only one remaining)
shall be entitled to designate persons to fill such vacancies who shall be
deemed to be Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement or, if no
Independent Director then remains, the other directors shall designate two
persons to fill such vacancies who shall not be stockholders, affiliates or
associates of Parent or the Purchaser and such persons shall be deemed to be
Independent Directors for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Parent's designees are
elected to the Company Board, after the acceptance for payment of Shares
pursuant to the Offer and prior to the Effective Time, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Independent Directors shall be required to (a) amend or
terminate this Agreement by the Company, (b) exercise or waive any of the
Company's rights, benefits or remedies hereunder, or (c) take any other action
by the Company Board under or in connection with this Agreement.
Section 1.4 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
----------
Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.5 hereof), the Company
and the Purchaser shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which (a) the
Purchaser shall be merged with and
-7-
into the Company and the separate corporate existence of the Purchaser shall
thereupon cease, (b) the Company shall be the successor or surviving corporation
in the Merger and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, and (c) the separate corporate existence of the Company with all its
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected
by the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger, (x) the certificate of incorporation of
the Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be
the certificate of incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") of the
-----------------------------
Surviving Corporation (as defined below), except that Article FIRST of the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall read in its
entirety as follows: "FIRST: The name of the corporation is Westbrae Natural,
Inc." and (y) the by-laws of the Purchaser (the "By-laws"), as in effect
-------
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation and such By-laws. The corporation surviving the Merger is
sometimes hereafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation." The Merger
--------- -----------
shall have the effects set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law ( the
"DGCL").
Section 1.5 Effective Time. Parent, the Purchaser and the Company
--------------
will cause a Certificate of Merger or, if applicable, Certificate of Ownership
and Merger (the "Certificate of Merger") to be executed and filed on the date of
---------------------
the Closing (as defined in Section 1.6) (or on such other date as Parent and the
Company may agree) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the
"Secretary of State") as provided in the DGCL. The Merger shall become
- -------------------
effective on the date on which the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed
with the Secretary of State or such time as is agreed upon by the parties and
specified in the Certificate of Merger, and such time is hereinafter referred to
as the "Effective Time."
--------------
Section 1.6 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will
------- -------
take place at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on a date to be specified by the
parties, which shall be no later than the first business day after satisfaction
or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article VI hereof (the "Closing
-------
Date") and in any event, no later than December 31, 1997, at the offices of
- ----
Cahill Gordon & Reindel, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, unless
another date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
Section 1.7 Directors of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of
--------------------------------------
the Purchaser at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be
the directors of the Surviving Corporation until their successors shall have
been duly elected or appointed or qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and
the By-laws.
Section 1.8 Officers of the Surviving Corporation. Except as set
-------------------------------------
forth on Schedule 1.8 hereto, the officers of the Purchaser immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of
the Surviving Corporation until
-8-
their successors have been duly elected or appointed or qualified or until their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation or the By-laws.
Section 1.9 Stockholders' Meeting.
---------------------
(a) If required by applicable law in order to consummate the Merger,
the Company, acting through its Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with
applicable law:
(i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of
its stockholders (the "Special Meeting") as promptly as practicable
---------------
following the acceptance for payment and purchase of Shares by the
Purchaser pursuant to the Offer for the purpose of considering and taking
action upon the approval of the Merger and the adoption of this Agreement;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary proxy or
information statement relating to the Merger and this Agreement and use its
best efforts (x) to obtain and furnish the information required to be
included by the SEC in the Proxy Statement (as hereinafter defined) and,
after consultation with Parent, to respond promptly to any comments made by
the SEC with respect to the preliminary proxy or information statement and
cause a definitive proxy or information statement, including any amendment
or supplement thereto (the "Proxy Statement") to be mailed to its
---------------
stockholders, provided that no amendment or supplement to the Proxy
Statement will be made by the Company without consultation with Parent and
its counsel and (y) to obtain the necessary approvals of the Merger and
this Agreement by its stockholders; and
(iii) include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of the
Company Board that stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the
approval of the Merger and the adoption of this Agreement.
(b) Parent shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Shares then
owned by it, the Purchaser or any of its other subsidiaries and affiliates in
favor of the approval of the Merger and the approval and adoption of this
Agreement.
Section 1.10 Merger Without Meeting of Stockholders. Notwithstanding
--------------------------------------
Section 1.9 hereof, in the event that Parent, the Purchaser and any other
Subsidiaries of Parent shall acquire in the aggregate at least 90% of the
outstanding shares of each class of capital stock of the Company, pursuant to
the Offer or otherwise, the parties hereto shall, at the request of Parent and
subject to Article VI hereof, take all necessary and appropriate action to cause
the Merger to become effective as soon as practicable after such acquisition,
without a meeting of stockholders of the Company, in accordance with Section 253
of the DGCL.
-9-
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time,
---------------------------
by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of any
Shares or holders of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Purchaser
(the "Purchaser Common Stock"):
----------------------
(a) The Purchaser Common Stock. Each issued and outstanding share of
--------------------------
the Purchaser Common Stock shall be converted into and become one fully
paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock. All
-----------------------------------------------------
Shares that are owned by the Company as treasury stock and any Shares owned
by Parent, the Purchaser or any other wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent
shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist and no
consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Shares. Each issued and outstanding Share and
---------------------
Shares, if any, subject to outstanding options then outstanding not
theretofore cancelled as provided in Section 2.4 hereof (other than Shares
to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and any Shares which are
held by Dissenting Stockholders shall be converted into the right to
receive the Offer Price, payable to the holder thereof, without interest
(the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender of the certificate formerly
--------------------
representing such Share in the manner provided in Section 2.2. All such
Shares, when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate representing any such Shares shall cease to have
any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger
Consideration therefor upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance
with Section 2.2, without interest.
Section 2.2 Exchange of Certificates.
------------------------
(a) Paying Agent. Parent shall designate a bank or trust company
------------
reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the holders of the
Shares in connection with the Merger (the "Paying Agent") to receive in trust
------------
the funds to which holders of the Shares shall become entitled pursuant to
Section 2.1(c). Such funds shall be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by
Parent or the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
-------------------
Effective Time, the Paying Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a
certificate or certificates,
-10-
which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares
(the "Certificates"), whose Shares were converted pursuant to Section 2.1 into
------------
the right to receive the Merger Consideration (i) a letter of transmittal (which
shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying
Agent and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent and the
Company may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the
surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment of the Merger
Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying
Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Parent, together
with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for
each Share formerly represented by such Certificate and the Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. If payment of the Merger Consideration
is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the surrendered
Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in
proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall have
paid any transfer and other taxes required by reason of the payment of the
Merger Consideration to a person other than the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the
Surviving Corporation that such tax either has been paid or is not applicable.
Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be
deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive the Merger Consideration in cash as contemplated by this Section 2.2.
(c) Transfer Books; No Further Ownership Rights in the Shares. At
---------------------------------------------------------
the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and
thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of the Shares on
the records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of
Certificates evidencing ownership of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares,
except as otherwise provided for herein or by applicable law. If, after the
Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any
reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.
(d) Termination of Fund; No Liability. At any time following six
---------------------------------
months after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to
require the Paying Agent to deliver to it any funds (including any interest
received with respect thereto) which had been made available to the Paying Agent
and which have not been disbursed to holders of Certificates, and thereafter
such holders shall be entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation (subject to
abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws) only as general creditors
thereof with respect to the Merger Consideration payable upon due surrender of
their Certificates, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Surviving Corporation nor the Paying Agent shall be liable to any
holder of a Certificate for Merger Considera-
-11-
tion delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned
property, escheat or similar law.
(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any
--------------------------------------
Certificate for Shares 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 required by Parent, the posting by such
Person of a bond in customary amount as indemnity against any claim that may be
made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate $3.625 per Share
pursuant to Section 2.2(b) upon due surrender of and deliverable in respect of
the Shares represented by such Certificate pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2.3 Dissenters' Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this
------------------
Agreement to the contrary, Dissenting Stockholders who shall not have voted such
Shares in favor of the Merger and who shall have delivered to the Company a
written objection to the Merger in the manner provided by Section 262 of the
DGCL or, if the Merger is effected pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL, made a
written demand for payment of the fair value of his or her Shares ("Dissenting
----------
Shares"), shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger
- ------
Consideration unless and until such holder fails to perfect or effectively
withdraws or loses his right to appraisal. If, after the Effective Time, such
holder fails to perfect or withdraw or loses his right to appraisal, such Shares
shall be deemed to have been converted as of the Effective Time into a right to
receive the Merger Consideration, without interest. The Company shall give the
Parent or the Purchaser prompt notice of any notices of objection to the Merger
received by the Company, and of any demands received by the Company for payment
for any Shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, and the Parent or the
Purchaser shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, except with
the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed, make any payment with respect to, or offer to settle, any
such demands.
Section 2.4 Company Plans.
-------------
(a) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding
employee stock option to purchase Shares (a "Company Option") granted under the
--------------
Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan, the Company's 1996 Incentive Stock Plan and
granted as certain executive and director non-statutory options (collectively,
"Option Plans and Awards"), shall be surrendered to the Company and shall be
- ------------------------
forthwith cancelled and the Purchaser shall provide the Company with funds
sufficient to pay to each holder of a Company Option, by check, an amount equal
to (i) the product of the number of the Shares which are issuable upon exercise
of such Company Option, multiplied by the Offer Price, less (ii) the aggregate
exercise price of such Company Option. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall
use its best efforts to take all actions
-12-
(including, without limitation, soliciting any necessary consents from the
holders of the Company Options) required to effect the matters set forth in this
Section 2.4, including the surrender, cancellation and payment in consideration
for the Company Options described in this Section 2.4(a). The Company shall
withhold all income or other taxes as required under applicable law prior to
distribution of the cash amount received under this Section 2.4(a) to the
holders of Company Options.
(b) Except as may be otherwise agreed to by Parent or the Purchaser
and the Company, the Company's Option Plans and Awards shall terminate as of the
Effective Time and the provisions in any other plan, program or arrangement
providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the
capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deleted as of
the Effective Time and no holder of Company Options or any participant in the
Option Plans and Awards or any other plans, programs or arrangements shall have
any rights thereunder to acquire any equity securities of the Company, the
Surviving Corporation or any subsidiary thereof.
Section 2.5 Company Subordinated Debt. Immediately prior to the
-------------------------
Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Company to redeem all of the Company's 8%
Senior Subordinated Notes A and 8% Senior Subordinated Notes B (collectively,
the "Notes") in an amount equivalent to the outstanding principal amount thereof
-----
and accrued and unpaid interest thereon but not in excess of $2.2 million.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
To induce the Parent and the Purchaser to enter into and perform their
respective obligations under this Agreement, the Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Parent and the Purchaser that (except as set forth on the
attached disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 1 (the "Disclosure
---------- ----------
Schedule") or as otherwise disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
- --------
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
for the quarterly periods ended March 30, 1997 and June 30, 1997 and its Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders dated June 17, 1997 and related Information
Statement (collectively with the Disclosure Schedule, the "Disclosure
----------
Documents") as filed by the Company with the SEC under the Exchange Act) each of
the following statements is true and correct. As used in this Agreement, the
term "Material Adverse Effect" means any event or series of events which,
-----------------------
individually or in the aggregate, may reasonably be expected to result in a
material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, (1) the
operations, business, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Company or any Subsidiary, (2) the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations hereunder, or (3) the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the term
-13-
"Subsidiary" shall mean all corporations or other entities in which the Company
- -----------
or the Parent, as the case may be, owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of
the issued and outstanding capital stock or similar interests or has the right
to elect a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or similar
governing body.
Section 3.1 Organization. (a) Each of the Company and its
------------
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization
and has all requisite corporate power and authority and all necessary
governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on
its business as now being conducted, except where the failure to be so
organized, existing and in good standing or to have such power, authority, and
governmental approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or
licensed to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted
by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure
to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing would not individually
or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.1(b) of the
Disclosure Schedule contains a correct and complete list of each of the
Company's Subsidiaries, the jurisdiction where each such Subsidiary is organized
and the percentage of outstanding capital stock of such Subsidiary that is
directly or indirectly owned by the Company. Except as set forth in Section
3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own (i) any equity
interest in any corporation or other entity or (ii) marketable securities where
the Company's equity interest in any entity exceeds five percent of the
outstanding equity of such entity on the date hereof.
Section 3.2 Capitalization.
--------------
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
30,000,000 Shares and 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Preferred Stock"). As of the date hereof, (i) 5,950,588 Shares are
---------------
issued and outstanding, (ii) 292,066 Shares are issued and held in the treasury
of the Company, (iii) no shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding,
and (iv) 1,089,875 Shares are reserved for issuance to officers, directors and
employees pursuant to the Option Plans and Awards, of which no Shares have been
issued pursuant to option exercises and 1,008,875 Shares are subject to
outstanding, unexercised options. Section 3.2(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of the holders of Company Options, including such
person's name, the number of options (vested, unvested and total) held by such
person and the exercise price for each such option. Since the date hereof, the
Company has not issued or granted additional options under the Options Plans.
All the outstanding shares of the Company's capital stock are, and all Shares
which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of outstanding Company Options will
be, when issued
-14-
in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 3.2(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,
there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having general
voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) ("Voting
------
Debt") of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued and outstanding.
(c) Except as set forth above, except as described in Section 3.2(c)
of the Disclosure Schedule and except for the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, as of the date hereof, (i) there are no shares of capital stock of
the Company authorized, issued or outstanding (ii) there are no existing
options, warrants, calls, pre-emptive rights, subscriptions or other rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, relating to the issued
or unissued capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, obligating
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell or cause to be
issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock or Voting Debt of, or
other equity interest in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, or
obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement,
arrangement or commitment and (iii) except as set forth above, except as set
forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any Shares, or the capital stock of the Company, or
any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or to provide funds to make any
investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any
Subsidiary or any other entity other than loans to Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of business.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Disclosure Schedule,
all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries are
beneficially owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, and all such shares
have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by
either the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all liens,
charges, claims or encumbrances of whatever nature ("Encumbrances").
------------
(e) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the
voting of the capital stock of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
Section 3.3 Authorization; Validity of Agreement. The Company has
------------------------------------
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement, and the consummation by it of the Transactions, have
been duly authorized by its Board of Directors and, except for obtaining the
approval of its Stockholders as contemplated by Sec-
-15-
tion 1.9 hereof, no other corporate action on the part of the Company is
necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement and the consummation by it of the Transactions. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Parent and the Purchaser, is a
valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms.
Section 3.4 No Conflict.
-----------
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule,
none of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the consummation by the Company of the Transactions or the compliance
by the Company with any of the provisions hereof do not, and the performance of
this Agreement will not (i) violate the [Restated and Amended] Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or the certificate or articles of
incorporation or organization or by-laws of any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii)
conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any terms or provisions of,
or constitute (with or without due notice, lapse of time or both) a default or
give rise to a right of acceleration, cancellation or termination under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, security interest, mortgage,
or encumbrance (collectively, "Lien") upon any properties of the Company or any
----
Subsidiary under any Contract (as defined in Section 3.10(a)) or Permit (as
defined in Section 3.10 (b)) or other instrument to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their properties are bound or any
existing applicable statute, ordinance, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order
or decree of any court, governmental instrumentality or regulatory body, agency
or authority having jurisdiction over the Company, any Subsidiary or any of
their properties.
(b) Section 3.4(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of
all third party consents and approvals required to be obtained in connection
with this Agreement under the Company Agreements prior to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such third party
consents and approvals the failure of which to obtain would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.5 SEC Reports and Financial Statements.
------------------------------------
(a) The Company has timely filed with the SEC, and has heretofore
made available to Parent, true and complete copies of, all forms, reports,
schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed by it since
January 1, 1994 under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act") (as such documents have been amended since the time of
--------------
their filing, collectively, the "SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates
-------------
or, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, the SEC Documents,
including, without limitation, any financial statements or schedules included
therein (a) did
-16-
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (b) complied in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and
the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. None of the
Company's Subsidiaries is required to file any forms, reports or other documents
with the SEC.
(b) The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC
Documents (the "Financial Statements") have been prepared from, and are in
--------------------
accordance with, the books and records of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, comply in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis during the
----
period involved and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows
(and changes in financial position, if any) of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the times and for the periods referred to therein.
(c) The Company has delivered to the Parent an unaudited consolidated
Balance Sheet as of June 30, 1997 (the "Interim Balance Sheet") and related
---------------------
consolidated statements of operations for the period then ended (the "Interim
-------
Financial Statements"). Such Interim Financial Statements were prepared in
- --------------------
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis (except for footnotes thereto and for the consolidated statement of
shareholders' equity) and fairly present in all material respects the financial
position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of such date and the results of
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries for the periods ending on such
dates.
Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in
--------------------------
Section 3.6 of the Disclosure Schedule or in the SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, since December 31, 1996, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary and usual course and
there has not occurred any events or changes (including the incurrence of any
liabilities of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise)
having, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and the
Company has not taken any action which would have been prohibited under Section
5.1 hereof.
Section 3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed in
--------------------------
the Financial Statements and (b) for liabilities and obligations (i) incurred in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice since December
31, 1996, or (ii) as otherwise disclosed in Section 3.7 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise, that
have, or would be reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect or that
-17-
would be required by GAAP to be reflected in, reserved against or otherwise
described in a consolidated balance sheet of the Company (including the notes
thereto).
Section 3.8 Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 3.8 of the
----------
Disclosure Schedule, there are no suits, claims, actions, proceedings,
including, without limitation, arbitration proceedings or alternative dispute
resolution proceedings, or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any
court, arbitral tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other
governmental or other regulatory authority or agency (a "Governmental Entity")
-------------------
that, either individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.9 Liens; Insurance. Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of
----------------
the Disclosure Schedule, all properties owned or leased by the Company or the
Subsidiaries are free and clear of all liens, charges or other encumbrances
except for (a) mechanics', carriers', workers' and other similar liens imposed
by law and incurred in the ordinary course of business for obligations not yet
due and payable, (b) liens for current taxes not yet due and payable or being
contested in good faith by appropriate means, (c) liens reflected in the
Financial Statements and/or the Interim Financial Statements, and (d) liens
which in the aggregate do not materially detract from the value or impair the
use of the property subject thereto, or impair the operations of the Company or
any Subsidiary. All of the assets which are material to the business of the
Company or any Subsidiary are in good condition in accordance with industry
practice (subject to normal wear and tear). As of December 31, 1996, the
insurance coverage respecting the Company and its Subsidiaries was reasonably
adequate for the respective assets, business and operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and was maintained with financially sound and reputable
insurers. The assets, business and operations insured by the Company and its
Subsidiaries are of the kind customarily insured against by corporations of
established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly
situated and such insurance is of such types and in such amounts as are
customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other corporations.
Since December 31, 1996, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has maintained
all existing insurance policies (including without limitation, policies relating
to workers' compensation). Except as set forth on Section 3.9 of the Disclosure
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default (other
than a default which does not affect the obligation of the insurer to make
payment on the policy) with respect to any provisions or requirements of any
insurance policy nor have they failed to give any notice or present any material
claim thereunder in due and timely fashion, other than such defaults and
failures, which individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
-18-
Section 3.10 Contracts; Permits.
------------------
(a) Contracts. Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
---------
a complete and accurate list of all material contracts, loan agreements,
mortgages, notes, bonds, security agreements, leases, agreements, instruments
and understandings, whether written or oral (collectively, "Contracts") binding
---------
upon the Company or any Subsidiary. Each Contract is in full force and effect
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation enforceable in accordance with
its terms, and no event has occurred that would constitute a default under or
otherwise give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration with
respect to any Contract (presently, with the giving of notice or the passage of
time). Except as set forth in Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, no
contract will be terminated or otherwise adversely affected by virtue of the
consummation of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Permits. Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
-------
complete and accurate list of all federal, state and local governmental
licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals (collectively, "Permits") held
-------
by the Company or any Subsidiary. Each Permit is in full force and effect
without violation and no actions are pending or threatened to revoke or limit
any Permit. Except as set forth in Section 3.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule,
No Permit will be terminated or otherwise adversely affected by virtue of the
consummation of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Filings filed with the
---------
SEC prior to the date hereof or in Section 3.10(c) of the Disclosure Schedule,
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any written or
formal contract, agreement or policy for the employment of any director, officer
or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(d) Certain Agreements. Except as set forth on Section 3.10(d) of
------------------
the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to or bound by any contract, agreement or arrangement that contains any
"change in control" provisions.
Section 3.11 Employee Benefit Plans.
----------------------
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Plans" shall include:
-----
each deferred compensation and each incentive compensation, stock purchase,
stock option and other equity compensation plan, program, agreement or
arrangement; each severance or termination pay, medical, surgical,
hospitalization, life insurance and other 'welfare' plan, fund or program
(within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")); each profit-sharing, stock bonus or other
-----
'pension' plan, fund or program (within the meaning of section 3(2) of ERISA);
each employment, termination or severance agreement; and each other employee
benefit plan, fund, program, agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is
sponsored, maintained or contributed to or required to be contrib-
-19-
uted to by the Company or by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated
(an "ERISA Affiliate"), that together with the Company would be deemed a
----- ---------
single employer within the meaning of section 4001(b) of ERISA, or to which the
Company or an ERISA Affiliate is party, whether written or oral, for the benefit
of any employee or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (the
"Plans"). Each
-----
of the Plans that is subject to section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or section 412
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") is hereinafter
----
referred to in this Section 3.11 as a "Title IV Plan." Neither the Company, any
-------------
Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has any commitment or formal plan, whether
legally binding or not, to create any additional employee benefit plan or modify
or change any existing Plan that would affect any employee or former employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) No liability under Title IV or section 302 of ERISA has been
incurred by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been satisfied in
full, and no condition exists that presents a material risk to the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate of incurring any such liability. No Plan is a Title IV Plan.
(c) Neither the Company or any Subsidiary, any Plan, any trust
created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator thereof has engaged in a
transaction in connection with which the Company or any Subsidiary, any Plan,
any such trust, or any trustee or administrator (as defined in Section 3(16)(A)
of ERISA) thereof, or any party in interest (as defined in ERISA Section 3(14))
or fiduciary with respect to any Plan or any such trust could be subject to
either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a
tax imposed pursuant to section 4975 or 4976 of the Code, which would be
material in amount.
(d) Each Plan has been operated and administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code.
(e) Each Plan intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of
section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from
the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the qualified status of such Plan
under the Code, including all amendments to the Code effected by the Tax Reform
Act of 1986, and nothing has occurred since the issuance of such letter which
could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of the tax-qualified status of
such Plan and the related trust maintained.
(f) No Plan provides medical, surgical, hospitalization, death or
similar benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of
the Company or any Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their retirement or
other termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated by applicable
law, (ii) death benefits under any "pension plan," or
-20-
(iii) benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or former employee
(or his beneficiary) or (iv) post-death exercise periods in effect under
outstanding Company Options.
(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedule,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not,
either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or
former employee or officer of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to severance
pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as expressly
provided in this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting,
or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or officer.
(h) There are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or anticipated claims by or on behalf of any Plan, by any employee or
beneficiary covered under any such Plan, or otherwise involving any such Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits) which would have a material adverse
effect upon the Plans or a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.12 Taxes.
-----
(a) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all
Tax Returns required to be filed by it or duly obtained extensions, except to
the extent that a failure to file, in the individual or in the aggregate, would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect. All such Tax Returns are complete and
correct in all respects, other than any inaccuracy or incompleteness that, in
the individual or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely paid (or the
Company has timely paid on its Subsidiaries' behalf) all Taxes shown to be due
on such returns and reports. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has
timely paid (or the Company has timely paid on its Subsidiaries' behalf) all
Taxes for which no return was required to be filed, except to the extent that a
failure to pay, in the individual or in the aggregate, would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect. All Taxes not previously paid that are attributable to
any period or portion thereof ending on the date hereof do not exceed the
reserve in the Financial Statements for Taxes payable by the Company and its
Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of
such financial statements by an amount that would result in a Material Adverse
Effect. All liabilities for Taxes incurred by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries since the date of the Company's balance sheet dated December 31,
1996 included in the financial statements (the "Balance Sheet") have been
-------------
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, other
than any liabilities for taxes that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect. No deficiencies for any Taxes have been
proposed, asserted, assessed or threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in writing that would have a Material Adverse Effect, and no
requests for waivers of the time to assess or collect any such Taxes are
pending. No Tax Returns of the Company and or any its Subsidiaries consolidated
in such returns have not been examined or audited by the United States Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority since 1986.
-21-
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement, plan, contract or arrangement that could result, separately or in the
aggregate, in a payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Tax" or "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, duties,
--- -----
levies, penalties or other assessments imposed by any federal, state, local
or foreign governmental authority, including, but not limited to, income,
gross receipts, excise, property, sales, gain, use, license, custom duty,
unemployment, capital stock, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding,
social security, minimum estimated, and other taxes, and shall include
interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto; and
(ii) "Tax Return" shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim
----------
for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including
any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
Section 3.13 Intellectual Property.
---------------------
(a) Disclosure Schedule 3.13(a) sets forth a complete and accurate
list of all the Intellectual Property (as defined below) owned or licensed by
the Company and its Subsidiaries. To the best knowledge of the Company, the
Company and its Subsidiaries own or have adequate rights to use all items of
Intellectual Property utilized in the conduct of the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be
conducted, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances which,
individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect).
(b) To the best knowledge of the Company, the conduct of the
Company's and its Subsidiaries' business and the Intellectual Property owned or
used by the Company and its Subsidiaries, do not infringe any Intellectual
Property rights or any other proprietary right of any person other than
infringements which, individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have received no
notice of any allegations or threats that the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
use of any of the Intellectual Property infringes upon or is in conflict with
any Intellectual Property or proprietary rights of any third party other than
infringements or conflicts which individually or in the aggregate are not
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) As used in this Agreement, "Intellectual Property" means all of
---------------------
the following: (i) U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks,
trade dress, service marks, logos, trade names, corporate names and all
registrations and applications to register
-22-
the same (the "Trademarks"); (ii) issued U.S. and foreign patents and pending
----------
patent applications, patent disclosures, and any and all divisions,
continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, and extension
thereof, any counterparts claiming priority therefrom, utility models, patents
of importation/confirmation, certificates of invention and like statutory rights
(the "Patents"); (iii) U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered copyrights
-------
(including, but not limited to, those in computer software and databases) rights
of publicity and all registrations and applications to register the same (the
"Copyrights"); (iv) all categories of trade secrets as defined in the Uniform
----------
Trade Secrets Act including, but not limited to, business information; (v) all
licenses and agreements pursuant to which the Company has acquired rights in or
to any Trademarks, Patents, rights of publicity or Copyrights, or licenses and
agreements pursuant to which the Company has licensed or transferred the right
to use any of the foregoing (the "Licenses").
--------
Section 3.14 Employment Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its
------------------
Subsidiaries has experienced any strikes, collective labor grievances, other
collective bargaining disputes or claims of unfair labor practices in the last
five years. To the Company's knowledge, there is no organizational effort
currently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with
respect to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.15 Compliance with Laws. To the best knowledge of the
--------------------
Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with, and
have not violated in any material respect any applicable law, rule or regulation
of any United States federal, state, local, or foreign government or agency
thereof which affects the business, properties or assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. No notice, charge, claim, inquiry, investigation action or
assertion has been received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or has
been filed, commenced or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries alleging any such violation. To the knowledge
of the Company, all licenses, permits and approvals required under such laws,
rules and regulations are in full force and effect except where the failure to
be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.16 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a
-------------
majority of the outstanding Shares is the only vote of the holders of any class
or series of the Company's capital stock which may be necessary to approve this
Agreement or any of the Transactions.
Section 3.17 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Section
---------------------
3.17 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have obtained and currently
maintain all material licenses, permits, certificates and other
authorizations (the "Environmental Permits") which are currently required
---------------------
with respect to their respective operations under
-23-
federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations now in existence
relating to pollution or protection of public or employee health or the
environment, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating
to emissions, discharges or releases of any "Hazardous Substance" (as
defined below) into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, land
surface or subsurface strata located both on and off-site) or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, generation, use,
removal, abatement, remediation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport,
handling, import or export of any Hazardous Substance (the "Environmental
-------------
Laws"). The term "Hazardous Substance" shall mean
---- -------------------
any toxic or hazardous substances, constituents, pollutants, contaminants
or wastes, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls ("PCB"), petroleum or any petroleum products or wastes regulated
---
under applicable Environmental Laws. The Company has not been notified in
writing by any governmental entity that any of the Environmental Permits
will or may be revoked, rescinded, annulled or otherwise terminated.
(b) To the best knowledge of the Company, each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all
applicable Environmental Permits and Environmental Laws.
(c) There is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit,
demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, order, investigation,
proceeding, notice or demand letter received by or pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any
Subsidiary under any Environmental Law or any order, decree, judgment or
injunction entered or approved under such Environmental Law.
(d) To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no release,
storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Substance from, into, at or
on any real property owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary which
has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a material
violation by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Environmental Laws.
(e) There are no above- or underground storage tanks or PCB
containing transformers on, about or beneath any real property owned or
leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, nor were there any at any real
property formerly utilized by the Company.
(f) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no conditions on,
about, beneath or arising from any real property currently or formerly
owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary which might, under any
Environmental Law, result in any liability or the imposition of a statutory
lien, or which would or may require any
-24-
"response," "removal" or "remedial action" as defined in any Environmental
Law, or any other action, including, without limitation, reporting,
monitoring, clean-up or contribution of funds.
(g) The Company has made available to Parent for review copies of all
environmental reports or studies in its possession prepared since January
1, 1994.
Section 3.18 Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable reflected
-------------------
on the Balance Sheet are valid receivables arising in the ordinary course of
business, subject to normal reserves for bad debts, returns, allowances and
customer promotional allowances reflected on the Balance Sheet, and, to the
Company's knowledge, are subject to no setoffs or counterclaims except as
reflected on the Balance Sheet. All accounts receivable reflected in the
financial or accounting records of the Company that have arisen since December
31, 1996 are valid receivables, arising in the ordinary course of business,
subject to normal reserves for bad debts, returns and allowances and, to the
Company's knowledge, are subject to no material setoffs or counterclaims except
as set forth on the Interim Balance Sheet.
Section 3.19 Inventory. All inventory of the Company is valued on
---------
the Company's books and records at the lower of cost or market. Obsolete items
and items of below standard quality have been written off or written down to
their net realizable value on the books and records of the Company. Subject to
reserves reflected on the Balance Sheet and the Interim Balance Sheet, all such
inventory consisting of raw materials or packaging is usable in the ordinary
course of business, and all such inventory consisting of finished goods is, and
all such inventory consisting of work in process will upon completion be, of
merchantable quality, meeting all material contractual, and all Food and Drug
Administration and Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 requirements,
and is, or in the case of work in process, will be, saleable in the ordinary
course of business.
Section 3.20 Product Warranty. Except as set forth on Section 3.20
----------------
of the Disclosure Schedule, (a) the Company has not agreed to become or, to its
knowledge, otherwise is not responsible for consequential damages (exclusive of
responsibilities imposed by law) and has not made any express warranties to
third parties with respect to any products created, manufactured, sold,
distributed or licensed, or any services rendered, by the Company; (b) there are
no warranties (express or implied) outstanding with respect to any such product
or products or services other than any such implied by law pursuant to Sections
2-312, 2-313(b) and 2-314 of the UCC or the Company's customer purchase order or
contract forms, or the Company's order information forms; (c) there are no
material design, manufacturing or other defects, latent or otherwise, with
respect to any such products; and (d) such products are nontoxic. The Company
has not modified or expanded its warranty obligation to any customer beyond that
set forth in the exceptions described above or in Section 3.20 of the Disclosure
Schedule. Except as set forth in Section 3.20 of the Disclosure Schedule, no
products
-25-
have been sold or distributed by the Company under an understanding that such
products would be returnable other than in accordance with the Company's written
standard returns policy.
Section 3.21 Information in Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement, if
------------------------------
any (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto), will, at the date mailed
to Company stockholders and at the time of the meeting of Company stockholders
to be held in connection with the Merger, not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, except that no
representation is made by the Company with respect to statements made therein
based on information supplied by Parent or the Purchaser for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement will comply in all material respects with
the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Section 3.22 Brokers or Finders; Schedule of Fees and Expenses.
-------------------------------------------------
Except as set forth in Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedule, no broker,
investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to any
broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
the Company. The Company's current estimate of fees and expenses incurred and
to be incurred by the Company in connection with this Agreement and the
Transactions (including the fees of the Company's legal counsel) are set forth
in Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedule.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND THE PURCHASER
-----------------------------------
To induce the Company to enter into and perform its obligations under
this Agreement, the Parent and the Purchaser each hereby represent and warrant
to the Company as follows:
Section 4.1 Organization. Each of Parent and the Purchaser is a
------------
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.
Section 4.2 Authorization; Validity of Agreement. Parent and the
------------------------------------
Purchaser have full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and
performance by Parent and the Purchaser of this Agreement, and the consummation
by it of the Transactions, have been duly
-26-
authorized by their respective Boards of Directors and no other corporate action
on the part of either Parent or the Purchaser is necessary to authorize the
execution and delivery by Parent or the Purchaser of this Agreement and the
consummation by it of the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Parent and the Purchaser and, assuming due and valid
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company, is a valid and
binding obligation of each of Parent and the Purchaser enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.
Section 4.3 Brokers or Finders. Except for CIBC Wood Gundy
------------------
Securities Corp., which served as financial advisor to Parent in connection with
the Transactions and will receive customary compensation in cash in
consideration for its services in such capacity, no broker, investment banker,
financial advisor or other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the
Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or the
Purchaser.
Section 4.4 Financing. Parent shall have entered into, furnished to
---------
the Company a copy of the Financing Commitment Letter and paid the related
Commitment Issuance Fee (as defined in the Financing Commitment Letter).
Subject to the terms and conditions specified therein, the Financing Commitment
Letter will provide Purchaser with funds sufficient in amount to consummate the
Offer and Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby. Parent shall take
all actions reasonably required to consummate the transactions contemplated by
the Financing Commitment Letter.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
---------
Section 5.1 Conduct of Business.
-------------------
(a) Ordinary Course. During the period from the date of this
---------------
Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Time of the Merger and the appointment
or election of the Purchaser's designees to the Company Board pursuant to
Section 1.3 (such earlier time, the "Control Time"), the Company shall, and
------------
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses in the
usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
heretofore conducted and, to the extent consistent therewith, use all reasonable
efforts to preserve intact their current business organizations, keep available
the services of their current officers and employees and preserve their
relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors and
others having business dealings with them to the end that their goodwill and
ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, except as contemplated by this Agreement or
otherwise approved in writing
-27-
by Parent, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Control
Time, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other
distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock, other than dividends
and distributions by any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company to its parent, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect
of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (C)
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other securities thereof or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other securities;
(ii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of
its capital stock (including shares issued and held in treasury), any other
voting securities or any securities convertible into, or any rights,
warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or
convertible securities, other than the issuance of Common Stock upon the
exercise of Company Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement in
accordance with their present terms;
(iii) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
comparable charter or organizational documents;
(iv) acquire or agree to acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with,
or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association or other business organization or division thereof or (B) any
assets that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except purchases of inventory in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(v) sell, lease, license, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to
any Lien or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets, except
sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(vi) (A) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any
such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or
warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another person,
enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any financial
statement condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having
the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for short-term
borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and pursuant to existing agreements not to exceed in the aggregate
$250,000, or (B)
-28-
make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in,
any other person, other than to the Company or any direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company except for travel advances and loans
to employees in amounts not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate;
(vii) make or agree to make any new capital expenditure or
expenditures which, individually, is in excess of $50,000 or, in the
aggregate, are in excess of $250,000;
(viii) (A) grant to any officer of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries any increase in compensation, except as was required under
employment agreements in effect as of December 31, 1996, (B) grant to any
officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries any increase in severance
or termination pay, except as was required under employment, severance or
termination agreements in effect as of December 31, 1996, (C) enter into
any employment, severance or termination agreement with any officer of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (D) amend any benefit plan in any
respect;
(ix) make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices
materially affecting the Company's assets, liabilities or business, except
insofar as may have been required by a change in generally accepted
accounting principles;
(x) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any material claims, liabilities
or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction,
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in
accordance with their terms;
(xi) except in the ordinary course of business, modify, amend or
terminate any material Contract or waive or release or assign any material
rights or claims;
(xii) make any material tax election or settle or compromise any
material income tax liability; or
(xiii) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the
foregoing actions.
(b) Other Actions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
-------------
of its Subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or that could reasonably be
expected to, result in (i) any of the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality
becoming untrue, (ii) any of such representations and warranties that are not so
qualified becoming untrue in any material respect or (iii) except as otherwise
permitted by Section 5.1, any of the conditions to the Offer set forth in Annex
A, or any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI, not being
satisfied.
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(c) Advice of Changes. The Company shall promptly advise Parent
-----------------
orally and in writing of any change or event having, or which, insofar as can
reasonably be foreseen, would have, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
--------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
afford to Parent, and to Parent's officers, employees, accountants, counsel,
financial advisors and other representatives, reasonable access during normal
business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to all their
respective properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and,
during such period, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, furnish promptly to Parent (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration
statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state securities laws and (b) all other information
concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably
request. All such information shall be held in accordance with the
confidentiality agreements dated June 27, 1994 and August 20, 1997 (together,
the "Confidentiality Agreement").
-------------------------
(b) Following the execution of this Agreement, Parent and the Company
shall cooperate with each other and make all reasonable efforts to minimize any
disruption to the business which may result from the announcement of the
Transactions.
Section 5.3 Consents and Approvals.
----------------------
(a) Each of the Company, Parent and the Purchaser will take all
reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements
which may be imposed on it with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions
and will promptly cooperate with and furnish information to each other in
connection with any such requirements imposed upon any of them or any of their
Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions. Each of the
Company, Parent and the Purchaser will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, take
all reasonable actions necessary to obtain (and will cooperate with each other
in obtaining) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption
by, any Governmental Entity or other public or private third party required to
be obtained or made by Parent, the Purchaser, the Company or any of their
Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger or the taking of any action
contemplated thereby or by this Agreement.
(b) The Company and Parent shall take all reasonable actions
necessary to file as soon as practicable, if applicable, notifications under the
Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
---
Act"), and to respond as
-30-
promptly as practicable to any inquiries received from the Federal Trade
Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice for
additional information or documentation and to respond as promptly as
practicable to all inquiries and requests received from any State Attorney
General or other Governmental Entity in connection with antitrust matters.
Section 5.4 No Solicitation.
---------------
(a) The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any officer or
director of the Company or any officer or director of its Subsidiaries to, nor
shall it authorize or permit, any officer, director or employee of, or any
investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of, the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission
of, any Takeover Proposal (as defined below), (ii) except as provided in Section
5.4(b), enter into any agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal or (iii)
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
person any non-public information with respect to the Company, or take any other
action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal;
provided, however, that prior to the acceptance for payment of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Offer, to the extent required by the fiduciary obligations
of the Company Board, as determined in good faith by a majority of the members
thereof based on the written advice of outside counsel, the Company may, in
response to an unsolicited written bona fide Takeover Proposal that contains no
financing condition from a person that the Company Board reasonably believes has
the financial ability to make a Superior Proposal (as defined in Section 5.4(b))
subject to compliance with Section 5.4(c), furnish non-public information with
respect to the Company to such person pursuant to a customary confidentiality
agreement and participate in discussions or negotiations with such person.
Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the
restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any executive officer or
director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker,
attorney or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.4(a) by the
Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Takeover Proposal" means any written
-----------------
proposal that contains no financing condition for a merger or other business
combination involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any proposal or
offer to acquire in any manner, directly or indirectly, more than 20% of the
equity securities of the Company or more than 20% of the Company's consolidated
total assets, other than the Transactions.
(b) Neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall (i)
withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to
Parent or the Purchaser, the approval or recommendation by the Company Board or
any such committee of the Offer, this Agreement or the Merger or (ii) approve or
recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, any Takeover Proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company Board, to the extent required by the
fiduciary obligations thereof, as determined in good faith by a majority of the
members thereof based on the written advice of outside counsel, may approve or
recommend (and, in connection therewith withdraw or modify its approval or
recommendation of
-31-
the Offer, this Agreement or the Merger) a Superior Proposal. For purposes of
-----------------
this Agreement, "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide Takeover Proposal made by
a third party on terms which the Company Board determines in its good faith
judgment to be more favorable to the Company's stockholders than the Offer and
the Merger.
(c) The Company promptly shall advise Parent orally and in writing of
any Takeover Proposal or any inquiry with respect to or which could lead to any
Takeover Proposal and the identity of the person making any such Takeover
Proposal or inquiry. The Company shall keep Parent fully informed of the status
and details of any such Takeover Proposal or inquiry. Nothing in this Section
5.4(c) shall require the Company or the Company Board to take any action that
the Company Board determines in good faith, based on the written advice of
outside counsel, would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company
Board.
(d) Nothing in this Section 5.4 shall prevent the Company and the
Company Board from complying with Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act, or issuing
a communication meeting the requirements of Rule 14d-9(e) under the Exchange
Act, with respect to any tender offer; provided, however, that the Company may
not, except as permitted by Section 5.2(b), withdraw or modify its position with
respect to the Offer or the Merger or approve or recommend, or propose to
approve or recommend, a Takeover Proposal.
Section 5.5 Additional Agreements. Subject to the terms and
---------------------
conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and
regulations, or to remove any injunctions or other impediments or delays, legal
or otherwise, to achieve the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition and all
conditions set forth in Annex A and Article VI, and to consummate and make
effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall, and shall cause its
representatives and advisors to, without cost to Parent or Purchaser, assist
Parent and Purchaser in connection with their financing of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, (i) making available on a
timely basis any financial information of the Company and its Subsidiaries that
may be requested, (ii) obtaining comfort letters and updates thereof from the
Company's independent certified public accountants and opinion letters from the
Company's attorneys, with such letters to be in customary form and to cover
matters of the type customarily covered by accountants and attorneys in such
financing transactions, if applicable, and (iii) making available
representatives of the Company and its accountants and attorneys in connection
with any such financing, including for purposes of due diligence and marketing
efforts related thereto. In case at any time after the Effective Time any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement, the proper officers and directors of the Company, Parent and the
Purchaser shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
such neces-
-32-
sary actions. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the
retention of the individuals set forth in Section 5.5 of the Disclosure Schedule
as employees of the Company following consummation of the Transactions.
Section 5.6 Publicity. The initial press release with respect to the
---------
execution of this Agreement shall be a joint or separate press release(s)
acceptable to Parent and the Company. Thereafter, so long as this Agreement is
in effect, neither the Company, Parent nor any of their respective affiliates
shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other announcement
with respect to the Merger, this Agreement or the other Transactions without the
prior consultation of the other party, except as such party believes, after
receiving the advice of outside counsel and notification to the other party, may
be required by law or by any listing agreement with a national securities
exchange or trading market.
Section 5.7 Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give
-------------------------------
prompt notice to Parent and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, of
(i) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-
occurrence of which would cause any representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the
Effective Time and (ii) any material failure of the Company, Parent or the
Purchaser, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition
or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; provided,
however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.7 shall not
limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party
receiving such notice.
Section 5.8 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification. For a period
----------------------------------------
of not less than six years from the Effective Time of the Merger, parent will
not modify the rights of the officer and directors of the Company and its
Subsidiaries set forth on Section 5.8 of the Disclosure Schedule to
indemnification and Parent and the Purchaser agree that all rights to
indemnification for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time now
existing in favor of the current directors or officers of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as provided in their respective certificates or articles of
incorporation or organization or by-laws shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, an indemnified party
shall use his best efforts to obtain indemnification from any source other than
Parent or the Purchaser from which he may be entitled thereto before seeking
indemnification from Parent or the Purchaser. In the event any action is
brought against any indemnified party for which such indemnified party seeks
indemnity from Parent or the Purchaser, Parent shall have the right to appoint
counsel for such indemnified party in such action and shall be entitled to
direct the defense thereof.
-33-
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
----------
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
---------------------------------------------------
Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be
- ------
subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the
following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by
the Company, Parent or the Purchaser, as the case may be, to the extent
permitted by applicable law:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement shall have been approved
--------------------
and adopted by the requisite vote of the holders of the Shares, if required
by applicable law, in order to consummate the Merger.
(b) Statutes; Court Orders. No statute, rule or regulation shall
----------------------
have been enacted or promulgated by any governmental authority which
prohibits the consummation of the Merger; and there shall be no order or
injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect precluding
consummation of the Merger.
(c) Purchase of Shares in Offer. Parent, the Purchaser or their
---------------------------
affiliates shall have purchased Shares pursuant to the Offer, except that
this condition shall not apply if Parent, the Purchaser or their affiliates
shall have failed to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer in breach of
their obligations under this Agreement.
(d) HSR Act. The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
-------
applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act, if any, shall have been
terminated or shall have expired.
Section 6.2 Condition to Parent's and the Purchaser's Obligations to
--------------------------------------------------------
Effect the Merger. The obligations of Parent and the Purchaser to consummate
- -----------------
the Merger are further subject to the fulfillment of the condition that all
actions contemplated by Section 2.4 hereof shall have been taken, which may be
waived in whole or in part by Parent and the Purchaser.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
-----------
Section 7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
-----------
Transactions contemplated herein may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective Time, whether before or after stockholder approval thereof:
(a) By the mutual written consent of Parent and the Company.
-34-
(b) By either of the Company or Parent:
(i) if the Offer shall have expired without any Shares being
purchased therein; provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 7.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any
party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has
been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of Parent or the
Purchaser, as the case may be, to purchase the Shares pursuant to the
Offer on or prior to such date;
(ii) if any Governmental Entity shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or taken any other action (which order, decree,
ruling or other action the parties hereto shall use their reasonable
efforts to lift), which permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise
prohibits the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares
pursuant to the Offer or the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or
other action shall have become final and non-appealable; or
(iii) if the Offer has not been consummated prior to November
30, 1997; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 7.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to any party whose
failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the
cause of, or resulted in, the failure of Parent or the Purchaser, as
the case may be, to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer on or prior
to such date.
(c) By the Company if (x) to the extent permitted by Section 5.4(b),
the Company Board approves or recommends a Superior Proposal and (y) the
Company has paid to the Parent an amount in cash equal to the sum of the
Termination Fee (as defined in Section 8.1(b)); or
(d) By Parent:
(i) if, due to an occurrence, not involving a breach by Parent or
the Purchaser of their obligations hereunder, which makes it
impossible to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in Annex A
hereto, Parent, the Purchaser, or any of their affiliates shall have
failed to commence the Offer, and shall have delivered written notice
to the Company specifying the reason or reasons the Offer has not been
commenced and indicating that Parent is terminating this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 7.1(d)(i), on or prior to five business days
following the date of the initial public announcement of the Offer;
(ii) if prior to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer,
the Company shall have breached any representation, warranty, covenant
or other
-35-
agreement contained in this Agreement which (A) would give rise to the
failure of a condition set forth in Annex A hereto and (B) cannot be
or has not been cured, in all material respects, within 30 days after
the giving of written notice to the Company; or
(iii) if either Parent or the Purchaser is entitled to terminate
the Offer as a result of the occurrence of any event set forth in
paragraphs (d), (f) and (g) of Annex A hereto.
Section 7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination
---------------------
of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, written notice thereof shall forthwith
be given to the other party or parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant
to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become
null and void, and there shall be no liability on the part of the Parent, the
Purchaser or the Company except (A) for fraud or for willful breach of this
Agreement and (B) as set forth in Section 3.22, the last sentence of Section
5.2(a), this Section 7.2, Section 8.1 and Article VIII.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
Section 8.1 Fees and Expenses.
-----------------
(a) Except as contemplated by this Agreement, all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the Offer, the Merger, this Agreement and the
Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether
or not the Offer or the Merger is consummated.
(b) The Company shall pay to Parent, upon demand a fee of $1 million
(the "Termination Fee"), payable in same day funds, if (A) after the date of
---------------
this Agreement, any person or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange Act) shall have publicly made a Takeover Proposal, (B) the Offer
shall have remained open until at least the scheduled expiration date
immediately following the date such Takeover Proposal is made (and in any event
for at least ten business days following the date such Takeover Proposal is
made), (C) the Minimum Condition shall not have been satisfied at the expiration
of the Offer, (D) this Agreement shall thereafter be terminated pursuant to
Section 7.1(b)(i), and (E) the Company Board, within 10 business days after the
public announcement of the Takeover Proposal, either fails to recommend against
acceptance of such Takeover Proposal by the Company's stockholders or announces
that it takes no position with respect to the acceptance of such Takeover
Proposal by the Company's stockholders.
-36-
(c) If (x) the Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.1(c), (y) Parent shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
7.1(d)(iii) hereof, or (z) either the Company or Parent terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(i) as a result of the existence of any
condition set forth in paragraph (d) of Annex A; the Company shall pay to
Parent, an amount (the "Expense Reimbursement Amount") equal to $200,000, which
----------------------------
shall be payable in same day funds. The equal Expense Reimbursement Amount shall
be paid concurrently with any such termination. Parent shall reimburse the
Company to the extent such Expense Reimbursement Amount exceeds its actual
expenses.
(d) If Parent shall terminate this Agreement upon failure by Parent
to satisfy the Financing Condition, Parent shall pay to the Company an amount
equal to $100,000, which shall be payable in same day funds (the "Company
Reimbursement Amount"); provided, however, Parent and Purchaser shall not be
obligated to pay the Company Reimbursement Amount if such failure to satisfy the
Financing Condition is due to the failure by the Company to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement or satisfy the conditions precedent applicable
to the Company, if any, to the Financing set forth in the Financing Commitment
Letter.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate payment by the
Company pursuant to Section 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) shall not exceed $1 million.
Section 8.2 Amendment and Modification. Subject to applicable law,
--------------------------
this Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented in any and all
respects, whether before or after any vote of the shareholders of the Company
contemplated hereby, by written agreement of the parties hereto, by action taken
by their respective Boards of Directors (which in the case of the Company shall
include approvals as contemplated in Section 1.3(b)), at any time prior to the
Closing Date with respect to any of the terms contained herein; provided,
however, that after the approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company, no such amendment, modification or supplement shall reduce the amount
or change the form of the Merger Consideration.
Section 8.3 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of
---------------------------------------------
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule,
instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive
the Effective Time.
Section 8.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
-------
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by an overnight courier service, such as
Federal Express, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
-37-
(a) if to Parent or the Purchaser, to:
The Hain Food Group, Inc.
50 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard
Uniondale, New York 11553
Attention: President
Telephone No.: (516) 237-6200
Telecopy No.: (516) 237-6240
with a copy to:
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
80 Pine Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Roger Meltzer, Esq.
Telephone No.: (212) 701-3000
Telecopy No.: (212) 269-5420
and
(b) if to the Company, to:
Westbrae Natural, Inc.
1065 East Walnut Street
Carson, California 90746
Attention: President
Telephone No.: (800) 776-1276
Telecopy No.: (310) 886-8219
with a copy to:
Law Offices of Jay J. Miller, Esq
430 East 57th Street, Suite 5D
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Jay Miller, Esq.
Telephone number: (212) 758-5577
Telecopy number: (212) 758-0624
Section 8.5 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this
--------------
Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement
unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement they
-38-
shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." As used in
this Agreement, the term "affiliates" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Section 8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
------------
more counterparts, each of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.
Section 8.7 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This
----------------------------------------------
Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement (including the documents and the
instruments referred to herein and therein) constitute the entire agreement and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 8.8 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement
------------
that is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be
invalid, void or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in
any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a
court of competent jurisdiction or other authority declares that any term or
provision hereof is invalid, void or unenforceable, the parties agree that the
court asking such determination shall have the power to reduce the scope,
duration, area or applicability of the term or provision, to delete specific
words or phrases, or to replace any invalid, void or unenforceable term or
provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes
closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or
provision.
Section 8.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
-------------
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
Section 8.10 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
----------
rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the
parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior
written content of the other parties, except that the Purchaser may assign, in
its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interests and obligations
hereunder to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of
Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
-39-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, the Purchaser and the Company have caused
this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.
THE HAIN FOOD GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Irwin D. Simon
--------------------------------------
Name: Irwin D. Simon
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
HAIN ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Irwin D. Simon
--------------------------------------
Name: Irwin D. Simon
Title: President
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
By: /s/ B. Allen Lay
--------------------------------------
Name: B. Allen Lay
Title: President
ANNEX A
CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Offer, and in addition to
(and not in limitation of) the Purchaser's rights to extend and amend the Offer
at any time in its sole discretion (subject to the provisions of the Agreement),
the Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-l(c) under the
Exchange Act (relating to the Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return
tendered Shares promptly after termination or withdrawal of the Offer), pay for,
and may delay the acceptance for payment of or, subject to the restriction
referred to above, the payment for, any tendered Shares, and may terminate or
amend the Offer as to any Shares not then paid for, if (i) there shall have been
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer less
than a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on a fully-diluted
basis (the "Minimum Condition") ("fully-diluted basis" means all outstanding
-----------------
shares after giving effect to the exercise or conversion of all options, rights
and securities exercisable or convertible into such Shares) (ii) the Financing
Condition has not been satisfied or (iii) at any time on or after the date of
the Agreement and before the time of acceptance for payment for any such Shares,
any of the following events shall have occurred:
(a) there shall be threatened or pending any suit, action or
proceeding by any Governmental Entity against the Purchaser, Parent, the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (i) seeking to prohibit or impose
any material limitations on Parent's or the Purchaser's ownership or
operation (or that of any of their respective Subsidiaries or affiliates)
of all or a material portion of their or the Company's businesses or
assets, or to compel Parent or the Purchaser or their respective
Subsidiaries and affiliates to dispose of or hold separate any material
portion of the business or assets of the Company or Parent and their
respective Subsidiaries, in each case taken as a whole, (ii) challenging
the acquisition by Parent or the Purchaser of any Shares under the Offer,
seeking to restrain or prohibit the making or consummation of the Offer or
the Merger or the performance of any of the other transactions contemplated
by the Agreement, or seeking to obtain from the Company, Parent or the
Purchaser any damages that are material in relation to the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) seeking to impose material limitations
on the ability of the Purchaser, or render the Purchaser unable, to accept
for payment, pay for or purchase some or all of the Shares pursuant to the
Offer and the Merger, (iv) seeking to impose material limitations on the
ability of Purchaser or Parent effectively to exercise full rights of
ownership of the Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote
the Shares purchased by it on all matters
-2-
properly presented to the Company's stockholders, or (v) which otherwise is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) there shall be any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
injunction enacted, entered, enforced, promulgated, or deemed applicable,
pursuant to an authoritative interpretation by or on behalf of a Government
Entity, to the Offer or the Merger, or any other action shall be taken by
any Governmental Entity that is reasonably likely to result, directly or
indirectly, in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through
(v) of paragraph (a) above;
(c) there shall have occurred any other event, change or effect after
the date of the Agreement which, either individually or in the aggregate,
would have, or be reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) (i) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have
withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Parent or the Purchaser its
approval or recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or the Agreement, or
approved or recommended any Takeover Proposal or (ii) the Company Board or
any committee thereof shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing;
(e) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading
in, or limitation on prices for, securities on the New York Stock Exchange
or in the London Stock Exchange, for a period in excess of 24 hours
(excluding suspensions or limitations resulting solely from physical damage
or interference with such exchanges not related to market conditions), (ii)
a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in
respect of banks in the United States (whether or not mandatory), (iii) a
commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national
calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, (iv) any
limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any United States governmental
authority on the extension of credit generally by banks or other financial
institutions or (v) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the
time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening
thereof;
(f) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality shall not be
true and correct in any material respect and any such representations and
warranties that are not so qualified shall not be true and correct, in each
case as if such representations and warranties were made as of such time;
(g) the Company shall have failed to perform in any material respect
any obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement or
covenant of the
-3-
Company to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement and
such failure would result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(h) any person acquires beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-
3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), of at least 20% of the outstanding
Common Stock of the Company (other than any person not required to file a
Schedule 13D under the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act); or
(i) the Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its
terms.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and the
Purchaser, may be asserted by Parent or the Purchaser regardless of the
circumstances giving rise to such condition (including any action or inaction by
Parent or the Purchaser not in violation of the Agreement) and may be waived by
Parent or the Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in
the sole discretion of Parent or the Purchaser, subject in each case to the
terms of the Agreement. The failure by Parent or the Purchaser at any time to
exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such
right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted
at any time and from time to time.
EXHIBIT 99.2
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 11, 1997, among The Hain
Food Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Hain Acquisition Corp., a
------
Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Purchaser"),
---------
and the Stockholders of Westbrae Natural, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), set forth on the signature page hereto (collectively referred to
- --------
herein as the "Stockholders" and each, a "Stockholder").
------------ -----------
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Parent, the Purchaser and the Company have entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger (as such Agreement may hereafter be amended from time to
time, the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Purchaser will be merged with
----------------
and into the Company (the "Merger");
------
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Merger, Parent and the Company desire
that as soon as practicable (and not later than five business days) after the
execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser shall commence a
cash tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase at a price of $3.625 per share all
-----
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (as defined in Section 1 hereof); and
WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to entering into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholders agree, and the Stockholders
have agreed, to enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean a Takeover Proposal (as defined
--------------------
in the Merger Agreement) but shall exclude, for purposes of determining any
action to be taken or refrained from by any Stockholder in accordance with
this Agreement, any Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement)
which such Stockholder, in his capacity as a director, would be required to
approve or recommend in accordance with his fiduciary duties.
-2-
(b) "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial Ownership" with respect to any
---------------- --------------------
securities shall mean having 'beneficial ownership' of such securities (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), including pursuant to any
------------
agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing. Without
duplicative counting of the same securities by the same holder, securities
Beneficially Owned by a Person shall include securities Beneficially Owned
by all other Persons with whom such Person would constitute a "group" as
within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
(c) "Company Common Stock" shall mean at any time the common stock,
--------------------
$.01 par value, of the Company.
(d) "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership,
------
joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other
entity.
(e) Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the
respective meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
2. Tender of Shares.
----------------
(a) In order to induce Parent and the Purchaser to enter into the
Merger Agreement, each of the Stockholders hereby agrees to validly tender (or
cause the record owner of such shares to validly tender), and not to withdraw,
pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Offer, not later than the
fifth business day after commencement of the Offer pursuant to Section 1.1 of
the Merger Agreement and Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act, the number of shares
of Company Common Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder's name under the
caption ''Tender Shares'' on Schedule I hereto, all of which are Beneficially
Owned by such Stockholder. Each Stockholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that
Parent's and the Purchaser's obligation to accept for payment and pay for the
Shares in the Offer, including the Shares Beneficially Owned by such
Stockholder, is subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer. The total
number of shares of Company Common Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder's
name on Schedule I under the caption ''Total Shares", and together with any
shares acquired by such Stockholder in any capacity after the date hereof and
prior to the termination of this Agreement whether upon the exercise of options
or by means of purchase, dividend, distribution, gift or otherwise, are referred
to herein as the "Shares".
(b) The transfer by the Stockholders of the Shares to Purchaser in
the Offer shall pass to and unconditionally vest in the Purchaser good and valid
title to the Tender Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances and all
preemptive or other rights whatsoever, except for any Encumbrances or rights
arising hereunder.
-3-
(c) The Stockholders hereby permit Parent and the Purchaser to
publish and disclose in the Offer Documents and, if approval of the Company's
Stockholders is required under applicable law, the Proxy Statement (including
all documents and schedules filed with the SEC) their identity and ownership of
the Company Common Stock and the nature of their commitments, arrangements and
understandings under this Agreement.
3. Additional Agreements.
---------------------
(a) Voting Agreement. During the Term (as defined in Section 8
----------------
herein), each Stockholder shall, at any meeting of the holders of Company Common
Stock, however called, or in connection with any written consent of the holders
of Company Common Stock, vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares (if any) then
held of record or Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder, (i) in favor of the
Merger, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Merger Agreement and
the approval of the terms thereof and each of the other actions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and any actions required in furtherance
thereof and hereof; and (ii) against any Acquisition Proposal and against any
action or agreement that would impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify this
Agreement, or result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation
or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger
Agreement or which would result in any of the conditions set forth in Annex A to
the Merger Agreement or set forth in Article VI of the Merger Agreement not
being fulfilled. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that nothing in this
Section 3 or any other part of this Agreement shall be construed as requiring
any Stockholder who also is a director of the Company to propose, endorse,
approve or recommend the Merger Agreement or any transaction contemplated
thereby in such Stockholder's capacity as a director of the Company in any
manner inconsistent with his fiduciary duties as director.
(b) No Inconsistent Arrangements. Each of the Stockholders hereby
----------------------------
covenants and agrees that, except as contemplated by this Agreement and the
Merger Agreement, during the Term it shall not (i) tender, or consent to any
tender of, any or all of such Stockholder's Shares, pursuant to any Acquisition
Proposal, (ii) transfer (which term shall include, without limitation, any sale,
gift, pledge or other disposition), or consent to any transfer of, any or all of
such Stockholder's Shares, Company Options or any interest therein, (iii) enter
into any contract, option or other agreement or understanding with respect to
any transfer of any or all of such Shares, Company Options or any interest
therein, (iv) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization in or
with respect to such Shares or Company Options, (v) deposit such Shares or
Company Options into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or
arrangement with respect to such Shares or Company Options, or (vi) take any
other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the
performance of its obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby
or by the Merger Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing sentence, each of the
Stockholders hereby covenants and
-4-
agrees to be bound by the provisions of Section 5.4(a) of the Merger Agreement
to the same extent as the Company.
(c) Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxy.
------------------------------------------------
(i) Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints,
Parent and B. Irwin D. Simon (as President and Chief Executive Officer) and
Jack Kaufman (as Chief Financial Officer), or either of them, in their
respective capacities as officers of Parent, and any individual who shall
hereafter succeed to any such office of Parent, and each of them
individually, such Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full
power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of such
Stockholder, to vote such Stockholder's Shares, or grant a consent or
approval in respect of the Shares in favor of the various transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the "Transactions") and against any
Acquisition Proposal.
(ii) Each Stockholder represents that any proxies heretofore given in
respect of such Stockholder's Shares are not irrevocable, and that any
such proxies are hereby revoked.
(iii) Each Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is
entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder's
execution and delivery of this Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby affirms
that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 3(c) is given in
connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such
irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of such
Stockholder under this Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby further affirms
that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no
circumstances be revoked. Each Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all
that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
(d) Company Options. Each of the Stockholders that holds Company
---------------
Options to acquire shares of Company Common Stock, as identified on the
signature pages hereof, shall, if requested by the Company, consent to the
cancellation of such Stockholder's Company Options in accordance with the terms
of the Merger Agreement and shall execute all appropriate documentation in
connection with such cancellation or substitution.
(e) Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
------------------
Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Merger Agreement. Each party shall promptly consult with the other and
provide any necessary information and material with respect to all filings made
by such party
-5-
with any Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(f) Waiver of Rights to Dissent. Each Stockholder hereby waives any
---------------------------
rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger that such Stockholder
may have.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each
--------------------------------------------------
Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
(a) Ownership of Shares. Such Stockholder is the record and
-------------------
Beneficial Owner of the Shares, as set forth on Schedule I. On the date
hereof, the Total Shares set forth next to such Stockholder's name on
Schedule I hereto constitute all of the Shares owned of record or
Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has sole voting
power and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set
forth in Sections 2 and 3 hereof, sole power of disposition, sole power of
conversion, sole power to demand appraisal rights and sole power to agree
to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case with
respect to all of the Tender Shares set forth next to such Stockholder's
name on Schedule I hereto with no limitations, qualifications or
restrictions on such rights, subject to applicable securities laws and the
terms of this Agreement.
(b) Power; Binding Agreement. Such Stockholder has the legal
------------------------
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of such
Stockholder's obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder will not violate any
other agreement to which such Stockholder is a party including, without
limitation, any voting agreement, proxy arrangement, pledge agreement,
Stockholders agreement or voting trust. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and constitutes a valid
and binding agreement of such Stockholder, enforceable against such
Stockholder in accordance with its terms. There is no beneficiary or holder
of a voting trust certificate or other interest of any trust of which such
Stockholder is a trustee whose consent is required for the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by such Stockholder of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) No Conflicts. Except for filings under the HSR Act, if
------------
applicable, and the Exchange Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity for the
execution of this Agreement by such Stockholder and the consummation by
such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) none of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or
compliance by such Stockholder with any of the provisions hereof shall (A)
conflict with
-6-
or result in any breach of any organizational documents applicable to the
Stockholder, (B) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
third party right of termination, cancellation, material modification or
acceleration) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note,
loan agreement, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment,
arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of
any kind to which such Stockholder is a party or by which such Stockholder
or any of its properties or assets may be bound, or (C) violate any order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment, order, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to such Stockholder or any of its properties or assets.
(d) No Encumbrances. Except as permitted by this Agreement, the
---------------
Shares and the certificates representing such Shares are now, and at all
times during the term hereof will be, held by such Stockholder, or by a
nominee or custodian for the benefit of such Stockholder, free and clear of
all Encumbrances, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or
arrangements or any other rights whatsoever, except for any such
Encumbrances or proxies arising hereunder.
(e) No Finder's Fees. Except as set forth in the Merger Agreement,
----------------
no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled
to any broker's, finder's, financial adviser's or other similar fee or
commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based
upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder.
(f) Reliance by Parent. Each Stockholder understands and
------------------
acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Purchaser to enter
into, the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder's execution
and delivery of this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Parent and the Purchaser. Each
----------------------------------------------------------
of Parent and the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholders
as follows:
(a) Power; Binding Agreement. Parent and the Purchaser each has the
------------------------
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform all of its
obligations under this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by each of Parent and the Purchaser will not violate any
other agreement to which either of them is a party. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Parent and the Purchaser
and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each of Parent and the
Purchaser, enforceable against each of Parent and the Purchaser in
accordance with its terms.
-7-
(b) No Conflicts. Except for filings under the HSR Act, if
------------
applicable, and the Exchange Act, (i) no filing with, and no permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is necessary
for the execution of this Agreement by each of Parent and the Purchaser and
the consummation by each of Parent and the Purchaser of the transactions
contemplated hereby and (ii) none of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each of Parent and the Purchaser, the consummation by each of
Parent and the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby or
compliance by each of Parent and the Purchaser with any of the provisions
hereof shall (A) conflict with or result in any breach of any
organizational documents applicable to either of Parent or the Purchaser,
(B) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any third party
right of termination, cancellation, material modification or acceleration)
under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, loan
agreement, bond, mortgage, indenture, license, contract, commitment,
arrangement, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation of
any kind to which either of Parent or the Purchaser is a party or by which
either of Parent or the Purchaser or any of their properties or assets may
be bound, or (C) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment,
order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to either of Parent or the
Purchaser or any of their properties or assets.
6. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the other party's
------------------
request and without further consideration, each party hereto shall execute and
deliver such additional documents and take all such further lawful action as may
be necessary or desirable to consummate and make effective, in the most
expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7. Stop Transfer. The Stockholders shall not request that the
-------------
Company register the transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or
uncertificated interest representing any of the Shares, unless such transfer is
made in compliance with this Agreement. In the event of a stock dividend or
distribution, or any change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock
dividend, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the
like, the term 'Shares' shall refer to and include the Shares as well as all
such stock dividends and distributions and any shares into which or for which
any or all of the Shares may be changed or exchanged.
8. Termination. The covenants and agreements contained herein with
-----------
respect to the Shares shall terminate upon the earlier of the consummation of
the Merger and four months following the termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with its terms (the period during which this Agreement is in effect
being referred to herein as the "Term"); provided, however, in the event the
-------- -------
Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company in accor-
-8-
dance with Section 7.1(c) of the Merger Agreement, this Agreement shall
terminate on the date of termination of the Merger Agreement.
9. Miscellaneous.
-------------
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
----------------
agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(b) Binding Agreement. This Agreement and the obligations hereunder
-----------------
shall attach to the Shares and shall be binding upon any person or entity to
which legal or beneficial ownership of such Shares shall pass, whether by
operation of law or otherwise, including, without limitation, a Stockholder's
heirs, guardians, administrators or successors. Notwithstanding any transfer of
Shares, the transferor shall remain liable for the performance of all
obligations of the transferor under this Agreement.
(c) Indemnity. Each Stockholder will be indemnified under this
---------
Agreement to the extent such Stockholder shall be indemnified in his
capacity as a director of the Company under Section 5.8 of the Merger
Agreement; provided, in the event any action is brought against any
indemnified party for which such indemnified party seeks indemnity from
Parent or the Purchaser, Parent shall have the right to appoint counsel for
such indemnified party in such action and shall be entitled to direct the
defense thereof.
(d) Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of
----------
law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the other parties,
provided that Parent may assign, in its sole discretion, its rights and
obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent of its obligations hereunder
if such assignee does not perform such obligations.
(e) Amendments, Waivers, Etc. This Agreement may not be amended,
------------------------
changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon
the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto.
(f) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
-------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly received if given) by hand delivery or telecopy (with a
confirmation copy sent for next day delivery via courier service, such as
Federal Express), or by any courier service, such as Federal Express, providing
proof of delivery. All communications hereunder shall be delivered to the
respective parties at the following addresses:
-9-
If to a Stockholder: to such Stockholder's address set forth
on Schedule I hereto
If to Parent or the Purchaser: The Hain Food Group, Inc.
50 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard
Uniondale, New York 11553
Attention: President
Telephone No.: (516) 237-6200
Telecopy No.: (516) 237-6240
copy to: Cahill Gordon & Reindel
80 Pine Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Roger Meltzer, Esq.
Telephone No.: (212) 701-3000
Telecopy No.: (212) 269-5420
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
(g) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of
------------
any provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law but if any provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision
or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been
contained herein.
(h) Specific Performance. Each of the parties hereto recognizes and
--------------------
acknowledges that a breach by it of any covenants or agreements contained in
this Agreement will cause the other party to sustain damages for which it would
not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages, and therefore in the event
of any such breach the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the remedy of
specific performance of such covenants and agreements and injunctive and other
equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, at
law or in equity.
(i) Remedies Cumulative. All rights, powers and remedies provided
-------------------
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in
equity shall be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof
by any party shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other
such right, power or remedy by such party.
-10-
(j) No Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any
---------
right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in
respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other
party hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the
parties at variance with the terms hereof, shall not constitute a waiver by such
party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to
demand such compliance.
(k) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to
----------------------------
be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by, any person or entity who
or which is not a party hereto.
(l) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
-------------
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(m) Jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the
------------
exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New York and the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any action, suit
or proceeding arising in connection with this Agreement, and agrees that any
such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought only in such court (and waives
any objection based on forum non conveniens or any other objection to venue
therein). Each party hereto hereby waives any right to a trial by jury in
connection with any such action, suit or proceeding.
(n) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings used herein are
--------------------
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
------------
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, taken
together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
-11-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, the Purchaser and the Stockholders have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.
PARENT
THE HAIN FOOD GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Irwin D. Simon
------------------
Name: Irwin D. Simon
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
PURCHASER
HAIN ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ Irwin D. Simon
------------------
Name: Irwin D. Simon
Title: President
STOCKHOLDERS
DELAWARE STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT FUND
By: /s/ Robert J. Cresci
--------------------
Name:
Title:
-12-
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST FOR THE
DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS OF ICI
AMERICAN HOLDINGS INC.
By: /s/ Robert J. Cresci
--------------------
Name:
Title:
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST FOR THE DEFINED BENEFIT
PLANS OF ICI ZENECA HOLDINGS INC.
By: /s/ Robert J. Cresci
--------------------
Name:
Title:
BACCHARIS CAPITAL, INC.
By: /s/ F. Noel Perry
--------------------
Name:
Title:
PRINCETON/MONTROSE PARTNERS
By: /s/ Donald R. Stroben
---------------------
Name:
Title:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VENTURES II
By: /s/ B. Allen Lay
----------------
Name:
Title:
-13-
NATURAL VENTURE PARTNERS I
By: /s/ Anthony J. Harnett
----------------------
Name:
Title:
/s/ Robert J. Cresci
--------------------
Robert J. Cresci
/s/ Allen Dalfen
----------------
Allen Dalfen
/s/ Anthony J. Harnett
----------------------
Anthony J. Harnett
/s/ Allen Lay
-------------
B. Allen Lay
/s/ Jay J. Miller
-----------------
Jay J. Miller
/s/ Stephen P. Monticelli
-------------------------
Stephen P. Monticelli
/s/ F. Noel Perry
-----------------
F. Noel Perry
/s/ Harry W. Poett III
----------------------
Harry W. Poett III
/s/ Donald R. Stroben
---------------------
Donald R. Stroben
/s/ Stephen Schorr
------------------
Stephen Schorr
-14-
Schedule I
Number of Shares and Company Options
Beneficially Owned
---------------------------------------
Total Tender Company
Name of Stockholder Shares Shares Options
- ------------------ --------- --------- -------
Delaware State Employees' 983,940 983,940 -
Retirement Fund
The Declaration of Trust for the 231,929 231,929 -
Defined Benefit Plans of ICI
American Holdings Inc.
The Declaration of Trust for the 189,760 189,760 -
Defined Benefit Plans of ICI
Zeneca Holdings Inc.
Baccharis Capital, Inc. 702,814 702,814 -
Princeton/Montrose Partners 548,016 548,016 -
Southern California Ventures II 365,345 365,345 -
Natural Venture Partners I 351,407 351,407 -
Robert J. Cresci 1,405,629 - 20,000
Allan Dalfen 589,155 589,155 20,000
Anthony Harnett 351,407 - 20,000
B. Allen Lay 388,9126 23,571 300,000
Jay J. Miller 85,144 85,144 20,000
Stephen P. Monticelli 10,000 10,000 20,000
F. Noel Perry 702,814 - 20,000
Henry W. Poett III 8,786 8,786 20,000
Donald R. Stroben 548,016 - 20,000
Stephen Schorr 8,786 8,786 60,000
--------- -------
Total 4,098,654 520,000
========= =======
EXHIBIT 99.3
[Vestro Natural Foods, Inc. Letterhead]
June 27, 1994
Kineret Acquisition Corp.
24 Jericho Turnpike
Jericho, NY 11753-1031
Attention: Irwin Simon, President and
Andrew R. Heyer, Chairman of the Board
Gentlemen:
In connection with your consideration of a possible transaction with Vestro
Foods Inc. (collectively with any subsidiaries, the "Company") pursuant to which
you would, among other things, (i) merge with or purchase all of the outstanding
stock or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (ii) form a joint
venture with the Company; or (iii) pursue a minority investment or partnership
or any similar transaction (the "Transaction"), you have requested financial and
other information concerning the business and affairs of the Company. In
consideration of furnishing you and your directors, officers, employees, agents,
advisors and potential financing sources (collectively, "Representatives") such
financial and other information, you agree to treat, and to cause your
Representatives to treat, such information furnished to you by or on behalf of
the Company or its Representatives and all analyses, complications, studies and
other material containing or reflecting, in whole or in part, any such
information whether prepared by the Company, you and/or your Representatives
(collectively, "Evaluation Material"), as follows:
1. You recognize and acknowledge the competitive value and confidential
nature of the Evaluation Material and the damage that could result
to the Company if any information contained therein is disclosed to
any third party or used by you for any purpose other than to
evaluate a possible Transaction.
2. The term "Evaluation Material" does not include any information
which (a) has been made public other than by acts by you or your
Representatives in violation of this agreement (b) becomes available
to you on a nonconfidential basis from a source that is entitled to
disclose it on a nonconfidential basis.
3. You agree that the Evaluation Material will be used solely for the
purpose of evaluating the Transaction. You agree not to disclose any
of the Evaluation Material to any of your employees, officers,
directors or affiliates or to any third party without the prior
written consent of the Company, except that you may disclose the
Evaluation Material or portions thereof solely to such of your
employees, officers, and directors and to such employees, officers,
directors of your Representatives who need to know such information
(and who agree to use such information solely) for the purpose of
evaluating the Transaction, which individuals shall agree that you
will be responsible for the breach of the Agreement by any of your
Representatives.
4. In the event that you or your Representatives are requested in any
proceeding to disclose any Evaluation Material, unless prohibited by
law, you will give the Company prompt notice of such request so that
the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. If, in the
absence of a protective order, you or your Representatives are
nonetheless legally compelled to disclose such information to the
extent compelled to do so in such proceeding, without liability
hereunder, you will, unless prohibited by law, give the Company
written notices of the information to be disclosed as far in advance
of its disclosure as is practicable.
5. Without the prior written consent of the Company, you and your
Representatives will not disclose to any person either the fact that
discussions or negotiations are taking concerning a possible
transaction involving the company or any of the terms, conditions or
other facts with respect to any such possible transaction including
the status thereof, or the subject matter of this agreement;
provided, that you may make such disclosure if you have received an
opinion of counsel that such disclosure must be made by you in order
that you not commit a violation of law.
6. You understand and agree that the Company shall be free to conduct
the process relating to the Transaction as it in its sole discretion
shall determine (including, without limitation, negotiating with any
prospective party and entering into an agreement to effect a
Transaction without notice to you or any
other person) and, (ii) any procedures relating to any such
Transaction may be changed by the Company at any time without notice
to you or any other person.
7. In the event that a Transaction is not consummated, neither you or
your Representatives shall without the prior written consent of the
Company, use any of the Evaluation Material for any purpose and you
will promptly return to the Company upon written request all copies
of all Evaluation Material furnished to you or your Representatives
and will return or destroy all analyses, compilations, studies and
other material prepared by you or your Representatives based in
whole or in part on the Evaluation Material.
8. You understand that neither the Company nor any of its
Representatives makes any representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation
Material and you agree that neither the Company nor any of its
Representatives shall have any liability to your or any other party
resulting from any use or reliance on the Evaluation Material. Only
the representations and warranties and other terms and conditions of
a Purchase Agreement, when, as and if it is executed and delivered
(and subject to the restrictions and conditions specified therein)
shall have any legal effect.
9. You agree that for period of one year from the date hereof neither
you nor any of your affiliates or agents will, without the prior
written consent of the Company, solicit the employment of any person
who is at the time an employee of the Company.
10. You agree that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for
any breach of this agreement by you or your Representatives, and
that, in addition to all other remedies, the Company shall be
entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable
relief as a remedy for any such breach, and you further agree to
waive, and to use your best efforts to cause your Representatives to
waive, any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in
connection with such remedy. You agree to be responsible for any
breach of this agreement by any of your Representatives.
11. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power
or privilege under this agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof
no shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other
or further exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder. No
provision of this agreement may be waived or amended nor any consent
given except by writing signed by duly authorized representative of
each party, which specifically refers to this agreement and
provision so amended or for which such waiver or consent is given.
In case any provision of this agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of the agreement shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
12. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of California without giving effect to choice
of law doctrines. Each party hereto consents to personal
jurisdiction in such State and voluntarily submits to the
jurisdiction of the courts of such State in any action or proceeding
with respect to this agreement, including the federal district
courts of such State in any action or proceeding with respect to
this agreement, including the federal district courts located in
such State. You agree that you may be served with process at your
address set forth on the first page hereof.
All inquiries, request for information and other communications with the Company
shall be made through Allan Dalfen or Stephen Schorr. Please acknowledge your
agreement to the foregoing by countersigning this letter in the place provided
below and returning it to us.
Very truly yours,
Stephen Schorr
Vice President, Finance
Executed and Agreed
This 27 day of June, 1994.
Kineret Acquisition Corp.
Irwin D. Simon
By: ________________________
President
Its: ________________________
EXHIBIT 99.4
[WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC. LETTERHEAD]
August 20, 1997
The Hain Food Group
50 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11533
Attention: Irwin Simon, President and
Andrew R. Heyer, Chairman of the Board
Gentlemen:
In connection with your consideration of a possible transaction with
Westbrae Natural, Inc. (collectively with any subsidiaries, the "Company") or
its shareholders pursuant to which you would, among other things, tender for,
merge with or purchase all of the outstanding stock or all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company, or any similar transaction (the "Transaction"),
you have requested financial and other information concerning the business and
affairs of the Company. In consideration of furnishing you and your directors,
officers, employees, agents, advisors and financing sources (collectively,
"Representatives") such financial and other information, you agree to treat, and
to cause your Representatives to treat, such information furnished to you by or
on behalf of the Company or its Representatives and all analyses, compilations,
studies and other material containing or reflecting, in whole or in part, any
such information whether prepared by the Company, you and/your Representatives
(collectively, "Evaluation Material"), as follows:
1. You recognize and acknowledge the competitive value and
confidential nature of the Evaluation Material and the damage
that could result to the Company if any information contained
therein is disclosed to any third party or used by you for any
purpose other than to evaluate a possible Transaction.
2. The term "Evaluation Material" does not include any information
which (a) has been made public other than by acts by you or your
Representatives in violation of this Agreement or (b) becomes
available to you on a nonconfidential basis from a source that is
entitled to disclose it on a nonconfidential basis.
3. You agree that the Evaluation Material will be used solely for
the purpose of evaluating the Transaction. You agree not to
disclose any of the Evaluation Material to any of your employees,
officers, directors or affiliates or to any third party without
the prior written consent of the Company, except that you may
disclose the Evaluation Material or portions thereof solely to
such of your employees, officers, and directors and to such
employees, officers, directors of your Representatives who need
to know such information (and who agree to use such information
solely) for the purpose of evaluating the Transaction, which
individuals shall agree to be bound by this Agreement and not to
use or disclose any of the Evaluation Material to any other
party. You agree that you will be responsible for any breach of
this Agreement by any of your Representatives.
4. In the event that you or your Representatives are requested in
any proceeding to disclose any Evaluation Material, unless
prohibited by law, you will give the Company prompt notice of
such request so that the Company may seek an appropriate
protective order. If, in the absence of a protective order, you
or your Representatives are nonetheless legally compelled to
disclose such information to the extent compelled to do so in
such proceeding, without liability hereunder, you will, unless
prohibited by law, give the Company written notice of the
information to
be disclosed as far in advance of its disclosure as is
practicable.
5. Without the prior written consent of the Company, you and your
Representatives will not disclose to any person either the fact
that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a
possible transaction involving the Company or any of the terms,
conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible
transaction including the status thereof, or the subject matter
of this agreement; provided, that you may make such disclosure if
you have received an opinion of counsel that such disclosure must
be made by you in order that you not commit a violation of law.
6. You understand and agree that the Company shall be free to
conduct the process relating to the Transaction as it in its sole
discretion shall determine (including, without limitation,
negotiating with any prospective party and entering into an
agreement to effect a Transaction without notice to you or any
other person) and, (ii) any procedures relating to any such
Transaction may be changed by the Company at any time without
notice to you or any other person.
7. In the event that a Transaction is not consummated, neither you
nor any of your Representatives without the prior written consent
of the Company, shall use any of the Evaluation Material for any
purposes and you will promptly return to the Company upon written
request all copies of all Evaluation Material furnished to you or
your Representatives and will return or destroy all analyses,
compilations, studies and other material prepared by you or your
Representatives based in whole or in part on the Evaluation
Material.
8. You understand that neither the Company nor any of its
Representatives makes any representation or warranty, express or
implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation
Material and you agree that neither the Company nor any of its
Representatives shall have any liability to you or any other
party resulting from any use or reliance on the Evaluation
Material. Only such representatives and warranties and other
terms and conditions of a definitive Purchase Agreement, when, as
and if it is executed and delivered (and subject to the
restrictions and conditions specified therein) shall have any
legal effect.
9. You agree that for a period of one year from the date hereof
neither you nor any of your affiliates or agents without the
prior written consent of the Company, shall hire or solicit the
employment of any person who is at said date the time an employee
or representative of the Company.
10. You agree that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for
any breach of this Agreement by you or any of your
Representatives, and that, in addition to all other remedies, the
Company shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive
or other equitable relief as a remedy for any such breach, and
you further agree to waive, and to use your best efforts to cause
your Representatives to waive, any requirement for the securing
or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy. You shall
be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by any of your
Representatives. If any legal proceeding is commenced by the
Company to enforce this Agreement as a result of the breach or
threatened breach of any provision hereof by you or any of your
Representatives, the Company shall be entitled to reasonable
attorney's fees and expenses in addition to any damages to which
it may be entitled.
11. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right,
power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver
thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude
any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege
hereunder. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or
amended not any consent given except by a writing signed by a
duly authorized representative of each party, which specifically
refers to this Agreement and the provision so amended or for
which such waiver or consent is given.
In case any provision of this agreement shall be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions of the agreement shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
12. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to
choice of law doctrines. Each party hereto consents to personal
jurisdiction in such State and voluntarily submits to the
jurisdiction of the courts of such State in any action or
proceeding with respect to this Agreement, including the Federal
District courts of such State. You agree that you may be served
with process at your address set forth on the first page hereof.
All inquiries, requests for information and other communications with the
Company shall be made through B. Allen Lay or Stephen Schorr. Please
acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by countersigning this letter in the
place provided below and returning it to us.
Very truly yours,
By: /s/ STEPHEN SCHORR
---------------------
Name: Stephen Schorr
Title: Vice President,
Finance
EXECUTED AND AGREED
This 22nd day of August, 1997
THE HAIN FOOD GROUP
BY: /s/ Jack Kaufman
---------------------------
ITS: Chief Financial Officer
---------------------------
EXHIBIT 99.5
[LOGO] WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
September 17, 1997
To Our Stockholders:
I am pleased to inform you that on September 11, 1997, Westbrae Natural,
Inc. (the "Company" or "Westbrae" ) entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with The Hain Food Group, Inc. ("Parent") and
Hain Acquisition Corp. ("Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent,
pursuant to which Purchaser commenced on September 12, 1997 a tender offer for
all outstanding shares of Westbrae Common Stock for $3.625 per share in cash.
Following the completion of the tender offer, upon the terms and subject to
conditions of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will be merged into Westbrae
(the "Merger"), and each share of Westbrae Common Stock, other than shares of
Common Stock owned by Parent, Purchaser or any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent or Purchaser immediately prior to the effective time of
the Merger, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $3.625
in cash, the same price per share paid pursuant to the tender offer.
Your Board of Directors has unanimously approved the tender offer and the
Merger, has determined that the tender offer and the Merger are fair to, and
in the best interests of, the stockholders of Westbrae, and recommends that
stockholders accept the tender offer and tender all their shares pursuant to
the offer.
In arriving at its decision, your Board of Directors gave careful
consideration to a number of factors described in the enclosed Schedule 14D-9
which is being filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
enclosed Schedule 14D-9 describes the Board's decision and contains other
important information relating to that decision. We urge you to read it
carefully.
In addition to the enclosed Schedule 14D-9, the Offer to Purchase has been
forwarded to you, together with related materials,including a Letter of
Transmittal for use in tendering shares. These documents set forth the terms
and conditions of the tender offer and provide instructions as to how you may
tender your shares. You are urged to read all the materials carefully and
consider all the factors set forth therein before making a decision with
respect to the tender offer.
Respectfully,
/S/ B. Allen Lay
B. Allen Lay
President and Chief Executive
Officer
LOGO
EXHIBIT 99.6
WESTBRAE NATURAL, INC.
1065 EAST WALNUT STREET
CARSON, CA 90746
INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 14 (F) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND RULE 14F-1 THEREUNDER
This Information Statement is being mailed on or about September 15, 1997,
to the holders of record of the Shares at the close of business on or about
September 10, 1997 as a part of the Company's Solicitation/ Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the Offer by Hain Acquisition
Corp. (the "Schedule 14D-9"). You are receiving this Information Statement in
connection with the possible election of persons designated by the Purchaser
to a majority of the seats on the Board of Directors of the Company. The
Merger Agreement requires the Company to use all reasonable efforts to cause
the Purchaser Designees (as defined below) to be elected to the Board of
Directors under the circumstances described therein. This Information
Statement is required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1
thereunder. See "Board of Directors and Executive Officers-Right to Designate
Directors; The Purchaser Designees."
You are urged to read this Information Statement carefully. You are not,
however, required to take any action. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 14D-9.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Purchaser commenced the Offer on September
12, 1997. The Offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight Eastern Time, on
Thursday, October 9, 1997, unless the Offer is extended.
The terms of the Merger Agreement, a summary of the events leading up to the
Offer and the execution of the merger Agreement and other information
concerning the Offer and the Merger are contained in the Offer to Purchase,
the related Letter of Transmittal and the Schedule 14D-9, copies of which are
being delivered to the Company's shareholders contemporaneously herewith.
The information contained in this Information Statement concerning Purchaser
and the Purchaser designees has been furnished to the Company by Purchaser,
and the Company assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of
such information.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
GENERAL
The Shares are the only class of voting securities of the Company
outstanding. Each Share has one vote. As of September 10, 1997, there were
5,950,588 Shares outstanding. The Board of Directors currently consists of
nine members, each of whom is elected to a one year term. Each director holds
office until such director's successor is elected and qualified or until such
director's earlier resignation or removal.
RIGHT TO DESIGNATE DIRECTORS; THE PURCHASER DESIGNEES
The Merger Agreement provides that upon the purchase and payment by Parent
or the Purchaser of Shares representing at least a majority of the outstanding
Shares on a fully diluted basis, Parent shall be entitled to designate such
number of directors on the Board of Directors of the Company which represents
a percentage of the Board of Directors of the Company equaling the percentage
of Shares purchased. If requested by Parent, the Company shall cause such
persons designated by Parent to constitute at least the same percentage of
each
A-1
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and each board of directors
of each subsidiary of the Company.
The Merger Agreement further provides that in the event that Parent's
designees are elected to the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger, until the Effective Time of the Merger the Board
of Directors of the Company shall have at least two directors who are
directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement. In such event, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors not designated by Parent shall
be required to (i) amend or terminate the Merger Agreement, (ii) exercise or
waive any of the Company's rights, benefits or remedies under the Merger
Agreement, or (iii) take any other action by the Board of Directors of the
Company under or in connection with the Merger Agreement.
The designees of the Purchaser to serve as members of the Board of Directors
of the Purchaser have not been identified, but the Purchaser anticipates such
persons, when and if designated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, shall
consist of current executive officers and directors of Parent and the
Purchaser identified in Schedule I to the Offer to Purchase.
CURRENT DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth the name of each current director of the
Company, his age, position and office with the Company and period he has
served as a director:
POSITION AND OFFICE DIRECTOR
NAME AGE WITH COMPANY SINCE
---- --- --------------------------------- --------
Robert J. Cresci............ 53 Director 1990
Allan Dalfen................ 54 Director 1992
Anthony J. Harnett.......... 52 Director 1994
B. Allen Lay................ 62 Chairman of the Board, President, 1987
Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Jay J. Miller............... 64 Director 1966
Stephen P. Monticelli....... 42 Director 1994
F. Noel Perry............... 44 Director 1995
Henry W. Poett, III......... 58 Director 1987
Donald R. Stroben........... 66 Director 1987
Robert J. Cresci has been a Managing Director of Pecks Management Partners
Ltd., an investment management firm, since September 1990. Mr. Cresci
currently serves on the boards of Bridgeport Machines, Inc., ServTech, Inc.,
EIS International, Inc., Sepracor, Inc., Olympic Financial, Ltd., GeoWaste,
Inc., Hitox, Inc., Natures Elements, Inc., Garnet Resources Corporation,
HarCor Energy, Inc., Meris Laboratories, Inc., Film Roman, Inc., Educational
Medical, Inc. and several private companies.
Allan Dalfen was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from
February, 1993 to January, 1995. From 1979 to 1992, Mr. Dalfen was President
and Chief Executive Officer of Weider Health and Fitness, a manufacturer of
health and fitness equipment, sports nutrition products and fitness
publications. He is currently President of KSD Fitness and is a Director of
Herristic Development Group, Inc.
Anthony J. Harnett was the owner of Bread & Circus, a leading natural
products retailer, from 1975 through 1992. He currently serves as Chairman of
Harnett's, a homeopathic retail pharmacy.
B. Allen Lay was elected by the Board of Directors as President and Chief
Executive Officer on January 12, 1995 and Chairman of the Board on August 6,
1996. Mr. Lay has served as a General Partner of Southern California Ventures,
a venture capital firm, since May, 1983. He is a director of PairGain
Technologies, Physical Optics Corp., Kofax Imaging, ViaSat Inc. Helisys Inc.
and Medclone Inc. Mr. Lay has served in a number of
A-2
interim management roles, most recently as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Meridian Data Inc. from July, 1993 to December, 1994.
Jay J. Miller has been a practicing attorney in the State of New York for
more than thirty years. Mr. Miller is a director of Total-Tel USA
Communications, Inc. a long distance telephone service provider, and Edison
Control Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of concrete piping
systems. He is also a Chairman of the Board of Amtrust Pacific Ltd., a New
Zealand real estate company.
Stephen P. Monticelli is founder and President of Mosaic Ventures LLC, a
private investment firm. From 1991 to 1995 he was a partner and Managing
Director of Baccharis Capital, Inc., a venture capital and buyout firm. From
1987 to 1991, Mr. Monticelli was a Principal in the Private Ventures group of
The Fremont Group (formerly known as Bechtel Investments, Inc.), a private
family investment firm. Prior to 1987, he was a management consultant with
Marakon Associates and a Certified Public Accountant with Deloitte and Touche.
F. Noel Perry is the founder and a Managing Director of Baccharis Capital,
Inc., a private venture capital partnership which concentrates its interests
in the natural and organic food area. Mr. Perry currently serves on the Board
of several private companies and served on the Board of Earth's Best before
its sale.
Henry W. Poett, III was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
from April, 1992 to January, 1993. Previously, he was Executive Vice
President-Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from May, 1990
to March, 1992. Mr. Poett is currently a partner in Dalton Partners, a
management services company. Mr. Poett was an independent management
consultant from 1989 to 1990. He served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of Transcisco Industries Inc. from 1987 to 1988. From 1984 to 1987, he
was Chief Executive officer of Wilsey Foods, Inc., a packager, marketer and
distributor of food products. He is a director of Biovation Inc., Wilsey
Bennett Company, and Armanino Foods.
Donald R. Stroben was Chairman of the Board of the Company from January,
1987 to January, 1993. He has served as a Managing General Partner of
Princeton/Montrose Partners, a venture capital firm, since December 1981. Mr.
Stroben currently serves as a director of Etz Lavud Ltd. (ASE) and several
private companies, Mr. Stroben is also past Chairman of the Board of Laura
Scudder's, Inc., a snack food manufacturer.
During 1996, the Board held four meetings. Each director attended at least
75% of the meetings held. Where formal action has otherwise been required, the
Board has acted by unanimous written consent as permitted under applicable
corporate law and the Company's By-Laws. The Company's Board of Directors
currently has an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs. Stroben and Poett and a
Compensation Committee consisting of Messrs. Miller and Cresci. The Board
currently has no Nominating Committee.
CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth information covering the executive officers
of the Company. All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
There are no family relationships among any officers or directors of the
Company.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
B. Allen Lay................ 62 Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Schorr.............. 51 Vice President, Finance, Secretary, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Lay currently serves as a director of the Company. See CURRENT DIRECTORS
OF THE COMPANY for employment and background information concerning Mr. Lay.
A-3
Mr. Schorr joined the Company in July, 1988 as Vice President, Finance. He
is an officer and director of each of the Company's subsidiaries. From
December, 1982 through June, 1988, he held the positions of Vice President,
Finance and Corporate Controller of Linear Corporation, a manufacturer of
electronic components.
SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES
Andrew Jacobson (36) has been President of the Company's subsidiaries,
Westbrae Natural Foods, Inc. and Little Bear Organic Foods, Inc. since joining
the Company in November, 1992. From 1985 to 1992, Mr. Jacobson was employed by
Tree of Life Inc., a major national natural, products distributor, in several
executive capacities culminating as Director of Sales of Tree of Life West,
Sun Valley and Hayward, CA. Mr. Jacobson is a member of the Board of Directors
of the National Nutritional Foods Association.
Myron Cooper, 63, is Vice President, Technical Services of Westbrae and
Little Bear. Prior to joining Vestro in 1988, Mr. Cooper held executive
positions in operations, marketing, product development and quality control
with Kellogg's, Fairmont Foods and Hain Pure Food Company. Mr. Cooper holds a
Ph.D. in Food Science and Biochemistry. He is Vice President of the Soy Foods
of America Association and a member of the California Organic Advisory Board.
A-4
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation which the Company paid
during the three years ended December 31, 1996 to the Chief Executive officer
and to its other executive officers.
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OPTIONS ALL OTHER
POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS GRANTED COMPENSATION
------------------ ---- -------- ------- ------- ------------
B. Allen Lay, CEO 1996 $124,000 $20,000(f) 120,000(h)
1995 $115,000(a)(b) 120,000 $5,000(c)
Allan Dalfen, CEO 1994 $120,000(d) $ 3,120(e)
Andrew Jacobson, Pres., 1996 $124,000 $29,700(f)
Westbrae Natural 1995 $120,000 $15,000(f)
Foods, Inc. 1994 $120,000 $ 3,120(e)
Stephen Schorr, CFO 1996 $108,000 $23,000(f) 10,000(h)
1995 $105,000 $ 9,300(f) 30,000
1994 $105,000 $ 2,000 20,000(g)
- --------
(a) Represents amounts paid as a consulting fee to SCV Management Company of
which Mr. Lay is a general partner.
(b) Began employment on January 12, 1995.
(c) Consulting fee paid prior to becoming CEO.
(d) Represents amounts paid as a consulting fee to Dalfen Corporation of which
Mr. Dalfen is the sole shareholder.
(e) Paid under a management bonus agreement which provided for the payment of
6% of pretax income above $500,000 in a year to Mr. Dalfen and Mr.
Jacobson.
(f) Bonus paid under an incentive plan covering substantially all employees of
the Company.
(g) Replaced options that expired in 1994.
(h) See Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year table below.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
POTENTIAL
REALIZABLE VALUE
AT ANNUAL
RATES OF STOCK
APPRECIATION
----------------
OPTIONS % OF TOTAL EXERCISE EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED GRANTED PRICE DATE 5% 10%
---- ------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------- --------
B. Allen Lay........... 120,000 62 $1.875 07/12/2001 $62,217 $137,497
Stephen Schorr......... 10,000 5 $ 3.00 10/25/2006 $18,880 $ 47,853
STOCK OPTIONS
The Company adopted a Stock Option Plan at its May 23, 1988 Annual Meeting.
This plan provides for options to purchase up to 150,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock to be granted at prices not less than the fair market
value on the date of grant. Both incentive and non-incentive options may be
issued under the 1988 Plan. At December 31, 1996, there were 149,500 incentive
options outstanding under the 1988 Plan, of which options to purchase 49,625
shares were currently exercisable. During the year ended December 31, 1996, no
options were granted or exercised under this plan.
During 1993, the Company granted a stock option to Mr. Jacobson to purchase
329,875 shares of its Common Stock at a price of $1.29 per share. This option
is exercisable in installments through November 1, 1997.
A-5
On July 26, 1995, the Board of Directors granted to each of the eight non-
employee Directors, a non-qualified option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common
Stock, of the Company. Each option is exercisable, at a price of $1.875 per
share, the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of
grant, for a period of five years from the date of grant and vest in three
equal installments on each anniversary date with credit given for up to two
years of prior service by an option holder. The grant of the options was
ratified by shareholders at the Annual Meeting on June 20, 1996. At December
31, 1996 options to purchase 160,000 shares were outstanding of which 133,333
were currently exercisable. During 1996, no options were exercised.
On January 31, 1996, and at subsequent six month intervals, nonqualified
options to purchase 60,000 shares each of the Company's Common Stock were
issued to Mr. Lay, totalling 300,000 shares. Each option was granted at the
then-current market value and has a term of five years. Each option is
immediately exercisable in full.
At the Company's Annual Meeting on June 20, 1996, shareholders voted to
adopt the 1996 Incentive Stock Plan. This plan provides for options to
purchase up to 150,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. During the year
ended December 31, 1996, options to purchase 74,500 shares were granted under
this plan.
A-6
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is certain information concerning persons known by the
Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company outstanding on March 31, 1997.
NUMBER OF
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED SHARES (1) CLASS (1)
------------------- ---------------- ----------
NAP & Company.................................. 983,940 16.5%
Nominee for Delaware State
Employee's Retirement Fund
1 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21203
Baccharis Capital, Inc. ....................... 702,814 11.8%
2420 Sand Hill Rd.
Suite 100
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Allan Dalfen................................... 609,155 10.2%
509 No. Palm Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Princeton/Montrose Partners.................... 548,016 9.2%
243 No. Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Scottish Invest. Trust PLC..................... 527,111 8.9%
6 Albyn Place
Edinburgh, Scotland EH24 NL
Southern Calif. Ventures II.................... 365,345 6.1%
A California Limited Partnership
406 Amapola Avenue
Suite 205
Torrance, CA 90501
Natural Venture Partners I..................... 351,407 5.9%
250 Central Avenue
Needham, MA 02194
The following table sets forth the beneficial share ownership of each
director of the Company, and the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by all officers and directors as a group as of March 31, 1997:
NUMBER OF
NAME AND ADDRESS BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED SHARES (8) CLASS (1)
------------------- ---------------- ----------
Robert J. Cresci (2).......................... 1,425,629 23.9%
Allan Dalfen.................................. 609,155(7) 10.2%
Anthony J. Harnett (3)........................ 364,741 6.1%
B. Allen Lay (4).............................. 682,916 11.2%
Jay J. Miller................................. 105,144 1.8%
Stephen P. Monticelli......................... 23,333 .4%
F. Noel Perry (5)............................. 709,481 11.9%
Henry W. Poett, III........................... 28,786 .5%
Donald R. Stroben (6)......................... 568,016 9.5%
Officers and directors as a group (10
persons)..................................... 4,543,487 76.0%
- --------
(1) Based upon an aggregate of 5,950,588 shares of Common Stock outstanding
and currently exercisable stock options to purchase an aggregate of
746,858 shares of Common Stock. Each of the above shareholders have sole
voting and sole dispositive power with respect to the shares beneficially
owned.
A-7
(2) Mr. Cresci is the investment advisor for Nap & Company, Fuelship & Company
and Northman and Company.
(3) Mr. Harnett is a partner of Natural Venture Partners I.
(4) Mr. Lay is a General Partner of Southern California Ventures II.
(5) Mr. Perry is a Managing Director of Baccharis Capital, Inc.
(6) Mr. Stroben is a Managing General Partner of Princeton/Montrose Partners.
(7) Includes 263,900 shares of the Company's Common Stock purchased in 1993 at
a price of $1.29 per share and 131,950 shares of the Company's Common
Stock purchased in 1995 under a Severance and Settlement Agreement at a
price of $1.29 per share. Mr. Dalfen paid the Company $66,000 for the
shares and executed a note payable to the Company for $444,025. The note
is interest bearing at the rate of 5.75%, due on December 31, 1997 and is
secured by the shares of stock purchased.
(8) Shares include currently exercisable stock options to purchase shares of
Common Stock as follows:
Robert J. Cresci................................................. 20,000
Allan Dalfen..................................................... 20,000
Anthony J. Harnett............................................... 13,333
B. Allen Lay..................................................... 300,000
Jay J. Miller.................................................... 20,000
Stephen P. Monticelli............................................ 13,333
F. Noel Perry.................................................... 6,667
Henry W. Poett, III.............................................. 20,000
Donald R. Stroben................................................ 20,000
Officers and directors as a group (10 persons)................... 450,833
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Company currently rents warehouse and office space from a partnership,
in which Mr. Poett is a partner, for which it paid rentals of $196,000 in
1996. The rent paid for such space is believed to be not less favorable to the
Company than that which would be paid under an arm's length transaction. The
lease expires on September 30, 1997, subject to earlier termination by the
lessor or the Company under certain circumstances.
The Company has used the law office of Mr. Miller for certain legal
services. It is believed that the fees paid for such services are not greater
than those which would have been paid to an unaffiliated party.
A-8
