prem14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
þ |
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o |
|
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
o |
|
Definitive Proxy Statement |
o |
|
Definitive Additional Materials |
o |
|
Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
MEADOW VALLEY CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
o |
|
No Fee required. |
|
þ |
|
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
|
(1) |
|
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
|
|
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Meadow Valley Corporation |
|
|
(2) |
|
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
|
|
5,180,654 shares of common stock of Meadow Valley Corporation
266,693 options to purchase shares of common stock of Meadow Valley Corporation |
|
|
(3) |
|
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined): |
|
|
|
|
Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the filing fee. The maximum
aggregate transaction value was determined based upon the sum of (a) the product of
(i) 5,180,654 shares of Meadow Valley Corporation common stock outstanding on
September 16, 2008, and (ii) the merger consideration of $11.25 per share and (b)
the product of (i) 266,693 shares of Meadow Valley Corporation common stock subject
to currently outstanding options and (ii) the excess of $11.25 over $4.86, the
weighted average exercise price with respect to such options (the Total
Consideration). The filing fee, calculated in accordance with Section
14(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 0-11(c)(1)
promulgated thereunder, was determined by multiplying 0.0000393 by the Total
Consideration. |
|
|
(4) |
|
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
|
|
|
|
$59,986,526 |
|
|
(5) |
|
Total fee paid: |
|
|
|
|
$2,358 |
o |
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|
o |
|
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
|
(1) |
|
Amount Previously Paid: |
|
|
(2) |
|
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
|
|
(3) |
|
Filing Party: |
|
|
(4) |
|
Date Filed: |
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION DATED SEPTEMBER 19,
2008
MEADOW
VALLEY CORPORATION
Important
Special Meeting of Stockholders
, 2008
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the special meeting of
stockholders of Meadow Valley Corporation (Meadow
Valley) to be held
on
at a.m., local time,
at .
The attached proxy statement provides information regarding the
matters to be acted on at the special meeting, including at any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote
upon a proposal to adopt and approve an Agreement and Plan of
Merger that we entered into on July 28, 2008 with Phoenix
Parent Corp., which we refer to as Investor, and its
wholly-owned subsidiary Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., which we refer
to as Merger Sub. Investor is wholly-owned by
Phoenix Holdings Management LLC, which we refer to as
Phoenix Holdings. Each of Investor and Phoenix
Holdings is an affiliate of Insight Equity I LP, a private
equity firm. If holders of record of a majority of Meadow
Valleys outstanding common stock, as
of ,
2008, vote to adopt and approve the merger agreement, and the
other conditions in the merger agreement are satisfied or
waived, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Meadow Valley
and Meadow Valley will survive as a privately-held wholly-owned
subsidiary of Investor.
According to the terms of the merger agreement, if the merger
agreement is approved and the merger is consummated, each share
of Meadow Valleys common stock, including any rights
associated therewith, will be canceled and converted into the
right to receive $11.25 in cash, without interest (and less
applicable withholding taxes). In addition, each outstanding
option to purchase Meadow Valley common stock will be canceled
at the effective time of the merger and converted into the right
to receive cash, without interest (and less applicable
withholding taxes), in the amount, if any, by which $11.25
exceeds the per share exercise price of that option. Based on
the closing sale price for Meadow Valleys common stock on
July 25, 2008, the last trading day before public
announcement of the merger, the merger consideration represented
a 22.1% premium over the price per share of Meadow Valleys
common stock and a 30.8% premium over the volume weighted
average share price for the 30 calendar days prior to the
announcement of the merger agreement.
On July 25, 2008, our board of directors unanimously
determined (with Bradley E. Larson, our President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director, and Kenneth D. Nelson, our
Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and a director each
abstaining) that the merger and the merger agreement are fair to
and in the best interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders and approved the merger agreement. In arriving at
their recommendation, our board of directors and the special
committee carefully considered a number of factors, which are
described in the accompanying proxy statement, including the
unanimous determination and recommendation of a special
committee comprised entirely of independent directors. Our
board of directors unanimously recommends (with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) that you vote
FOR the proposal to adopt and approve the merger
agreement.
When you consider the recommendation of our board of directors
to approve the merger agreement, you should be aware that some
of our directors and executive officers have interests in the
merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests
of our stockholders generally. For example, each of Bradley E.
Larson and Kenneth D. Nelson will contribute substantially all
of their shares of Meadow Valley common stock, including shares
acquired upon exercise of options prior to the closing of the
merger, to Phoenix Holdings in exchange for equity interests in
that company. In addition, Robert W. Bottcher, Arizona Area
President of Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Meadow Valley, will be given the right to
contribute all of his shares, including shares acquired upon
exercise of options prior to the closing of the merger, but
excluding shares held in his retirement plan, to Phoenix
Holdings in exchange for equity interests in that company.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very
important. The merger cannot be completed unless the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow Valley common
stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting affirmatively vote to adopt and approve the
merger agreement. Consequently, we are holding a special meeting
of our stockholders to vote on the proposal necessary to
complete the merger. The attached proxy statement provides you
with detailed information about the special meeting, the merger
agreement and the merger. We strongly recommend that you read
the entire document carefully. You also may obtain more
information about Meadow Valley from documents we have filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please
complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy
by telephone or through the Internet as soon as possible to make
sure that your shares are represented at that meeting.
Voting by proxy will not prevent you from voting your shares
in person in the manner described in the attached proxy
statement if you subsequently choose to attend the special
meeting.
On behalf of your board of directors, thank you for your
cooperation and support.
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don A. Patterson
|
|
David D. Doty
|
Chairman of the Special Committee
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
|
|
|
|
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE
MERGER, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE MERGER, OR
PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THE ENCLOSED PROXY STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The accompanying proxy statement is
dated ,
2008 and is first being mailed to stockholders of Meadow Valley
on or
about ,
2008.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares,
please call The Altman Group, Inc., which is assisting us in the
solicitation of proxies, toll-free at (866) 721-1324.
IMPORTANT
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF
SHARES YOU OWN. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY MAIL YOUR PROXY
CARD OR SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET
AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
MEADOW
VALLEY CORPORATION
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
ON ,
2008
To the Stockholders of Meadow Valley Corporation:
A special meeting of stockholders of Meadow Valley Corporation
(Meadow Valley) will be held
at on ,
2008 at a.m., local time, for the following
purposes:
1. To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt and approve
the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 28,
2008, by and among Meadow Valley, Phoenix Parent Corp., and
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., as the same may be amended from time
to time, which we refer to as the Merger Proposal.
2. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve any motion
to adjourn or postpone the special meeting to another time or
place if necessary to solicit additional proxies if there are
insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve
the Merger Proposal, which we refer to as the Adjournment
Proposal.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
The accompanying proxy statement further describes the matters
to be considered at the special meeting. A copy of the merger
agreement has been included as Appendix A to this
proxy statement.
Our board of directors unanimously recommends (with Bradley
E. Larson and Kenneth D. Nelson abstaining) that you vote
FOR the Merger Proposal and FOR the
Adjournment Proposal.
When you consider the recommendation of our board of directors
to approve the Merger Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal, you
should be aware that some of our directors and executive
officers have interests in the merger that are different from,
or in addition to, the interests of our unaffiliated
stockholders.
Our board of directors has
set ,
2008 as the record date for the special meeting. Only holders of
record of shares of Meadow Valley common stock at the close of
business
on ,
2008 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the special
meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The special
meeting will begin promptly at a.m., local
time. Check-in will begin at a.m., local time,
and you should allow ample time for check-in procedures.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very
important. The affirmative vote of the holders of (i) a
majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow Valley common stock
entitled to vote at the special meeting is required to adopt and
approve the Merger Proposal and (ii) a majority of the
outstanding shares of Meadow Valley common stock entitled to
vote and represented at the special meeting is required to adopt
and approve the Adjournment Proposal.
To ensure your representation at the special meeting, please
complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy
by telephone, by using the toll-free number shown on your proxy
card, or through the Internet, by visiting the website shown on
your proxy card. Please submit your proxy promptly whether
or not you expect to attend the special meeting. Submitting a
proxy now will not prevent you from being able to vote at the
special meeting by attending in person and casting a vote. If
you hold your shares in street name through a bank,
broker or custodian, you must obtain a legal proxy from such
custodian in order to vote in person at the meeting. You should
not send in your certificates representing shares of Meadow
Valley common stock until you receive instructions to do so.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
David D. Doty
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Phoenix, Arizona
,
2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
i
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
Information Regarding Phoenix Holdings, Insight
Equity Acquisition Resources LLC, Insight Equity, Insight Equity
(Tax-Exempt) I LP, Insight Equity (Cayman) I LP, Insight Equity
(Affiliated Coinvestors) I LP, Insight Equity (Affiliated
Coinvestors) GP I LLC, Insight Equity (Cayman) GP I Ltd.,
Insight Equity GP I LP, Insight Equity Holdings I LLC, Insight
Equity LP and Insight Equity Holdings LLC
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 28, 2008, by
and among Meadow Valley Corporation, Phoenix Parent Corp. and
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
|
|
Opinion of Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc.
|
|
|
B-1
|
|
ii
SUMMARY
TERM SHEET
The following summary and the Questions and Answers
About the Special Meeting immediately following this
summary are intended only to highlight certain information
contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary and
the following questions and answers section may not contain all
the information that is important to you. To more fully
understand the proposed merger and the terms of the merger
agreement, as well as the other matters described below, you
should carefully read this entire proxy statement, all of its
appendices, and the documents incorporated by reference into
this proxy statement before voting. See Where You Can Find
More Information on page 92. In this proxy statement,
the terms Meadow Valley, the Company,
we, our, and us refer to
Meadow Valley Corporation and its subsidiaries. References to
subsidiaries refer to our wholly-owned subsidiaries,
Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc. and Apex Testing Corp., and may
also, as the context provides, include Ready Mix, Inc.
(Ready Mix), a company in which Meadow Valley owns
an approximate 69% interest. Where appropriate, we have set
forth a page reference directing you to a more complete
description of the topics described in this summary.
The
Parties to the Merger
(see
page 66)
Meadow
Valley
Meadow Valley is engaged in the construction industry as both a
provider of construction services and a supplier of construction
materials. Meadow Valleys construction services segment
specializes in structural concrete construction of highway
bridges and overpasses, and the paving of highways and airport
runways. Meadow Valleys construction materials segment
provides ready-mix concrete, sand, and gravel products to both
itself and primarily to other contractors. Meadow Valleys
construction materials testing segment provides geotechnical,
environmental, and field and laboratory technical services to
the construction industry. The construction services segment
operates throughout Arizona and Nevada, the construction
materials segment operates in the Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix,
Arizona metropolitan areas, and the construction materials
testing segment operates in the Las Vegas, Nevada regional area.
Meadow Valley was incorporated in Nevada on September 15,
1994. Meadow Valleys principal executive offices are
located at 4602 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. The
telephone number of Meadow Valleys principal executive
offices is
(602) 437-5400
and its website address is www.meadowvalley.com.
Information contained on this website does not constitute part
of this proxy statement.
Phoenix
Parent Corp.
Phoenix Parent Corp., which we refer to as Investor,
was incorporated in Delaware on July 3, 2008 for the
purpose of engaging in the merger. Investor is wholly-owned by
Phoenix Holdings Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, which we refer to as Phoenix Holdings. Each
of Investor and Phoenix Holdings is an affiliate of Insight
Equity I LP, a Delaware limited partnership and a private equity
firm that we refer to as Insight Equity. If the
Meadow Valley stockholders approve of the merger and the other
conditions to the closing of the merger are satisfied or waived,
in connection with the closing of the merger, Bradley E. Larson,
Meadow Valleys President, Chief Executive Officer and
a director, and Kenneth D. Nelson, Meadow Valleys Vice
President, Chief Administrative Officer and a director, whom we
sometimes refer to as the Rollover Participants,
will contribute substantially all of their shares of Meadow
Valley common stock, including shares acquired upon exercise of
options prior to the closing of the merger, to Phoenix Holdings
in exchange for equity interests in that company. In addition,
Robert W. Bottcher, Arizona Area President of Meadow Valley
Contractors, Inc., will be given the right, but shall have no
obligation, to contribute all, but not less than all, of the
shares of Meadow Valley common stock held by him at the
effective time of the merger, including shares acquired by him
upon exercise of options prior to the closing of the merger, but
excluding shares held in his retirement plan, in exchange for
equity interests in Phoenix Holdings. Mr. Bottcher has advised
Meadow Valley that he intends to contribute his Meadow Valley
shares to Phoenix Holdings.
Investors principal executive offices are located at 1400
Civic Place, Suite 250, Southlake, Texas 76092. The
telephone number of Investors principal corporate offices
is
(817) 488-7775.
1
Phoenix
Merger Sub, Inc.
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Investor, was incorporated in Nevada on July 3, 2008 for
the purpose of engaging in the merger. We refer to Phoenix
Merger Sub, Inc. as Merger Sub. Merger Sub shares
the same principal executive offices and telephone number as
Investor.
The
Proposals
(see
page 63)
You are being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt
and approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
July 28, 2008, by and among Meadow Valley, Investor and
Merger Sub, as the same may be amended from time to time. We
refer to this Agreement and Plan of Merger as the merger
agreement and we refer to this proposal as the
Merger Proposal. If the stockholders approve of the
Merger Proposal and the other conditions to the closing of the
merger are satisfied or waived, upon closing of the merger,
Merger Sub will be merged with and into Meadow Valley and Meadow
Valley will continue as the surviving corporation. Meadow
Valleys stockholders, other than the Rollover Participants
and possibly Mr. Bottcher, will no longer have a direct or
indirect equity interest in Meadow Valley and Meadow Valley
common stock will no longer be listed on the Nasdaq Capital
Market, which we refer to as Nasdaq, as a result of
the merger. Throughout this proxy statement we refer to the
Meadow Valley stockholders, excluding the Rollover Participants,
as the unaffiliated stockholders.
You are also being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to
approve any motion to adjourn or postpone the special meeting to
another time or place if necessary to solicit additional proxies
if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special
meeting to approve the Merger Proposal. We refer to this
proposal as the Adjournment Proposal.
Requisite
Stockholder Vote
(see
page 63)
In order to adopt and approve the Merger Proposal, the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Meadow Valley common stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting is required. Properly authenticated proxies
voted abstain at the special meeting will have the
effect of a vote against the approval of the Merger Proposal. In
addition, shares that are not voted at the special meeting,
including shares held in street name for which
instructions are not given to the broker on how to vote, will
have the effect of a vote against the approval of the Merger
Proposal.
In order to adopt and approve the Adjournment Proposal, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Meadow Valley common stock entitled to vote and represented at
the special meeting is required. Properly authenticated proxies
voted abstain at the special meeting will have the
effect of a vote against the approval of the Adjournment
Proposal. Shares held in street name may be voted by
your broker or banker without specific instructions from you.
Shares not represented at the special meeting will have no
effect on the Adjournment Proposal.
What
Stockholders Will Receive in the Merger
(see
page 67)
Under the terms of the merger agreement, at the effective time
of the merger, each share of common stock held by our
stockholders (other than as provided for with respect to the
Rollover Participants and Mr. Bottcher) will be canceled
and converted into the right to receive $11.25 in cash, without
interest. We sometimes refer to this amount as the merger
consideration. Investor, the surviving corporation and the
paying agent designated by Investor will be entitled to deduct
and withhold from the merger consideration any amounts required
to be deducted and withheld under any applicable tax law, and
any amounts so withheld shall be treated as having been paid to
the holder from whose merger consideration the amounts were so
deducted and withheld.
Based on the closing sale price for Meadow Valley common stock
on July 25, 2008, the last trading day before public
announcement of the merger, the merger consideration represented
a 22.1% premium over the price per share of Meadow Valley common
stock and a 30.8% premium over the volume weighted average share
price for the 30 calendar days prior to the announcement of
the merger agreement.
2
What
Option Holders Will Receive in the Merger
(see
page 67)
Under the terms of the merger agreement, at the effective time
of the merger, each option to purchase shares of Meadow Valley
common stock that is outstanding and unexercised (whether vested
or unvested) will be canceled and the holders of such options
will be entitled to receive an amount, in cash, equal to the
product of the number of shares subject to each such option
multiplied by the excess, if any, of the merger consideration
over the exercise price per share of each such option, less
applicable withholding taxes.
What
Warrant Holders Will Receive in the Merger
(see
page 67)
As of the date of this proxy statement, all outstanding warrants
to purchase shares of Meadow Valley common stock are
out-of-the-money in that the exercise prices for all
such warrants are greater than the merger consideration.
Accordingly, while adequate provision will be made so that the
holders of the warrants will have the right to receive, upon
exercise of the warrants and subject to the terms and conditions
thereof, $11.25 per share, without interest (and less applicable
withholding taxes), we do not expect any warrant holder to
exercise their warrants.
Recommendation
of the Special Committee and the Board of Directors
(see
page 34)
Certain of our officers and directors have interests in the
merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests
of Meadow Valleys stockholders generally. Accordingly,
Meadow Valleys board of directors formed a special
committee, which we refer to as the Special
Committee, comprised of Charles E. Cowan, Charles R.
Norton, and Don A. Patterson, each of whom is a non-management
independent director. The members of the Special Committee have
no material interest in the merger that differs from the
interests of Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders
(other than the acceleration of the vesting of options that
would occur if the merger closes, which would produce aggregate
proceeds to the members of the Special Committee of
$138,587 based on their holdings as of September 16,
2008). The Special Committee was charged with reviewing,
evaluating and, as appropriate, negotiating or rejecting the
merger agreement or any alternative proposal in each case as the
independent directors considered to be in the best interests of
Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders.
The Special Committee has unanimously determined that the merger
agreement and the merger are fair to and in the best interests
of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders, and has
recommended that the board of directors approve the merger
agreement and that the stockholders of Meadow Valley adopt and
approve the merger agreement. The members of the Special
Committee comprise a majority of our board of directors, with
the only other members of our board of directors being
Messrs. Larson and Nelson.
After considering many factors, including the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee,
Meadow Valleys board of directors (with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) has unanimously:
|
|
|
|
|
determined that the merger agreement and the merger are fair to
and in the best interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
approved the merger agreement; and
|
|
|
|
recommended that Meadow Valleys stockholders adopt and
approve the merger agreement.
|
Accordingly, the Special Committee and the board of directors
(with Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) unanimously
recommend that you vote FOR the Merger Proposal.
Each of the Special Committee and the board of directors (with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) also unanimously
recommend that you vote FOR the Adjournment
Proposal.
Reasons
for the Recommendation of the Special Committee and Board of
Directors
(see
page 34)
Each of the Special Committee and the board of directors
believes that the merger is both procedurally and substantively
fair to Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders. Their
belief is based upon their knowledge and analysis of Meadow
Valley, as well as the factors discussed later in this proxy
statement in the section entitled Special
Factors Reasons for the Merger and
Recommendation of the Special Committee and Board of
Directors. Please be aware that Messrs. Larson and
Nelson abstained from voting as members of Meadow
3
Valleys board of directors and, as a result, the members
of the Special Committee and the members of the board of
directors that voted on the merger were identical.
Financial
Advisor to the Special Committee
(see
page 42)
Alvarez & Marsal Securities, LLC, or
Alvarez & Marsal, served as financial
advisor to the Special Committee in connection with the merger
transaction. Alvarez & Marsal also solicited interest
from third parties to acquire Meadow Valley in accordance with
the 45-day
go shop provisions in the merger agreement, which
period ended on September 11, 2008. Alvarez &
Marsal was not engaged by the Special Committee to render a
fairness opinion for this transaction.
Opinion
of Morgan Joseph to the Special Committee
(see
page 39)
In connection with the merger, the Special Committee received an
opinion from Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc., or Morgan
Joseph, to the effect that, as of July 25, 2008, and
based upon the assumptions made, matters considered and limits
of review set forth therein, the consideration of $11.25 per
share in cash, without interest, to be received by holders of
Meadow Valleys common stock was fair, from a financial
point of view, to such holders. The full text of Morgan
Josephs opinion, which sets forth the procedures followed,
assumptions made, matters considered, limits of review
undertaken and other matters considered by Morgan Joseph in
preparing its opinion, is attached as Appendix B to
this proxy statement. Meadow Valley strongly recommends that
stockholders read carefully the full text of Morgan
Josephs written opinion.
Morgan Josephs opinion addresses only the fairness, from a
financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by
the holders of Meadow Valleys common stock as of the date
of such opinion and does not address any other aspect of the
merger. Morgan Josephs opinion is not intended to be, and
does not constitute, advice or a recommendation to the board of
directors of Meadow Valley, the Special Committee, or any
stockholder as to how to act or vote with respect to the merger
or related matters.
Interests
of Meadow Valleys Officers and Directors in the Merger
(see
page 54)
|
|
|
|
|
Messrs. Larson and Nelson will contribute substantially all
of their shares of Meadow Valley common stock to Phoenix
Holdings. Their respective contributions will include shares
acquired by them upon exercise of their options prior to the
merger and may, at their discretion, be net of shares utilized
to pay the exercise price of their options and estimated federal
income taxes. Shares held by Messrs. Larson and Nelson in
their respective retirement plans, constituting 16,247 and
1,979 shares, respectively, may be canceled and converted
into the right to receive $11.25 per share in cash, without
interest. Depending on how they determine to effect their
respective contributions, Mr. Larson is expected to receive
between a 3.6% and 4.5% fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix
Holdings while Mr. Nelson is expected to receive between a
3.8% and 4.9% fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix Holdings,
such percentages being subject to certain factors and
assumptions described more fully herein;
|
|
|
|
Messrs. Larson and Nelson will each be provided the
opportunity to earn up to 3.5% of the
Class B-1
Voting Units outstanding at the effective time of the merger in
Phoenix Holdings if they meet certain performance criteria
subsequent to the merger;
|
|
|
|
Mr. Bottcher will be given the right, but will have no
obligation, to contribute all of his shares of Meadow Valley
common stock (other than those held in his retirement plan) to
Phoenix Holdings. If he elects to do so, his contribution will
include shares acquired by him upon exercise of his options
prior to the merger and may, at his discretion, be net of shares
utilized to pay the exercise price of his options and estimated
federal income taxes. Shares held by Mr. Bottcher in his
retirement plan, constituting 1,036 shares, will be
canceled and converted into the right to receive $11.25 per
share in cash, without interest. Depending on how he determines
to effect his contribution, Mr. Bottcher is expected to
receive between a 0.9% and 1.0% fully diluted equity interest in
Phoenix Holdings, such percentages being subject to certain
factors and assumptions described more fully herein. Mr.
Bottcher has advised Meadow Valley that he intends to contribute
his Meadow Valley shares to Phoenix Holdings;
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
each option to purchase shares of Meadow Valleys common
stock that is outstanding and unexercised (whether vested or
unvested) will be canceled and the holders of such options will
be entitled to receive an amount, in cash, equal to the product
of the number of shares subject to each such option multiplied
by the excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the
exercise price per share of each such option, net of applicable
withholding taxes;
|
|
|
|
it is anticipated that the current executive officers of Meadow
Valley will hold substantially similar positions with the
surviving corporation after completion of the merger and will
receive substantially similar compensation;
|
|
|
|
our executive officers and directors will be indemnified in
respect of their past service, and Investor will maintain Meadow
Valleys current directors and officers
liability insurance, subject to certain conditions; and
|
|
|
|
the aggregate consideration expected to be paid to our directors
and executive officers (excluding the Rollover Participants and
Mr. Bottcher) in connection with the merger for shares of
common stock and stock options held by such directors and
executive officers is approximately $150,862.
|
Special
Committee
Fees
(see page 57)
Special Committee members are paid for their service on the
Special Committee as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee members receive an annual fee of $40,000,
paid quarterly in arrears;
|
|
|
|
the chairman of the Special Committee receives an additional fee
of $25,000 for service as chairman, paid quarterly in arrears;
and
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee members are reimbursed for their
reasonable expenses.
|
These fees are in addition to the fees these board members
receive for serving on the Meadow Valley board.
Certain
Effects of the Merger
(see
page 51)
Upon completion of the merger:
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley will be a privately-held, wholly-owned subsidiary
of Investor and price quotations for Meadow Valley common stock
will no longer be available;
|
|
|
|
each holder of Meadow Valley common stock (other than as
provided for with respect to the Rollover Participants and
Mr. Bottcher) will be entitled to receive $11.25 in cash,
without interest (and less applicable withholding taxes), for
each share of common stock owned at the effective time of the
merger;
|
|
|
|
each option to purchase shares of Meadow Valley common stock
that is outstanding and unexercised (whether vested or unvested)
will be canceled and the holders of such options will be
entitled to receive an amount, in cash, equal to the product of
the number of shares subject to each such option multiplied by
the excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the
exercise price per share subject to each such option, net of
applicable withholding taxes;
|
|
|
|
adequate provision will be made so that the holders of warrants
to purchase common stock of Meadow Valley will have the
right to receive, upon exercise of the warrants and subject to
the terms and conditions thereof, $11.25 per share, without
interest (and less applicable withholding taxes), but given that
the exercise price of all outstanding warrants is in excess of
the merger consideration, we do not expect any warrant holder to
exercise their warrants;
|
|
|
|
the registration of Meadow Valleys common stock under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), will be terminated; and
|
|
|
|
unaffiliated stockholders will no longer have a direct or
indirect interest in or be stockholders of Meadow Valley, and,
therefore, will not be able to participate in the surviving
corporations future earnings and growth, and dividends, if
any.
|
5
Merger
Financing
(see
page 59)
Investor and Merger Sub estimate that the total amount of funds
necessary to consummate the merger and related transactions,
including related customary fees and expenses, will be
approximately $71 million, which will be funded by a
combination of (i) an equity contribution by Insight Equity
and certain other investors and (ii) debt financing.
Conditions
to the Merger
(see
page 77)
Completion of the merger is subject to a number of closing
conditions, including, but not limited to:
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys stockholders voting to adopt and approve
the Merger Proposal;
|
|
|
|
the representations and warranties made by the respective
parties to the merger agreement being true and correct as of the
effective time of the merger, except for such failures as could
not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the
aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect (as detailed on
page 70 of this proxy statement);
|
|
|
|
each party to the merger agreement having performed, in all
material respects, all obligations that it is required to
perform under the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
no change, event or occurrence, individually or in the
aggregate, that would, or could reasonably be expected to, have
a Material Adverse Effect on Meadow Valley or any of its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, occurring between the date of
the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys and its subsidiaries (excluding Ready
Mix) bonding capacity meeting certain minimum dollar amounts;
|
|
|
|
work backlog meeting certain minimum dollar amounts;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley and Ready Mix meeting certain minimum financial
performance thresholds;
|
|
|
|
receipt of certain real estate deliverables, as well as other
consents, waivers, releases, and permits; and
|
|
|
|
other closing conditions.
|
At any time before the merger, Investor and Merger Sub may waive
the conditions applicable to Meadow Valley and Meadow
Valley may waive the conditions applicable to Investor and
Merger Sub. While circumstances may change, the parties do not
expect that any conditions will be waived.
Restrictions
on Solicitation of Other Acquisition Proposals
(see
page 74)
Pursuant to the merger agreement, from the date of the merger
agreement until September 11, 2008 (45 days), we were
permitted to:
|
|
|
|
|
initiate, solicit and encourage Acquisition Proposals (as
detailed on page 75 of this proxy statement), including by
way of providing access to non-public information pursuant to
one or more acceptable confidentiality agreements; and
|
|
|
|
participate in discussions or negotiations with respect to
Acquisition Proposals or otherwise cooperate with or assist or
participate in, or facilitate, any such discussions or
negotiations.
|
From and after September 12, 2008, subject to certain
exceptions discussed below, we have agreed that we will not, and
will cause our subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix to the extent
not acting as our representative) and use our reasonable best
efforts to cause our representatives not to:
|
|
|
|
|
initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage the submission of any
inquiries, proposals or offers that constitute or may reasonably
be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal or engage in any
discussions or negotiations with respect thereto or otherwise
cooperate with or assist or participate in, or knowingly
facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions or
negotiations; or
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
approve or recommend, or publicly propose to approve or
recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or enter into any merger
agreement, letter of intent, agreement in principle, share
purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement or share exchange
agreement, option agreement or other similar agreement relating
to an Acquisition Proposal or enter into any agreement or
agreement in principle requiring us to abandon, terminate or
fail to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement or breach our obligations thereunder or resolve,
propose or agree to do any of the foregoing.
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under certain circumstances, our
board of directors (acting through the Special Committee if it
still exists) may respond to a bona fide unsolicited Acquisition
Proposal or terminate the merger agreement and enter into an
acquisition agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal (as
detailed on page 75 of this proxy statement), so long as we
comply with certain terms of the merger agreement described
under The Merger Agreement Restrictions on
Solicitation, Acquisition Proposals and Changes in
Recommendation.
Termination
of the Merger Agreement
(see
page 78)
The merger agreement also grants the parties certain termination
rights. The merger agreement may be terminated:
|
|
|
|
|
upon the mutual written agreement of Meadow Valley and Investor;
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor after the issuance of a
final injunction or order prohibiting the merger, or the final
denial of any approval necessary to consummate the merger;
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor if, in certain
circumstances, the merger has not been consummated on or before
December 31, 2008 (unless extended under limited
circumstances in Investors sole discretion to a date not
later than January 31, 2009), unless the reason for not
closing the merger is due to the actions or beach by the party
seeking termination (the Outside Date Termination
Right);
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor if the Merger Proposal does
not receive the requisite stockholder vote at the special
meeting (the Stockholder Rejection Termination
Right), unless the special meeting is adjourned or
postponed pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley upon a failure or breach by Investor of any of
its obligations, covenants, representations, or warranties in
the merger agreement, and if such failure or breach would result
in a failure of the Meadow Valley closing conditions to be
satisfied and is not cured within the period of time provided
for in the merger agreement, provided that Meadow Valley is not
then in material breach of its obligations under the merger
agreement (the Investor Breach Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor upon a failure or breach by Meadow Valley of any of
its obligations, covenants, representations, or warranties in
the merger agreement, if such failure or breach would reasonably
be expected to result in a failure of Investor closing
conditions to be satisfied and if such failure or breach is not
cured within the period of time provided for in the merger
agreement, provided that Investor is not then in material breach
of its obligations under the merger agreement (the Meadow
Valley Breach Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor upon Meadow Valley or Meadow Valleys board of
directors, as the case may be, (i) changing its
recommendation that Meadow Valleys stockholders approve
the Merger Proposal, (ii) approving, adopting, or
recommending any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approving,
recommending or entering into a letter of intent, agreement in
principle or definitive agreement for an Acquisition Proposal,
(iv) failing to publicly reaffirm the board of
directors recommendation in favor of the Merger Proposal,
(v) materially breaching its obligations under the go
shop provision or the stockholder vote provision in the
merger agreement, (vi) failing to include the board of
directors recommendation in favor of the Merger Proposal in this
proxy statement, or (vii) authorizing any of the above (the
Change of Recommendation Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor upon an event, change or occurrence that has had or
could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect that cannot reasonably be
expected to be cured by December 31, 2008;
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley any time prior to receiving the requisite
stockholder vote in favor of the Merger Proposal, if Meadow
Valley has received a Superior Proposal in accordance with the
go shop provision, provided that Meadow Valley must
enter into such alternative acquisition agreement within
24 hours after, and pay a fee in advance of, terminating
the merger agreement (the New Agreement Termination
Right); or
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley upon Investors failure to consummate the
merger within 10 days after Meadow Valley makes a written
demand of Investor, provided that all the requirements and
conditions necessary to consummate the merger have been
satisfied.
|
Termination
Fees
(see
page 79)
The merger agreement provides for the payment of certain fees
and expenses in certain instances when the merger agreement is
terminated.
Payable
by Meadow Valley
Meadow Valley will be required to pay Investor an amount in cash
equal to the sum of (1) 4.5% of the aggregate merger
consideration, or approximately $2.5 million, plus
(2) certain of Investors and Merger Subs
documented and reasonable out-of-pocket transaction expenses, if
the merger agreement is terminated pursuant to:
|
|
|
|
|
the Outside Date Termination Right, if, at the time of the
delay, Investor has taken all actions necessary on its part to
consummate the merger, but Meadow Valley has failed to do so;
|
|
|
|
the Stockholder Rejection Termination Right, if Meadow Valley
subsequently enters into a definitive agreement with respect to
an Acquisition Proposal within 12 months after such
termination;
|
|
|
|
the Meadow Valley Breach Termination Right;
|
|
|
|
the Change of Recommendation Termination Right, unless the
termination relates to a Superior Proposal from certain parties
that had previously expressed an interest in Meadow
Valley; or
|
|
|
|
the New Agreement Termination Right, unless the termination
relates to a Superior Proposal from certain parties that had
previously expressed an interest in Meadow Valley.
|
If, during the
45-day
go shop period, the merger agreement was terminated
pursuant to the Change of Recommendation Termination Right, or
the New Agreement Termination Right and the termination related
to a Superior Proposal from certain parties that had previously
expressed an interest in Meadow Valley, then, in lieu of the
amount set forth above, Meadow Valley would have been obligated
to pay Investor an amount equal to the sum of (1) 2.5% of
the aggregate merger consideration, or approximately
$1.5 million, plus (2) certain of Investors and
Merger Subs documented and reasonable out-of-pocket
transaction expenses. The go shop period expired on
September 11, 2008. No party qualified as an excluded party
under the terms of the merger agreement. Accordingly, we did not
exercise any of these termination rights.
Unless otherwise provided, if the merger agreement is
terminated, Meadow Valley will be required to pay Investor a fee
equal to the sum of (1) $500,000 plus (2) certain of
Investors and Merger Subs reasonable and documented
out-of-pocket transaction expenses.
Payable
by Investor
Investor will be required to make a payment to Meadow Valley in
an amount equal to the sum of (1) 2.5% of the aggregate
merger consideration, or approximately $1.5 million, plus
(2) certain of Meadow Valleys documented and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the merger
(excluding expenses incurred during the go shop
period), if the merger agreement is terminated pursuant to:
|
|
|
|
|
the Outside Date Termination Right, if, at the time of the
delay, Meadow Valley has taken all actions necessary on its part
to consummate the merger, but Investor has failed to do so;
|
|
|
|
the Investor Breach Termination Right; or
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
the terms of the merger agreement if either Investor or Merger
Sub has breached any agreement terms such that their conditions
to close are not satisfied thereby causing the closing not to be
effective by December 31, 2008.
|
Litigation
(see
page 61)
On or about August 5, 2008, Pennsylvania Avenue Funds filed
a lawsuit in the Clark County, Nevada District Court against
Meadow Valley, each of its directors, Investor and Merger Sub,
alleging, among other matters, that Meadow Valley and its
directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to maximize
stockholder value in the negotiation of the merger. The
complaint further alleges that Investor and Merger Sub aided and
abetted the alleged breach by Meadow Valleys directors of
their fiduciary duties. Meadow Valley believes this lawsuit is
without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself. Each of
the other defendants have similarly advised Meadow Valley that
they believe this lawsuit is without merit and that they intend
to vigorously defend themselves.
Rights of
Dissenting Stockholders
(see
page 61)
Pursuant to applicable Nevada law, there are no dissenters
or appraisal rights relating to the matters to be acted upon at
the special meeting.
Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
(see
page 58)
Your receipt of the merger consideration will be a taxable
transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and may be a taxable
transaction for foreign, state, and local income tax purposes as
well. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, you will
recognize gain or loss measured by the difference between the
amount of cash you receive in the merger and your tax basis in
the shares of common stock exchanged for the merger
consideration, provided that it is possible that if you are
related, under applicable attribution rules, to a person deemed
to own shares of the surviving corporation after the merger, all
the cash you receive could be treated as a dividend of the
surviving corporation. You should consult your own tax advisor
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
merger, as well as any tax consequences under state, local, or
foreign laws.
9
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING
The following questions and answers are intended to address
briefly some commonly asked questions regarding the merger, the
merger agreement and the special meeting. These questions and
answers may not address all questions that may be important to
you as our stockholder. Please refer to the Summary Term
Sheet and the more detailed information contained
elsewhere in this proxy statement, the appendices to this proxy
statement, and the documents incorporated by reference into this
proxy statement, which you should read carefully and in their
entirety.
|
|
Q: |
Why am I receiving this proxy statement and proxy card?
|
|
|
A: |
You are receiving this proxy statement and proxy card because
you are a record or beneficial holder of Meadow Valley
common stock and consequently you are being asked to consider
and vote upon important matters at a special meeting of
stockholders of Meadow Valley.
|
|
|
Q: |
When and where is the special meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
The special meeting of our stockholders will be held
on ,
2008 at a.m., local time,
at .
|
|
|
Q: |
What matters will be considered and voted on at the special
meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote
on the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
to adopt and approve the Merger Proposal;
|
|
|
|
to approve the Adjournment Proposal; and
|
|
|
|
to transact such other business as may properly come before the
special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
|
The merger agreement is attached as Appendix A to
this proxy statement. We strongly recommend that you read the
merger agreement carefully and in its entirety. See The
Merger Agreement beginning on page 67.
|
|
Q: |
How do the Special Committee and board of directors recommend
that I vote on the proposals?
|
|
|
A: |
Each of the Special Committee and the board of directors of
Meadow Valley (with Bradley E. Larson and Kenneth D. Nelson
abstaining) has unanimously determined that the merger and the
merger agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of,
Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders, and the Special
Committee and the board of directors of Meadow Valley each
recommend that you vote FOR the Merger Proposal and
FOR the Adjournment Proposal. Please be aware that
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstained from voting as members
of Meadow Valleys board of directors and, as a result, the
members of the Special Committee and the members of the board of
directors that voted on the merger were identical.
|
|
|
Q: |
Who is entitled to vote at the special meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
All stockholders of record as of the close of business
on ,
2008 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special
meeting.
|
|
|
Q: |
How many shares must be present to hold the special
meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
The holders of one-third of all outstanding shares of Meadow
Valley common stock must be present, in person or represented by
proxy, at the special meeting in order to hold the special
meeting and conduct business. This is called a quorum. If you
submit a properly executed proxy card or properly submit your
proxy by telephone or through the Internet, then your shares
will be counted as part of the quorum. Abstentions and shares
that are the subject of broker non-votes will also be counted in
determining the presence of a quorum.
|
|
|
Q: |
What vote is required to approve the proposals?
|
|
|
A: |
Approval of the Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow
Valley common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting,
or shares.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Meadow Valley common stock entitled to vote and represented
at the special meeting.
|
10
|
|
Q: |
What will I receive in the merger?
|
|
|
A: |
For each share of common stock owned, stockholders will receive
$11.25 in cash, without interest. Investor, the surviving
corporation and the paying agent designated by Investor will be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the merger consideration
any amounts required to be deducted and withheld under any
applicable tax law, and any amounts so withheld shall be treated
as having been paid to the holder from whose merger
consideration the amounts were so deducted and withheld.
|
If you hold any options to purchase shares of Meadow Valley
common stock that are outstanding and unexercised as of the
effective time of the merger (whether vested or unvested), such
options will be canceled, and you will be entitled to receive
from Meadow Valley, in consideration for such cancellation, an
amount in cash, equal to the product of the number of shares
subject to such options multiplied by the excess, if any, of the
merger consideration over the exercise price per share subject
to such options, net of applicable withholding taxes.
|
|
Q: |
What do I need to do now?
|
|
|
A: |
We ask that you please vote by proxy, whether or not you plan on
attending the special meeting in person. If your shares are held
in your name, you can submit your proxy (i) by mail, by
completing, signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy
card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, (ii) by
telephone, using the toll-free number shown on your proxy card,
or (iii) through the Internet by visiting the website shown
on your proxy card, in each case before 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time,
on ,
2008. If you submit a proxy, but do not specify how you want
your shares to be voted, they will be voted FOR the
approval of the Merger Proposal and FOR approval of
the Adjournment Proposal. If your shares are registered
differently or are in more than one account, you will receive
more than one proxy card. Please complete and return all of the
proxy cards you receive or submit your proxy by telephone or
through the Internet for all such proxy cards to ensure that all
of your shares are voted.
|
|
|
Q: |
What rights do I have if I oppose the merger?
|
|
|
A: |
You may vote against the Merger Proposal and Adjournment
Proposal, but pursuant to applicable Nevada law, there are no
dissenters or appraisal rights relating to the matters to
be acted upon at the special meeting.
|
|
|
Q: |
If I am in favor of the merger, should I send my share
certificates now?
|
|
|
A: |
No. As soon as reasonably practicable after the effective time
of the merger, a paying agent designated by Investor will
commence mailing a letter of transmittal and instructions to you
and the other stockholders of Meadow Valley. The letter of
transmittal and instructions will tell you how to surrender your
stock certificates in exchange for the merger consideration.
You should not return your stock certificates with the
enclosed proxy card and you should not forward your stock
certificates to the paying agent without a letter of
transmittal.
|
|
|
Q: |
If my shares are held in street name by my
broker, banker or other nominee, will my broker or banker vote
my shares for me?
|
|
|
A: |
No for the Merger Proposal, but yes for the Adjournment Proposal.
|
If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee (that is,
in street name), you will need to obtain a proxy
form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the
instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct
your broker to vote your shares or obtain an authorization from
your broker allowing you to vote your shares at the special
meeting in person or by proxy. If you do not give instructions
to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to
discretionary items, but not with respect to
non-discretionary items. Discretionary items are
proposals considered routine under the rules of Nasdaq on which
your broker may vote your shares held in street name in the
absence of your voting instructions. On non-discretionary items
for which you do not give your broker instructions, your shares
will be treated as broker non-votes and will not be
voted.
The Merger Proposal is not a routine matter. As a result, for
the Merger Proposal, your broker or banker will not vote your
shares of Meadow Valley common stock without specific
instructions from you. If you fail to give
11
your broker or banker specific instructions, your shares will
not be voted, which will have the effect of a vote against the
Merger Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal is a routine matter. As a result, for
the Adjournment Proposal, your broker or banker will have the
discretionary voting power to vote on the Adjournment Proposal
without specific instructions from you.
|
|
Q: |
May I change my vote after I have submitted a proxy?
|
|
|
A: |
Yes. You may change your vote at any time before your
proxy is voted at the special meeting. You may do this in one of
the following ways:
|
|
|
|
|
|
by sending a written notice of revocation to the secretary of
Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
by sending a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your
original proxy card;
|
|
|
|
by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card and
following the instructions;
|
|
|
|
by submitting a later dated proxy via the Internet in the same
manner that you submitted your earlier proxy via the Internet
and following the instructions; or
|
|
|
|
by attending Meadow Valleys special meeting and voting in
person.
|
Your attendance at Meadow Valleys special meeting alone
will not revoke any proxy. If you choose to change your vote,
you must take the described action, and the applicable notice
must be received, no later than the beginning of Meadow
Valleys special meeting.
If your shares are held in an account at a broker or other
nominee, you must contact your broker or other nominee to change
your vote.
|
|
Q: |
When is the merger expected to be completed?
|
|
|
A: |
The merger will become effective upon the later of the date and
time of the filing of the articles of merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of Nevada or such later date and time as
may be specified in the articles of merger with the consent of
the parties. The filing of the articles of merger will occur as
promptly as practicable, but unless otherwise agreed to in
writing by the parties to the merger agreement, in no event
later than the third business day after the conditions to
completion of the merger have been satisfied or waived. The
parties are working toward completing the merger as quickly as
possible and anticipate closing the merger prior to the end of
this year.
|
|
|
Q: |
How do Meadow Valleys directors and executive officers
intend to vote?
|
|
|
A: |
As
of ,
2008, the record date for the special meeting, the directors and
executive officers of Meadow Valley held and are entitled
to vote, in the aggregate, shares of our common stock
representing approximately % of the
outstanding shares. Our directors and executive officers have
advised us that they intend to vote all of their shares of our
common stock FOR the Merger Proposal and
FOR the Adjournment Proposal.
|
|
|
Q: |
What effects will the proposed merger have on Meadow
Valley?
|
|
|
A: |
This is a going private transaction. As a result of
the proposed merger, we will cease to be a publicly-traded
company and will be directly owned by Investor and controlled by
Insight Equity. You will no longer have any interest in our
future earnings or growth, and dividends, if any. In addition,
upon consummation of the proposed merger, our common stock will
no longer be listed on any exchange or quotation system.
|
|
|
Q: |
What happens if one of the parties to the merger terminates
the merger agreement?
|
|
|
A: |
Under specified circumstances, Meadow Valley may be required to
pay Investor a termination fee and reimburse Investor and Merger
Sub for certain of their documented and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, or Investor and Merger Sub may be required to pay
Meadow Valley a reverse termination fee and reimburse us
for certain of our documented and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses.
|
12
|
|
Q: |
What happens to Meadow Valley shares if the merger is not
consummated?
|
|
|
A: |
Stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares in
connection with the merger. Instead, Meadow Valley will
remain an independent public company, investors will continue to
hold our common stock and our common stock will continue to be
listed and traded on Nasdaq. If you want to sell your common
stock, you would need to sell that stock in the open market or
in a privately negotiated transaction in compliance with
applicable securities laws and the price you would receive for
that stock is uncertain.
|
|
|
Q: |
Does this special meeting replace our annual meeting of
stockholders?
|
|
|
A: |
No. If the merger agreement is not approved by our stockholders
or if the merger is not consummated for any other reason, the
board of directors of Meadow Valley intends to promptly call and
hold our next annual meeting of stockholders to elect directors
and to attend to such other matters as may properly come before
the annual meeting.
|
|
|
Q: |
What are the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the merger to me?
|
|
|
A: |
The cash you receive for your shares generally will be taxable
for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent the cash
received exceeds your tax basis in your shares. To review the
federal income tax consequences to stockholders in greater
detail, see Special Factors Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger.
|
|
|
Q: |
I do not know where my stock certificate is how
will I get my cash?
|
|
|
A: |
The materials the paying agent will send you after completion of
the merger will include the procedures that you must follow if
you cannot locate your stock certificate. This will include an
affidavit that you will need to sign attesting to the loss of
your certificate. You may also be required to provide a bond to
the surviving corporation in order to cover any potential loss
and follow other procedures.
|
|
|
Q: |
What happens if I sell my shares before the special
meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
The record date of the special meeting is earlier than the date
set for the special meeting and the date that the merger is
expected to be completed. If you transfer your shares of common
stock after the record date, but before the special meeting, you
will retain your right to vote at the special meeting, but will
have transferred the right to receive $11.25 per share in cash,
without interest (and less applicable withholding taxes), to be
received by our stockholders in the merger. In order to become
entitled to receive $11.25 per share, without interest (and less
applicable withholding taxes), you must hold your shares through
the effective time of the merger.
|
|
|
Q: |
What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
|
|
|
A: |
It means that you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent
and/or with
brokers, banks or other nominees. Please sign and return all
proxy cards that you receive or submit proxies for each proxy
card by telephone or through the Internet to ensure that all
your shares are voted.
|
|
|
Q: |
How are votes counted?
|
|
|
A: |
For the Merger Proposal, you may vote FOR,
AGAINST or ABSTAIN. If you abstain or do
not vote on the proposal, it will have the same effect as if you
voted against the Merger Proposal. In addition, if your shares
are not represented at the special meeting or if your shares are
held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, and your
broker, bank or other nominee does not receive specific
instructions from you on how to vote, it will have the effect of
a vote against the Merger Proposal.
|
For the Adjournment Proposal, you may vote FOR,
AGAINST or ABSTAIN. If you abstain, it
will have the same effect as if you voted against the
Adjournment Proposal. If your shares are not represented at the
special meeting, it will have no effect on the Adjournment
Proposal. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank
or other nominee and you fail to provide such nominee with
specific instructions on how to vote, your broker, bank or other
nominee will be entitled to vote your shares on the Adjournment
Proposal.
13
|
|
Q: |
Will any other business be conducted at the special
meeting?
|
|
|
A: |
Our board of directors knows of no business, other than as set
forth in the attached Notice of Special Meeting, that will be
presented at the special meeting. If any other proposal properly
comes before the stockholders for a vote at the special meeting,
the persons named in the proxy card that accompanies this proxy
statement will, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent
we were not notified of the proposal in a reasonable amount of
time before our solicitation, vote your shares in accordance
with their judgment on such matter.
|
|
|
Q: |
Who is soliciting my vote?
|
|
|
A: |
This proxy solicitation is being made and paid for by Meadow
Valley. In addition, we have retained The Altman Group, Inc. to
assist in the solicitation. We will pay The Altman Group, Inc.
approximately $8,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses for its
assistance. Our directors, officers and employees may also
solicit proxies by personal interview, mail,
e-mail,
telephone, facsimile or by other means of communication. These
persons will not be paid additional remuneration for their
efforts. We will also request brokers and other fiduciaries to
forward proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of
shares of Meadow Valley common stock that the brokers and
fiduciaries hold of record. We will reimburse them for their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
|
|
|
Q: |
Who can help answer my questions?
|
|
|
A: |
If you have any questions about the merger or if you need
additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy
card, you should contact The Altman Group, Inc., which is acting
as the proxy solicitation agent and information agent in
connection with the merger, by telephone at (866)
721-1324 or
by mail to the following address:
|
The Altman Group, Inc.
1200 Wall Street West, 3rd Floor
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071
14
SPECIAL
FACTORS
Background
of the Merger
Meadow Valleys board of directors has discussed from time
to time the possibility of pursuing strategic alternatives for
Meadow Valley in light of market, economic, competitive and
other conditions and developments, as well as Meadow
Valleys historical stock price and its relative
illiquidity and the costs of operating as a public company.
During the spring of 2007, John B. Furman approached Peter C.
Marcil of ThomasLloyd Capital LLC (ThomasLloyd)
regarding Mr. Furmans idea of a leveraged buyout of
Meadow Valley and possibly its majority owned subsidiary, Ready
Mix. Messrs. Furman and Marcil informally discussed this
idea from time to time during this period. Also during this
time, ThomasLloyd conducted its own internal analysis to
determine the viability of a leveraged buyout and, following
completion of such analysis, concluded that a leveraged buyout
could be a viable transaction.
Bradley E. Larson, a director of Meadow Valley and its President
and Chief Executive Officer, has been acquainted with
Mr. Furman for many years, primarily through an industry
association where Mr. Furman was the associations
legal counsel and Mr. Larson served as an officer and
director. During the spring of 2007, Mr. Furman mentioned
the idea of a possible leveraged buyout on several happenstance
meetings with Mr. Larson. Mr. Larson then began to
become interested in the possibility of such a transaction as a
way to increase stockholder value. In May 2007, Mr. Larson
shared with Kenneth D. Nelson, a director of Meadow Valley and
its Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, the content
of Mr. Larsons conversations with Mr. Furman.
Mr. Nelson indicated that he would possibly be interested
in such a transaction for the same reasons expressed by
Mr. Larson and would be willing to participate in
preliminary discussions regarding the same.
On June 1, 2007, Messrs. Larson, Nelson, Furman and
Marcil met with representatives of Greenberg Traurig, LLP
(Greenberg Traurig) to discuss the possibility of a
leveraged buyout of Meadow Valley and possibly Ready Mix, the
methods by which it could be accomplished, and the various legal
considerations involved in such a transaction.
Messrs. Larson and Nelson sought Greenberg Traurigs
assurance that Greenberg Traurig would provide legal
representation in the event that Messrs. Larson and Nelson
decided to pursue such a transaction.
On June 4, 2007, Mr. Furman formed YVM Acquisition
Corporation (YVM) as a convenience to act as a
potential acquisition vehicle if it was determined to pursue a
transaction with Meadow Valley. Messrs. Larson and Nelson
did not become affiliated with YVM until later in the
transaction.
Mr. Furman recommended to Messrs. Larson and Nelson
that ThomasLloyd be engaged to evaluate the merits of such a
transaction and to address the capital requirements needed to
complete a transaction involving Meadow Valley.
Mr. Larson had known Mr. Marcil from a previous effort
to raise capital for a matter unrelated to the present
transaction. On June 8, 2007, YVM executed a
confidentiality agreement with ThomasLloyd.
Mr. Marcil suggested to Mr. Furman that another
financial advisory firm, Alare Capital, could provide needed
assistance in the various financial modeling used in deciding
whether or not to pursue a leveraged buyout of Meadow Valley. As
a result, YVM executed a confidentiality agreement with Alare
Capital on June 12, 2007.
On July 11, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met with a
representative of Meadow Valleys surety company.
Messrs. Larson and Nelson recognized the importance of
adequate surety credit to Meadow Valley and wanted to gain a
better understanding of leverage parameters used by surety
companies and the possibility of a company that had undergone a
leveraged buyout or going private transaction
securing surety credit before any further consideration of any
leverage buyout transaction. On July 31, 2007, a
representative of Meadow Valleys surety company responded
to Mr. Larson with some general considerations regarding
the availability of surety credit.
On August 3, 2007, Mr. Larson provided to
Mr. Marcil preliminary financial information containing
Meadow Valleys forecast for the balance of 2007, 2008 and
2009 and generally applying the considerations provided to
Mr. Larson by Meadow Valleys surety company described
in the preceding paragraph.
On August 7, 2007, YVM engaged ThomasLloyd as its exclusive
placement agent to assist YVM with any private placement of
equity or debt securities, and also to act as its exclusive
financial adviser to render certain
15
financial advisory and investment banking services to YVM, in
each case in connection with the potential acquisition of common
stock or other equity securities of Meadow Valley should
Messrs. Larson and Nelson determine that such a transaction
was feasible and that Meadow Valleys stockholders should
have the opportunity to evaluate such a transaction.
On August 14, 2007, Meadow Valley held a regularly
scheduled meeting of its board of directors in Phoenix, Arizona
at which David D. Doty, Meadow Valleys Chief Financial
Officer, Gary Agron, the former outside counsel and a former
director of Meadow Valley, were present at the invitation of the
board. Mr. Larson was not present at this meeting.
Immediately prior to the meeting, Mr. Larson held an
informal telephonic conference with Don A. Patterson, Charles E.
Cowan and Charles R. Norton, the three independent members of
the board of directors, to inform them of the preliminary
activities with respect to considering a possible leveraged
buyout transaction as described above. Mr. Nelson then
answered a few general questions regarding these preliminary
activities immediately prior to the start of the board meeting.
On August 16, 2007, Mr. Furman and YVM entered into a
letter agreement pursuant to which Mr. Furman would advise
YVM with respect to the proposed acquisition of Meadow
Valleys common stock and other equity securities.
On August 24, 2007, an affiliate of ThomasLloyd entered
into a consulting agreement with Mr. Furman with respect to
a possible transaction involving Meadow Valley. This agreement
was superseded by a consulting agreement between Mr. Furman
and an affiliate of ThomasLloyd dated May 1, 2008.
Throughout the summer and early fall of 2007,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson, with the assistance of
Mr. Furman and ThomasLloyd, continued to engage in
preliminary discussions and related structuring analysis with
respect to considering a possible leveraged buyout transaction
as described above.
On October 8, 2007, Mr. Robert Strawbridge from
ThomasLloyd traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to make a site visit to
several of Meadow Valleys ongoing construction projects
and ready-mix batch plants.
During the week of October 22, 2007, Messrs. Larson
and Nelson flew to the offices of ThomasLloyd in New York
City to engage in preliminary discussions with private equity
firms to determine their preliminary interest in pursuing a
transaction involving Meadow Valley. A total of six private
equity firms were met with on this trip and one introduction to
a private equity firm was made by telephone.
On October 22, 2007, Mr. Marcil, a representative of
ThomasLloyd, spoke with representatives of Insight Equity I LP
(Insight Equity), namely Conner Searcy and Chris
Zugaro, by telephone conference. Insight Equity was informed
that ThomasLloyd was engaged by a third party. ThomasLloyd
provided Insight Equity with a general overview of a potential
acquisition transaction. ThomasLloyd explained it was exploring
the utilization of equity and debt funds from one or more
financial institutions or professional investors in such
acquisition.
Following the initial conversation between Insight Equity and
ThomasLloyd, on October 23, 2007, Messrs. Larson,
Nelson, and Furman determined that it was likely that Insight
Equity or another private equity fund was likely to provide
financing for a leveraged buyout transaction and decided to
attempt to proceed with such a transaction. As a result, on
October 23, 2007, Insight Equity executed a confidentiality
agreement with Mr. Furman, in his individual capacity and
on behalf of any investment entity owned or controlled by
Mr. Furman. Mr. Furman was referred to as the CEO of
Project Alpha in such agreement in an effort to preserve
confidentiality. Insight Equity was chosen based on its industry
knowledge, its initial interest level, its ability to complete a
transaction, and its likelihood of providing the most favorable
opportunity for Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders.
On October 25, 2007, a telephone conference was held with
Messrs. Marcil and Strawbridge of ThomasLloyd and
Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of Insight Equity. During the
telephone conference, Messrs. Marcil and Strawbridge
provided a general overview and a high-level presentation of
Meadow Valley. ThomasLloyd also provided Insight Equity with its
preliminary financial analysis with respect to a possible
leveraged buy-out transaction involving Meadow Valley and Ready
Mix and discussed this analysis for Meadow Valley.
16
On November 2, 2007, YVM notified Meadow Valley by letter
that YVM and Messrs. Larson, Nelson, and Furman were
considering proposing a transaction or series of transactions
that would result in the acquisition of all of the outstanding
common stock of Meadow Valley.
Also on November 2, 2007, YVM and Messrs. Larson,
Nelson and Furman filed a Schedule 13D with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the SEC), disclosing that
such parties had entered into a joint filing agreement and were
considering such a transaction. YVM and Messrs. Larson,
Nelson, and Furman are referred to in this proxy statement as
the YVM Group. The filing of the Schedule 13D
was necessitated by the October 23, 2007 decision among the
YVM Group to attempt to proceed with a leveraged buyout
transaction.
On November 6 and 7, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Nelson and
Mr. Strawbridge of ThomasLloyd met with six private equity
firms in San Francisco, California and one private equity
firm in Los Angeles, California, respectively, and engaged in
preliminary discussions about each private equity firms
business and investment model and possible interest in pursuing
a transaction involving Meadow Valley.
On November 7, 2007, Mr. Patterson met informally with
representatives of DLA Piper LLP (US) (DLA Piper)
and Alvarez & Marsal to discuss generally the
implications of the Schedule 13D filing and the prospect
for DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal to serve as the
legal and financial advisors, respectively, to a special
committee of Meadow Valleys board of directors when or if
such a committee was formed.
A regularly scheduled meeting of Meadow Valleys board of
directors was held on November 8, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona
at which Mr. Doty, Mr. Agron, and Dan A. Stewart, a
member of the board of directors of Ready Mix, were present at
the invitation of the board. At the meeting, Mr. Patterson
led a discussion regarding the Schedule 13D filed by the
YVM Group on November 2, 2007. At the boards request,
Mr. Larson updated the board of directors on the filing of
the Schedule 13D, and the YVM Groups intentions with
respect to submitting a proposal to acquire Meadow Valley.
Mr. Larson also updated the board on the status of his
initial preliminary discussions with 13 private equity firms
since late October 2007. Mr. Larson noted that the initial
discussions with private equity firms had been exploratory in
nature in order to enable him to better understand the private
equity market and how private equity firms might view a possible
transaction with a company such as Meadow Valley, whether such
firms might have an interest in a private equity transaction for
a company such as Meadow Valley and other preliminary matters.
Mr. Larson indicated to the board of directors at the
November 8th meeting that he wanted to pursue further
exploratory discussions with one or more private equity firms to
determine how such a transaction might be structured and whether
such a transaction would be feasible and beneficial to Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders. Mr. Larson also
discussed with the board the likely next steps that might occur
regarding
follow-up
conversations with representatives of these private equity firms
concerning their potential interest in Meadow Valley. After
extensive discussions at such board meeting, the board (with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) gave its approval to
Mr. Larson to engage in discussions and exchange
information with private equity firms who executed
confidentiality agreements in order to explore how a private
equity transaction might be structured and requested that
Mr. Larson keep the board informed of further developments.
The board also discussed with Mr. Larson its preliminary
perspective on how a possible private equity transaction would
be reviewed by the board of directors or a special committee if
one was formed.
At the November 8th board meeting, the board
established a Special Committee of the board comprised of
Mr. Patterson as chairman, Charles E. Cowan and Charles R.
Norton, the three independent members of
Meadow Valleys five member board of directors.
Mr. Patterson then explained draft resolutions distributed
to the board members clarifying that Meadow Valleys board
had delegated to the Special Committee the exclusive power and
authority to, among other things (i) consider, evaluate,
investigate, and negotiate the terms and conditions of a
potential sale of Meadow Valley to, or business combination of
Meadow Valley with, third parties that may bring value to Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders, including a possible
transaction with the YVM Group, (ii) reject or discontinue
pursuing any or all such transactions if the Special Committee
determines that doing so would be in the best interests of
Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders, and
(iii) make such recommendations to the entire board at such
time and in such manner as the Special Committee considered
appropriate. Following a discussion, certain members of Meadow
Valleys board of directors, excluding Messrs. Larson
and Nelson who had left the meeting at the request of the
remaining members, unanimously
17
approved such resolutions. Mr. Patterson then discussed the
role of separate legal counsel and a financial advisor in
connection with the formation of the Special Committee. The
board discussed the factors that could affect independence of
any particular board member in such process. In reaching its
conclusions concerning the independence of the members of the
Special Committee, the members of the board considered whether
there existed any conflicts of interest or financial or other
interests that the directors might have with respect to Meadow
Valley or the YVM Group that would impair their independence.
They also resolved to review such conflict questions with
counsel following the meeting. After discussion among the board
members, the members of the board concluded, subject to
confirming the same with counsel, that all members of the board
other than Messrs. Larson and Nelson, could be considered
independent with respect to Meadow Valley and the YVM Group.
The remaining members of the board, all of whom were members of
the Special Committee, continued the
November 8th meeting by next discussing the process
that had been undertaken following the Schedule 13D filing
to interview lawyers from different law firms to serve as
independent legal counsel to the Special Committee. The
independent board members thereafter specifically discussed the
retention of DLA Piper to serve as independent legal counsel to
the Special Committee and the qualifications of such firm.
Following such discussion, the independent board members
unanimously approved the retention of DLA Piper to serve as
independent legal counsel to the Special Committee.
Thereafter, Mr. Patterson reviewed with the members of the
Special Committee the investment banking firms previously
contacted or considered by him following the Schedule 13D
filing by YVM and Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Furman to
potentially serve as the financial advisor to the Special
Committee in connection with a possible transaction with the YVM
Group or a similar transaction. Mr. Patterson reminded the
Special Committee that Meadow Valley was currently party to an
engagement agreement with Alvarez & Marsal pursuant to
which Alvarez & Marsal provided advice to Meadow
Valley with respect to evaluating and executing possible
strategic business alternatives available to Meadow Valley. The
Special Committee then reviewed Alvarez &
Marsals current engagement letter, the fact that under the
terms of such engagement letter it would be entitled to a fee if
Meadow Valley engaged in a transaction with YVM or another third
party, and considered whether Alvarez & Marsal could
act impartially on behalf of the Special Committee given
Alvarez & Marsals prior engagement on behalf of
Meadow Valley. Following extensive discussions, the Special
Committee unanimously concluded that it would be in the best
interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders for
the Special Committee to pursue the engagement of
Alvarez & Marsal. The Special Committee also concluded
that it should engage a separate investment banking firm to
render a fairness opinion to the Special Committee should one
become necessary. After some discussion, the members of the
Special Committee unanimously authorized Mr. Patterson to
proceed with negotiating an amendment to Meadow Valleys
current engagement agreement with Alvarez & Marsal, to
engage Alvarez & Marsal as financial advisor to the
Special Committee.
The Special Committee then discussed on a preliminary basis the
advisability of waiting for the YVM Group to secure financing to
put forth a proposal to acquire Meadow Valley and the likelihood
of the YVM Group securing such financing based on current market
and other conditions, as opposed to immediately initiating a
broader canvass of the market to solicit possible interest in an
acquisition of Meadow Valley or other strategic transaction. The
members of the Special Committee discussed the advantages and
disadvantages of a widespread solicitation of market interest in
an acquisition of Meadow Valley in advance of entering into a
specific acquisition agreement. The Special Committee members
elected continue to consider and discuss the issue and to seek
input from representatives of DLA Piper and Alvarez &
Marsal regarding the feasibility and reasonability of awaiting
for discussions with the YVM Group to see if a proposal could be
developed.
On November 13, 2007, Messrs. Marcil and Strawbridge
of ThomasLloyd held a conference call during which
Messrs. Larson, Nelson, Searcy and Zugaro participated. The
telephonic meeting focused on preliminary discussions about
Insight Equitys business and investment model and possible
interest in pursuing a transaction involving Meadow Valley. Also
on that date, Mr. Nelson provided Mr. Zugaro with
financial information regarding Meadow Valley.
On November 13, 2007, Mr. Marcil received a due
diligence request list from Insight Equity.
On November 20, 2007, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro, and
Mr. Robert Strauss of Insight Equity visited Meadow
Valleys headquarters. Mr. Strawbridge of ThomasLloyd
and Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Doty of Meadow Valley,
18
as well as certain managers of Meadow Valley, all participated
in discussions during the visit. The discussions related to
Insight Equitys interest in conducting due diligence of
Meadow Valley. Messrs. Searcy, Strauss and Zugaro were
introduced to various members of Meadow Valleys management
and visited several job sites as part of Insight Equitys
overview efforts and were provided some overview diligence
material related to Meadow Valley, including certain contracts,
backlog information, and historical management reports and
bonding data.
On November 28 and 29, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Doty
provided Mr. Zugaro with additional diligence material.
On November 29, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Nelson held a
follow-up
telephonic meeting with representatives of Insight Equity.
Messrs. Larson and Nelson responded to additional questions
from Insight Equity regarding Meadow Valley, its business and
operations.
On December 10, 2007, Meadow Valley entered into a
confidentiality agreement with YVM to facilitate the YVM
Groups consideration of a possible negotiated transaction
between Meadow Valley, the YVM Group and its representatives and
potential financing sources.
On December 10, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met
with representatives of a private equity firm in Phoenix,
Arizona to engage in preliminary discussions about their
business and investment model and possible interest in pursuing
a transaction involving Meadow Valley. No further meeting with
such firm took place.
On December 12, 2007, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met
with representatives of a private equity firm to engage in
preliminary discussions about such firms business and
investment model and possible interest in pursuing a transaction
involving Meadow Valley. Such firm is referred to in this proxy
statement as PE Firm A.
During the weeks of December 7, 2007 and December 14,
2007, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of Insight Equity began
negotiating a potential term sheet between Insight Equity and
the YVM Group regarding conditions under which they would
jointly pursue a potential acquisition of Meadow Valley. During
this period, telephone conferences were held to discuss the
terms of the proposed term sheet, with Messrs. Searcy,
Zugaro, Larson, Nelson and Furman attending those calls.
Mr. Marcil of ThomasLloyd also attended some of these calls.
On December 14, 2007, Mr. Marcil of ThomasLloyd
received a revised term sheet from Insight Equity.
On December 19, 2007, Mr. Marcil received a term sheet
from PE Firm A.
On January 4, 2008, Insight Equity received updated
financial information regarding Meadow Valley from
Messrs. Larson and Nelson.
On January 10, 2008, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of
Insight Equity had a telephone conference with Mr. Marcil
of ThomasLloyd regarding potential structures for a possible
acquisition of Meadow Valley.
On January 11, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson held a
follow-up
meeting with representatives of PE Firm A at which job and plant
site visits were made, the parties discussed business, economic
and market factors that affect Meadow Valley and Meadow
Valleys industry, and Messrs. Larson and Nelson
responded to questions regarding Meadow Valleys operations
and market.
On January 14, 2008, ThomasLloyd sent Insight Equity an
update to its October 25, 2007 financial analysis, which
set forth ThomasLloyds analysis regarding an alternative
transaction structure. Also on such date, ThomasLloyd signed an
engagement letter with Alare Capital to assist ThomasLloyd in
the transaction.
On January 22, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson held a
follow-up
in-person meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada with Messrs. Searcy
and Zugaro of Insight Equity, and responded to additional
questions from Insight Equity regarding Meadow Valley, its
business and operations. Todd Skinner from ThomasLloyd also
participated in the meeting. On the same date,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson accompanied Messrs. Searcy
and Zugaro on visits to certain of Meadow Valleys job
sites and to certain aggregate pits/plants of Ready Mix.
On January 23, 2008, Messrs. Larson, Nelson, Marcil
and Furman met with representatives of a private equity firm to
engage in preliminary discussions about such firms
business and investment model and possible interest in pursuing
a transaction involving Meadow Valley. Such firm is referred to
herein as PE Firm B.
19
On January 27, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson held
another
follow-up
meeting with representatives of PE Firm A.
On January 28, 2008, the Special Committee held a
telephonic meeting at which a representative of DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. The
representative from DLA Piper reviewed with the Special
Committee members the fiduciary duties of the members of the
Special Committee and the role of the Special Committee in
negotiating and approving extraordinary corporate transactions.
The representatives of DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal
and the Special Committee discussed potential strategic
alternatives available to Meadow Valley, including a sales
transaction, key considerations for such alternatives, how a
sales transaction process could unfold with respect to YVM and
the Special Committees alternatives with respect to
waiting for a possible offer by YVM or initiating a broader
canvass of the market to solicit possible interest in an
acquisition of Meadow Valley in advance of receiving any offer
from YVM.
On February 1, 2008, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of
Insight Equity had a telephone conference with
Messrs. Larson, Nelson, Furman and Marcil of ThomasLloyd,
during which the parties negotiated terms of a term sheet
between Insight Equity, YVM and Messrs. Larson and Nelson
related to the potential acquisition of Meadow Valley, including
the basic terms of working together, the potential for
Messrs. Larson and Nelson to receive equity in a successor
company and confidentiality and exclusivity provisions.
On February 5, 2008, Mr. Marcil received a revised
term sheet from Insight Equity.
On or about February 8, 2008, Messrs. Searcy and
Zugaro of Insight Equity had a
follow-up
telephone conference with Mr. Marcil of ThomasLloyd, and
Mr. Furman, during which the parties continued to negotiate
the term sheet.
On February 14, 2008, Mr. Searcy of Insight Equity
traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada and met with Messrs. Larson,
Nelson, Furman and Marcil. The parties continued to negotiate
the term sheet.
On February 18, 2008, representatives of Hunton &
Williams LLP (Hunton & Williams), Insight
Equitys outside legal counsel, contacted Mr. Furman
and discussed an overview of the events that had occurred to
date.
On February 19, 2008, a representative of each of DLA Piper
and Alvarez & Marsal met with Mr. Patterson to
discuss generally potential strategic alternatives available to
Meadow Valley, including, but not limited to, a sales
transaction, key considerations for such alternatives, issues to
consider during a sales transaction process and an illustrative
transaction timeline should the Special Committee receive an
offer from the YVM Group.
On February 20, 2008, the Special Committee held a
telephonic meeting at which representatives of DLA Piper
and Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. During the
meeting, the DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal
representatives and the Special Committee extensively discussed
the potential strategic alternatives available to Meadow Valley,
including, but not limited to, a sales transaction, key
considerations for such alternatives and the advantages and
disadvantages of initiating a broader canvass of the market
prior to receipt of an offer from the YVM Group or any
other third party, the likelihood and timing of the receipt of
an offer from the YVM Group or any other third party, or waiting
to conduct a broad canvass of the market during a negotiated
go shop period following receipt of an offer and
negotiation of a purchase agreement with the YVM Group or any
other third party. During the meeting, the DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal representatives also reviewed the
illustrative transaction timeline discussed with
Mr. Patterson the preceding day. Representatives of DLA
Piper and Alvarez & Marsal discussed at length the
role and benefits and costs of a go shop provision
and its purpose as a term of any definitive agreement entered
into with a third party in order to assess whether other third
parties would be willing to pay a higher price and responded to
questions from committee members regarding the same. The Special
Committee also considered the advantages and disadvantages of
soliciting superior proposals from third parties during a
go shop period if Meadow Valley entered into an
agreement with the YVM Group, given managements
involvement in the transaction. The Special Committee directed
Alvarez & Marsal to begin preparation of the relevant
materials and documents required to initiate a sale transaction
process. The Special Committee concluded for the time being that
it would not initiate a broad canvass of the market, due in part
to the potential disruption on Meadow Valleys business and
management, but would continue to meet regularly and monitor the
progress of the YVM Groups efforts to secure financing and
the likelihood of receiving an offer in the near term.
20
Also on February 20, 2008, representatives of
Hunton & Williams contacted a representative of
Greenberg Traurig and discussed an overview of the events that
had occurred to date.
On February 26, 2008, representatives of GaiaTech, Inc.
(GaiaTech), Insight Equitys environmental
consultant for the transaction, had a telephone conference with
Mr. Nelson with respect to environmental diligence and
proposed dates and procedures for site visits.
On February 27, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met
with representatives of PE Firm B to further discuss Meadow
Valleys business and operations.
On February 27 and 28, 2008, Messrs. Patterson, Cowan and
Norton, in their role as members of the Special Committee,
authorized the further release of diligence information
requested by Insight Equity. Mr. Larson reminded the
members of the Special Committee that YVM had a separate
non-disclosure agreement directly with Insight Equity that
required such information to be maintained as confidential.
On February 28 and 29, 2008, representatives of GaiaTech
conducted site visits at Meadow Valley and various plant sites
and had conversations regarding environmental matters with
Meadow Valleys local managers at such locations.
On February 29, 2008, a representative of
Hunton & Williams spoke with Mr. Larson and
discussed diligence logistics and travel plans in preparation
for sending a representative to Meadow Valleys offices.
On March 3, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson traveled
to Dallas, Texas, the location of Insight Equitys
headquarters, and participated in a meeting with representatives
of Insight Equity. The purpose of the meeting was for
Messrs. Larson and Nelson to meet various Insight Equity
personnel and determine their comfort level with Insight Equity.
At the meeting, the parties discussed Insight Equitys
capabilities as well as its historical track record.
On March 4 and 5, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams arrived at Meadow Valleys headquarters in
Phoenix, Arizona and collected and reviewed due diligence
material. During that visit, the representative of
Hunton & Williams met with a representative of DLA
Piper at Meadow Valleys offices and discussed the nature
of the diligence being sought and collected and the due
diligence process generally.
On March 10, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. During such meeting, the Special Committee discussed
and approved the proposed terms to an amended engagement letter
with Alvarez & Marsal. The amended engagement letter
was entered into on March 12, 2008, between the Special
Committee and Alvarez & Marsal.
On March 11, 2008, a regularly scheduled in person board
meeting was held at which a representative of Brownstein Hyatt
Farber & Schreck (BHFS), counsel to Meadow
Valley, Mr. Doty and Mr. Stewart attended. At the
meeting, Mr. Larson updated the board on the progress of
further discussions with Insight Equity. Mr. Larson
indicated that Insight Equity was continuing its due diligence
review of Meadow Valley. Mr. Larson updated the board
regarding the type of information requested by Insight Equity,
the expected timeline for Insight Equitys due diligence
review and related matters. Mr. Larson also discussed his
view of each of the firms and the possibility of ceasing
discussions with PE Firm A and PE Firm B and focusing on
due diligence efforts with Insight Equity. The board also
discussed the due diligence process of multiple private equity
firms and the demands this process would place on Meadow Valley.
On March 13, 2008, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of
Insight Equity traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada and met with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson. During the meeting,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson updated Messrs. Searcy and
Zugaro on Meadow Valleys performance and discussed Meadow
Valleys use of surety bonds in its business. On this date,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson met with representatives of
Meadow Valleys surety company and, during that meeting,
discussed the YVM Groups tentative acquisition plans with
Insight Equity. Separately and following the meeting between
Messrs. Larson and Nelson with Meadow Valleys surety
company, while still in Las Vegas, Messrs. Searcy and
Zugaro of Insight Equity, as well as Mike Herrod from Aon,
Insight Equitys insurance consultant, met with Meadow
Valleys surety company to discuss the proposed transaction
and potential capital structures and, assess the potential
impact, if any, of such a transaction on Meadow Valleys
future bonding capacity. Insight Equity also discussed its
long-standing relationship with that surety company.
21
On March 19, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met with
representatives of PE Firm B to further discuss Meadow
Valleys business and operations.
On March 20, 2008, Meadow Valley received a supplemental
due diligence request list from Hunton & Williams and
commenced responding to the same.
Beginning on March 21, 2008 through March 27, 2008, a
representative of Huron Consulting, one of Insight Equitys
business consultants for the proposed acquisition transaction,
conducted management interviews and diligence at Meadow
Valleys headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
On or about March 24, 2008 through March 28, 2008,
representatives of Accuval, Insight Equitys appraisal firm
for the proposed acquisition transaction, conducted site visits
at Meadow Valley and various plant sites and had conversations
regarding equipment with Meadow Valleys local managers at
such locations.
On March 25, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting at which representatives of DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal were present. During the meeting, the
attendees discussed generally potential strategic alternatives
available to Meadow Valley, including a sales transaction, key
considerations for such alternatives, and draft materials
prepared by Alvarez & Marsal for possible distribution
to prospective strategic and financial buyers during either a
broad canvass of the market conducted by Alvarez &
Marsal on behalf of the Special Committee prior to receipt of an
offer (i.e., a pre-offer market check) or during a go
shop period following the entry into a definitive
agreement with a potential buyer.
On March 27, 2008, YVM received a revised term sheet from
Insight Equity.
On April 1, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson met with
representatives of PE Firm B to further discuss
Meadow Valleys business and operations.
On April 1, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting at which representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS and
Alvarez & Marsal were present. Also present at the
meeting was Mr. Doty, who was invited by the Special
Committee to attend committee meetings to assist the Special
Committee from an administrative standpoint in the sale process
and to provide feedback and input from Meadow Valleys
standpoint with respect to matters discussed at such meeting. At
the outset of the meeting, a representative of DLA Piper
reminded the participants that the Special Committees
discussions, deliberations and thoughts were to be maintained as
confidential and were not to be shared with Messrs. Larson
or Nelson, except at appropriate times in connection with board
of directors meetings.
During the meeting, the attendees discussed generally the
potential strategic alternatives available to
Meadow Valley, including a sales transaction, and key
considerations for such alternatives. Committee members and
Mr. Doty provided additional feedback to
Alvarez & Marsal regarding the draft materials
prepared by Alvarez & Marsal and distributed at the
March 25th Special Committee meeting. The Special
Committee also discussed the recent question and answer section
of Meadow Valleys earnings call, particularly questions
related to the strategic alternatives process. The
Special Committee also revisited the issue of launching a sales
transaction process in light of the amount of time that had
passed since the YVM Group filed its Schedule 13D
indicating its interest in possibly purchasing Meadow Valley.
The Special Committee instructed Alvarez & Marsal to
proceed with finalizing its list of potential strategic and
financial buyers and the related executive summary document in
anticipation of launching a sale transaction process in the near
term in light of the uncertainty surrounding the
YVM Groups process and timing for making an offer.
On April 2, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson elected to
cease discussions with PE Firm B and all other private equity
firms and focus on a possible transaction involving Insight
Equity as the financial sponsor. Mr. Marcil telephonically
notified PE Firm B of Messrs. Larson and Nelsons
decision. Messrs. Larson and Nelson made this decision
primarily as a result of their individual assessment of Insight
Equitys industry knowledge, its ongoing interest level and
ability to complete the transaction, the fact that the term
sheet negotiations with Insight Equity were progressing
satisfactorily and were further along than with the discussions
with PE Firm B and all other private equity firms and that
Insight Equity had more relevant experience than PE Firm B and
the other interested private equity firms with which they had
spoken or met.
22
Also on April 2, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson (in
their individual capacities) and YVM executed a preliminary term
sheet with Insight Equity, which outlined, among other matters,
the general terms on which Insight Equity, YVM and
Messrs. Larson and Nelson would structure the
organizational and other matters related to an acquisition of
Meadow Valley, including the amount of equity in the post-merger
structure that Messrs. Larson and Nelson and YVM would
receive at the closing of the transaction in exchange for their
existing ownership of Meadow Valley, as well as post-closing
employment and incentive arrangements for Messrs. Larson
and Nelson. Also on such date, Insight Equity provided Meadow
Valley with a supplemental due diligence request list.
Also on April 2, 2008, a representative of
Hunton & Williams advised a representative of DLA
Piper that Insight Equity and the YVM Group intended to deliver
a preliminary offer to purchase Meadow Valley in the next few
days to the Special Committee.
Also on April 2, 2008, Mr. Searcy provided a copy of a
proposed draft of a merger agreement to Messrs. Larson,
Nelson and Furman.
On April 3, 2008, Mr. Zugaro of Insight Equity
received updated financial information regarding Meadow Valley
from Mr. Larson setting forth a financial and operational
forecast for 2007 to 2010.
On April 4, 2008, Mr. Zugaro of Insight Equity
traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada and met with Mr. Larson.
Mr. Larson provided Mr. Zugaro with an update on
Meadow Valleys operating performance and the parties
discussed the state of Meadow Valleys business.
On April 4, 2008, Insight Equity provided Meadow Valley
with a draft exclusivity agreement, the terms of which included
Meadow Valley agreeing to enter into a
20-day
exclusivity period with Insight Equity and YVM as a condition to
receiving Insight Equitys acquisition proposal. The
exclusivity period would be subject to extension by Insight
Equity and YVM for two additional consecutive
20-day
periods, for a maximum of 60 days. The exclusivity
agreement also contemplated that Meadow Valley would have to
reimburse Insight Equity and YVM for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by either of them in the event Meadow Valley
did not enter into a merger agreement with Insight Equity or if
Meadow Valley entered into a definitive agreement with another
party within 12 months following the termination of the
exclusivity period. The exclusivity agreement referred to
Insight Equity and YVM collectively as the Buyer
Group.
On April 4, 2008, following receipt of the draft
exclusivity agreement, Mr. Patterson and representatives of
DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal held an informal
telephonic meeting to discuss their initial reaction to the
Insight Equity draft exclusivity agreement and coordinate a
meeting of the entire Special Committee.
On April 7, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting at which representatives of DLA Piper and BHFS were
present. Also present at the meeting were Mr. Doty and a
representative of Alvarez & Marsal. Following
extensive discussions regarding the terms of the exclusivity
agreement, the Special Committee elected to reject the terms of
such agreement and instructed DLA Piper and Alvarez &
Marsal to discuss with Insight Equity and its counsel an
alternative to entering into an exclusivity agreement prior to
receiving Insight Equitys proposed offer. While the
Special Committee noted Insight Equitys efforts to date,
it determined to reject Insight Equitys proposed
exclusivity agreement and further determined that it would only
consider agreeing to an exclusivity period if such agreement
included certain provisions, including the proposed purchase
price to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock
of Meadow Valley, an indication that the contemplated
transaction agreement governing such purchase would include a
go shop provision, a short exclusivity period and no
expense reimbursement. The Special Committee instructed the
Alvarez & Marsal and DLA Piper representatives to
discuss these requirements with Insight Equity and its counsel
and to propose an alternative exclusivity agreement that
encompassed the Special Committees requirements. The
Special Committee members also discussed what, if any,
additional compensation should be paid to the Special Committee
members in connection with the transaction process.
Mr. Doty updated the Special Committee as to Meadow
Valleys year-to-date financial performance, the current
business outlook and prospects and the impact thereof on Meadow
Valleys existing financial forecast. Thereafter, a
representative of Alvarez & Marsal updated the Special
Committee regarding the status of the executive summary document
and the communication strategy for dealing with any incoming
calls received by Special Committee members regarding Meadow
Valleys plans. The Alvarez & Marsal
representative also reviewed materials prepared by them and
previously distributed to the Special Committee, which included
(i) a sum of the
23
parts analysis of Meadow Valley and Ready Mix,
(ii) information regarding Meadow Valleys historic
share price performance over the previous five years,
(iii) information regarding Meadow Valleys historic
share price performance over the preceding two years compared to
a selected peer group of companies operating in
Meadow Valleys market segments, (iv) Ready
Mixs historic share price performance over the preceding
two years compared to a selected peer group of companies
operating in Ready Mixs market segments, (v) a
comparable company analysis, (vi) a comparable transaction
analysis with respect to Meadow Valley and Ready Mix,
(vii) an analysis regarding Meadow Valleys and Ready
Mixs historic enterprise value compared to peer operating
companies, and (viii) background information regarding
publicly traded peer group companies. Alvarez & Marsal
responded to questions from the Special Committee members
regarding such data and information.
During the period from April 4 to April 9, 2008,
representatives of DLA Piper, Alvarez & Marsal,
Insight Equity and Hunton & Williams engaged in
discussions regarding the Special Committees requirements
related to an exclusivity agreement and an alternative to
Insight Equitys proposed exclusivity agreement.
Hunton & Williams indicated that, in order to produce
an exclusivity agreement that met the Special Committees
demand, a confidentiality agreement must be executed between the
Buyer Group and the Special Committee.
On April 8, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams, together with Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro and Rob
Conner of Insight Equity, had a conference call with a
representative of Greenberg Traurig. Messrs. Larson, Nelson
and Furman participated in that call during which the
participants discussed the status of the exclusivity agreement.
On April 9, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting at which representatives of DLA Piper and BHFS were in
attendance. Also in attendance were Mr. Doty and a
representative of Alvarez & Marsal. During the
meeting, the Special Committee discussed the terms and purpose
of the draft confidentiality agreement prepared by DLA Piper and
the presentation of such draft to Hunton & Williams
and Insight Equity. Immediately after that meeting,
representatives of DLA Piper, Alvarez & Marsal and
Hunton & Williams participated in a conference call
regarding the concept of entering into a confidentiality
agreement.
On April 10, 2008, a representative of DLA Piper presented
a draft letter agreement to a representative of
Hunton & Williams, pursuant to which the Special
Committee would agree to keep confidential, among other matters,
the terms of the Buyer Groups proposal to acquire Meadow
Valley and any documentation delivered to the Special Committee
by the Buyer Group with respect to such proposal, subject to the
requirements of applicable law. Unlike the exclusivity agreement
previously presented to the Special Committee by the Buyer
Group, this confidentiality agreement did not propose to
obligate Meadow Valley to an exclusivity period or require
Meadow Valley to reimburse the Buyer Group for its expenses
in connection with a failed transaction with Meadow Valley. The
purpose of the confidentiality letter was to enable the Special
Committee to receive and consider the Buyer Groups
proposal while addressing the Buyer Groups concern that
the Special Committee would not in turn use the Buyer
Groups proposal as a basis to seek alternative acquisition
proposals, in light of the Buyer Groups contention that it
had already expended considerable time, effort and money to date
in reaching the point of making an offer. Accordingly, upon
execution of the confidentiality agreement, Meadow Valley would
be able to review and consider the Buyer Groups offer, and
reject it if it chose to do so, but could not thereafter use the
offer to solicit other interest in Meadow Valley.
On April 14, 2008, Meadow Valley entered into a
confidentiality agreement with the Buyer Group on the terms
discussed in the preceding paragraph. Immediately thereafter,
the Buyer Group delivered an indication of interest letter (the
April 14th Proposal Letter) to the
Special Committee containing a proposal to acquire 100% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of Meadow Valley in an all
cash merger transaction at a price of $9.80 per share. The
closing bid price of Meadow Valleys common stock on such
date was $9.40. The April 14th Proposal Letter
indicated that Insight Equity had substantially completed its
review of all materials it had received to date and that Insight
Equity remained enthusiastic about pursuing a transaction with
Meadow Valley. The April 14th Proposal Letter
also stated that, while there remained additional due diligence
that would need to be completed prior to executing a definitive
agreement, Insight Equity was prepared to expedite its review of
all remaining due diligence materials, and was prepared
following execution of the letter to immediately deliver a draft
merger agreement to Meadow Valley and devote substantial
resources towards negotiating a definitive agreement with
respect to a proposed transaction on an expedited basis.
24
The April 14th Proposal Letter further provided
that the merger agreement would contain customary
representations, warranties, covenants and conditions to be
negotiated by the parties, a reasonable go shop
provision, a customary fiduciary out provision, and a provision
requiring the payment of a
break-up fee
to Insight Equity under certain circumstances to be negotiated
by the parties. Insight Equity noted its significant experience
and that it was committed to moving forward quickly. The letter
also provided for an initial exclusivity period of seven days
during which period the parties would agree to negotiate a
definitive acquisition agreement. Upon expiration of the initial
seven-day
period, the Buyer Group would have the option to extend the
seven-day
period for an additional seven days. In the event the parties
were unable to come to agreement on the terms of a definitive
agreement during such
14-day
period, the letter agreement provided that any further extension
of the exclusivity period would be subject to the mutual
agreement of the parties.
Also on April 14, 2008, Messrs. Larson and Nelson held
a telephonic meeting with representatives of Insight Equity to
discuss a preliminary idea surrounding Meadow Valleys
Buckeye, Arizona operations, namely the possibility of expanding
operations through acquisitions.
On April 16, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting to review and discuss the terms of the
April 14th Proposal Letter and ask questions.
Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS and
Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. The participants
discussed the key provisions of the
April 14th Proposal Letter and considered such
proposal in light of the analysis of the
April 14th Proposal Letter provided by
Alvarez & Marsal as well as analysis discussed at the
April 7th Special Committee meeting. After extensive
discussion, the Special Committee requested that
Alvarez & Marsal engage in further discussions with
Insight Equity to seek a meaningful increase in the proposed per
share purchase price and clarification from Insight Equity
regarding a number of other key terms of the
April 14th Proposal Letter, including
(i) Insight Equitys timing to complete diligence and
reach a definitive agreement, (ii) the go shop
period and its proposed duration, (iii) the nature of the
proposed
break-up
fees, and (iv) whether Insight Equity was prepared to fund
the purchase price with cash or whether there would be a
financing contingency. The Special Committee members thereafter
considered responses that could be provided to Insight Equity
with respect to the April 14th Proposal Letter.
On April 16, 2008, the Special Committee notified the Buyer
Group by letter that it had reviewed the Buyer Groups
unsolicited proposal to acquire Meadow Valley with its financial
and legal advisors and had unanimously determined, following
careful evaluation of the proposal, that the proposal
substantially undervalued Meadow Valley, its long-term
future growth prospects and its earnings potential. As result,
the Special Committee concluded that the proposal was not in the
best interest of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders. The Special Committee determined that discussions
with Insight Equity were in their preliminary stages and the
Special Committee was reluctant to take action at such time,
such as the initiation of a broad canvass of the market, that
could potentially discourage Insight Equity from proceeding with
the transaction, without giving Insight Equity the opportunity
to consider the Special Committees request.
Representatives of Alvarez & Marsal contacted a
representative of Insight Equity by telephone on or about
April 17, 2008 to discuss certain aspects of the
April 14th Proposal Letter. Representatives of
Alvarez & Marsal and Insight Equity engaged in
extensive discussions regarding Meadow Valleys historical
financial performance, prospects, and valuation and the Special
Committees requirement of an increased per share purchase
price. The representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and
Insight Equity also discussed the proposed duration of the
go shop period, the nature of the proposed
break-up
fees, and the financing sources required by Insight Equity to
fund the transaction. Alvarez & Marsal followed up the
conversation by providing Insight Equity with valuation and
market information.
During the period from April 17 to April 22, 2008,
representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and Insight Equity
exchanged information and engaged in extensive discussions
regarding each of the issues discussed in the preceding
paragraph. Such negotiations centered on Meadow Valleys
historical financial performance, prospects, and valuation and
the Special Committees requirements relating to an
increase in the proposed per share purchase price, the proposed
go shop period, termination fees and the financing
sources required by Insight Equity to fund the transaction.
On April 21, 2008, following extensive discussions between
representatives of Insight Equity and Alvarez &
Marsal, the Buyer Group orally communicated to a representative
of Alvarez & Marsal a willingness to raise its per
share offer price to $11.15 (the April 21st Oral
Revised Proposal).
25
On April 22, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS
and Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. A
representative from Alvarez & Marsal updated the
Special Committee on the discussions with Insight Equity that
had occurred over the period from April 17 to April 21,
2008 and reviewed the April 21st Oral Revised
Proposal. Mr. Doty orally updated the Special Committee
with respect to Meadow Valleys recent financial
performance and Meadow Valleys April 3, 2008
financial forecast. At the request of the Special Committee,
during the meeting representatives of Alvarez & Marsal
discussed various financial statistics relating to the
April 21st Oral Revised Proposal with the Special
Committee. The Special Committee thereafter extensively
discussed the April 21st Oral Revised Proposal with
representatives of DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal. In
their deliberations, the Special Committee considered a variety
of factors related to the April 21st Oral Revised
Proposal, including the increased price being proposed by
Insight Equity, Meadow Valleys current share price, Meadow
Valleys near and long-term prospects, strategic
alternatives available to Meadow Valley, current industry,
economic and capital market conditions, and data previously
presented by representatives of Alvarez & Marsal
regarding comparable transactions. Upon conclusion of such
discussions, the Special Committee instructed
Alvarez & Marsal to again engage in further
discussions with Insight Equity to seek an improvement in the
per share purchase price above $11.15, to request that the
proposal contain no financing conditions and to seek clarity
regarding the duration of the go shop period and the
amount of the proposed
break-up
fees.
During the period from April 22 to April 28, 2008,
representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and Insight Equity
engaged in further discussions regarding Meadow Valleys
financial performance and prospects, valuation and the Special
Committees requirement of an increase in the proposed
$11.15 per share purchase price, desire for no financing
condition and other matters related to Insight Equitys
proposal.
On the morning of April 29, 2008, the Special Committee
held a telephonic meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of
DLA Piper, BHFS and Alvarez & Marsal were in
attendance. Mr. Doty orally updated the Special Committee
regarding Meadow Valleys first quarter results of
operations and Meadow Valleys April 28, 2008
forecast. A representative of Alvarez & Marsal updated
the Special Committee regarding the ongoing discussions with
Insight Equity that had occurred over the period April 22 to
April 28, 2008.
On the afternoon of April 29, 2008, the Buyer Group
delivered a revised indication of interest letter to the Special
Committee (the
April 29th Proposal Letter)
containing the Buyer Groups revised proposal to acquire
100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Meadow Valley
in an all cash merger transaction at a price of $11.25 per
share. The April 29th Proposal Letter generally
provided for the same non-purchase price terms in the
April 14th Proposal Letter, including the
exclusivity period, other than the following notable
modifications. The April 29th Proposal Letter
stated that the proposed transaction contemplated that the
Special Committee would be free to seek alternative acquisition
proposals during a go shop period of 30 days
following execution of a definitive merger agreement. The letter
also stated that Meadow Valley would be required to pay to
Insight Equity a
break-up fee
equal to 4.0% of the aggregate purchase price plus reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses if the deal was terminated as a result of
activities undertaken during the go shop period and
equal to 5.5% of the aggregate purchase price plus reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses if the deal was terminated as a result of
activities undertaken after the go shop period. The
April 29th Revised Proposal Letter further
indicated that Insight Equity anticipated being able to execute
a definitive agreement without a financing contingency.
On April 29, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS
and Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. A
representative of Alvarez & Marsal updated the Special
Committee on the discussions that had occurred on
April 29th and reviewed the
April 29th Revised Proposal Letter. At the
request of the Special Committee, representatives of
Alvarez & Marsal again presented materials and
discussed various financial statistics relating to the proposed
transaction and an overview of key considerations for the
Special Committee and potential strategic alternatives available
to Meadow Valley. The Special Committee thereafter extensively
discussed the April 29th Revised Proposal Letter
and various considerations and analysis, including the
advantages and disadvantages of continuing as a public company,
the current state of Meadow Valleys industry, the current
state of the merger and acquisition environment and the capital
markets generally, the strategic benefits of a sale transaction,
the possible reaction of Meadow Valleys customers and
competitors to a sale transaction, and the various methods by
which the Special Committee could run a sale process to maximize
the value of Meadow Valley. Thereafter, the Special Committee
extensively discussed the April 29th Revised
Proposal Letter with representatives of DLA and
Alvarez & Marsal. In its deliberations, the Special
Committee again considered a variety of factors, including the
increased per share purchase
26
price being proposed by Insight Equity, Meadow Valleys
current share price, Meadow Valleys near and long-term
prospects, and current industry and economic and capital market
conditions. Alvarez & Marsal reported that during
conversations between representatives of Alvarez &
Marsal and Insight Equity regarding the proposed price per
share, representatives of Insight Equity stated that $11.25 per
share was the highest value Insight Equity would be willing to
offer. The Special Committee also discussed the possibility of
receiving offers from third parties during the go
shop period and discussed a general timeline for closing
the transaction as well as the desirability of timely reaching
agreement with Insight Equity. Following such discussions, the
Special Committee unanimously approved the terms of the
April 29th Revised Proposal Letter and authorized
Mr. Patterson to execute the same, subject to
Alvarez & Marsal making another attempt to obtain
further improvement to the $11.25 per share offer price, the
length of the go shop period and reductions in the
contemplated termination fees.
On April 30, 2008, representatives of Alvarez &
Marsal and Insight Equity engaged in further discussions
regarding Meadow Valleys financial performance and
prospects, valuation and the Special Committees desire of
an increase in the proposed $11.25 per share purchase price and
other matters related to their proposal, including the length of
the go shop period and the level of termination fees.
On April 30, 2008, the Buyer Group delivered a revised
indication of interest letter to the Special Committee
containing a detailed proposal to acquire 100% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of Meadow Valley in an all
cash merger transaction at a price of $11.25 per share (the
April 30th Revised Proposal Letter).
The April 30th Revised Proposal Letter generally
provided for the same terms as the April 29th Revised
Proposal Letter, including the exclusivity period, other
than the following notable modifications. The
April 30th Proposal Letter stated that the
proposed transaction contemplated that the Special Committee
would be free to seek alternative acquisition proposals during a
go shop period of 45 days following execution
of a definitive merger agreement. The letter also stated that
Meadow Valley would be required to pay to Insight Equity a
break-up fee
equal to 2.5% of the aggregate purchase price plus reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses if the deal was terminated as a result of
activities undertaken during the go shop period and
equal to 4.5% of the aggregate purchase price plus reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses if the deal was terminated as a result of
activities undertaken after the go shop period. The
April 30th Revised Proposal Letter further
indicated that Insight Equity anticipated being able to execute
a definitive agreement without a financing contingency.
On April 30, 2008, a representative of Alvarez &
Marsal met telephonically with Mr. Patterson to discuss the
revised proposal from the Buyer Group and discuss next steps.
On May 1, 2008, Messrs. Patterson and Doty and
representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and Insight Equity
engaged in further discussions regarding Meadow Valleys
financial performance and prospects, valuation and the Special
Committees desire of an increase in the proposed $11.25
per share purchase price and other matters related to Insight
Equitys proposal. Representatives of Insight Equity
indicated that their April 30th Revised
Proposal Letter contained their best offer with respect to
the purchase price per share and other matters covered therein.
On May 2, 2008, Insight Equity and the Special Committee
executed the April 30th Revised Proposal Letter,
which we refer to herein as the May 2nd Letter
Agreement. The May 2nd Letter Agreement
contained the same terms and conditions as outlined in the
April 30th Revised Proposal Letter. Promptly
following receipt of such letter, representatives of
Hunton & Williams delivered an initial draft merger
agreement to representatives of DLA Piper.
On May 4, 2008, a representative of DLA Piper expressed
objection to a representative of Hunton & Williams
about the inclusion of a stock option as part of the terms of
the merger agreement and discussed timing for a
mark-up that
would reflect comments from DLA Piper. The option agreement
would have granted Insight Equity the right to acquire shares of
common stock of Meadow Valley representing 19.9% of the
outstanding shares of common stock for a specified period of
time, whether or not the transaction with Insight Equity closed.
On May 6, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS
and Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. At the
meeting, a representative of DLA Piper updated the Special
Committee regarding its review and comments to the previously
delivered draft merger agreement and provided the Special
Committee with a summary of the status of the draft merger
agreement discussions that were ongoing with Hunton &
Williams. The representative of DLA Piper reported that
significant discussions still needed to occur with respect to
various provisions, including Insight Equitys inclusion of
an option agreement as
27
part of the transaction, the impact of potential litigation on
Insight Equitys right to terminate the transaction or
alter the merger consideration, the various closing conditions,
the definition of Material Adverse Effect, the
go shop provisions, the termination provisions and
the inclusion of a reverse termination fee payable to Meadow
Valley should Insight Equity fail to close the transaction. The
Special Committee discussed the open issues in the draft merger
agreement and provided guidance to DLA Piper,
Alvarez & Marsal and Mr. Doty as to how to
respond to such issues.
Promptly following the May 6th meeting, DLA Piper
delivered revisions to the draft merger agreement to
Hunton & Williams. Throughout the remainder of May
2008 through the first three weeks of July 2008, negotiations
between DLA Piper and Hunton & Williams regarding the
draft merger agreement progressed.
On May 9, 2008, Insight Equity exercised its right to
extend the exclusivity period under the terms of the
May 2nd Letter Agreement for an additional
seven-day
period.
On May 13, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper,
Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in attendance. A
representative of DLA Piper updated the Special Committee with
respect to the status of negotiations on the draft merger
agreement and discussions with Hunton & Williams. A
representative of Alvarez & Marsal updated the Special
Committee regarding conversations with Insight Equity, including
the status of merger agreement provisions. The Special Committee
discussed the open issues in the draft merger agreement and
provided guidance to DLA Piper and Alvarez & Marsal as
to how to respond to such issues. The Special Committee then
discussed the various investment banking firms under
consideration to render a fairness opinion in the transaction,
if necessary. The Special Committee instructed Mr. Doty to
commence discussions with such firms regarding fees, conflicts,
process and timing consistent with the discussions at the
meeting and to report to the Special Committee regarding the
same.
On May 14, 2008, representatives of Alvarez &
Marsal, DLA Piper and Hunton & Williams participated
in a call with Mr. Doty and Messrs. Searcy, Conner and
Zugaro. The parties sought to negotiate open terms of the merger
agreement, including the closing conditions, termination
provisions and definition of Material Adverse Effect.
On May 16, 2008, Insight Equity exercised its right to
extend the exclusivity period under the terms of the
May 2nd Letter Agreement for the second
seven-day
period in accordance with the terms of such agreement.
Also on May 16, 2008, the Special Committee held a
telephonic meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA
Piper, Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in attendance. A
representative of Alvarez & Marsal provided the
Special Committee with an overview of discussions with Insight
Equity regarding various merger agreement open issues. A
representative of DLA Piper reported on the general status of
the merger agreement. Mr. Doty reported on his discussions
with six investment banking firms with respect to the issuance
of a fairness opinion in the merger and the independence and
qualifications of such firms. Following extensive discussions
among the Special Committee members and consideration of the
qualifications of the investment banking firms, the Special
Committee instructed Mr. Doty and a representative of DLA
Piper to finalize negotiations of an engagement letter with
Morgan Joseph to review and analyze the proposed merger and
render to the Special Committee a written opinion as to the
fairness to the Meadow Valley stockholders, from a financial
point of view, of the consideration to be received in the
transaction. An engagement letter with Morgan Joseph was
negotiated and executed by Mr. Patterson, on behalf of the
Special Committee, as of May 20, 2008.
On May 16, 2008, Mr. Larson met with a select group of
employees of the Arizona operations of Meadow Valleys
wholly-owned subsidiary, Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc., to
notify such employees that Meadow Valley had entered into an
exclusivity period with a potential acquiror and that merger
discussions were ongoing. This meeting was held in an effort to
minimize speculation amongst Meadow Valleys employees
regarding the Schedule 13D that had been filed by the YVM
Group in November 2007.
On May 17, 2008, Insight Equity delivered a first draft of
the proposed limited liability company operating agreement of
Phoenix Holdings, the parent company of Investor, to
Messrs. Larson and Nelson. Between May 17, 2008 and
the date of the public announcement of the execution of the
merger agreement, Messrs. Larson and Nelson, together with
representatives of Greenberg Traurig, and Insight Equity,
together with representatives of Hunton & Williams,
negotiated the terms of the limited liability company agreement
and related agreements that would provide for, among other
things, the governance and equity ownership of Phoenix Holdings
following the
28
closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement. For additional information about the equity roll-over
and limited liability company agreement of Phoenix Holdings, see
Interests of Meadow Valleys Officers
and Directors in the Merger below.
On May 23, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams provided a representative of DLA Piper with a letter
agreement, requesting that the Special Committee agree to extend
the exclusivity period under the May 2nd Letter
Agreement for an additional
seven-day
period, which extension required the mutual agreement of the
parties.
On May 23, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper, BHFS
and Alvarez & Marsal were in attendance. A
representative of Alvarez & Marsal updated the Special
Committee regarding the status of ongoing discussions with
Insight Equity regarding various merger agreement open issues. A
representative of DLA Piper reported on the general status of
the merger agreement negotiations. A discussion ensued among the
meeting participants regarding the primary open issues and
impediments to completing the merger agreement negotiations. The
Special Committee provided guidance to DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal as to how to respond to such issues.
The Special Committee also agreed to the exclusivity period
extension set forth in the May 23rd letter in light of
the progress of the ongoing discussions with Insight Equity.
On May 27, 2008, Hunton & Williams sent a second
supplemental due diligence request to Mr. Doty.
On or about May 28, 2008, Mr. Searcy had a
conversation with Mr. Patterson and a representative from
Alvarez & Marsal. During that call, they discussed
open deal terms, including the nature of any parent guarantee, a
requested offset of any litigation expenses against the purchase
price, the scope of various representations and warranties and
interim operating covenants, Insight Equitys request to
obtain the identity of potential bidders during the go
shop period, the thresholds for and scope of various
conditions to closing, the magnitude of the
break-up
fees, the request for a reverse
break-up fee
and the definition of Material Adverse Effect.
On May 29, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper,
Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in attendance.
Mr. Patterson reported to the Special Committee his
impressions of the ongoing negotiations with Insight Equity and,
in particular, his participation in lengthy telephonic
negotiating sessions that occurred on the prior day.
Representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and DLA Piper
similarly updated the Special Committee on the status of the
ongoing discussions with Insight Equity regarding various merger
agreement open issues. A discussion ensued among the meeting
participants regarding the primary open issues and impediments
to completing the merger agreement negotiations and the Special
Committee provided guidance to DLA Piper and Alvarez &
Marsal as to how to respond to such issues.
On May 29, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams provided a representative of DLA Piper with a revised
draft of the merger agreement. Meadow Valley prepared a draft
disclosure letter in connection with the draft merger agreement
and delivered the initial draft of the disclosure letter to
Hunton & Williams on May 30, 2008.
On June 2, 2008, Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA
Piper and Alvarez & Marsal held an in-person meeting
to review the May 29th draft of the merger agreement,
focusing in particular detail on the conditions to closing,
Meadow Valleys closing deliverables, associated
responsibilities and the risks of failing to satisfy those
conditions. Thereafter, Messrs. Doty and Patterson and
representatives of DLA Piper, Alvarez & Marsal,
Hunton & Williams and Insight Equity held a telephonic
meeting for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the
remaining open issues under the merger agreement. Discussions
centered around the deliverables and conditions under the merger
agreement, Meadow Valleys comfort level with meeting the
applicable closing conditions, the termination fees payable by
Meadow Valley to Insight Equity in the event the agreement is
terminated and the definition of Material Adverse
Effect.
On June 2, 2008, Mr. Larson held a telephonic meeting
with a select group of employees of the Nevada operations of
Meadow Valleys subsidiary, Meadow Valley Contractors,
Inc., to notify such employees that Meadow Valley had
entered into an exclusivity period with a potential acquiror and
that merger discussions were ongoing. Like the previous meeting
with the employees of Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc., this
meeting was also held in an effort to minimize speculation
amongst employees regarding the Schedule 13D filed by the
YVM Group in November 2007.
29
On June 3, 2008, a representative of DLA Piper held a
telephonic meeting with a representative of Hunton &
Williams regarding additional comments and concerns with respect
to the May 29th draft of the merger agreement.
On June 4, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams provided a representative of DLA Piper with a further
revised draft of the merger agreement and advised the DLA Piper
representative that this draft reflected further concessions on
the part of Insight Equity and Insight Equitys final
position on certain open matters, subject to the receipt of
further input from specialty legal counsel of the parties,
finalization of Meadow Valleys disclosure letter and
related matters.
On June 6, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting. Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper,
Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in attendance.
Representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and DLA Piper
similarly updated the Special Committee with regard to those
discussions and the status of the ongoing discussions with
Insight Equity regarding various merger agreement open issues.
The Special Committee instructed representatives of DLA Piper
and Alvarez & Marsal to continue to negotiate the
merger agreement.
On June 7, 2008, a representative of DLA Piper delivered
further comments to the merger agreement to a representative of
Hunton & Williams.
On June 8, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams orally communicated Insight Equitys response to
the comments received the prior day.
On June 9, 2008, the Special Committee held an in-person
meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Doty and representatives
of DLA Piper, Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in
attendance. A representative of DLA Piper updated the Special
Committee with respect to the status of the merger agreement
negotiations. An extensive discussion ensued among the meeting
participants with respect to the open issues under the merger
agreement, including, but not limited to, the closing
conditions, the scenarios in which a termination fee would be
payable and the risks attendant to closing the transaction.
Thereafter, a representative of Alvarez & Marsal
provided the Special Committee with an overview of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
a summary of the terms of the Buyer Groups offer;
|
|
|
|
a list of key considerations in deciding to select the Buyer
Group as the stalking horse in lieu of proceeding
with a widespread solicitation of market interest in Meadow
Valley, including a lengthy list of advantages and disadvantages
of proceeding with the Buyer Group as the stalking
horse;
|
|
|
|
an overview of Meadow Valleys financial condition and
historic share price performance;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys year-to-date financial performance (through
April 2008) and summary of Meadow Valleys
April 28, 2008 financial projections, including Meadow
Valleys April 2008 year-to-date operating results as
compared to Meadow Valleys business plan and Meadow
Valleys most recent projections through 2010;
|
|
|
|
purchase offer premiums
(1-day;
5-days; and
30-days) and
historic purchase price premiums paid in similar sized
transactions;
|
|
|
|
a list of Meadow Valleys top institutional holders and
their estimated basis in Meadow Valleys common stock;
|
|
|
|
the historic trading activity in Meadow Valleys common
stock at selected price ranges over the preceding 12 months;
|
|
|
|
a total equity value summary of Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
a sum of the parts analysis of the Buyer
Groups offer of $11.25 per share;
|
|
|
|
a hypothetical acquisition transaction analysis of potential
strategic buyers of Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
an analysis of termination fees potentially payable by Meadow
Valley;
|
|
|
|
factors affecting the public market value of Meadow
Valley; and
|
|
|
|
a comparable company analysis.
|
30
Following such discussion, the Special Committee concluded that,
subject to further efforts by representatives of DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal to further narrow the scope of the
closing conditions and the definition of Material Adverse
Effect and related matters, and the receipt of an opinion
from Morgan Joseph to the effect that, subject to the
assumptions made, matters considered and limits on review set
forth therein, the consideration to be received by the holders
of Meadow Valley common stock in the merger was fair, from a
financial point of view, to such holders, the Special Committee
would be in a position to approve the transaction and recommend
the same to Meadow Valleys board of directors.
Meadow Valleys board of directors met immediately
following the Special Committee meeting. A representative of
BHFS, Mr. Doty and Mr. Agron were also in attendance
at the meeting. Mr. Patterson briefed the full board
regarding the status of the merger agreement negotiations, the
feedback from representatives of Alvarez & Marsal and
DLA Piper and the projected timetable for completing the
negotiations.
On June 12, 2008, a representative of Hunton &
Williams delivered a further revised draft of the merger
agreement to a representative of DLA Piper.
On June 18, 2008, Messrs. Searcy and Zugaro of Insight
Equity traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to meet with
Messrs. Nelson and Doty of Meadow Valley, as well as with
representatives of a potential lender. During the meeting,
Messrs. Nelson and Doty provided general information about
Meadow Valley to the potential lender.
On June 20, 2008, Hunton & Williams delivered a
third supplemental due diligence request list to a
representative of DLA Piper.
On June 23, 2008, Meadow Valley and Insight Equity entered
into a letter agreement providing for an additional
21-day
exclusivity period, such exclusivity period to commence upon the
delivery of certain draft Phase I environmental site assessment
reports and other related materials that were prepared on behalf
of Insight Equity to DLA Piper. On June 25, 2008, in
accordance with the
June 23rd letter
agreement, Hunton & Williams sent to DLA Piper certain
environmental materials generated by GaiaTech, namely, draft
Phase I environmental site assessment reports and draft
memoranda created for the environmental compliance review of
Meadow Valleys real property, facilities and operations.
DLA Piper received these environmental materials on
June 26, 2008, at which time the
21-day
exclusivity period contemplated by the
June 23rd letter
agreement commenced.
Also, on June 25, 2008, representatives of
Hunton & Williams and DLA Piper participated in a due
diligence call with Messrs. Doty and Nelson.
On July 10, 2008, Hunton & Williams sent to DLA
Piper a copy of due diligence materials reviewed by
Hunton & Williams in connection with the proposed
transaction.
During the period July 12 to 23, 2008, representatives of DLA
Piper and Hunton & Williams and Mr. Doty engaged
in extensive negotiations of the merger agreement. These
negotiations were centered on the representations and warranties
and closing deliveries applicable to real estate, environmental
and employee benefit matters and the definition of
Material Adverse Effect. From time to time each
partys environmental consultants contributed to the
ongoing negotiations.
On July 22, 2008, Messrs. Zugaro and Conner of Insight
Equity and Messrs. Larson and Nelson, together with
representatives from DLA Piper and Hunton & Williams,
participated in a call regarding various consents as a condition
to closing.
On July 23, 2008, representatives of DLA Piper,
Alvarez & Marsal, Hunton & Williams and
Insight Equity substantially completed negotiating the remaining
details of the draft merger agreement, the disclosure letter,
and the related ancillary documents.
On July 23, 2008, materials regarding the proposed
transaction were delivered to the members of the Special
Committee and members of Meadow Valleys board of directors
in advance of the Special Committee and board of directors
meetings scheduled for July 25, 2008.
31
On July 25, 2008, the Special Committee met by telephone to
consider the proposed Insight Equity transaction and the latest
draft of the merger agreement. Mr. Doty and representatives
of DLA Piper, Alvarez & Marsal and BHFS were in
attendance. DLA Piper reviewed the material terms of the merger
agreement, including:
|
|
|
|
|
the purchase price;
|
|
|
|
the provisions for a
45-day
go shop period during which Meadow Valley could
actively seek other bidders to buy Meadow Valley and after which
Meadow Valley could continue to negotiate with certain
Excluded Parties and could negotiate with
unsolicited bidders, provided that the merger agreement could
terminate if not consummated by December 31, 2008;
|
|
|
|
the definition of Material Adverse Effect, that had
been heavily negotiated;
|
|
|
|
a break-up
fee equal to 2.5% of the aggregate purchase price plus
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses if the deal is terminated as a
result of activities undertaken during the go shop
period;
|
|
|
|
a break-up
fee equal to 4.5% of the aggregate purchase price plus
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses if the deal is terminated as a
result of activities undertaken after the go shop
period;
|
|
|
|
a break-up
fee equal to $500,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses if
the deal is terminated under certain other circumstances;
|
|
|
|
a reverse termination fee payable to Meadow Valley equal to 2.5%
of the aggregate purchase price plus reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses if the deal is terminated by Insight Equity under
certain circumstances;
|
|
|
|
continued indemnification protection for current and former
directors and officers for a specified period of time and the
mechanics by which insurance coverage may be maintained for such
directors and officers;
|
|
|
|
closing requirements applicable to Meadow Valley and required in
order for Investor and Merger Sub to consummate the merger,
which requirements were reasonable and achievable in the view of
Meadow Valley and its legal advisors and environmental
consultants;
|
|
|
|
the delivery to Investor of a letter of credit to support any
necessary payments of its reverse termination fee obligations in
the event that such a fee was payable in certain circumstances
upon a termination of the merger agreement by Meadow
Valley; and
|
|
|
|
the absence of a financing contingency with respect to Merger
Subs obligations to close the transaction contemplated by
the merger agreement. Representatives of DLA Piper also
reiterated the Special Committees fiduciary duties as
previously discussed with the Special Committee.
|
On that same date, representatives of Morgan Joseph reviewed
various financial analyses and delivered to the Special
Committee an oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing,
that, as of July 25, 2008, and based upon the assumptions
made, matters considered and limits of review set forth in its
written opinion, the $11.25 per share merger consideration to be
received by holders of Meadow Valleys common stock in the
merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to such
holders. After consideration and deliberation of various factors
in which representatives of DLA Piper, Alvarez &
Marsal, BHFS, and Morgan Joseph participated, the Special
Committee voted unanimously to determine and resolve
(i) that the merger is fair to, and in the best interests
of, Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders, and
(ii) to recommend that Meadow Valleys board of
directors (x) approve the merger agreement and the
transaction contemplated thereby and declare its advisability,
(y) propose the merger agreement to Meadow Valleys
stockholders for adoption by Meadow Valleys stockholders,
and (z) recommend that Meadow Valleys stockholders
adopt the merger agreement and the transaction contemplated
thereby. The Special Committee also voted unanimously to
determine and resolve that its Rights Agreement dated
February 13, 2007, with Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc. be
amended to, among other things, provide that neither Investor or
Merger Sub nor any of their affiliates will become an
Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and that none of a Stock Acquisition
Date, a Distribution Date, or a
Triggering Event (each as defined in the Rights
Agreement) would occur by reason of the approval, execution or
delivery of, or the consummation of the transaction contemplated
by, the merger agreement.
32
A meeting of the entire board of directors was held immediately
following the Special Committees meeting on July 25,
2008. At the meeting, representatives of BHFS and DLA Piper
explained the Special Committees determinations and
recommendations to the board with respect to the proposed
merger. BHFS and DLA Piper then summarized the terms of the
proposed merger agreement and discussed various other issues. At
the meeting, Mr. Patterson informed Meadow Valleys
board that Morgan Joseph had reviewed various financial analyses
for the Special Committee and that Morgan Joseph had delivered
to the Special Committee an oral opinion, subsequently confirmed
in writing, that, as of July 25, 2008, and based upon the
assumptions made, matters considered and limits of review set
forth in its written opinion, the consideration to be received
by holders of Meadow Valley common stock in the merger was fair,
from a financial point of view, to such holders. After
consideration and deliberation in which BHFS and DLA Piper
participated, the board of directors (other than
Messrs. Larson and Nelson, each of whom abstained from
voting), expressly adopted the unanimous recommendation of the
Special Committee and determined and resolved (i) that the
merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, Meadow Valley
and its unaffiliated stockholders, (ii) to propose the
merger agreement for adoption by Meadow Valleys
stockholders and declare the advisability of the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and
(iii) to recommend that Meadow Valleys stockholders
adopt the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement. In addition, the board of directors, with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining, approved and adopted
the amendment to the Rights Agreement. Through the approval of
the merger and the merger agreement, the board of directors
approved the transaction by which Phoenix Parent Corp., Phoenix
Merger Sub and any of their affiliates may have become
interested stockholders (as such term is defined in
Section 78.423 of the Nevada Revised Statutes) such that
the anti-takeover restrictions contained in
Sections 78.411 78.444, inclusive, of the
Nevada Revised Statutes are not applicable to the merger or the
merger agreement.
On the afternoon of July 25, 2008, Investor, Merger Sub and
Meadow Valley executed the signature pages to the merger
agreement, with instructions for the signature pages to be held
in trust pending authorization of release and delivery of the
same on the morning of July 28, 2008. On
July 26th and 27th, representatives of
Hunton & Williams and DLA Piper, as well as
Mr. Doty of Meadow Valley and Mr. Zugaro of Insight
Equity, participated in discussions clarifying the nature of the
permitted liens that would survive the closing and financing of
the transaction. The disclosure letter and merger agreement were
modified to reflect those conversations.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., Eastern Time on July 28,
2008, a representative of Hunton & Williams provided a
representative of DLA Piper with a letter from a lender
indicating that the lender had agreed, subject to certain terms
and conditions, to provide committed financing for a portion of
the purchase price to be paid in connection with the proposed
transaction. A brief telephonic meeting was then held at
approximately 7:45 a.m., Eastern Time on July 28,
2008. Representatives of Insight Equity, Hunton &
Williams, Meadow Valley, DLA Piper, and Messrs. Larson and
Doty participated in the telephone conference. Following a brief
discussion, the parties released their signature pages and
immediately thereafter Meadow Valley issued a press release
announcing the transaction and filed a Current Report on
Form 8-K
with the SEC regarding the transaction before the market opened.
To reflect the July 28, 2008 agreements,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson filed Amendment No. 1 to
Schedule 13D on July 29, 2008.
Beginning on July 28, 2008, pursuant to the go
shop provisions in the merger agreement, under the
supervision and authorization of the Special Committee,
representatives of Alvarez & Marsal contacted certain
potential acquirors located both within and outside the United
States that were discussed with the Special Committee.
Alvarez & Marsal solicited interest amongst such
potential acquirers in participating in a sale transaction with
Meadow Valley in its entirety or the sale of the Companys
ownership interests in either Meadow Valley Contractors,
Inc. or Ready Mix. Potential acquirors were contacted based on
several criteria, including their likelihood of interest in the
Company based on current, past or expressed future business
activities in market segments in which Meadow Valley operates
and their financial wherewithal to consummate a transaction with
Meadow Valley. During the go shop period, Alvarez
& Marsal engaged in substantive conversations with
approximately 70 parties. Of the parties with whom
Alvarez & Marsal established contact, 11 executed
confidentiality agreements with the purpose of receiving access
to select confidential due diligence materials. The remaining
parties ultimately chose not to further pursue a transaction.
33
During the period from July 28, 2008 to September 10,
2008, the Special Committee engaged in several discussions
regarding matters related to the go shop process.
Mr. Doty and representatives of DLA Piper and
Alvarez & Marsal participated in such discussions. On
September 12, 2008, the Special Committee sent a letter to
Insight Equity stating that it had not received any Acquisition
Proposals during the go shop period.
Reasons
for the Merger and Recommendation of the Special Committee and
Board of Directors
The Special Committee
In anticipation of receiving an acquisition proposal from YVM
and Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Furman following
disclosure on November 2, 2007 on Schedule 13D of
their interest in pursuing a transaction with Meadow Valley, the
board of directors established the Special Committee consisting
of the three independent directors, namely, Mr. Patterson,
who served as chairman, and Messrs. Cowan and Norton, to
consider any proposal. See Background of the
Merger above for more information about the formation and
authority of the Special Committee. The Special Committee
retained Alvarez & Marsal as its financial advisor,
Morgan Joseph for the purpose of providing its opinion as to the
fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger
consideration to be received by Meadow Valley stockholders
pursuant to the merger and DLA Piper and Ballard Spahr Andrews
& Ingersoll, LLP (Ballard Spahr) as its legal
advisors. On July 25, 2008, the Special Committee, after
considering the presentations and advice of its financial and
legal advisors and the opinion of Morgan Joseph, unanimously
determined that the merger and the merger agreement are fair to
and in the best interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders. The Special Committee also unanimously recommended
to the board of directors that the board of directors determine
that the merger and the merger agreement are fair to and in the
best interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders and recommend to Meadow Valleys stockholders
that they vote to approve the merger agreement.
In the course of reaching their decision to adopt and approve
the merger agreement and in making their recommendations, the
Special Committee consulted with senior management and outside
financial and legal advisors, reviewed a significant amount of
information, oversaw financial and legal due diligence by and
through its advisors, conducted an extensive review and
evaluation of Investors proposal, conducted extensive
negotiations with Investor and its representatives both directly
and through its advisors, and considered the following positive
factors:
|
|
|
|
|
the value of the merger consideration to be received by Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders pursuant to the merger
agreement, as well as the fact that the unaffiliated
stockholders will receive the consideration in cash, which
provides certainty of value to Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
its view that the merger consideration is more favorable to
Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders than the
potential value that might result from the other alternatives
the Special Committee believed were reasonably available to
Meadow Valley pursuing other strategic initiatives or continuing
with Meadow Valleys current business plan;
|
|
|
|
its view that the merger consideration is fair in light of the
Special Committees familiarity with
Meadow Valleys business, assets, operations,
financial condition, strategy and prospects, as well as Meadow
Valleys historical and projected financial performance;
|
|
|
|
its view that the merger maximizes stockholder value by
providing stockholder liquidity, without the risk to
stockholders of a business plan constrained by uncertain market
conditions;
|
|
|
|
that the merger consideration of $11.25 per share, without
interest, represented a 22.1% premium over the price per share
of Meadow Valleys common stock, based on the closing sale
price for Meadow Valleys common stock on July 25,
2008, the last trading day before public announcement of the
merger;
|
|
|
|
that the merger consideration of $11.25 per share, without
interest, represented a 30.8% premium over the volume weighted
average share price for the 30 calendar days prior to the public
announcement of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
that historically the common stock of Meadow Valley traded with
low volume, making the stock relatively illiquid and often
difficult to sell without negatively impacting the per share
price and that Morgan Joseph
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
presented the current and historical market prices of Meadow
Valleys common stock, including the market price of Meadow
Valleys common stock relative to those of other
participants in Meadow Valleys industries and general
market indices, as background material;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the opinion of Morgan Joseph, delivered orally and confirmed in
writing, to the effect that as of the date of the opinion, and
based upon and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions
made, qualifications, and limitations on the review undertaken,
the merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of
view, to Meadow Valleys stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the presentation by Morgan Joseph to the Special Committee on
July 25, 2008 in connection with the foregoing opinion,
which is described under Opinion of Morgan
Joseph to the Special Committee below;
|
|
|
|
the terms of the merger agreement that permitted Meadow Valley
to conduct a post-signing market test designed to determine that
the $11.25 per share price provided in the merger agreement was
the highest value reasonably available to Meadow Valleys
unaffiliated stockholders, including (i) a
45-day
go shop period during which Meadow Valley, under the
direction of the Special Committee, was permitted to actively
seek and negotiate competing Acquisition Proposals for a
business combination or acquisition, which period the Special
Committee (after consulting with its outside financial and legal
advisors) believed was sufficient time for any potentially
interested party to make such a competing Acquisition Proposal,
(ii) the right, even after the end of the
45-day
solicitation period, subject to certain conditions, to continue
to explore Acquisition Proposals made by any interested party
during the
45-day
solicitation period, and (iii) the right, even after the
end of the
45-day
solicitation period, subject to certain conditions, to explore
unsolicited Acquisition Proposals and to terminate the merger
agreement and accept a Superior Proposal as
determined by the Special Committee prior to stockholder
approval of the merger agreement, subject to payment of what the
Special Committee believed (after consulting with its outside
financial advisors) was a reasonable termination fee and the
reimbursement of certain of Investors and Merger
Subs documented and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committees understanding, after consultation
with its financial and legal advisors, that both the termination
fees (and the circumstances when such fees are payable) set
forth in the merger agreement and the requirement to reimburse
Investor and Merger Sub for certain of their documented and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in the event that the merger
agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, were
reasonable and customary in light of the benefits of the merger
contemplated by the merger agreement, commercial practice and
transactions of similar size and nature;
|
|
|
|
the increased costs associated with being a public company,
particularly those costs associated with compliance with the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which costs disproportionately
impact smaller public companies;
|
|
|
|
that the terms of the merger agreement provided reasonable
certainty of consummation because it was subject to and included
conditions that the Special Committee believed would reasonably
likely be satisfied, including the fact that the merger
agreement does not contain a financing contingency, which the
Special Committee found to be favorable given current market
conditions;
|
|
|
|
that the financial and other terms and conditions of the merger
agreement, as reviewed by the Special Committee with its legal
and financial advisors, were the product of extensive
negotiations between the parties, which resulted in, among other
things, the following changes from Insight Equitys initial
written proposal, (i) an increase of $1.45 per share from
the initial proposed $9.80 per share price, (ii) a
reduction by 1.5% in termination fees to be paid by Meadow
Valley if it terminated the merger agreement under certain
circumstances, plus a cap on fees and expenses related to
financing sources of $500,000, (iii) a reduction by 1% in
termination fees to be paid by Meadow Valley if it terminated
the merger agreement under other circumstances (amount of
expenses remains the same), (iv) the imposition of a
reverse termination fee to be paid by Investor if Investor or
Meadow Valley terminated the merger agreement under certain
circumstances, plus Meadow Valleys expenses, (subject to
certain limitations) supported by a $2.5 million letter of
credit,
|
35
|
|
|
|
|
(v) an increase of 15 days to the go shop
period, and (vi) the addition of certain carve-outs to the
definition of Material Adverse Effect;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the fact that no alternative acquisition proposal for Meadow
Valley had been submitted since the initial announcement of
interest by YVM and Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Furman in
pursuing a potential transaction with Meadow Valley on
November 2, 2007;
|
|
|
|
the fact that Meadow Valley had the option to initiate a broad
market canvass prior to entering in to the merger agreement but
that the Special Committee considered execution of the merger
agreement followed by a go shop period to be in the
best interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders; and
|
|
|
|
the fact that all of the members of the Special Committee (which
are all of the members of the board of directors of Meadow
Valley who are not participating in the transaction), some of
whom have investments in Meadow Valleys common stock, were
unanimous in their determination to approve the merger agreement.
|
In the course of reaching the determinations and decisions, and
making the recommendations described above, the Special
Committee considered the following risks and potentially
negative factors relating to the merger agreement, the merger
and the other transactions contemplated thereby:
|
|
|
|
|
that Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders would not
participate in any future earnings or growth of Meadow Valley
and would not benefit from any appreciation in value of Meadow
Valley if the merger is completed;
|
|
|
|
that Investor and its investors could realize significant
returns on their equity investment in Meadow Valley from the
merger;
|
|
|
|
the fact that Meadow Valley entered into a merger agreement with
Investor and Merger Sub, newly-formed corporations with
essentially no assets, that Meadow Valleys recourse was
dependent on its ability to draw on a letter of credit obtained
by Investor to support its obligations under the merger
agreement and that Meadow Valleys recovery for such a
breach by Investor or Merger Sub is essentially capped by the
lesser of the amount of the termination fees payable under the
merger agreement or the amount of the letter of credit;
|
|
|
|
that the $11.25 price per share, without interest, is the
maximum amount per share receivable by Meadow Valleys
unaffiliated stockholders unless the merger agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee was not able to solicit alternative
proposals during intermittent periods prior to the signing of
the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
the fact of the participation of the Rollover Participants in
the merger and the fact that the Rollover Participants have
interests in the transaction that are different from, or in
addition to, those of Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
that the merger agreement contains restrictions on the conduct
of Meadow Valleys business prior to the completion of the
merger, generally requiring Meadow Valley to conduct its
business only in the ordinary course, subject to specific
limitations, which may delay or prevent Meadow Valley from
undertaking business opportunities that may arise pending
completion of the merger and the length of time between signing
and closing when these restrictions are in place, due to the
time needed to satisfy the conditions to closing;
|
|
|
|
the risks and costs to Meadow Valley if the merger does not
close, including the diversion of management and employee
attention, potential employee attrition and the potential effect
on business and customer relationships;
|
|
|
|
that if the merger is not completed, Meadow Valley would be
required to pay its fees and expenses associated with the
transaction and also, under certain circumstances, pay a
termination fee up to 4.5% of the aggregate merger consideration
and reimburse Investor and Merger Sub for certain of their
documented and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with
the transaction;
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
that the receipt of cash in exchange for shares of Meadow Valley
common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable sale
transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
|
|
|
|
that Meadow Valley stockholders do not have dissenters or
appraisal rights under Nevada law;
|
|
|
|
the merger agreements limitations on Meadow Valleys
ability to solicit other offers after the go shop
period, despite the fact that the Special Committee is
authorized to respond to unsolicited proposals meeting specified
criteria;
|
|
|
|
that, unless otherwise provided pursuant to the terms of the
merger agreement, Meadow Valley will be required to pay Investor
a termination fee of $500,000 plus certain of Investors
and Merger Subs documented and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses no matter the reason for termination of the merger
agreement; and
|
|
|
|
that Investors obligation to close the transaction is
subject to certain conditions that are outside of
Meadow Valleys control.
|
In the course of reaching the determinations and decisions, and
making the recommendations, described above, the Special
Committee also considered the following factors relating to the
procedural safeguards that the Special Committee believes were
and are present to ensure the fairness of the merger to Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders and to permit the
Special Committee to represent the interests of Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders, each of which
safeguards the Special Committee believes supported its decision
and provided assurance of the fairness of the merger to Meadow
Valley and its unaffiliated stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee consists solely of independent and
disinterested directors who are not employees of Meadow Valley
and who have no financial interest in the merger that is
different from that of Meadow Valley unaffiliated
stockholders (other than the acceleration of options to acquire
shares of Meadow Valley common stock);
|
|
|
|
|
|
that the members of the Special Committee were adequately
compensated for their services and that their compensation for
serving on the Special Committee was in no way contingent on
their approving the merger agreement and taking the other
actions described in this proxy statement;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee received an opinion from Morgan
Joseph, delivered orally at the Special Committee meeting on
July 25, 2008, and subsequently confirmed in writing, that,
as of July 25, 2008, the date of the opinion, and based
upon and subject to the factors, assumptions, limitations,
qualifications and other conditions set forth in the opinion,
the merger consideration of $11.25 per share, without interest,
to be received pursuant to the merger agreement by the public
holders of shares of Meadow Valley common stock was fair, from a
financial point of view, to such holders;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee was involved in extensive
deliberations over many months regarding the proposal, and was
provided broad authority and sufficient resources, including
access to Meadow Valleys management;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee, with the assistance of its legal and
financial advisors, negotiated with Investor and its
representatives and sought and received numerous concessions;
|
|
|
|
the requirement that the merger agreement be approved by the
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Meadow Valley common stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee had ultimate authority to decide
whether or not to proceed with a transaction or any alternative
thereto, subject to the board of directors approval of the
merger agreement, where the members of the Special Committee
comprised a majority of the board of directors, as required by
Nevada law;
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee was aware that it had no obligation
to recommend any transaction, including the proposal put forth
by Investor; and
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
that the Special Committee made its evaluation of the merger
agreement and the merger based upon the factors discussed in
this proxy statement, and independent of members of the board
who are Rollover Participants.
|
The foregoing discussion of the information and factors
considered by the Special Committee includes the material
factors considered by the Special Committee. In view of the
variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation
of the merger, the Special Committee did not find it practicable
to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights
to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination
and recommendation. In addition, individual directors may have
given different weights to different factors. The Special
Committee approved and recommends the merger agreement and the
merger based upon the totality of the information presented to
and considered by it.
The
Board of Directors
The board of directors consists of five directors, two of whom,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson, are Rollover Participants and
have interests in the merger different from, or in addition to,
the interests of Meadow Valley and its unaffiliated
stockholders. The board of directors established the Special
Committee, consisting of all of the independent directors, and
empowered it to study, review, evaluate, negotiate and, if
appropriate, make a recommendation to the board of directors
regarding the proposal from Investor and any unsolicited
proposals that were received. Since Messrs. Larson and
Nelson recused themselves from many deliberations and abstained
from voting on matters related to the merger due to their
involvement in the transaction, the voting members of the board
related to the merger were identical to the members of the
Special Committee. That being said, on July 25, 2008, the
board of directors met to consider the report and recommendation
of the Special Committee. On the basis of the Special
Committees recommendation and the other factors described
below, Meadow Valleys board of directors unanimously, with
Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining:
|
|
|
|
|
determined that the merger and the merger agreement are fair to,
and in the best interests of, the unaffiliated stockholders of
Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
recommended that Meadow Valleys stockholders vote to
approve the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
took all actions so that the merger agreement would not be
subject to the Nevada business combination statutes or any other
applicable merger, anti-takeover or similar statute or
regulation;
|
|
|
|
took all actions so that the Rollover Participants, Investor,
Merger Sub and their respective affiliates would not be an
acquiring person under Meadow Valleys
stockholder rights plan; and
|
|
|
|
approved various related resolutions.
|
In determining that the merger agreement is fair to, and in the
best interests of, Meadow Valley and its stockholders, and
approving the merger agreement, and recommending that Meadow
Valleys stockholders vote for the approval of the merger
agreement, the board of directors considered the following
material factors:
|
|
|
|
|
the unanimous determination and recommendation of the Special
Committee;
|
|
|
|
the fact that the merger consideration and the other terms of
the merger agreement resulted from negotiations between the
Special Committee and Insight Equity, and the board of
directors belief that $11.25 per share, without interest,
was the highest consideration that it was able to negotiate with
Insight Equity; and
|
|
|
|
the factors considered by the Special Committee, including the
positive factors and potential benefits of the merger agreement,
the risks and potentially negative factors relating to the
merger agreement, the fairness opinion received by the Special
Committee and the factors relating to procedural safeguards
described above.
|
The board and the Special Committee did not (i) retain an
unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of Meadow
Valleys stockholders for purposes of negotiating the terms
of the merger agreement or (ii) structure the transaction to
require approval of at least a majority of unaffiliated
stockholders. Nevertheless the board believes that taking into
account the factors listed above and further taking into account
the fact that the Rollover Participants will have the right to
vote only approximately 3.5% of the outstanding Meadow Valley
common stock (assuming
38
they do not exercise their options prior to the record date),
the absence of these two safeguards did not diminish the
fairness of the process undertaken by the board and the Special
Committee.
The foregoing discussion of the information and factors
considered by Meadow Valleys board of directors includes
the material factors considered by the board of directors. In
view of the variety of factors considered in connection with its
evaluation of the merger, Meadow Valleys board of
directors did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify
or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors
considered in reaching its determination and recommendation. In
addition, individual directors may have given different weights
to different factors. The board of directors approved and
recommends the merger agreement based upon the totality of the
information presented to and considered by it. The board of
directors also believes that the merger is procedurally fair
because, among other factors, the terms of the merger agreement
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Meadow Valley common stock entitled to vote at the
special meeting.
Our board of directors recommends that you vote
FOR the approval of the Merger Proposal.
Opinion
of Morgan Joseph to the Special Committee
At the meeting of the Special Committee on July 25, 2008,
Morgan Joseph rendered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed
in writing, to the Special Committee to the effect that, as of
such date and based upon the assumptions made, matters
considered and limits of review set forth in its written
opinion, the consideration to be received by holders of Meadow
Valley common stock in the merger was fair, from a financial
point of view, to those holders.
The full text of the written opinion of Morgan Joseph, dated
July 25, 2008, is attached as Appendix B to
this proxy statement. You are encouraged to read Morgan
Josephs opinion carefully in its entirety for a
description of the procedures followed, assumptions made and
matters considered by Morgan Joseph, as well as the
qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by
Morgan Joseph in rendering its opinion.
Morgan Josephs written opinion was addressed to the
Special Committee, and was directed only to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by
holders of Meadow Valley common stock in the merger. It did not
address any other aspect of the merger. Morgan Josephs
opinion was one of many factors taken into consideration by the
Special Committee in making its determination to recommend and
approve the merger. Morgan Josephs opinion does not
address the merits of the underlying business decision of
Meadow Valley to enter into the merger and does not
constitute a recommendation to Meadow Valley, the board of
directors, the Special Committee or any other committee of the
board of directors or Meadow Valley shareholders as to how such
person should vote or as to the specific action that should be
taken in connection with the merger. Morgan Joseph expressed no
opinion with respect to the fairness of the amount or nature of
any compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any
party to the merger, or any class of such persons, relative to
the consideration to be received by Meadow Valley shareholders
in the merger.
In connection with rendering its opinion, Morgan Joseph reviewed
and analyzed, among other things, the following:
|
|
|
|
|
the July 23, 2008 draft of the merger agreement, which we
represented to Morgan Joseph was, with respect to all material
terms and conditions thereof, substantially in the form of the
definitive agreement to be executed by the parties promptly
after receipt of Morgan Josephs opinion;
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys annual report on
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC with respect to the year ended
December 31, 2007, Meadow Valleys quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC with respect to the quarter ended
March 31, 2008, which our management had identified to
Morgan Joseph as being the most current historical financial
statements available at the time, and certain other filings made
by Meadow Valley with the SEC;
|
|
|
|
|
|
certain other publicly available business and financial
information concerning Meadow Valley and the industry in which
we operate, which Morgan Joseph believed to be relevant to its
opinion;
|
|
|
|
certain internal information and other data relating to Meadow
Valley and our business and prospects, including budgets,
projections and certain presentations prepared by Meadow Valley,
which were provided to Morgan Joseph by our senior management;
|
39
|
|
|
|
|
the reported sales prices and trading activity of Meadow Valley
common stock;
|
|
|
|
certain publicly available information concerning certain other
companies engaged in businesses that Morgan Joseph believed to
be generally comparable to Meadow Valley and the trading markets
for such other companies securities; and
|
|
|
|
the financial terms of certain recent business combinations that
Morgan Joseph believed to be relevant.
|
Morgan Joseph also participated in meetings and conference calls
with certain of our officers and employees concerning our
business, operations, assets, financial condition and prospects,
as well as the merger, and undertook such other studies,
analyses and investigations as it deemed appropriate.
Morgan Joseph, with the Special Committees permission,
assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the
financial and other information used by it, including the
internal information and other data relating to Meadow Valley
that we provided, and did not attempt to independently verify
such information, nor did it assume any responsibility to do so.
Morgan Joseph assumed that Meadow Valleys forecasts and
projections provided to or reviewed by it were reasonably
prepared based on the best current estimates and judgment of our
management as to the future financial condition and results of
operations of Meadow Valley. Morgan Joseph made no independent
investigation of any legal, accounting or tax matters affecting
Meadow Valley, and assumed the correctness of all legal,
accounting and tax advice given to Meadow Valley, our board of
directors, and the Special Committee. Morgan Joseph did not
conduct a physical inspection of the properties and facilities
of Meadow Valley, nor did it make or obtain any independent
evaluation or appraisal of such properties and facilities. While
Morgan Joseph took into account its assessment of general
economic, market and financial conditions and its experience in
transactions that, in whole or in part, it deemed to be relevant
for purposes of its analysis, as well as its experience in
securities valuation in general, Morgan Josephs opinion
necessarily is based upon economic, financial, political,
regulatory and other events and conditions as they existed and
could be evaluated on the date of its opinion and Morgan Joseph
assumed no responsibility to update or revise its opinion based
upon events or circumstances occurring after the date of its
opinion. Morgan Josephs opinion was approved by a fairness
opinion committee of Morgan Joseph.
Set forth below is a summary of the material financial analyses
presented by Morgan Joseph to the Special Committee in
connection with rendering its opinion. The summary set forth
below does not purport to be a complete description of the
analyses performed by Morgan Joseph, nor does the order of the
analyses described represent the relative importance or weight
given to those analyses by Morgan Joseph. Certain of the
summaries of the financial analyses include information set
forth in tabular format. The tables must be read together with
the text of each summary in order to fully understand the
financial analyses used by Morgan Joseph. The tables alone do
not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses.
The preparation of opinions regarding fairness, from a financial
point of view, involve various determinations as to the most
appropriate and relevant methods of financial analyses and the
application of these methods to the particular circumstances
and, therefore, such opinions are not readily susceptible to
partial analysis or summary description. Accordingly,
notwithstanding the separate analyses summarized below, Morgan
Joseph believes its analyses must be considered as a whole and
that selecting portions of its analyses and factors considered
by it, without considering all of its analyses and factors, or
attempting to ascribe relative weights to some or all of its
analyses and factors, could create an incomplete view of the
evaluation process underlying Morgan Josephs opinion.
Morgan Joseph performed its analyses for purposes of providing
its opinion to the Special Committee as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of Meadow Valley common
stock of the consideration to be received by such holders
pursuant to the merger. In performing its analyses, Morgan
Joseph made numerous assumptions with respect to industry
performance, general business, economic and financial conditions
and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of
Morgan Joseph and Meadow Valley. These analyses do not purport
to be appraisals nor do they necessarily reflect the prices at
which businesses or securities might actually be sold. Any
estimates contained in the analyses performed by Morgan Joseph
are not necessarily indicative of actual values or future
results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than
suggested by these analyses. Accordingly, the analyses and
estimates are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty and
neither Meadow Valley nor Morgan Joseph assume responsibility if
future results are materially different than those forecast.
40
No company or transaction used in the analyses described below
is identical to Meadow Valley or the merger. Accordingly, an
analysis of the results thereof necessarily involves complex
considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial
and operating characteristics and other factors that could
affect the merger or the public trading or other values of
Meadow Valley or companies to which they are being compared.
Mathematical analysis (such as determining the average or
median) is not in itself a meaningful method of using selected
acquisition or company data. In addition, Morgan Joseph relied
on projections prepared by research analysts at established
securities firms, any of which may or may not prove to be
accurate.
The following is a summary of the material analyses performed by
Morgan Joseph in connection with its opinion:
Selected Publicly Traded Companies
Analysis. Using publicly available information,
Morgan Joseph reviewed the stock prices (as of July 24,
2008) and selected market trading multiples of the
following companies that, in Morgan Josephs opinion, are
relevant for purposes of this analysis:
|
|
|
|
|
Granite Construction Inc.
|
|
|
|
Perini Corp.
|
|
|
|
Sterling Construction Co. Inc.
|
The financial information used by Morgan Joseph included market
trading multiples exhibited by the selected companies with
respect to their 2008 estimated financial performance in general
and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, which we refer to as EBITDA. In
particular, the table below provides a summary of these
comparisons:
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple Percentile
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
EBITDA Multiple Range
|
|
5.8x
|
|
1.7x
|
2008E EBITDA for the Company
|
|
$11.8 million
|
|
$11.8 million
|
Implied Equity Valuation Range Per Share
|
|
$13.11
|
|
$6.46
|
Selected Transactions Analysis. Using publicly
available information, Morgan Joseph reviewed the purchase
prices and multiples paid in the following selected mergers and
acquisitions that were announced since July 1, 2006 that,
in Morgan Josephs opinion are relevant for purposes of
this analysis. The table below provides a summary of those
comparisons:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Announcement
|
Target
|
|
Acquiror
|
|
Date
|
|
Douglas E Barnhart Inc.
|
|
Balfour Beatty Plc
|
|
06/05/08
|
BE&K, Inc.
|
|
KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR)
|
|
05/06/08
|
Tutor-Saliba Corporation
|
|
Perini Corp. (NYSE:PCR)
|
|
04/02/08
|
Primoris Corporation
|
|
Rhapsody Acquisition Corporation
|
|
02/19/08
|
Schiavone Construction Company
|
|
Dragados Inversiones USA
|
|
12/28/07
|
Road & Highway Builders, LLC
|
|
Sterling Construction Co. Inc. (NasdaqNM:STRL)
|
|
10/31/07
|
Flatiron Construction Corp.
|
|
Hochtief AG (DB:HOT)
|
|
09/25/07
|
Five Road construction, Gravel Crushing and Log Hauling
Businesses of Alberta
|
|
Petrowest Energy Services Trust (TSX:PRW.UN)
|
|
05/09/07
|
Ashland Paving and Construction, Contracting and Asphalt
Activities
|
|
Undisclosed (six separate transactions)
|
|
12/12/06
|
Webcor, Inc.
|
|
Obayashi Corp. (TSE:1802)
|
|
11/13/06
|
Community Asphalt Corp./
The Tower Group
|
|
Obrascón Huarte Lain (OHL)
|
|
07/24/06
|
41
The financial information reviewed by Morgan Joseph included the
purchase prices and multiples paid by the acquiring company of
the target companys financial results, including EBITDA,
for the last twelve months prior to the announcement of the
acquisition. The table below summarizes the results of this
analysis:
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple Percentile
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
EBITDA Multiple Range
|
|
6.7x
|
|
3.9x
|
2008E EBITDA for the Company
|
|
$11.8 million
|
|
$11.8 million
|
Implied Equity Valuation Range Per Share
|
|
$15.33
|
|
$8.68
|
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Using certain
projected financial information supplied by our senior
management for calendar years 2008 through 2012, Morgan Joseph
calculated the net present value of Meadow Valleys
free cash flows using discount rates ranging from 16.5% to
21.5%. Morgan Josephs estimate of the appropriate
discount rate was based on the estimated cost of capital for the
selected public companies. Morgan Joseph also calculated the
terminal value of Meadow Valley in the year 2012 based on
multiples of EBITDA ranging from 3.5x to 5.5x and discounted
these terminal values using the assumed range of discount rates.
Morgan Josephs estimate of the appropriate range of
terminal multiples was based upon the multiples of the selected
public companies and the precedent transactions.
This analysis resulted in a range of equity values per share
indicated in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terminal Value Multiples
|
Discount Rate:
|
|
3.5x
|
|
4.5x
|
|
5.5x
|
|
19.0%
|
|
$
|
8.99
|
|
|
$
|
10.63
|
|
|
$
|
12.27
|
|
Inherent in any discounted cash flow valuation are the use of a
number of assumptions, including the accuracy of projections and
the subjective determination of an appropriate terminal value
and discount rate to apply to the projected cash flows of the
entity under examination. Variations in any of these assumptions
or judgments could significantly alter the results of a
discounted cash flow analysis.
The Special Committee selected Morgan Joseph to render an
opinion as described above because it has substantial experience
in transactions similar to the merger and regularly engages in
the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with
mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, negotiated
underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted
securities and private placements. The Special Committee engaged
Morgan Joseph to render its opinion pursuant to a letter
agreement dated May 20, 2008. Under the terms of this
engagement letter, we agreed to pay Morgan Joseph a fee of
$350,000 in connection with the delivery of its opinion, payable
upon delivery of the opinion. This fee was not contingent upon
the consummation of the merger. We also agreed to reimburse
Morgan Joseph for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in connection with its engagement, including certain fees and
disbursements of its legal counsel, and to indemnify Morgan
Joseph against liabilities relating to or arising out of its
engagement. In the ordinary course of its business, Morgan
Joseph may at any time acquire, hold or sell, long or short
positions, or trade or otherwise effect transactions, for its
own account or the accounts of customers, in debt, equity and
other securities and financial instruments (including loans and
other obligations) of, or investments in, Meadow Valley, any
other company involved in the merger, and their respective
affiliates. Other than this engagement, Morgan Joseph had not
been, and was not, engaged by any party to the merger. Meadow
Valley has not paid any consideration to Morgan Joseph for any
services over the last two years other than in connection
with their delivery of the opinion described in this proxy
statement.
Reports
of Alvarez & Marsal to the Special Committee
Alvarez & Marsal was engaged by the Special Committee
to serve as its financial advisor in connection with the merger
transaction. Alvarez & Marsal was not engaged by the
Special Committee to render a fairness opinion for the merger.
At meetings of the Special Committee held on April 7, 2008
and June 9, 2008, Alvarez & Marsal discussed
presentations, dated as of such dates, prepared by
Alvarez & Marsal and distributed to the Special
Committee immediately prior to such meetings. These
presentations are attached as Exhibits (c)(3) and (c)(4) to
the
Schedule 13E-3
filed by Meadow Valley. We strongly recommend that you read
carefully and in their entirety these presentations for a
description of the procedures followed, assumptions made, limits
of review undertaken and other matters considered by
Alvarez & Marsal in providing such presentations.
42
Alvarez & Marsals presentations were addressed
only to the Special Committee. These presentations did not
address the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the
consideration to be received by holders of Meadow Valley common
stock in the merger. Morgan Joseph was engaged by the Special
Committee to render such fairness opinion. These presentations
were only one of the many factors taken into consideration by
the Special Committee in making its determination to recommend
and approve the merger. Alvarez & Marsals
presentations do not address the merits of the underlying
business decision of Meadow Valley to enter into the merger and
do not constitute a recommendation to Meadow Valley, the board
of directors, the Special Committee or any other committee of
the board of directors of Meadow Valley or Meadow Valley
stockholders as to how such person should vote or as to the
specific action that should be taken in connection with the
merger. Alvarez & Marsal expressed no opinion with
respect to the fairness of the amount or nature of any
compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any
party to the merger, or any class of such persons, relative to
the consideration to be received by Meadow Valley stockholders
in the merger.
In connection with providing advisory and investment banking
services and making the presentations mentioned above to the
Special Committee, Alvarez & Marsal:
|
|
|
|
|
participated in various meetings and conference calls with
Meadow Valleys board of directors, the Special Committee,
certain Meadow Valley employees and representatives of Insight
Equity, DLA Piper, Ballard Spahr and BHFS concerning Meadow
Valleys business, operations, assets, financial condition
and prospects;
|
|
|
|
reviewed and analyzed certain public and internal financial and
operating information relating to Meadow Valley, including its
financial projections;
|
|
|
|
reviewed certain publicly available information concerning
certain other companies engaged in businesses that
Alvarez & Marsal believed to be generally comparable
to Meadow Valleys business;
|
|
|
|
reviewed the trading markets for Meadow Valleys common
stock;
|
|
|
|
reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business
combinations that Alvarez & Marsal believed to be
comparable to the merger; and
|
|
|
|
undertook such other studies, analyses and investigations as it
deemed appropriate.
|
Alvarez & Marsal, with the Special Committees
permission, assumed and relied upon the accuracy and
completeness of the financial and other information used by it,
including the internal information and other data relating to
Meadow Valley, which Meadow Valley provided, and did not attempt
to independently verify such information, nor did it assume any
responsibility to do so. Alvarez & Marsal assumed that
Meadow Valleys forecasts and projections provided to or
reviewed by it were reasonably prepared based on the best
current estimates and judgment of Meadow Valleys
management as to its future financial condition and results of
operations. Alvarez & Marsal made no independent
investigation of any legal, accounting or tax matters affecting
Meadow Valley, and assumed the correctness of all legal,
accounting and tax advice given to Meadow Valley, its board of
directors, the Special Committee or any other committee of its
board of directors. Alvarez & Marsal did not conduct a
physical inspection of the properties and facilities of Meadow
Valley, nor did it make or obtain any independent evaluation or
appraisal of such properties and facilities.
Alvarez & Marsal provided the aforementioned
presentations to the Special Committee in order to assist the
Special Committee in its evaluation of the strategic
alternatives available to Meadow Valley and in the execution of
such strategic alternatives as selected and approved by the
Special Committee. In rendering its services,
Alvarez & Marsal made no representation or guarantee
that an appropriate strategic alternative can be formulated,
that any strategic alternative in general or any transaction in
particular is the best course of action for Meadow Valley or, if
formulated, that the execution of any proposed strategic
alternative will, if required, be accepted or approved by Meadow
Valleys stockholders and other constituents. Further,
Alvarez & Marsal has assumed no responsibility for the
selection and approval of any strategic alternative presented to
Meadow Valley or Meadow Valleys board of directors
(including the Special Committee).
In performing its analyses, Alvarez & Marsal made
numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance,
general business, economic and financial conditions and other
matters, many of which are beyond the
43
control of Alvarez & Marsal and Meadow Valley. These
analyses do not purport to be appraisals nor do they necessarily
reflect the prices at which businesses or securities might
actually be sold. Any estimates contained in the analyses
performed by Alvarez & Marsal are not necessarily
indicative of actual values or future results, which may be
significantly more or less favorable than suggested by these
analyses.
No company or transaction used in the analyses described below
is identical to Meadow Valley or the merger. Accordingly, an
analysis of the results thereof necessarily involves complex
considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial
and operating characteristics and other factors that could
affect the merger or the public trading or other values of
Meadow Valley or companies to which it is being compared.
Set forth below is a summary of the material analyses presented
by Alvarez & Marsal to the Special Committee in
connection with the aforementioned presentation materials. The
summary set forth below does not purport to be a complete
description of the analyses performed by Alvarez &
Marsal, nor does the order of the analyses described represent
the relative importance or weight given to those analyses by the
Special Committee. Notwithstanding the separate analyses
summarized below, these materials were considered in aggregate
and taken as a whole and were considered in conjunction with
other materials presented by management of Meadow Valley and
Alvarez & Marsal.
The presentation materials dated April 7, 2008 include:
|
|
|
|
|
a sum of the parts analysis illustrating the enterprise
valuation of Meadow Valley based on its share prices on
April 7, 2008 and Meadow Valleys then most current
financial data, such valuation as a multiple of Meadow
Valleys select 2007 financial results, the hypothetical
allocation of such value among Meadow Valleys business
units and the implied valuation multiples of such business units
based on Meadow Valleys select 2007 financial results;
|
|
|
|
the historic share price performance of Meadow Valley from the
period April 2003 through April 7, 2008 and of Ready Mix
for the period commencing on the third fiscal quarter of 2005
through April 7, 2008 developed using publicly available
stock price information;
|
|
|
|
the historic share price performance of Meadow Valley as
compared to selected participants in industries that were
generally comparable to those in which Meadow Valley operates
(comparable industries) for the period
April 10, 2006 through April 7, 2008 developed using
publicly available stock price information;
|
|
|
|
selected publicly traded companies analysis developed using the
then most current publicly available information among
participants in comparable industries;
|
|
|
|
selected transactions analysis of purchase prices and multiples
paid in the selected mergers and acquisitions that were
announced since 2004 among participants in comparable industries;
|
|
|
|
selected publicly traded companies analysis developed using
historic valuation metrics for Meadow Valley as compared to
select participants in comparable industries; and
|
|
|
|
descriptions and analysis of publicly available information
regarding select participants in comparable industries.
|
The presentation materials dated June 9, 2008 include:
|
|
|
|
|
a list of selected key considerations for the Special Committee
regarding a potential sale transaction;
|
|
|
|
a summary of key terms of the then current merger agreement,
including purchase price per share, the lack of a financing
contingency, various aspects of the go shop period,
various aspects of the terminations fees and a summary of
conditions to the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
a summary of the key considerations for the Special Committee in
executing the merger agreement, specifically a summary of
selected advantages and disadvantages of such a decision;
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
a summary of Meadow Valleys operating fundamentals, its
share price performance for the five period ended June 3,
2008 developed using publicly available stock price information
and the historic share price performance of Meadow Valley as
compared to select peers for the period June 5, 2006
through June 3, 2008 developed using publicly available
stock price information;
|
|
|
|
a summary of Meadow Valleys year-to-date results versus
its most recent financial projections for the same period and a
summary of Meadow Valleys financial projections through
the fiscal year ended 2010;
|
|
|
|
an analysis of the purchase offer premium implied by the merger
agreement based on Meadow Valleys share price as of
June 6, 2008, June 2, 2008 and April 28, 2008 and
a graphic of acquisition premiums paid by buyers in all
industries for deal sizes ranging from $25 -
$250 million in total enterprise value of U.S. public
company targets purchased by U.S. or international
acquirers for the period 2004 through year-to-date 2008;
|
|
|
|
a table of Meadow Valleys top 14 institutional
shareholders and estimates of such shareholders basis in Meadow
Valleys common stock based on publicly available
information;
|
|
|
|
a summary analysis of recent trading volume and pricing in
Meadow Valleys commons stock;
|
|
|
|
a sum of the parts analysis illustrating the enterprise
valuation of Meadow Valley based on its share prices on
June 6, 2008 and Meadow Valleys then most current
financial data, such valuation as a multiple of Meadow
Valleys select 2007 and projected 2008 financial results,
the hypothetical allocation of such value among Meadow
Valleys business units and the implied valuation multiples
of such business units based on their select 2007 and projected
2008 financial results;
|
|
|
|
illustrative and hypothetical analyses of a financial sponsor
buy-out and a strategic acquiror acquisition of Meadow Valley
from the perspective of such illustrative buyers;
|
|
|
|
an analysis of the termination fees potentially payable under
the merger agreement and a comparison of such termination fees
to those contained in selected precedent going private
transactions of similar size;
|
|
|
|
a summary of selected factors affecting the public market
valuation of Meadow Valley and an analysis of selected publicly
traded companies developed using historic valuation metrics for
Meadow Valley as compared to select participants in comparable
industries;
|
|
|
|
selected publicly traded companies analysis developed using the
then most current publicly available information among
participants in comparable industries;
|
|
|
|
selected transactions analysis of purchase prices and multiples
paid in the selected mergers and acquisitions that were
announced since 2004 among participants in comparable industries;
|
|
|
|
a summary of selected recent events from the period
October 23, 2007 through May 8, 2008; and
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys then current
mark-up of
the material adverse effect definition in the merger agreement.
|
Position
of the Rollover Participants Regarding the Fairness of the
Merger
Under the rules governing going private
transactions, the Rollover Participants are deemed to be engaged
in a going private transaction and therefore are
required to express their beliefs as to the substantive and
procedural fairness of the proposed merger to Meadow
Valleys stockholders (other than the Rollover
Participants). The Rollover Participants are making the
statements included in this subsection solely for the purposes
of complying with the requirements of
Rule 13e-3
and related rules under the Exchange Act. The Rollover
Participants views as to the fairness of the proposed
merger should not be construed as a recommendation to any
stockholder of Meadow Valley as to how such stockholder should
vote on the proposal to adopt and approve the merger agreement.
The Rollover Participants abstained from voting on the merger as
members of Meadow Valleys board of directors.
The Rollover Participants have not performed, or engaged a
financial advisor to perform, any valuation or other analysis
for the purposes of assessing the substantive and procedural
fairness of the merger to Meadow Valleys stockholders.
However, the Rollover Participants believe that the proposed
merger is substantively and
45
procedurally fair to Meadow Valleys stockholders (other
than the Rollover Participants) based on the following factors:
|
|
|
|
|
the merger consideration of $11.25 per share represented a 22.1%
premium over the price per share of Meadow Valleys common
stock, based on the closing sale price for Meadow Valleys
common stock on July 25, 2008, the last trading day before
public announcement of the merger;
|
|
|
|
the merger consideration of $11.25 per share represented a 30.8%
premium to the volume weighted average share price for the 30
calendar days prior to the announcement of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
the opinion of Morgan Joseph delivered to the Special Committee
to the effect that as of the date of the opinion, and based upon
the assumptions made, matters considered, and limits of review
set forth therein, the merger consideration was fair, from a
financial point of view, to Meadow Valleys stockholders;
|
|
|
|
each of the Special Committee and Meadow Valleys board of
directors determined that the merger agreement and the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the
merger, are both procedurally and substantively fair to and in
the best interests of Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee consisted entirely of directors who are
independent directors with respect to the transaction and
included all the independent directors on Meadow Valleys
board of directors;
|
|
|
|
except with respect to any options held by the Special
Committee, the members of the Special Committee will not
personally benefit from the consummation of the merger in a
manner different from Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee retained and was advised by independent
legal counsel experienced in advising on similar transactions;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee retained Alvarez & Marsal, which has
experience in advising on similar transactions, as its financial
advisor in connection with the merger;
|
|
|
|
the merger was unanimously approved by the members of the
Special Committee and by Meadow Valleys board of directors
(Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstained from voting as members of
Meadow Valleys board of directors and, as a result, the
members of the Special Committee and the members of the board of
directors that voted on the merger were identical); and
|
|
|
|
that the terms of the merger agreement permitted Meadow Valley
to conduct a post-signing market test designed to determine that
the $11.25 per share price provided in the merger agreement was
the highest value reasonably available to Meadow Valleys
stockholders, including (i) a
45-day
go shop period during which Meadow Valley, under the
direction of the Special Committee, was permitted to actively
seek and negotiate competing Acquisition Proposals for a
business combination or acquisition, which period the Special
Committee (after consulting with its outside financial advisors)
believed was sufficient time for any potentially interested
party to make such a competing Acquisition Proposal,
(ii) the right, even after the end of the
45-day
solicitation period, subject to certain conditions, to continue
to explore Acquisition Proposals made by any interested party
during the
45-day
solicitation period, and (iii) the right, even after the
end of the
45-day
solicitation period, subject to certain conditions, to explore
unsolicited Acquisition Proposals and to terminate the merger
agreement and accept a Superior Proposal as
determined by the Special Committee prior to stockholder
approval of the merger agreement, subject to payment of what the
Special Committee believed (after consulting with its outside
financial advisors) was a reasonable termination fee and the
reimbursement of certain of Investors and Merger
Subs documented and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
|
The board and the Special Committee did not (i) retain an
unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of Meadow
Valleys stockholders for purposes of negotiating the terms
of the merger agreement or (ii) structure the transaction
to require approval of at least a majority of unaffiliated
stockholders. Nevertheless, the Rollover Participants believe
that taking into account the factors listed above and further
taking into account that the Rollover Participants will have the
right to vote only approximately 3.5% of the outstanding Meadow
Valley common stock
46
(assuming they dont exercise their options prior to the
record date), the absence of these two safeguards did not
diminish the fairness of the process undertaken by the board and
the Special Committee.
The Rollover Participants did not consider the liquidation value
of Meadow Valley because they considered Meadow Valley to be a
viable, going concern and therefore did not consider liquidation
value to be a relevant methodology. Further, the Rollover
Participants did not consider net book value of Meadow Valley,
which is an accounting concept, as a factor because they
believed that net book value is not a material indicator of the
value of Meadow Valley as a going concern but rather is
indicative of historical costs. Meadow Valleys net book
value per diluted weighted average share as of June 30,
2008 was approximately $7.21, or approximately 35.9% lower than
the $11.25 per share cash merger consideration. In addition, the
Rollover Participants did not consider the purchase prices paid
in previous purchases of Meadow Valley common stock made by the
Rollover Participants within the last two years, as such
purchases consisted solely of the exercise of stock options and
therefore did not reflect the market price of Meadow
Valleys common stock at the time of such purchases.
The foregoing discussion of the factors considered and weight
given by the Rollover Participants in connection with their
evaluation of the substantive and procedural fairness to Meadow
Valleys stockholders (other than the Rollover Participants
and possibly Mr. Bottcher) of the merger is not intended to
be exhaustive, but is believed to include all material factors
considered by the Rollover Participants. The Rollover
Participants did not find it practicable to, and did not,
quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the individual
factors in reaching their position as to the substantive and
procedural fairness to Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders of the merger. Rather, their fairness
determinations were made after consideration of all of the
foregoing factors as a whole.
Purpose
and Reasons for the Merger of Investor, Merger Sub and the
Insight Group
If the proposed merger is completed, Meadow Valley will become a
direct subsidiary of Investor and an indirect subsidiary of
Insight Equity. Insight Equity GP I LP, a Delaware limited
partnership, acts as the sole general partner of Insight Equity,
and Insight Equity Holdings I LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, acts as the sole general partner of Insight Equity GP I
LP. In this proxy statement, we refer to Insight Equity,
Insight Equity GP I LP and Insight Equity Holdings I LLC
collectively as the Insight Group. For Investor and
Merger Sub, the purpose of the transaction is to effectuate the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. For the
Insight Group, the purpose of the merger is to allow the Insight
Group to indirectly own Meadow Valley and to bear the rewards
and risks of such ownership after Meadow Valleys common
stock ceases to be publicly traded. The transaction has been
structured as a cash merger in order to provide Meadow
Valleys stockholders (other than the Rollover Participants
and possibly Mr. Bottcher) with cash for their shares of
Meadow Valley common stock and to provide a prompt and orderly
transfer of ownership of Meadow Valley in a single step, without
the necessity of financing separate purchases of Meadow Valley
common stock in a tender offer or implementing a second-step
merger to acquire any shares of common stock not tendered into
any such tender offer, and without incurring any additional
transaction costs associated with such activities.
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group believe that it is
best for Meadow Valley to operate as a privately-held entity
because, as such, the Insight Group believes Meadow Valley will
have greater operating flexibility, allowing management to
concentrate on long-term growth, reduce its focus on the
quarter-to quarter performance often emphasized by the public
markets and pursue alternatives that Meadow Valley may not have
as a public company. In addition, Investor, Merger Sub and the
Insight Group believe that Meadow Valleys future business
prospects can be improved through the Insight Groups
active participation in the strategic direction and operation of
Meadow Valley. Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group
believe that there will be significant opportunities associated
with the Insight Groups investment in Meadow Valley, but
also realize that there are substantial risks, including the
risks and uncertainties related to Meadow Valleys
prospects and the operational and other risks related to the
incurrence by the surviving corporation of significant
additional debt as described below under
Merger Financing.
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group believe that
structuring the transaction as a merger is preferable to other
transaction structures because it will enable Investor to
acquire all of the equity of Meadow Valley at one time and
provides the opportunity for Meadow Valleys stockholders
to receive fair value for their shares, payable in cash.
47
Position
of Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group Regarding the
Fairness of the Merger
Each of Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group is making the
statements included in this subsection solely for the purposes
of complying with the requirements of
Rule 13e-3
and related rules under the Exchange Act. The views of Investor,
Merger Sub and the Insight Group as to the fairness of the
proposed merger should not be construed as a recommendation to
any Meadow Valley stockholder as to how that stockholder should
vote on the Merger Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group attempted to
negotiate the terms of a transaction that would be most
favorable to themselves, and not to stockholders of Meadow
Valley and, accordingly, did not negotiate the merger agreement
with the goal of obtaining terms that were fair to Meadow
Valleys stockholders. Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight
Group did not participate in the deliberations of Meadow
Valleys board of directors or the Special Committee
regarding, or receive advice from Meadow Valleys or the
Special Committees legal or financial advisors as to, the
substantive and procedural fairness of the proposed merger.
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group did not undertake any
independent evaluation of the fairness of the proposed merger to
the unaffiliated stockholders of Meadow Valley or engage a
financial advisor for such purposes. Investor, Merger Sub and
the Insight Group believe, however, that the proposed merger is
substantively fair to Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders based on the following factors:
|
|
|
|
|
the current and historical market prices of Meadow Valley common
stock, including the market price of Meadow Valley common stock
relative to those of other industry participants, the high
volatility of Meadow Valley common stock and the relatively low
volume and illiquid nature of Meadow Valley common stock;
|
|
|
|
the $11.25 per share merger consideration represented a premium
of approximately 22.1% over the price per share of Meadow
Valleys common stock on July 25, 2008, the last
trading day before public announcement of the merger, and a
30.8% premium over the volume weighted average share price for
the 30 calendar days prior to the public announcement of the
merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the terms of the merger agreement provide Meadow Valley with a
45-day
post-signing go shop period during which Meadow
Valley has the right to solicit additional interest in a
transaction involving Meadow Valley and, after such
45-day
period, permit Meadow Valley to respond to unsolicited proposals
during the period prior to the stockholders vote, subject
to certain conditions as more fully described below under
The Merger Agreement Restrictions on
Solicitation, Acquisition Proposals and Changes in
Recommendation;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the Meadow Valley board of directors (with Messrs. Larson
and Nelson abstaining) unanimously determined, based, in part,
on the recommendation of the Special Committee, that the merger
agreement and the merger are substantively and procedurally fair
to the unaffiliated stockholders of Meadow Valley and in the
best interests of such stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the merger will provide consideration to the stockholders of
Meadow Valley (other than the Rollover Participants and possibly
Mr. Bottcher) entirely in cash, which provides certainty of
value; and
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley would not have to establish the existence and
amount of its damages in the event of a failure of the merger to
be consummated under certain circumstances in light of the 2.5%
reverse
break-up fee
(not including certain of Meadow Valleys documented and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with the
transaction) payable by Investor if Investor were to breach its
obligations under the merger agreement and fail to complete the
merger, which such obligation is supported by a letter of credit
obtained by Investor.
|
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group also believe that the
factors discussed below relating to the procedural safeguards
involved in the negotiation of the merger, provided assurance of
the procedural fairness of the proposed merger to Meadow
Valleys unaffiliated stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
the $11.25 per share merger consideration and other terms and
conditions of the merger agreement resulted from extensive
negotiations between the Special Committee and its advisors and
Investor, Merger Sub and Insight Equity and their respective
advisors;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee consisted entirely of directors who are
independent directors with respect to the transaction and
included all the independent directors on Meadow Valleys
board of directors;
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
except with respect to any options held by the Special
Committee, the members of the Special Committee will not
personally benefit from the consummation of the merger in a
manner different from Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders;
|
|
|
|
that Meadow Valley had opportunities to market a transaction to
third parties even during its negotiations with Insight Equity;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee unanimously determined that the merger
agreement and the merger are substantively and procedurally fair
to the unaffiliated stockholders of Meadow Valley and in the
best interests of such stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the Special Committee retained and received advice from
Alvarez & Marsal, as financial advisor, DLA Piper and
Ballard Spahr, as legal advisors, and retained Morgan Joseph and
received the opinion referred to above;
|
|
|
|
the fact that Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group did not
participate in or have any influence on the deliberative process
of, or the conclusions reached by, the Special Committee or the
negotiating positions of the Special Committee; and
|
|
|
|
the fact that there is a provision in the merger agreement
allowing the board of directors (acting upon the recommendation
of the Special Committee, if then in existence) or the Special
Committee to withdraw or change its recommendation of the merger
agreement, and to terminate the merger agreement, in certain
circumstances relating to the presence of a Superior Proposal,
subject, in certain cases, to a payment by Meadow Valley to
Investor of a termination fee.
|
The board and the Special Committee did not (i) retain an
unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of Meadow
Valleys stockholders for purposes of negotiating the terms
of the merger agreement or (ii) structure the transaction to
require approval of at least a majority of unaffiliated
stockholders. Nevertheless the Investor, Merger Sub and the
Insight Group believe that taking into account the factors
listed above and further taking into account the fact that the
Rollover Participants will have the right to vote only
approximately 3.5% of the outstanding Meadow Valley common stock
(assuming they dont exercise their options prior to the
record date), the absence of these two safeguards did not
diminish the fairness of the process undertaken by the board and
the Special Committee.
Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group did not consider the
liquidation value of Meadow Valley because they considered
Meadow Valley to be a viable, going concern and therefore did
not consider liquidation value to be a relevant methodology.
Further, Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group did not
consider net book value of Meadow Valley, which is an
accounting concept, as a factor because they believed that net
book value is not a material indicator of the value of Meadow
Valley as a going concern but rather is indicative of historical
costs. Meadow Valleys net book value per share as of
June 30, 2008 was approximately $7.21, or approximately
35.9% lower than the $11.25 per share cash merger consideration.
The foregoing discussion of the information and factors
considered and weight given by Investor, Merger Sub and the
Insight Group in connection with the fairness of the merger is
not intended to be exhaustive, but is believed to include the
material factors considered by Investor, Merger Sub and the
Insight Group. Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group did
not find it practicable to assign, and did not assign, relative
weights to the individual factors considered in reaching their
conclusions as to the fairness of the proposed merger. Rather,
their fairness determinations were made after consideration of
all of the foregoing factors as a whole.
Report of
Advisor to Investor, Merger Sub and the Insight Group
Report
of AccuVal Associates, Incorporated
In connection with its review and analysis of the proposed
merger of Merger Sub with and into Meadow Valley, Insight Equity
engaged AccuVal Associates, Incorporated (AccuVal)
to conduct an asset appraisal of machinery and equipment owned
by Meadow Valley. This appraisal is referred to as the
AccuVal Report. AccuVal is an industrial and
commercial appraisal and consulting firm providing valuations
with expertise in machinery, inventory, real estate, businesses
and intangible assets worldwide. AccuVal regularly engages in
asset appraisals
49
similar to that conducted for Insight Equity. Insight Equity
selected AccuVal to perform the asset appraisal based on
AccuVals knowledge, experience and reputation in
conducting similar reviews.
On April 7, 2008, AccuVal presented the AccuVal Report to
Insight Equity. AccuVal also provided in a separate letter a
summary table describing the values attributed to the assets of
Meadow Valley by location. The AccuVal Report and the letter are
attached as Exhibits (c)(7) and (c)(8) to the
Schedule 13E-3
that Meadow Valley filed with the SEC. For instructions on how
to obtain materials from the SEC, see Where You Can Find
More Information in this proxy statement.
The following is a summary of the material analyses and
conclusions contained in the AccuVal Report. Please refer to the
full text of the AccuVal Report for a further description of the
assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and
limitations of the AccuVal Report and the review and analyses
undertaken in furnishing the AccuVal Report to Insight Equity.
The AccuVal Report is addressed and was furnished to Insight
Equity. It does not address the merits of the underlying
business decision by Insight Equity to propose, consider,
approve, recommend, declare advisable or consummate the merger,
and does not constitute a recommendation to the partners of
Insight Equity, or any other person or entity as to any specific
action that should be taken (or not taken) in connection with
the merger or as to any strategic or financial alternatives to
the merger or as to the timing of any of the foregoing. Without
limiting the foregoing, the AccuVal Report does not constitute a
recommendation to Meadow Valleys stockholders on how to
vote at the special meeting or with respect to any other action
that should be taken (or not taken) in connection with the
merger or otherwise.
Between March 24, 2007 and March 26, 2008, AccuVal
personnel inspected certain machinery and equipment identified
as owned by Meadow Valley. The inspection was conducted to
gather data regarding the value of Meadow Valleys tangible
personal property to be used for business diligence purposes in
connection with the proposed merger.
The appraisal estimated the Orderly Liquidation Value and Fair
Market Value of certain tangible personal property of Meadow
Valley. For purposes of the report, (i) the Orderly
Liquidation Value means the estimated most probably price that
the subject personal property could realize at a privately
negotiated sale, properly advertised and managed by a seller
obligated to sell over a time period of three to six months, and
(ii) the Fair Market Value means the estimated most
probable price that the subject personal property could
typically realize in an exchange between a willing buyer and
willing seller, with equity to both, neither being under
compulsion to buy or sell, and with both parties fully aware of
all relevant facts.
Methodology
In connection with the AccuVal Report, two basic valuation
methods were used to derive an indication of value of the
assets. These methods include the Cost Approach and the Sales
Comparison Approach.
The Cost Approach is a set of procedures in which an appraiser
derives a value indication by estimating the current cost to
reproduce or replace the personal property, deducting for all
depreciation, including physical deterioration, functional
obsolescence, and external or economic obsolescence.
The Sales Comparison Approach is a set of procedures in which an
appraiser derives a value indication by comparing the personal
property being appraised with similar assets that have been sold
recently, applying appropriate units of comparison, and making
adjustments based on the elements of comparison to the sale
prices of the comparable.
The Sales Comparison Approach was the primary basis upon which
the assets were appraised. The Cost Approach was also considered
and given some limited weight in the final analysis.
In connection with the AccuVal Report, AccuVal relied upon
information provided by Meadow Valley personnel with respect to
certain assets that were in transit or offsite on the dates of
the inspection. The valuation analysis included consideration of
transactions involving sales of similar assets. It also
considered the availability of competitive equipment on the open
market and the overall condition and quality of the subject
assets compared with the assets soled or available. Research
included searches of comparable sales databases. AccuVal
contacted original
50
equipment manufacturers, manufacturers representatives,
used machinery and equipment dealers, and auctioneers and
liquidators. AccuVal assembled and analyzed all of the
information gathered for the subject assets and during the
market research process. The approaches to value most
appropriate to the purposes and intended use of the appraisal
were then developed. The value indications were reconciled and
the most meaningful data was considered in the final value
estimates.
Summary
of Findings
|
|
|
|
|
Net Orderly Liquidation Value of $23,355,000; and
|
|
|
|
Fair Market Value of $28,491,600.
|
Plans for
Meadow Valley After the Merger
After the merger, Investor expects that the business and
operations of the surviving corporation will be continued
substantially as they are currently being conducted by Meadow
Valley and its subsidiaries.
Other than the financing of the merger described elsewhere in
this proxy statement, Investor has no present plans or proposals
involving Meadow Valley or its subsidiaries, including Ready
Mix, that relate to or would result in an extraordinary
corporate transaction such as a merger, reorganization, or
liquidation, or a purchase, sale, or transfer of a material
amount of assets, or any other material change in their
corporate structures or businesses. However, after consummation
of the merger, the board of directors of the surviving
corporation may review proposals relating to or may propose an
acquisition or disposition of assets or other changes in the
business, corporate structure, capitalization, or management of
the surviving corporation or its subsidiaries, including Ready
Mix.
Certain
Effects of the Merger
If the merger is consummated, Investor will directly hold the
entire equity interest in the surviving corporation, and will
exclusively benefit from any future earnings or growth of the
surviving corporation and any increases in value of the
surviving corporation. The unaffiliated stockholders of Meadow
Valley will no longer have any interest in, and will not be
stockholders of, Meadow Valley. Accordingly, the unaffiliated
stockholders will not benefit from any future earnings or growth
of Meadow Valley or from any increases in the value of Meadow
Valley or any future dividends that may be paid, if any, and
will no longer bear the risk of any decreases in value of Meadow
Valley. Instead, each unaffiliated stockholder will have the
right to receive, upon consummation of the merger, the merger
consideration, for each share of common stock held.
Each option to purchase shares of Meadow Valley common stock
that is outstanding and unexercised (whether vested or unvested)
will be canceled and the holders of such options will be
entitled to receive an amount, in cash, equal to the product, if
any, of the number of shares subject to each such option
multiplied by the excess, if any, of the merger consideration
over the exercise price per share of each such option, less
applicable withholding taxes.
While adequate provision will be made so that the holders of the
warrants will have the right to receive, upon exercise of the
warrants and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, $11.25
per share, without interest (and less applicable withholding
taxes), because all warrants are out of the money,
we do not expect any warrant holder to exercise their warrants.
The benefit to the unaffiliated stockholders of the merger is
the payment of a premium, in cash, above the market value for
their common stock prior to the initial announcement of the
proposed merger on July 28, 2008. This cash payment assures
that all unaffiliated stockholders will receive the same amount
for their shares, rather than taking the risks associated with
attempting to sell their shares in the open market. The receipt
of cash will generally be a taxable sale transaction for
U.S. federal income tax purposes.
As a result of the merger, Meadow Valleys common stock
will be removed from listing on Nasdaq and deregistered under
the Exchange Act, and Meadow Valley will no longer file reports
with the SEC.
Upon the termination of the registration of Meadow Valleys
common stock under the Exchange Act, the expenses related to
compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, as well as
the expenses of being a public
51
company generally, will be eliminated. Because Investor will be
the sole stockholder of the surviving corporation after the
merger, Investor, and not the current stockholders, will benefit
from any net savings resulting from the termination of Meadow
Valleys Exchange Act registration.
Investor will, however, bear all of the risk of any decreases in
value of the surviving corporation. Moreover, because the common
stock will cease to be publicly-traded, Investor will bear the
risks associated with the lack of liquidity in its investment in
the surviving corporation.
The directors of Merger Sub will be the directors of the
surviving corporation immediately after the merger. Investor
expects that the officers of Meadow Valley immediately prior to
the merger will be the officers of the surviving corporation
following the merger.
The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be
the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the surviving
corporation immediately after the merger.
Financial
Projections
Meadow Valley does not, as a matter of course, make public
projections as to future revenue or earnings. However, Meadow
Valley regularly prepares and updates financial projections and
annual operating budgets as part of its budget and forecasting
process. These financial forecasts and budgets are generally
prepared in the fourth quarter of each year for the next fiscal
year. As actual financial results become finalized, Meadow
Valley updates its projections by replacing forecasted
information. Meadow Valleys financial projections rely
significantly on forecasts of awarded long-term construction
contracts for its wholly-owned subsidiary Meadow Valley
Contractors, Inc. In the same manner that Meadow Valley updates
forecasted information based upon finalized financial results,
it also updates forecasted backlog and contract revenues and
gross profit estimates based upon the actual award of long-term
contracts. As a result, new financial projections are usually
generated once a month.
Meadow Valleys financial projections were provided to
ThomasLloyd for the purpose of its evaluation and analysis of a
potential leveraged buyout transaction. The financial
projections provided to ThomasLloyd were prepared in the
ordinary course as described above and they were based upon
actual results through June 30, 2007 and projected
financial results through December 31, 2009. ThomasLloyd
prepared analyses that utilized Meadow Valleys financial
projections as a basis for a comprehensive evaluation that
contemplated a buyout scenario and that included, among other
things, financial projections through 2014 and various
transaction financing projections and related pro forma analyses.
ThomasLloyd prepared these financial projections dated
October 24, 2007 for the purpose of presenting to
prospective parties to ascertain any indication of interest in
pursuing a possible transaction. ThomasLloyd provided its
financial projection to Insight Equity as well as to other
potential equity sponsors in October 2007 and as indicated in
Background of the Merger. A summary of these
financial projections provided by ThomasLloyd to Insight Equity
is set forth in the first table below.
In early 2008, taking into account deteriorating financial
conditions, Meadow Valley revised its financial projections to
reflect economic trends experienced in the second half of 2007
and changes in Meadow Valleys assumptions in its
projections of consolidated revenue and gross profit. Meadow
Valley completed its initial review and change in its financial
projections for 2008, 2009 and 2010 in early April 2008. At
about the same time, Meadow Valley finalized its first quarter
2008 financial results and updated the newly prepared financial
projections with these actual results. These financial
projections were finalized on April 28, 2008.
Meadow Valley prepared and provided the April 28, 2008
financial projections to Insight Equity and their financial
advisors and responded to questions regarding certain financial
projections. Meadow Valley also provided these financial
projections to Alvarez & Marsal, financial advisor to
the Special Committee and Morgan Joseph who performed their own
evaluation in order to provide a fairness opinion. The Special
Committee reviewed and considered these financial projections
and the financial analysis performed by Alvarez &
Marsal and Morgan Joseph in reaching its determination to
approve the merger and make its recommendation to Meadow
Valleys board of directors and its unaffiliated
stockholders.
52
These projections were not prepared with a view toward public
disclosure or with a view toward compliance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the published
guidelines of the SEC or the guidelines established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for
preparation and presentation of prospective financial
information. The inclusion of this information should not be
regarded as an indication that Meadow Valley, the Special
Committee, our board of directors, or any other recipient of
this information considered, or now considers, it to be a
reliable prediction of future results.
Meadow Valleys projections dated April 28, 2008 have
been prepared by, and are the responsibility of Meadow Valley.
Neither Meadow Valleys independent auditor, nor any other
independent accountants, have compiled, examined, or performed
any procedures with respect to these financial projections, nor
have they expressed any opinion or other form of assurance on
such information or its achievability, and they assume no
responsibility for, and disclaim any association with, such
financial projections.
In compiling Meadow Valleys projections, Meadow Valley
took into account historical performance, combined with
estimates regarding revenues, EBITDA and capital spending. These
financial projections were developed in a manner consistent with
historical development of budgets and were not developed for
public disclosure. Although these financial projections are
presented with numerical specificity, these financial
projections reflect numerous assumptions and estimates as to
future events that Meadow Valley believed were reasonable at the
time the projections were prepared. In addition, factors such as
industry performance and general business, economic, regulatory,
market and financial conditions, all of which are difficult to
predict and beyond the control of Meadow Valley, may cause the
financial projections or the underlying assumptions to be
inaccurate. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that Meadow
Valleys financial projections dated April 28, 2008,
will be realized, and actual results may be materially greater
or less than those contained in the financial projections.
Meadow Valley does not intend to update or otherwise revise
these financial projections to reflect circumstances existing
after the date when made or to reflect the occurrence of future
events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions
underlying the projections are shown to be in error.
A summary of the financial projections dated April 28,
2008, provided by Meadow Valley to Insight Equity and its
financial advisors as described above, in April 2008 is set
forth in the second table below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ThomasLloyd Prepared
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projections Provided in October 2007
|
|
$ in thousands except as otherwise noted
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
212,672
|
|
|
$
|
246,382
|
|
|
$
|
301,248
|
|
|
$
|
331,373
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
11.4%
|
|
|
|
11.0%
|
|
|
|
9.6%
|
|
|
|
9.6%
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
5,558
|
|
|
$
|
3,417
|
|
|
$
|
3,487
|
|
|
$
|
4,053
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
$
|
4,129
|
|
|
$
|
5,543
|
|
|
$
|
6,243
|
|
|
$
|
7,013
|
|
EBITDA*
|
|
$
|
12,352
|
|
|
$
|
15,661
|
|
|
$
|
16,591
|
|
|
$
|
18,250
|
|
Working capital
|
|
$
|
20,516
|
|
|
$
|
3,606
|
|
|
$
|
(1,575
|
)
|
|
$
|
(6,045
|
)
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
4,800
|
|
|
$
|
7,000
|
|
|
$
|
7,000
|
|
|
$
|
7,700
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
$
|
13,738
|
|
|
$
|
50,992
|
|
|
$
|
43,246
|
|
|
$
|
35,500
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
$
|
1,386
|
|
|
$
|
4,423
|
|
|
$
|
4,536
|
|
|
$
|
4,482
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley Prepared
|
|
|
|
Projections Provided in April 2008
|
|
$ in thousands except as otherwise noted
|
|
2007(1)
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
205,919
|
|
|
$
|
232,793
|
|
|
$
|
268,024
|
|
|
$
|
306,467
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
8.5%
|
|
|
|
5.9%
|
|
|
|
6.2%
|
|
|
|
7.6%
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
4,061
|
|
|
$
|
3,270
|
|
|
$
|
3,738
|
|
|
$
|
6,340
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
$
|
7,082
|
|
|
$
|
7,286
|
|
|
$
|
6,849
|
|
|
$
|
6,584
|
|
EBITDA*
|
|
$
|
14,197
|
|
|
$
|
11,973
|
|
|
$
|
13,099
|
|
|
$
|
18,416
|
|
Working capital
|
|
$
|
22,971
|
|
|
$
|
26,405
|
|
|
$
|
31,867
|
|
|
$
|
38,024
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
8,172
|
|
|
$
|
5,720
|
|
|
$
|
5,500
|
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
$
|
12,269
|
|
|
$
|
11,154
|
|
|
$
|
8,789
|
|
|
$
|
6,174
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
$
|
1,386
|
|
|
$
|
1,365
|
|
|
$
|
1,451
|
|
|
$
|
1,517
|
|
|
|
* |
EBITDA, or earnings before interest income, interest expense,
income taxes, depreciation expense and amortization expense, is
a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of
Regulation G promulgated by the SEC and is calculated by
Meadow Valley by adjusting net income to exclude interest
expense, interest income, income taxes, depreciation expense and
amortization expense. For internal purposes, Meadow Valley
analyzes operating performance using a non-GAAP financial
measure since it believes that this measure enhances
understanding and comparability of its performance by
highlighting its results from continuing operations and the
underlying profitability drivers.
|
|
|
(1) |
As of April 28, 2008, which is the date that Meadow Valley
completed its financial projections summarized above, 2007
financial results were finalized and included in Meadow
Valleys annual report on
Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on March 31, 2008.
|
Interests
of Meadow Valleys Officers and Directors in the
Merger
In considering the recommendation of the Special Committee and
the board of directors of Meadow Valley with respect to the
merger, Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders should be
aware that certain members of the board of directors of Meadow
Valley and of Meadow Valleys management have interests
that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of
Meadow Valleys unaffiliated stockholders, as more fully
described below. These interests may create actual or potential
conflicts of interest. In an effort to eliminate or minimize the
impact of any actual or potential conflicts of interest, Meadow
Valleys board of directors formed the Special Committee to
evaluate the proposed merger. The Special Committee is comprised
solely of members of Meadow Valleys board of directors who
are not employees of Meadow Valley, who are deemed to be
independent under the listing standards of Nasdaq,
and who have no commercial relationship with Investor, Merger
Sub or their affiliates.
Prior
Purchases by the Rollover Participants
During the past two years, Mr. Larson purchased Meadow
Valley common stock as follows: On November 30, 2006,
Mr. Larson exercised options to purchase 25,000 shares
of common stock at an exercise price of $4.375 per share and on
March 26, 2008, Mr. Larson exercised options to
purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price
of $5.875 per share.
During the past two years, Mr. Nelson purchased Meadow
Valley common stock as follows: On November 28, 2006,
Mr. Nelson exercised options to purchase 15,000 shares
of common stock at an exercise price of $4.375 per share and on
March 26, 2008, Mr. Nelson exercised options to
purchase 5,800 shares of common stock at a purchase price
of $5.875 per share.
Other than the exercise of their outstanding options immediately
prior to the effective time of the merger, the Rollover
Participants have not purchased any shares of Meadow Valley
common stock in the last two years, and do not intend to
purchase, any Meadow Valley common stock. None of the Rollover
Participants have entered into any transaction involving Meadow
Valley common stock in the last 60 days.
54
Rollover
Arrangements
In connection with the execution of the merger agreement,
Messrs. Larson and Nelson entered into a rollover
commitment letter with Phoenix Holdings. Pursuant to the
rollover commitment letter, Messrs. Larson and Nelson will
contribute substantially all of their shares of Meadow Valley
common stock to Phoenix Holdings. Their respective contributions
will include shares acquired by them upon exercise of their
options prior to the merger and may, at their discretion, be net
of shares utilized to pay the exercise price of their options
and estimated federal income taxes. Shares held by
Messrs. Larson and Nelson in their respective retirement
plans, constituting 16,247 and 1,979 shares, respectively,
may be canceled and converted into the right to receive $11.25
per share in cash, without interest. Depending on how they
determine to effect their respective contributions,
Mr. Larson is expected to receive between a 3.6% and 4.5%
fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix Holdings and
Mr. Nelson is expected to receive between a 3.8% and 4.9%
fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix Holdings. The
percentages of fully diluted equity interests in Phoenix
Holdings are based on the current debt commitment letters
received by Insight Equity in connection with the proposed
merger as described herein, Insight Equitys expected
capital contributions to Phoenix Holdings as of the date hereof,
the estimated taxes payable in connection with the exercise of
options, the assumption that the shares held in their retirement
plans are canceled and converted into the right to receive
$11.25 in cash, without interest, and the assumption that LBC
Credit Partners, Inc., which has the right, but not the
obligation, to make an equity investment in Phoenix Holdings,
determines not to make such investment. Should any such factors
or assumptions change prior to the closing of the merger, such
percentages may also change. In addition, conditioned upon the
occurrence of certain events subsequent to the merger, each of
Messrs. Larson and Nelson will be entitled to earn
additional
Class B-1
Voting Units in an amount equal to between 0% and 3.5% of the
Class B-1
Voting Units outstanding at the effective time of the merger.
Mr. Bottcher will be given the right, but will have no
obligation, to contribute all of his shares of Meadow Valley
common stock (other than those held in his retirement plan) to
Phoenix Holdings. If he elects to do so, which he has advised
Meadow Valley he intends to do, his contribution will include
shares acquired by him upon exercise of his options prior to the
merger and may, at his discretion, be net of shares utilized to
pay the exercise price of his options and estimated federal
income taxes. Shares held by Mr. Bottcher in his retirement
plans, constituting 1,036 shares, will be canceled and
converted into the right to receive $11.25 per share in cash,
without interest. Depending on how he determines to effect his
contribution, Mr. Bottcher is expected to receive between a
0.9% and 1.0% fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix Holdings,
such percentages being subject to certain factors and
assumptions described more fully herein. The percentage of fully
diluted equity interests in Phoenix Holdings is based on the
same factors and assumptions described above with respect to the
percentage of fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix Holdings
to be held by Messrs. Larson and Nelson. In the event
Mr. Bottcher determines to contribute his shares and makes
an out-of-pocket federal income tax payment in connection with
the exercise of any options, Phoenix Holdings has agreed to make
cash distributions to him in an amount equal to such federal
income tax payment; provided that Phoenix Holdings is not
required to make cash distributions in excess of 35% of
Mr. Bottchers applicable income resulting from the
exercise of such options. Any cash that Mr. Bottcher
receives in connection with his payment of tax obligations, if
any, would be offset (in equal one-third installments) against
any bonus amounts awarded to Mr. Bottcher, if any, during
the three fiscal years immediately following the closing of the
merger.
By virtue of the equity rollovers and other matters described
above, the Rollover Participants and Mr. Bottcher, if
Mr. Bottcher elects to contribute his shares, will be
parties to a limited liability company agreement of Phoenix
Holdings to be entered into at the closing of the merger, and
will have rights and obligations under such agreement with
respect to Phoenix Holdings and its members.
Phoenix
Holdings Limited Liability Company Agreement
Governance. The proposed limited liability
company agreement of Phoenix Holdings to be entered into at the
closing of the merger remains subject to negotiation. It is
anticipated that pursuant to that agreement, a board of managers
will have broad authority over the operations of Phoenix
Holdings. At the effective time of the merger, the board of
managers of Phoenix Holdings is expected to consist of six
members. The board of managers is initially anticipated to be
comprised of four individuals nominated by the Insight Equity
Member, Bradley E. Larson and Kenneth D. Nelson. Each of
Messrs. Larson and Nelson is expected to be entitled to be
appointed to the board of
55
managers so long as each such person is a full-time employee of
Phoenix Holdings or one of its subsidiaries and owns at least
2.5% of Phoenix Holdings outstanding Class B Common
Units.
Economic Rights. The economic rights in
Phoenix Holdings are initially anticipated to be divided into
three classes of units: Class A Preferred Units,
Class B-1
Voting Units and
Class B-2
Non-Voting Units.
Class B-1
Voting Units of Phoenix Holdings are expected to be voting
interests, while Class A Preferred Units and
Class B-2
Non-Voting
Units of Phoenix Holdings are expected to be non-voting. Members
holding at least a majority of the
Class B-1
Voting Units are expected to be able to authorize additional
classes of units of Phoenix Holdings having such rights, terms
and conditions as such members may determine.
Distributions in respect of the units of Phoenix Holdings are
expected to be made first to each member in an amount
that would allow such member to pay its income taxes in the
event Phoenix Holdings expects to report, or does report, to its
members items of income or gain with respect to their units in
excess of items of deduction or loss, second pro rata to
the holders of Class A Preferred Units until such holders
have received their preferred return, third pro rata to
the holders of Class A Preferred Units until such
holders capital contributions with respect to such
Class A Preferred Units have been returned and fourth
pro rata to the holders of
Class B-1
Voting Units and
Class B-2
Non-Voting Units. The preferred return on the Class A
Preferred Units is expected to be equal to the highest interest
rate being charged by a lender to Phoenix Holdings for borrowed
money as of the effective time of the merger, plus 2%, and is
expected to be payable either in cash or in kind (as a deemed
increase in the capital contributions of the Class A
Preferred Unitholders). The anticipated terms of the limited
liability company agreement are subject to negotiation and
change.
The table below sets forth the initial anticipated equity
capitalization of Phoenix Holdings immediately following the
merger, detailing the contributions expected to be made by the
Insight Equity Member and each of the Rollover Participants, as
well as Mr. Bottcher:
Equity
Capitalization of Phoenix Holdings Immediately Following the
Merger(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Contributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of Fully
|
|
|
|
Meadow
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
Class B-2
|
|
|
% of Class
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
|
Valley
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class B-1
|
|
|
Class B-1
|
|
|
Non-
|
|
|
B-2 Non-
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Imputed
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Preferred
|
|
|
Voting
|
|
|
Voting
|
|
|
Voting
|
|
|
Voting
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Interests
|
|
|
Insight Equity Member
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,716,618
|
|
|
|
91.7
|
%
|
|
|
30,716,618
|
|
|
|
91.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
91.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bradley E. Larson
|
|
|
107,788
|
|
|
|
1,212,619
|
|
|
|
1,212,619
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
1,212,619
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth D. Nelson
|
|
|
112,608
|
|
|
|
1,266,836
|
|
|
|
1,266,836
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
%
|
|
|
1,266,836
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert W. Bottcher
|
|
|
25,755
|
|
|
|
289,743
|
|
|
|
289,743
|
|
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
289,743
|
|
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
246,151
|
|
|
$
|
2,769,197
|
|
|
|
33,485,815
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
33,485,815
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Based on the current debt commitment letters received by Insight
Equity in connection with the proposed merger as described
herein, Insight Equitys expected capital contributions to
Phoenix Holdings as of the date hereof, the estimated taxes
payable with respect to the exercise of options, and the
assumption that no other party makes an equity investment in
Phoenix Holdings. Should any such factors or assumptions change
prior to the closing of the merger, the information reflected in
this table may also change. The information in this table also
assumes that Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Bottcher effect a
cashless exercise of their options and, as a result, is net of
shares utilized to pay the exercise price of their options and
estimated federal income taxes, and that shares held by them in
their respective retirement plans are canceled and converted
into the right to receive $11.25 in cash, without interest. If,
instead, they choose not to engage in a cashless exercise and to
pay their own estimated federal income taxes,
Messrs. Larson, Nelson and Bottcher are expected to receive
a 4.5%, 4.9%, and 1.0% fully diluted equity interest in Phoenix
Holdings, respectively, subject to certain factors and
assumptions described herein. |
56
Other Provisions. The limited liability
company agreement for Phoenix Holdings is expected to contain
restrictions and other provisions relating to transfers of
units, including tag along rights, rights of first refusal and,
in the case of the Insight Equity Member, drag along rights. In
addition, each member of Phoenix Holdings will have
piggyback registration rights with respect to a
secondary public offering of Phoenix Holdings, or its
successors, equity interests.
Expenses;
Termination Fee
If the closing of the merger occurs, Phoenix Holdings will pay,
or cause to be paid, the fees and expenses incurred by Insight
Equity or its affiliates and the Rollover Participants in
connection with the merger agreement and related transactions up
to a maximum of $150,000. In the event the merger does not
close, the Rollover Participants would be responsible for any
costs they incurred in excess of $150,000 and any costs they
incurred that did not benefit pursuit of the acquisition of
Meadow Valley by Insight Equity, Investor and
Messrs. Larson and Nelson. If the closing of the merger
does not occur solely as a result of the Rollover
Participants failure to diligently pursue the acquisition
of Meadow Valley, Insight Equity or its affiliates and the
Rollover Participants will each pay their own fees and expenses.
If the termination fee contemplated by the merger agreement is
paid to Investor, the Rollover Participants and Investor shall
receive their pro rata portion of such termination fee
remaining, if any, following the payment of the fees and
expenses contemplated above. Each partys pro rata share of
such termination fee, if any, shall be based upon their initial
anticipated ownership of Class B Units of Phoenix Holdings.
Pursuit
of Transaction
Each of Insight Equity and Messrs. Larson and Nelson
agreed, absent written consent to the contrary, not to attempt
to acquire Meadow Valley or finance, or seek to finance, the
acquisition of Meadow Valley, without the inclusion of the
other party. Such obligation does not, however, restrict
Messrs. Larson or Nelson from performing their duties owed
to Meadow Valley, including, but not limited to, assisting
Meadow Valley in evaluating any bid or offer to acquire Meadow
Valley made by a third party so long as Messrs. Larson and
Nelson do not have an equity interest or other direct or
indirect affiliation, contractual arrangement, obligation,
commitment, agreement or understanding with such third party.
Waiver
of Severance Rights
Each of Messrs. Larson, Nelson, Doty and Bottcher and Mr.
Robert A. Terril, Mr. Robert R. Morris, and Ms. Nicole R.
Smith have agreed to waive any right to receive compensation
under their respective employment agreements that might
otherwise become payable as a result of the closing of the
merger.
Executive
Officers and Directors
It is anticipated that the executive officers of Meadow Valley
will hold substantially similar positions with the surviving
corporation after completion of the merger. Immediately after
the consummation of the merger, the directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior the effective time of the merger will become
the directors of Meadow Valley until the earlier of their
resignation or removal, or until their successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified, as the case may be.
As discussed earlier in this proxy statement, each option to
purchase shares of Meadow Valleys common stock that is
outstanding and unexercised (whether vested or unvested) will be
cancelled and the holders of such options will be entitled to
receive an amount, in cash, equal to the product, if any, of the
number of shares subject to each such option multiplied by the
excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the exercise
price per share subject to each such option, net of applicable
withholding taxes. The foregoing will result in an aggregate
cash payment to our directors and executive officers (excluding
the Rollover Participants and Mr. Bottcher) of approximately
$151,000 based on holdings as of September 16, 2008.
In addition to their regular board fees and reimbursement of
expenses, each member of the Special Committee receives
$40,000 per year for service on that committee and the
chairman receives an additional $25,000 per year. These
committee fees are paid quarterly in arrears.
57
Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income
tax considerations relevant to the stockholders whose shares of
common stock are converted to the merger consideration in the
merger. This summary is based on laws, regulations, rulings, and
decisions currently in effect, all of which are subject to
change (possibly with retroactive effect) and is not applicable
to Investor. This summary applies only to stockholders who hold
shares of common stock as capital assets within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and may not apply to certain types of stockholders
(such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, and
broker-dealers) who may be subject to special rules. This
summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a stockholder who, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign
corporation, a foreign partnership, or a foreign estate or
trust, nor does it consider the effect of any foreign, state, or
local tax laws.
Because individual circumstances may differ, each stockholder
should consult his, her, or its own tax advisor to determine the
applicability of the rules discussed below to his, her, or its
tax situation and the particular tax effects to him, her or it
of the merger, including the application and effect of state,
local, and other tax laws.
The receipt of cash for shares of common stock pursuant to the
merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. In general, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, a beneficial owner of shares of common stock will
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between
the beneficial owners adjusted tax basis in the shares of
common stock converted to cash in the merger and the amount of
cash received. A beneficial owners adjusted basis in the
shares of common stock generally will equal the beneficial
owners purchase price for such shares of common stock, as
adjusted to take into account stock dividends, stock splits, or
similar transactions. There have been no transactions
necessitating such adjustments in the current circumstances.
Gain or loss must be determined separately for each block of
common stock (i.e., shares of common stock acquired at the same
cost in a single transaction) converted to cash in the merger.
Notwithstanding the above, if you are related, under applicable
attribution rules, to a person deemed to own shares of the
surviving corporation after the merger, all the cash you receive
might possibly be treated as a dividend of the surviving
corporation. If you are related to a person deemed to own shares
after the merger, you should consult with your tax advisor to
determine your appropriate tax treatment of the merger.
A stockholders gain or loss on the receipt of cash for
shares of common stock generally will be capital gain or loss.
Net capital gain (i.e., generally, capital gain in excess of
capital loss) recognized by individuals, estates, and trusts
from the sale of property held more than one year would
generally be taxed at a rate not to exceed 15% for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Net capital gain from
property held for one year or less will be subject to tax at
ordinary income tax rates. In addition, capital gains recognized
by a corporate taxpayer will be subject to tax at the ordinary
income tax rates applicable to corporations. In general, capital
losses are deductible only against capital gains and are not
available to offset ordinary income. However, individual
taxpayers are allowed to offset a limited amount of capital
losses against ordinary income.
A stockholder may, under certain circumstances, be subject to
backup withholding with respect to reportable
payments made to the stockholder such as payments of cash
for shares of common stock, unless the stockholder provides a
taxpayer identification number or otherwise establishes an
exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional
U.S. federal income tax. Rather, any amount withheld under
these rules will be creditable against the stockholders
U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME
TAX CONSEQUENCES IS NOT TAX ADVICE. IN ADDITION, THE DISCUSSION
DOES NOT ADDRESS TAX CONSEQUENCES WHICH MAY VARY WITH, OR ARE
CONTINGENT ON, YOUR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. MOREOVER, THE
DISCUSSION DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY NON-INCOME TAX OR ANY FOREIGN,
STATE, OR LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER. ACCORDINGLY, WE
STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSULT WITH YOUR TAX ADVISOR TO
DETERMINE THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, OR
FOREIGN INCOME OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE
MERGER.
58
Merger
Financing
Investor and Merger Sub estimate that the total amount of funds
necessary to consummate the merger and related transactions,
including related customary fees and expenses, will be
approximately $71 million, which will be funded by a
combination of (i) an equity contribution by Insight Equity
and certain other investors and (ii) debt financing.
Insight Equity has obtained the two debt financing commitments
described below in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement. Insight Equitys proposed equity
and debt financing may change after the date hereof. The
surviving corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
together with Investor, are sometimes referred to herein as the
Debt Parties.
Equity
Contribution
Insight Equity will contribute any amounts not provided by debt
financing to finance the transaction, less contributions made by
the Rollover Participants, Mr. Bottcher and other possible
investors.
Debt
Financing
In connection with the merger agreement, Insight Equity received
two debt commitment letters each dated as of July 27, 2008
from LBC Credit Partners, Inc. (LBC) to provide,
subject to the conditions set forth therein, (i) an up to
$10 million senior secured term loan facility (Term
Facility I), and (ii) an up to $19 million
secured term loan facility (Term Facility II), each
for the purpose of financing a portion of the merger,
refinancing certain existing indebtedness of Meadow Valley and
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, paying fees and expenses incurred
in connection with the merger and financing general corporate
purposes. Additionally, the Debt Parties anticipate obtaining an
asset-based revolving credit facility (the Revolving
Credit Facility) from a lender reasonably satisfactory to
LBC, although there is no assurance such Revolving Credit
Facility will be available on acceptable terms or will be
available at all. As of the date hereof, the Debt Parties have
not selected a lender for the Revolving Credit Facility.
The documentation governing each of Term Facility I and Term
Facility II has not been finalized, and accordingly, the
actual terms (including the amounts of debt financing) may
differ from those described in this proxy statement. The Debt
Parties anticipate making certain intra-company transfers of
material assets to facilitate the debt financing, but do not
otherwise have any current plans to transfer any material assets
following closing of the merger.
Each of the commitment letters for Term Facility I and Term
Facility II is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
certain conditions, including, without limitation, the following:
|
|
|
|
|
the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive
documentation with respect to Term Facility I or Term Facility
II, as applicable, (including, without limitation, an
intercreditor agreement), satisfactory to the administrative
agent in its reasonable discretion;
|
|
|
|
since the date of the merger agreement, no event, change,
effect, development, condition or occurrence shall have occurred
that has had or could reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect (as
defined in the merger agreement) with respect to Meadow Valley
or, in the case of Term Facility I, a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, or
assets of the borrower;
|
|
|
|
Insight Equitys compliance in all material respects with
the terms of the commitment letter for Term Facility I or Term
Facility II, as applicable;
|
|
|
|
the conditions to closing of the merger set forth in the merger
agreement shall have been met (or waived with the administrative
agents prior consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld);
|
|
|
|
after giving effect to the merger and the transactions
contemplated thereby, Investor and its subsidiaries shall have
no indebtedness for borrowed money, guarantees, or preferred
stock outstanding other than, as applicable, (i) Term
Facility I, (ii) Term Facility II, (iii) the
Revolving Credit Facility (iv) the existing Ready Mix
credit facility, (v) capital leases existing as of
July 27, 2008, and additional capital leases to the extent
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
permitted under section 5.1(vi) of the merger agreement and
(vi) other indebtedness and preferred stock existing prior
to the merger and reasonably acceptable to the administrative
agent;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the administrative agent shall have received a certificate, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, confirming the
solvency of certain of the Debt Parties; and
|
|
|
|
consummation of the merger and the related transactions,
including closing of the Term Facility I, the Term
Facility II and the Revolving Credit Facility, as
applicable, shall not (i) violate any applicable law,
statute, rule or regulation, (ii) violate, or result in an
event of default under, any material agreement after giving
effect to any consents or approvals that shall have been
obtained, or (iii) require any governmental or other
consent or approval that shall not have been obtained so as to
permit the Debt Parties to operate their business, in all
material respects, consistent with past practices following the
merger.
|
Term
Facility I
Term Facility I, expected to be obtained by some or all of
the Debt Parties, will consist of an up to $10 million
senior secured term facility with a term of five years (but in
no event will such term be later than the maturity of the
anticipated Revolving Credit Facility).
Interest Rate and Fees. Loans under Term
Facility I are generally expected to bear interest at a rate
equal to LIBOR plus the LIBOR margin, which is expected to be
800 basis points. In no event will the interest rate be
less than 12.5% per annum. In addition, Insight Equity will pay
customary commitment fees under Term Facility I.
Guarantors. All obligations under Term
Facility I will be guaranteed by Meadow Valley and certain of
its subsidiaries.
Security. All obligations under Term Facility
I will be secured, subject to permitted liens and other agreed
upon exceptions, by a lien on substantially all present and
future assets of the borrower and guarantors including, without
limitation, cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable,
inventory, inter-company accounts, certain investment property,
equipment, real estate, intellectual property, general
intangibles, equity interests in future direct subsidiaries, and
other tangible and intangible personal and real property, and
the proceeds and products thereof.
Term
Facility II
Term Facility II, expected to be obtained by some or all of the
Debt Parties, will consist of an up to $19 million secured
term facility with a term of five years (but in no event will
such term be later than 90 days after the maturity of Term
Facility I).
Interest Rate and Fees. Loans under Term
Facility II are generally expected to bear cash interest at
a rate equal to 11% per annum and paid in kind interest at the
rate of 7.5% per annum. In addition, Insight Equity will pay
customary commitment fees under Term Facility II.
Guarantors. All obligations under Term
Facility II will be guaranteed, on an unsecured basis, by
Meadow Valley and certain of its subsidiaries.
Security. All obligations under Term
Facility II will be secured, subject to permitted liens and
other agreed upon exceptions, by a lien on substantially all
present and future assets of the borrower including, without
limitation, cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable,
inventory, inter-company accounts, certain investment property,
equipment, real estate, intellectual property, general
intangibles, equity interests in future direct subsidiaries, and
other tangible and intangible personal and real property, and
the proceeds and products thereof.
Co-Invest. LBC has the right, but not the
obligation, to invest $1.25 million in cash as part of any
equity investment in Phoenix Holdings. Any such co-investment
will be in equity with economics similar to that held, directly
or indirectly, by Insight Equity, but without voting rights and
certain other governance and economic rights agreed to by the
parties.
60
Conduct
of the Business of Meadow Valley if the Merger is Not
Consummated
If the merger is not consummated, the board of directors of
Meadow Valley intends to (i) continue providing strategic
guidance and oversight to management as Meadow Valley executes
its operating strategies as detailed in its SEC filings, and
(ii) promptly call and hold its annual meeting of
stockholders to elect directors and to attend to such other
matters as may properly come before the annual meeting.
Litigation
On or about August 5, 2008, a lawsuit was filed in the
Clark County, Nevada District Court under Case
No. A569007 Dept. XIII against Meadow Valley,
each of its directors, Investor and Merger Sub, by Pennsylvania
Avenue Funds in connection with the merger agreement. The
complaint alleges, among other matters, that Meadow Valley and
its directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to
maximize stockholder value in the negotiation of the merger. The
complaint further alleges that Investor and Merger Sub aided and
abetted the alleged breach of fiduciary duties by the directors
of Meadow Valley. The plaintiff is seeking class action
certification on behalf of all shareholders of Meadow Valley
(other than the defendants) and has requested that the court
enjoin the merger or, if the merger is consummated prior to the
entry of the courts final judgment, rescind the merger or
award an unspecified amount of monetary damages. Meadow Valley
believes that this lawsuit is without merit and intends to
vigorously defend itself. Each of the other defendants have
similarly advised Meadow Valley that they believe this lawsuit
is without merit and that they intend to vigorously defend
themselves.
Regulatory
Approvals
Meadow Valley does not believe that any material federal or
state regulatory approvals, filings, or notices are required in
connection with the merger other than approvals, filings or
notices required under the federal securities laws and the
filing of the articles of merger with the Nevada Secretary of
State upon consummation of the merger.
Accounting
Treatment
The merger will be accounted for as a purchase
transaction for financial accounting purposes.
Fees and
Expenses
Whether or not the merger is consummated and except as otherwise
provided in this proxy statement, each party to the merger
agreement will bear its respective fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the merger. Estimated fees and expenses to be
incurred by Meadow Valley in connection with the merger are as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
$
|
950,000
|
|
Accounting expenses
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Financial advisory fees and expenses
|
|
|
1,722,000
|
|
Special Committee fees
|
|
|
145,000
|
|
Printing, proxy solicitation and meeting costs
|
|
|
215,000
|
|
Filing fees
|
|
|
2,358
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,209,358
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provisions
for Unaffiliated Stockholders
No provision has been made to grant stockholders (other than the
Rollover Participants) access to the corporate files of Meadow
Valley or its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, or the other
parties to the merger agreement, or to obtain counsel or
appraisal services at the expense of Meadow Valley or such other
parties.
Rights of
Dissenting Stockholders
Pursuant to applicable Nevada law, there are no dissenters
or appraisal rights relating to the matters to be acted upon at
the special meeting.
61
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this proxy statement and the documents
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement are
forward-looking statements. These include statements as to such
things as our financial condition, results of operations, plans,
objectives, future performance and business, as well as
forward-looking statements relating to the merger. Such
forward-looking statements are based on facts and conditions as
they exist at the time such statements are made. Forward-looking
statements are also based on current expectations, estimates and
projections about our business and the proposed merger, the
accurate prediction of which may be difficult and involve the
assessment of events beyond our control. The forward-looking
statements are further based on assumptions made by management.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by forward-looking
language, including words such as believes,
anticipates, expects,
estimates, intends, may,
plans, projects, will and
similar expressions, or the negative of these words. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Readers
of this proxy statement are cautioned to consider these risks
and uncertainties and not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results
or matters related to the merger to differ materially from what
is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements:
|
|
|
|
|
the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that
could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
significant distress in the U.S. capital markets and other
distress in the U.S. financial system;
|
|
|
|
the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be in
the future instituted against Meadow Valley and others
following announcement of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
the inability to complete the merger due to the failure to
obtain stockholder approval or satisfy other conditions to the
closing of the merger;
|
|
|
|
failure of any party to the merger agreement to abide by the
terms of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
risks that the merger, including the uncertainty surrounding the
closing of the merger, will disrupt the current plans and
operations of Meadow Valley, including as a result of undue
distraction of management and personnel retention problems;
|
|
|
|
conflicts of interest that may exist between members of
management who will be indirectly participating in the ownership
of Meadow Valley following the closing of the merger;
|
|
|
|
the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to
the merger, including the impact of any termination fees Meadow
Valley may incur, which may be substantial; and
|
|
|
|
other risks detailed in our filings with the SEC, including our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, as amended, and our
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008.
|
We believe that the assumptions on which our forward-looking
statements are based are reasonable. However, we cannot assure
you that the actual results or developments we anticipate will
be realized or, if realized, that they will have the expected
effects on our business or operations. All subsequent written
and oral forward-looking statements concerning the merger or
other matters addressed in this proxy statement and attributable
to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified
in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or
referred to in this section. Further, forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date they are made and, except as required
by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to
update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events
or circumstances.
62
INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE SPECIAL MEETING
Time,
Place and Date
This proxy statement is being furnished to stockholders of
Meadow Valley in connection with the solicitation of proxies on
behalf of the board of directors of Meadow Valley for use at the
special meeting of stockholders to be held
on ,
2008 at a.m., local time,
at
and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting.
Purpose
of the Special Meeting
At the special meeting, you will be asked to:
1. consider and vote on the Merger Proposal;
2. consider and vote on the Adjournment Proposal; and
3. transact such other business as may properly come before
the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Meadow
Valley Recommendation
Acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee, the board
of directors of Meadow Valley (with Bradley E. Larson, our
President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, and Kenneth
D. Nelson, our Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and
a director each abstaining) has determined that the merger
agreement and the merger are fair to, and in the best interests
of, Meadow Valley and Meadow Valleys unaffiliated
stockholders. Consequently, Meadow Valleys board of
directors (with Messrs. Larson and Nelson abstaining) has
adopted and approved the merger agreement, and recommends that
stockholders vote FOR approval of the Merger
Proposal and FOR approval of the Adjournment
Proposal.
Record
Date, Outstanding Shares and Quorum
The board of directors has fixed the close of business
on ,
2008 as the record date to determine the Meadow Valley
stockholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the
special meeting. As of the close of business on the record date,
Meadow Valley had
outstanding shares
of common stock held of record by
approximately
registered holders. Each outstanding share of common stock on
the record date is entitled to one vote on all matters coming
before the special meeting. The presence, either in person or by
proxy, of one-third of the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting is
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
at the special meeting.
Required
Vote, Calculation of Vote, Abstentions and Broker
Non-Votes
Approval of the Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow
Valley common stock entitled to vote at the special meeting,
or shares.
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow Valley
common stock entitled to vote and represented at the special
meeting.
At the special meeting, the results of stockholder voting will
be tabulated by the inspector of elections appointed for the
special meeting. All shares of common stock represented at the
special meeting by properly executed or submitted proxies
received prior to or at the special meeting, unless previously
revoked, will be voted at the special meeting in accordance with
the instructions on the proxies. Unless contrary instructions
are indicated, proxies will be voted FOR the
approval of the Merger Proposal and FOR the approval
of the Adjournment Proposal.
Other than the Merger Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal,
Meadow Valley does not know of any matters that are to come
before the special meeting. If any other matters are properly
presented at the special meeting for action, the persons named
in the enclosed proxy will have discretion to vote on such
matters in accordance with their best judgment.
63
Properly authenticated proxies voted abstain at the
special meeting will be counted for purposes of determining
whether a quorum has been achieved at the special meeting and
will have the effect of a vote against the Merger Proposal and
the Adjournment Proposal. For the Merger Proposal, shares that
are not represented at the special meeting or shares that are
held in street name for which voting instructions
have not been given will have the effect of a vote against the
Merger Proposal. For the Adjournment Proposal, shares held in
street name for which no specific instructions are
provided may be voted by your broker, bank or other nominee.
Shares that are not represented at the special meeting will not
affect the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.
Revocation
of Proxy
Giving a proxy does not preclude a stockholders right to
vote in person if the stockholder giving the proxy so desires. A
stockholder has the unconditional right to revoke his, her, or
its proxy at any time prior to voting at the special meeting and
may do so in any of the following ways:
|
|
|
|
|
by sending a notice of revocation to the secretary of Meadow
Valley;
|
|
|
|
by sending a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your
original proxy card;
|
|
|
|
by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card and
following the instructions;
|
|
|
|
by submitting a later dated proxy via the Internet in the same
manner that you submitted your earlier proxy via the Internet
and following the instructions; or
|
|
|
|
by attending the special meeting and voting in person.
|
Your attendance at the special meeting alone will not revoke any
proxy. If you choose to change your vote, you must take the
described action, and the applicable notice must be received, no
later than the beginning of the special meeting.
If your shares are held in an account at a broker or other
nominee, you should contact your broker or other nominee to
change your vote.
Proxy
Solicitation and Expense
The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of
directors of Meadow Valley. The cost of preparing, assembling,
and mailing this proxy statement, the Notice of Special Meeting
and the enclosed proxy will be borne by Meadow Valley. Meadow
Valley is requesting that banks, brokers and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries forward copies of the proxy materials
to their principals and request authority for the execution of
proxies. Meadow Valley may reimburse these persons for
their expenses in so doing. In addition, Meadow Valley has
retained The Altman Group. Inc. to assist in the solicitation.
Meadow Valley will pay The Altman Group. Inc. approximately
$8,500 plus out-of-pocket expenses for its assistance. The
directors, officers and employees of Meadow Valley and its
subsidiaries may also solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile,
electronic mail, telegram or in person. Such directors,
officers, and employees will not be additionally compensated for
this solicitation, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred.
Meadow Valley has not authorized any person to provide any
information or make any representation not contained in this
proxy statement. You should not rely on any such information or
representation as having been authorized.
Surrender
of Stock Certificates
If the Merger Proposal is approved and the merger is
consummated, holders of common stock will be sent instructions
regarding the surrender of their certificates representing
shares of common stock. Stockholders should not send their stock
certificates until they receive these instructions. For more
information on the surrender of stock certificates, please see
the section entitled The Merger Agreement
Procedures for the Exchange of Certificates in this proxy
statement.
64
Adjournment
of the Special Meeting
We currently do not intend to propose adjournment at the special
meeting if there are sufficient votes to approve the Merger
Proposal. If there are insufficient votes to approve the Merger
Proposal, the special meeting may be adjourned or postponed to
another time or place if the Adjournment Proposal is approved by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Meadow
Valley common stock entitled to vote and represented at the
special meeting. If the special meeting is adjourned to a date
more than 60 days later than the date of the original
special meeting, the board of directors is required to fix a new
record date.
65
THE
PARTIES TO THE MERGER
Meadow
Valley
Meadow Valley is engaged in the construction industry as both a
provider of construction services and a supplier of construction
materials. Meadow Valleys construction services segment
specializes in structural concrete construction of highway
bridges and overpasses, and the paving of highways and airport
runways. Meadow Valleys construction materials segment
provides ready-mix concrete, sand, and gravel products to both
itself and primarily to other contractors. Meadow Valleys
construction materials testing segment provides geotechnical,
environmental, and field and laboratory technical services to
the construction industry. The construction services segment
operates throughout Arizona and Nevada, the construction
materials segment operates in the Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix,
Arizona metropolitan areas, and the construction materials
testing segment operates in the Las Vegas, Nevada regional area.
Meadow Valley was incorporated in Nevada on September 15,
1994. Meadow Valleys principal executive offices are
located at 4602 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. The
telephone number of Meadow Valleys principal corporate
offices is
(602) 437-5400
and its website address is www.meadowvalley.com.
Information contained on this website does not constitute part
of this proxy statement.
Phoenix
Parent Corp.
Phoenix Parent Corp., which we refer to as Investor,
was incorporated in Delaware on July 3, 2008 for the
purpose of engaging in the merger. Investor is wholly-owned by
Phoenix Holdings Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, which we refer to as Phoenix Holdings. Each
of Investor and Phoenix Holdings is an affiliate of Insight
Equity I LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and a private
equity firm that we refer to as Insight Equity. If
the Meadow Valley stockholders approve of the merger and the
other conditions to the closing of the merger are satisfied or
waived, in connection with the closing of the merger, Bradley E.
Larson, Meadow Valleys President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director, and Kenneth D. Nelson, Meadow
Valleys Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and a
director, whom we sometimes refer to as the Rollover
Participants, will contribute substantially all of their
shares of Meadow Valley common stock, including shares acquired
upon exercise of options prior to the closing of the merger, to
Phoenix Holdings in exchange for equity interests in that
company. In addition, Robert W. Bottcher, Arizona Area
President of Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc., will be given the
right, but shall have no obligation, to contribute all, but not
less than all, of the shares of Meadow Valley common stock held
by him at the effective time of the merger, including shares
acquired by him upon exercise of options prior to the closing of
the merger, but excluding shares held in his retirement plan, in
exchange for equity interests in Phoenix Holdings. Mr. Bottcher
has advised Meadow Valley that he intends to contribute his
Meadow Valley shares to Phoenix Holdings.
Investors principal executive offices are located at 1400
Civic Place, Suite 250, Southlake, Texas 76092. The
telephone number of Investors principal corporate offices
is
(817) 488-7775.
Phoenix
Merger Sub, Inc.
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Investor, was incorporated in Nevada on July 3, 2008 for
the purpose of engaging in the merger. We refer to Phoenix
Merger Sub, Inc. as Merger Sub. Merger Sub shares
the same principal executive offices and telephone number as
Investor.
66
THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
This section describes the material terms of the merger
agreement. The description in this section and elsewhere in this
proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
merger agreement, a copy of which is attached as
Appendix A and is incorporated by reference into
this proxy statement. We encourage you to read the merger
agreement carefully and in its entirety before deciding to
approve the Merger Proposal.
The representations and warranties described below and
included in the merger agreement were made by the parties to
each other as of specific dates. The assertions embodied in
those representations and warranties were made solely for
purposes of the merger agreement and may be subject to important
qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in
connection with negotiating its terms. Moreover, the
representations and warranties may be subject to a contractual
standard of materiality that may be different from what may be
viewed as material to stockholders, or may have been used for
the purpose of allocating risk between the parties rather than
establishing matters as facts. The merger agreement is described
in this proxy statement and included as Appendix A
only to provide you with information regarding its terms and
conditions, and not to provide any other factual information
regarding the parties or their respective businesses.
Accordingly, you should not rely on the representations and
warranties in the merger agreement as characterizations of the
actual state of facts about the parties, and you should read the
information provided elsewhere in this proxy statement.
The
Merger
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and
in accordance with Nevada law, Merger Sub will merge with and
into Meadow Valley, and Meadow Valley will survive the merger as
a wholly-owned, privately-held subsidiary of Investor.
Consummation
and Effective Time of the Merger
The merger will become effective upon the later of the date and
time of the filing of the articles of merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of Nevada or such later date and time as
may be specified in the articles of merger with the consent of
the parties. The filing of the articles of merger will occur as
promptly as practicable, but unless otherwise agreed to in
writing by the parties hereto, in no event later than the third
business day after the conditions to completion of the merger
have been satisfied or waived.
Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws
The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub will be
the articles of incorporation and bylaws, respectively, of the
surviving corporation as a result of the merger.
Directors
and Executive Officers Following the Merger
It is anticipated that the executive officers of Meadow Valley
will hold substantially similar positions with the surviving
corporation after completion of the merger. Immediately after
the consummation of the merger, the directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior the effective time of the merger will become
the directors of the surviving corporation until the earlier of
their resignation or removal, or until their successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified, as the case may be.
Consideration
to be Received in the Merger
Meadow
Valley Common Stock
Upon completion of the merger, each share of Meadow Valley
common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger, other than shares owned by
Investor, Merger Sub, any subsidiary of Investor or the Rollover
Participants and possibly Mr. Bottcher, will automatically
be canceled and converted into the right to receive $11.25 in
cash, without interest (less applicable withholding taxes).
67
Treatment
of Options to Purchase Meadow Valley Common Stock
Under the terms of the merger agreement, at the effective time
of the merger, each option to purchase shares of Meadow Valley
common stock that is outstanding and unexercised (whether vested
or unvested) will be canceled and the holders of such options
will be entitled to receive an amount, in cash, equal to product
of the number of shares subject to each such option multiplied
by the excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the
exercise price per share of each such option, less applicable
withholding taxes.
Warrants
to Purchase Meadow Valley Common Stock
As of the date of this proxy statement, all outstanding warrants
to purchase shares of Meadow Valley common stock are
out-of-the-money in that the exercise prices for all
such warrants are greater than the merger consideration.
Accordingly, while adequate provision will be made so that the
holders of the warrants will have the right to receive, upon
exercise of the warrants and subject to the terms and conditions
thereof, $11.25 per share, without interest (and less applicable
withholding taxes), we do not expect any warrant holder to
exercise their warrants.
Adjustments
to the Merger Consideration
The merger consideration is generally fixed and will not change
based on the price per share of Meadow Valleys common
stock, as reported on Nasdaq. However, the merger consideration
will be appropriately adjusted to reflect fully the effect of
any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
reclassification, redenomination, recapitalization,
split-up,
combination, exchange of shares, or other similar transaction
with respect to Meadow Valleys common stock prior to the
effective time of the merger.
Procedures
for the Exchange of Certificates
At or prior to the effective time of the merger, Investor will
deposit or cause to be deposited with a paying agent designated
by Investor (and reasonably acceptable to Meadow Valley), for
the benefit of Meadow Valleys stockholders, cash in an
amount sufficient to pay the merger consideration payable to
holders of Meadow Valleys common stock.
As soon as reasonably practicable but no later than three
business days after the effective time of the merger, the
surviving corporation will cause the paying agent to commence
mailing to holders of record of a certificate of Meadow Valley
common stock immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger a form of letter of transmittal and instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of certificates of Meadow Valley
common stock and receiving payment therefor.
Upon the surrender to the paying agent of a duly executed letter
of transmittal, the certificate(s) representing shares of Meadow
Valley common stock, and any other items specified by the letter
of transmittal, the surrendering stockholder will be paid, in
exchange for each share of common stock represented by the
certificate, cash in an amount, subject to any applicable
withholding taxes, equal to the product of the number of shares
represented by the letter of transmittal multiplied by the
merger consideration, and the surrendered certificate(s) will be
canceled. Certain procedures, which will be explained in the
materials sent by the paying agent, will need to be followed if
payment is to be made to a person other than the person in whose
name a share surrendered is registered.
The surviving corporation is entitled to require that the paying
agent deliver to the surviving corporation any portion of the
funds that remain unclaimed by the former stockholders of Meadow
Valley for one year after the effective time of the merger.
After that date, subject to abandoned property, escheat, or
other similar laws, holders of certificates who have not
previously complied with the instructions to exchange their
certificates will be entitled to look only to the surviving
corporation for payment of their claim for merger consideration.
Representations
and Warranties
The merger agreement contains representations and warranties
made by the parties solely for the benefit of each other and for
the purposes of the merger agreement. Some of those
representations and warranties were made as of a specified date
or may have been used for the purpose of allocating risk between
the parties to the merger
68
agreement. The statements contained in those representations and
warranties are qualified by information in the confidential
disclosure letter that the parties have exchanged in connection
with the execution and delivery of the merger agreement, which
qualify and create exceptions to those representations and
warranties.
The representations and warranties of Meadow Valley relate to,
among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
corporate matters, including due organization, good standing,
power to conduct business, and qualification to do business;
|
|
|
|
capitalization;
|
|
|
|
the authorization, execution, delivery, performance and
enforceability of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
the absence of conflicts with, or violations of, organizational
documents, certain contracts, applicable law or judgments,
orders or decrees, or other obligations as a result of the
execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
required consents and approvals in connection with the
execution, delivery, and performance of the merger agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
the filing or furnishing of all forms, reports, statements,
certifications and other documents required to be filed or
furnished by Meadow Valley with the SEC since January 1,
2005 and by Ready Mix since August 23, 2005; the accuracy
of the information contained in those filings and the compliance
of those filings with applicable requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act; and, with respect
to financial statements contained therein, preparation in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis;
|
|
|
|
the implementation, maintenance and effectiveness of disclosure
controls and procedures, and effectiveness of, and other matters
related to, internal controls over financial reporting;
|
|
|
|
the absence of material complaints, allegations, assertions, or
claims regarding deficiencies in accounting or auditing
practices, procedures, methodologies, or methods;
|
|
|
|
the absence of undisclosed material liabilities;
|
|
|
|
the absence of securities offerings in violation of applicable
law since December 31, 2002;
|
|
|
|
the conduct of business and the absence of any Material Adverse
Effect (as detailed on the next page) since December 31,
2007;
|
|
|
|
the accuracy of information contained in this proxy statement
and other documents filed with the SEC;
|
|
|
|
the absence of undisclosed brokers fees;
|
|
|
|
employee benefit matters;
|
|
|
|
labor matters;
|
|
|
|
the absence of undisclosed material litigation;
|
|
|
|
tax matters;
|
|
|
|
compliance with laws;
|
|
|
|
possession of required permits;
|
|
|
|
environmental matters;
|
|
|
|
intellectual property matters;
|
|
|
|
real property matters;
|
|
|
|
material contracts to which Meadow Valley or any of its
subsidiaries (including Ready Mix) are a party, the
enforceability of such material contracts, and the absence of
breaches of certain material contracts;
|
69
|
|
|
|
|
title to assets;
|
|
|
|
insurance matters;
|
|
|
|
receipt by the Special Committee of an opinion from Morgan
Joseph as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of
the merger consideration to our stockholders;
|
|
|
|
the required stockholder vote relating to the merger;
|
|
|
|
the inapplicability of state anti-takeover statutes;
|
|
|
|
the amendment and proposed termination of Meadow Valleys
stockholder rights agreement;
|
|
|
|
customers and suppliers;
|
|
|
|
certain affiliate transactions;
|
|
|
|
the absence of material product warranties and product liability
claims;
|
|
|
|
the bonding capacity of Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries
(excluding Ready Mix);
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys backlog; and
|
|
|
|
compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended.
|
Many of Meadow Valleys representations and warranties are
qualified by a Material Adverse Effect standard. The merger
agreement defines Material Adverse Effect as a
material adverse event, change, effect, development, condition,
or occurrence on or with respect to the business, results of
operations, or financial condition of Meadow Valley and its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, taken as a whole.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following, alone or in
combination, shall not be deemed to constitute a Material
Adverse Effect for purposes of the merger agreement:
|
|
|
|
|
facts, circumstances, events, or changes generally affecting any
industries or markets in which Meadow Valley and its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix operate, provided that, in
each case, such events, changes, effects, developments,
conditions, or occurrences do not have a disproportionate effect
on Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix as
compared to other persons in the industry and in the region in
which they operate;
|
|
|
|
|
|
facts, circumstances, events, or changes generally affecting the
economy or the financial or securities markets in the United
States or elsewhere in the world, including regulatory and
political conditions or developments (including any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or acts of war or terrorism);
|
|
|
|
changes in interest rates, provided that, in each case, such
events, changes, effects, developments, conditions, or
occurrences do not have a disproportionate effect on Meadow
Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, as compared to
other persons in the industry and in the region in which they
operate;
|
|
|
|
facts, circumstances, events, or changes resulting from the
announcement or the pendency of the merger agreement or the
announcement of the merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
changes in applicable law, GAAP or accounting standards,
provided that such changes are first announced after the date of
the merger agreement and do not have a disproportionate effect
on Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, as
compared to other persons in the industry and in the region in
which they operate;
|
|
|
|
changes in the market price or trading volume of Meadow
Valleys common stock;
|
|
|
|
changes in any analysts recommendations, any financial
strength rating or any other similar recommendations or ratings
as to Meadow Valley or Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
any reduction in maximum borrowings under Ready Mixs
existing line of credit loan agreement or replacement line of
credit that does not exceed $1.0 million; or
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
failure by Meadow Valley to meet any projections, estimates, or
budgets for any period prior to, on, or after the date of the
merger agreement, including projections relating to fiscal year
2008;
|
provided, however, without limiting the generality of the events
and other changes that may constitute a Material Adverse Effect
and without giving effect to the first, second and sixth bullet
points above, that any events, changes, effects, developments,
conditions, or occurrences that cause, or are reasonably likely
to cause, either individually or in the aggregate, a decrease in
the fair market value of Meadow Valley in excess of
$6.0 million shall constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
The representations and warranties of Investor and Merger Sub
relate to, among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
corporate matters, including due organization, good standing,
power to conduct business, and qualification to do business;
|
|
|
|
the authorization, execution, delivery, performance, and
enforceability of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
the absence of conflicts with, or violations of, organizational
documents, certain contracts, applicable law or judgments,
orders or decrees, or other obligations as a result of the
execution and delivery of the merger agreement or consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
required consents and approvals in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of the merger agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement;
|
|
|
|
the accuracy of information provided for inclusion in this proxy
statement and other documents filed with the SEC;
|
|
|
|
the sufficiency of Investors financing to consummate the
merger and letter of credit supporting the same;
|
|
|
|
the absence of material litigation;
|
|
|
|
the absence of liability for brokers fees;
|
|
|
|
ownership and operations of Merger Sub;
|
|
|
|
the absence of a required vote by Investors equity holders
to approve the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated
thereby; and
|
|
|
|
the solvency of the surviving corporation at the effective time
of the merger.
|
Conduct
of Business Pending the Merger
Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, are
subject to restrictions on their conduct and operations until
the merger is completed. Meadow Valley has agreed, and agreed to
cause each of its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, to conduct
its operations in all material respects according to their
respective ordinary and usual course of business, consistent
with past practice, and to use their respective reasonable best
efforts to preserve intact in all material respects their
respective business organization and assets, to keep available
the services of their respective current officers and key
employees, and to preserve the goodwill of and maintain
satisfactory relationships with their respective customers,
suppliers, and other persons having material business
relationships with Meadow Valley or any of its subsidiaries,
including Ready Mix, as applicable. Accordingly, Meadow Valley
has agreed, with limited exceptions and except to the extent the
merger agreement contemplates otherwise or with the prior
written consent of Investor, that it will not take, and that it
will cause each of its subsidiaries, including, Ready Mix, to
not take, any of the following actions:
|
|
|
|
|
issue, sell, grant options or warrants or other rights to
purchase, pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale,
grant of options or warrants or other rights to purchase or
pledge any securities or phantom stock, phantom stock rights,
stock appreciation rights or other similar rights relating
thereto (other than the issuance of Meadow Valley common stock
pursuant to the exercise of stock options as contemplated by the
merger agreement);
|
|
|
|
amend or otherwise change its governing documents;
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
with respect to Ready Mix, adopt a poison pill;
|
|
|
|
acquire or redeem, directly or indirectly, or amend (i) any
securities of Meadow Valley or its subsidiaries (other than the
issuance of Meadow Valley common stock pursuant to the exercise
of stock options as contemplated by the merger agreement),
excluding Ready Mix, or (ii) any phantom stock, phantom
stock rights, stock appreciation rights, options, warrants or
similar rights relating thereto of Meadow Valley or its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
split, combine, redenominate, recapitalize, or reclassify
capital stock or authorize, declare, set aside, make, or pay any
dividend or distribution on any shares of capital stock,
options, warrants, convertible securities, or other rights of
any kind to acquire or receive capital stock of Meadow Valley or
any of its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
acquire or offer to acquire any business or division thereof or
sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of assets outside the
ordinary course of business, and in any event, involving a
transaction value in excess of $300,000 individually or $750,000
in the aggregate ($200,000 individually or $500,000 in the
aggregate with respect to Ready Mix);
|
|
|
|
except in the ordinary course of business, enter into, make any
proposal for, renew, extend, amend or modify in any material
respect, terminate, cancel, waive, release or assign any right
or claim under, a contract, agreement, or lease that is or would
be material;
|
|
|
|
except for borrowings under existing credit facilities in the
ordinary course of business, incur or become liable for any
indebtedness for borrowed money or mezzanine financing in excess
of $2.0 million, or enter into any off-balance sheet
arrangement;
|
|
|
|
become liable for the obligations of, or make any loans,
advances, investments in or capital contributions to, any other
person (excluding a wholly-owned subsidiary) in an aggregate
amount in excess of $200,000;
|
|
|
|
other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into or
materially increase or materially decrease the outstanding
balances of any intercompany loan or intercompany debt
arrangements;
|
|
|
|
mortgage, pledge, or otherwise similarly encumber any assets, or
create, assume, or suffer to exist any non-permitted liens
thereupon, or alter or apply to alter any zoning classification
in connection with the owned or leased real property;
|
|
|
|
incur capital expenditures, or make any acquisition or
disposition of assets outside of the ordinary course of
business, in each case, in an aggregate amount in excess of
$1.5 million ($2.0 million with respect to Ready Mix);
|
|
|
|
change in any material respect any of the accounting, reserving,
underwriting, claims, or actuarial methods, principles or
practices used by it, or any working capital policies, except as
required by law, GAAP or applicable statutory accounting
principles;
|
|
|
|
make or change any material tax election, take certain actions
involving tax liabilities or refunds in excess of $125,000, or
take certain other actions that affect tax reporting;
|
|
|
|
agree to grant or grant any stock-related, cash-based,
performance, or similar awards or bonuses or any other award
that may be settled in securities of Meadow Valley or any of its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
enter into, forgive, renew, or amend in any respect any loans to
officers or directors or any of their respective affiliates or
approve any transaction reportable under Rule 404 of
Regulation S-K;
|
|
|
|
except as may be required by law or as specifically contemplated
by merger agreement, enter into any new, or amend, terminate, or
renew any existing employee benefit plan, or take certain
actions with respect to the benefits arrangements of officers,
directors, employees and certain others;
|
|
|
|
other than in the ordinary course and consistent with past
practice, make any deposits or contributions of cash or property
to employee benefits plans;
|
72
|
|
|
|
|
except as required by law, enter into, amend, modify, or
supplement any collective bargaining or other agreement,
including any individual employment agreement;
|
|
|
|
renew or enter into any non-compete, exclusivity,
non-solicitation, or similar agreement;
|
|
|
|
commence, compromise, settle or agree to compromise or settle
any suit, action, claim, proceeding, violation, deficiency,
default, non-compliance, or investigation, or consent to the
same, unless the compromise or settlement involves the payment
of monetary damages only either to or from Meadow Valley in
excess of $300,000 individually or $600,000 in the aggregate;
|
|
|
|
enter into any agreement, understanding, or arrangement with
respect to the voting or registration of securities of Meadow
Valley or its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
sell or transfer any securities of Ready Mix;
|
|
|
|
fail to use reasonable best efforts to keep in force its current
or replacement insurance policies;
|
|
|
|
merge or consolidate with any person, subject to certain limited
exceptions;
|
|
|
|
adopt or approve a plan of complete or partial liquidation or
resolutions providing for a complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, or other
reorganization;
|
|
|
|
adopt or amend any resolution or agreement concerning
indemnification of officers, directors, or agents;
|
|
|
|
transfer or license to any person or otherwise extend,
materially amend or modify, permit to lapse, or fail to preserve
any intellectual property;
|
|
|
|
fail to maintain books, accounts, and records in the usual
manner;
|
|
|
|
establish any subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
|
|
|
|
fail to make in a timely manner any required filings with the
SEC;
|
|
|
|
discharge any obligations other than on a timely basis in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
|
|
|
|
close or materially reduce activities, or effect any material
layoff or other personnel reduction or change at any facility;
|
|
|
|
with respect to Meadow Valley, allow the bonding capacity of
Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix) to be
less than $200.0 million in the aggregate and
$50.0 million for any individual engagement, or otherwise
permit the bonding capacity, bonds or terms thereof of Meadow
Valley or any of its subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix) to be on
terms that are substantially different, in any adverse manner,
than the terms that existed on the date the merger agreement was
executed;
|
|
|
|
|
|
with respect to Meadow Valley, materially modify or cancel any
project constituting backlog as of the date the merger agreement
was executed, or enter into any order that would constitute
backlog at a price and on terms (including profit margin) that
are not consistent with Meadow Valleys past practices and
the ordinary course of business, or that would reasonably be
expected after due diligence consistent with
Meadow Valleys past practice to result in a loss to
Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
|
|
other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into any
contract that involves any exchange traded, over-the-counter or
other swap, cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward
contract, option, or any other derivative financial instrument
or contract;
|
|
|
|
with respect to Meadow Valley, call, schedule, establish a
record date with respect to, or hold a special or annual meeting
of its stockholders, other than the special meeting that is the
subject of this proxy statement; or
|
|
|
|
authorize, commit, or agree to take any of the foregoing actions.
|
With respect to Ready Mix, the foregoing covenants are subject
to Ready Mixs compliance with its statutory fiduciary
duties.
73
Restrictions
on Solicitation, Acquisition Proposals and Changes in
Recommendation
The merger agreement contains a go shop provision
pursuant to which Meadow Valley had the right to solicit and
engage in discussions and negotiations with respect to other
proposals for a transaction involving Meadow Valley for a
45-day
period, beginning on the date of the merger agreement and
continuing until 11:59 p.m. on September 11, 2008.
During this period, Meadow Valley was permitted to:
|
|
|
|
|
initiate, solicit and encourage, Acquisition Proposals (as
detailed on the next page), including by way of providing access
to non-public information pursuant to one or more acceptable
confidentiality agreements; and
|
|
|
|
participate in discussions or negotiations with respect to
Acquisition Proposals or otherwise cooperate with or assist or
participate in, or facilitate, any such discussions or
negotiations.
|
Except in limited circumstances, from September 12, 2008
until the effective time of the merger, Meadow Valley has
agreed not to, and has agreed to cause its subsidiaries
(excluding Ready Mix to the extent not acting as Meadow
Valleys representative) to use reasonable best efforts to
cause its representatives not to, directly or indirectly:
|
|
|
|
|
initiate, solicit, or knowingly encourage the submission of any
inquiries, proposals, or offers or any other efforts or attempts
that constitute or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal or engage in any discussions or
negotiations with respect thereto, or otherwise cooperate with
or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate any such
inquiries, proposals, offers, discussions, or
negotiations; or
|
|
|
|
approve or recommend, or publicly propose to approve or
recommend, an Acquisition Proposal or enter into any merger
agreement, letter of intent, agreement in principle, share
purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement or share exchange
agreement, option agreement, or other similar agreement relating
to an Acquisition Proposal, or enter into any agreement or
agreement in principle requiring Meadow Valley to abandon,
terminate, or fail to consummate the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement or breach its obligations thereunder or
resolve, propose, or agree to do any of the foregoing.
|
In addition, if, at any time on or following the date of the
merger agreement and prior to the time Meadow Valleys
stockholders vote to approve the merger agreement
(i) Meadow Valley has received a written Acquisition
Proposal from a third party that the board of directors of
Meadow Valley (acting upon the prior recommendation of the
Special Committee, if then in existence), believes in good faith
(after consultation with its financial advisors and outside
counsel) to be bona fide, (ii) Meadow Valley has not
breached the non-solicitation covenants applicable to it,
(iii) the board of directors of Meadow Valley (acting upon
the prior recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in
existence) determines in good faith (after consultation with its
financial advisors and outside counsel) that such Acquisition
Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result
in a Superior Proposal (as detailed on the next page) and
(iv) after consultation with its outside counsel, the board
of directors of Meadow Valley (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
determines in good faith that failure to take such action would
reasonably be expected to be a breach of its fiduciary duties to
the stockholders of Meadow Valley, then Meadow Valley may,
subject to certain procedural and confidentiality requirements:
|
|
|
|
|
furnish information with respect to Meadow Valley and its
subsidiaries to the person making such Acquisition
Proposal; and
|
|
|
|
participate in discussions or negotiations with the person
making such Acquisition Proposal regarding such Acquisition
Proposal.
|
Notwithstanding and subject to the payment of certain fees,
described below, if Meadow Valley has not breached the
non-solicitation covenants applicable to it, the board of the
directors of Meadow Valley (acting upon the prior recommendation
of the Special Committee, if then in existence) may, prior to
the time Meadow Valleys stockholders vote to approve the
merger agreement, if it determines in good faith that the
failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be a
breach of its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Meadow
Valley:
|
|
|
|
|
withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw,
modify, or qualify, in a manner adverse to Investor or Merger
Sub, the Meadow Valley board of directors recommendation in
favor of the Merger Proposal; approve, recommend or endorse, or
propose publicly to approve, recommend or endorse, any
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
Superior Proposal; or make other statements that are reasonably
calculated or expected to have the same effect (a Change
of Board Recommendation); and
|
|
|
|
|
|
if Meadow Valley receives an Acquisition Proposal that the board
of directors of Meadow Valley (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
concludes in good faith (after consultation with its outside
counsel and financial advisors), constitutes a Superior
Proposal, after considering all of the adjustments to the terms
of this Agreement which may be offered by Investor, terminate
the merger agreement and enter into a definitive agreement with
respect to such Superior Proposal, provided, that and in such
event, Meadow Valley concurrently enters into such alternative
acquisition agreement.
|
Nothing in the non-solicitation provisions of the merger
agreement prevents the board of directors of Meadow Valley
from (i) taking and disclosing to Meadow Valleys
stockholders its position with respect to a tender offer, as
contemplated by
Rules 14e-2(a)
and 14d-9
promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (ii) disclosing the
fact that the board of directors (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
has received an Acquisition Proposal and the terms of such
proposal, if the board of directors determines (after
consultation with its outside legal counsel) it is required to
take any such actions in connection with its fiduciary duties
under applicable law or to comply with obligations under federal
securities laws or Nasdaq or such other securities exchange upon
which Meadow Valleys capital stock is traded. However, if
any such statement constitutes a Change of Board
Recommendation it shall be treated as such and have the
effects described below under
Termination.
For purposes of the merger agreement, Acquisition
Proposal means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any
person or group of persons other than Investor, Merger Sub, or
their respective affiliates relating to:
|
|
|
|
|
any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of a business
that constitutes 20% or more of the net revenues of Meadow
Valley and its subsidiaries, excluding Ready Mix, taken as a
whole, or 20% or more of the outstanding equity securities
(including securities convertible into or exchangeable for
securities of Meadow Valley upon the exercise of options,
warrants or similar rights) of Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would
result in any person or group of persons beneficially owning 20%
or more of the outstanding equity securities (including
securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities of
Meadow Valley upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar
rights) of Meadow Valley; or
|
|
|
|
any merger, reorganization, consolidation, share exchange,
business combination, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution, or similar transaction involving Meadow Valley or
any of its subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix) whose business
constitutes 20% or more of the net revenues of Meadow Valley and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
|
In addition, any of the above events related to more than 50% of
Ready Mix shall further constitute an Acquisition Proposal.
For purposes of the merger agreement, Superior
Proposal means any bona fide Acquisition Proposal (except
that reference to 20% for Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries
will be deemed to be reference to more than 50% and
50% for Ready Mix will be deemed to be all of Ready
Mixs securities held by Meadow Valley) that:
|
|
|
|
|
is on terms that the board of directors of Meadow Valley (acting
upon the prior recommendation of the Special Committee, if then
in existence) has determined in its good faith judgment (after
consultation with its financial advisor and outside counsel and
after taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory, and
other aspects of the proposal, including the financing terms
thereof) is more favorable to Meadow Valleys stockholders
from a financial point of view than the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement; and
|
|
|
|
the board of directors of Meadow Valley (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
has determined in good faith (after consultation with its
financial advisor and outside counsel and after taking into
account all legal, financial, regulatory, and other aspects of
the proposal) is reasonably capable of being consummated (taking
into account the financeability of such proposal).
|
75
Stockholders
Meeting
The merger agreement requires Meadow Valley to, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the date of the merger agreement
and in any event within 50 days after such date, prepare
and file with the SEC this proxy statement and, subject to
certain provisions, use reasonable best efforts to clear
comments, if any, received from the SEC. On September 15,
2008, the parties agreed to extend the 50 day requirement
to 52 days.
The merger agreement also requires Meadow Valley to call a
meeting of stockholders for the purpose of obtaining stockholder
approval of the merger agreement, to be held as soon as
reasonably practicable, and in any event within 45 days,
after the SEC clears this proxy statement. Except in the case of
a Change of Board Recommendation, the proxy statement shall
include the recommendation of the Meadow Valley board of
directors (acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the
Special Committee) in favor of the Merger Proposal, and the
board of directors of Meadow Valley is required to use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from its stockholders approval
of the Merger Proposal, including by retention of a proxy
solicitor and by re-soliciting the vote of the stockholders on
one occasion.
Reasonable
Best Efforts
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement,
each of Meadow Valley, Investor and Merger Sub agreed to use its
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
appropriate action, to file, or cause to be filed, all documents
and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or
advisable to expeditiously consummate and effect the merger and
the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including
preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all
documentation to effect all necessary filings, consents,
licenses, approvals, authorizations, permits, or orders from
governmental entities or other persons.
Indemnification
and Insurance
The merger agreement provides that all rights to indemnification
existing in favor of the current or former directors, officers
and employees of Meadow Valley or its subsidiaries (excluding
Ready Mix) as provided in Meadow Valleys and its
subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix) respective
organizational documents, or in any indemnification agreement or
arrangement as in effect as of the date of the merger agreement,
with respect to matters occurring prior to the effective time of
the merger will survive the consummation of the merger and will
continue in full force and effect for a period of at least six
years after the effective time of the merger. After the
consummation of the merger, the surviving corporation will,
pursuant to the merger agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
current and former Meadow Valley officers, directors and
employees against certain liabilities.
The merger agreement also provides that, prior to the effective
time of the merger, Meadow Valley will purchase six-year
tail directors and officers liability
insurance policies on terms and conditions at least as
protective to the persons covered by existing policies. If such
tail policies cannot be obtained or can only be
obtained by paying aggregate premiums in excess of 200% of the
aggregate annual amount currently paid by Meadow Valley for such
coverage, then the surviving corporation will only be required
to purchase as much insurance coverage as can be obtained by
paying aggregate premiums equal to 200% of the aggregate annual
amount currently paid by Meadow Valley for such coverage. The
surviving corporation is obligated to maintain such tail
policies in full force and effect and continue to honor its
respective obligations thereunder for the full term thereof.
Other
Agreements
The merger agreement contains certain other agreements,
including agreements relating to employee matters, state
takeover laws, notification of certain matters, financing,
access to information, taking action to ensure Meadow
Valleys stockholder rights plan is not triggered by the
merger, cooperating with respect to public communications,
filing required documents with the SEC in a timely manner,
causing the resignation of members of the Meadow Valley board of
directors, resolving certain environmental matters, voting
shares of Ready Mix common stock, obtaining certain real estate
consents, and obtaining (and causing Ready Mix to obtain)
certain specified consents and release of liens on Ready Mix
common stock.
76
Conditions
to the Merger
Each partys obligation to effect the merger is subject to
the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions, which include
the following:
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys stockholders shall have voted to approve
the Merger Proposal;
|
|
|
|
no order, injunction, or decree shall have been issued by any
court or agency of competent jurisdiction preventing,
restraining, or rendering illegal the merger;
|
|
|
|
any waiting period under any antitrust laws shall have expired
or been terminated;
|
|
|
|
the representations and warranties made by the respective
parties to the merger agreement being true and correct as of the
effective time of the merger, except for such failures as could
not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the
aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect (as such term is defined
in the merger agreement) and except as otherwise specified in
the merger agreement; and
|
|
|
|
each party to the merger agreement having performed, in all
material respects, all obligations that it is required to
perform under the merger agreement.
|
In addition to the conditions set forth above, the obligations
of Investor and Merger Sub to effect the merger is subject to
the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions, which include
the following:
|
|
|
|
|
receipt of a certificate signed on behalf of Meadow Valley by
its Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer
certifying as to certain of the closing conditions;
|
|
|
|
no change, event or occurrence, individually or in the
aggregate, that would, or could reasonably be expected to, have
a Material Adverse Effect on Meadow Valley or any of its
subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, shall have occurred between
the date of the merger agreement and the effective time of the
merger;
|
|
|
|
with respect to any obligation pursuant to which Meadow Valley
is required to cause Ready Mix to act, the actual performance of
Ready Mix in all material respects shall have occurred;
|
|
|
|
receipt of certain real estate deliverables, including
(i) an estoppel certificate from each landlord, lessor,
sublessor, or third-party tenant of material leased real
property, (ii) any and all consents, approvals, or
authorizations required to be obtained under the terms of any
lease governing any material leased real property,
(iii) any and all documentation reasonably required by a
title company to issue title insurance for owned or material
leased real property, and (iv) a collateral access
agreement with each landlord, lessor, or sublessor of certain
specified leased real properties;
|
|
|
|
receipt of certain other consents, licenses, approvals, waivers,
releases and permits, including certain specified consents of
governmental agencies so as to permit the surviving corporation
to conduct its business consistent with past practice;
|
|
|
|
receipt of waivers signed by certain of Meadow Valleys
executive officers waiving such persons rights to any
change of control, severance, or similar payments that could
otherwise be due and owing as a result of the merger;
|
|
|
|
there shall be no outstanding warrants or other rights for the
purchase of any shares of the capital stock of Meadow Valley;
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valleys and its subsidiaries (excluding Ready
Mix) bonding capacity shall be at least $200.0 million in
the aggregate and at least $50.0 million for any individual
engagement, and Meadow Valleys and its
subsidiaries (excluding Ready Mix) bonding arrangements,
bonding capacity, bonds, and the terms thereof shall not be on
terms that are substantially different, in any adverse manner,
than the terms that existed on the date of the merger agreement;
|
|
|
|
|
|
the combined gross revenue on all projects constituting backlog
as of the effective date of the merger shall be projected, in
good faith, to be at least $112.5 million;
|
77
|
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, on a
consolidated basis, shall have a minimum book value (assets less
each of intangible assets, minority interest, and liabilities,
including mezzanine financing), determined in accordance with
GAAP, of $31.0 million;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley shall have earnings before interest and taxes
during the twelve full calendar months immediately preceding the
effective date of the merger of no less than $5.5 million,
and Ready Mix shall have earnings before interest and taxes
during the twelve full calendar months immediately preceding the
effective date of the merger of no less than negative
$4.0 million;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley shall have received pay-off letters with respect
to its notes payable, credit facilities, and financings and any
additional indebtedness other than accounts payable;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley shall have terminated, and be released from, a
stock pledge agreement involving shares of Ready Mix common
stock;
|
|
|
|
with limited exceptions, all shares of Ready Mix common stock
owned by Meadow Valley shall be free and clear of all liens;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, excluding Ready Mix, shall
have been released as guarantors, grantors, co-borrowers,
and/or
pledgors with respect to all indebtedness of Ready Mix and shall
have procured the release of any liens on their respective
assets in connection therewith;
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix, shall
have obtained, secured, and resolved, as applicable, certain
pre-identified environmental issues, conditions and
deficiencies; and
|
|
|
|
Meadow Valley shall continue to own the same number of shares of
Ready Mix common stock as it did on the date on which the merger
agreement was executed, and that such ownership will constitute
at least 66% of the Ready Mix common stock outstanding on a
fully diluted basis, and no shares of preferred stock of Ready
Mix shall be issued or outstanding on a fully diluted basis.
|
In addition to the above, the obligation of Meadow Valley to
effect the merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
various conditions, which include the following:
|
|
|
|
|
receipt of a certificate signed on behalf of Investor by a duly
authorized officer certifying as to certain of the closing
conditions; and
|
|
|
|
Investor shall have caused to be deposited with the paying agent
cash in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay the merger
consideration to holders of shares of Meadow Valley common stock
outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger.
|
The merger is not conditioned upon obtaining sufficient
financing to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement.
At any time before the merger, Investor and Merger Sub may waive
the conditions applicable to Meadow Valley and Meadow
Valley may waive the conditions applicable to Investor and
Merger Sub. While circumstances may change, the parties do not
expect that any conditions will be waived.
Termination
The merger agreement also grants the parties certain termination
rights. The merger agreement may be terminated:
|
|
|
|
|
upon the mutual written agreement of Meadow Valley and Investor;
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor after the issuance by any
court of competent jurisdiction or other
non-governmental
entity of a final injunction or order prohibiting any of the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, or the final
denial by any governmental entity of any approval necessary to
consummate the merger;
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor if, in most circumstances,
the merger has not been consummated on or before
December 31, 2008 (unless extended under limited
circumstances in Investors sole discretion to a
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
date not later than January 31, 2009), unless the reason
for not closing the merger is due to the actions or breach by
the party seeking termination (the Outside Date
Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor if the special meeting is
convened and the merger agreement does not receive the requisite
stockholder vote (the Stockholder Rejection Termination
Right), unless the special meeting is adjourned or
postponed to vote on the merger agreement on a subsequent date;
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley upon a failure or breach by Investor of any of
its obligations, covenants, representations, or warranties in
the merger agreement, if such failure or breach would reasonably
be expected to result in a failure of the Meadow Valley closing
conditions to be satisfied under the merger agreement and if
such failure or breach is not cured within the period of time
provided for in the merger agreement, provided that Meadow
Valley shall not have the right to terminate if it is then in
material breach of its obligations under the merger agreement
(the Investor Breach Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor upon a failure or breach by Meadow Valley of any of
its obligations, covenants, representations, or warranties in
the merger agreement, if such failure or breach would result in
a failure of Investor closing conditions to be satisfied under
the merger agreement and if such failure or breach is not cured
within the period of time provided for in the merger agreement,
provided that Investor shall not have the right to terminate if
it is then in material breach of its obligations under the
merger agreement (the Meadow Valley Breach Termination
Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor upon Meadow Valley or the Meadow Valley board of
directors, as the case may be, (i) instituting a Change of
Board Recommendation, (ii) approving, adopting, or
recommending any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approving,
recommending or entering into a letter of intent, agreement in
principle or definitive agreement for an Acquisition Proposal,
(iv) failing to publicly reaffirm Meadow Valley board
recommendation in favor of the Merger Proposal within
48 hours of a request by Investor, (v) materially
breaching its obligations under the go shop
provision or the stockholder vote provision in the merger
agreement, (vi) failing to include Meadow Valley board
recommendation in favor of the Merger Proposal in the proxy
statement distributed to holders of common stock, or
(vii) authorizing or publicly proposing any of the above
(the Change of Recommendation Termination Right);
|
|
|
|
by Investor if, since the date of the merger agreement, there
has been an event, change, or other circumstance that has had or
could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect that cannot reasonably be
expected to be cured by December 31, 2008;
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley any time prior to receiving the requisite
stockholder vote in favor of the Merger Proposal, if Meadow
Valley has received a Superior Proposal in accordance with the
go shop provision, provided that Meadow Valley must
enter into such alternative acquisition agreement within
24 hours after, and pay a fee in advance of, terminating
the merger agreement (the New Agreement Termination
Right); or
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley upon Investors failure to consummate the
merger within 10 days after Meadow Valley makes a written
demand of Investor, provided that all the requirements and
conditions necessary to consummate the merger have been
satisfied.
|
Termination
Fees
The merger agreement provides for the payment of certain fees
and expenses in certain instances when the merger agreement is
terminated.
Meadow Valley will be required to pay Investor an amount in cash
equal to the sum of (1) 4.5% of the aggregate merger
consideration, or approximately $2.5 million, plus
(2) certain of Investors and Merger Subs
documented and reasonable out-of-pocket transaction expenses, if
the merger agreement is terminated:
|
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor pursuant to the Outside Date
Termination Right, if, at the time of the delay, Investor has
taken all actions necessary on its part to consummate the merger
and all conditions precedent to Meadow Valleys obligation
to effect the merger have been satisfied, but Meadow Valley has
not taken all actions necessary on its part to consummate the
merger;
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor pursuant to the Stockholder
Rejection Termination Right, if Meadow Valley subsequently
enters into a definitive agreement with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal within 12 months after such
termination;
|
|
|
|
by Investor pursuant to the Meadow Valley Breach Termination
Right;
|
|
|
|
by Investor pursuant to the Change of Recommendation Termination
Right (unless the termination relates to a Superior Proposal
from certain parties that had previously expressed an interest
in Meadow Valley); or
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley pursuant to the New Agreement Termination Right
(unless the termination relates to a Superior Proposal from
certain parties that had previously expressed an interest in
Meadow Valley).
|
If, during the
45-day
go shop period, the merger agreement was terminated
pursuant to the Change of Recommendation Termination Right, or
the New Agreement Termination Right and the termination related
to a Superior Proposal from certain parties that had previously
expressed an interest in Meadow Valley, then, in lieu of the
amount set forth above, Meadow Valley would have been obligated
to pay Investor an amount equal to the sum of (1) 2.5% of
the aggregate merger consideration, or approximately
$1.5 million, plus (2) certain of Investors and
Merger Subs documented and reasonable out-of-pocket
transaction expenses. The go shop period expired on
September 11, 2008 and we did not exercise any of these
termination rights.
Investor will be required to make a payment to Meadow Valley in
an amount equal to the sum of (1) 2.5% of the aggregate
merger consideration, or approximately $1.5 million, plus
(2) certain of Meadow Valleys documented and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the merger, if the
merger agreement is terminated:
|
|
|
|
|
by either Meadow Valley or Investor pursuant to the Outside Date
Termination Right, if, at the time of the delay, Meadow Valley
has taken all actions necessary on its part to consummate the
merger and all conditions precedent to Investors and
Merger Subs obligation to effect the merger have been
satisfied, but Investor has failed to take all actions necessary
on its part to consummate the merger;
|
|
|
|
by Meadow Valley pursuant to the Investor Breach Termination
Right; or
|
|
|
|
otherwise in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement,
if either Investor or Merger Sub has breached any of the
agreement terms and thereby caused the closing not to be
effected by December 31, 2008.
|
Unless otherwise provided, if the merger agreement is
terminated, Meadow Valley will be required to pay Investor a fee
equal to the sum of (1) $500,000.00, plus (2) all of
Investors expenses.
Letter of
Credit
Pursuant to the merger agreement, Investor has obtained a letter
of credit in support of its obligations under the merger
agreement, including any termination fees payable to Meadow
Valley, in an amount not less than $2.5 million. Pursuant
to the terms of the merger agreement, Meadow Valleys right
to receive payment of a termination fee is the sole and
exclusive remedy of Meadow Valley against Investor and Merger
Sub. See Termination and
Termination Fees above.
80
ADJOURNMENT
OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
(PROPOSAL NO. 2)
Meadow Valley may ask its stockholders to vote on a proposal to
adjourn the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional
proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the
meeting to approve the Merger Proposal. If the proposal to
adjourn our special meeting for the purpose of soliciting
additional proxies is submitted to our stockholders for
approval, the approval requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Meadow Valley common stock
entitled to vote and represented at the special meeting. If the
special meeting is adjourned to a date more than 60 days
later than the date of the original special meeting, the board
of directors is required to fix a new record date.
OTHER
MATTERS
Other
Matters for Action at the Special Meeting
Other than the matters discussed in this proxy statement, Meadow
Valleys board of directors does not know of any other
matters to be presented for action at the special meeting other
than as described in this proxy statement. If any other business
should properly come before the meeting, the persons named in
the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote thereon in
accordance with their best judgment unless they are directed by
a proxy to do otherwise.
Future
Stockholder Proposals
If the merger is consummated, there will be no public
stockholders of Meadow Valley and no public participation in any
future meetings of stockholders of Meadow Valley. However, if
the merger is not consummated, Meadow Valleys stockholders
will continue to be entitled to attend and participate in Meadow
Valleys stockholder meetings. In that regard, if the
merger agreement is not approved by our stockholders or if the
merger is not consummated for any other reason, the board of
directors of Meadow Valley intends to promptly call and hold its
annual meeting of stockholders to elect directors and to attend
to such other matters as may properly come before the annual
meeting.
Under Exchange Act
Rule 14a-8(e),
for a proposal to be included with a companys annual
meeting proxy statement, the proposals must be received at a
companys principal executive offices not less than 120
calendar days before the date of the companys proxy
statement released to stockholders in connection with the
previous years annual meeting. However,
Rule 14a-8(e)
also provides that if a company did not hold an annual meeting
the previous year, or if the date of the current years
annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from
the date of the previous years meeting, then the deadline
is a reasonable time before the company begins to print and send
its proxy materials.
Meadow Valley held its 2007 annual meeting of stockholders on
June 11, 2007. If the merger is not consummated, then the
date of our next annual meeting of stockholders will have
changed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2007
annual meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, under SEC rules,
proposals to be included in the proxy statement for our next
annual meeting of stockholders, if held, must be received a
reasonable time before Meadow Valley begins to print and send
its proxy materials for such meeting.
Our amended and restated bylaws also provide that any
stockholders who desire to submit a proposal for consideration
at an annual or special stockholders meeting, or to
nominate persons for election as directors at any
stockholders meeting duly called for the election of
directors, must provide written notice of such
stockholders intent to make such a proposal or nomination
to the secretary of Meadow Valley at its principal executive
offices either by personal delivery or by United States mail not
later than (i) with respect to an annual meeting of
stockholders, 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of
the date of the proxy statement released to stockholders in
connection with the previous years annual meeting, and
(ii) with respect to a special meeting of stockholders, the
close of business on the tenth day following the date on which
notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders. Such
proposals are considered submitted outside the process of
Rule 14a-8(e).
Any such notice must contain certain specified information
concerning the proposal or nomination, as set forth in our
amended and restated bylaws. Accordingly, any proposal or
nomination for consideration at our next annual meeting of
81
stockholders, if it is held, submitted outside of the
Rule 14a-8(e)
process as discussed above, will be considered untimely if it
was received after January 10, 2008.
Householding
of Proxy Materials
In accordance with Exchange Act
Rule 14a-3(e)(l),
one proxy statement will be delivered to two or more
stockholders who share an address, unless we have received
contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. We
will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate
copy of the proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address
to which a single copy of the proxy statement was delivered.
Requests for additional copies of the proxy statement, requests
that in the future separate proxy statements be sent to
stockholders who share an address, and requests for the delivery
of a single proxy statement to stockholders sharing an address,
should be directed to Meadow Valley Corporation, Attn: Corporate
Secretary, 4602 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018, or
requested by calling
(602) 437-5400.
82
OTHER
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MEADOW VALLEY
Summary
of Consolidated Financial Data of Meadow Valley
The following table sets forth selected historical financial
data as of the dates and for the periods indicated with respect
to Meadow Valley and its subsidiaries, including Ready Mix. The
selected historical financial data as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003 were derived
from Meadow Valleys audited consolidated financial
statements. The selected historical financial data was included
in Meadow Valleys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as amended,
which is incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.
The unaudited consolidated financial information as of and for
the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 is
derived from Meadow Valleys unaudited consolidated
financial statements, which, in Meadow Valleys opinion,
include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of Meadow
Valleys financial position and results of operations for
such periods. Interim results for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of, and are
not projections for, the results to be expected for the full
year ending December 31, 2008. The unaudited consolidated
financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2008
and 2007 and as of June 30, 2008 were included in Meadow
Valleys Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008, which is
incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.
The selected historical financial data below should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and their
accompanying notes, which are incorporated by reference in this
proxy statement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
205,919
|
|
|
$
|
195,522
|
|
|
$
|
183,873
|
|
|
$
|
166,832
|
|
|
$
|
154,107
|
|
|
$
|
117,382
|
|
|
$
|
101,300
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
17,415
|
|
|
|
19,310
|
|
|
|
15,188
|
|
|
|
6,968
|
|
|
|
6,344
|
|
|
|
8,348
|
|
|
|
8,751
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
5,602
|
|
|
|
8,148
|
|
|
|
6,521
|
|
|
|
458
|
|
|
|
(151
|
)
|
|
|
2,883
|
|
|
|
2,529
|
|
Income before income taxes and minority interest
|
|
|
7,289
|
|
|
|
8,893
|
|
|
|
7,063
|
|
|
|
890
|
|
|
|
162
|
|
|
|
3,174
|
|
|
|
3,317
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
4,061
|
|
|
|
4,166
|
|
|
|
4,204
|
|
|
|
574
|
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
2,371
|
|
|
|
1,386
|
|
Basic net income per share of common stock
|
|
$
|
0.79
|
|
|
$
|
0.96
|
|
|
$
|
1.11
|
|
|
$
|
0.16
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
|
$
|
0.46
|
|
|
$
|
0.27
|
|
Diluted net income per share of common stock
|
|
$
|
0.77
|
|
|
$
|
0.90
|
|
|
$
|
1.01
|
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
|
$
|
0.45
|
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
Basic weighted average common stock outstanding
|
|
|
5,129,275
|
|
|
|
4,328,160
|
|
|
|
3,783,089
|
|
|
|
3,601,250
|
|
|
|
3,593,102
|
|
|
|
5,163,289
|
|
|
|
5,124,545
|
|
Diluted weighted average common stock outstanding
|
|
|
5,306,294
|
|
|
|
4,621,124
|
|
|
|
4,151,096
|
|
|
|
3,780,597
|
|
|
|
3,599,259
|
|
|
|
5,308,427
|
|
|
|
5,305,079
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Position Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working capital
|
|
$
|
22,971
|
|
|
$
|
27,256
|
|
|
$
|
21,913
|
|
|
$
|
2,294
|
|
|
$
|
5,758
|
|
|
$
|
25,262
|
|
|
$
|
22,370
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
101,752
|
|
|
|
102,106
|
|
|
|
87,017
|
|
|
|
65,329
|
|
|
|
55,367
|
|
|
|
116,531
|
|
|
|
105,715
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
12,269
|
|
|
|
13,996
|
|
|
|
11,858
|
|
|
|
11,786
|
|
|
|
8,085
|
|
|
|
11,062
|
|
|
|
13,738
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
34,527
|
|
|
|
31,341
|
|
|
|
19,796
|
|
|
|
12,716
|
|
|
|
12,143
|
|
|
|
37,332
|
|
|
|
31,554
|
|
83
Ratio of
Earnings to Fixed Charges
The following presents our ratio of earnings to fixed charges
for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and
for the six months ended June 30, 2008, which should
be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, included in our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as amended,
which is incorporated herein by reference. See Where You
Can Find More Information on page 92.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months
|
|
|
For the Year
|
|
|
For the Year
|
|
|
|
Ended,
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
Adjusted income from operations*
|
|
|
3,395,594
|
|
|
|
6,747,895
|
|
|
|
9,126,254
|
|
Fixed charges:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
580,071
|
|
|
|
1,384,813
|
|
|
|
1,316,864
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fixed charges
|
|
|
580,071
|
|
|
|
1,384,813
|
|
|
|
1,316,864
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
|
|
|
5.9
|
|
|
|
4.9
|
|
|
|
6.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Income from operations for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2007 and for the six months ended
June 30, 2008 have been adjusted to remove the effect of
interest expense included in cost of revenue.
|
Net Book
Value Per Share of Meadow Valley Common Stock
The net book value per share of common stock of Meadow Valley as
of June 30, 2008 was $7.21.
Trading
Market and Price for Meadow Valleys Common Stock
Meadow Valleys common stock is traded on Nasdaq. As
of ,
2008, Meadow Valley had
approximately
stockholders of record. The following table sets forth, for the
periods indicated, the high and low sales price per share of
Meadow Valleys common stock, as reported on Nasdaq:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Fiscal 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Third Quarter (through September 16, 2008)
|
|
$
|
11.00
|
|
|
$
|
8.00
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
11.94
|
|
|
|
8.29
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
12.70
|
|
|
|
8.20
|
|
Fiscal 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
13.99
|
|
|
$
|
11.01
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
14.58
|
|
|
|
11.27
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
14.25
|
|
|
|
11.53
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
13.25
|
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
Fiscal 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
11.59
|
|
|
$
|
9.46
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
|
12.58
|
|
|
|
8.66
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
|
12.50
|
|
|
|
8.90
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
15.87
|
|
|
|
10.06
|
|
Meadow Valley has never paid any cash dividends on shares of its
common stock and currently anticipates that it will continue to
retain future earnings to finance Meadow Valleys business.
84
Officers
and Directors of Meadow Valley
Board of Directors. The following
individuals are directors of Meadow Valley:
Charles E. Cowan has been a director of Meadow Valley since
November 1995. Since 1993, he has been President of Charles
Cowan & Associates, Ltd, which provides consulting
services for the construction industry, with its principal
executive office at 30500 NE
258th
Avenue, Yacolt, Washington 95675.
Charles R. Norton has been a director of Meadow Valley since
March 1999. Since 1992, Mr. Norton has been Vice President
of Trinity Industries, Inc., which provide products and services
to the industrial energy, transportation and construction
sectors, with its principle executive office at 2525 Stemmons
Freeway, Dallas Texas 75207.
Don A. Patterson has been a director of Meadow Valley since
November 2005. He was a managing partner of Mansperger,
Patterson & McMullin CPAs from 1985 until 2004.
During that period, he founded Legacy Window Coverings, LLC, a
manufacturer of residential and commercial window coverings
where he has devoted his full time attention to its operations
since 2004, with its principle executive office at 1620 West
Sunrise Blvd, Suite 102 Gilbert, Arizona 85233.
Bradley E. Larson has been a director of Meadow Valley since
1994 and has served as Meadow Valleys President and Chief
Executive Officer of Meadow Valley since July 1995 to November
1995, respectively.
Kenneth D. Nelson has been a director of Meadow Valley since
1993 and has served as Meadow Valleys Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer since April 1996.
Executive Officers. In addition to
Bradley E. Larson and Kenneth D. Nelson, whose biographies are
set forth above, the following individuals are executive
officers of Meadow Valley:
David D. Doty joined Meadow Valley in August 2005 and was named
Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer in April 2006. From 2000 to 2005,
Mr. Doty was first Corporate Controller and then Vice
President of Administration, Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer of Star Markets, Ltd. in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Robert W. Bottcher has served as Arizona Area President of
Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Meadow Valley, since April 2007 and has served in other
management capacities for Meadow Valley since March 1995.
Robert A. Terril has served as Nevada Area President of Meadow
Valley Contractors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meadow
Valley, since April 2007 and has served in other management
capacities for Meadow Valley since February 1996.
None of Meadow Valleys directors or executive officers has
been convicted in a criminal proceeding during the past five
years (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
has been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding
during the past five years (except for matters that were
dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a
judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future
violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or
state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal
or state securities laws. All of the directors and executive
officers of Meadow Valley are United States citizens. All of the
directors and executive officers can be reached at c/o Meadow
Valley Corporation, 4602 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona
85018.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information concerning the
holdings of common stock by each person who, as of
September 16, 2008, is known to Meadow Valley to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of Meadow Valleys
85
common stock and by each director and named executive officer
and by all directors and executive officers as a group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nature of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial
|
|
|
Percent of
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
|
Ownership(2)
|
|
|
Class(2)
|
|
|
Bradley E. Larson(3)
|
|
|
146,814
|
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
Kenneth D. Nelson(4)
|
|
|
145,479
|
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
David D. Doty(5)
|
|
|
5,834
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Don A. Patterson(6)
|
|
|
24,167
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Charles E. Cowan(7)
|
|
|
16,667
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Charles R. Norton(8)
|
|
|
28,367
|
|
|
|
1.0
|
%
|
Robert W. Bottcher(9)
|
|
|
30,436
|
|
|
|
1.0
|
%
|
Robert A. Terril(10)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)
|
|
|
397,764
|
|
|
|
7.4
|
%
|
North Atlantic Value LLP(10)
|
|
|
411,900
|
|
|
|
8.0
|
%
|
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P.(11)
|
|
|
344,452
|
|
|
|
6.7
|
%
|
Hoak Public Equities, L.P.(12)
|
|
|
273,924
|
|
|
|
5.3
|
%
|
Carpe Diem Capital Management LLC(13)
|
|
|
424,415
|
|
|
|
8.2
|
%
|
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC(14)
|
|
|
362,376
|
|
|
|
7.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1%. |
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise indicated, all stockholders listed below have
an address in care of our principal executive offices, which are
located at 4602 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. |
|
(2) |
|
Beneficial ownership includes direct and indirect ownership of
shares of our common stock including rights to acquire
beneficial ownership of shares upon the exercise of stock
options exercisable within 60 days of September 16,
2008. To our knowledge and unless otherwise indicated, each
stockholder listed above has sole voting and investment power
over the shares listed as beneficially owned by such
stockholder, subject to community property laws where
applicable. Percentage of ownership for each stockholder is
based on 5,180,654 shares of common stock outstanding as of
September 16, 2008 and options exercisable within
60 days of September 16, 2008. Beneficial ownership
does not include options that are scheduled to vest beyond
60 days, but which would vest upon the closing of the
merger. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase
47,001 shares of common stock. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase
64,967 shares of common stock. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase 5,834 shares
of common stock. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase
24,167 shares of common stock. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase
16,667 shares of common stock. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase
28,367 shares of common stock. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes vested portion of options to purchase 16,800 shares of
common stock. |
|
(10) |
|
Based solely on Amendment No. 3 to a Schedule 13D
filed with the SEC on May 14, 2007. According to this
filing, the address of this holder is Ryder Court, 14 Ryder
Street, London SW1Y 6QB, England. This holder shares voting and
dispositive power over (i) all of these shares with
Christopher Harwood Bernard Mills, (ii) 80,293 of these
shares with Trident Holdings, (iii) 120,000 of these shares
with The Trident North Atlantic Fund, (iv) 11,607 of these
shares with High Tor Limited, and (v) 200,000 of these
shares with Oryx International Growth Fund Limited.
Mr. Mills, who shares an address with the holder is, among
other things, a director of The Trident North Atlantic Fund,
Oryx International Growth Fund Limited, and a member and
the chief investment officer of the holder. The address for
Trident Holdings is P.O. Box 1350GT, 75
Fort Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. The
address for The Trident North Atlantic Fund is
P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, George Town, Grand Cayman,
Cayman Islands. The address for High Tor Limited is
P.O. Box N-4857, Unit No. 2, Cable Beach Court,
West Bay Street, Nassau, The Bahamas. The |
86
|
|
|
|
|
address for Oryx International Growth Fund Limited is
Arnold House, St. Julians Avenue, St. Peter Port Guernsey,
Channel Islands, GY1 3NF. |
|
(11) |
|
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on
February 15, 2006. According to this filing, the address of
this holder is 55 Railroad Avenue, 3rd Floor, Greenwich,
Connecticut 06830, and this holder shares voting and dispositive
power over these shares with Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C.
and Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually and as managing member of
Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C. and general partner of
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. All persons share the same
address. |
|
(12) |
|
Based solely on Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D filed
with the SEC on November 7, 2007. According to this filing,
the address of this holder is 500 Crescent Court,
Suite 230, Dallas, Texas 75201, and this holder shares
voting and dispositive power over these shares with Hoak
Fund Management, L.P., Hoak Public Equities, L.P., and
James M. Hoak, in his individual capacity, and also James M.
Hoak & Co., which is the general partner of Hoak
Fund Management, L.P., which is co-general partner along
with Hoak Fund Management, L.P. of Hoak Public Equities,
L.P. |
|
(13) |
|
Based solely on Amendment No. 7 to Schedule 13D filed
with the SEC on April 11, 2008. According to this filing,
the address of this holder is 111 South Wacker Drive,
Suite 3950, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and this holder shares
voting and dispositive power over these shares with John D.
Ziegelman, the President of C3 Management Inc., which is the
general partner of ZP II, L.P., which is the managing member of
Carpe Diem Capital Management, LLC. |
|
(14) |
|
Based solely on a Form 13G filed with the SEC on
February 14, 2008. According to this filing, the address of
this holder is 90 Hudson Street, 11th Floor, Jersey City, New
Jersey 07302. |
87
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION REGARDING INVESTOR, MERGER SUB
AND THE INSIGHT GROUP
Information
Regarding Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.
Merger Sub is a Nevada corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of Investor, with its principal executive offices at
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092. Merger Subs telephone number is
(817) 488-7775.
Merger Sub was formed solely for the purposes of entering into
the merger agreement and consummating the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. Merger Sub has not
conducted any activities to date other than activities
incidental to its formation and in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
Set forth below are the names, the present principal occupations
or employment and the name, principal business and address of
any corporations or other organizations in which such occupation
or employment is conducted, and the five-year employment history
of each of the directors and executive officers of Merger Sub:
Ted W. Beneski Chairman of the
Board. Mr. Beneski serves as Chief Executive
Officer and Managing Partner of Insight Equity Holdings LLC, a
private equity fund, with its principal executive office at 1400
Civic Place, Suite 250, Southlake, Texas 76092, and its
related investment funds and management company.
Mr. Beneski co-founded Insight Equity Holdings LLC in June
of 2002.
Victor L. Vescovo Vice Chairman of the
Board, Managing Director, Secretary and Vice
President. Mr. Vescovo serves as Chief
Operating Officer and Managing Director of Insight Equity
Holdings LLC and its related investment funds and management
company. Mr. Vescovo co-founded Insight Equity Holdings LLC
in June of 2002.
Conner Searcy Executive Director,
Treasurer and Director. Mr. Searcy serves as
a Partner of Insight Equity Holdings LLC and its related
investment funds and management company. Mr. Searcy joined
Insight Equity Holdings LLC in July of 2003.
Chris Zugaro Vice President and
Director. Mr. Zugaro serves as an Associate
of Insight Equity Holdings LLC and its related investment funds
and management company. Mr. Zugaro joined Insight Equity
Holdings LLC in June of 2006. From January of 2006 to May of
2006, Mr. Zugaro served as a Special Assistant to the chief
executive officer of MotionDSP Inc., a software video processing
company, with a corporate headquarters address at 1650 Borel
Place, Suite 208, San Mateo, California 94402. From
August 2005 to June 2007, Mr. Zugaro attended the Stanford
Graduate School of Business, from which he received an M.B.A.
From September of 2002 to August of 2005, Mr. Zugaro worked
at Bain & Company, Inc., a consulting firm with a
corporate headquarters address at 131 Dartmouth Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02116, where he most recently served as a Senior
Associate Consultant.
The business address for each of the persons listed above is
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092.
During the past five years, none of the persons described above
or Merger Sub has been (i) convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or (ii) party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding (except for matters that were
dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a
judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future
violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or
state securities laws or a finding of any violation of federal
or state securities laws. Each person listed above is a United
States citizen.
Information
Regarding Phoenix Parent Corp.
Investor is a Delaware corporation that owns 100% of Merger Sub,
with its principal executive offices at
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092. Investors telephone number is
(817) 488-7775.
Investor was formed solely for the purposes of entering into the
merger agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement. Investor has not conducted any
activities to date other than activities incidental to its
formation and in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement.
88
Set forth below are the names, the present principal occupations
or employment and the name, principal business and address of
any corporations or other organizations in which such occupation
or employment is conducted, and the five-year employment history
of each of the directors and executive officers of Investor:
Ted W. Beneski Chairman of the
Board. Information regarding Mr. Beneski is
set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Victor L. Vescovo Vice Chairman of the
Board, Managing Director, Secretary and Vice
President. Information regarding Mr. Vescovo
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Conner Searcy Executive Director,
Treasurer and Director. Information regarding
Mr. Searcy is set forth above in Information
Regarding Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.
Chris Zugaro Vice President and
Director. Information regarding Mr. Zugaro
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
The business address for each of the persons listed above is
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092.
During the past five years, none of the persons described above
or Investor has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding
(excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
(ii) party to any judicial or administrative proceeding
(except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or
settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order
enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting
activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or a
finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws.
Each person listed above is a United States citizen.
Information
Regarding Phoenix Holdings, Insight Equity Acquisition Resources
LLC, Insight Equity, Insight Equity (Tax-Exempt) I LP, Insight
Equity (Cayman) I LP, Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) I
LP, Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) GP I LLC, Insight
Equity (Cayman) GP I Ltd., Insight Equity GP I LP, Insight
Equity Holdings I LLC, Insight Equity LP and Insight Equity
Holdings LLC
Phoenix Holdings is a Texas limited liability company that owns
100% of Investor, with its principal executive offices at
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092. Phoenix Holdings was formed solely for
the purpose of consummating the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement. Phoenix Holdings has not conducted any
activities to date other than activities incidental to its
formation and in connection with the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement.
Set forth below are the names, the present principal occupations
or employment and the name, principal business and address of
any corporations or other organizations in which such occupation
or employment is conducted, and the five-year employment history
of each of the directors and executive officers of Phoenix
Holdings:
Ted W. Beneski Chairman of the
Board. Information regarding Mr. Beneski is
set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Victor L. Vescovo Managing Director and
Director. Information regarding Mr. Vescovo
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Conner Searcy Executive Director and
Director. Information regarding Mr. Searcy
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Chris Zugaro Vice President and
Director. Information regarding Mr. Zugaro
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
The business address for each of the persons listed above is
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092.
During the past five years, none of the persons described above
or Phoenix Holdings has been (i) convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or (ii) party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding (except for matters that were
dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted
89
in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from
future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to,
federal or state securities laws or a finding of any violation
of federal or state securities laws. Each person listed above is
a United States citizen.
Insight Equity Acquisition Resources LLC (Resources)
is a Texas limited liability company that owns 100% of Phoenix
Holdings, with its principal executive offices at
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092. Resources was formed solely for the
purpose of consummating the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement. Resources has not conducted any activities to
date other than activities incidental to its formation and in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
Set forth below are the names, the present principal occupations
or employment and the name, principal business and address of
any corporations or other organizations in which such occupation
or employment is conducted, and the five-year employment history
of each of the directors and executive officers of Resources:
Ted W. Beneski Chairman of the
Board. Information regarding Mr. Beneski is
set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Victor L. Vescovo Managing Director and
Director. Information regarding Mr. Vescovo
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
Conner Searcy Executive
Director. Information regarding Mr. Searcy
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
The business address for each of the persons listed above is
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092.
During the past five years, none of the persons described above
or Resources has been (i) convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or (ii) party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding (except for matters that were
dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a
judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future
violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or
state securities laws or a finding of any violation of federal
or state securities laws. Each person listed above is a United
States citizen.
Insight Equity, Insight Equity (Tax-Exempt) I LP, Insight Equity
(Cayman) I LP and Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) I LP,
collectively, own 100% of Resources.
Insight Equity is a Delaware limited partnership formed for the
purposes of investing in equity, equity-related and similar
securities or instruments. Insight Equity GP I LP, a Delaware
limited partnership, acts as the sole general partner of Insight
Equity, and Insight Equity Holdings I LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, acts as the sole general partner of Insight
Equity GP I LP.
Insight Equity (Tax-Exempt) I LP is a Delaware limited
partnership formed for the purposes of investing in equity,
equity-related and similar securities or instruments. Insight
Equity GP I LP acts as the sole general partner of Insight
Equity (Tax-Exempt) I LP, and Insight Equity Holdings I LLC acts
as the sole general partner of Insight Equity GP I LP.
Insight Equity (Cayman) I LP is a Cayman Islands exempted
limited partnership formed for the purposes of investing in
equity, equity-related and similar securities or instruments.
Insight Equity (Cayman) GP I Ltd., a Cayman Islands limited
company, acts as the sole general partner of Insight Equity
(Cayman) I LP.
Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) I LP is a Delaware
limited partnership formed for the purposes of investing in
equity, equity-related and similar securities or instruments.
Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) GP I LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, acts as the sole general partner of
Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) I LP.
Insight Equity (Cayman) GP I Ltd. is 100% owned by Insight
Equity GP I LP, and Insight Equity Holdings I LLC acts as the
sole general partner of Insight Equity GP I LP.
Insight Equity Holdings I LLC is 100% owned by Insight Equity
LP, a Texas limited partnership, and Insight Equity Holdings LLC
acts as the sole general partner of Insight Equity LP.
90
Set forth below are the names, the present principal occupations
or employment and the name, principal business and address of
any corporations or other organizations in which such occupation
or employment is conducted, and the five-year employment history
of each of the directors and executive officers of each of
Insight Equity Holdings I LLC, Insight Equity (Affiliated
Coinvestors) GP I LLC, Insight Equity (Cayman) I GP Ltd. and
Insight Equity Holdings LLC, as the entities that indirectly
control Merger Sub and Investor through the entities described
above:
Ted W. Beneski Chief Executive Officer,
Managing Partner and Director. Information regarding
Mr. Beneski is set forth above in Information
Regarding Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.
Victor L. Vescovo Chief Operating Officer,
Managing Director and Director. Information regarding
Mr. Vescovo is set forth above in Information
Regarding Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.
Conner Searcy
Partner. Information regarding Mr. Searcy
is set forth above in Information Regarding Phoenix Merger
Sub, Inc.
The business address for each of the persons listed above is
c/o Insight
Equity Management Company LLC, 1400 Civic Place, Suite 250,
Southlake, Texas 76092.
During the past five years, none of the persons described above
or Insight Equity, Insight Equity (Tax-Exempt) I LP, Insight
Equity (Cayman) I LP, Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) I
LP, Insight Equity GP I LP, Insight Equity (Cayman) GP I Ltd.,
Insight Equity (Affiliated Coinvestors) GP I LLC, Insight Equity
Holdings I LLC, Insight Equity LP or Insight Equity Holdings LLC
has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) party
to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters
that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that
resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the
person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or a finding of any
violation of federal or state securities laws. Each person
listed above is a United States citizen.
91
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Meadow Valley files annual, quarterly, and current reports,
proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may
read and copy any of this information at the SECs public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. The SEC
also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy
statements, and other information regarding Meadow Valley. The
address of that site is www.sec.gov.
Because the merger is a going private transaction,
Meadow Valley, Investor, Merger Sub, Insight Equity and the
Rollover Participants have filed with the SEC a Transaction
Statement on
Schedule 13E-3
with respect to the proposed merger. The
Schedule 13E-3,
including any amendments and exhibits filed or incorporated by
reference as a part of it, is available for inspection as set
forth above. The
Schedule 13E-3
will be amended to report promptly any material changes in the
information set forth in the most recent
Schedule 13E-3
filed with the SEC.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into
this proxy statement the information we file with it, which
means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated
by reference is an important part of this proxy statement, and
information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede information contained in documents filed
earlier with the SEC or contained in this proxy statement. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act after the initial filing
made of this proxy statement and before the special meeting:
|
|
|
|
|
our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007;
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007;
|
|
|
|
our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2008 and
June 30, 2008; and
|
|
|
|
our Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 12, 2008 and July 28,
2008.
|
We will provide a copy of any document incorporated by reference
in this proxy statement and any exhibit specifically
incorporated by reference in those documents, without charge,
upon written or oral request direct to us at the following
address and telephone number:
Meadow Valley Corporation
4602 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
Attention: Corporate Secretary
(602) 437-5400
THIS PROXY STATEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE SOLICITATION OF A
PROXY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO OR FROM ANY PERSON TO WHOM OR FROM
WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION IN THAT
JURISDICTION. YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN, ATTACHED TO, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROXY
STATEMENT. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS CONTAINED IN,
ATTACHED TO, OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROXY
STATEMENT. THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DATED , 2008. YOU
SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY
STATEMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THAT DATE, AND
THE MAILING OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS DOES NOT
CREATE ANY IMPLICATION TO THE CONTRARY.
92
Appendix A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.,
Phoenix Parent Corp.
and
Meadow Valley Corporation
Dated as of July 28, 2008
The representations and warranties included in the merger
agreement were made by the parties thereto to each other as of
specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations
and warranties were made solely for purposes of the merger
agreement and may be subject to important qualifications and
limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with
negotiating its terms. Moreover, the representations and
warranties may be subject to a contractual standard of
materiality that may be different from what may be viewed as
material to stockholders, or may have been used for the purpose
of allocating risk between the parties rather than establishing
matters as facts. The merger agreement is included as
Appendix A to this proxy statement only to provide you with
information regarding its terms and conditions, and not to
provide any other factual information regarding the parties or
their respective businesses. Accordingly, you should not rely on
the representations and warranties in the merger agreement as
characterizations of the actual state of facts about the
parties, and you should read the information provided elsewhere
in this proxy statement and in the documents incorporated by
reference into this proxy statement for information regarding
the parties and their respective businesses.
A-1
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE I THE MERGER
|
|
|
1
|
|
Section 1.1
|
|
The Merger
|
|
|
1
|
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Consummation of the Merger
|
|
|
1
|
|
Section 1.3
|
|
Effects of the Merger
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.4
|
|
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.5
|
|
Directors and Officers
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.6
|
|
Conversion of Shares
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.7
|
|
Withholding Taxes
|
|
|
2
|
|
Section 1.8
|
|
Subsequent Actions
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II DISSENTING SHARES; PAYMENT FOR SHARES; TREATMENT OF
EQUITY-BASED AWARDS
|
|
|
3
|
|
Section 2.1
|
|
Dissenting Shares
|
|
|
3
|
|
Section 2.2
|
|
Payment for Shares
|
|
|
3
|
|
Section 2.3
|
|
Closing of the Companys Transfer Books
|
|
|
4
|
|
Section 2.4
|
|
Treatment of Options
|
|
|
4
|
|
Section 2.5
|
|
Further Adjustments
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
|
|
5
|
|
Section 3.1
|
|
Organization and Qualification
|
|
|
5
|
|
Section 3.2
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
|
5
|
|
Section 3.3
|
|
Authority for this Agreement; Board Action
|
|
|
7
|
|
Section 3.4
|
|
Consents and Approvals; No Violation
|
|
|
7
|
|
Section 3.5
|
|
Reports; SEC Matters; Financial Statements
|
|
|
8
|
|
Section 3.6
|
|
Absence of Certain Changes
|
|
|
10
|
|
Section 3.7
|
|
Proxy Statement; Other Filings
|
|
|
11
|
|
Section 3.8
|
|
Brokers; Certain Expenses
|
|
|
11
|
|
Section 3.9
|
|
Employee Matters
|
|
|
11
|
|
Section 3.10
|
|
Employees
|
|
|
13
|
|
Section 3.11
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
14
|
|
Section 3.12
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
|
14
|
|
Section 3.13
|
|
Compliance with Law; No Default
|
|
|
17
|
|
Section 3.14
|
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
|
17
|
|
Section 3.15
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
|
19
|
|
Section 3.16
|
|
Real Property
|
|
|
20
|
|
Section 3.17
|
|
Material Contracts
|
|
|
22
|
|
Section 3.18
|
|
Title to Assets
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 3.19
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 3.20
|
|
Opinion
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 3.21
|
|
Required Vote of Company Stockholders
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 3.22
|
|
State Takeover Statutes
|
|
|
25
|
|
Section 3.23
|
|
Rights Agreement
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 3.24
|
|
Customers and Suppliers
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 3.25
|
|
Affiliate Transactions
|
|
|
26
|
|
A-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Section 3.26
|
|
Product Warranties; Product Liability Claims
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 3.27
|
|
Bonding
|
|
|
26
|
|
Section 3.28
|
|
Backlog
|
|
|
27
|
|
Section 3.29
|
|
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER
SUB
|
|
|
27
|
|
Section 4.1
|
|
Organization
|
|
|
27
|
|
Section 4.2
|
|
Authority for this Agreement
|
|
|
27
|
|
Section 4.3
|
|
Consents and Approvals; No Violation
|
|
|
28
|
|
Section 4.4
|
|
Proxy Statement; Other Filings
|
|
|
28
|
|
Section 4.5
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
28
|
|
Section 4.6
|
|
Letter of Credit
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 4.7
|
|
Litigation
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 4.8
|
|
Brokers
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 4.9
|
|
Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 4.10
|
|
Vote Required
|
|
|
29
|
|
Section 4.11
|
|
Solvency
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V COVENANTS
|
|
|
30
|
|
Section 5.1
|
|
Conduct of Business of the Company and RMI
|
|
|
30
|
|
Section 5.2
|
|
Solicitation
|
|
|
36
|
|
Section 5.3
|
|
Access to Information
|
|
|
40
|
|
Section 5.4
|
|
Stockholder Approval
|
|
|
40
|
|
Section 5.5
|
|
Proxy Statement; Other Filings
|
|
|
41
|
|
Section 5.6
|
|
Reasonable Best Efforts; Consents and Governmental Approvals;
Stockholder Litigation
|
|
|
42
|
|
Section 5.7
|
|
Indemnification and Insurance
|
|
|
43
|
|
Section 5.8
|
|
Employee Matters
|
|
|
44
|
|
Section 5.9
|
|
Takeover Laws
|
|
|
44
|
|
Section 5.10
|
|
Notification of Certain Matters
|
|
|
44
|
|
Section 5.11
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 5.12
|
|
Subsequent Filings
|
|
|
45
|
|
Section 5.13
|
|
Press Releases
|
|
|
46
|
|
Section 5.14
|
|
Resignation of Directors
|
|
|
46
|
|
Section 5.15
|
|
Rule 16b-3
|
|
|
46
|
|
Section 5.16
|
|
Company Rights Agreement
|
|
|
46
|
|
Section 5.17
|
|
Voting of RMI Shares
|
|
|
46
|
|
Section 5.18
|
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
|
47
|
|
Section 5.19
|
|
Real Estate Matters
|
|
|
47
|
|
Section 5.20
|
|
Additional Consents and Releases
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
|
|
|
48
|
|
Section 6.1
|
|
Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Merger
|
|
|
48
|
|
Section 6.2
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
|
|
|
48
|
|
Section 6.3
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
|
|
|
50
|
|
A-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER
|
|
|
51
|
|
Section 7.1
|
|
Termination
|
|
|
51
|
|
Section 7.2
|
|
Written Notice of Termination
|
|
|
52
|
|
Section 7.3
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
52
|
|
Section 7.4
|
|
Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
52
|
|
Section 7.5
|
|
Amendment
|
|
|
54
|
|
Section 7.6
|
|
Extension; Waiver; Remedies
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.1
|
|
Representations and Warranties
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.2
|
|
Entire Agreement; Assignment
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.3
|
|
Jurisdiction; Venue
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.4
|
|
Validity
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.5
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
55
|
|
Section 8.6
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
|
56
|
|
Section 8.7
|
|
Descriptive Headings
|
|
|
56
|
|
Section 8.8
|
|
Parties in Interest
|
|
|
56
|
|
Section 8.9
|
|
Rules of Construction
|
|
|
57
|
|
Section 8.10
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
|
57
|
|
Section 8.11
|
|
Certain Definitions
|
|
|
57
|
|
A-4
Glossary
of Defined Terms
|
|
|
|
|
Defined Terms
|
|
Defined in
|
|
409A Authorities
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(h)
|
|
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(a)
|
|
Acquisition Proposal
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(i)
|
|
Action
|
|
|
SECTION 5.7(a)
|
|
Affiliate
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(b)
|
|
Agreement
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
AJCA
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(h)
|
|
Alternative Acquisition Agreement
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(e)(i)
|
|
Articles of Incorporation
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(c)
|
|
Articles of Merger
|
|
|
SECTION 1.2
|
|
Associate
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(b)
|
|
Backlog
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(d)
|
|
beneficial ownership
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(e)
|
|
Bond
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(f)
|
|
Bonded Project
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(g)
|
|
Bonding Arrangement
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(h)
|
|
Bonding Capacity
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(i)
|
|
Breach Fee
|
|
|
SECTION 7.4(f)
|
|
Business Day
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(j)
|
|
Bylaws
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(k)
|
|
Change of Board Recommendation
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(e)
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
SECTION 1.2
|
|
Closing Date
|
|
|
SECTION 1.2
|
|
Code
|
|
|
SECTION 1.7
|
|
Collective Bargaining Agreements
|
|
|
SECTION 3.10(a)
|
|
Combinations Law
|
|
|
Recitals
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(a)
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
Company Balance Sheet
|
|
|
SECTION 3.5(e)(i)
|
|
Company Board Recommendation
|
|
|
SECTION 3.3(b)
|
|
Company Breakup Fee
|
|
|
SECTION 7.4(c)
|
|
Company Disclosure Letter
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(l)
|
|
Company Fairness Opinion
|
|
|
SECTION 3.20
|
|
Company Financial Advisor
|
|
|
SECTION 3.8
|
|
Company Rights Agreement
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(m)
|
|
Company SEC Reports
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(n)
|
|
Company Securities
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(a)
|
|
Confidentiality Agreements
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(o)
|
|
Construction Agreement
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(p)
|
|
Construction Agreement Party
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(q)
|
|
Construction Project
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(r)
|
|
Controlled Group Liability
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(s)
|
|
Corporation Law
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(h)
|
|
A-5
|
|
|
|
|
Defined Terms
|
|
Defined in
|
|
Current Employees
|
|
|
SECTION 5.8(b)
|
|
EBIT
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(t)
|
|
Effective Time
|
|
|
SECTION 1.2
|
|
Environment
|
|
|
SECTION 3.14(b)(i)
|
|
Environmental Claim
|
|
|
SECTION 3.14(b)(ii)
|
|
Environmental Law
|
|
|
SECTION 3.14(b)(iii)
|
|
ERISA
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(u)
|
|
ERISA Affiliate
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(v)
|
|
Exchange Act
|
|
|
SECTION 3.4(b)
|
|
Excluded Party
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(b)
|
|
Excluded Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 1.6
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
SECTION 7.4(e)
|
|
Facility or Facilities
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(w)
|
|
Financing
|
|
|
SECTION 5.11(a)
|
|
Financing Commitments
|
|
|
SECTION 4.5
|
|
GAAP
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(x)
|
|
Government Contracts
|
|
|
SECTION 3.17(c)(i)
|
|
Governmental Entity
|
|
|
SECTION 3.4(b)
|
|
Hazardous Materials
|
|
|
SECTION 3.14(b)(iv)
|
|
hereby
|
|
|
SECTION 8.9
|
|
herein
|
|
|
SECTION 8.9
|
|
hereinafter
|
|
|
SECTION 8.9
|
|
HSR Act
|
|
|
SECTION 3.4(b)
|
|
Immaterial Leased Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 3.15(a)
|
|
Immaterial Owned Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 3.16(a)
|
|
including
|
|
|
SECTION 8.9
|
|
Indemnified Persons
|
|
|
SECTION 5.7(a)
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(y)
|
|
knowledge
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(z)
|
|
Laws
|
|
|
SECTION 3.13(a)(i)
|
|
Lease or Leases
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(aa)
|
|
Leased Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(bb)
|
|
Licensed Intellectual Property Agreements
|
|
|
SECTION 3.15(a)
|
|
Liens
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(cc)
|
|
Material Adverse Effect
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(dd)
|
|
Material Contract
|
|
|
SECTION 3.17(a)
|
|
Material Leased Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 3.16(a)
|
|
Material Owned Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 3.16(a)
|
|
Merger
|
|
|
SECTION 1.1
|
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
|
SECTION 1.6
|
|
Merger Sub
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
Morgan Joseph
|
|
|
SECTION 3.8
|
|
NASDAQ
|
|
|
SECTION 3.4(b)
|
|
Nevada Secretary
|
|
|
SECTION 1.2
|
|
A-6
|
|
|
|
|
Defined Terms
|
|
Defined in
|
|
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(h)
|
|
Notice Period
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(e)(i)
|
|
Official Notice
|
|
|
SECTION 3.17(c)(ii)
|
|
Option
|
|
|
SECTION 2.4(a)
|
|
Other Filings
|
|
|
SECTION 3.7
|
|
Outside Date
|
|
|
SECTION 7.1(c)
|
|
Owned Real Property
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(ee)
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Preamble
|
|
Parent Disclosure Letter
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(ff)
|
|
Parent Material Adverse Effect
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(gg)
|
|
Paying Agent
|
|
|
SECTION 2.2(a)
|
|
Payment Fund
|
|
|
SECTION 2.2(a)
|
|
Permits
|
|
|
SECTION 3.13(a)(ii)
|
|
Permitted Liens
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(hh)
|
|
Person
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(ii)
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(jj)
|
|
Preferred Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(a)
|
|
Proxy Statement
|
|
|
SECTION 3.7
|
|
Release
|
|
|
SECTION 3.14(b)(v)
|
|
Representatives
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(kk)
|
|
Requisite Stockholder Vote
|
|
|
SECTION 3.21
|
|
Retiree Welfare Programs
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(f)
|
|
RMI
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(ll)
|
|
RMI Balance Sheet
|
|
|
SECTION 3.5(e)(ii)
|
|
RMI Common Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(c)
|
|
RMI Preferred Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(c)
|
|
RMI SEC Reports
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(mm)
|
|
RMI Securities
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(c)
|
|
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
|
|
|
SECTION 3.5(a)
|
|
SEC
|
|
|
SECTION 3.5(a)
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
SECTION 3.2(b)
|
|
Securities Act
|
|
|
SECTION 3.5(a)
|
|
Share or Shares
|
|
|
SECTION 1.6
|
|
Significant Customers
|
|
|
SECTION 3.24
|
|
Significant Suppliers
|
|
|
SECTION 3.24
|
|
SNDA
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(nn)
|
|
Solicitation Period End-Date
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(oo)
|
|
Solvent
|
|
|
SECTION 4.11
|
|
Special Committee
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(pp)
|
|
Special Meeting
|
|
|
SECTION 5.4
|
|
Stock Right
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(i)
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(qq)
|
|
Superior Fee
|
|
|
SECTION 7.4(d)
|
|
Superior Proposal
|
|
|
SECTION 5.2(i)
|
|
A-7
|
|
|
|
|
Defined Terms
|
|
Defined in
|
|
Surety
|
|
|
SECTION 8.11(rr)
|
|
Surviving Entity
|
|
|
SECTION 1.1
|
|
Takeover Laws
|
|
|
SECTION 3.3(b)
|
|
Tax
|
|
|
SECTION 3.12(p)
|
|
Tax Returns
|
|
|
SECTION 3.12(p)
|
|
Tax-Controlled Joint Venture
|
|
|
SECTION 3.12(p)
|
|
Title IV Plan
|
|
|
SECTION 3.9(c)
|
|
U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture
|
|
|
SECTION 3.12(p)
|
|
A-8
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of July 28, 2008
(this Agreement), by and among Phoenix Parent
Corp., a Delaware corporation (Parent),
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger
Sub), and Meadow Valley Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the Company).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, acting upon the
unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, has
determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Merger, are advisable and fair to, and in
the best interests of, the stockholders of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company, acting upon the
unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, has
unanimously (with Mr. Kenneth D. Nelson and
Mr. Bradley E. Larson abstaining) adopted resolutions
approving the acquisition of the Company by Parent, the
execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and recommending that the
Companys stockholders adopt this Agreement pursuant to Ch.
92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the Combinations
Law) and approve the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent and the Board of
Directors of Merger Sub have each approved, and the Board of
Directors of Merger Sub has declared it advisable for Merger Sub
to enter into, this Agreement providing for the Merger in
accordance with the Combinations Law upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make
certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in
connection with this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, as a
condition and inducement to the Companys willingness to
enter into this Agreement, Parent has obtained a letter of
credit in support of its obligations hereunder, in the form set
forth on Section 4.6 of the Parent Disclosure
Letter; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, and in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Combinations Law, at the Effective Time,
Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company (the
Merger). The Company shall be the surviving
entity in the Merger (the Surviving Entity)
and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease.
Section 1.2 Consummation
of the Merger. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the transactions
contemplated hereby (the Closing) will take
place at 10:00 a.m., local time, as promptly as practicable
but, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto, in no event later than the third Business Day after the
satisfaction or waiver (by the party entitled to grant such
waiver) of the conditions (other than those conditions that by
their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to
the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions) (the date of the
Closing, the Closing Date) set forth in
Article VI, at the offices of Hunton &
Williams LLP, Bank of America Plaza, Suite 4100, 600
Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, Merger Sub and the Company shall
cause the Merger to be consummated on the Closing Date by filing
with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada (the
Nevada Secretary), on or prior to the Closing
Date, duly executed articles of merger (the Articles of
Merger), as required by the Combinations Law, and
shall take all such further actions as may be required by Law to
make the Merger effective. The Merger shall become effective
upon the later of: (a) the date and time of the filing of
the Articles of Merger with the Nevada
A-9
Secretary, or (b) such later date and time as may be
specified in the Articles of Merger with the consent of the
parties. The time the Merger becomes effective in accordance
with applicable Law is referred to as the Effective
Time.
Section 1.3 Effects
of the Merger. The Merger shall have the
effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the
Combinations Law. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the
property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises
of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity
and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger
Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the
Surviving Entity.
Section 1.4 Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws. The articles of
incorporation of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time, shall, by virtue of the Merger, be the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Entity, except that
Article I thereof shall provide that the name of the
Surviving Entity shall be Meadow Valley Corporation.
Such articles of incorporation, as so amended, shall be the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Entity until
thereafter amended as permitted by Law and such articles of
incorporation. The bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of
the Surviving Entity. Such bylaws shall be the bylaws of the
Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with the
terms of the bylaws, the articles of incorporation of the
Surviving Entity and as permitted by Law.
Section 1.5 Directors
and Officers. The directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time and the officers of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity
(other than those who Merger Sub determines shall not remain as
officers of the Surviving Entity) until their successors have
been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Entity.
Section 1.6 Conversion
of Shares. Each share of common stock of the
Company, par value $0.001 per share (each, a
Share and collectively, the
Shares), issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares owned by Parent,
Merger Sub or any Subsidiary of Parent (collectively, the
Excluded Shares), all of which, at the
Effective Time, shall be cancelled without any consideration
being exchanged therefor) shall be converted at the Effective
Time into the right to receive in cash an amount per Share
(subject to any applicable withholding Tax specified in
Section 1.7) equal to $11.25, without interest (the
Merger Consideration), upon the surrender of
such Shares as provided in Section 2.2. At the
Effective Time, the Shares shall no longer be outstanding and
shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and
the names of the former registered holders shall be removed from
the registry of holders of the Shares and, subject to
Section 2.1, each holder of Shares shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to
receive the Merger Consideration (for Shares other than Excluded
Shares), without interest, as provided herein.
Section 1.7 Withholding
Taxes. Parent, the Surviving Entity and the
Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable to a holder of Shares and stock
options pursuant to the Merger or this Agreement, any stock
transfer Taxes and such amounts as are required to be withheld
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), or any applicable provision of state,
local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld and remitted to the applicable Governmental Entity,
such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Shares, stock
options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted
stock and stock units, as the case may be, in respect of which
such deduction and withholding was made.
Section 1.8 Subsequent
Actions. If at any time after the Effective
Time the Surviving Entity shall consider or be advised that any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments, assurances or any other
actions or things are necessary or desirable to continue, vest,
perfect or confirm of record or otherwise the Surviving
Entitys direct or indirect right, title or interest in, to
or under any of the rights, properties, privileges, franchises
or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the
capital stock of RMI owned by the Company, as a result of, or in
connection with, the Merger, or otherwise to carry out the
intent of this Agreement, at the sole cost and expense of the
Surviving Entity, the directors and officers of the Surviving
Entity shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of the Company, all such deeds, bills of sale,
assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and
on behalf of the Company or otherwise, all such other actions
and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest,
A-10
perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to
and under such rights, properties, privileges, franchises or
assets in the Surviving Entity or otherwise to carry out the
intent of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
DISSENTING
SHARES; PAYMENT FOR SHARES;
TREATMENT OF
EQUITY-BASED AWARDS
Section 2.1 Dissenting
Shares. In accordance with the Combinations
Law, stockholders of the Company will not have appraisal rights
with respect to their shares.
Section 2.2 Payment
for Shares.
(a) At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent will deposit
or cause to be deposited with a bank or trust company designated
by Parent (and reasonably acceptable to the Company) (the
Paying Agent) cash in amounts and at times
necessary to make the payments due pursuant to
Section 1.6 to holders of Shares that are issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and entitled
to the Merger Consideration (such amounts being hereinafter
referred to as the Payment Fund). As directed
by Parent, the Payment Fund shall be invested by the Paying
Agent in (i) direct obligations of the United States of
America, (ii) obligations for which the full faith and
credit of the United States of America is pledged to provide for
payment of all principal and interest, (iii) money market
accounts, certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements or
bankers acceptances of, or demand deposits with,
commercial banks having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $1,000,000,000 (based on the most recent financial
statements of such bank which are publicly available) or
(iv) commercial paper obligations rated
A-1 or
P-1 or
better from either Moodys Investor Services, Inc. or
Standard & Poors, a division of The McGraw Hill
Companies, or a combination thereof, for the benefit of the
Surviving Entity; provided, that no such investment or
any loss associated therewith shall relieve Parent, the
Surviving Entity or the Paying Agent from making the payments
required by this Article II. The Payment Fund shall
not be used for any purpose other than to fund payments due
pursuant to Section 1.6, except as provided in this
Agreement. Any profit or loss resulting from, or interest and
other income provided by, such investments shall be for the
account of Parent.
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than
three Business Days after the Effective Time (or such longer
period of time as Paying Agent shall require), the Surviving
Entity shall cause the Paying Agent to commence mailing to the
record holders of the Shares as of the Effective Time (which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Shares,
other than Excluded Shares) and to complete the mailing as soon
as reasonably practical thereafter, a form of letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title to the Shares shall pass,
only upon proper delivery of the Shares to the Paying Agent) and
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of a Share and
receiving payment therefor. Following surrender to the Paying
Agent of such letter of transmittal duly executed, the holder of
such Share shall be paid in exchange therefor cash in an amount
(subject to any applicable withholding Tax as specified in
Section 1.7 equal to the product of the number of
Shares represented by such letter of transmittal multiplied by
the Merger Consideration. No interest will be paid or accrued on
the cash payable upon the surrender of the Shares. If payment is
to be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name a
Share surrendered is registered, it shall be a condition of
payment that the letter of transmittal be in proper form for
transfer and that the Person requesting such payment pay any
transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the payment to a
Person other than the registered holder of the Share surrendered
or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Entity that
such Tax has been paid or is not applicable. From and after the
Effective Time and until surrendered in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 2.2, each Share shall
represent for all purposes solely the right to receive the
Merger Consideration in cash, without interest, as provided
herein.
(c) At the option of the Surviving Entity, any portion of
the Payment Fund (including the proceeds of any investments
thereof) that remains unclaimed by the former stockholders of
the Company for one year after the Effective Time shall be
repaid to the Surviving Entity. Any former stockholders of the
Company who have not complied with this Section 2.2
prior to the end of such one-year period shall thereafter look
only to the Surviving Entity (subject to abandoned property,
escheat or other similar Laws) but only as general creditors
thereof for payment of their claims for the Merger
Consideration, without interest, as provided herein. Neither
Parent nor the
A-11
Surviving Entity shall be liable to any holder of Shares for any
monies delivered from the Payment Fund or otherwise to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar Law. If any Shares shall not have been surrendered as
of a date immediately prior to such time that unclaimed funds
would otherwise become subject to any abandoned property,
escheat or similar Law, any unclaimed funds payable with respect
to such Shares shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law,
become the property of the Surviving Entity, free and clear of
all claims, interests or other Liens of any Person previously
entitled thereto.
(d) No dividends or other distributions with respect to
capital stock of the Surviving Entity with a record date after
the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any
unsurrendered certificate.
(e) In the event that any certificate has 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, in addition to the posting by such holder of any bond
in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Entity or the Paying
Agent may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against the Surviving Entity or the Paying Agent with respect to
such certificate (or the making of such other indemnity as the
Surviving Entity or Paying Agent may reasonable request in lieu
thereof), the Paying Agent will issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate the Merger Consideration in
respect thereof entitled to be received pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 2.3 Closing
of the Companys Transfer Books. At the
Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed and no transfer of Shares shall thereafter be made. If,
after the Effective Time, Shares are presented to the Surviving
Entity for transfer, they shall be canceled and exchanged for
the Merger Consideration as provided in this
Article II.
Section 2.4 Treatment
of Options.
(a) The Company shall provide that, immediately prior to
the Effective Time, each option to purchase Shares (an
Option) granted under the 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan of the Company and the 1994 Stock Option Plan of
the Company that is outstanding and unexercised as of the
Effective Time (whether vested or unvested), except for Options
as to which the treatment in the Merger is hereafter separately
agreed in writing by Parent and the holder thereof, which
Options shall be treated as so agreed, shall be cancelled, and
the holder thereof shall receive at the Effective Time from the
Company, or as soon as practicable thereafter from the Surviving
Entity, in consideration for such cancellation, an amount in
cash, equal to the product, if any, of (i) the number of
Shares previously subject to such Option multiplied by
(ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over
the exercise price per Share previously subject to such Option.
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company (or the
appropriate committee thereof) shall, and such Board of
Directors (or committee thereof) shall cause the Company to,
take any actions reasonably necessary to effectuate the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4 (in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent); it being
understood that the intention of the parties is that following
the Effective Time no holder of an Option, or any participant in
any Plan or other employee benefit arrangement of the Company or
any of its Affiliates shall have any right thereunder to acquire
(or receive amounts measured by reference to) any capital stock
(including any phantom stock or stock appreciation
rights) of the Company, any Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity
and all such Options and rights under any Plan shall be
cancelled and, other than as expressly set forth herein, such
items and Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time. Prior
to the Effective Time (and to the extent requested by Parent, at
the time that the amounts provided by this
Section 2.4 are paid to the holders of the Options),
the Company shall deliver to the holders of the Options
appropriate notices, in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to Parent, setting forth such holders rights pursuant to
this Agreement.
(c) The Company and Parent agree that it is their intent
to, and that they will, report all income tax deductions
resulting from the payment of any amounts paid pursuant to this
Section 2.4 in the portion of the Companys
taxable year ended prior to the Effective Time.
Section 2.5 Further
Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if, between the date of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, there shall have been
declared, made or paid any dividend or distribution on the
issued and outstanding Shares or the issued and outstanding
Shares shall have been changed into a different number of shares
or a different class by reason of any stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, reclassification, redenomination,
recapitalization,
split-up,
combination, exchange of shares or other similar
A-12
transaction, the Merger Consideration shall be appropriately
adjusted and as so adjusted shall, from and after the date of
such event, be the Merger Consideration, subject to further
adjustment in accordance with this Section 2.5;
provided that nothing herein shall be construed to permit
the Company to take any action with respect to its securities
that is prohibited or not expressly permitted by the terms of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF THE
COMPANY
Except as disclosed in the Section of the Company Disclosure
Letter that specifically relates to such Section of
Article III below or, if disclosed in any other
Section of the Company Disclosure Letter, is reasonably apparent
on its face to relate to such Section of Article III
below, the Company represents and warrants to each of Parent and
Merger Sub as follows:
Section 3.1 Organization
and Qualification. The Company, each of its
Subsidiaries and RMI is a duly organized and validly existing
corporation or other legal entity in good standing under the
Laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or
organization. The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and RMI has
the requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
currently conducted. The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and
RMI is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign
corporation authorized to do business in each of the
jurisdictions in which the character of the properties owned by
or held under lease by it or the nature of the business
transacted by it makes such qualification necessary, except as
has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.1-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and
complete copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as
currently in effect. The Company has heretofore made available
to Parent true, correct and complete copies of the articles of
incorporation and bylaws (or similar governing documents) as
currently in effect for each of the Companys Subsidiaries
and RMI. Except as set forth in
Section 3.1-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, owns any interest in
any Persons other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries and RMI.
Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI is in breach
of its organizational or governing documents in any material
respect.
Section 3.2 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
(i) 15,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$0.001 per share (the Common Shares) and
(ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.001 per share (the Preferred Shares). As
of the date of this Agreement, 5,178,654 Common Shares and no
Preferred Shares were issued and outstanding; and no Common
Shares or Preferred Shares were held in the Companys
treasury. As of the date of this Agreement, there were Options
to purchase 298,693 Common Shares and no Preferred Shares
outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, there were
warrants to purchase 75,212 Common Shares and no Preferred
Shares outstanding. Since December 31, 2007, except as set
forth in
Section 3.2(a)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not granted
any options, restricted stock or warrants or rights or entered
into any other agreements or commitments to issue any Common
Shares, Preferred Shares, derivatives of Common Shares,
Preferred Shares or any other shares of its capital stock or
interests with the economic equivalent thereof, and has not
split, combined or reclassified any of its shares of capital
stock. All of the outstanding Common Shares have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive
or similar rights, purchase option, call or right.
Section 3.2(a)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, correct and
complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of the
aggregate Options, other equity-based awards and warrants
outstanding, including the remaining term to exercise such right
as well as the applicable exercise price in each case. Except as
set forth in
Section 3.2(a)-3
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding
(i) securities of the Company convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities or
ownership interests in the Company; (ii) options, warrants,
rights or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the
Company, or obligations of the Company to issue, any capital
stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in (or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or
voting securities or other ownership interests in) the Company;
(iii) obligations of the Company to grant, extend or enter
into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or
exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment
A-13
relating to any capital stock, voting securities or other
ownership interests in the Company (the items in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii), together with the capital stock of the
Company, being referred to collectively as Company
Securities); or (iv) obligations of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payments directly or
indirectly based (in whole or in part) on the price, value or
economic equivalent of the Shares or Preferred Shares. There are
no outstanding obligations, commitments or arrangements,
contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
Company Securities. Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(a)-3
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any outstanding stock appreciation rights,
phantom stock, performance based rights or similar rights or
obligations.
(b) Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(b)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company or one or more of
its Subsidiaries is the record and beneficial owner of all the
equity interests of each Subsidiary, free and clear of any Lien
other than Permitted Liens, including any limitation or
restriction on the right to vote, pledge or sell or otherwise
dispose of such equity interests (other than any such
restrictions as may be deemed to be imposed by generally
applicable federal or state securities Laws). The capital
structure (including ownership) of each of the Subsidiaries is
set forth in
Section 3.2(b)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter. All equity interests of the
Subsidiaries held by the Company or any other Subsidiary are
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were not
issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights,
purchase option, call or right of first refusal or similar
rights. There are no outstanding (i) securities of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other voting
securities or ownership interests in any Subsidiary;
(ii) options, restricted stock, warrants, rights or other
agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or
other ownership interests in (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities or other
ownership interests in) any Subsidiary; (iii) obligations
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or
enter into any subscription, warrant, right, convertible or
exchangeable security or other similar agreement or commitment
relating to any capital stock, voting securities or other
ownership interests in any Subsidiary (the items in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii), together with the capital stock of the
Subsidiaries, being referred to collectively as
Securities); or (iv) obligations of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment directly
or indirectly based (in whole or in part) on the value or
economic equivalent of any shares of capital stock of any
Subsidiary. There are no outstanding obligations, commitments or
arrangements, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any outstanding Securities. 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 capital
stock of any Subsidiary or RMI.
(c) The authorized capital stock of RMI consists of
(i) 15,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$0.001 per share (the RMI Common Shares)
and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $0.001 per share (the RMI Preferred
Shares). As of the date of this Agreement, 3,809,500
RMI Common Shares and no RMI Preferred Shares were issued and
outstanding; no RMI Common Shares and no RMI Preferred Shares
were held in RMIs treasury; and 2,645,212 RMI Common
Shares and no RMI Preferred Shares were beneficially owned by
the Company. Since the transaction or transactions by which the
Company obtained ownership of its initial shares of RMI, the
Company has continuously owned a majority of the outstanding RMI
Common Shares. As of the date of this Agreement, there were
options and warrants to purchase 495,375 RMI Common Shares and
no RMI Preferred Shares outstanding. Since December 31,
2007, except as set forth in
Section 3.2(c)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, RMI has not granted any
options, restricted stock, warrants or rights or entered into
any other agreements or commitments to issue any RMI Common
Shares, RMI Preferred Shares, derivatives of RMI Common Shares
or any other shares of its capital stock or interests with the
economic equivalent thereof, and has not split, combined or
reclassified any of its shares of capital stock. All of the
outstanding RMI Common Shares have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were not
issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights,
purchase option, call or right.
Section 3.2(c)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, correct and
complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of the
aggregate options, warrants and other equity-based awards
outstanding of RMI, including the remaining term to exercise
such right as well as the applicable exercise price in each
case. Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(c)-3
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding
(i) securities of RMI convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of capital stock or voting securities or ownership
interests in RMI; (ii) options, warrants, rights or other
agreements or commitments to acquire from RMI, or obligations of
RMI to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or other
ownership interests in (or securities
A-14
convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting
securities or other ownership interests in) RMI;
(iii) obligations of RMI to grant, extend or enter into any
subscription, warrant, right, convertible or exchangeable
security or other similar agreement or commitment relating to
any capital stock, voting securities or other ownership
interests in RMI (the items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii),
together with the capital stock of RMI, being referred to
collectively as RMI Securities); or
(iv) obligations of RMI or any of its Subsidiaries to make
any payments directly or indirectly based (in whole or in part)
on the price, value or economic equivalent of the RMI Common
Shares or RMI Preferred Shares. Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(c)-3
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither RMI nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any outstanding stock appreciation rights,
phantom stock, performance based rights or similar rights or
obligations. There are no outstanding obligations, commitments
or arrangements, contingent or otherwise, of the Company, its
Subsidiaries, RMI or any of its Subsidiaries to purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any RMI Securities. There are no voting
trusts or other agreements or understandings to which RMI or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of
capital stock of RMI. The Company took all reasonable steps to
require RMI to render the restrictions on business
combinations set forth in Section 78.411 et seq.
and control share acquisitions set forth in
Section 78.378 et seq . of the Corporation Law
inapplicable to the execution and delivery of the Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the Merger.
Section 3.3 Authority
for this Agreement; Board Action.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, and no
other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than, with
respect to completion of the Merger, the adoption of this
Agreement by the Requisite Stockholder Vote, prior to the
consummation of the Merger. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by each of Parent and
Merger Sub, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights
and to general equity principles.
(b) The Companys Board of Directors (at a meeting or
meetings duly called and held, and acting upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Special Committee) has unanimously (with
Mr. Larson and Mr. Nelson abstaining and based in part
on the fairness opinion provided by Morgan Joseph)
(i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby , including the Merger, are advisable and
fair to, and in the best interests of, the stockholders of the
Company; (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby; (iii) directed that this Agreement be
submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their adoption
and resolved to recommend the approval and adoption of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including
the Merger, by the stockholders of the Company (including the
recommendation of the Special Committee, the Company
Board Recommendation); (iv) taken all reasonable
steps to render the restrictions on business
combinations set forth in Section 78.411 et seq.
and control share acquisitions set forth in
Section 78.378 et seq. of the Corporation Law
inapplicable to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; and
(v) resolved to elect, to the extent permitted by Law, for
the Company not to be subject to any moratorium,
control share acquisition, business
combination, fair price or other form of
anti-takeover Laws or regulations (collectively,
Takeover Laws) of any jurisdiction that may
purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Section 3.4 Consents
and Approvals; No Violation.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Company nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger, will (i) violate
or conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or the respective
certificates of incorporation or bylaws or other similar
governing documents of any Subsidiary of the Company or RMI;
(ii) assuming all consents, approvals and authorizations
contemplated by clauses (i) through (iv) of
subsection (b) below have been obtained, and all
A-15
filings described in such clauses have been made, conflict with
or violate any Law applicable to the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI or by which any of their respective assets
are bound; (iii) except as set forth on
Section 3.4(a)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, violate, or conflict with, or
result in a breach of any provision of, or require any consent,
waiver or approval, or result in a default or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration
(or an event that, with the giving of notice, the passage of
time or otherwise, would constitute a default or give rise to
any such right) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any Material Contract, any of the Leases or any insurance
policy of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI;
(iv) result (or, with the giving of notice, the passage of
time or otherwise, would reasonably be expected to result) in
the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI; or (v) violate any
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI or by
which any of their respective assets are bound, except, in case
of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), as would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, by the
Company do not and will not require any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to,
any foreign, federal, state or local government or subdivision
thereof, or governmental, judicial, legislative, executive,
administrative or regulatory authority, agency, commission,
tribunal or body or any arbitration panel the conclusions of
which may be enforced by the judiciary (collectively, a
Governmental Entity), except (i) the
pre-merger notification requirements under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR
Act), (ii) the applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (the Exchange
Act), (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger
with the Nevada Secretary, and (iv) any such other consent,
approval, authorization, permit, filing or notification the
failure of which to make or obtain (A) would not prevent or
materially delay the Companys performance of its
obligations under this Agreement or (B) has not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this
Agreement, the Company is not aware of any fact, event or
circumstance relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or Affiliates or RMI that would reasonably be expected to
prevent or delay the receipt of any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of any Governmental Entity required
pursuant to Article VI to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.5 Reports;
SEC Matters; Financial Statements.
(a) (i) The Company has timely filed or furnished all
forms, reports, statements, certifications and other documents
required to be filed or furnished by it with or to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC)
since January 1, 2005, all of which have complied, as to
form, as of their respective filing dates (and, if amended, as
of the date of the last such amendment prior to the date of this
Agreement) in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the
Securities Act), the Exchange Act and the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act). None of the Company SEC Reports, including any
financial statements or schedules included or incorporated by
reference therein, at the time filed or furnished, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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. No
executive officer of the Company has failed in any respect to
make the certifications required of him or her under
Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect
to any Company SEC Report. The Company has made available to
Parent true, correct and complete copies of all written
correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the Company
and any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, since
January 1, 2005. There are no outstanding or unresolved
comments in comment letters received from or, to the
Companys knowledge, unresolved issues raised by, the SEC
with respect to the Company SEC Reports. To the knowledge of the
Company, none of the Company SEC Reports is the subject of
ongoing SEC review or outstanding SEC comment. None of the
Companys Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports
with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company does not
presently have any registration statement that is currently
effective other than on a
Form S-8
(File
No. 333-62769)
and
Form S-3
(File
No. 333-138620).
(ii) RMI has timely filed or furnished all forms, reports,
statements, certifications and other documents required to be
filed or furnished by it with or to the SEC since
August 23, 2005, all of which have complied, as to
A-16
form, as of their respective filing dates (and, if amended, as
of the date of the last such amendment prior to the date of this
Agreement) in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. None of the RMI SEC Reports, including any
financial statements or schedules included or incorporated by
reference therein, at the time filed or furnished contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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. No
executive officer of RMI has failed in any respect to make the
certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to any RMI SEC
Report. The Company has made available to Parent true, correct
and complete copies of all written correspondence between the
SEC, on the one hand, and RMI and any of its Subsidiaries, on
the other hand, since January 1, 2005. Except as set forth
in Section 3.5(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in
comment letters received from or, to the Companys
knowledge, unresolved issues raised by, the SEC with respect to
the RMI SEC Reports. To the knowledge of the Company, except as
set forth in Section 3.5(a)(ii) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, none of the RMI SEC Reports is the subject of
ongoing SEC review or outstanding SEC comment. None of
RMIs Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports
with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. RMI does not
presently have any registration statement that is current
effective other than on
Form S-8.
(b) (i) Except as set forth in
Section 3.5(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements
(including the related notes thereto) of the Company included
(or incorporated by reference) in the Company SEC Reports, as
amended or supplemented prior to the date of this Agreement,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present in
all material respects the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of their respective dates, and
the consolidated stockholders equity, results of
operations and cash flows for the periods presented therein
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and
recurring year-end adjustments that are not expected to be
material in amount or effect). All of the Companys
Subsidiaries and RMI are consolidated for accounting purposes.
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.5(b)(ii)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, the audited and unaudited
consolidated financial statements (including the related notes
thereto) of RMI included (or incorporated by reference) in the
RMI SEC Reports, as amended or supplemented prior to the date of
this Agreement, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and
fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position of RMI and its Subsidiaries as of their
respective dates, and the consolidated stockholders
equity, results of operations and cash flows for the periods
presented therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements,
to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not
expected to be material in amount or effect). All of RMIs
Subsidiaries are consolidated for accounting purposes.
(c) (i) The Company (A) has implemented and
maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
of the Exchange Act) intended to ensure that material
information relating to the Company, including its consolidated
Subsidiaries, is made known to the Chief Executive Officer and
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company by others within
those entities and (B) has disclosed, based on its most
recent evaluation prior to the date of this Agreement, to the
Companys outside auditors and the audit committee of the
Companys Board of Directors (I) any significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act) that could reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information and (II) any
fraud that involves management or other employees who have a
significant role in the Companys internal controls over
financial reporting. The Companys internal control over
financial reporting provides the reasonable assurances discussed
in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act.
(ii) RMI (A) has implemented and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
of the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information
relating to RMI, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is
made known to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer of RMI by others within those entities and
(B) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation
prior to the date of this Agreement, to RMIs outside
auditors and the audit committee of RMIs Board of
Directors (I) any significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over
financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act) that could reasonably be expected to
adversely affect RMIs ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information and (II) any
fraud that involves management or other employees
A-17
who have a significant role in RMIs internal controls over
financial reporting. RMIs internal control over financial
reporting provides the reasonable assurances discussed in
Rule 13a-15(f)
of the Exchange Act.
(d) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director,
officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had
or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding
deficiencies in the accounting or auditing practices,
procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting
controls, including any material complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
has engaged in improper accounting or auditing practices. To the
Companys knowledge, no attorney representing the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a
material violation of federal or state securities Laws, breach
of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of
its officers or directors to the Board of Directors of the
Company or any committee thereof or to any director or officer
of the Company.
(ii) Neither RMI nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee,
auditor, accountant or representative of RMI or any of its
Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge
of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim,
whether written or oral, regarding deficiencies in the
accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or
methods of RMI or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective
internal accounting controls, including any material complaint,
allegation, assertion or claim that RMI or any of its
Subsidiaries has engaged in improper accounting or auditing
practices. To the Companys knowledge, no attorney
representing RMI or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not
employed by RMI or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported
evidence of a material violation of federal or state securities
Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by RMI or
any of its officers or directors to the Board of Directors of
RMI or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of
RMI.
(e) (i) Except as disclosed in the balance sheet of
the Company, dated as of March 31, 2008, as filed with the
SEC in the Companys Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 (the Company
Balance Sheet), neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued,
absolute, fixed, contingent or otherwise (including as may be
owing under indemnity or contribution arrangements), whether due
or to become due other than such liabilities (A) disclosed
in Section 3.5(e)(i) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, (B) that have been incurred in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice since March 31,
2008 as permitted by Section 5.1, or (C) that
are otherwise incurred to the extent permitted by
Section 5.1 (in each case with respect to clause
(A), (B) and (C), which do not, individually or in the
aggregate, increase the amount of the liabilities reflected on
the Company Balance Sheet, on a consolidated basis, in excess of
$3.0 million).
(ii) Except as disclosed in the balance sheet of RMI, dated
as of March 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC in RMIs
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 (the RMI
Balance Sheet), neither RMI nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued,
absolute, fixed, contingent or otherwise (including as may be
owing under indemnity or contribution arrangements), whether due
or to become due, other than such liabilities (A) disclosed
in Section 3.5(e)(ii) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, (B) that have been incurred in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice since
December 31, 2007 as permitted by Section 5.1,
(C) that are otherwise incurred to the extent permitted by
Section 5.1
(f) Since December 31, 2002, neither the Company nor
RMI has engaged in any offering of securities in violation of
applicable Law.
Section 3.6 Absence
of Certain Changes.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in the Company SEC
Reports or the RMI SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement, since December 31, 2007, the Company, its
Subsidiaries and RMI have conducted their respective businesses
in all material respects in the ordinary course.
(b) Since December 31, 2007, except as expressly set
forth in the Company SEC Reports or the RMI SEC Reports filed
prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company, its
Subsidiaries and RMI have not suffered any
A-18
Material Adverse Effect, and there has not been any change,
condition, event or development that would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 3.7 Proxy
Statement; Other Filings. The letter to
stockholders, notice of meeting, proxy statement and form of
proxy that will be provided to stockholders of the Company in
connection with the Merger (including any amendments or
supplements) and any schedules required to be filed with the SEC
in connection therewith (collectively, the Proxy
Statement), at the time the Proxy Statement is filed
with the SEC, is first mailed and at the time of the Special
Meeting, and any other document to be filed by the Company with
the SEC in connection with the Merger (the Other
Filings), at the time of its filing with the SEC, will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The
Proxy Statement and the Other Filings will comply as to form in
all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
The representations and warranties contained in this
Section 3.7 will not apply to the failure of the
Proxy Statement or any Other Filing to comply as to form as a
result of, or statements or omissions included in the Proxy
Statement or any Other Filings based upon, information supplied
in writing to the Company by Parent or Merger Sub or any of
their respective directors, officers, Affiliates, agents or
other representatives and expressly identified in such writing
as for use therein.
Section 3.8 Brokers;
Certain Expenses. No agent, broker,
investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is
or shall be entitled, as a result of any action, agreement or
commitment of the Company or any of its Affiliates, to any
brokers, finders, financial advisors or other
similar fee or commission in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
Alvarez & Marsal Securities, LLC (the Company
Financial Advisor) and Morgan Joseph & Co.
Inc. (Morgan Joseph), whose fees and expenses
shall be paid by the Company. A true and correct copy of the
engagement letters with the Company Financial Advisor and Morgan
Joseph, respectively, in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby has been delivered to Parent and has not
been subsequently, modified, waived, supplemented or amended.
Section 3.9 Employee
Matters.
(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter contains a true, correct and complete list of all
material Plans. The Company does not maintain any Plan primarily
for the benefit of employees who are located in any jurisdiction
outside the United States. Prior to the date of this Agreement,
the Company has made available to Parent true, correct and
complete copies of each of the following, as applicable, with
respect to each Plan: (i) the plan document or agreement
or, with respect to any material Plan (or an amendment thereof)
that is not in writing, a written description of the material
terms thereof; (ii) the trust agreement, insurance
contract, third party administration or other documentation of
any related funding or administration arrangement;
(iii) the summary plan description and summaries of
material modifications; (iv) the two most recent annual
reports, actuarial reports
and/or
financial reports; (v) the three most recent required
Internal Revenue Service Forms 5500, including all
schedules thereto; (vi) any material communication to or
from any Governmental Entity or to or from any Plan participant;
(vii) all material amendments or material modifications to
any such documents; (viii) the most recent determination
letter received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect
to each Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan
under Section 401 of the Code (and, if an application for a
determination letter has been submitted and is pending with
respect to any Plan, complete copies of such applications, as
well as communications to and from the Internal Revenue Service
with respect thereto); and (ix) any comparable documents
with respect to Plans subject to any foreign Laws that are
required to be prepared or filed under the applicable Laws of
such foreign jurisdiction.
(b) With respect to each Plan, (i) all contributions
due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or RMI or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates to date have been timely made
in all material respects and all material amounts properly
accrued to date or as of the Effective Time as liabilities of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or RMI which are not yet
due have been properly recorded on the books of the Company or
RMI and, to the extent required by GAAP, adequate reserves are
reflected on the financial statements of the Company or RMI,
(ii) all premiums due or payable with respect to insurance
policies funding any Plan, for any period through the date of
this Agreement, have been timely made or paid in full,
(iii) each such Plan which is an employee pension
benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA)
and intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code has
received a
A-19
favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service
(or an application for a determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service has been timely requested and is pending, and,
to the Companys knowledge, nothing has occurred and no
circumstance exists that has or could reasonably be expected to
cause the Internal Revenue Service to not issue a favorable
determination letter) with respect to such qualification and, to
the Companys knowledge, except as disclosed in
Section 3.9(b)(iii) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, nothing has occurred that has or would reasonably be
expected to adversely affect qualification of such Plan,
(iv) with respect to any Plan maintained outside the United
States, if any, all applicable foreign qualifications or
registration requirements have been satisfied, except where any
failure to comply would not result in any material liability to
the Company or its ERISA Affiliates, (v) there are no
material actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine
claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened with respect to any Plan, any fiduciaries of any Plan
with respect to their duties to any Plan, or against the assets
of any Plan or any trust maintained in connection with such Plan
(other than as disclosed in Section 3.9(b)(v) of the
Company Disclosure Letter), and (vi) except as disclosed in
Section 3.9(b)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
each Plan has been operated and administered in compliance in
all material respects with its terms and all applicable Laws and
regulations, including ERISA and the Code. There is not now, and
to the knowledge of the Company there are no existing
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to give rise to,
any requirement for the posting of security with respect to a
Plan or the imposition of any Lien on the assets of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates under ERISA or the Code, or similar Laws of foreign
jurisdictions, or that would reasonably be expected to give rise
to any Controlled Group Liability for Parent or Merger Sub after
the Effective Time.
(c) Except as disclosed in Section 3.9(c) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries nor RMI nor any of their respective ERISA
Affiliates (i) maintains, contributes to, or participates,
or has maintained, contributed to, or participated in,
(x) any employee benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is subject to
Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code (Title IV Plan) or
(y) a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or a multiple
employer plan within the meaning of
Sections 4063/4064 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the
Code or, (z) a multiple employer welfare arrangement within
the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA, or (ii) except
with respect to the Title IV Plans, has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any material liability pursuant to
the reporting and disclosure, participation and vesting,
funding, fiduciary responsibility, continuation health coverage
or group health plan availability, access and reversibility of
Title I of ERISA or pursuant to Title IV of ERISA
(including any Controlled Group Liability) or any foreign Law or
regulation relating to employee benefit plans, whether
contingent or otherwise.
(d) No Plan is under audit or is the subject of a pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened investigation by
the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor,
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the SEC or any other
Governmental Entity, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is
any such audit or investigation pending or contemplated. Except
as disclosed in Section 3.9(d) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, to the Companys knowledge, no act or
omission has occurred and no condition exists that could subject
the Company or an ERISA Affiliate to any fine, penalty, tax or
liability of any kind imposed under ERISA or the Code. With
respect to each Plan for which financial statements are required
by ERISA, there has been no material adverse change in the
financial status of such Plan since the date of the most recent
such statements provided to Parent by the Company dated as of
December 31, 2006. With respect to the matters disclosed in
Sections 3.9(b)(iii), 3.9(b)(vi),
3.9(c) and 3.9(d) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the Company has, or will have taken prior to the
Closing, all action reasonably necessary to correct any and all
operational errors caused by or resulting from such matters, and
neither the Company, nor RMI, nor Parent shall have any material
liability with respect to such matters.
(e) Except as expressly provided for in or pursuant to this
Agreement or disclosed in Section 3.9(e) of the
Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution or delivery of
this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will, either alone or in
conjunction with any other event (whether contingent or
otherwise), (i) result in any payment or benefit becoming
due or payable, or required to be provided, to any director,
employee or independent contractor of the Company, RMI, any
Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates,
(ii) increase the amount or value of any benefit or
compensation otherwise payable or required to be provided to any
such director, employee or independent contractor,
(iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment,
vesting or funding of any such benefit or compensation,
(iv) result in payments that would fail to be
A-20
deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code, or
(v) except as disclosed in Section 3.9(e) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, result in the payment or
obligation of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the
Surviving Entity for a gross up or similar payment
in respect of any Taxes that may become payable under
Section 409A or Section 4999(a) of the Code.
(f) Neither the Company, RMI, any Subsidiary nor any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates has any liability with respect
to postretirement welfare benefit plans (the Retiree
Welfare Programs) with respect to any Person other
than coverage mandated by Section 4980B of the Code or
similar state Law relating to required contribution coverage.
There has been no written communication to employees of the
Company or its ERISA Affiliates that promises or guarantees such
employees retiree health or life insurance benefits or other
retiree death benefits on a permanent basis, which is materially
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plans. Each Retiree
Welfare Program can be amended or terminated at any time in
accordance with the terms of such Plan. Each Plan that is a
group health plan (as defined in Section 607(1)
of ERISA or Section 5001(b)(1) of the Code) has been
operated at all times in material compliance with COBRA and the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and
any related regulations or applicable state Laws.
(g) Each individual who renders services to the Company,
RMI, any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates
who is classified by the Company, RMI, any Subsidiary or any of
their respective ERISA Affiliates, as applicable, as having the
status of an independent contractor or other non-employee status
for any purpose (including for purposes of taxation and tax
reporting and under Plans) is, to the knowledge of the Company,
properly so characterized.
(h) Each Plan that is a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan within the meaning of
Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code (a Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation Plan) and any award or grant
thereunder, in each case that is subject to Section 409A of
the Code, has been operated in compliance with a good faith,
reasonable interpretation of (A) Section 409A of the
Code and (B) (1) the final regulations issued thereunder,
(2) the proposed regulations issued thereunder, or
(3) Internal Revenue Service Notice
2005-1
(clauses (A) and (B), together, the 409A
Authorities). Except as would not have or reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect, no Plan that would be a Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation Plan subject to Section 409A of the
Code but for the effective date provisions that are applicable
to Section 409A of the Code, as set forth in
Section 885(d) of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004,
as amended (the AJCA), has been
materially modified within the meaning of
Section 885(d)(2)(B) of the AJCA after October 3,
2004, based upon a good faith, reasonable interpretation of the
AJCA and the 409A Authorities.
Section 3.9(h)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter identifies the Plans that the
Company has determined, based on a good faith, reasonable
interpretation of the 409A Authorities, may constitute
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans.
(i) Each Option or other similar right to acquire Shares or
other equity of the Company or RMI (a Stock
Right), (i) to the extent it was granted after
December 31, 2004, has an exercise price that has never
been less than the fair market value of the underlying equity as
of the date such Option or other right was granted in accordance
with all governing documents and in compliance with all
applicable Law, (ii) to the extent it was granted after
December 31, 2004, has no feature for the deferral of
compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income
until the later of exercise or disposition of such Option or
other right, (iii) to the extent it was granted after
December 31, 2004, was granted with respect to a class of
stock of the Company that is service recipient stock
(within the meaning of applicable regulations under
Section 409A), (iv) to the extent it was granted after
December 31, 2004, has no right directly or indirectly
contingent upon the exercise of a Stock Right, to receive an
amount equal to all or part of the dividends of other
distributions declared and paid on the number of shares
underlying the Stock Right between the date of grant and the
date of exercise of the Stock Right, and (v) has at all
times been properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the
Companys audited financial statements included in the
Company SEC Reports and provided to Parent. The Company has not
granted any Options by use of backdating or other targeting of a
grant date to achieve a lower exercise price than would have
otherwise been utilized if such Option was granted on the date
such grant was first duly authorized.
Section 3.10 Employees.
(a) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened labor strike, walkout, work stoppage,
slowdown, collective conflict, governmental investigation or
lockout with respect to employees of the Company,
A-21
any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or, to the knowledge of the Company
without inquiry or investigation, with respect to any material
independent contractor working on matters or projects involving
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI and no such strike,
walkout, slowdown, collective conflict, governmental
investigation or lockout has occurred, that in any such case
would be material to the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or RMI and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole. Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or RMI is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement
and/or labor
union contract (the Collective Bargaining
Agreements).
(b) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI is
a party to, or otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or
citation by, any Governmental Entity relating to its current or
former employees, officers or directors or employment practices.
(c) Except as would not be reasonably expected to result in
the suspension or revocation of any material Permit in any
jurisdiction or in any material liability to the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries and RMI, the Company, each of its Subsidiaries
and RMI are in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable local, state, federal and foreign Laws relating to
labor and employment, including, but not limited to, Laws
relating to discrimination, disability, labor relations,
contracting and subcontracting of activities, hours of work,
payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity, immigration
(including the Legal Arizona Workers Act) workers
compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, social
security, union rights, illegal immigrants, occupational safety
and health, family and medical leave, and employee terminations.
(d) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has
incurred any liability or obligation which remains unsatisfied
under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or
any state or local Laws regarding the termination or layoff of
employees.
Section 3.11 Litigation. Except
as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Company
Disclosure Letter or as set forth in Note 7 to the
Companys quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, there is
no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or
governmental investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against (or for which the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI has assumed liability) the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or RMI, or any properties or assets of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI, including by way of
indemnity or contribution that (i) would reasonably be
expected to result in a liability or expense (including
attorneys fees) not covered by insurance in excess of $750,000,
(ii) seeks injunctive or other equitable relief that would
adversely affect the business of the Company, and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or RMI or (iii) if resolved
in accordance with plaintiffs demands, would have or
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as indicated in
Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter, to
the Companys knowledge, the defense and settlement of each
matter referenced therein is covered by the Companys, its
Subsidiaries or RMIs, as applicable, existing
insurance policies. Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or RMI nor any of their respective properties or assets is
subject to any outstanding order, writ, injunction or decree. No
officer or director of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI is a defendant in or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened to be made a defendant in or under investigation with
respect to, any claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration,
mediation or governmental investigation in connection with his
or her status as an officer or director of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI. To the knowledge of the Company, there
are no SEC legal actions, audits, inquiries or investigations,
other actions, audits, inquiries or investigations by other
Governmental Entities or material internal investigations
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each
case regarding any accounting, internal control, disclosure
control and procedures or other practices of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI or any malfeasance by any director or
executive officer of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI.
Section 3.12 Tax
Matters. Except as expressly disclosed in the
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed by each of the
Company and RMI with the SEC and except as set forth in
Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries, RMI and each
Tax-Controlled Joint Venture have timely filed or there has been
filed on its behalf (after giving effect to all timely filed
extensions) all material returns relating to Taxes required to
be filed by applicable Law with respect to the Company, each of
its Subsidiaries, RMI and each Tax-Controlled Joint Venture or
any of their income, properties or operations. Except as
A-22
reserved on the Companys and RMIs financial
statements, all such returns are true, correct and complete in
all material respects and accurately set forth all material
items required to be reflected or included in such returns by
applicable federal, state, local or foreign Tax Laws, rules or
regulations. Except as reserved on the Companys and
RMIs financial statements, the Company, each of its
Subsidiaries, RMI and each Tax-Controlled Joint Venture have
timely paid (or had timely paid on its behalf) all material
Taxes attributable to the Company, each of its Subsidiaries, RMI
and any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture that were due and payable,
without regard to whether such Taxes have been assessed or have
been shown on such Tax Returns. To the extent requested by
Parent, the Company has made available to Parent true, correct
and complete copies of all income Tax Returns, and any
amendments thereto, filed by or on behalf of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture or any
member of a group of corporations including the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture, and
any material correspondence with any Tax authority relating
thereto.
(b) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and RMI have made
adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated
financial statements included in the Company SEC Reports and the
RMI SEC Reports for the payment of all material Taxes for which
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and RMI may be liable for
the periods covered thereby that were not yet due and payable as
of the dates thereof, regardless of whether the liability for
such Taxes is disputed. Since the date of the most recent
consolidated financial statements included in the Company SEC
Reports and the RMI SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof,
none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has accrued
any liability for Tax, other than in the ordinary course of
business.
(c) All federal income Tax Returns and all state, local and
foreign Tax Returns of the Company, each of its Subsidiaries,
RMI and each Tax-Controlled Joint Venture have been audited and
settled, or are closed to assessment, for all years through
2003. Except as set forth on
Section 3.12(c)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no claim or
assessment pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing against the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture for any
alleged material deficiency in Taxes, and none of the Company,
any Subsidiary, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture has been
informed in writing of the commencement of any audit or
investigation with respect to any liability of the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture for
Taxes that have not been reserved for on the Companys or
RMIs financial statements. Except for any Taxes reserved
for on the Companys or RMIs financial statements, no
issue has been raised in writing in any prior examination or
audit that was not resolved without continuing liability and
that, by application of similar principles, reasonably can be
expected to result in the assertion of a material deficiency for
any other Tax period not so examined or audited and for which
the statute of limitations (taking into account extensions) has
not expired. There are no agreements in effect to waive or
extend the period of limitations for the assessment or
collection of any material amount of Tax for which the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or RMI may be liable, nor have any such
agreements been requested. No material assets of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or RMI are subject to any liens for
Taxes, other than for Taxes not yet due and payable or being
contested in good faith, each of which is set forth on
Section 3.12(c)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(d) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries and RMI and, to
the Companys knowledge, each Tax-Controlled Joint Venture
have withheld from payments to their employees, independent
contractors, creditors, stockholders and any other applicable
Person (and timely paid to the appropriate Tax authority) proper
and accurate amounts for all periods since December 31,
2005 and, to the extent required, have remitted such amounts to
the appropriate governmental authorities, in compliance in all
material respects with all Tax withholding provisions of
applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws (including
income, social security, and employment Tax withholding for all
types of compensation); provided, however, that in
the case of income taxes, this Section 3.12(d) shall
not apply to the extent such Taxes have been reserved for in the
Companys or RMIs financial statements.
(e) There is no material obligation of the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries, RMI or any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture to pay
or to contribute to the payment of any Tax or any portion of a
Tax (or any amount calculated with reference to any portion of a
Tax) of any Person other than the Company, any of its
A-23
Subsidiaries, or RMI, including under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), as
transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.
(f) In the six years immediately preceding the date of this
Agreement, no claim for any material amount of Taxes that
remains unresolved has been made by any authority in a
jurisdiction where none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or RMI has filed Tax Returns that the Company, such Subsidiary
or RMI (as relevant) is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(g) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI, or
any U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture has been a party to
or a participant in, or a material advisor (within the meaning
of Section 6111(b)(1) of the Code) with respect to a
transaction which is listed, or otherwise reportable, within the
meaning of Section 6011 of the Code and Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or
any U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture has executed any
closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or
any predecessor provision thereof, or any similar provision of
state or local Law which, based on current facts and
circumstances, could have a material effect on any period after
the Effective Time.
(i) The Company, each of its Subsidiaries, RMI and each
U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture has disclosed on its
federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that
could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal
income Tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.
(j) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or
any U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture is required (or will
be required as a result of the Merger) to include a material
item of income or to exclude a material item of deduction for
any period after the Effective Time pursuant to
Section 481(a) of the Code or any similar provision of
state or local Law by reason of a change in accounting method
initiated by it or any other relevant party, and none of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or any
U.S. Tax-Controlled Joint Venture has any knowledge that
the Internal Revenue Service has proposed in writing any such
adjustment or change in accounting method. None of the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or any U.S. Tax-Controlled
Joint Venture has any application pending with any Governmental
Entity requesting permission for any changes in accounting
methods.
(k) There are no foreign Subsidiaries of the Company or
RMI, including for which an election has been made pursuant to
Section 7701 of the Code and regulations thereunder to be
treated as other than its default classification for
U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(l) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or,
to the Companys knowledge, any Tax-Controlled Joint
Venture, has entered into a transaction under which gain or
income has been realized but the taxation of such gain has been
deferred under any provision of federal, state, local or foreign
Tax Law or by agreement with any Tax authority (including for
example an installment sale, a deferred intercompany transaction
or a gain recognition agreement), or a transaction under which
previously used Tax losses or credits may be recaptured
(including for example a dual consolidated loss or an excess
loss account), in each case if such gain recognition or such
loss or credit recapture, if triggered, would give rise to a
material Tax liability.
(m) At no time has the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI had an ownership change described in
Section 382(l)(5)(A) of the Code.
(n) There are no Tax sharing or similar agreements or
arrangements to which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI is a party and which require a payment to any Person other
than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI.
(o) None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has
distributed to its stockholders or security holders stock or
securities of a controlled corporation, nor has stock or
securities of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI been
distributed, in a transaction to which Section 355 of the
Code applies (i) in the two years prior to the date of this
Agreement or (ii) in a distribution that could otherwise
constitute part of a plan or series of related
transactions (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of
the Code) that includes the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
A-24
(p) For purposes of this Agreement,
(i) Tax shall mean all taxes, charges,
fees, levies, imposts, duties, and other assessments, including
any income, alternative minimum or add-on tax, estimated, gross
income, gross receipts, sales, use, transfer, transactions,
intangibles, ad valorem, value-added, escheat, franchise,
registration, title, license, capital,
paid-up
capital, profits, withholding, employee withholding, payroll,
workers compensation, unemployment insurance, social
security, employment, excise, severance, stamp, transfer
occupation, premium, recording, real property, personal
property, federal highway use, commercial rent, environmental
(including taxes under Section 59A of the Code) or windfall
profit tax, custom, duty or other tax, fee or other like
assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest, penalties, related liabilities, fines or additions to
tax that may become payable in respect thereof imposed by any
country, any state, county, provincial or local government or
subdivision or agency thereof, (ii) Tax
Returns shall mean any and all reports, returns,
computations, declarations, or statements relating to Taxes,
including any schedule or attachment thereto and any related or
supporting workpapers or information with respect to any of the
foregoing, including any amendment thereof, in each case, filed
or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity,
(iii) Tax-Controlled Joint Venture means
any Company joint venture as to which the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI (x) is the tax matters
partner, within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of
the Code or (y) has effective control over the preparation
of Tax Returns, and (iv) U.S. Tax-Controlled
Joint Venture means any Tax-Controlled Joint Venture
which is organized under the laws of the United States, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia, or which is engaged
in a trade or business in the United States.
Section 3.13 Compliance
with Law; No Default.
(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result
in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI is,
or has during the past three years, been in conflict with, in
default with respect to or in violation of any statute, law
(including common law), ordinance, rule, regulation, order,
writ, judgment, decree, stipulation, determination, award or
requirement of a Governmental Entity (Laws)
applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI or by
which any property or asset of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI is bound or affected;
(ii) the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and RMI have all
permits, licenses, authorizations, consents, certificates,
approvals and franchises from Governmental Entities
(Permits) required by all applicable Laws to
own, lease, occupy and operate their properties and to operate
their business consistent with past practice; and
(iii) there has occurred no violation of, suspension,
reconsideration, imposition of penalties or fines, imposition of
additional conditions or requirements, default (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) under, or event giving rise to
any right of termination, amendment or cancellation of, with or
without notice or lapse of time or both, any such Permit.
(b) A copy of each valid Permit or evidence of continuing
coverage under an expired Permit has been made available to
Parent, and a list of such Permits and evidence is set forth in
Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result
in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect,
the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and RMI are in compliance
with and qualify for continuing coverage under the terms of
Permits identified on
Schedule 3.13(b). To the Companys
knowledge, no event has occurred and no circumstance exists that
could reasonably be expected to result in the revocation,
cancellation, non-renewal or adverse modification of any such
Permit.
Section 3.14 Environmental
Matters.
(a) Except for acts, events or omissions that have not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI
(A) is and has been in compliance with applicable
Environmental Laws, (B) has received or secured and is and
has been in compliance with all Permits required
A-25
under Environmental Laws for the conduct of its business,
(C) has submitted to the applicable Governmental Entity, in
a timely manner, all applicable registrations and notices
required under Environmental Laws for the conduct of its
business, (D) has completed, in a timely manner, all plans
required under any Environmental Laws or pursuant to any Permit
required for the conduct of its business and (E) has
provided a copy of each document referenced in this subsection
to Parent;
(ii) neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI
has been in the past ten years or is presently the subject of
any Environmental Claim and, to the knowledge of the Company, no
Environmental Claim is pending or threatened against either the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI or any Person whose
liability for the Environmental Claim was or may have been
retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of Law
by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI;
(iii) neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, RMI
nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person has
released or disposed of Hazardous Materials on, at or beneath
any properties currently owned, leased or operated or previously
owned, leased or operated by the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI;
(iv) no properties currently owned, leased or operated by
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI contain any
landfills, disposal areas, underground storage tanks, asbestos
or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls,
radioactive materials or other Hazardous Materials;
(v) no properties currently owned, leased or operated by
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI contain surface
impoundments in violation of any Environment Law or Permits;
(vi) neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI
has arranged for the off-site shipment of any Hazardous
Materials that gives rise to liabilities or obligations under
any Environmental Law;
(vii) no Lien imposed by any Governmental Entity pursuant
to any Environmental Law is currently outstanding and no
financial assurance obligation is in force as to any property
currently owned, leased, operated or used by the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI;
(viii) the diesel-powered generators and other equipment
that have pending nonroad diesel engine determinations by
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality were operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI prior to February 21,
2008 in a manner that will not give rise to liabilities or
obligations under Environmental Laws or Permits and such
generators and equipment may continue to be operated by the
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI in a similar manner without
any liabilities or obligations under Environmental Laws or
Permits; and
(ix) the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality,
Notices of Violations issued to Meadow Valley Contractors, Inc.,
Meadow Valley, May 6, 2008: Case ID 94707 and 95036 will
not give rise to liabilities or obligations under Environmental
Laws or Permits and the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI may
continue to operate as they did prior to the related Notice of
Violations inspection without incurring any liabilities or
obligations.
(b) For purposes of the Agreement:
(i) Environment means any
ambient, workplace or indoor air, surface water, drinking water,
groundwater, land surface (whether below or above water),
subsurface strata, sediment, plant or animal life, natural
resources, and the sewer, septic and waste treatment, storage
and disposal systems servicing real property or physical
buildings or structures.
(ii) Environmental Claim means
any written Action by any Person or any Governmental Entity
alleging potential liability (including potential liability for
investigatory costs, cleanup or remediation costs, governmental
or third party response costs, natural resource damages,
property damage, personal injuries, or fines or penalties) based
on or resulting from (a) the presence or Release of any
Hazardous Materials at any location, whether or not owned or
operated by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI, or
(b) any violation of any Environmental Law.
(iii) Environmental Law means any
Law or common law interpreted to apply to the business and types
of operations performed by the Company, its Subsidiaries and
RMI, or any binding agreement issued or
A-26
entered between the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI and any
Governmental Entity or Person relating to: (a) the
Environment, including pollution, contamination, cleanup,
preservation, protection and reclamation of the Environment,
(b) exposure of employees or third parties to any Hazardous
Materials, (c) any Release or threatened Release of any
Hazardous Materials, including investigation, assessment,
testing, monitoring, containment, removal, remediation and
cleanup of any such Release or threatened Release, (d) the
management of any Hazardous Materials, including the use,
labeling, processing, disposal, storage, treatment, transport,
or recycling of any Hazardous Materials or (e) the presence
of Hazardous Materials in any building or structure.
(iv) Hazardous Materials means
any pollutant, contaminant, petroleum or any fraction thereof,
asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated
biphenyls, mold, lead-based paint, any solid or hazardous,
waste, and any toxic, radioactive, or hazardous substance, or
material including any substance, material or waste which is
defined, regulated or classified as hazardous under any
Environmental Law.
(v) Release means any release,
spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, deposit,
disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the
indoor or outdoor Environment, or into or from any property,
including movement through air, soil, surface water, groundwater
or property.
Section 3.15 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Section 3.15-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and correct
list of all of the following Intellectual Property owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries
or RMI (specifically identifying the applicable entity):
(i) registered or patented Intellectual Property (or
application therefor), (ii) material (non-off-the shelf)
computer software and (iii) material unregistered
Intellectual Property. The Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI, as
the case may be and as identified in
Section 3.15-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, own and possess the entire
right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property
set forth on
Section 3.15-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, free and clear of all Liens
(other than Permitted Liens and Liens that will be released at
Closing). The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI own and possess
the entire right, title, and interest in and to, or have a valid
and enforceable right to use (pursuant to written license
agreements set forth on
Section 3.15-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter (the Licensed
Intellectual Property Agreements) or licenses of
off-the-shelf desktop computer application software having a
license fee per user of less than $500), all other Intellectual
Property used in or necessary for the operation of their
businesses.
(b) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI
(i) has, to the Companys knowledge, infringed upon or
misappropriated the Intellectual Property of others,
(ii) has received any notice of infringement,
misappropriation or conflict with respect to Intellectual
Property of any other Person (including, without limitation, any
demands or unsolicited offers to license any Intellectual
Property from any other Person) and (iii) has received any
notice challenging or questioning the validity, enforceability,
use or ownership of any of the Companys, its
Subsidiaries or RMIs Intellectual Property.
(c) To the Companys knowledge, no Person is using any
Intellectual Property that is confusingly similar to, which
infringes upon, misappropriates or conflicts with the
Companys, its Subsidiaries or RMIs rights with
respect to the Companys, its Subsidiaries or
RMIs products, processes or Intellectual Property.
(d) The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, as the case may
be, have taken all commercially reasonable actions to maintain
and protect all of the Companys, its Subsidiaries
and RMIs Intellectual Property.
(e) The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI own and possess
the entire right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual
Property created or developed by, for or under the direction or
supervision of the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, as the
case may be, including, without limitation, the Intellectual
Property described on
Section 3.15-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(f) The computer systems, including, without limitation,
the software, hardware and networks currently used by the
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI in the operation of their
respective businesses, are sufficient for the immediate needs of
their businesses, as presently conducted.
A-27
Section 3.16 Real
Property.
(a) The lists of Owned Real Property and Leased Real
Property set forth on Sections 3.16(b) and
3.16(c)-1 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall
designate whether each Owned Real Property and Leased Real
Property is material or immaterial to
the Companys, or any of its Subsidiaries or
RMIs, business. The Company represents and warrants that
each such property identified as immaterial on
Sections 3.16(b) or 3.16(c)-1 of the Company
Disclosure Letter is, in fact, not material to the
Companys, or any of its Subsidiaries or RMIs
business as currently conducted. For purposes of
Sections 3.16, 5.19 and 6.2(e) only,
the Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property identified as
material in Sections 3.16(b) and
3.16(c)-1 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall
hereinafter be referred to as the Material Owned Real
Property and Material Leased Real
Property, respectively, and the Owned Real Property
and Leased Real Property identified as immaterial in
Sections 3.16(b) and 3.16(c)-1 of the Company
Disclosure Letter shall hereinafter be referred to as the
Immaterial Owned Real Property and
Immaterial Leased Real Property, respectively.
(b) Title to Owned Real
Property. The Company, one of its
Subsidiaries or RMI holds good, valid and marketable title to
the Material Owned Real Property listed on
Section 3.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
free and clear of any and all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.
(c) Leased Real
Property. Section 3.16(c)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the address or
location of each Leased Real Property and a list of all Leases
of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and RMI. Except as set
forth on
Section 3.16(c)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) the Company, one of
its Subsidiaries or RMI has a valid leasehold interest in each
of the Material Leased Real Properties; (ii) each Lease of
Material Leased Real Property is legal, valid, binding and
enforceable against the Company and its Subsidiaries or RMI (as
applicable) in accordance with its terms and in full force and
effect, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors rights
and to general equity principles; (iii) neither the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI, or, to the
Companys knowledge, any other party to any Lease, is in
breach or default under any Lease and, to the Companys
knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstance exists which,
with the delivery of notice, passage of time or both, would
constitute such a breach or default or permit the termination,
modification or acceleration of rent under any Lease;
(iv) all rent and other sums and charges payable to the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI under all Leases are
current; (v) neither the Companys, any of its
Subsidiaries nor RMIs possession and quiet enjoyment
of each Material Leased Real Property is being disturbed;
(vi) there are no material disputes with respect to any
Leases of Material Leased Real Property; (vii) no security
deposit or bond provided as security, or portion thereof, if
applicable, has been applied in respect of a breach or default
under any Lease that has not been redeposited or replenished in
full; (viii) the other party to each Lease of Material
Leased Real Property is not, and was not at the time of
execution, in any way affiliated with the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI; and (ix) neither the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries nor RMI has collaterally assigned or granted
any security interest in any of the Leases of Material Leased
Real Property or any interest therein (other than Permitted
Liens).
(d) No Additional Property
Interests. Other than the Owned Real Property
and Leased Real Property, neither the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries nor RMI has any other interest in real property,
whether owned, leased or otherwise, and the Owned Real Property
and Leased Real Property constitute all of the real property
necessary to conduct the Companys, its Subsidiaries
and RMIs businesses as currently conducted.
(e) Condition of Owned Real Property and Leased Real
Property. Except as set forth on
Section 3.16(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(i) No Permitted Lien adversely affects the Companys,
the applicable Subsidiarys or RMIs use, ownership or
occupancy of the Material Owned Real Property or its operation
of its business on, in or about the Material Owned Real
Property, and, to Companys knowledge, no Lien adversely
affects the Companys, the applicable Subsidiarys or
RMIs use or occupancy of the Material Leased Real Property
or its operation of its business on, in or about the Material
Leased Real Property;
(ii) To the Companys knowledge, there is no
condemnation, expropriation or eminent domain proceeding of any
kind pending or threatened against any of the Material Owned
Real Property or Material Leased
A-28
Real Property, or any portion thereof, or other legal matters
adversely affecting the Companys, the applicable
Subsidiarys or RMIs occupancy and use thereof;
(iii) To the Companys knowledge, the Material Owned
Real Property and Material Leased Real Property are occupied and
utilized for the Companys, its Subsidiaries and
RMIs businesses under valid and current certificates of
occupancy, Permits and other similar authorizations from any
Governmental Entity (excluding such Permits as are covered by
the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.14 hereof entitled Environmental
Matters) having jurisdiction, and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will not require the issuance of
any material new or amended certificates of occupancy, Permits
or other similar authorizations from any Governmental Entity
(excluding such Permits as are covered by the representations
and warranties set forth in Section 3.14 hereof
entitled Environmental Matters) having jurisdiction;
there are no facts, to the knowledge of the Company, that would
prevent the Material Owned Real Property or Material Leased Real
Property from being occupied and utilized for the
Companys, its Subsidiaries and RMIs businesses
after the Effective Time in the same manner as before;
(iv) All Facilities on the Owned Real Property and the
Leased Real Property are occupied and used in material
compliance with all laws (excluding such laws as are covered by
the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.14 hereof entitled Environmental
Matters), and all such Facilities on the Owned Real
Property and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Leased Real
Property are constructed in material compliance with all laws;
(v) The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, respectively,
have obtained all variances and special use Permits necessary
for the proper and lawful operation of the business, as
currently conducted, on the Material Owned Real Property and the
Material Leased Real Property (excluding such Permits as are
covered by the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 3.14 hereof entitled Environmental
Matters);
(vi) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI,
has received any notice of a violation of any material covenant,
condition, easement, restriction or other similar encumbrance
affecting the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property or
relating to their uses or occupancy, nor, to the knowledge of
the Company, are there any facts or circumstances that could
give rise to any such violation;
(vii) The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI have complied
with any and all material restrictions, whether imposed by
covenant, deed, easement or otherwise, that are of record or
that exist affecting the Owned Real Property, and the
Companys, its Subsidiaries and RMIs use of the
Leased Real Property has complied with any and all material
restrictions, whether imposed by covenant, deed, easement,
contract or otherwise;
(viii) The Material Owned Real Property and Material Leased
Real Property have, and will have as of the Closing Date,
sufficient (to the extent necessary and as applicable), in
quality and quantity, water supply, storm and sanitary sewage
facilities, gas, electricity, fire protection and, without
limitation, other required utilities and services for the
continued occupancy and use of the Material Owned Real Property
and Material Leased Real Property for the Companys, its
Subsidiaries and RMIs businesses as currently
conducted;
(ix) The Company does not have any knowledge of
improvements made or contemplated to be made by any public or
private authority, the costs of which are to be or would be
assessed as special taxes or charges against the Material Owned
Real Property or Material Leased Real Property;
(x) All Facilities on the Material Owned Real Property and
Material Leased Real Property are, taken as a whole, in
reasonable operating condition and repair (subject to normal
wear and tear) and are adequate for occupancy and use in
accordance with the Companys, its Subsidiaries and
RMIs past practice;
(xi) The Facilities on the Material Owned Real Property and
Material Leased Real Property do not encroach on any easement
that may materially burden a Facility;
(xii) The Company does not have any knowledge of any
condition that would result in the termination or impairment of
access to the Material Owned Real Property or Material Leased
Real Property and such access is sufficient for the operation of
the Companys, its Subsidiaries or RMIs
businesses thereon;
A-29
(xiii) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI
has, or has had, any material boundary, water drainage or supply
or other similar material disputes with the owners of any
property adjacent to the Material Owned Real Property or the
Material Leased Real Property and the Company does not have any
knowledge of any such material dispute involving former owners
of the Material Owned Real Property or Material Leased Real
Property;
(xiv) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI
has received any notice of outstanding requirements or
recommendations by the insurance companies who issue or have
issued insurance policies insuring the Owned Real Property and
Leased Real Property, or by any board of fire underwriters or
other body exercising similar functions requiring or
recommending any material repairs or work to be done on the
Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property;
(xv) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI
owes, nor will owe in the future, any brokerage commissions or
finders fees with respect to the Material Owned Real
Property or Material Leased Real Property;
(xvi) There are no parties in possession of the Material
Owned Real Property or Material Leased Real Property that are
not entitled to such possession; and
(xvii) There are no outstanding options or rights of first
refusal to purchase the Material Owned Real Property, or any
portion thereof or interest therein.
(f) Real Property Related
Documentation. The Company has furnished or
made available to Parent and Merger Sub, to the extent in the
Companys possession or control: (i) all certificates
of occupancy and other material Permits, variances,
applications, documents certifying the payment of any applicable
real estate tax, other approvals and licenses for all or any
part of the Material Owned Real Property and Material Leased
Real Property; (ii) all material architectural, mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, drainage, construction and similar plans,
specifications and blueprints relating to the Material Owned
Real Property; (iii) all policies of title insurance on the
Material Owned Real Property and Material Leased Real Property;
(iv) all vesting deeds for the Material Owned Real Property
and Leases for the Leased Real Property; (v) all existing
Phase I, Phase II or other environmental reports or
studies in draft or final form, relating to the Owned Real
Property and Leased Real Property; and (vi) any surveys or
plats relating to the Material Owned Real Property and Material
Leased Real Property.
Section 3.17 Material
Contracts.
(a) Sections 3.17(a)(i) (xvii) of the
Company Disclosure Letter list all existing contracts,
agreements, commitments, arrangements, leases and other
instruments to which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI
is a party or by which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI or any of their respective properties or assets is bound
(other than Plans and Leases) as of the date of this Agreement
that:
(i) (A) have a term longer than one year from the date
hereof that involve payments by the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI in excess of $250,000 per year, or
(B) with a term less than one year from the date hereof
that involve payments by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI in excess of $200,000, that are not terminable without
premium or penalty on less than 30 days notice;
(ii) are employment agreements, management agreements,
consulting agreements, change of control agreements or severance
agreements;
(iii) are indemnification agreements with respect to any
officer or director of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMI;
(iv) contain non-compete covenants that restrict the
operations of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI (or
which, immediately following the consummation of the Merger,
would restrict the operations of the Surviving Entity or any of
its Affiliates);
(v) with respect to a joint venture, partnership, limited
liability or other similar agreement or arrangement, relate to
the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any
partnership or joint venture;
A-30
(vi) relate to (A) indebtedness for borrowed money
(including mezzanine financing), capital lease obligations, or
the deferred purchase price of property and having an
outstanding principal amount in excess of $200,000,
(B) conditional sale arrangements in connection with which
the aggregate actual or contingent obligations of the Company,
its Subsidiaries or RMI under such contract are greater than
$100,000, (C) any off-balance sheet arrangement, or
(D) any guaranty thereof;
(vii) were entered into after December 31, 2007, and
involve the acquisition from another Person or disposition to
another Person, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise),
of assets or capital stock or other equity interests of another
Person for aggregate consideration under such contract in excess
of $250,000 (other than acquisitions or dispositions of
inventory in the ordinary course of business);
(viii) relate to an acquisition, divestiture, merger,
acquisition of assets or similar transaction that have any
remaining obligations that could be expected to result in
payments by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI in
excess of $250,000;
(ix) contain restrictions with respect to payment of
dividends or any distributions in respect of the capital stock
or other equity interests of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI;
(x) other than as already identified above, obligate the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI to make any capital
commitment or expenditure (including pursuant to any joint
venture) in excess of $250,000;
(xi) relate to any guarantee or assumption of other
obligations or reimbursement of any maker of a letter of credit;
(xii) relate to the purchase or sale of real property;
(xiii) are or would be required to be filed by the Company
or RMI as a material contract pursuant to
Item 601(b)(10) of
Regulation S-K
under the Securities Act or disclosed by the Company or RMI on a
Current Report on
Form 8-K;
(xiv) are Government Contracts;
(xv) any agreement with any Surety;
(xvi) are Licensed Intellectual Property Agreements, other
than license agreements for software that is generally
commercially available or that relate to off-the-shelf
products; or
(xvii) are warrants or other contractual rights or
agreements to acquire any equity ownership interest in the
Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI.
Each contract of the type described in clauses (i) through
(xvii) is referred to herein as a Material
Contract.
(b) Each Material Contract and Lease is legal, valid,
binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms against the
Company, the Subsidiary of the Company that is a party thereto
or RMI, as applicable, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights and to general equity principles, and, to
the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto and is in
full force and effect, and the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI,
as applicable, are in compliance in all material respects with
all obligations required to be performed or complied with by
them under each Material Contract and Lease. There is no
material default under any Material Contract or Lease by the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI or, to the knowledge of
the Company, by any other party, and no event has occurred or
circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, passage
of time or both, could constitute a material default thereunder
by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI, or to the
knowledge of the Company, by any other party.
(c) With respect to any Government Contract:
(i) Section 3.17(c)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list of all
contracts entered into since December 31, 2005 between the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI and any Governmental
Entity that provides or provided for annual payments in excess
of $100,000 to any of the
A-31
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI (the Government
Contracts), true, complete and correct copies of which
have been made available to Parent.
(ii) Except as set forth in
Section 3.17(c)(ii)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI is a party to any current material
dispute relating to a Government Contract. Except as set forth
on
Section 3.17(c)(ii)-2
of the Company Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2006,
neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has received
notice from the Governmental Entity that is counterparty in any
such Government Contract (Official Notice)
that the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has breached or
violated any applicable Law, certification, representation,
clause, provision or requirement with respect to any Government
Contract. There is no current or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened Action against the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI arising out of or relating to any Government
Contract. Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI
has received an Official Notice that constitutes a cure notice,
a show cause notice, a suspension of work notice or a stop work
order with respect to any Government Contract.
(iii) Except as set forth in
Section 3.17(c)(iii) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, since January 1, 2006, neither any Governmental
Entity nor any other Person has given Official Notice to the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI that the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI or any of its or their directors,
officers, agents or employees have breached or violated any
applicable Law or certification relating to any Government
Contract.
(iv) With respect to each Government Contract, except as
set forth in Section 3.17(c)(iv) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2006, no payment due to
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI relating to any
Government Contract has been withheld or set off (except to the
extent such withholding or setting off is in the ordinary course
of business), nor has any claim or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threat been made by any Governmental Entity to withhold
or set off (except to the extent such withholding or setting off
is in the ordinary course of business) money due to the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or RMI under a Government Contract or to
conduct an audit or investigation.
(v) Since January 1, 2006, the Company, its
Subsidiaries and RMI have, with respect to all Government
Contracts (A) complied in all material respects with all
certifications and representations it has executed, acknowledged
or set forth with respect to each such Government Contract and
all clauses, provisions and requirements incorporated by
reference or by operation of Law and (B) submitted
certifications and representations with respect to each such
Government Contract that were in all material respects accurate,
current and complete when submitted, and were properly updated
in all material respects to the extent required by Law or the
applicable Government Contract.
(vi) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(c)(vi)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries nor RMI has received Official Notice of any
warranty claims relating to any Government Contract.
(vii) Since January 1, 2006, neither the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or RMI has received Official Notice of any
unfavorable past performance assessments, evaluations or ratings
relating to any Government Contract.
(viii) Except as set forth in
Section 3.17(c)(viii) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, no Government Contracts are subject to any right of set
off, except as provided under applicable Law. Neither the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has received any written
Official Notice that monies due under any Government Contract
are or may be subject to withholding or set off other than in
the ordinary course of business.
(ix) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(c)(ix)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, during the past three years,
neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has been or
is now being audited (other than routine audits upon completion
of the project under the applicable Government Contract for
which there was or is no material discrepancy with respect to
such completed project) or, to the knowledge of the Company,
investigated, by any Governmental Entity in respect of any
Government Contract.
A-32
(x) Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI,
nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Companys,
any of its Subsidiarys or RMIs officers, directors
or employees, has provided to any Person any materially false or
misleading information with respect to the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI in connection with the procurement of,
performance under or renewal of, any Material Contract.
Section 3.18 Title
to Assets. (a) Except as set forth in
Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter, each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of
the Company, RMI, has good and marketable title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, the material properties and assets used
by it, or shown on the balance sheet of the Company or RMI, as
applicable, as of December 31, 2007 or acquired after the
date thereof (excluding the Owned Real Property and Leased Real
Property, which are addressed by Section 3.16(e),
free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and Liens
that will be released as of the Closing Date, except for
properties and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of
business since the date of the December 31, 2007 balance
sheet.
(b) The machinery, equipment and other tangible assets
constituting the assets that the Company, its Subsidiaries and
RMI own, lease and use in the conduct of their businesses
(excluding the Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property that
are addressed by Section 3.16(e), are, taken as a
whole, in reasonable operating condition and repair (subject to
normal wear and tear) and are adequate for the uses to which
they are being put. These assets, along with the Intellectual
Property of the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, constitute
all the assets of the businesses and rights necessary to operate
the businesses of the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, as
applicable, as currently conducted.
Section 3.19 Insurance. The
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI maintain insurance policies
that are customary for companies of similar size in the
industries in which the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI
operate. With respect to each material insurance policy,
(a) the policy is in full force and effect and all premiums
due thereon have been paid, (b) neither the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries nor RMI is in material breach or default, and
neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries nor RMI has
taken any action or failed to take any action which, with notice
or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a material
breach or default, or permit termination or modification of, any
such policy, (c) there are no claims pending that have been
denied, rejected or disputed by any insurer or as to which any
insurer has made any reservation of rights or refused coverage
with respect to all or any portion of such claims, (d) the
current and historical coverage limits have not been exhausted
and/or
materially impaired, and (e) to the knowledge of the
Company, no insurer on any such policy has been declared
insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship or
liquidation, and no notice of cancellation or termination, or
premium increase in excess of $50,000 per year (other than
premium increases based on increases in payroll amounts or
revenues), has been received with respect to any policy. There
are no gaps in the coverage periods with respect to any of the
historical insurance policies of the Company, its Subsidiaries
or RMI and any predecessor companies of any of them.
Section 3.20 Opinion. Prior
to the execution of this Agreement (but no more than two days
prior), Morgan Joseph has delivered to the Special Committee its
written opinion (the Company Fairness
Opinion) to the effect that, as of the date thereof
and based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein, the
Merger Consideration is fair to the stockholders of the Company
from a financial point of view. A true, correct and complete
copy of Company Fairness Opinion has been delivered to Parent
for informational purposes only. The Company has obtained the
authorization of the Company Financial Advisor to include a copy
of the Company Fairness Opinion in the Proxy Statement and Other
Filings. The Company Fairness Opinion has not been withdrawn,
revoked, waived, amended, modified or supplemented in any
respect.
Section 3.21 Required
Vote of Company Stockholders. The only vote
of the holders of outstanding securities of the Company required
by the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, by Law or otherwise to
complete the Merger is the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding Shares. The vote required by the
previous sentence is referred to together as the
Requisite Stockholder Vote.
Section 3.22 State
Takeover Statutes. Except for those which
have been made not applicable by valid action of the Board of
Directors of the Company and RMI prior to the execution and
delivery hereof, no Takeover Laws, as such relate to the Company
or RMI, apply or purport to apply to (i) this Agreement,
(ii) the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
hereby, or (iii) the transaction or transactions by which
the Company obtained ownership of its initial shares of RMI.
A-33
Section 3.23 Rights
Agreement. The Board of Directors of the
Company has approved and duly authorized and the Company has
executed an amendment and will amend, within five Business Days
of the date of this Agreement (substantially in the form
provided to Parent), the Company Rights Agreement to the effect
that neither of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective
Affiliates shall become an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Company Rights Agreement), and that such Company rights will not
separate from the underlying shares of common stock or give the
holders thereof the right to acquire securities of any party
hereto, in each case as a result of the approval, execution or
delivery of this Agreement, or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The Company Rights
Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, without any
consideration being payable with respect to the outstanding
Company rights thereunder.
Section 3.24 Customers
and Suppliers. Section 3.24 of
the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, complete and
correct list of (a) the Companys (on a consolidated
basis) and (b) RMIs 20 largest customers
(Significant Customers) and 20 largest
suppliers (Significant Suppliers) by volume
of sales (by dollar volume) and purchases (by dollar volume),
respectively, for each of the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2007. Since December 31, 2006,
none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI has received
any written indication from any Significant Customer or
Significant Supplier to the effect that such customer or
supplier will stop or materially reduce buying or supplying
materials, products or services from or to the Company, its
Subsidiaries or RMI, as applicable.
Section 3.25 Affiliate
Transactions. Except for this Agreement and
the Merger or as disclosed on Section 3.25 of the
Company Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2005 there have
been no transactions, or series of related transactions,
agreements, arrangements or understandings, nor are there any
currently proposed transactions, or series of related
transactions, between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on
the one hand, and the Companys Affiliates (other than any
Subsidiary of the Company), including RMI, on the other hand,
that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Securities Act that have not been properly
disclosed.
Section 3.26 Product
Warranties; Product Liability Claims. As of
the date of this Agreement, no product warranty, product
liability, product recall or similar claims have been made
against or with respect to the Companys, its
Subsidiaries or RMIs businesses since
December 31, 2004 except for claims that are not material
to the business of the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, taken
as a whole. Since December 31, 2004, no Person (including,
but not limited to, any Governmental Entity of any kind) has
asserted in writing any material claim against the Company, any
of its Subsidiaries or RMI under any Law relating to unfair
competition, false advertising or other similar claims arising
out of product warranties, guarantees, specifications, manuals
or brochures or other advertising materials used by or in the
conduct of the Companys, any of its Subsidiaries or
RMIs businesses.
Section 3.27 Bonding.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Companys
and each Subsidiarys Bonding Capacity is at least
$200.0 million in the aggregate and at least
$50.0 million for any individual Construction Project.
Neither the Companys nor any Subsidiarys Bonding
Capacity has been reduced by any Surety (without replacement of
such reduced Bonding Capacity by another Surety) since
January 1, 2006. The Company and each Subsidiary has taken
all actions necessary or advisable to maintain and comply with
its Bonding Arrangement with each Surety. With respect to each
Bonding Arrangement: (i) the Bonding Arrangement is in full
force and effect and all premiums due to Surety have been paid;
(ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach or
default, disputed or undisputed, under any Bond or under any
other agreement with the respective Surety, and neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary has taken any action or failed to
take any action which, with notice or the lapse of time or both,
could constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination
or modification of any such Bonding Arrangement by the
applicable Surety or the obligee to any Bond issued thereunder,
and the terms thereof are not substantially different, in any
adverse manner, than the terms that exist on the date hereof
(and no notice has been given or, to the Companys
knowledge, no intent has been expressed, by the applicable
Surety that could reasonably be expected to result in the same),
including with respect to the Companys ability to Bond
future projects in excess of its current Backlog in the ordinary
course of business; (iii) to the Companys and each
Subsidiarys knowledge, no Surety to any such Bonding
Arrangement has been declared insolvent or placed in
receivership, conservatorship or
A-34
liquidation, and no notice of cancellation or termination, or
material premium increase or other material change in terms, has
been received with respect to any such Bonding Arrangement or
any Bond issued thereunder; (iv) neither the Company nor
any Subsidiary has breached or defaulted under any existing
contract for which a Bond has been issued; and (v) neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary has failed or refused to pay for
any labor or materials used in the performance of any Bonded
Project.
(b) There are no current claims of default, disputed or
undisputed, against Company or any Subsidiary related to any
project or contract that is subject to a Bond, whether by notice
to Company, any Subsidiary or the applicable Surety. Neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary has any claim or liability under any
subcontractor default insurance program maintained by the
Company or any Subsidiary.
(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has ever been
the subject of a debarment process.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default
under any agreement for indemnity to any Surety.
Section 3.28 Backlog. As
of the date of this Agreement, the Company had the Backlog set
forth on Section 3.28(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, identifying specifically those items constituting
Backlog within the meaning of clauses (a) and (b) of
such definition. Except as set forth on
Section 3.28(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
none of the Backlog is related to any portions of awarded
projects that are to be completed more than 18 months from
the date of this Agreement. None of the orders constituting
Backlog has been cancelled or materially reduced and all Backlog
is at a price and on terms (including profit margin) consistent
with the Companys past practices and the ordinary course
of business. The Company has no Backlog expected to result in a
loss to the Company.
Section 3.29 Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company,
any of its Subsidiaries or RMI, nor, to the Companys
knowledge, any their Affiliates or any other Persons acting on
their behalf has, in connection with the operation of their
respective businesses, (a) used any corporate or other
funds for unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or
entertainment, or made any unlawful expenditures relating to
political activity to government officials, candidates or
members of political parties or organizations, or established or
maintained any unlawful or unrecorded funds in violation of
Section 104 of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
as amended, or any other similar applicable foreign, federal or
state law, (b) paid, accepted or received any unlawful
contributions, payments, expenditures or gifts, or (c) to
the Companys knowledge, violated or failed to comply in
any material respect with any export restrictions, anti-boycott
regulations, embargo regulations or other applicable domestic or
foreign laws and regulations.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES
OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Except as disclosed in the Section of the Parent Disclosure
Letter that specifically relates to such Section of
Article IV below or, if disclosed in any other
Section of the Parent Disclosure Letter, is reasonably apparent
on its face to relate to such Section of Article IV
below, Parent and Merger Sub jointly and severally represent and
warrant to the Company as follows:
Section 4.1 Organization. Each
of Parent and Merger Sub is a duly organized and validly
existing corporation in good standing under the Laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. As of the date hereof, all of
the issued and outstanding equity interests of Merger Sub are
owned directly or indirectly by Parent. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as currently conducted. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation
authorized to do business in each of the jurisdictions in which
the character of the properties owned by or held under lease by
it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such
qualification necessary, except as has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect or would not
reasonably be expected to otherwise prevent consummation of the
Merger.
Section 4.2 Authority
for this Agreement. Each of Parent and Merger
Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute
and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby,
A-35
including the Merger. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate proceedings on the part of
Parent and Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of
Parent and Merger Sub enforceable against each of Parent and
Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors rights and to general equity principles.
Section 4.3 Consents
and Approvals; No Violation.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Parent or Merger Sub nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Merger, will (i) violate
or conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation, as
the case may be, or the respective bylaws of Parent or Merger
Sub, (ii) assuming all consents, approvals and
authorizations contemplated by clauses (i) through
(iv) of subsection (b) below have been obtained and
all filings described in such clauses have been made, conflict
with or violate any Law, (iii) violate or conflict with, or
result in a breach of any provision of, or require any consent,
waiver or approval or result in a default or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration
(or an event that, with the giving of notice, the passage of
time or otherwise, would constitute a default or give rise to
any such right) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any note, bond, mortgage, lease, license, agreement,
contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which
Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by which Parent or Merger Sub
or any of its or their respective properties or assets may be
bound, or (iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or Merger Sub
or by which any of its or any of their respective assets are
bound, except in the case of clauses (ii) through (iv),
which would not prevent or materially delay consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including
the Merger, by each of Parent and Merger Sub do not and will not
require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or
filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except
(i) the pre-merger notification requirements under the HSR
Act, (ii) the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act,
(iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Nevada
and Delaware Secretaries of State and (iv) any such
consent, approval, authorization, permit, filing, or
notification the failure of which to make or obtain would not
prevent or materially delay consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is aware of
any fact, event or circumstance relating to Parent or Merger Sub
that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay
the receipt of any consent, approval, authorization or permit of
any Governmental Entity required pursuant to
Article VI to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.4 Proxy
Statement; Other Filings. None of the
information to be supplied by Parent, Merger Sub or any
Affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub in writing specifically for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement will, at the time of filing
with the SEC, at the time the Proxy Statement is mailed and at
the time of the Special Meeting, and none of the information
supplied or to be supplied by Parent, Merger Sub or any
Affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub in writing specifically for
inclusion in Other Filings, will, at the date of filing with the
SEC, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Parent, Merger Sub nor
any Affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub makes any representation
or warranty with respect to any information supplied by the
Company or any of its directors, officers, Affiliates, agents or
other representatives that is contained in any of the foregoing
documents.
Section 4.5 Financing. The
aggregate proceeds contemplated by equity and debt commitments
(as the same may be amended, the Financing
Commitments) received by Parent and its Affiliates on
or prior to the date hereof, together with the available cash of
the Company, Parent and Merger Sub on the Closing Date, are and
will be sufficient for Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the
Merger upon the terms contemplated by this Agreement, and to pay
all related fees and expenses associated therewith, including
payment of all amounts under Article II of this
Agreement. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any reason to
believe that it will be unable to satisfy on a timely basis any
term or condition to be satisfied by it contained in the
Financing Commitments that does not relate to the
A-36
business or assets of the Company, its Subsidiaries of RMI.
Parent will pay when due all other commitment fees arising under
the Financing Commitments, if any, as and when they become
payable.
Section 4.6 Letter
of Credit. Concurrently with the execution of
this Agreement, Parent has provided the Company with evidence of
the letter of credit that Parent has obtained in support of its
obligations hereunder, dated as of the date of this Agreement,
in an amount not less than $2.5 million and in the form set
forth in Section 4.6 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.
Section 4.7 Litigation. There
is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, mediation or
governmental investigation pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent, threatened against Parent or Merger Sub, and neither
Parent nor Merger Sub is subject to any outstanding order, writ,
injunction or decree, in each case, which has had or would
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.8 Brokers. The
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI are not responsible or liable
for any brokers, finders, financial advisors
or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement as a result of any
agreement or commitment of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their
Affiliates.
Section 4.9 Ownership
of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities.
(a) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of
engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) All of the outstanding equity interests of Merger Sub
are owned directly by Parent. As of the date of this Agreement,
there are no options, warrants or other rights (including
registration rights), agreements, arrangements or commitments to
which Merger Sub is a party of any character relating to the
issued or unissued capital stock of, or other equity interests
in, Merger Sub or obligating Merger Sub to grant, issue or sell
any shares of the capital stock of, or other equity interests
in, Merger Sub, by sale, lease, license or otherwise. There are
no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of Merger Sub to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests of
Merger Sub.
(c) Except for obligations or liabilities incurred in
connection with its formation or organization and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub has not
and will not have incurred, directly or indirectly, through any
subsidiary or Affiliate, any obligations or liabilities or
engaged in any business activities of any type or kind
whatsoever or entered into any agreements or arrangements with
any Person.
Section 4.10 Vote
Required. No vote of the holders of any class
or series of capital stock or other equity interests of Parent
is necessary to adopt this Agreement, or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.11 Solvency. Assuming
(a) that the Company is Solvent immediately prior to the
Effective Time, (b) the satisfaction of the conditions to
the obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the
Merger, (c) the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company, and compliance with each of its
covenants and agreements, set forth herein, and (d) the
Company SEC Reports fairly present the consolidated financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries and RMI as of the
end of the periods covered thereby and the consolidated results
of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and RMI for
the periods covered thereby, then immediately after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including any financing in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the payment of the aggregate
Merger Consideration and the consideration in respect of the
Options and the payment of all related fees and expenses), the
Surviving Entity will be Solvent at the Effective Time. For
purposes of this Section 4.11, the term
Solvent with respect to the Surviving Entity
means that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount
of the fair saleable value of the assets of the Surviving Entity
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, exceeds, as of such
date, the sum of (i) the value of all liabilities of the
Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
including contingent liabilities valued at the amount that is
reasonably expected to become due, as of such date, as such
quoted terms are generally determined in accordance with the
applicable federal Laws governing determinations of the solvency
of debtors, and (ii) the amount that will be required to
pay the liabilities that are reasonably expected to become due
of the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
on its existing debts (including contingent liabilities) as such
debts become absolute and matured, (b) the Surviving Entity
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not have, as of
such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital for the
operation of their businesses in which it is engaged or
A-37
proposed to be engaged by Parent following such date, and
(c) the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, will be able to pay its liabilities, including contingent
and other liabilities, as they mature.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 Conduct
of Business of the Company and RMI.
(a) Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or as
set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law or the
regulatory requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(NASDAQ) or unless Parent shall otherwise
consent in writing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company will conduct, and
will cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, its operations
in all material respects according to its ordinary and usual
course of business, consistent with past practice, and the
Company will use, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to
use, its reasonable best efforts to preserve intact in all
material respects its business organization and assets, to keep
available the services of its current officers and key employees
and to preserve the goodwill of and maintain satisfactory
relationships with its customers, suppliers and those other
Persons having material business relationships with the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing and except as otherwise expressly permitted in
this Agreement, as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of
the Company Disclosure Letter or as required by applicable Law
or the regulatory requirements of NASDAQ, during the period from
the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, without the
prior written consent of Parent, the Company will not and will
not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(i) issue, sell, grant options or warrants or other rights
to purchase, pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale,
grant of options or warrants or other rights to purchase or
pledge, any Shares, Company Securities, equity interests in any
Subsidiary or Securities or any phantom stock, phantom stock
rights, stock appreciation rights or similar rights, other than
the issuance of Shares pursuant to the exercise of Options that
are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and in
accordance with the terms of such awards as of the date of this
Agreement;
(ii) amend or otherwise change the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws or other comparable governing documents
of any Subsidiaries, except as required by
Section 3.24 hereof;
(iii) acquire or redeem, directly or indirectly, or amend
(A) any Company Securities other than in connection with
the exercise of outstanding equity awards as provided in
clause (i) above, (B) any Securities of the
Companys Subsidiaries, or (C) any phantom stock,
phantom stock rights, stock appreciation rights, options,
warrants, or similar rights as provided in clause (i) above;
(iv) split (forward or reverse), combine, redenominate,
recapitalize or reclassify its capital stock or authorize,
declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or distribution
(whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) on any shares of
its capital stock, options, warrants, convertible securities or
other rights of any kind to acquire or receive capital stock of
the Company (except for any dividend or distribution by a
Subsidiary to the Company) or any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) (A) engage in or offer to make any acquisition, by
means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any business
or division thereof or sell, lease, encumber or otherwise
dispose of assets outside the ordinary course of business, and
in any event, involving a transaction value in excess of
$300,000 individually (or $750,000 in the aggregate), or
(B) except in the ordinary course of business and except in
connection with actions expressly permitted pursuant to this
Section 5.1(a), enter into, make any proposal for,
renew, extend or amend or modify in any material respect,
terminate, cancel, waive, release or assign any right or claim
under, a contract or agreement that is, as of the date of this
Agreement, or would be a Material Contract or Lease (if it was
entered into after the date of this Agreement but had existed as
of the date of this Agreement) or amend or terminate any
Material Contract or Lease or grant any release or
relinquishment of any material rights under any Material
Contract or Lease;
(vi) except for borrowings under the Companys
existing credit facilities in the ordinary course of business,
incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for, or prepay,
any indebtedness for borrowed
A-38
money (including the issuance of any debt security) or mezzanine
financing having an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding in excess of $2.0 million or enter into any
off-balance sheet arrangement;
(vii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable
or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for
the obligations of, or make any loans, advances, investments in
or capital contributions to, any other Person (other than the
Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) in an
aggregate amount in excess of $200,000;
(viii) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter
into or materially increase or materially decrease the
outstanding balances of (A) any intercompany loan or
(B) intercompany debt arrangements;
(ix) mortgage, pledge or otherwise similarly encumber any
of its assets (tangible or intangible, including, but not
limited to, RMI common stock), or create, assume or suffer to
exist any Liens thereupon, other than Permitted Liens, or alter
or apply to alter any zoning classification or similar Laws in
connection with the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property;
(x) incur capital expenditures in an aggregate amount in
excess of $1.5 million or otherwise make any acquisition or
disposition of assets outside of the ordinary course of business
in excess of the same;
(xi) change in any material respect any of the accounting,
reserving, underwriting, claims or actuarial methods, principles
or practices used by it, or any of the working capital policies
applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries, except as
required by Law, GAAP or applicable statutory accounting
principles;
(xii) make or change any material Tax election, settle or
compromise any Tax liability in excess of $125,000, agree to an
extension of the statute of limitations with respect to the
assessment or determination of Taxes in excess of $125,000, file
any amended Tax Return with respect to any Tax in excess of
$125,000, enter into any closing agreement with respect to any
Tax in excess of $125,000 or surrender any right to claim a Tax
refund in excess of $125,000 or enter into any transaction that
could give rise to a disclosure obligation as a reportable
transaction under Section 6011 of the Code and the
regulations thereunder;
(xiii) agree to grant or grant any stock-related,
cash-based, performance or similar awards or bonuses or any
other award that may be settled in Shares or other Company
Securities or in Securities;
(xiv) enter into, forgive, renew, or amend in any respect
any loans to officers or directors or any of their respective
Affiliates or Associates or approve any transaction that would
be reportable under Rule 404 of
Regulation S-K;
(xv) except as may be required by Law or as specifically
contemplated by this Agreement, (A) enter into any new, or
amend, terminate or renew any existing Plan; (B) grant any
increases in the compensation, perquisites or benefits or pay
any bonuses to any officers or directors, except that in the
event that the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement has not occurred by March 2009 when the Companys
non-equity incentive plan provisions are determined and paid the
incentives provided under such plan may be paid pursuant to the
provisions of such plan; (C) accelerate the vesting or
payment of any compensation payable or the benefits provided or
to become payable or provided to any of its current or former
directors, officers, employees, independent contractors or
service providers (other than any such acceleration required by
the terms of the Plans applicable to such individuals as in
effect on the date of this Agreement), or otherwise pay any
amounts not due such individual; or (D) take any action
with respect to salary, compensation, benefits or other terms
and conditions of employment that would reasonably be expected
to result in the holder of a change in control or similar
agreement identified in Section 5.1(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter having good reason to
terminate employment and collect severance payments and benefits
pursuant to such agreement;
(xvi) make any deposits or contributions of cash or other
property to or take any other action to fund or in any other way
secure the payment of compensation or benefits under the Plans
or agreement subject to the Plans, other than in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice;
(xvii) except as required by Law, enter into, amend, modify
or supplement any Collective Bargaining Agreement or other labor
agreement, including any individual employment agreement;
A-39
(xviii) renew or enter into any non-compete, exclusivity,
non-solicitation or similar agreement that would restrict or
limit, in any respect, the operations of the Company
and/or its
Subsidiaries or the Surviving Entity after the Effective Time;
(xix) commence, compromise, settle or agree to compromise
or settle any suit, action, claim, proceeding, violation,
deficiency, default, non-compliance or investigation (including
any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), or
consent to the same, other than compromises, settlements or
agreements in the ordinary course of business and following
reasonable consultation with and taking into account the views
of Parent that involve only the payment of monetary damages
either to or from the Company not in excess of $300,000
individually or $600,000 in the aggregate, in any case without
the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of
wrongdoing by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xx) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement
with respect to the voting or registration of Shares, the
Company Securities, the Securities or RMI Securities; or sell or
otherwise transfer any RMI Securities;
(xxi) fail to use reasonable best efforts to keep in force
its current insurance policies or replacement or revised
provisions providing reasonable insurance coverage with respect
to the assets, operations and activities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries;
(xxii) merge or consolidate the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with any Person, other than the Company or any of
its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, and other than mergers or
consolidations of Subsidiaries in acquisitions that are
otherwise permitted by Section 5.1(a)(v);
(xxiii) adopt or approve a plan of complete or partial
liquidation or resolutions providing for a complete or partial
liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or
other reorganization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xxiv) adopt or amend any resolution or agreement
concerning indemnification of its officers, directors or agents;
(xxv) transfer or license to any Person or otherwise
extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to
preserve any of the Intellectual Property of the Company as
currently maintained or disclose to any Person who has not
entered into a confidentiality agreement any trade secrets;
(xxvi) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in
the usual manner on a basis consistent with that heretofore
employed;
(xxvii) establish any subsidiary or enter into any new line
of business;
(xxviii) fail to make in a timely manner any filings with
the SEC required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(xxix) discharge any obligations (including accounts
payable) other than on a timely basis in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(xxx) close or materially reduce the Companys or any
Subsidiarys activities, or effect any material layoff or
other Company-initiated personnel reduction or change, at any of
the Companys or any Subsidiarys facilities;
(xxxi) allow the Companys and its Subsidiaries
Bonding Capacity to be less than $200.0 million in the
aggregate and $50.0 million for any individual engagement
or otherwise permit the Companys, or any of its
Subsidiaries, Bonding Capacity, Bonds or terms thereof to
be on terms that are substantially different, in any adverse
manner, than the terms that existed on the date hereof,
including with respect to the Companys ability to Bond
future projects in excess of its current Backlog in the ordinary
course of business;
(xxxii) materially modify or cancel any project
constituting Backlog as set forth on Section 3.28(a)
or 3.28(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, or enter
into any order that would constitute Backlog at a price and on
terms (including profit margin) that are not consistent with the
Companys past practices and the ordinary
A-40
course of business, or that would reasonably be expected after
due diligence consistent with the Companys past practice
to result in a loss to the Company;
(xxxiii) other than in the ordinary course of business (and
not for speculative purposes), enter into any contract that
involves any exchange traded, over-the-counter or other swap,
cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward contract, option
or any other derivative financial instrument or contract, based
on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index of
any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible,
including commodities, emissions allowances, renewable energy
credits, currencies, interest rates, foreign currency and
indices;
(xxxiv) call, schedule, establish a record date with
respect to, or hold a special or annual meeting of its
stockholders, other than the Special Meeting, or request
consents to take any action by written consent in lieu of a
special or annual meeting of its stockholders other than in
connection with the Special Meeting; or
(xxxv) authorize, commit or agree to take any of the
foregoing actions.
(b) Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or as
set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, as required by applicable Law (including
statutory fiduciary duties) or the regulatory requirements of
the American Stock Exchange or unless Parent shall otherwise
consent in writing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company will cause RMI to
conduct, its operations in all material respects according to
its ordinary and usual course of business, consistent with past
practice, and the Company will cause RMI to use, its reasonable
best efforts to preserve intact in all material respects its
business organization and assets, to keep available the services
of its current officers and key employees and to preserve the
goodwill of and maintain satisfactory relationships with its
customers and those other Persons having material business
relationships with RMI. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing and except as otherwise expressly permitted in this
Agreement, as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter or as required by applicable Law
(including statutory fiduciary duties) or the regulatory
requirements of the American Stock Exchange, during the period
from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, without
the prior written consent of Parent, the Company will not permit
RMI to:
(i) issue, sell, grant options or warrants or other rights
to purchase, pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale,
grant of options or warrants or other rights to purchase or
pledge, any shares of its capital stock, RMI Securities, equity
interests in any Subsidiary or RMI or any phantom stock, phantom
stock rights, stock appreciation rights or similar rights, other
than the issuance of shares of its capital stock pursuant to the
exercise of options that are outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement and in accordance with the terms of such awards as of
the date of this Agreement;
(ii) amend or otherwise change RMIs articles of
incorporation or bylaws or other comparable governing documents
of any of its Subsidiaries, or adopt a poison pill;
(iii) acquire or redeem, directly or indirectly, or amend
(A) any RMI Securities other than in connection with the
exercise of outstanding equity awards as provided in
clause (i) above, or (B) any phantom stock, phantom
stock rights, stock appreciation rights, options, warrants or
similar rights as provided in clause (i) above;
(iv) split, combine, redenominate or reclassify its capital
stock or authorize, declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend
or distribution (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise)
on any shares of its capital stock, options, warrants,
convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire or
receive capital stock of RMI (except for any dividend or
distribution by a Subsidiary to RMI) or any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) (A) engage in or offer to make any acquisition, by
means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any business
or division thereof or sell, lease, encumber or otherwise
dispose of assets outside the ordinary course of business, and
in any event, involving a transaction value in excess of
$200,000 individually (or $500,000 in the aggregate), or
(B) except in the ordinary course of business and except in
connection with actions expressly permitted pursuant to this
Section 5.1(b), enter into, make any proposal for,
renew, extend or amend or modify in any material respect,
terminate, cancel, waive, release or assign any right or claim
under, a contract or agreement that is, as of the date of this
Agreement, or would be a Material Contract or Lease (if it
A-41
was entered into after the date of this Agreement but had
existed as of the date of this Agreement) or amend or terminate
any Material Contract or Lease or grant any release or
relinquishment of any material rights under any Material
Contract or Lease;
(vi) except for borrowings under RMIs existing credit
facilities in the ordinary course of business, incur, create,
assume or otherwise become liable for, or prepay, any
indebtedness for borrowed money (including the issuance of any
debt security) or mezzanine financing having an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding in excess of
$2.0 million or enter into any off-balance sheet
arrangement;
(vii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable
or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for
the obligations of, or make any loans, advances, investments in
or capital contributions to, any other Person (other than RMI or
any wholly-owned Subsidiary of RMI), in an aggregate amount in
excess of $200,000;
(viii) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter
into or materially increase or decrease the outstanding balances
of (A) any intercompany loan or (B) intercompany debt
arrangements;
(ix) mortgage, pledge or otherwise similarly encumber any
of its assets (tangible or intangible), or create, assume or
suffer to exist any Liens thereupon, other than Permitted Liens,
or alter or apply to alter any zoning classification or similar
Laws in connection with the Owned Real Property or Leased Real
Property;
(x) incur capital expenditures in an aggregate amount in
excess of $2.0 million or otherwise make any acquisition or
disposition of assets outside of the ordinary course of business
in excess of the same;
(xi) change in any material respect any of the accounting,
reserving, underwriting, claims or actuarial methods, principles
or practices used by it, or any of the working capital policies
applicable to RMI, except as required by Law, GAAP or applicable
statutory accounting principles;
(xii) make or change any material Tax election, settle or
compromise any Tax liability in excess of $125,000, agree to an
extension of the statute of limitations with respect to the
assessment or determination of Taxes in excess of $125,000, file
any amended Tax Return with respect to any Tax in excess of
$125,000, enter into any closing agreement with respect to any
Tax in excess of $125,000 or surrender any right to claim a Tax
refund in excess of $125,000 or enter into any transaction that
could give rise to a disclosure obligation as a reportable
transaction under Section 6011 of the Code and the
regulations thereunder;
(xiii) agree to grant or grant any stock-related,
cash-based, performance or similar awards or bonuses or any
other award that may be settled in shares of the capital stock
of RMI or other RMI Securities;
(xiv) enter into, forgive, renew, or amend in any respect
any loans to officers or directors or any of their respective
Affiliates or Associates or approve any transaction that would
be reportable under Rule 404 of
Regulation S-K;
(xv) except as may be required by Law or as specifically
contemplated by this Agreement, (A) enter into any new, or
amend, terminate or renew any existing Plan; (B) grant any
increases in the compensation, perquisites or benefits or pay
any bonuses to any officers or directors; (C) accelerate
the vesting or payment of any compensation payable or the
benefits provided or to become payable or provided to any of its
current or former directors, officers, employees, independent
contractors or service providers (other than any such
acceleration required by the terms of the Plans applicable to
such individuals as in effect on the date of this Agreement), or
otherwise pay any amounts not due such individual; or
(D) take any action with respect to salary, compensation,
benefits or other terms and conditions of employment that would
reasonably be expected to result in the holder of a change in
control or similar agreement identified in
Section 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter
having good reason to terminate employment and
collect severance payments and benefits pursuant to such
agreement;
(xvi) make any deposits or contributions of cash or other
property to or take any other action to fund or in any other way
secure the payment of compensation or benefits under the Plans
or agreement subject to the Plans, other than in the ordinary
course consistent with past practice;
A-42
(xvii) except as required by Law, enter into, amend, modify
or supplement any Collective Bargaining Agreement or other labor
agreement, including any individual employment agreement;
(xviii) renew or enter into any non-compete, exclusivity,
non-solicitation or similar agreement that would restrict or
limit, in any respect, the operations of RMI;
(xix) commence, compromise, settle or agree to compromise
or settle any suit, action, claim, proceeding, violation,
deficiency, default, non-compliance or investigation (including
any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), or
consent to the same, other than compromises, settlements or
agreements in the ordinary course of business and following
reasonable consultation with and taking into account the views
of Parent that involve only the payment of monetary damages
either to or from the Company not in excess of $300,000
individually or $600,000 in the aggregate, in any case without
the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of
wrongdoing by, RMI;
(xx) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement
with respect to the voting or registration of shares of the
capital stock of RMI or the RMI Securities;
(xxi) fail to use reasonable best efforts to keep in force
its current insurance policies or replacement or revised
provisions providing reasonable insurance coverage with respect
to the assets, operations and activities of RMI;
(xxii) merge or consolidate RMI with any Person, other than
RMI or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, and other than
mergers or consolidations of Subsidiaries in acquisitions that
are otherwise permitted by Section 5.1(a)(v);
(xxiii) adopt or approve a plan of complete or partial
liquidation or resolutions providing for a complete or partial
liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or
other reorganization of RMI or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xxiv) adopt or amend any resolution or agreement
concerning indemnification of its officers, directors or agents;
(xxv) transfer or license to any Person or otherwise
extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to
preserve any of the Intellectual Property of RMI as currently
maintained or disclose to any Person who has not entered into a
confidentiality agreement any trade secrets;
(xxvi) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in
the usual manner on a basis consistent with that heretofore
employed;
(xxvii) establish any subsidiary or enter into any new line
of business;
(xxviii) fail to make in a timely manner any filings with
the SEC required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(xxix) discharge any obligations (including accounts
payable) other than on a timely basis in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(xxx) close or materially reduce RMIs activities, or
effect any material layoff or other RMI-initiated personnel
reduction or change, at any of RMIs;
(xxxi) other than in the ordinary course of business (and
not for speculative purposes), enter into any contract that
involves any exchange traded, over-the-counter or other swap,
cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward contract, option
or any other derivative financial instrument or contract, based
on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index of
any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible,
including commodities, emissions allowances, renewable energy
credits, currencies, interest rates, foreign currency and
indices; or
(xxxii) authorize, commit or agree to take any of the
foregoing actions.
A-43
Section 5.2 Solicitation.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
to the contrary, during the period beginning on the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the Solicitation Period End-Date,
the Company and its Representatives shall have the right (acting
under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company or,
if then in existence, the Special Committee) to directly or
indirectly: (i) initiate, solicit and encourage Acquisition
Proposals, including by way of providing access to non-public
information pursuant to one or more Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreements (but only pursuant to Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreements); provided, that the Company shall promptly
(and in any event within 72 hours) provide or make
available to Parent any non-public information concerning the
Company or its Subsidiaries that is provided or made available
to any Person given such access which was not previously
provided and delivered to Parent; and (ii) participate in
discussions or negotiations with respect to Acquisition
Proposals or otherwise cooperate with or assist or participate
in, or facilitate any such discussions or negotiations.
(b) Subject to Section 5.2(c) and this
Section 5.2(b), and except with respect to any
Person who made a written Acquisition Proposal received by the
Company prior to the Solicitation Period End-Date with respect
to which the requirements of Sections 5.2(c)(i),
5.2(c)(iii) and 5.2(c)(iv) have been satisfied as
of the Solicitation Period End-Date and thereafter continuously
through the date of determination, from the Solicitation Period
End-Date until the Effective Time or, if earlier, the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with
Article VII, the Company shall not, and shall cause
its Subsidiaries and shall utilize its reasonable best efforts
to cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly:
(i) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage the submission
of any inquiries, proposals or offers or any other efforts or
attempts that constitute or may reasonably be expected to lead
to, any Acquisition Proposal or engage in any discussions or
negotiations with respect thereto (other than to state only that
they are not permitted to have discussions), or otherwise
cooperate with or assist or participate in, or knowingly
facilitate (or take any action that would reasonably be expected
to facilitate) any such inquiries, proposals, offers,
discussions or negotiations or (ii) approve or recommend,
or publicly propose to approve or recommend, an Acquisition
Proposal or enter into any merger agreement, letter of intent,
agreement in principle, share purchase agreement, asset purchase
agreement or share exchange agreement, option agreement or other
similar agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or enter
into any agreement or agreement in principle requiring the
Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or breach its obligations
hereunder or resolve, propose or agree to do any of the
foregoing. Except with respect to any written Acquisition
Proposal received on or prior to the Solicitation Period
End-Date with respect to which the requirements of
Sections 5.2(c)(i), 5.2(c)(iii) and
5.2(c)(iv) have been satisfied as of the Solicitation
Period End-Date and continuously thereafter (any Person so
submitting such Acquisition Proposal, an Excluded
Party), as determined, other than in bad faith, by the
Board of Directors of the Company (or, if then in existence, the
Special Committee) no later than the later of (A) the
Solicitation Period End-Date and (B) only if such
Acquisition Proposal is received less than two Business Days
prior to the Solicitation Period End-Date, the second Business
Day following the date on which the Company received such
Excluded Partys Acquisition Proposal (it being understood
that following the Solicitation Period End-Date until such time
as the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if then in
existence, the Special Committee) determines that a Person is an
Excluded Party, the Company shall not be permitted to take any
action with respect to such Person that it would not be
permitted to take with respect to non-Excluded Parties pursuant
to Section 5.2(c)), at the Solicitation Period
End-Date the Company shall immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or
negotiation with any Person conducted theretofore by the
Company, its Subsidiaries or any of its or their Representatives
with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall request to be
returned and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause to be
returned or destroyed in accordance with the terms of the
applicable confidentiality agreement any confidential
information provided to such Person on behalf of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything contained in
Section 5.2 to the contrary, any Excluded Party
shall cease to be an Excluded Party for all purposes under this
Agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal immediately
at such time as such Acquisition Proposal made by such party is
withdrawn, terminated, expired or fails in the reasonable
discretion of the Board of Directors (or, if then in existence,
the Special Committee) of the Company to satisfy the
requirements of Sections 5.2(c)(i),
5.2(c)(iii) and 5.2(c)(iv). The Company
shall promptly notify Parent when an Excluded Party ceases to be
an Excluded Party.
A-44
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
Section 5.2(b) and in addition to the rights of the
Company pursuant to Section 5.2(a), if at any time
following the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the
Requisite Stockholder Vote, (i) the Company has received a
written Acquisition Proposal from a third party that the Board
of Directors of the Company (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
believes in good faith (after consultation with its financial
advisors and outside counsel) to be bona fide,
(ii) the Company has not breached this
Section 5.2, (iii) the Board of Directors of
the Company (acting upon the prior recommendation of the Special
Committee, if then in existence) determines in good faith, after
consultation with its financial advisors and outside counsel,
that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or would reasonably
be expected to result in a Superior Proposal and (iv) after
consultation with its outside counsel, the Board of Directors of
the Company (acting upon the prior recommendation of the Special
Committee, if then in existence) determines in good faith that
failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be a
breach of its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the
Company under applicable Law, then the Company may
(A) furnish information with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries to the Person making such Acquisition Proposal and
(B) participate in discussions or negotiations with the
Person making such Acquisition Proposal regarding such
Acquisition Proposal; provided, that the Company
(x) will not, and will not allow its Subsidiaries to, and
will use reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives
not to, disclose any non-public information to such Person
without first entering into an Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreement with such Person and (y) will provide Parent with
an executed copy of such Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement
prior to providing or making available any non-public
information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries and
promptly (and in any event within 72 hours) provide or make
available to Parent any non-public information concerning the
Company or its Subsidiaries provided or made available to such
other Person which was not previously provided and delivered to
Parent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
Section 5.2(b) or this Section 5.2(c),
prior to obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Vote, the Company
shall in any event be permitted to take the actions described in
clauses (A) and (B) above with respect to any Excluded
Party for so long as they are an Excluded Party.
(d) Within 24 hours following the Solicitation Period
End-Date, the Company shall (i) notify Parent in writing if
there is any Person (A) who has made an Acquisition
Proposal prior to such date, if any, (B) with whom the
Company is having ongoing discussions or negotiations, if any,
or (C) to whom the Company has provided non-public
information and (ii) provide Parent a copy of each
Acquisition Proposal (with the proponents name redacted)
received from any such Person, including the pricing and other
material terms and conditions (or, where no such copy is
available, a written description of the material terms of such
Acquisition Proposal). From and after the Solicitation Period
End Date, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within
24 hours) notify Parent in the event that the Company, its
Subsidiaries or Representatives (I) receives any
Acquisition Proposal, (II) receives any request for
information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
other than requests for information in the ordinary course of
business which are unrelated to (A) an Acquisition Proposal
or (B) requests from an Excluded Party, (III) receives
any inquiry or request for discussions or negotiations regarding
any Acquisition Proposal or (IV) enters into an Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement. The Company shall notify Parent
promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) if any Person
makes any request or proposal referenced in subclause (I), (II),
(III) or (IV) above and provide a copy of the
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement and such Acquisition
Proposal (with the proponents name redacted), inquiry or
request, including the pricing and other material terms and
conditions (or, where no such copy is available, a written
description of the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal,
inquiry or request), including any material modifications
thereto. From and after the date that is 45 days after the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall keep Parent reasonably
well informed (orally and in writing) on a current basis (and in
any event no later than 24 hours after the occurrence of
any changes or developments of the status of any Acquisition
Proposal, inquiry or request (including pricing and other
material terms and conditions thereof and of any material
modification thereto), and any material developments (including
through discussions and negotiations), including furnishing
copies of any written inquiries, correspondence and draft
documentation with the proponents name redacted). Without
limiting the foregoing, from and after the date that is
45 days after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall
promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notify Parent
orally and then in writing if it determines to begin providing
or making available information or to engage in discussions or
negotiations concerning an Acquisition Proposal pursuant to
Section 5.2(c), including but not limited to, with
respect to a Person who would be an Excluded Party at the
Solicitation Period End-Date. The Company shall not, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries not to, enter into any confidentiality
agreement with any Person subsequent to the
A-45
date of this Agreement except with respect to an Acceptable
Confidentiality Agreement as permitted or required pursuant to
this Section 5.2, and neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries shall be a party to any agreement that
prohibits the Company from providing or making available to
Parent or Merger Sub any information provided or made available
to any other Person pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreement. The Company shall not, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to, terminate, waive, amend or modify any
provision of, or grant permission or request under, any
standstill or confidentiality agreement to which it or any of
its Subsidiaries is or becomes a party, and the Company shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, promptly enforce the
provisions of any such agreement; provided,
however, that the Company may permit a proposal to be
made under a standstill agreement if the Board of Directors of
the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with
outside counsel, that such actions are necessary to comply with
the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors to the
stockholders of the Company under applicable Law.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in
Section 5.2(b)(ii) to the contrary, the Board of
Directors of the Company (acting upon the prior recommendation
of the Special Committee, if then in existence) may at any time
prior to obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Vote, if it
determines in good faith, after consultation with outside
counsel, that the failure to take such action would reasonably
be expected to be a breach of its fiduciary duties to the
stockholders of the Company under applicable Law:
(x) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to
withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Parent or
Merger Sub, the Company Board Recommendation; approve, recommend
or endorse, or propose publicly to approve, recommend or
endorse, any Superior Proposal; or make other statements that
are reasonably calculated or expected to have the same effect (a
Change of Board Recommendation); and
(y) if the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal which
the Board of Directors of the Company (acting upon the prior
recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in existence)
concludes in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel
and its financial advisors, constitutes a Superior Proposal,
after considering all of the adjustments to the terms of this
Agreement which may be offered by Parent including pursuant to
clause (ii) below, terminate this Agreement and enter into
a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal
(provided, that and in such event, the Company
substantially concurrently enters into such Alternative
Acquisition Agreement); provided, however, that
the Company shall not terminate this Agreement pursuant to the
foregoing clause (y), and any purported termination pursuant to
the foregoing clause (y) shall be void and of no force or
effect, unless in advance of or concurrently with such
termination the Company pays the Superior Fee or the Company
Breakup Fee, as the case may be, pursuant to
Section 7.4(b), and otherwise complies with the
provisions of Section 7.1(i) and
Section 7.4(b); and provided further
that the Board of Directors of the Company (acting upon the
prior recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in
existence) may not withdraw, modify or amend the Company Board
Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent pursuant to the
foregoing clause (x) (in the case where the Board of Directors
of the Company (acting upon the prior recommendation of the
Special Committee, if then in existence) is considering another
Acquisition Proposal) or terminate this Agreement pursuant to
the foregoing clause (y) unless (A) the Company has
not breached this Section 5.2 and, (B):
(i) the Company shall have provided prior written notice to
Parent at least ten days in advance (the Notice
Period) of its intention to take such action with
respect to such Superior Proposal, which notice shall specify
the material terms and conditions of any such Superior Proposal
(including the identity of the party making such Superior
Proposal), and shall have contemporaneously provided a copy of
the relevant proposed transaction agreements with the party
making such Superior Proposal and other material documents,
including the definitive agreement with respect to such Superior
Proposal (the Alternative Acquisition
Agreement); and
(ii) prior to effecting such Change of Board Recommendation
or terminating this Agreement to enter into a definitive
agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, the Company
shall, and shall cause its financial and legal advisors to,
during the Notice Period, negotiate with Parent in good faith
(to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such
adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so
that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior
Proposal. In the event of any material revisions to a Superior
Proposal (including, without limitation, any revision in price),
the Company shall be required to deliver a new written notice to
Parent and to again comply with the requirements of
Section 5.2(e)(i) with respect to such new written
notice, except that the Notice Period with respect thereto shall
be seven days for the first such material revision to a Superior
Proposal and four days for each subsequent material revision to
a Superior Proposal
A-46
thereafter; provided, however, the Company shall
only be obligated to negotiate with Parent pursuant to this
Section 5.2(e)(ii) on only one occasion with respect
to each Superior Proposal and each modification thereof.
(f) The Company agrees that any violations of the
restrictions or other obligations in this
Section 5.2 by any Representative of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this
Section 5.2 by the Company.
(g) Nothing contained in this Section 5.2 shall
prohibit the Board of Directors of the Company from
(i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of the
Company a position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a)
and
Rule 14d-9
promulgated under the Exchange Act (other than any disclosure of
confidential information to third parties prohibited by
Section 5.2(d)) or (ii) disclosing the fact
that the Board of Directors of the Company (acting upon the
prior recommendation of the Special Committee, if it still
exists) has received an Acquisition Proposal and the terms of
such proposal, if the Board of Directors of the Company (acting
through the Special Committee if it still exists) determines,
after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that it is
required to make such disclosure in connection with its
fiduciary duties under applicable Law or to comply with
obligations under the federal securities Laws or NASDAQ or the
rules and regulations of any U.S. securities exchange upon
which the capital stock of the Company is listed;
provided, however, if such statement constitutes a
Change of Board Recommendation, then it shall have the effects
of a Change of Board Recommendation for all purposes under this
Agreement.
(h) The Company shall not take any action to exempt any
Person (other than Parent, Merger Sub and their respective
Affiliates) from the restrictions on business
combinations and the control share
acquisitions contained in Sections 78.411 et seq.
and 78.378 et seq. of Chapter 78 of the Nevada
Revised Statutes (the Corporation Law) (or
any similar provisions of any other Law) or otherwise cause such
restrictions not to apply, unless (i) such actions are
taken simultaneously with a termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or 7.1(i) or
(ii) such Person agrees the exemption of such Person is
limited to permitting such Person to form a group for purposes
of making an Acquisition Proposal without becoming an
interested person for purposes of
Sections 78.423 and 78.3787 of the Corporation Law as a
result of forming such group and further agrees that the group
and its members continue to remain subject to
Sections 78.411 et seq. and 78.378 et seq. of
the Corporation Law for all other purposes.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement,
(i) Acquisition Proposal means any
inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person or group of Persons
other than Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates
relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of a
business that constitutes 20% or more of the net revenues of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or 20% or more
of the Company Securities, any tender offer or exchange offer
that if consummated would result in any Person or group of
Persons beneficially owning 20% or more of the Company
Securities, or any merger, reorganization, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes 20% or more of
the net revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, and, without limiting the foregoing, any of the above
events related to more than 50% of RMI shall further constitute
an Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) Superior
Proposal means any bona fide Acquisition
Proposal (except that reference to 20% for the Company and its
Subsidiaries will be deemed to be reference to more than
50% and 50% for RMI will be deemed to be all of the
RMI Securities held by the Company) that (x) is on
terms that the Board of Directors of the Company (acting upon
the prior recommendation of the Special Committee, if then in
existence) has determined in its good faith judgment (after
consultation with its financial advisor and outside counsel and
after taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and
other aspects of the proposal, including the financing terms
thereof) is more favorable to the Companys stockholders
from a financial point of view than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and (y) which the Board of
Directors of the Company (acting upon the prior recommendation
of the Special Committee, if then in existence) has determined
in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and
outside counsel and after taking into account all legal,
financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal) is
reasonably capable of being consummated (taking into account the
financeability of such proposal).
(j) From and after the Effective Date, Parent and Merger
Sub shall, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause
their Affiliates, not to take any action with the purpose of
restricting competing proposals in a manner that would
materially and adversely affect a Persons ability to make
a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that the
A-47
enforcement of any of Parents or Merger Subs rights
and remedies pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall not
be deemed a breach of this provision.
(k) After consultation with outside counsel, the Board of
Directors of the Company, consistent with the exercise of its
fiduciary duties, shall take such actions consistent with its
obligations under this Agreement, as it deems reasonably
required to assure the integrity of the process contemplated by
this Section 5.2.
Section 5.3 Access
to Information.
(a) Subject to the restrictions imposed by applicable Law,
from and after the date of this Agreement, the Company will, and
will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Subsidiaries
and RMI to, (i) give Parent and Merger Sub and (subject to
the confidentiality agreement reasonably satisfactory to the
Company) their prospective lenders, and their respective
Representatives reasonable access (during regular business hours
upon reasonable notice and with an authorized representative of
the Company present) to all employees, independent contractors,
customers, suppliers, plants, offices, warehouses and other
facilities and to all books, forecasts, contracts, commitments
and records (including Tax Returns) of the Company, its
Subsidiaries and RMI and use reasonable best efforts to cause
the Companys, its Subsidiaries and RMIs
respective Representatives to provide access to their work
papers and such other information as Parent or Merger Sub may
reasonably request, (ii) consent to the use of the
Companys financial statements for purposes of filings with
the SEC pursuant to securities Laws and use reasonable best
efforts to cause the Companys accountants to provide
consents, comfort letters and any other customary deliverables
in connection with any securities offerings, (iii) subject
to the limitations described in clause (i), permit Parent and
Merger Sub, at their sole cost and expense, to make such
inspections as they may reasonably request, including, but not
limited to, environmental inspections that may, in the sole
discretion of Parent, include Phase I and Phase II
Environmental, l Site Assessments, (iv) cause its officers
and those of its Subsidiaries and RMI to furnish Parent and
Merger Sub with such financial and operating data and other
information with respect to the business, properties and
personnel of the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI as Parent or
Merger Sub may from time to time reasonably request and
(v) furnish promptly upon request to Parent and Merger Sub
a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or
received by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI during
such period pursuant to the requirements of the federal or state
securities Laws; provided, however, that any such
access shall be conducted as not to unreasonably interfere with
the operation of the business conducted by the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or RMI.
(b) Information obtained by Parent or Merger Sub pursuant
to Section 5.3(a) shall be subject to the provisions
of the Confidentiality Agreement referenced in clause (i)
of the definition thereof.
(c) Nothing in this Section 5.3 shall require
the Company to permit any inspection, or to disclose any
information, that in the reasonable judgment of the Company
would (i) violate any of its respective contractual
obligations with respect to confidentiality; provided, that the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
consent of such third party to such inspection or disclosure,
(ii) result in a violation of applicable Law or loss of
privilege, taking into account the execution of a joint defense
agreement with Parent and Merger Sub, or (iii) cost the
Company in excess of $25,000, in the aggregate, to produce or
provide.
(d) No investigation by any of the parties or their
respective Representatives shall modify, nullify, amend or
otherwise affect the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of the other parties set forth herein.
Section 5.4 Stockholder
Approval. Unless this Agreement has been
terminated pursuant to Section 7.1, the Company,
acting through its Board of Directors and in accordance with
applicable Law, shall call a meeting of its stockholders (the
Special Meeting) to be held as soon as
reasonably practicable (and in any event within 45 days)
after the SEC clears the Proxy Statement for the purpose of
obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Vote in connection with this
Agreement and the Merger and shall cause the Proxy Statement to
be promptly mailed to the Companys stockholders. Except in
the event of a Change of Board Recommendation specifically
permitted by Section 5.2(e), (a) the Proxy
Statement shall include the Company Board Recommendation,
(b) the Board of Directors of the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain from its stockholders the
Requisite Stockholder Vote in favor of the adoption of this
Agreement, including by retention of a proxy solicitor
reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company and by
resoliciting the vote of the stockholders of the Company
(including, by adjourning or postponing on one occasion, and
subsequently reconvening, the Special Meeting for the purpose of
obtaining such
A-48
vote), and (c) after the Solicitation Period End-Date, the
Board of Directors shall publicly reaffirm the Company Board
Recommendation within 48 hours after any such request by
Parent (which request shall not be made on more than three
occasions).
Section 5.5 Proxy
Statement; Other Filings.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of
this Agreement (and in any event on such date as Parent and
Company mutually agree, not to exceed 50 days after the
date hereof, assuming Parent timely supplies the information
required from it and timely provides reasonable cooperation),
(a) the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC,
subject to the prior review, comment and approval of Parent
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed), the Proxy Statement and (b) each of the
Company and Parent shall, or shall cause their respective
Affiliates to, prepare and file with the SEC all Other Filings
as required by the Exchange Act. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to refuse any stockholder proposal not
properly brought before the Special Meeting, including by
seeking no-action from the SEC; provided, however,
if any stockholder proposal can not be properly excluded from
the Special Meeting, the Company shall prepare a statement of
opposition. Each of the Company and Parent shall promptly obtain
and furnish the information concerning itself and its Affiliates
required to be included in the Proxy Statement and, to the
extent applicable, the Other Filings. Each of the Company and
Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as
promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from
the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings
in order to clear comments received from the SEC. Each party
shall promptly notify the other party upon the receipt of any
comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC
or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy
Statement or the Other Filings and shall provide the other party
with copies of all correspondence between it, on the one hand,
and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand, relating to the
Proxy Statement or the Other Filings. If at any time prior to
the Special Meeting, any information relating to the Company,
Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates,
directors or officers should be discovered by the Company or
Parent, which should be set forth in an amendment or supplement
to the Proxy Statement or the Other Filings so that the Proxy
Statement or the Other Filings 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 are made, not misleading, the party that discovers such
information shall promptly notify the other party, and an
appropriate amendment, supplement or other filing incorporated
by reference into the Proxy Statement describing such
information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent
required by applicable Law, disseminated to the stockholders of
the Company, in each case, as promptly as reasonably
practicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated
above, prior to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement or filing
the Other Filings (or, in each case, any amendment or supplement
thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC or its staff
with respect thereto, the party responsible for filing or
mailing such document shall provide the other party an
opportunity to review and comment on such document or response
and shall include in such document or response comments
reasonably proposed by the other party.
(b) The Company shall cause the Proxy Statement and the
Other Filings, including at the time that the
Proxy Statement is first mailed to the stockholders of the
Company and at the time of the Special Meeting, to not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading, and to comply, in all
material respects, as to form with the provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that
the obligations of the Company contained in this
Section 5.5(b) shall not apply to any information
supplied by Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective
representatives to the Company in writing expressly for purposes
of inclusion in or incorporation by reference in the Proxy
Statement or any Other Filings.
(c) Parent shall cause any information supplied by it or
Merger Sub or any of their respective representatives for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement
and the Other Filings, at the time that the Proxy Statement
is first mailed to the stockholders of the Company and at the
time of the Special Meeting, to 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 the light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading.
A-49
Section 5.6 Reasonable
Best Efforts; Consents and Governmental Approvals; Stockholder
Litigation.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each of the parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action,
to file or cause to be filed, all documents and to do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
applicable Laws to expeditiously consummate and make effective
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all
documentation to effect all necessary filings, consents,
licenses, approvals, authorizations, Permits or orders from
Governmental Entities or other Persons.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing in
Section 5.6(a), each of the Company, Parent and
Merger Sub agrees to (i) use its reasonable best efforts to
make any required submissions under the HSR Act which the
Company or Parent determines should be made with respect to the
Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as
reasonably practicable, but in any event, within 15 Business
Days following the date hereof, and to supply as promptly as
reasonably practicable any additional information and
documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR
Act, and each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall use
its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all
commercially reasonable actions necessary, proper or advisable
consistent with this Section 5.6 to cause the
expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods
under the HSR Act as soon as practicable, and
(ii) cooperate with one another (A) in promptly
determining whether any filings are required to be or should be
made or consents, approvals, Permits or authorizations are
required to be or should be obtained under any other federal,
state or foreign Law (including, but not limited to,
Environmental Laws) or whether any consents, approvals or
waivers are required to be or should be obtained from other
parties to loan agreements or other contracts or instruments
material to the Companys business in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and (B) in promptly making any such filings, furnishing
information required in connection therewith and seeking to
obtain as expeditiously as practicable any such consents,
Permits, authorizations, approvals or waivers. Each of Parent,
Merger Sub and the Company shall promptly inform the other
parties hereto of any material oral, and provide copies of any
written, communication with a Governmental Entity regarding any
such filings or information. No party hereto shall independently
participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental
Entity in respect of any such filings, applications,
investigation, or other inquiry without giving the other parties
hereto prior notice of the meeting and, to the extent permitted
by the relevant Governmental Entity, the opportunity to attend
and participate.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent
from any Person (other than any Governmental Entity) with
respect to the Merger, (i) without the prior written
consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed), none of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall pay or commit to pay to such Person whose
approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other
consideration, make any commitment or incur any liability or
other material obligation due to such Person and
(ii) neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall be required to pay
or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is
being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any
commitment or to incur any liability or other obligation.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Parent, Merger
Sub or any of their respective Affiliates to agree (i) to
limit in any manner whatsoever or not to exercise any rights of
ownership of any securities (including the Shares), or to
divest, dispose of or hold separate any securities or all or a
portion of their respective businesses, assets or properties or
of the business, assets or properties of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI or (ii) to limit in any material
respect the ability of such entities (A) to conduct their
respective businesses or own such assets or properties or to
conduct the businesses or own the properties or assets of the
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI or (B) to control their
respective businesses or operations or the businesses or
operations of the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI.
(e) The Company shall consult and cooperate with Parent in
the defense and shall give Parent the opportunity to participate
in any settlement discussion involving any stockholder
litigation or claim against the Company or its directors or
officers relating to the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated hereby; provided that (i) no such
settlement shall be agreed to without Parents consent
(which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed), and (ii) Parent shall have no obligation to
participate in the defense or settlement of any such stockholder
litigation or claim. In the event any such litigation or claim
is commenced, the Company agrees, at the Companys expense,
to promptly defend against it and respond thereto.
A-50
Section 5.7 Indemnification
and Insurance.
(a) Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to
indemnification existing in favor of the current or former
directors, officers and employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (the Indemnified Persons) as
provided in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or the
articles of organization, bylaws or similar constituent
documents of any of the Companys Subsidiaries or in any
indemnification agreement or arrangement, as in effect as of the
date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring prior
to the Effective Time shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than
six years after the Effective Time unless otherwise required or
not permitted by Law. In addition to and not in limitation of
the foregoing, the Surviving Entity shall, to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable Law, indemnify and hold harmless and
(upon receipt from each such Indemnified Person of a written
undertaking to reimburse the Surviving Entity for such
advancement upon the determination of a court of competent
jurisdiction that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to
indemnification in respect of such threatened or actual claim,
action, suit, demand, notice, proceeding or investigation,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (an
Action)), and advance funds in respect of
each of the foregoing) each Indemnified Person against any fees,
costs or expenses (including advancing reasonable
attorneys fees and expenses in advance of the final
disposition of any claim, suit, proceeding or investigation to
each Indemnified Person to the fullest extent permitted by Law),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
amounts paid in settlement (with the prior written consent of
Parent) in connection with any actual or threatened Action,
arising out of, relating to or in connection with any action or
omission occurring or alleged to have occurred whether before
the Effective Time (including acts or omissions in connection
with such Persons serving as an officer, director or other
fiduciary in any entity if such service was at the request or
for the benefit of the Company and including any acts or
omissions in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby), except for in any case, any claim,
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts to be paid which relate
to any act or omission which constitutes a violation of Law and
except for other exceptions to indemnification that are required
by Law. In the event of any such Action, the Surviving Entity
shall reasonably cooperate with the Indemnified Person in the
defense of any such Action. The Surviving Entity shall have the
right to assume control of and the defense of, any Action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which this
Section 5.7(a) shall apply; provided,
however, that the Surviving Entity shall not be obligated
to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (selected
by a plurality of applicable Indemnified Persons) for all
Indemnified Persons in any jurisdiction with respect to any
single Action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation,
unless the use of one counsel for such Indemnified Persons would
present such counsel with a conflict of interest that would make
such joint representation inappropriate. The Surviving Entity
shall pay all reasonable fees, expenses, including reasonable
attorneys fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified
Person in successfully enforcing the indemnity and other
obligations provided in this Section 5.7(a) if the
Surviving Entity breached its obligations hereunder.
(b) The Company shall purchase on or prior to the Effective
Time, and the Surviving Entity shall maintain with reputable and
financially sound carriers, tail policies to the current
directors and officers liability insurance and
fiduciaries liability insurance policies maintained on the date
of this Agreement by the Company and its Subsidiaries, which
tail policies and fiduciaries liability policies (i) shall
be effective for a period from the Effective Time through and
including the date six years after the Closing Date with respect
to claims arising from facts or events that existed or occurred
prior to or at the Effective Time and (ii) shall contain
coverage that is at least as protective to the Persons covered
by such existing policies (a complete and accurate copy of which
has been made available to Parent) and shall in any event
include nonmanagement directors Side A (DIC) coverage. The
Surviving Entity shall provide copies of such policies to the
past, current and future directors and officers of the Company
entitled to the benefit thereof as reasonably requested by such
persons from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
coverage described above cannot be obtained or can only be
obtained by paying aggregate premiums in excess of 200% of the
aggregate annual amount currently paid by the Company for such
coverage, the Surviving Entity shall only be required to provide
as much coverage as can be obtained by paying aggregate premiums
equal to 200% of the aggregate amount currently paid by the
Company for such coverage. The Surviving Entity may substitute
an alternative for the tail policies that affords, in the
aggregate, no less favorable protection to such officers and
directors; provided, that any such alternative is
approved by the Companys Board of Directors prior to the
Effective Time (which approval may be withheld in its reasonable
discretion).
A-51
(c) This Section 5.7 shall survive the
consummation of the Merger and is intended to benefit, and shall
be enforceable by each Indemnified Person (notwithstanding that
such Persons are not parties to this Agreement) and their
respective heirs and legal representatives. The indemnification
provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which an Indemnified Person is entitled, whether
pursuant to Law, contract or otherwise.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any
claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether
arising before, at or after the Effective Time) is made against
any Indemnified Person on or prior to the sixth anniversary of
the Effective Time, the provisions of this
Section 5.7 shall continue in effect until the
final, non-appealable disposition of such claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation.
(e) In the event that the Surviving Entity, Parent or any
of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates
with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or
substantially all of its properties and assets to any person,
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so
that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Entity or
Parent, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set
forth in this Section 5.7.
(f) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be
construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to
directors and officers insurance claims under any
policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective officers,
directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the
indemnification provided for in this Section 5.7 is
not prior to or in substitution for any such claims under any
such policies, provided, that for avoidance of doubt,
neither Parent nor the Surviving Entity shall be required to
make any payments thereunder or in connection therewith.
Section 5.8 Employee
Matters.
(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will, and will
cause its Subsidiaries to, honor, in accordance with their
terms, all Plans.
(b) Parent will cause the Surviving Entity to give credit
for all service rendered by the individuals employed by the
Company and its Subsidiaries at the Effective Time (including
employees who are not actively at work on account of illness,
disability or leave of absence (the Current
Employees) prior to the Effective Time for vesting and
eligibility purposes (but not for benefit accrual purposes,
except for vacation and severance, if applicable) under employee
benefit plans of the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries, to
the same extent as such service was taken into account under the
corresponding Plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries for
those purposes. Nothing in this Section 5.8 shall
limit the right of Parent, the Surviving Entity or any of their
Subsidiaries to terminate the employment of any Current Employee
at any time. Furthermore, nothing in this Agreement shall
obligate Parent or the Surviving Entity to maintain any Plan, or
any employee benefit, severance or compensation plan or
arrangement of Parent or the Surviving Entity, nor shall this
Agreement limit the authority and ability of Parent
and/or the
Surviving Entity to amend, in whole or in part, any Plan or any
employee benefit or compensation plan or arrangement of Parent
or the Surviving Entity at any time.
(c) No later than two Business Days prior to its
distribution, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall provide
Parent and Merger Sub with a copy of any communication intended
to be made to any of their respective employees relating to the
transactions contemplated hereby, and will provide an
opportunity for Parent and Merger Sub to make reasonable
revisions thereto.
(d) This Section 5.8 shall be binding upon and
inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this
Agreement, and nothing in this Section 5.8, express
or implied, is intended to confer upon any other Person,
including, without limitation, the Current Employees, any rights
or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Section 5.8.
Section 5.9 Takeover
Laws. The Company shall take all reasonable
steps to exclude the applicability of, or to assist at the
Companys cost and expense in any challenge to the validity
or applicability to the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement of, any Takeover Laws as such
relate to the Company or RMI.
Section 5.10 Notification
of Certain Matters. The Company shall give
prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to
the Company, of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event,
which is likely to result
A-52
in the failure of a condition set forth in
Article VI; provided, however, that
the delivery of any notice pursuant to this
Section 5.10 shall not limit or otherwise affect the
remedies available hereunder to any of the parties receiving
such notice.
Section 5.11 Financing.
(a) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries and RMI to, and shall cause its and their
respective Representatives to, provide to Parent and Merger Sub
all cooperation reasonably requested by Parent that is
necessary, proper or advisable in connection with the financing
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
Financing), including (i) participation
in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, due diligence
sessions and sessions with rating agencies, (ii) assisting
with the preparation of materials for rating agency
presentations, offering documents, bank information memoranda
and similar documents required in connection with the Financing,
including execution and delivery of customary representation
letters reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Company in connection with bank information memoranda,
(iii) as promptly as reasonably practical, furnishing
Parent and its Financing sources with financial and other
information regarding the Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI as
may be reasonably requested by Parent, (iv) using
reasonable best efforts to obtain appraisals, surveys,
engineering reports, title insurance and other documentation and
items relating to the Financing as reasonably requested by
Parent and, if requested by Parent or Merger Sub, to reasonably
cooperate with and assist Parent or Merger Sub in obtaining such
documentation and items, (v) using reasonable best efforts
to execute and deliver any pledge and security documents, other
definitive financing documents, or other certificates, or
documents as may be reasonably requested by Parent (including a
certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company with
respect to solvency matters) and otherwise reasonably
facilitating the pledging of collateral (including cooperation
in connection with the pay off of existing indebtedness and the
release of related Liens, if any), provided, that no
obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under such
executed documents shall be effective until the Effective Time,
(vi) taking all actions necessary to (A) permit the
prospective Financing sources to evaluate the Companys,
its Subsidiaries and RMIs current assets, cash management
and accounting systems, policies and procedures relating thereto
for the purposes of establishing collateral arrangements and
(B) establish bank and other accounts in connection with
the foregoing and (vii) using reasonable best efforts to
obtain waivers, consents, estoppels and approvals from other
parties to Leases, Liens and Material Contracts to which the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI is a party and to
arrange discussions among Parent, Merger Sub and their financing
sources with other parties to Leases, Liens and Material
Contracts; it being understood that the Company shall have
satisfied each of its obligations set forth in clauses (i)
through (vii) of this sentence if the Company shall have
used its reasonable best efforts to comply with such obligations
whether or not any applicable deliverables are actually obtained
or provided. The Company hereby consents to the use of its and
its Subsidiaries logos, and shall cause RMI to consent to
the use of its logos, as may be reasonably necessary in
connection with the Financing; provided, that such logos
are used solely in a manner that is not intended to nor
reasonably likely to harm or disparage the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI or the reputation or goodwill of the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI and its or their marks.
As of the date of this Agreement, the Company believes that it
will be able to satisfy on a timely basis the terms and
conditions to be satisfied by it in this
Section 5.11(a). Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 5.11(a) to the contrary, other than
pursuant to Section 7.4 and subject to the
limitations thereof, neither the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI shall be required to pay any commitment fee
or similar fee or incur any liability with respect to the
Financing. Parent and Merger Sub hereby agree and acknowledge
that the Financing does not constitute a condition to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Nothing contained in this Section 5.11(a) or
otherwise shall require the Company to be an issuer or other
obligor with respect to the Financing prior to the Closing.
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary or advisable to obtain the funds
necessary to comply with Section 4.5 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall
require the Board of Directors of the Company to take any action
to approve any third party financing provided in connection with
the Merger.
Section 5.12 Subsequent
Filings. Until the Effective Time, the
Company will use reasonable best efforts to timely file with the
SEC each form, report and document required to be filed by the
Company under the Exchange Act, and will use reasonable best
efforts to cause RMI to timely file with the SEC each form,
report and document required to be filed by RMI under the
Exchange Act. As of their respective dates, none of such reports
shall contain
A-53
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and shall comply, in all
material respects, as to form with the provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder. The Company further covenants that,
until the Effective Time, before filing any form, report or
document with the SEC, or before issuing a public press release
or announcement, the Company will provide Parent with a copy of
each such form, report, document, release or announcement
proposed to be filed at least three days prior to the filing
thereof with the SEC (or at least one day prior in the case of
any current report on
Form 8-K
or any press release or announcement) and shall consider
accommodating any reasonable comments made by Parent. Except as
set forth in Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the audited consolidated financial statements and
unaudited interim financial statements of the Company included
in such reports shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis and shall fairly present, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended.
Section 5.13 Press
Releases. Each of the Company, Parent and
Merger Sub agrees that no public release or announcement
concerning the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued
by any party without the prior written consent of the Company
and Parent (which consents of the Company and Parent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as such release or
announcement may be required by Law or the rules or regulations
of any applicable United States securities exchange or
regulatory or governmental body to which the relevant party is
subject, wherever situated, in which case the party required to
make the release or announcement shall use its reasonable best
efforts to allow each other party reasonable time to comment on
such release or announcement in advance of such issuance, it
being understood that the final form and content of any such
release or announcement, to the extent so required, shall be at
the final discretion of the disclosing party; provided, however,
that the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.13
shall not apply to any release or announcement made or proposed
to be made by the Company pursuant to and in compliance with
Section 5.2.
Section 5.14 Resignation
of Directors. Prior to the Effective Time,
the Company will cause each member of its Board of Directors to
execute and deliver a letter, which will not be revoked or
amended prior to the Effective Time, effectuating his
resignation as a director of the Company effective at the
Effective Time.
Section 5.15 Rule 16b-3. Prior
to the Effective Time, the Company may take such actions as may
be necessary to cause dispositions of equity securities of the
Company (including derivative securities) pursuant to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any officer or
director of the Company who is subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act to be exempt under
Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchanges Act in accordance with the
procedures set forth in such
Rule 16b-3
and the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP SEC
No-Action Letter (January 12, 1999).
Section 5.16 Company
Rights Agreement. The Board of Directors of
the Company shall take all action necessary or desirable
(including amending the Company Rights Agreement) in order to
render such Company rights inapplicable to the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except in
connection with the foregoing sentence or in connection with a
Superior Proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company shall
not, without the prior written consent of Parent, (a) amend
the Company Rights Agreement or (b) take any action with
respect to, or make any determination under, the Company Rights
Agreement, in each case in order to facilitate any Acquisition
Proposal with respect to the Company.
Section 5.17 Voting
of RMI Shares. Prior to the earlier of the
Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.1, and other than as set forth in the last
sentence of this Section 5.17 or in connection with
voting in favor of the current slate of directors and
independent auditors set forth in RMIs definitive proxy
statement with respect to its 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 25, 2008, the
Company shall not vote, or give written or other consent with
respect to any shares of the capital stock of RMI which it or
any of its Subsidiaries holds or has the right to exercise
voting control over, other than pursuant to the written
instructions of Parent. The Company shall promptly notify Parent
(and promptly provide Parent with any written materials, in any
event within two Business Days) of the setting of a record date
for the taking of any vote by the holders of capital stock of
RMI or of the receipt of any written consent of the holders of
the capital stock of RMI. The Company shall vote, or give
written or other consent with respect to, all shares of the
capital stock of RMI which
A-54
it or any of its Subsidiaries holds or has the right to exercise
voting control over, in favor of any action necessary for the
Company to comply with its obligations and covenants contained
in this Agreement.
Section 5.18 Environmental
Matters. Prior to the Closing Date, the
Company and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause RMI to, use
their reasonable best efforts to promptly resolve and redress
any non-compliance with, or deficiencies with respect to, any
Environmental Laws and Permit requirements arising from the
operations of the businesses or ownership of real property. The
Company and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause RMI to, use
their reasonable best efforts to satisfy all pre-closing
notification, transfer,
and/or
re-application and re-issuance requirements, if any, to ensure
that their business is covered on the Closing Date by all
issued, pending and applied-for Permits, including without
limitation the Permits identified on Section 3.13(b)
of the Company Disclosure Letter and the Permits secured or
obtained pursuant to Sections 5.18,
6.2(f)(ii) and 6.2(o) of this Agreement. Unless it
is clear to both parties that nothing is required, the Company,
its Subsidiaries and Parent shall together (unless the Company
and its Subsidiaries elect not to participate) contact the
applicable Governmental Entities to determine the applicable
requirements that must be met to ensure coverage by the business
after the Closing Date under all issued, pending and applied-for
Permits. The Company shall cooperate with all reasonable
requests of Parent in connection with the foregoing and shall
keep Parent reasonably well informed of its efforts hereunder.
The parties recognize that they may disagree as to whether a
particular matter constitutes non-compliance or a deficiency.
Within 20 days of execution of this Agreement, Parent shall
provide to the Company a letter identifying the non-compliance
issues and deficiencies that it expects the Company, its
Subsidiaries and RMI to use their reasonable best efforts to
promptly resolve and redress, provided, however,
that this list may be amended at any time prior to the Closing
Date by Parent to include any additional issues or deficiencies.
Within 20 days of receipt of such letter (and, if
applicable, 20 days of receipt of any amendments thereto),
the Company
and/or its
Subsidiaries shall provide to Parent a proposed timeline for
resolution of the issues and deficiencies that they will use
reasonable best efforts to promptly address and also indicate
the issues that they believe do not constitute a compliance
issue or deficiency, with written support therefor. Within three
Business Days following receipt by Parent of such written
notice, the parties shall then confer between themselves,
and/or
through their consultants, in an attempt to reach agreement on
the matter. If no agreement is reached between the parties
within such three Business Day period, then within 15 Business
Days thereafter the Company
and/or its
Subsidiary shall communicate with the applicable Governmental
Entity, using a method (e.g., writing, telephone, face-to-face,
or email) in the Companys reasonable discretion. Parent
shall be entitled to prior review and comment on any such
written communications, and Parents comments, to the
extent reasonably necessary to clarify and address the issue in
question, shall be incorporated into the written communications
with the applicable Governmental Entity by Parent. Parent shall
also be entitled to listen in on and be introduced in all other
related direct communications with the applicable Governmental
Entity regarding the resolution of such issues, provided,
however, that if Parents concerns are not
adequately addressed during such conversations, the parties
shall again promptly contact the Governmental Entity and the
Company
and/or its
Subsidiary shall use reasonable best efforts to resolve the
outstanding concern of Parent. All communications with the
applicable Governmental Entity shall describe the condition or
circumstance in sufficient detail for the Governmental Entity to
determine if the Company is required to take any action to
resolve or redress the applicable matter. If prior to Closing
the Governmental Entity determines that the issue must be
resolved or redressed pursuant to Environmental Laws or Permits
and communicates the same to the Company, the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause RMI to, promptly commence
reasonable best efforts to accomplish such resolution or redress
in accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 5.19 Real
Estate Matters. Prior to the Closing Date,
the Company and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause RMI to,
use their reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain the
following documentation for Parent:
(a) An estoppel certificate from each landlord, lessor,
sublessor, or third party tenant of Immaterial Leased Real
Property (other than any Immaterial Leased Real Property leased
or licensed from any Governmental Entity), if applicable, in
form and substance substantially similar to the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A or in any form proposed by such
landlord, lessor, sublessor or third party tenant confirming the
same;
(b) A SNDA with each lender holding a Lien on any Leased
Real Property (other than any Leased Real Property leased or
licensed from any Governmental Entity) (or underlying fee
interests), in form and substance substantially similar to the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B or in any form
proposed by such lender so long as such proposed form protects
the leasehold estate held by the Company, one of its
Subsidiaries, or RMI by
A-55
agreeing, in the event of a foreclosure or third party sale in
lieu of foreclosure by such lender, not to disturb the
Companys, one of its Subsidiarys, or RMIs
occupancy and use thereof so long as such entity is not in
default beyond all applicable cure periods pursuant to the terms
of such Lease;
(c) A collateral access agreement with each landlord,
lessor, or sublessor of Leased Real Property as may be requested
by Parent or Merger Subs lender(s), in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Parents or Merger Subs
lender(s).
Section 5.20 Additional
Consents and Releases. Prior to the Closing
Date, (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall
cause RMI to, use their reasonable best efforts to obtain all
consents or waivers necessary to effect a change in ownership or
control of the common stock of RMI held by the Company and to
avoid any violation, conflict, breach, termination,
cancellation, modification or acceleration of any agreement in
connection therewith, including with respect to each of the
agreements set forth on Section 5.20(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter and (b) the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain a
release of any and all Liens that may exist on the common stock
of RMI established by that certain Stock Pledge Agreement,
executed as of December 14th, 16th and 18th, 2005, in
favor of Arch Insurance Company.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
Section 6.1 Conditions to Each
Partys Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligations of the
parties to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This
Agreement shall have been duly adopted by the Requisite
Stockholder Vote in accordance with applicable Laws and the
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
(b) No Injunctions or Restraints;
Illegality. No order, injunction or decree
issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction
preventing, restraining or rendering illegal the consummation of
the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in effect.
(c) HSR Act. Any waiting period
under the HSR Act applicable to the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have expired
or early termination thereof shall have been granted.
Section 6.2 Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The
obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger and
otherwise consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is
also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in writing by
Parent, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Article III
shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any
materiality or Material Adverse Effect
qualifications contained therein), except for such failures to
be true and correct as could not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, in
each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
Date as though made as of such date, except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date (in which case the truth and correctness of such
representations and warranties shall be measured on and as of
such earlier date); provided, however, that the
representations and warranties contained in
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.8
shall be true and correct in all material respects (without
giving effect to any materiality or Material
Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein), in each
case, as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the
Closing.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the
Company. The Company shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.
Furthermore, with respect to any obligation pursuant to which
the Company is obligated to cause RMI to perform in a particular
manner, RMI shall have actually performed in that particular
manner in all material respects at or prior to the Effective
Time.
A-56
(c) Officers
Certificate. Parent shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer certifying as
to the matters set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and
6.2(b).
(d) Absence of Material Adverse
Effect. Since the date of this Agreement,
there shall not have occurred any event, change, effect,
development, condition or occurrence that has had or could
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Real Estate Deliveries.
(i) Parent shall have received all of the following:
(A) An estoppel certificate from each landlord, lessor,
sublessor, or third party tenant of Material Leased Real
Property (other than any Material Leased Real Property leased or
licensed from any Governmental Entity), if applicable, in form
and substance substantially similar to the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A or in any form proposed by such
landlord, lessor, sublessor or third party tenant confirming the
same;
(B) any and all consents, approvals or authorizations
required to be obtained pursuant to the terms of any Lease of
Leased Real Property;
(C) any and all documentation reasonably required by the
title company issuing title insurance for the Owned Real
Property or Material Leased Real Property (other than any Leased
Real Property leased or licensed from any Governmental Entity),
including, without limitation, any and all owners
affidavits, memoranda of lease (such memoranda of lease to be in
form and substance substantially similar to the form attached
hereto as Exhibit C or in any form proposed by any
lessor or sublessor so long as such form satisfies the title
companys reasonable requirements), affidavits of
non-foreign status, GAP affidavits, survey certifications, tax
affidavits, certificates of good standing and due authorization
and articles of incorporation, and any other documentation
reasonably required by the title company to remove the standard
exceptions from each title policy or add any endorsements to
such title policies as reasonably requested by Parent or Merger
Sub; and
(D) a collateral access agreement with each landlord,
lessor, or sublessor of the Leased Real Properties located at
731 North 19th Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, 39353 North
Schnepf Road in Queen Creek, Arizona, and Yards 8 & 9
located in Las Vegas, Nevada, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to Parents or Merger Subs lender(s).
(f) Consents. (i) The Company
shall have obtained written consent to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and waivers of all
rights to terminate and impose other conditions, in each case in
connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, with respect to the agreements
set forth in Section 6.2(f)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, which consents shall be, in the aggregate,
without any material adverse change in any terms of the
underlying agreements or any material cost; and (ii) the
Company shall have obtained all consents, licenses, approvals,
authorizations, Permits or orders from all Governmental
Entities, each as set forth in Section 6.2(f)(ii) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, with the same being in full force
and effect, so as to permit the Surviving Entity and its
subsidiaries to legally operate their business, in all material
respects, consistent with the Companys, its Subsidiaries
and RMIs past practices following the Effective Time.
(g) Employment Agreements. On or
prior to the Closing Date, the Company and each of the persons
listed on
Section 6.2(g)-1
of the Company Disclosure Letter shall have executed and
delivered to the Company a waiver, waiving such persons
rights to any change of control, severance or similar payments
that could otherwise be due and owing as a result of the closing
of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(h) Warrants. There shall be no
outstanding warrants or other rights for the purchase of any
shares of the capital stock of the Company.
(i) Bonding Capacity. The
Companys and its Subsidiaries Bonding Capacity shall
be at least $200.0 million in the aggregate and at least
$50.0 million for any individual engagement, and the
Companys
A-57
Bonding Arrangements, Bonding Capacity, Bonds and the terms
thereof shall not be on terms that are substantially different,
in any adverse manner, than the terms that existed on the date
hereof (and no notice has been given or, to the Companys
knowledge, no intent has been expressed, by the applicable
Surety that could reasonably be expected to result in the same).
(j) Backlog. The combined gross
revenue on all projects constituting Backlog as of the Closing
Date shall be projected, in good faith, to be at least
$112.5 million.
(k) Minimum Book Value. The
Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI, on a consolidated basis,
shall have a minimum book value (assets less each of intangible
assets, minority interest and liabilities, including mezzanine
financing), determined in accordance with GAAP, of
$31.0 million.
(l) EBIT. The Company shall have
EBIT during the twelve full calendar months immediately
preceding the Effective Time of no less than $5.5 million.
RMI shall have EBIT during the twelve full calendar months
immediately preceding the Effective Time of no less than
negative $4.0 million.
(m) Indebtedness. The Company
shall have received pay-off letters effective on and for a
period of five Business Days after the Closing Date, in a form
reasonably acceptable to the lenders providing the Financing,
with respect to the notes payable, credit facilities and
financings listed on Section 6.2(m) of the Company
Disclosure Letter and any additional indebtedness of the Company
and its Subsidiaries other than accounts payable, including, but
not limited to, indebtedness for borrowed money (including
mezzanine financing), notes payable, capital lease obligations,
deferred purchase price contracts, conditional sale arrangements
and credit facilities.
(n) Pledge, Guarantee and
Liens. The Company shall have terminated, and
be released from, that certain Stock Pledge Agreement, dated as
of November 19, 2005, in favor of The CIT Group/Equipment
Financing, Inc. and all RMI Common Shares owned by the Company
shall be free and clear of any Liens except for the Lien
established by that certain Stock Pledge Agreement, executed as
of December 14th, 16th and 18th, 2005, in favor of
Arch Insurance Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall
be released as guarantors, grantors, co-borrowers
and/or
pledgors with respect to any and all indebtedness or other
obligations of RMI and shall have procured the release of any
Liens on their respective assets granted in connection therewith.
(o) Environmental Permits, Registrations, Notices and
Plans. The Company, its Subsidiaries and RMI
shall obtain, secure and resolve, as applicable, the issues,
conditions and deficiencies identified in
Section 6.2(o) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(p) RMI Capital Stock. The Company
will continue to own 2,645,212 RMI Common Shares, which will
constitute at least 66% of the RMI Common Shares outstanding on
a fully diluted basis and no shares of Preferred Stock of RMI
shall be issued or outstanding on a fully diluted basis.
Section 6.3 Conditions
to Obligations of the Company. The obligation
of the Company to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby is also subject to the
satisfaction or waiver in writing by the Company at or prior to
the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement
shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any
materiality qualifications contained therein),
except for such failures to be true and correct as could not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, in each case as of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though
made as of such date, except to the extent such representations
and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which
case such representations and warranties shall be true and
correct on and as of such earlier date).
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub. Parent and Merger Sub shall have
performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the
Effective Time.
A-58
(c) Payment. Parent shall have
caused to be deposited with the Paying Agent cash in an
aggregate amount sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration to
holders of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
(d) Officers
Certificate. The Company shall have received
a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by a duly authorized
officer certifying as to the matters set forth in
Sections 6.3(a) and 6.3(b).
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION;
AMENDMENT; WAIVER
Section 7.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at
any time (notwithstanding approval thereof by the Requisite
Stockholder Vote) prior to the Effective Time (with any
termination by Parent also being an effective termination by
Merger Sub):
(a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;
(b) by either the Company or Parent if (i) any court
of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity shall
have issued an order, injunction or decree, or taken any other
action preventing, restraining, rendering illegal or otherwise
prohibiting any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and such order, injunction or decree or other action
shall have become final and non-appealable or (ii) any
Governmental Entity shall have finally and non-appealably
declined to grant any of the approvals of any Governmental
Entity the receipt of which is necessary to satisfy the
condition set forth in Section 6.1(c), if
applicable, or Section 6.2(f)(ii); provided,
that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 7.1(b) shall have used its reasonable
best efforts to contest, appeal and remove such order, decree,
ruling or action in accordance with Section 5.6 and
provided, further that only Parent shall have the
right to terminate in accordance with a failure related to
Section 6.2(f)(ii);
(c) by either the Company or Parent if the Merger shall not
have been consummated on or before December 31, 2008 (the
Outside Date) unless the failure of the
Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the
party seeking to terminate this Agreement to (i) perform or
comply in all material respects with the covenants and
agreements of such party set forth in this Agreement or
(ii) fulfill, as a result of such partys breach or
default of the terms hereof, the conditions set forth in
Section 6.2, with respect to an attempted
termination by the Company, or Section 6.3, with
respect to an attempted termination by Parent; provided,
however, that if all of the conditions to the Closing set
forth in Article VI shall be satisfied on or prior
to the Outside Date (other than conditions with respect to
actions the respective parties will take at the Closing itself,
provided that such conditions are capable of being
satisfied) other than those set forth in
Section 6.1(c), if applicable, and
Section 6.2(f)(ii), then the Outside Date may be
extended at the sole election of Parent to a date not later than
January 31, 2009 and such date shall thereafter be the
Outside Date for all purposes hereof;
(d) by either the Company or Parent if the Special Meeting
shall have been convened and a vote with respect to the adoption
of this Agreement by the Requisite Stockholder Vote shall not
have been obtained (unless the Special Meeting is adjourned or
postponed to vote on the Merger at a subsequent date, which in
any event shall not be later than five days prior to the Outside
Date);
(e) by the Company if there shall have been a breach of any
of the covenants or agreements or a failure to be true of any of
the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on
the part of Parent or Merger Sub, which breach or failure to be
true, either individually or in the aggregate and, in the case
of the representations and warranties, measured on the date of
this Agreement or, if provided herein, as of any subsequent date
(as if made on such date), would reasonably be expected to
result in, if occurring or continuing at the Effective Time, the
failure of the conditions set forth in (a)
Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) and which is not
cured within the earlier of (i) the Outside Date and
(ii) 30 days following written notice to the party
committing such breach, or which by its nature or timing cannot
be cured within such time period or (b) 6.3(c) which is not
cured by the Outside Date; provided, that the Company
shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement
A-59
pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) if the Company is
then in material breach of any of its covenants or agreements
contained in this Agreement;
(f) by Parent if there shall have been a breach of any of
the covenants or agreements or a failure to be true of any of
the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on
the part of the Company (except the covenants and agreements in
Sections 5.2 and 5.4), which breach or
failure to be true, either individually or in the aggregate and,
in the case of the representations and warranties, measured on
the date of this Agreement or, if provided herein, as of any
subsequent date (as if made on such date), would result in, if
occurring or continuing at the Effective Time, the failure of
any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)
or 6.2(b), and which is not cured within the earlier
of (i) the Outside Date and (ii) 30 days
following written notice to the party committing such breach, or
which by its nature or timing cannot be cured within such time
period; provided, that Parent shall not have the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 7.1(f) if Parent or Merger Sub is then in
material breach of any of its covenants or agreements contained
in this Agreement;
(g) by Parent if (i) a Change of Board Recommendation
shall have occurred, (ii) the Company or its Board of
Directors (or any committee thereof) shall (A) approve,
adopt or recommend any Acquisition Proposal or (B) approve
or recommend, or enter into or allow the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into, a letter of intent, agreement in
principle or definitive agreement for an Acquisition Proposal,
(iii) within 48 hours of a request by Parent for the
Company to reaffirm the Company Board Recommendation following
the date of any disclosure contemplated by
Section 5.2(g) or the date any Acquisition Proposal
or any material modification thereto is first published or sent
or given to the stockholders of the Company, the Company fails
to issue a press release that reaffirms the Company Board
Recommendation, (iv) the Company shall have breached, in
any material respect, any of its obligations under
Section 5.2 or 5.4, (v) the Company
shall have failed to include in the Proxy Statement distributed
to stockholders the Company Board Recommendation, or
(vi) the Company or its Board of Directors (or any
committee thereof) shall authorize or publicly propose any of
the foregoing;
(h) by Parent if since the date of this Agreement, there
shall have been an event, change, effect, development, condition
or occurrence that has had or could reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect that cannot reasonably be expected to be cured by the
Outside Date;
(i) by the Company at any time prior to receipt of the
Requisite Stockholder Vote in accordance with and subject to the
terms and conditions of Section 5.2(e);
provided that the Company shall promptly (and in any
event within 24 hours) after such termination enter into
the Alternative Acquisition Agreement; or
(j) by the Company if all of the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1 and 6.2 have been satisfied and
Parent has failed to consummate the Merger no later than ten
days after the written demand by the Company.
Section 7.2 Written
Notice of Termination. The party desiring to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to clause (b), (c), (d), (e),
(f), (g), (h), (i), or (j) of Section 7.1 shall
give written notice of such termination to the other party in
accordance with Section 8.5, specifying the
provision or provisions hereof pursuant to which such
termination is effected.
Section 7.3 Effect
of Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated and the Merger is abandoned pursuant to
Section 7.1, this Agreement, except for the
provisions of Sections 5.2, 5.3(b),
7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and Article VIII,
shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any
liability on the part of any party or its directors, officers,
stockholders, managers, members or Affiliates.
Section 7.4 Fees
and Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the Merger is consummated, except as
otherwise specifically provided herein, including, without
limitation, pursuant to clause (b) below, all costs and
Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the
party incurring such Expenses; provided, however,
that the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Company
shall pay all filing fees required in connection with the
matters set out in Section 6.1(c).
A-60
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing;
(i) if
(A) either Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(d), and the Company enters
into a definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition
Proposal within twelve months after the termination of this
Agreement, or
(B) either Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(c), and, at the time of such
termination, the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1 and 6.3 have been satisfied but
the Company shall have failed to take all actions on its part
necessary to consummate the Merger, or
(C) Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to
Section 7.1(f), then, in the case of clauses (i)(A),
(i)(B) and (i)(C) of this Section 7.4(b), the
Company shall pay to Parent, as Parents sole and exclusive
remedy, as liquidated damages, the Superior Fee by wire transfer
of same day funds, (I) with respect to the event set forth
in clause (i)(A), promptly (an in any event within two Business
Days following such event) following the execution of a
definitive agreement in respect of the Acquisition Proposal and;
(II) with respect to the events set forth in clause (i)(B)
and (i)(C), on the Business Day immediately following the date
of termination.
(ii) If (A) Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant
to Section 7.1(g) or (B) the Company terminates
this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(i), then the
Company shall pay to Parent, as Parents sole and exclusive
remedy, as liquidated damages, simultaneously with (in the case
of termination by the Company pursuant to subclause (B) of
this Section 7.4(b)(ii)) or within two Business Days
after (in the case of termination by Parent pursuant to
subclause (A) of this Section 7.4(b)(ii)) such
termination, the Superior Fee (provided, that if such
termination is pursuant to clause (A) or clause (B)
above and such termination occurs prior to the Solicitation
Period End-Date and relates to a Superior Proposal from an
Excluded Party, then such payment shall instead be in the amount
of the Company Breakup Fee).
(iii) Unless a larger amount is due and owing pursuant to
this Agreement, in the event this Agreement is terminated for
any reason other than solely pursuant to
Section 7.1(e) or 7.1(j), as Parents
sole and exclusive remedy, the Company shall pay to Parent an
amount equal to $500,000 plus all of Parents reasonable
and documented Expenses; it being understood and agreed that, as
a matter of clarification, in the event that this Agreement is
terminated solely and exclusively as a result of a failure of
the Company to satisfy the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.2(d) through 6.2(p), inclusive,
where such failure does not also constitute a breach of any of
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained herein, then this Section 7.4(b)(iii)
shall apply (it being further understood and agreed that, for
purposes of this Section 7.4(b)(iii) only, if the
failure of the Company to satisfy the condition set forth in
Section 6.2(i) is solely and exclusively as a result
of an event, change, effect, development, condition or
occurrence that is unrelated to the business, results of
operations or financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and RMI, and such failure does not also constitute
a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
contained herein other than the corresponding provisions of
Section 3.27, then this
Section 7.4(b)(iii) shall also apply).
(c) Company Breakup
Fee means an amount in cash equal to the sum
of (i) 2.50% of the aggregate Merger Consideration, plus
(ii) Parents and Merger Subs documented
Expenses, which Company Breakup Fee shall be paid (when due and
owing) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
account or accounts designated by Parent.
(d) Superior Fee means an
amount in cash equal to the sum of (i) 4.50% of the
aggregate Merger Consideration, plus (ii) Parents and
Merger Subs documented Expenses, which Superior Fee shall
be paid (when due and owing) by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the account or accounts designated by Parent.
(e) Expenses means all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including all fees and
expenses of financing sources, counsel, accountants, investment
bankers, experts and consultants to a party hereto and its
Affiliates) actually incurred or payable by a party or on its
behalf in connection with or related to the diligence,
authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, defense and
performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby; provided, however, in no event shall the fees and
expenses of financing sources exceed $500,000.
(f) The Company shall be entitled as its sole and exclusive
remedy to liquidated damages in the amount of the sum of 2.50%
of the aggregate Merger Consideration plus the Companys
documented reasonable out-of-pocket
A-61
expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel,
accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a
party hereto and its Affiliates) actually incurred or payable by
a party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the
authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, defense and
performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby (excluding such expenses incurred during the go shop
period and any other expenses unrelated to Parent and Merger
Sub) and reimbursement of the filing fees paid by the Company in
connection with the matter referenced in
Section 6.1(c) (Breach Fee). The
Breach Fee is payable if the Company terminates this Agreement:
(i) pursuant to Section 7.1(c), and at the time
of such termination, the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1 and 6.2 have been satisfied but
Parent has failed to take all necessary action on its part to
consummate the Merger, (ii) pursuant to
Section 7.1(e) or (iii) otherwise in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, and Parent or Merger Sub have
breached any of the terms of this Agreement such that they do
not satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 6.3
thereby causing the Closing not to be effected by the Outside
Date. The Breach Fee shall be payable within five Business Days
after the date of the termination of this Agreement by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account
designated in writing by the Company.
(g) Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges
that the agreements contained in this Section 7.4
are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and that none of the Company Breakup Fee, the Superior
Fee, the Breach Fee or any Expenses payable hereunder is a
penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount
that will compensate such party for the efforts and resources
expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating this
Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the
expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate
with precision. In the event that the Company shall fail to pay
the Company Breakup Fee, Superior Fee or Parents Expenses
or Parent and Merger Sub shall fail to pay the Breach Fee when
due, the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger Sub on
the other shall also reimburse the other party for all
reasonable Expenses actually incurred or accrued by such other
party (including reasonable Expenses of counsel) in connection
with the collection under and enforcement of this
Section 7.4. The parties hereto agree and
understand that in no event shall the applicable party be
required to pay (i) either the Company Breakup Fee, the
Superior Fee, the Breach Fee or applicable Expenses on more than
one occasion or (ii) both the Company Breakup Fee and the
Superior Fee. The parties agree that any payment of the Superior
Fee, the Company Breakup Fee, the Breach Fee and Parents
Expenses, as the case may be, shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy available to Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and
the Company, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, and, upon payment of
the applicable amount, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, as
the case may be, shall have no further liability to the other
parties hereunder.
(h) Each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges
and agrees that in no event whatsoever shall either Parent or
Merger Sub on the one hand, or the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or RMI on the other hand, be liable for any
indirect, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages.
Section 7.5 Amendment. To
the extent permitted by applicable Law, this Agreement may be
amended by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, at any time
before or after adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders
of the Company but, after any such stockholder approval, no
amendment shall be made that by Law requires further approval of
the stockholders of the Company. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented or otherwise modified except by
an instrument in writing signed on behalf of all of the parties.
Section 7.6 Extension;
Waiver; Remedies.
(a) At any time prior to the Effective Time, each party
hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any
of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties contained herein by any other applicable party or in
any document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto
by any other applicable party or (iii) waive compliance by
any party with any of the agreements or conditions contained
herein. Any agreement on the part of any party to any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party and shall
only relate to the specific matter waived.
(b) The failure of any party hereto to exercise any rights,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement, 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.
A-62
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Representations
and Warranties. The representations and
warranties made in Articles III and IV or any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall not
survive beyond the Effective Time. Each covenant or agreement of
the parties in this Agreement shall not survive beyond the
Effective Time, other than any covenant or agreement that by its
terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time, which
shall survive until fully performed.
Section 8.2 Entire
Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement,
including all exhibits hereto, together with the Company
Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter and the
Confidentiality Agreements constitute 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
subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
any party by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior
written consent of the other parties; provided, that
Parent or Merger Sub may assign any of their respective rights
and obligations to any Affiliate so long as such assignment does
not delay or impede the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; provided, that as a condition of
such assignment, the assignee expressly assumes the obligations
of the assignor.
Section 8.3 Jurisdiction;
Venue. Each of the parties hereto
(a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction
of any state or federal court located in the City of Wilmington,
Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement
or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement,
(b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such
personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from
any such court, (c) agrees that it will not bring any
action relating to this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than any such
court and (d) waives any right to trial by jury with
respect to any action related to or arising out of this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally
waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit
or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby in state or federal courts
located in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, and hereby further
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead
or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.
Section 8.4 Validity. 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
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; provided,
however, the offending provision shall be enforced to the
maximum extent permissible under applicable Law. The Company
shall not, nor shall any Person claiming by, through or on
behalf of the Company, be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of
this Agreement or to specifically enforce any of the terms of
this Agreement.
Section 8.5 Notices. All
notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly
received if given) by hand delivery in writing, by nationally
recognized overnight courier service, or by facsimile or
electronic transmission with confirmation of receipt, as follows:
if to Parent or Merger Sub:
c/o Insight
Equity I, LP
1400 Civic Place
Suite 250
Southlake, Texas 76092
Attention: Conner Searcy
Facsimile:
(817) 488-7739
Email: csearcy@insightequity.com
A-63
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Hunton & Williams LLP
Bank of America Plaza, Suite 4100
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia
30308-2216
Attention: Ronald J. Lieberman
Facsimile:
(404) 888-4190
Email: rlieberman@hunton.com
Hunton & Williams LLP
Fountain Place, Suite 3700
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas
75202-2799
Attention: Andrew W. Lawrence
Facsimile:
(214) 880-0011
Email: alawarence@hunton.com
if to the Company:
Meadow Valley Corporation
4602 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
Attention: Bradley E. Larson
Facsimile:
(602) 437-1681
Email: blarson@meadowvalley.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
4602 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
Attention: Don A. Patterson
Facsimile:
(480) 619-4601
Email: donp@legacywc.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to
Special Committee of the Board of Directors
DLA Piper US LLP
2415 E. Camelback Road, Suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Attention: Gregory R. Hall
Facsimile:
(480) 606-5528
Email: greg.hall@dlapiper.com
or to such other address as the Person to whom notice is given
may from time to time furnish to the others in writing in the
manner set forth above.
Section 8.6 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware
(without giving effect to choice of law principles thereof that
would result in the application of the Laws of another
jurisdiction).
Section 8.7 Descriptive
Headings. The descriptive headings herein
(including the Table of Contents) 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.
Section 8.8 Parties
in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and
nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, including
Section 5.8, is intended to confer upon any other
Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or
by reason of this Agreement, except
A-64
for Section 5.7 (which provisions are intended to be
for the benefit of the Persons referred to therein, and may be
enforced by any such Persons).
Section 8.9 Rules
of Construction. The parties to this
Agreement have each been represented by counsel during the
negotiation and execution of this Agreement and waive the
application of any Laws or rule of construction providing that
ambiguities in any agreement or other document will be construed
against the party drafting such agreement or other document. The
terms hereby, herein,
hereinafter and similar terms refer to this
Agreement in its entirety, rather than to any Article, Section,
or other portion of this Agreement. The term
including is followed by the phrase
without limitation.
Section 8.10 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.
Section 8.11 Certain
Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Acceptable Confidentiality
Agreement means a customary confidentiality
and standstill agreement substantially in the form set forth on
Section 8.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b) Affiliate and
Associate have the meanings given to
such terms in
Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act.
(c) Articles of
Incorporation means the Companys
Articles of Incorporation as in effect as of the date of this
Agreement, including any amendments.
(d) Backlog means
(a) the value of incomplete work-in progress under written,
fully executed contracts with project owners; (b) the
potential, but undetermined guaranteed maximum prices of
projects in the pre-construction services phase under agreements
with owners under which the Company acts as construction manager
and constructor, and (c) the bid amount for projects
awarded to the Company, for which letters of intent or notices
of intent to award such projects have been received but
contracts with the principal have not been executed.
(e) beneficial ownership has
the meaning given to such term in
Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act.
(f) Bond means any surety or
other performance bond issued by a Surety and specifically
naming Company or any Subsidiary as a principal to secure
Companys or any Subsidiarys performance under a
Construction Agreement for the benefit of the applicable
Construction Agreement Party obligee.
(g) Bonded Project means any
Construction Agreement, the performance of which is secured or
otherwise insured by a Bond.
(h) Bonding
Arrangement means any and all contracts and
agreements and all obligations arising thereunder relating to or
governing the relationship, rights and respective obligations
between Company or any Subsidiary and any Surety for the
issuance and maintenance of any Bonds, including, but not
limited to (i) the Bonds issued by such Surety and
(ii) any agreement for indemnity whereby Company or any
Subsidiary agrees to indemnify Surety related to the issuance of
any Bond.
(i) Bonding Capacity means
the availability for issuance, in United States Dollars, of the
face amount of Bonds to be outstanding at any given time.
(j) Business Day has the
meaning given to such term in
Rule 14d-1(g)
under the Exchange Act.
(k) Bylaws means the Bylaws
of the Company as in effect as of the date of this Agreement,
including any amendments.
(l) Company Disclosure
Letter means the disclosure letter, dated the
date of this Agreement, delivered by the Company to Parent and
Merger Sub with respect to this Agreement.
(m) Company Rights
Agreement means that certain Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2007, by and between
the Company and Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc., as amended.
A-65
(n) Company SEC
Reports means all filings made by the Company
with the SEC, including those that the Company may file after
the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date.
(o) Confidentiality
Agreements mean (i) the confidentiality
agreement, dated as of December 10, 2007 (as amended
through the date of this Agreement), by and between the Company,
YVM Acquisition Corporation and the other parties thereto and
(ii) the confidentiality agreement, dated as of
April 10, 2008, by the Company in favor of Insight Equity I
LP, YVM Acquisition Corporation and the other parties named
therein.
(p) Construction
Agreement means any contract, agreement,
purchase order or other contractual arrangement by and between
or among a Construction Agreement Party and Company or any
Subsidiary or RMI, setting forth the terms and conditions
governing or otherwise related to a Construction Project.
(q) Construction Agreement
Party means any Person, other than Company or
any Subsidiary or RMI, that is a party to a Construction
Agreement. (r) Construction Project
means the commencement, continuance and completion of all
performance obligations of Company or any Subsidiary under the
terms of a Construction Agreement.
(s) Controlled Group
Liability means any and all liabilities
(i) under Title IV of ERISA, (ii) under
Section 302 of ERISA, (iii) under Sections 412
and 4971 of the Code, (iv) resulting from a violation of
the continuation coverage requirements of Section 601 et
seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code or the
group health plan requirements of Sections 601 et seq.
of the Code and Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and
(v) under corresponding or similar provisions of foreign
laws or regulations.
(t) EBIT shall mean,
net income (or loss), but excluding the income (or loss) of any
Person, other than Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof in
connection with evaluating the Companys EBIT, plus,
for the Company and its Subsidiaries existing on the date
hereof, on the one hand, and RMI, on the other hand
(i) any provision for (or less any benefit, including
income tax credits, from) federal, state, local or other income
and franchise taxes deducted in the determination of net income
for the twelve full months immediately preceding the Effective
Time, (ii) interest expense, net of interest income,
deducted in the determination of net income for the twelve full
months immediately preceding the Effective Time, (iii) less
extraordinary gains included in the determination of net income
during the twelve full months immediately preceding the
Effective Time, net of related tax effects. For purposes hereof,
EBIT shall further exclude reasonable non-recurring
out-of-pocket costs incurred exclusively in connection with the
negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement;
provided, however, costs incurred in connection with the
activities contemplated by Section 5.2 shall not be
so excluded.
(u) ERISA means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(v) ERISA Affiliate means
any trade or business, whether or not incorporated, that,
together with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would be
deemed to be a single employer within the meaning of
Section 4001(b) or ERISA or would be deemed to have a
relationship described in Section 414(m or 414(o) of the
Code.
(w) Facility or
Facilities means all buildings,
improvements and fixtures located on the Owned Real Property or
Leased Real Property, as the case may be.
(x) GAAP means United States
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
(y) Intellectual
Property means (i) patents, patent
applications, patent disclosures and inventions,
(ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names,
logos and corporate names and registrations and applications for
registration thereof, together with all of the goodwill
associated therewith, (iii) copyrights and copyrightable
works and registrations and applications for registration
thereof, (iv) mask works and registrations and applications
for registration thereof, (v) computer software (in both
source code and object code form), data, databases and
documentation thereof, (vi) trade secrets and other
confidential information (including, without limitation, ideas,
formulas, compositions, inventions, know-how, manufacturing and
production processes and techniques, research and development
information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans,
proposals, technical data, copyrightable works, financial and
marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and
information), (vii) internet domain names and web sites,
(viii) registrations and
A-66
applications for any of the foregoing, and (ix) copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
(z) knowledge of the Company
means the current actual knowledge of Kenneth D. Nelson, Bradley
E. Larson, David D. Doty, Robert W. Bottcher, Robert A. Terril
and Robert R. Morris, and such knowledge these individuals would
reasonably be expected to have after due inquiry.
(aa) Lease or
Leases means any and all leases,
subleases, concessions, licenses and other similar agreements
(whether oral or written), including all amendments,
modifications, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other
agreements with respect thereto, relating to the Owned Real
Property or Leased Real Property.
(bb) Leased Real
Property means the real property leased,
occupied or used by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI
pursuant to a Lease, together with all improvements and fixtures
thereon and all easements, rights of way and other appurtenances
thereto, as set forth on Section 3.16(b) of the
Company Disclosure Letter (which is separated into real property
leased by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one
hand, and RMI, on the other hand).
(cc) Liens means any
mortgages, deeds of trust, liens (statutory or other) pledges,
security interests, claims, covenants, conditions, restrictions,
options, rights of first offer or refusal, charges, easements,
rights-of-way, encroachments, third party rights or other
encumbrances or title defects of any kind or nature.
(dd) Material Adverse
Effect means a material adverse event,
change, effect, development, condition or occurrence on or with
respect to the business, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries and RMI, taken as
a whole; provided, however, that the following,
alone or in combination, shall not be deemed to constitute a
Material Adverse Effect: (i) facts, circumstances, events
or changes generally affecting any industries or markets in
which the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI operate, provided
that, in each case, such events, changes, effects, developments,
conditions or occurrences do not have a disproportionate effect
on the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI as compared to other
persons in the industry and in the region in which they operate;
(ii) (x) facts, circumstances, events or changes generally
affecting the economy or the financial or securities markets in
the United States or elsewhere in the world, including
regulatory and political conditions or developments (including
any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of war or
terrorism,) or (y) changes in interest rates, provided
that, in each case, such events, changes, effects, developments,
conditions or occurrences do not have a disproportionate effect
on the Company, its Subsidiaries or RMI as compared to other
persons in the industry and in the region in which they operate;
(iii) facts, circumstances, events or changes resulting
from (x) the announcement or the pendency of this Agreement
or the announcement of the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (y) changes
in applicable Law, GAAP or accounting standards (provided that
such changes are first announced after the date hereof and do
not have a disproportionate effect on the Company, its
Subsidiaries or RMI as compared to other persons in the industry
and in the region in which they operate); (iv) changes in
the market price or trading volume of the Companys common
stock; (v) changes in any analysts recommendations,
any financial strength rating or any other similar
recommendations or ratings as to the Company or RMI (including,
in and of itself, any failure to meet analyst projections); or
(vi) any reduction in maximum borrowings under RMIs
existing line of credit loan agreement or replacement line of
credit, that does not exceed $1.0 million; or
(vii) failure by the Company to meet any projections,
estimates or budgets for any period prior to, on or after the
date of this Agreement (including projections relating to 2008);
provided, however, without limiting the generality
of the events, changes, effects, developments, conditions or
occurrences that may constitute a material adverse effect and
without giving effect to clauses (i), (ii)(x) and (iii)(y)
above, the parties agree that any events, changes, effects,
developments, conditions or occurrences that cause, or are
reasonably likely to cause, either individually or in the
aggregate, a decrease in the fair market value of the Company in
excess of $6.0 million shall constitute a Material Adverse
Effect for purposes of this Agreement (with such decrease in
fair market value being measured from the date hereof to the
applicable time, from the perspective of a willing buyer and a
willing seller, each being under no compulsion to enter into
such a transaction).
(ee) Owned Real
Property means the real property owned by the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or RMI, together with all
improvements and fixtures thereon and all easements,
rights-of-way and other
A-67
appurtenances thereto, as set forth on
Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter
(which is separated into real property owned by the Company and
any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and RMI, on the other
hand).
(ff) Parent Disclosure
Letter means the disclosure letter, dated the
date of this Agreement, delivered by Parent to the Company with
respect to this Agreement.
(gg) Parent Material Adverse
Effect means any event, change, effect,
development, condition or occurrence that would prevent or delay
(to a date beyond the Outside Date) consummation of the Merger,
receipt of the Financing or the ability of Parent and Merger Sub
to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
(hh) Permitted Liens means
(i) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
with appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) zoning, building and other land use laws imposed by a
Governmental Entity having jurisdiction that, individually or in
the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the
Companys, one of its Subsidiarys or RMIs
operation of the applicable business, occupancy, use,
marketability or value of the assets subject thereto;
(iii) mechanics, materialmens or other liens or
security interests that secure a liquidated amount that are
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and
for which appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been
set forth in the Company Balance Sheet or the RMI Balance Sheet;
(iv) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, workmen, repairmen and
other Liens imposed by Law made in the ordinary course and on a
basis consistent with past practice for amounts not yet due and
payable; (v) those liens that are specifically listed on
Section 8.11(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
and (vi) defects or imperfections of title, easements,
covenants, rights of way, restrictions and any other charges or
encumbrances that do not impair, and could not reasonably be
expected to impair, individually or in the aggregate, in any
material respect, the value, marketability or continued use,
ownership and occupancy of the Owned Real Property or Leased
Real Property.
(ii) Person means any
individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association, trust, estate or other entity or organization,
broadly construed.
(jj) Plan means each
employee benefit plan as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, that is subject to ERISA and,
excluding any plans that are statutory plans, each bonus,
pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive
compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option,
phantom stock or other equity-based incentive or compensation
arrangement, retirement, vacation, severance, disability, salary
continuation, paid time off, death benefit, hospitalization,
medical or other welfare benefit or any other employee benefit
and/or
compensation plan, program, policy, practice, arrangement,
agreement, fund or commitment, and each employment, retention,
consulting, change in control, termination or severance plan,
program, policy, practice, arrangement or agreement entered
into, maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates or to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates may have
any material obligation to contribute, or with respect to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has
any material liability, direct or indirect, contingent or
otherwise (including a liability arising out of an
indemnification, guarantee, hold harmless or similar agreement)
or otherwise providing benefits
and/or
compensation to any current, former or future employee, officer
or director of the Company, RMI, Subsidiary, or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates or to any beneficiary or dependent
thereof.
(kk) Representatives means,
when used with respect to Parent or the Company, the directors,
managers, officers, employees, consultants, accountants, legal
counsel, investment bankers, agents and other representatives of
Parent or the Company, as applicable, and its Subsidiaries.
(ll) RMI means Ready Mix, a Nevada
corporation, and its Subsidiaries unless the context otherwise
requires.
(mm) RMI SEC Reports means
all filings made by RMI with the SEC, including those that RMI
may file after the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date.
(nn) SNDA means that certain
subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreement between
Merger Sub, one of its Subsidiaries or RMI and any lender that
holds a lien on the Leased Real Property, dated
A-68
on or before the Closing Date in a form mutually agreeable to
Parent and such lender, whereby, in the event that the lender
forecloses on the Leased Real Property, lender agrees not to
disturb Merger Subs, its Subsidiarys or RMIs
occupancy and use of such Leased Real Property pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the lease between Merger Sub, one of its
Subsidiaries or RMI, and the owner of the Leased Real Property,
and Merger Sub, its Subsidiary or RMI shall attorn to such
lenders or third party purchasers rights as lessor
under the aforementioned lease.
(oo) Solicitation Period
End-Date means 11:59 p.m. (New York
Time) on the date that is 45 days after the date of this
Agreement.
(pp) Special Committee means
a committee of the Companys Board of Directors, the
members of which are not affiliated with Parent or Merger Sub
and are not members of the Companys management, formed for
the purpose of, among other things, evaluating and making a
recommendation to the full Board of Directors of the Company
with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Merger, and shall include any successor
committee to the Special Committee.
(qq) Subsidiary means, when
used with reference to an entity, any other entity of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or other
Persons performing similar functions, or a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of which, are owned directly or
indirectly by such entity; provided, that Subsidiary
shall mean a subsidiary of the Company unless the context
otherwise dictates; provided, further, that when
Subsidiary is referring to a Subsidiary of the Company it shall
not be deemed to include RMI.
(rr) Surety means the issuer
of any Bond.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature
Page Follows.]
A-69
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this
Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto
duly authorized, all at or on the day and year first above
written.
Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc.,
a Nevada corporation
Name: Ted W. Beneski
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman of the Board
|
Phoenix Parent Corp.,
a Delaware corporation
Name: Ted W. Beneski
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman of the Board
|
Meadow Valley Corporation,
a Nevada corporation
Name: David Doty
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
A-70
EXHIBIT A
ESTOPPEL
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned (Landlord) is the lessor under that
certain lease agreement
dated ,
200 , between Landlord
and ,
a
(Tenant) (the Lease) with respect to the
property located
at (the
Leased Premises) (as more particularly described in
the Lease).
With respect to the Lease, the undersigned Landlord, having the
power and authority to do so, hereby states, certifies and
affirms to Tenant and Purchaser as follows:
(a) A true, correct and complete copy of the Lease and all
of the amendments and modifications of, and assignments with
respect to the Lease, is attached hereto as
Exhibit A, and except to the extent set forth on
Exhibit A, the Lease has not been modified or
amended in any respect whatsoever and represents the entire
agreement between Landlord and Tenant.
(b) Landlord is the present lessor under the Lease and is
the fee simple owner of the Leased Premises.
(c) The term of the Lease commenced
on , ,
and expires (unless extended as provided in the Lease)
on , .
(d) Base Rent in the amount of
$ per month is due in advance on
the day of each month. All Base
Rent has been paid through and
including , .
(e) Landlord is currently holding a security deposit in the
amount of $ pursuant to the terms
of the Lease.
(f) To the knowledge of Landlord, (i) Tenant is not at
this time otherwise in default under any of the terms or
provisions of the Lease, and (ii) there is no event or
condition in existence as of the date hereof which would, with
the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, constitute
a default under the Lease or otherwise entitle Landlord to
terminate the Lease or exercise any other remedy thereunder.
LANDLORD:
A-71
EXHIBIT A
Lease
and all Amendments, Modifications and Assignments
A-72
EXHIBIT B
SUBORDINATION,
NON-DISTURBANCE AND ATTORNMENT AGREEMENT
When recorded return to:
Tax Map
Number:
SUBORDINATION,
NON-DISTURBANCE AND ATTORNMENT AGREEMENT
This Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement
(this Agreement) dated
the day
of ,
200 , is made
among ,
a ,
having an address
of
(Tenant)
and ,
a ,
having an address
of (Lender).
RECITALS
A. Tenant is the holder of a leasehold estate in a portion
of the property located
in ,
(the Property) under and pursuant to the
provisions of a
certain
dated as
of ,
between (Landlord),
as landlord, and Tenant or its predecessor in interest, as
tenant (as amended through the date hereof, the
Lease);
B. The Property is encumbered by [Deed of
Trust/Mortgage/Security Agreement] (the Security
Instrument) from Landlord
to ,
a ,
as Trustee, for the benefit of Lender; and
C. Tenant has agreed to subordinate the Lease to the
Security Instrument and to the lien thereof and Lender has
agreed to grant non-disturbance to Tenant under the Lease on the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and relying on
the covenants, agreements, representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement, Lender and Tenant agree as follows:
1. Subordination of Lease. The Lease is
and shall be subject and subordinate to the provisions and lien
of the Security Instrument and to all renewals, modifications,
consolidations, replacements and extensions thereof, to the full
extent of the principal amount and other sums secured thereby
and interest thereon, as if the Lease had been executed and
delivered after the execution, delivery and recording of the
Security Instrument.
2. Attornment. Tenant agrees that Tenant
will attorn to and recognize: (i) Lender, whether as
mortgagee in possession or otherwise; or (ii) any purchaser
at a foreclosure sale under the Security Instrument, or any
transferee who acquires possession of or title to the Property,
or any successors and assigns of such purchasers
and/or
transferees (each, a Successor), as its
landlord for the unexpired balance (and any extensions, if
exercised) of the term of the Lease upon the terms and
conditions set forth therein. Such attornment shall be effective
and self-operative without the execution of any further
instruments by any party hereto.
3. Non-Disturbance. So long as Tenant
complies with Tenants obligations under this Agreement and
is not in default under the Lease beyond any applicable cure
period, neither Lender nor any Successor will disturb
Tenants use, possession and enjoyment of the Leased
Premises, nor will Tenants rights under the Lease be
impaired in any foreclosure action, sale under a power of sale,
transfer in lieu of the foregoing, or the exercise of any other
remedy pursuant to the Security Instrument.
4. Assignment of Leases. Tenant agrees
that if Lender, pursuant to the Security Instrument, and whether
or not it becomes a mortgagee in possession, shall give notice
to Tenant that Lender has elected to require Tenant to pay to
Lender the rent and other charges payable by Tenant under the
Lease, Tenant shall, until Lender shall have canceled such
election, thereafter pay to Lender all rent and other sums
payable under the Lease without Tenant being obligated to make
any inquiry as to whether a default or an event of default
A-73
actually exists under the Security Instrument, and
notwithstanding any contrary instructions of or demand by the
Landlord.
5. Limitation of Liability. In the event
that Lender succeeds to the interest of Landlord under the
Lease, or title to the Property, then Lender and any Successor
shall assume and be bound by the obligations of the landlord
under the Lease which accrue from and after such partys
succession to any prior landlords interest in the Leased
Premises, but Lender and such Successor shall not be:
(i) liable for any act or omission of any prior landlord;
(ii) liable for the retention, application or return of any
security deposit to the extent not paid over to Lender;
(iii) subject to any offsets or defenses which Tenant might
have against any prior landlord; (iv) bound by any rent or
additional rent which Tenant might have paid for more than the
current month to any prior landlord; or (v) bound by any
further amendment or modification of the Lease made without
Lenders or such Successors prior written consent,
unless it expressly assumes such obligation after it succeeds to
the interest of the Lessor under the Lease. Nothing in this
section shall be deemed to waive any of Tenants rights and
remedies against any prior landlord.
6. Right to Cure Defaults. Tenant agrees
to give notice to Lender of any default by Landlord under the
Lease, specifying the nature of such default, and thereupon
Lender shall have the right (but not the obligation) to cure
such default, and Tenant shall not terminate the Lease or abate
the rent payable thereunder by reason of such default until it
has afforded Lender thirty (30) days after Lenders
receipt of such notice to cure such default and a reasonable
period of time in addition thereto (i) if the circumstances
are such that said default cannot reasonably be cured within
said thirty (30) day period and Lender has commenced and is
diligently pursuing such cure, or (ii) during and after any
litigation action including a foreclosure, bankruptcy,
possessory action or a combination thereof.
7. Miscellaneous. (i) The provisions
hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Tenant
and Lender and their respective successors and assigns;
(ii) any demands or requests shall be sufficiently given
Tenant if in writing and mailed or delivered to the address of
Tenant shown above and to Lender if in writing and mailed or
delivered
to ,
at the address shown above, or such other address as Lender may
specify from time to time; (iii) this Agreement may not be
changed, terminated or modified orally or in any manner other
than by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto;
(iv) the captions or headings at the beginning of each
paragraph hereof are for the convenience of the parties and are
not part of this Agreement; and, (v) this Agreement shall
be governed by and construed under the laws of the State
of .
[Signatures
appear on Following Pages]
A-74
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed and sealed
this instrument as of the day and year first above written.
Tenant
a
State
of
City/County
of
The foregoing Agreement was acknowledged before me the
undersigned Notary Public in the aforesaid jurisdiction
by as
of ,
a ,
on behalf of
the .
Witness my hand and official seal,
this day
of ,
200 .
|
|
|
|
|
,
Notary Public
|
|
|
|
Notary Seal
|
|
(Printed
Name of Notary)
|
|
|
My Commission
Expires:
|
A-75
Lender
State of
City/County of
The foregoing Agreement was acknowledged before me the
undersigned Notary Public in the aforesaid jurisdiction by
as
of ,
on behalf of the [Bank].
Witness my hand and official seal,
this day
of ,
200 .
|
|
|
|
|
,
Notary Public
|
|
|
|
Notary Seal
|
|
(Printed
Name of Notary)
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Commission
Expires:
|
A-76
EXHIBIT C
MEMORANDUM
OF LEASE
|
|
|
When recorded return to:
|
|
Tax Parcel
Number(s):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MEMORANDUM
OF LEASE
THIS MEMORANDUM OF LEASE (this Memorandum of Lease)
is dated effective as of the day
of ,
200 ,
between ,
a as
grantor for indexing purposes
(Landlord),
and ,
a ,
as grantee for indexing purposes
(Tenant), and recites and provides as follows:
RECITALS:
Landlord and Tenant entered into that certain lease agreement
dated as of , 200 , as
may be amended from time to time (the Lease),
wherein Landlord leased to Tenant certain space located
at , and more particularly
described on Exhibit A attached hereto (the
Premises). Landlord and Tenant now desire to provide
record notice of the Lease by filing the same in the real
property records
of
County, .
MEMORANDUM
OF
LEASE:
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto provide the following
information concerning the Lease:
1. The name of the Landlord under the Lease
is ,
a .
The address for the Landlord under the Lease
is .
2. The name of the Tenant under the Lease
is ,
a .
The address for the Tenant under the Lease
is .
3. The Lease is that certain lease agreement, dated as
of ,
200 , between Landlord and Tenant.
4. The Premises is more particularly set forth on
Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated
herein.
5. The initial term of the Lease commenced
on and
ends
on ,
200 .
A-77
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Memorandum of
Lease to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
LANDLORD:
,
a
STATE
OF
)
)
SS:
COUNTY/CITY
OF
)
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me in the
aforesaid jurisdiction this day
of ,
200
by ,
as
of ,
a ,
on behalf of
the .
My commission
expires:
Notary Public
A-78
TENANT:
,
a
STATE
OF
)
)
SS:
COUNTY/CITY
OF
)
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me in the
aforesaid jurisdiction this day
of ,
200 ,
by ,
as
of ,
a ,
on behalf of
the .
My commission
expires:
Notary Public
A-79
EXHIBIT A
Description
of the Premises
Appendix
B
July 25, 2008
Special Committee of the Board of Directors
Meadow Valley Corporation
4602 East Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
Gentlemen:
We understand that Phoenix Parent Corp., a Delaware corporation
(Parent), Phoenix Merger Sub, Inc., a Nevada
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(Merger Sub), and Meadow Valley Corporation, a
Nevada corporation (the Company) propose to enter
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Agreement)
pursuant to which Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company (the Proposed Transaction) and, in
connection with the Proposed Transaction, each share of common
stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (Company
Common Stock), issued and outstanding (other than shares
of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, Merger Sub or any
subsidiary of Parent, all of which shall be cancelled at the
time the Proposed Transaction becomes effective without any
consideration being exchanged therefor) shall be converted into
the right to receive $11.25 in cash.
You have requested our opinion, as investment bankers, as to the
fairness to the holders of Company Common Stock, from a
financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by
such holders in the Proposed Transaction.
In conducting our analysis and arriving at our opinion as
expressed herein, we have reviewed and analyzed, among other
things, the following:
|
|
|
|
i.
|
the draft of the Agreement dated as of July 23, 2008, which
you have represented to us is, with respect to all material
terms and conditions thereof, substantially in the form of the
definitive agreement to be executed by the parties thereto
promptly after your receipt of our opinion;
|
|
|
ii.
|
the Companys annual report on
Form 10-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC) with respect to the year ended
December 31, 2007, the Companys quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC with respect to the quarter ended
March 31, 2008, which the Companys management has
identified to us as being the most current historical financial
statements available, and certain other filings made by the
Company with the SEC;
|
|
|
|
|
iii.
|
certain other publicly available business and financial
information concerning the Company, and the industry in which it
operates, which we believe relevant;
|
|
|
|
|
iv.
|
certain internal information and other data relating to the
Company, and its respective business and prospects, including
budgets, projections and certain presentations prepared by the
Company, which were provided to us by the Companys senior
management;
|
|
|
v.
|
the reported sales prices and trading activity of Company Common
Stock;
|
|
|
|
|
vi.
|
certain publicly available information concerning certain other
companies engaged in businesses which we believe to be generally
comparable to the Company and the trading markets for certain of
such other companies securities; and
|
|
|
vii.
|
the financial terms of certain recent business combinations
which we believe to be relevant.
|
B-1
Letter to Meadow Valley Corporation
July 25, 2008
|
|
Page 2
of 3
|
|
We have also participated in meetings and conference calls with
certain officers and employees of the Company and its affiliates
concerning the business, operations, assets, financial condition
and prospects of the Company, and we have undertaken such other
studies, analyses and investigations as we deemed appropriate.
In arriving at our opinion, we have, with your permission,
assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the
financial and other information used by us and have not
attempted independently to verify such information, nor do we
assume any responsibility to do so. We have assumed that the
Companys forecasts and projections provided to or reviewed
by us have been reasonably prepared based on the best current
estimates and judgment of the Companys management as to
the future financial condition and results of operations of the
Company. We have made no independent investigation of any legal,
accounting or tax matters affecting the Company, and have
assumed the correctness of all legal, accounting and tax advice
given the Company and its Board of Directors or any committee
thereof. We have not conducted a physical inspection of the
properties and facilities of the Company, nor have we made or
obtained any independent evaluation or appraisal of such
properties and facilities. Although we have taken into account
our assessment of general economic, market and financial
conditions and our experience in transactions that, in whole or
in part, we deem to be relevant for purposes of our analysis, as
well as our experience in securities valuation in general, our
opinion necessarily is based upon economic, financial,
political, regulatory and other events and conditions as they
exist and can be evaluated on the date hereof and we assume no
responsibility to update or revise our opinion based upon events
or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.
This letter and the opinion expressed herein are for the use of
the Special Committee (the Special Committee) of the
Board of Directors of the Company. The issuance of this opinion
has been approved by a fairness opinion committee of Morgan
Joseph & Co. Inc. This opinion does not address the
Companys underlying business decision to approve the
Proposed Transaction, and it does not constitute a
recommendation to the Company, its Board of Directors or any
committee thereof, its shareholders, or any other person as to
any specific action that should be taken in connection with the
Proposed Transaction. Furthermore, we express no opinion with
respect to the fairness of the amount or nature of any
compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any
party to the Proposed Transaction, or any class of such persons,
relative to the consideration to be received by the holders of
Company Common Stock in the Proposed Transaction. This opinion
may not be reproduced, summarized, excerpted from or otherwise
publicly referred to or disclosed in any manner without our
prior written consent, except the Company may include this
opinion in its entirety in any proxy statement or information
statement relating to the Proposed Transaction sent to the
Companys shareholders; provided that any description or
reference to Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. or this opinion
included in such proxy statement or information statement shall
be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to us.
We have not acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee
in connection with the Proposed Transaction and while we will
receive a fee for our services, no portion of the fee is
contingent upon the consummation of the Proposed Transaction. In
addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify us for certain
liabilities arising out of our engagement. In the ordinary
course of our business, we may at any time acquire, hold or
sell, long or short positions, or trade or otherwise effect
transactions, for our own account or the accounts of customers,
in debt, equity and other securities and financial instruments
(including loans and other obligations) of, or investments in,
the Company, any other company involved in the Proposed
Transaction, and their respective affiliates. Other than this
engagement, we have not been, and are not, engaged by any party
to the Proposed Transaction.
B-2
Letter to Meadow Valley Corporation
July 25, 2008
|
|
Page 3
of 3
|
|
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and such other factors
as we deem relevant, it is our opinion as investment bankers
that, as of the date hereof, the consideration to be received by
the holders of Company Common Stock in the Proposed Transaction
is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Very truly yours,
MORGAN JOSEPH & CO. INC.
B-3
PRELIMINARY COPY
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
, , 2008
[a.m./p.m.] Local Time
[Location]
Phoenix, Arizona
|
|
|
Meadow Valley Corporation |
|
|
4602 East Thomas Road |
|
|
Phoenix, Arizona 85018
|
|
Proxy |
|
|
|
|
The undersigned hereby appoints DON A. PATTERSON and DAVID D. DOTY, and each of them, proxies
each with full power of substitution, to vote all common stock of Meadow Valley Corporation of
the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Stockholders of Meadow Valley (the Special Meeting)
to be held on , , 2008 at [a.m./p.m.] local time at , Phoenix, Arizona , and/or
at any adjournment or postponement of the Special Meeting, in the manner indicated on
the reverse side, all in accordance with and as more fully described in the Notice of Special
Meeting and accompanying Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged.
PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A SPECIAL MEETING ON , , 2008.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PRE-PAID ENVELOPE OR
SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET.
See reverse for voting instructions.
There are three ways to vote your Proxy
Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner
as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card.
BY PHONE TOLL FREE 1-866-721-1324 QUICK *** EASY *** IMMEDIATE
|
|
|
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until
5:00 p.m. (ET) on , , 2008. |
|
|
|
|
Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or
Tax Identification Number available. Follow the instructions the voice provides you. |
BY INTERNET http://www.[ ] QUICK *** EASY *** IMMEDIATE
|
|
|
Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 5:00 p.m. (ET)
on , , 2008. |
|
|
|
|
Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or
Tax Identification Number available. Follow the instructions to obtain your records and
create an electronic ballot. |
BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope weve provided or
return it to Meadow Valley Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 4602 East Thomas Road,
Phoenix, Arizona 85018.
If you vote by phone or Internet, please do not mail your proxy card
ê Please detach here ê
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR Proposals 1 and 2.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
|
Proposal to approve
the Agreement and
Plan of Merger,
dated as of July
28, 2008, by and
among Meadow Valley
Corporation,
Phoenix Parent
Corp. and Phoenix
Merger Sub, Inc.,
as it may be
amended from time
to time.
|
|
o For
|
|
o Against
|
|
o Abstain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
|
|
Motion to adjourn
the Special Meeting
to a later date, if
necessary or
appropriate, to
solicit additional
proxies if there
are insufficient
votes at the time
of the Special
Meeting to approve
proposal number 1.
|
|
o For
|
|
o Against
|
|
o Abstain |
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED
STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED, THIS PROXY SHALL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROXIES.
|
|
|
Address Change? Mark Box o and indicate |
changes below: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dated:
Signature(s) in Box
Please sign exactly as your name(s)
appears on the proxy. If shares are
held in joint tenancy, all persons
must sign. Trustees, administrators,
etc., should include title and
authority. Corporations should
provide full name of corporation and
title of authorized officer signing
the proxy.
IMPORTANT
Your vote is important. Regardless of the number of shares of Meadow Valley common stock that you
own, please sign, date and promptly mail the enclosed proxy in the accompanying postage-paid
envelope. Should you prefer, you may exercise a proxy by telephone or via the Internet. Please
refer to the instructions on your proxy card or voting form that accompanied this proxy statement.
Instructions for Street Name Stockholders
If you own shares of Meadow Valley common stock in the name of a broker, bank or other
nominee, only such nominee can vote your shares on your behalf and only upon receipt of your instructions.
You should sign, date and promptly mail your proxy card, or voting instruction form, when you
receive it from your broker, bank or nominee. Please do so for each separate account you maintain.
Your broker, bank or nominee also may provide for telephone or Internet voting. Please refer to
the proxy card, or voting instruction form, which you received with this proxy statement.
Please vote by proxy, telephone or via the Internet at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please call:
The Altman Group, Inc.
1200 Wall Street West, 3rd Floor
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071
Toll-Free: 1-866-721-1324