AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
UAL
Corporation
Continental
Airlines, Inc.
and
JT
Merger Sub Inc.
Dated as
of May 2, 2010
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I
|
THE
MERGER
|
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
The
Merger
|
1
|
1.2
|
Closing
|
2
|
1.3
|
Effective
Time
|
2
|
1.4
|
Effects
|
2
|
1.5
|
Certificates
of Incorporation and By-Laws
|
2
|
1.6
|
Alternative
Structure
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
EFFECT
ON CAPITAL STOCK; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
|
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
Effect
on Capital Stock
|
3
|
2.2
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF UNITED AND MERGER SUB
|
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
Corporate
Organization
|
7
|
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
8
|
3.3
|
Authority;
No Violation
|
10
|
3.4
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
12
|
3.5
|
Reports
|
13
|
3.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
13
|
3.7
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
14
|
3.8
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
15
|
3.9
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
15
|
3.10
|
Taxes
and Tax Returns
|
15
|
3.11
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
16
|
3.12
|
Labor
and Employment Matters
|
20
|
3.13
|
Internal
Control
|
20
|
3.14
|
Compliance
with Laws; Licenses
|
20
|
3.15
|
Certain
Contracts
|
21
|
3.16
|
Environmental
Liability
|
22
|
3.17
|
State
Takeover Laws
|
24
|
3.18
|
United
Information
|
24
|
3.19
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
24
|
3.20
|
Aircraft
|
24
|
3.21
|
United
Slots and Operating Rights
|
26
|
3.22
|
Intellectual
Property
|
26
|
3.23
|
Major
United Airports
|
27
|
3.24 |
Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act
|
27 |
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
3.25
|
U.S.
Citizen; Air Carrier
|
28
|
3.26
|
Fairness
Opinions
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF CONTINENTAL
|
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
Corporate
Organization
|
28
|
4.2
|
Capitalization
|
29
|
4.3
|
Authority;
No Violation
|
31
|
4.4
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
32
|
4.5
|
Reports
|
32
|
4.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
33
|
4.7
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
34
|
4.8
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
34
|
4.9
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
34
|
4.10
|
Taxes
and Tax Returns
|
34
|
4.11
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
35
|
4.12
|
Labor
and Employment Matters
|
39
|
4.13
|
Internal
Control
|
39
|
4.14
|
Compliance
with Laws; Licenses
|
39
|
4.15
|
Certain
Contracts
|
40
|
4.16
|
Environmental
Liability
|
41
|
4.17
|
State
Takeover Laws
|
42
|
4.18
|
Continental
Information
|
42
|
4.19
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
42
|
4.20
|
Aircraft
|
42
|
4.21
|
Continental
Slots and Operating Rights
|
44
|
4.22
|
Intellectual
Property
|
44
|
4.23
|
Major
Continental Airports
|
45
|
4.24
|
Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act
|
45
|
4.25
|
U.S.
Citizen; Air Carrier
|
46
|
4.26
|
Fairness
Opinions
|
46
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
|
|
|
|
|
5.1
|
Conduct
of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time
|
46
|
5.2
|
United
Forbearances
|
47
|
5.3
|
Continental
Forbearances
|
51
|
5.4
|
Control
of Other Party’s Business
|
56
|
5.5
|
No
Solicitation
|
57
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE
VI
|
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
Preparation
of the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholders
Meetings
|
61
|
6.2
|
Access
to Information; Confidentiality
|
63
|
6.3
|
Required
Actions
|
64
|
6.4
|
Stock
Plans
|
67
|
6.5
|
Actions
with Respect to Certain Continental Debt
|
69
|
6.6
|
Indemnification
and Directors and Officers Insurance
|
70
|
6.7
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
70
|
6.8
|
Certain
Tax Matters
|
73
|
6.9
|
Transaction
Litigation
|
73
|
6.10
|
Section
16 Matters
|
74
|
6.11
|
Governance
Matters
|
74
|
6.12
|
Employee
Matters
|
76
|
6.13
|
Collective
Bargaining Agreement Commitments
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
|
|
|
|
7.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger
|
78
|
7.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of United
|
79
|
7.3
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Continental
|
80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
TERMINATION AND
AMENDMENT
|
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
Termination
|
80
|
8.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
82
|
8.3
|
Amendment
|
82
|
8.4
|
Extension;
Waiver
|
82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
|
|
|
|
9.1
|
Nonsurvival
of Representations and Warranties
|
83
|
9.2
|
Notices
|
83
|
9.3
|
Definitions
|
84
|
9.4
|
Interpretation
|
89
|
9.5
|
Severability
|
90
|
9.6
|
Counterparts
|
90
|
9.7
|
Entire
Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries
|
90
|
9.8
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
91
|
9.9
|
Assignment
|
91
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
9.10
|
Specific
Enforcement
|
91
|
9.11
|
Jurisdiction
|
92
|
9.12
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
92
|
9.13
|
Publicity
|
92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annex
A
|
Cross-Reference
Table
|
A-1
|
Annex
B
|
Continental
Employee Commitments
|
B-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Certificate
of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
|
|
Exhibit
B-1
|
Restated
Charter of United
|
|
Exhibit
B-2
|
Restated
Bylaws of United
|
|
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this
“Agreement”)
dated as of May 2, 2010 among UAL Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“United”), Continental
Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Continental”), and JT
Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of United
(“Merger
Sub”).
WHEREAS the respective Boards of
Directors of United and Continental deem it advisable and in the best interests
of each corporation and its respective stockholders that United and Continental
engage in a “merger of equals” business combination in order to advance the
long-term strategic business interests of each of United and
Continental;
WHEREAS the respective Boards of
Directors of United and Continental have determined that such “merger of equals”
business combination shall be effected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
through the Merger (as defined in Section
1.1);
WHEREAS the respective Boards of
Directors of United, Continental and Merger Sub have approved this Agreement and
determined that the terms of this Agreement are in the respective best interests
of United, Continental or Merger Sub, as the case may be, and their respective
stockholders;
WHEREAS the respective Boards of
Directors of Continental and Merger Sub have declared the advisability of this
Agreement and recommended adoption of this Agreement by their respective
stockholders;
WHEREAS for U.S. Federal income Tax
purposes, it is intended that (a) the Merger qualify as a “reorganization”
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”) (such Tax
treatment being referred to as the “Intended Tax
Treatment”), (b) this Agreement be, and is hereby, adopted as a “plan of
reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and (c) United,
Continental and Merger Sub each be a “party to the reorganization” within the
meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; and
WHEREAS United, Continental and Merger
Sub desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the
Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE
MERGER
1.1 The
Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “Delaware Law”), on
the Closing Date, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Continental (the
“Merger”). At
the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease
and Continental shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
“Surviving
Corporation”). As a result of the Merger, Continental shall
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of United.
1.2 Closing. The
closing (the “Closing”) of the
Merger shall take place at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP,
Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019 at
10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on a date to be specified by United and
Continental, which shall be no later than the second Business Day following the
satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver by the party or parties
entitled to the benefits thereof of the conditions set forth in Article VII
(other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law)
waiver of those conditions), or at such other place, time and date as shall be
agreed in writing between United and Continental; provided, however, that, if any
of the conditions set forth in Article VII is not
satisfied or (to the extent permitted by Law) waived on such second Business
Day, then the Closing shall take place on the first Business Day on which all
such conditions shall have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by Law)
waived. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this
Agreement as the “Closing
Date.”
1.3 Effective
Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as soon as
practicable on the Closing Date, the parties shall file with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Merger and the Restated
Charter, in each case in such form as required by, and executed and acknowledged
in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Delaware Law, and, as soon as
practicable on or after the Closing Date, shall make all other filings required
under the Delaware Law or by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
connection with the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at the
time that the certificate of merger relating to the Merger (the “Certificate of
Merger”) has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, or at such later time as United and Continental shall agree and
specify in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective
being the “Effective
Time”). The Restated Charter shall be filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware immediately prior to the filing of the
Certificate of Merger and shall become effective at the Effective
Time.
1.4 Effects. The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and Section 259
of the Delaware Law.
1.5 Certificates of
Incorporation and By-Laws.
(a) Surviving Corporation
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. The certificate of
incorporation of Continental, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be amended and restated at the Effective Time to read in the form of
Exhibit A
and, as so amended and restated, such certificate of incorporation shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. The
by-laws of Continental shall be amended and restated at the Effective Time to be
the same as the by-laws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.
(b)
United
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. Subject to receipt
of the United Charter Stockholder Approval, the United Charter (as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time), shall be amended and restated as of
the Effective Time to read in the form of Exhibit B-1 (the
“Restated
Charter”) and, as so amended and restated, such certificate of
incorporation shall be the certificate of incorporation of United until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable
Law. The Restated Charter shall provide, among other things, that the
name of United shall be changed at the Effective Time to “United Continental
Holdings, Inc.” The United Bylaws, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time to
read in the form of Exhibit B-2 and,
as so amended and restated, such by-laws shall be the by-laws of United until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law (the
“United-Continental
Bylaws”).
1.6 Alternative
Structure. The parties agree to cooperate reasonably in the
consideration of alternative structures to implement the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement that are mutually agreeable to Continental and
United, but only with respect to any such alternative structure that does not
(a) impose any material delay on, or condition to, the consummation of the
Merger, (b) adversely affect any of the parties hereto or either United’s or
Continental’s stockholders or (c) result in additional liability to the
directors or officers of United or Continental.
ARTICLE
II
EFFECT
ON CAPITAL STOCK;
EXCHANGE
OF CERTIFICATES
2.1 Effect on
Capital Stock.
(a)
At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of United, Continental, Merger Sub or the holder of any shares of
Continental Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Merger
Sub:
(i)
Capital Stock of
Merger Sub. Each share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of Merger Sub (the “Merger Sub Common
Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(ii)
Cancelation of Treasury
Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of Continental (such shares, the “Continental Common
Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
that is owned by Continental and each share of Continental Common Stock issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is owned by United
or Merger Sub shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled
and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange
therefor.
(iii)
Conversion of Continental
Common Stock. Subject to Section 2.2(e), each
share of Continental Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii)),
shall be converted into the right to receive 1.05 (the “Exchange Ratio”)
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of United (the “United
Common Stock,” and such shares of United Common Stock into which shares
of Continental Common Stock are converted pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(iii),
the “Merger
Consideration”). All shares of Continental Common Stock
converted pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(iii),
when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of
Continental Common Stock (each such certificate, whether represented in
certificated or non-certificated book-entry form, to the extent applicable, a
“Certificate”)
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive
the Merger Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of United
Common Stock to be paid in consideration therefor in accordance with Section 2.2(e) and
any dividends or other distributions to which holders become entitled upon the
surrender of such Certificate in accordance with Section 2.2(c),
without interest.
(b)
Certain
Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time (and as permitted by Article V), the
outstanding shares of United Capital Stock or Continental Common Stock shall
have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class of
shares by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reorganization,
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split,
combination or exchange of shares, or any similar event shall have occurred,
then the Merger Consideration shall be appropriately and proportionately
adjusted to provide to the holders of United Capital Stock and the holders of
Continental Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this
Agreement prior to such event.
2.2 Exchange of
Certificates.
(a)
Exchange
Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, United and Continental
shall appoint a commercial bank or trust company to be mutually agreed upon to
act as exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for
the delivery of the Merger Consideration. At or prior to the
Effective Time, United shall deposit with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of
the holders of Certificates, for exchange in accordance with this Article II
through the Exchange Agent, certificates representing the shares of United
Common Stock to be delivered as the Merger Consideration (such certificates,
whether represented in certificated or non-certificated book-entry form, to the
extent applicable, the “United Common
Certificates”). In addition, United shall deposit with the
Exchange Agent, from time to time as needed, cash sufficient to make payments in
lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.2(e)
and to pay any dividends or other distributions which holders of Certificates
have the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(c). All
such United Common Certificates and cash deposited with the Exchange Agent
pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) is
hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange
Fund.”
(b)
Exchange
Procedures. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
Effective Time, United shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of
record of a Certificate whose shares were converted pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(iii)
into the right to receive the Merger Consideration (i) a letter of
transmittal in customary form as reasonably agreed by the parties which (A)
shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange
Agent and (B) shall have such other provisions as United and Continental may
reasonably specify and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the
Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon proper
surrender of a Certificate to the Exchange Agent, together with such letter of
transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the
instructions thereto, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by
the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive
in exchange therefor a United Common Certificate representing that number of
whole shares of United Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive in
respect of the aggregate number of shares of Continental Common Stock previously
represented by such Certificate pursuant to Section 2.1 and
a check representing cash in lieu of fractional shares that the holder has the
right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(e)
and in respect of any dividends or other distributions that the holder has the
right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(c),
and the Certificate so surrendered shall immediately be canceled. In
the event of a transfer of ownership of Continental Common Stock that is not
registered in the transfer records of Continental, a United Common Certificate
representing the proper number of shares of United Common Stock pursuant to
Section 2.1 and
a check representing cash in lieu of fractional shares that the holder has the
right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(e)
and in respect of any dividends or other distributions that the holder has the
right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2(c)
may be delivered to a transferee if the Certificate representing such
Continental Common Stock is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all
documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any
applicable transfer Taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as
contemplated by this Section 2.2,
each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration
that the holder of such Certificate has the right to receive in respect of such
Certificate pursuant to Section 2.1 (and cash
in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.2(e)
and in respect of any dividends or other distributions pursuant to Section 2.2(c)). No
interest shall be paid or shall accrue on the cash payable upon surrender of any
Certificate.
(c)
Treatment of
Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other distributions
declared or made with respect to United Common Stock with a record date after
the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate
with respect to the shares of United Common Stock deliverable upon surrender
thereof, and no cash payment in lieu of fractional shares shall be paid to any
such holder pursuant to Section 2.2(e),
until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Article II. Subject
to escheat or other applicable Law, following surrender of any such Certificate,
there shall be paid to the holder of the Certificate, without interest,
(i) at the time of such surrender, the amount of any cash payable in lieu
of a fractional share of United Common Stock that such holder has the right to
receive pursuant to Section 2.2(e)
and the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such number of whole shares of
United Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(iii),
and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such
surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect
to such number of whole shares of United Common Stock that such holder has the
right to receive pursuant to Section
2.1(a)(iii).
(d) No Further Ownership Rights
in Continental Common Stock. The shares of United Common Stock
delivered and cash paid in accordance with the terms of this Article II upon
conversion of any shares of Continental Common Stock shall be deemed to have
been delivered and paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such
shares of Continental Common Stock. From and after the Effective
Time, (i) all holders of Certificates shall cease to have any rights as
stockholders of Continental other than the right to receive the Merger
Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of United Common Stock
to be paid in consideration therefor in accordance with Section 2.2(e) and
any dividends or other distributions that holders have the right to receive upon
the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with Section 2.2(c),
without interest, and (ii) the stock transfer books of Continental shall be
closed with respect to all shares of Continental Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time. From and after the Effective
Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer
books of the Surviving Corporation of shares of Continental Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after
the Effective Time, any Certificates formerly representing shares of Continental
Common Stock are presented to the Surviving Corporation, United or the Exchange
Agent for any reason, such Certificates shall be canceled and exchanged as
provided in this Article II.
(e) No Fractional
Shares. No fractional shares of United Common Stock shall be
issued in connection with the Merger, no certificates or scrip representing
fractional shares of United Common Stock shall be delivered upon the conversion
of Continental Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1, and
such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or
to any other rights of a holder of United Common
Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each
holder of shares of Continental Common Stock converted pursuant to the Merger
who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of
United Common Stock (after aggregating all shares represented by the
Certificates delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof and upon
surrender of such holder’s Certificates, cash (without interest) in an amount
equal to such fractional amount multiplied by (x) if the United Common Stock is
listed on the NASDAQ at the Effective Time, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price of
United Common Stock (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal (Northeast edition) or, if not reported therein, in another
authoritative source mutually selected by United and Continental) or (y) if the
United Common Stock is listed on the NYSE at the Effective Time, the last
reported sale price of United Common Stock, as reported on the NYSE Composite
Transactions Tape (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal (Northeast edition) or, if not reported therein, in another
authoritative source mutually selected by United and Continental), in each case
on the first trading day immediately following the date on which the Effective
Time occurs.
(f)
Termination of
Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including any
interest or other amounts received with respect thereto) that remains unclaimed
by, or otherwise undistributed to, the holders of Certificates for 180 days
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to United, upon demand, and any
holder of Certificates who has not theretofore complied with this Article II shall
thereafter look only to United for satisfaction of its claim for Merger
Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares and any dividends and
distributions which such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Article
II.
(g) No
Liability. None of United, Continental, Merger Sub or the
Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any portion of the
Exchange Fund or the Merger Consideration delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any
portion of the Merger Consideration or the cash to be paid in accordance with
this Article II that
remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates as of the second
anniversary of the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on
which the Merger Consideration or such cash would otherwise escheat to or become
the property of any Governmental Entity), shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable Law, become the property of United, free and clear of all claims or
interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
(h) Investment of Exchange
Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest any cash in the Exchange
Fund as directed by United on a daily basis, provided that, subject to Section 2.2(g),
no such investment or losses will affect the cash payable to holders of
Certificates. Any interest or other amounts received with respect to
such investments shall be paid to United.
(i)
Withholding
Rights. Each of United and the Exchange Agent (without
duplication) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable to any holder of a Certificate pursuant to this Agreement such
amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the
making of such payment under applicable Tax Law. Any amounts so
deducted, withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority shall be
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of
the Certificate in respect of which such deduction or withholding was
made.
(j)
Lost
Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
United, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as
United may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it
with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent (or, if subsequent to the
termination of the Exchange Fund and subject to Section 2.2(g),
United) shall deliver, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
Certificate, the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares and
any dividends and distributions deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF UNITED AND MERGER SUB
Except as disclosed in the disclosure
letter (the “United
Disclosure Schedule”) delivered by United to Continental prior to the
execution of this Agreement (which letter sets forth items of disclosure with
specific reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement to
which the information in the United Disclosure Schedule relates) or in the
United SEC Reports filed and publicly available prior to the date of this
Agreement, United and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to Continental as
follows:
3.1 Corporate
Organization.
(a) United.
(i)
United is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. United has the corporate
power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and
assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United.
(ii) True
and complete copies of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of United, as
amended through, and as in effect as of, the date of this Agreement (the “United Charter”), and
the Amended and Restated Bylaws of United, as amended through, and as in effect
as of, the date of this Agreement (the “United Bylaws”), have
previously been made available to Continental.
(iii) Each
United Subsidiary (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly licensed or
qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and
assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary,
and (iii) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, except for
such variances from the matters set forth in any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on United.
(b) Merger
Sub.
(i) True
and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of Merger
Sub, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been
made available to Continental.
(ii) Merger
Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware. Except as contemplated by this
Agreement, Merger Sub does not hold and has not held any material assets or
incurred any material liabilities, and has not carried on any business
activities other than in connection with the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The authorized capital stock of
Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of Merger Sub Common Stock, all of which
have been duly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly
by United free and clear of any Liens.
3.2 Capitalization.
(a) Authorized
and Issued Shares.
(i) As
of the date of this Agreement, the authorized United capital stock consists of
(A) 1,000,000,000 shares of United Common Stock, of which, as of the close of
business on April 29, 2010 (such date and time, the “Measurement Date”),
168,276,876 shares were issued and outstanding (including the United
Reserve Shares), of which 274,767 were United Restricted Shares,
(B) 250,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock (the “Serial Preferred
Stock”), of which, as of the Measurement Date, zero shares were issued
and outstanding, (C) one share of Class Pilot MEC Junior Preferred Stock (the
“Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock”), of which, as of the Measurement Date, one share was
issued and outstanding, and (D) one share of Class IAM Junior Preferred Stock
(the “Class IAM
Preferred Stock,” and, collectively with the Serial Preferred Stock and
the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock, the “United Preferred
Stock,” and together with the United Common Stock, “United Capital
Stock”), of which, as of the Measurement Date, one share was issued and
outstanding. As of the Measurement Date, 1,097,693 shares of United
Capital Stock were held in United’s treasury. As of the Measurement
Date, no shares of United’s capital stock or other voting securities of or
equity interests in United were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding
except as set forth in this Section
3.2(a)(i). All of the issued and outstanding shares of United
Capital Stock are and, at the time of issuance, all such shares that may be
issued as Merger Consideration or upon the exercise or vesting of, or pursuant
to, United Stock Options and United Stock-Based Awards or upon the conversion of
United’s 5% Senior Convertible Notes due 2021 (the “O’Hare Notes”) issued
pursuant to the Indenture dated as of February 1, 2006, between United and
Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended to the date of this
Agreement (the “O’Hare
Notes Indenture”), United’s 4.5% Senior Limited Subordinated Convertible
Notes due 2021 (the “Labor Notes”) issued
pursuant to the Indenture dated as of July 25, 2006, between United and Bank of
New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended to the date of this
Agreement (the “Labor
Notes Indenture”), or United’s 6% Senior Convertible Notes due 2029 (the
“United 6% Convertible
Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of October 7, 2009,
between United and Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as amended
to the date of this Agreement (the “United 6% Convertible Notes
Indenture”), will be, duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid,
nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option,
call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any
similar right under any provision of the Delaware Law, the United Charter, the
United Bylaws or any contract to which United is a party or by which it is
otherwise bound. From and after the Measurement Date through the date
of this Agreement, United has not issued any capital stock or voting securities
or other equity interests other than the issuance of United Capital Stock upon
the exercise or vesting of, or pursuant to, United Stock Options and United
Stock-Based Awards outstanding as of the Measurement Date and in accordance with
their respective terms in effect at such time or upon the conversion of the
O’Hare Notes, Labor Notes or United 6% Convertible Notes, in each case
outstanding as of the Measurement Date and in accordance with their terms in
effect at such time.
(ii) As
of the date of this Agreement, except for this Agreement, United Stock Options,
rights under United Stock-Based Awards, the O’Hare Notes, the O’Hare Notes
Indenture, the Labor Notes, the Labor Notes Indenture, the United 6% Convertible
Notes and the United 6% Convertible Notes Indenture, there are not issued,
reserved for issuance or outstanding, and there are not any outstanding
obligations of United or any United Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or
cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any Equity Equivalents of United or any
United Subsidiary. Except for Forfeitures and Cashless Settlements in
connection with the United Reserve Shares, United Restricted Shares, United
Stock Options and United Stock-Based Awards, there are not any outstanding
obligations of United or any of the United Subsidiaries to directly or
indirectly redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock
or voting securities of, other equity interests in or Equity Equivalents of
United or any United Subsidiary. Neither United nor any of the United
Subsidiaries is party to any voting agreement with respect to the voting of any
capital stock or voting securities of, or other equity interests in,
United. United has delivered or made available to Continental true
and complete copies of (A) the O’Hare Notes Indenture, (B) the Labor
Notes Indenture and (C) the United 6% Convertible Notes
Indenture. The consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby or taken in contemplation of this Agreement will not, as of
the Effective Time, result in a material breach of any contract that is
referenced in Section
3.2(a)(ii) of the United Disclosure Schedule.
(b) As
of the date of this Agreement, no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
of United having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders may vote
(“United Voting
Debt”) are issued or outstanding.
(c) All
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined under
Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) of United are
owned by United, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any material liens,
pledges, charges and security interests and similar encumbrances, other than for
Taxes that are not yet due (“Liens”), and free of
any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital
stock or other equity ownership interest (other than restrictions under
applicable securities Laws), and all of such shares or equity ownership
interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Except for the capital
stock or other equity ownership interests of the United Subsidiaries, as of the
date of this Agreement, United does not beneficially own directly or indirectly
any capital stock, membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture
interest or other equity interest in any Person that constitutes a Substantial
Investment. As used in this Agreement, (i) “Subsidiary,” when
used with respect to either party, means any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated,
(A) of which such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a general
partner (excluding partnerships, the general partnership interests of which held
by such party or any Subsidiary of such party do not have a majority of the
voting interests in such partnership) or (B) a majority of the securities or
other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors or others performing similar functions with
respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly
owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or
by such party and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the term “Subsidiaries” means
more than one such Subsidiary, (iii) the terms “United Subsidiary”
and “Continental
Subsidiary” will mean any direct or indirect Subsidiary of United or
Continental, respectively, and (iv) “Substantial
Investment,” when used with respect to either party, means a stock or
other equity investment having a fair market value or book value in excess of
$25 million, directly or indirectly, in any Person.
3.3 Authority; No
Violation. (a) United has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations
hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of Directors of United (the “United
Board”). The United Board has determined that this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of United and
its stockholders, has approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the
Restated Charter, recommended that its stockholders vote in favor of the
adoption of the Restated Charter and approval of the issuance by United of
United Common Stock as Merger Consideration (the “Share Issuance”) and
has directed that the Restated Charter and the Share Issuance be submitted to
United’s stockholders for a vote at a duly held meeting of such stockholders for
such purposes (the “United Stockholders
Meeting”). Except (i) solely in the case of the Restated
Charter, for the adoption of the Restated Charter by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of United Common Stock, Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock and Class IAM Preferred Stock, voting together as a
single class, entitled to vote on such adoption (the “United Charter Stockholder
Approval”), (ii) solely in the case of the Share Issuance, for
approval of the Share Issuance by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the shares of United Common Stock, Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock
and Class IAM Preferred Stock, represented in person or by proxy at the United
Stockholders Meeting, voting together as a single class, as required by
Rule 5635(a) of the NASDAQ Manual (the “United Share Issuance
Stockholder Approval,” and, together with the United Charter Stockholder
Approval, the “United
Stockholder Approvals”) and (iii) solely in the case of the Merger,
for the adoption of this Agreement by United as the sole stockholder of Merger
Sub, no other corporate proceedings on the part of United or any other vote by
the holders of any class or series of United Capital Stock are necessary to
approve or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby (except for the filing of the appropriate merger documents and the
Restated Charter as required by the Delaware Law). This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by United and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of United, enforceable against United in
accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally and the availability of equitable remedies). Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, at the Effective Time, the United Board shall have
adopted a resolution that the Continental Directors who are elected to the
United Board at the Effective Time in accordance with Section 6.11(c)
will be deemed to be “continuing directors” of United.
(b) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by United and Merger Sub nor the
consummation by United and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby,
nor compliance by United and Merger Sub with any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement, will (i) assuming (solely in the case of the Restated
Charter and the Share Issuance) that the United Stockholder Approvals are
obtained, violate any provision of the United Charter or the United Bylaws or
result in a Prohibited Transfer (as defined in the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of United, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time)
or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in
Section 3.4 are
duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any order, injunction or decree
issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint
or prohibition (an “Injunction”) or,
assuming (solely in the case of the Restated Charter and Share Issuance) that
the United Stockholder Approvals are obtained, any statute, code, ordinance,
rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree applicable to United, any of
the United Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or
(B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the
loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the
termination of or a right of termination or cancelation under, accelerate the
performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
respective properties or assets of United or any of the United Subsidiaries
under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, deed of trust, United License, license, lease, agreement or other
instrument or obligation to which United or any of the United Subsidiaries is a
party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be
bound or affected, except, in the case of clause (ii), for such
violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, rights of termination
or cancelation, accelerations or Liens that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as of the date of this
Agreement, United is not a party to, or subject to, any standstill agreement or
similar agreement that restricts any Person from engaging in negotiations or
discussions with United or from acquiring, or making any tender offer or
exchange offer for, any equity securities issued by United or any United Voting
Debt.
(c) Merger
Sub has full corporate or other requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of Directors of Merger Sub. The Board of
Directors of Merger Sub has determined that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby are in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole
stockholder, has approved this Agreement, recommended that its sole stockholder
vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and directed that this Agreement
be submitted to its sole stockholder for adoption. Except, solely in
the case of the Merger, for the adoption of this Agreement by United as the sole
stockholder of Merger Sub, no other corporate proceeding on the part of Merger
Sub is necessary to approve or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby (except for the filing of the appropriate
merger documents as required by Delaware Law). This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by Merger Sub and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of Merger Sub enforceable against Merger Sub in
accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally and the availability of equitable remedies).
3.4 Consents and
Approvals. Except for (a) any application, filing or
submission required to be made and any consent, approval, authorization or
authority required to be made or obtained under Title 49 of the United States
Code or under any regulation, rule, order, notice or policy of the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration (the “FAA”), the U.S.
Department of Transportation (the “DOT”), the Federal
Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (the “DHS”), including the
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (the “TSA”), (b) the filing
with the SEC of a Joint Proxy Statement in definitive form relating to the
United Stockholders Meeting and the Continental Stockholders Meeting (the “Joint Proxy
Statement”) and of a registration statement on Form S-4 in which the
Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus (the “Form S-4”), and
declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and the filing with the SEC
of such reports under, and such other compliance with, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (c) the filing of
the Merger Certificate and the Restated Charter with the Delaware Secretary of
State pursuant to Delaware Law and with the relevant authorities in other
jurisdictions in which United is qualified to do business, (d) any notices or
filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the “HSR Act”), or
any notices, filings or approvals under any other applicable competition, merger
control, antitrust or similar Law or regulation, (e) such filings and approvals
as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws
of various states in connection with the Share Issuance, (f) any consent,
approval, order, authorization, authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer,
registration, declaration or filing required to be made or obtained from any
other Governmental Entity that regulates any aspect of airline operations or
business, including environmental (e.g., noise, air emissions
and water quality), aircraft, air traffic control and airport communications,
agricultural, export/import, immigration and customs, (g) any filings required
under the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (the “NASDAQ”), and (h)
such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations, transfers, waivers, disclaimers, and filings the failure of which
to be obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United, no consents, approvals
of, filings or registrations with, or orders, authorizations or authority of any
federal, state, local or foreign government, court of competent jurisdiction,
administrative agency, commission or other governmental authority or
instrumentality (each, a “Governmental Entity”)
are necessary in connection with (i) the execution and delivery by United
and Merger Sub of this Agreement and (ii) the consummation of the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.5 Reports. United
and each of the United Subsidiaries have timely filed all submissions, reports,
registrations, schedules, forms, statements and other documents, together with
any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they were required
to file since January 1, 2009 with (i) the FAA, (ii) the DOT, (iii) the
SEC, (iv) any state or other federal regulatory authority (other than any
taxing authority, which is covered by Section 3.10) and
(v) any foreign regulatory authority (other than any taxing authority,
which is covered by Section 3.10)
(collectively, “Regulatory
Agencies”), and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in
connection therewith, except in each case where the failure to file such report,
registration, schedule, form, statement or other document, or to pay such fees
and assessments, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United. No publicly
available final registration statement, prospectus, report, form, schedule or
definitive proxy statement filed since January 1, 2009 by United with the SEC
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or
the Exchange Act (collectively, the “United SEC Reports”),
as of the date of such United SEC Report, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of
the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except that
information as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) will be
deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. Since January 1,
2009, as of their respective dates, all United SEC Reports complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)
and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect thereto.
3.6 Financial
Statements. (a) United has previously made
available to Continental copies of (i) the consolidated balance sheet of United
and the United Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash
flows and stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2009, as reported in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, including any amendments thereto
filed with the SEC prior to the Measurement Date, filed with the SEC under the
Exchange Act, accompanied by the audit report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the
independent registered public accounting firm with respect to United for such
periods (such balance sheets and statements, the “Audited United Financial
Statements”), and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of United
and the United Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2010 and the related consolidated
statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and
stockholders’ equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2010,
as reported in United’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2010, including any amendments thereto filed with the SEC prior
to the Measurement Date (such balance sheets and statements, the “Unaudited United Financial
Statements” and, together with the Audited United Financial Statements,
the “United Financial
Statements”). The consolidated balance sheets of United
(including the related notes, where applicable) included in the United Financial
Statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial
position of United and the United Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and the
other financial statements included in the United Financial Statements
(including the related notes, where applicable) fairly present in all material
respects the results of the consolidated operations and changes in stockholders’
equity and cash flows of United and the United Subsidiaries for the respective
fiscal periods therein set forth, subject, in the case of the Unaudited United
Financial Statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments that are immaterial
in nature and in amounts consistent with past experience; each of such
statements (including the related notes, where applicable) complies in all
material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto; and each of the United Financial Statements (including the
related notes, where applicable) has been prepared in all material respects in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
(“GAAP”)
consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as
indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. To United’s
knowledge, there is no applicable accounting rule, consensus or pronouncement
that has been adopted by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the
Emerging Issues Task Force or any similar body as of, but is not in effect as
of, the date of this Agreement that, if implemented, would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United (it being agreed that for
purposes of this Section 3.6(a),
effects resulting from or arising in connection with the matters set forth in
clause (vi) of
the definition of the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in
determining whether a Material Adverse Effect on United would reasonably be
expected to occur).
(b) Except
for those liabilities that are reflected or reserved against on the United
Financial Statements, and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since March 31, 2010, since such date,
neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of
any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and
whether due or to become due and including any off-balance sheet loans,
financings, indebtedness, make-whole or similar liabilities or obligations) that
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United.
3.7 Brokers’
Fees. None of United, any United Subsidiary or any of their
respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred
any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection
with the Merger or related transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other
than Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., each of which
firms United retained pursuant to an engagement letter. United has
delivered to Continental true and complete copies of such engagement letters
under which any fees or expenses are payable and all indemnification and other
agreements related to the engagement of the Persons to whom such fees are
payable.
3.8 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. (a) Since March 31, 2010, no event or
events or development or developments have occurred that have had or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on United.
(b) Except
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, from March 31, 2010 through the
date of this Agreement, United and the United Subsidiaries have carried on their
respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary
course.
3.9 Legal
Proceedings. (a) None of United or any of the
United Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to United’s
knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings,
claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations or reviews of any
nature against United or any of the United Subsidiaries, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on United.
(b) There
is no Injunction, judgment or regulatory restriction imposed upon United, any of
the United Subsidiaries or the assets of United or any of the United
Subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United.
3.10 Taxes and Tax
Returns. (a) Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United:
(i) United and the United Subsidiaries have timely filed, taking into account
any extensions, all Tax Returns required to be filed by them (all such returns
being accurate and complete) and have paid all Taxes required to be paid by them
other than Taxes that are not yet due or that are being contested in good faith
in appropriate proceedings; (ii) there are no Liens for Taxes on any assets of
United or the United Subsidiaries; (iii) no deficiency for any Tax has been
asserted or assessed by a Tax authority against United or any of the United
Subsidiaries which deficiency has not been paid or is not being contested in
good faith in appropriate proceedings; (iv) United and the United Subsidiaries
have provided adequate reserves in their financial statements for any Taxes that
have not been paid; and (v) neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries is
a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification
agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement
exclusively between or among United and the United Subsidiaries).
(b) Within
the past five years, neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has been
a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution
intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the
Code.
(c) United
is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to
prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(d) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has been a party to a transaction
that, as of the date of this Agreement, constitutes a “listed transaction” for
purposes of Section 6011 of the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations
thereunder (or a similar provision of state law).
(e) No
disallowance of a deduction under Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code, or
imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, for any amount paid
or payable by United or any of the United Subsidiaries as employee compensation,
whether under any contract, plan, program or arrangement, understanding or
otherwise, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on United, either as a result of the Merger or
otherwise.
(f) Section 3.10(f) of
the United Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the amount on December 31, 2009
(and determined based on information available as of the date of this Agreement)
of net operating losses, capital losses and alternative minimum tax credits and
other credits of the consolidated group of which United is the common parent for
Federal income Tax purposes, (ii) dates of expiration of such items and (iii)
any limitations on such items. As of the date of this Agreement,
neither United nor any United Subsidiary has undergone an ownership change
(within the meaning of Section 382(g)(1) of the Code) since February 1,
2006.
(g) As
used in this Agreement, the term “Tax” or “Taxes” means (i) all
federal, state, local and foreign income, excise, gross receipts, gross income,
ad valorem, profits, gains, property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll,
employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise,
environmental, stamp, disability, escheat, production, value-added, occupancy,
backup withholding and other taxes, or other like charges, levies or like
assessments imposed by a Governmental Entity, together with all penalties and
additions to tax and interest thereon and (ii) any liability for Taxes described
in clause (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Law), and the term “Tax Return” means any
return, filing, report, questionnaire, information statement or other document
(including elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and
information returns) required or permitted to be filed, including any amendments
that may be filed, for any taxable period with any Tax authority (whether or not
a payment is required to be made with respect to such filing).
3.11 Employee Benefit
Plans. (a) As used herein, “United Benefit Plan”
shall mean each material benefit or compensation plan, program, fund, contract,
arrangement or agreement, including any material bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, vacation, stock purchase, stock option, severance, employment,
golden parachute, retention, salary continuation, change of control, retirement,
pension, profit sharing or fringe benefit plan, program, fund, contract,
arrangement or agreement of any kind (whether written or oral, tax-qualified or
non-tax qualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic, active, frozen or
terminated) and any related trust, insurance contract, escrow account or similar
funding arrangement, that is maintained or contributed to by United or any
United Subsidiary (or required to be maintained or contributed to by United or
any United Subsidiary) for the benefit of current or former directors, officers
or employees of, or consultants to, United or any of the United Subsidiaries or
with respect to which United or any of the United Subsidiaries may, directly or
indirectly, have any liability, as of the date of this Agreement.
(b) As
of the date of this Agreement, United has heretofore made available to
Continental true and complete copies of (i) each written United Benefit Plan,
(ii) the most recent actuarial report for each United Benefit Plan (if
applicable), (iii) the most recent determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service (“IRS”) (if applicable)
for each United Benefit Plan, (iv) the current summary plan description of
each United Benefit Plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), together
with each summary of material modifications, (v) a copy of the description
of each United Benefit Plan not subject to ERISA that is currently provided to
participants in such plan, (vi) the most recent annual report for each
United Benefit Plan (if applicable) (excluding the Schedule SSA), (vii) each
trust agreement, group annuity contract and insurance contract relating to any
United Benefit Plan and (viii) a summary of the material terms of each
unwritten United Benefit Plan.
(c) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United, (i) each of the United Benefit Plans has been
operated and administered in compliance with its terms and applicable Law,
including ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of the United Benefit Plans intended to
be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so
qualified, and there are no existing circumstances or any events that have
occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified
status of any such United Benefit Plan, and each such plan has a favorable
determination letter from the IRS to the effect that it is so qualified or the
applicable remedial amendment period has not expired and, if the letter for such
plan is not current, such plan is the subject of a timely request for a current
favorable determination letter or the applicable remedial amendment period has
not expired, (iii) with respect to each United Benefit Plan that is subject to
Title IV of ERISA and that is not a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA, the present value (as defined under Section 3(27) of
ERISA) of accumulated benefit obligations under such United Benefit Plan, based
upon the actuarial assumptions used for funding purposes in the most recent
actuarial report prepared by such United Benefit Plan’s actuary with respect to
such United Benefit Plan, did not, as of such valuation date, exceed the then
current value (as defined under Section 3(26) of ERISA) of the assets of such
United Benefit Plan allocable to such accrued benefits, no liability to the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) has been
incurred (other than with respect to required premium payments), no notice of
intent to terminate has been given under Section 4041 of ERISA, no termination
proceeding has been instituted by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, there
has been no event or condition that presents a significant risk of termination,
funding requirements under Section 302 of ERISA have been met and, within the
six-year period preceding the date of this Agreement, no reportable event,
within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (for which notice or disclosure
requirements have not been waived), has been incurred, (iv) no United Benefit
Plan that is an employee welfare benefit plan (including any plan described in
Section 3(1) of ERISA, a “Welfare Plan”)
provides benefits coverage, including death or medical benefits coverage
(whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees or
directors of United or the United Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other
termination of service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable Law, (B)
benefits the full cost of which is borne by such current or former employee or
director (or his or her beneficiary), (C) coverage through the last day of the
calendar month in which retirement or other termination of service occurs, (D)
medical expense reimbursement accounts, (E) death benefit or retirement benefits
under any “employee pension benefit plan,” as that term is defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA, or (F) deferred compensation benefits accrued as liabilities on
the books of United, (v) no liability under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred
by United, the United Subsidiaries or any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated, all of which together with United would be deemed a “single
employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414 (o) of the
Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA (a “United ERISA
Affiliate”), that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists
that presents a material risk to United, the United Subsidiaries or any United
ERISA Affiliate of incurring a liability thereunder, (vi) no United Benefit Plan
is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA),
(vii) none of United or any of the United Subsidiaries nor, to United’s
knowledge, any other Person, including any fiduciary, has engaged in a
transaction in connection with which United, the United Subsidiaries or any
United Benefit Plan would reasonably be expected to be subject to either a civil
penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a Tax imposed
pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code, (viii) to United’s knowledge,
there are no pending, threatened or anticipated claims (other than routine
claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the United Benefit Plans
or any trusts, insurance contracts, escrow accounts or similar funding
arrangements related thereto, (ix) all contributions or other amounts required
to be paid by United or the United Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with
respect to each United Benefit Plan in respect of the current and previous five
plan years have been paid in accordance with Section 412 or Section 430 of the
Code, as applicable, and for the same period any material expense incurred with
respect to a United Benefit Plan has been accrued in accordance with GAAP, (x)
since December 31, 2009, no United Benefit Plan has been amended or modified in
any material respect or adopted or terminated, (xi) there is no judgment,
Injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding
against or in favor of any United Benefit Plan or any fiduciary thereof (other
than rules of general applicability), (xii) there are no pending or, to United’s
knowledge, threatened audits or investigations by any Governmental Entity or any
other matter pending before any Governmental Entity (other than routine filings
and ruling requests) involving any United Benefit Plan, (xiii) no event has
occurred, and to United’s knowledge, there exists no circumstances with respect
to a United Benefit Plan that would reasonably be expected to subject United or
any of the United Subsidiaries to liability under ERISA, the Code or other
applicable Law, (xiv) with respect to any United Benefit Plan or any
multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, maintained by
or participated in by United or any of the United Subsidiaries within the
six-year period preceding the date of this Agreement, no withdrawal liability,
within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been incurred, which liability
has not been satisfied and (xv) each United Benefit Plan that is an employee
welfare benefit plan (including any such United Benefit Plan covering retirees
or other former employees) may be amended or terminated without material
liability to United and the United Subsidiaries on or at any time after the
Effective Time.
(d) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United, neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result
in any payment or benefit (including severance, retention, stay-put, change in
control, unemployment compensation, “excess parachute payment” (within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code), tax gross-up, forgiveness of indebtedness
or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or employee of, or any
consultant to, United or any of the United Subsidiaries from United or any of
the United Subsidiaries under any United Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii)
increase any amounts or benefits otherwise payable or due to any such Person
under any United Benefit Plan or otherwise, or (iii) result in any acceleration
of the time of payment or vesting of, or any requirement to fund or secure, any
such amounts or benefits (including any United Stock Option or United
Stock-Based Award) or result in any breach of or default under any United
Benefit Plan.
(e) Neither
United nor any United Subsidiary has liability or obligations, including under
or on account of a United Benefit Plan, arising out of United’s or one of the
United Subsidiaries’ hiring of persons to provide services to United or one of
the United Subsidiaries and treating such persons as consultants or independent
contractors and not as employees, except where such liability or obligation
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United.
(f) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has unfunded liabilities with respect
to any United Benefit Plan that is a “pension plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA) that covers current or former non-U.S. employees of
United or any of the United Subsidiaries that, if required to be immediately
funded, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on United.
(g) Neither
United, nor any of the United Subsidiaries, nor any United ERISA Affiliate, nor
any of the United Benefit Plans, nor any trust created thereunder, nor, to
United’s knowledge, any trustee or administrator thereof, has engaged in a
prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA and Section
4975 of the Code) in connection with which United, any of the United
Subsidiaries or any of the United Benefit Plans that would, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United.
(h) With
respect to any employee pension benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA, that is not a United Benefit Plan, but that is sponsored, maintained
or contributed to, or has been sponsored, maintained or contributed to within
the six-year period preceding the Effective Time by any United ERISA Affiliate,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on United, (i) no withdrawal liability, within
the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been incurred, which withdrawal
liability has not been satisfied, (ii) no liability to the PBGC has been
incurred by a United ERISA Affiliate, which liability has not been satisfied,
(iii) no violation of funding requirements under Section 302 of ERISA has been
incurred, and (iv) all contributions (including installments) required by
Section 302 of ERISA have been timely made.
(i) None
of United, any of the United Subsidiaries or any United ERISA Affiliate is a
party to any agreement with the PBGC respecting any United Benefit Plan or
respecting any employee pension benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA, that is not a United Benefit Plan, which agreement contains
obligations or covenants respecting United, any of the United Subsidiaries or
any United ERISA Affiliate that continue beyond the date of this
Agreement.
(j) As
of the date of this Agreement, none of United, any of the United Subsidiaries or
any United ERISA Affiliate has received a notice from the PBGC that United is in
material breach of its obligations to the PBGC pursuant to the Global Settlement
Agreement.
3.12 Labor and Employment
Matters. As of the date of this Agreement, Section 3.12 of the
United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of collective
bargaining or other labor union contracts applicable to any domestic employees
of United or any of the United Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof,
there is no strike, work stoppage or lockout by or with respect to any employee
of United, except where such strike, work stoppage or lockout, individually or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on United. As of the date hereof, (i) neither United nor any
of the United Subsidiaries has breached or otherwise failed to comply with any
provision of any collective bargaining or other labor union contract applicable
to any employees of United or any of the United Subsidiaries and (ii) there are
no written grievances or written complaints outstanding or, to United’s
knowledge, threatened against United or any of the United Subsidiaries under any
such contract except for any breaches, failures to comply, grievances or
complaints that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United. United has made
available to Continental and its representatives true and complete copies of all
contracts set forth in Section 3.12 of
the United Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments applicable to such
contracts.
3.13 Internal
Control. United and the United Subsidiaries have designed and
maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial
reporting. United (i) has designed and maintains disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act)
to ensure that all information required to be disclosed by United in the reports
that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and
forms and is accumulated and communicated to United’s management as appropriate
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (ii) has disclosed,
based on its most recent evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures
and internal control over financial reporting prior to the date of this
Agreement, to United’s auditors and the audit committee of the United Board (A)
any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation
of internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to
adversely affect in any material respect United’s ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not
material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant
role in United’s internal control over financial reporting. Since
December 31, 2009, none of United, United’s independent accountants, the
United Board or the audit committee of the United Board has received any oral or
written notification of any matter set forth in the preceding clause (A) or (B).
3.14 Compliance with Laws;
Licenses. (a) The businesses of each of United and
the United Subsidiaries have been conducted in compliance with all federal,
state, local or foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations,
judgments, orders, Injunctions, arbitration awards, agency requirements,
licenses and permits of all Governmental Entities (each, a “Law” and
collectively, “Laws”), all
applicable operating certificates, air carrier obligations, airworthiness
directives (“ADs”), Federal
Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) and any other
rules, regulations, directives, orders and policies of the FAA, DOT, DHS, FCC,
TSA and any other Governmental Entity, except where the failure to so comply
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United. No investigation or review by any
Governmental Entity with respect to United or any of the United Subsidiaries is
pending or, to United’s knowledge, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity
indicated an intention to conduct the same, except for any such investigations
or reviews that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United. Each of United
and the United Subsidiaries has all governmental permits, authorizations,
waivers, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders, operating
certificates, Slots and air service designations issued or granted by a
Governmental Entity and all other authorizations, consents, certificates of
public convenience and/or necessity and approvals issued or granted by a
Governmental Entity (collectively, “Licenses” and the
terms “United
Licenses” and “Continental Licenses”
will mean Licenses of United or any of the United Subsidiaries or Continental or
any of the Continental Subsidiaries, respectively) necessary to conduct its
business as presently conducted, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United.
(b) United
and each of the United Subsidiaries are in compliance with (i) their respective
obligations under each of the United Licenses and (ii) the rules and regulations
of the Governmental Entity issuing such United Licenses, except, in either case,
for such failures to be in compliance as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United. There is not pending or, to United’s knowledge, threatened by
or before the FAA, DOT or any other Governmental Entity any material proceeding,
notice of violation, order of forfeiture or complaint or investigation against
United or any of the United Subsidiaries relating to any of the United Licenses,
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on United. The actions of the
applicable Governmental Entities granting all United Licenses have not been
reversed, stayed, enjoined, annulled or suspended, and there is not pending or,
to United’s knowledge, threatened, any material application, petition, objection
or other pleading with the FAA, DOT or any other Governmental Entity that
challenges or questions the validity of or any rights of the holder under any
United License, in each case, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United.
3.15 Certain
Contracts. (a) As of the date of this Agreement,
neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any
contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) (i)
that is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of SEC
Regulation S-K) to be performed after the date of this Agreement that has not
been filed or incorporated by reference in the United SEC Reports filed prior to
the date of this Agreement, (ii) other than the collective bargaining agreements
and other contracts set forth in Section 3.12 of the
United Disclosure Schedule, that materially restricts the conduct of any
material line of business by United or upon consummation of the Merger will
materially restrict the ability of United and any of the United Subsidiaries to
engage in any line of business material to United, or to United’s knowledge,
Continental, (iii) that is a joint venture, partnership, business alliance
(excluding information technology contracts), code sharing, capacity purchase,
pro-rate or frequent flyer agreement (including all material amendments to each
of the foregoing agreements) the termination, cancellation or breach of which
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United or a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental or (iv) pursuant to which any
Indebtedness of United or any of the United Subsidiaries is outstanding or may
be incurred (except for such Indebtedness the aggregate principal amount of
which does not exceed $25 million) that has not been filed or incorporated
by reference in the United SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement.
(b) Each
contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (i) of the type described in
clauses (i) -
(iii) of Section 3.15(a),
whether or not set forth in the United Disclosure Schedule, or (ii) filed
as an exhibit to the United SEC Reports, is referred to as a “United Contract,” and
neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries knows of, or has received
notice of, any violation of any United Contract by any of the other parties
thereto that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on United.
(c) With
such exceptions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United, (i) each United Contract
is valid and binding on United or the applicable United Subsidiary, as
applicable, and is in full force and effect, except to the extent it has
previously expired in accordance with its terms, (ii) United and each of the
United Subsidiaries have performed all obligations required to be performed by
it to date under each United Contract, and (iii) no event or condition exists
that constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a
default on the part of United or any of the United Subsidiaries under any such
United Contract or give any other party to any United Contract the right to
terminate or cancel such contract.
(d) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries is party to, or otherwise bound by,
any agreement with the PBGC the terms or conditions of which would prohibit or
prevent the Continental Benefit Plans from being maintained after the Effective
Time in the manner contemplated in Section 6.12 of
this Agreement.
3.16 Environmental
Liability.
(a) Permits and
Authorizations. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United,
each of United and the United Subsidiaries possesses all material Environmental
Permits necessary to conduct its businesses and operations as currently
conducted.
(b) Compliance. Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United, each of United and the United Subsidiaries is
in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and all Environmental
Permits, and neither United nor any United Subsidiary has received any (A)
communication from any Governmental Entity or other person that alleges that
United or any United Subsidiary has violated or is liable under any
Environmental Law or (B) written request for material information pursuant to
Section 104(e) of the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act or similar state statute concerning the disposal of Hazardous
Materials.
(c) Environmental
Claims. There are no Environmental Claims (A) pending or, to
United’s knowledge, threatened against United or any of the United Subsidiaries
or (B) to United’s knowledge, pending or threatened against any person whose
liability for any Environmental Claim United or any of the United Subsidiaries
has retained or assumed, either contractually or by operation of law, in each
case other than Environmental Claims that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United. Neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has
contractually retained or assumed any liabilities or obligations that would
reasonably be expected to provide the basis for any Environmental Claim that
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United.
(d) Releases. To
United’s knowledge, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Materials that
would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim that
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United.
(e) Definitions.
(A) “Environmental Claims”
means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, orders,
decrees, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, claims, Liens,
investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance or violation by any
Governmental Entity or other person alleging potential responsibility or
liability (including potential responsibility or liability for costs of
enforcement, investigation, cleanup, governmental response, removal or
remediation, for natural resources damages, property damage, personal injuries
or penalties or for contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation
or injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or related to (x) the presence,
Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials at any
location, whether or not owned, operated, leased or managed by United and the
United Subsidiaries or by Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries, as
applicable, or (y) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or
alleged violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.
(B)
“Environmental
Laws” means all domestic or foreign (whether national, federal, state,
provincial or otherwise) laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, common law,
judgments or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with
any Governmental Entity relating to pollution or protection of the environment
(including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, soils or subsurface strata)
or protection of human health as it relates to the environment, including laws
and regulations relating to Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous
Materials or otherwise relating to the generation, manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, handling of or exposure to
Hazardous Materials.
(C)
“Environmental
Permits” means all permits, licenses, registrations and other
authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws.
(D)
“Hazardous
Materials” means all hazardous, toxic, explosive or radioactive
substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum
distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls
(“PCBs”) or
PCB-containing materials or equipment, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes
and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any
Environmental Law.
(E) “Release” means any
release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit,
disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment
(including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface
strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
3.17 State Takeover
Laws. The United Board has approved this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and has adopted all other such resolutions, in
each case as required to render inapplicable to such agreements and transactions
Delaware Law Section 203, and, to United’s knowledge, there are no other similar
“takeover” or “interested stockholder” Laws applicable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (any such Laws, “Takeover
Statutes”).
3.18 United
Information. The information relating to United and the United
Subsidiaries that is provided by United or its representatives for inclusion in
the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4, or in any other document filed
with any other Regulatory Agency in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will not (i) in the case of the
Form S-4, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time
it is amended or supplemented or at the time it is declared effective under the
Securities Act, and (ii) in the case of the Joint Proxy Statement, at the
date it is first mailed to each of United’s and Continental’s stockholders or at
the time of each of the United Stockholders Meeting and the Continental
Stockholders Meeting, 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 in which they are made, not
misleading. The Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement (except for
such portions thereof that relate only to Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
3.19 Affiliate
Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no
transactions, contracts, arrangements, commitments or understandings between
United or any of the United Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of United’s
affiliates (other than wholly-owned United Subsidiaries), on the other hand,
that would be required to be disclosed by United under Item 404 of Regulation
S-K under the Securities Act (the “United S-K 404
Arrangements”).
3.20 Aircraft. (a) Section 3.20(a)(i) of
the United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of (i) all
aircraft operated under the operating certificate of United or any of the United
Subsidiaries and (ii) all aircraft owned or leased by United or any of the
United Subsidiaries, in each case as of March 31, 2010 (collectively, the “United Aircraft”),
including a description of the type and manufacturer serial number of each such
aircraft. Section 3.20(a)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as of the
date of this Agreement, containing all United Contracts (other than (x) existing
aircraft leases or (y) contracts that may be terminated or canceled by
United or any of the United Subsidiaries without incurring any penalty or other
material liability except for the forfeiture of any previously made prepayment
or deposit) pursuant to which United or any of the United Subsidiaries has a
binding obligation to purchase or lease aircraft, including the manufacturer and
model of all aircraft subject to such United Contract, the nature of the
purchase or lease obligation (i.e., firm commitment,
subject to reconfirmation or otherwise) and the anticipated year of delivery of
each aircraft of such United Contract. Except as identified in
writing by United to Continental prior to the date of this Agreement, United has
delivered or made available to Continental redacted (as to pricing and other
commercially sensitive terms) copies of all United Contracts listed on Section 3.20(a)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments, modifications and
supplements thereto.
(b) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United:
(i)
each United Aircraft has a validly issued, current individual aircraft FAA
Certificate of Airworthiness with respect to such United Aircraft and all
requirements for the effectiveness of such FAA Certificate of Airworthiness have
been satisfied;
(ii) other
than any grounded United Aircraft, each United Aircraft’s structure, systems and
components are functioning in accordance with their respective intended uses as
set forth in any applicable FAA-approved maintenance program (or are in the
process of repair or maintenance), including any applicable manuals, technical
standard orders or parts manufacturing approval certificates, and all grounded
United Aircraft are being stored in accordance with any applicable FAA-approved
maintenance program;
(iii) all
deferred maintenance items and temporary repairs with respect to each such
United Aircraft have been or will be made materially in accordance with any
applicable FAA-approved maintenance programs;
(iv) each
United Aircraft is properly registered on the FAA aircraft
registry;
(v) neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries is a party to any interchange or
pooling agreements with respect to its United Aircraft, other than parts pooling
agreements in the ordinary course of business; and
(vi) neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has retained any maintenance
obligations with respect to any United Aircraft that has been leased by United
or any United Subsidiary to a third party lessee.
(c) Section 3.20(c)(i) of
the United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as of March
31, 2010, of all aircraft operated on behalf of United pursuant to a capacity
purchase or pro-rate agreement (a “United Contract Flight
Agreement”), including a description of the operator, type and number of
each such aircraft and any minimum utilization requirements applicable to such
aircraft. Section 3.20(c)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as of the
date of this Agreement, containing all United Contract Flight
Agreements. Except as identified in writing by United to Continental
prior to the date of this Agreement, United has delivered or made available to
Continental redacted (as to pricing and other commercially sensitive terms)
copies of all United Contract Flight Agreements listed on Section 3.20(c)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments
thereto.
(d) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United, to United’s knowledge, as of the date of this
Agreement, there is no ongoing strike, work stoppage or lockout by or with
respect to any employee of any counterparty to a United Contract Flight
Agreement.
3.21 United Slots and Operating
Rights. Section 3.21 of the
United Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all
takeoff and landing slots, operating authorizations from the FAA or any other
Governmental Entity and other similar designated takeoff and landing rights used
or held by United and the United Subsidiaries (the “United Slots”) on the
date of this Agreement at any domestic or international airport and such list
shall indicate any United Slots that have been permanently allocated to another
air carrier and in which United and the United Subsidiaries hold only temporary
use rights. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United, (i) United
and the United Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the regulations issued under the FAA and any other Laws with
respect to the United Slots, (ii) neither United nor any of the United
Subsidiaries has received any notice of any proposed withdrawal of the United
Slots by the FAA or any other Governmental Entity, (iii)(A) the United
Slots have not been designated for the provision of essential air service under
the regulations of the FAA, were not acquired pursuant to 14 C.F.R.
Section 93.219 and have not been designated for international operations,
as more fully detailed in 14 C.F.R. Section 93.217 and (B) to the
extent covered by 14 C.F.R. Section 93.227 or any order, notice or
requirement of the FAA or any other Governmental Entity, United and the United
Subsidiaries have used the United Slots (or the United Slots have been used by
other operators) either at least 80% of the maximum amount that each United Slot
could have been used during each full reporting period (as described in
14 C.F.R. Section 93.227(i) or any such order, notice or requirement) or
such greater or lesser amount of minimum usage as may have been required to
protect such United Slot’s authorization from termination or withdrawal under
regulations or waivers established by any Governmental Entity or airport
authority, (iv) all reports required by the FAA or any other Governmental
Entity relating to the United Slots have been filed in a timely manner and
(v) neither United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has agreed to any
future United Slot slide, United Slot trade (except for seasonal swaps), United
Slot purchase, United Slot sale, United Slot exchange, United Slot lease or
United Slot transfer of any of the United Slots that has not been consummated or
otherwise reflected on Section 3.21 of the
United Disclosure Schedule.
3.22 Intellectual
Property.
(a) To
United’s knowledge, the conduct of the business as currently conducted by United
and the United Subsidiaries does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise
violate the Intellectual Property Rights of any third Person, and in the
three-year period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement there has
been no such claim, action or proceeding asserted or, to United’s knowledge,
threatened against United or any of the United Subsidiaries or any indemnitee
thereof, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United. There is no
claim, action or proceeding asserted or, to United’s knowledge, threatened
against United or any of the United Subsidiaries or any indemnitee thereof
concerning the ownership, validity, registerability, enforceability,
infringement, use or licensed right to use any Intellectual Property Rights
claimed to be owned or held by United or any of the United Subsidiaries or used
or alleged to be used in the business of United or any of the United
Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United.
(b) The
computer software and databases (including source code, object code and all
related documentation) (the “Computer Software”),
computers, firmware, middleware, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches,
data communications lines and all other information technology equipment and
elements and all associated documentation (collectively, with Computer Software,
the “IT
Assets”) of United and the United Subsidiaries (i) operate and
perform in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications and
otherwise as required by United and the United Subsidiaries for the operation of
their respective businesses and (ii) have not malfunctioned or failed
within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement,
except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on United. United and the United Subsidiaries
have implemented and maintained for the three-year period immediately preceding
the date of this Agreement reasonable and sufficient backup and disaster
recovery technology consistent with industry practices, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on United.
3.23 Major United
Airports. As of the date of this Agreement, no airport
authority at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport,
Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport or
Washington Dulles International Airport (each such airport, a “Major United
Airport”) has taken or, to United’s knowledge, threatened to take any
action that would reasonably be expected to materially interfere with the
ability of United and the United Subsidiaries to conduct their respective
operations at any Major United Airport in the same manner as currently conducted
in all material respects.
3.24 Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act. Except for such matters as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
United, as of the date of this Agreement:
(a) United
and the United Subsidiaries have developed and implemented a compliance program
that includes corporate policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance
with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended (the “Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act”).
(b) In
connection with United’s and the United Subsidiaries’ compliance with the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, there have been no voluntary disclosures under
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
(c) No
Governmental Entity has notified United or any of the United Subsidiaries in
writing of any actual or alleged violation or breach of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act.
(d) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has undergone or is undergoing any
audit, review, inspection, investigation, survey or examination of records, in
each case conducted by a Governmental Entity and relating to United’s or the
United Subsidiaries’ compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and to
United’s knowledge, there is no basis for any such audit, review, inspection,
investigation, survey or examination of records by a Governmental
Entity.
(e) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has been or is now under any
administrative, civil or criminal charge or indictment or, to United’s
knowledge, investigation, alleging noncompliance with the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, nor, to United’s knowledge, is there any basis for any such
charge, indictment or investigation.
(f) Neither
United nor any of the United Subsidiaries has been or is now a party to any
administrative or civil litigation alleging noncompliance with the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act, nor, to United’s knowledge, is there any basis for any
such proceeding.
3.25 U.S. Citizen; Air
Carrier. United’s primary Subsidiary, United Air Lines, Inc.,
is a “citizen of the United States” as defined in the Federal Aviation Act and
is an “air carrier” within the meaning of such Act operating under certificates
issued pursuant to such Act (49 U.S.C. Sections 41101-41112).
3.26 Fairness
Opinions. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, United has
received the oral opinion (to be confirmed in writing) of each of Goldman, Sachs
& Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. to the effect that, as of the date
thereof and based upon and subject to the matters and limitations set forth in
such written opinions, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view
to United. Such opinions have not been amended or rescinded as of the
date of this Agreement. Copies of the written opinions of each of
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. will be delivered
to Continental for informational purposes only promptly following receipt
thereof by United.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF CONTINENTAL
Except as disclosed in the disclosure
letter (the “Continental Disclosure
Schedule”) delivered by Continental to United prior to the execution of
this Agreement (which letter sets forth items of disclosure with specific
reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement to which the
information in the Continental Disclosure Schedule relates) or in the
Continental SEC Reports filed and publicly available prior to the date of this
Agreement, Continental hereby represents and warrants to United and Merger Sub
as follows:
4.1 Corporate
Organization. (a) Continental is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Continental has the corporate power and authority to own or
lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes
such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(b) True
and complete copies of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Continental, as amended through, and as in effect as of, the date of this
Agreement (the “Continental
Charter”), and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Continental, as amended
through, and as in effect as of, the date of this Agreement (the “Continental Bylaws”),
have previously been made available to United.
(c) Each
Continental Subsidiary (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly
licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of
the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and
assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary and
(iii) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, except for
such variances from the matters set forth in any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental.
4.2 Capitalization.
(a) Authorized
and Issued Shares.
(i) As
of the date of this Agreement, the authorized Continental capital stock consists
of (A) 400,000,000 shares of Continental Common Stock, of which, as of the
Measurement Date, 139,707,205 shares were issued and outstanding, none of which
were Continental Restricted Shares, and (B) 10,000,000 shares of
Continental preferred stock, of which, as of the Measurement Date, zero shares
of Continental Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Continental Preferred
Stock,” and together with the Continental Common Stock, “Continental Capital
Stock”) were issued and outstanding. As of the Measurement
Date, no shares of Continental Capital Stock were held in Continental’s
treasury. As of the Measurement Date, no shares of Continental’s
capital stock or other voting securities of or equity interests in Continental
were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding except as set forth in this
Section
4.2(a)(i). All of the issued and outstanding shares of
Continental Capital Stock are and, at the time of issuance, all such shares that
may be issued upon the exercise or vesting of, or pursuant to, Continental Stock
Options or Continental Stock-Based Awards or upon the conversion of the
Continental Convertible Notes, Continental Convertible Debentures, Continental
2015 Convertible Notes, TIDES or Continental Convertible Common Securities will
be, duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid, nonassessable and not
subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of
first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under
any provision of the Delaware Law, the Continental Charter, the Continental
Bylaws or any contract to which Continental is a party or by which it is otherwise bound. From
and after the Measurement Date through the date of this Agreement,
Continental has not issued any capital
stock or voting securities or other equity interests other than the issuance of
Continental Capital Stock upon the exercise or vesting of, or pursuant to,
Continental Stock Options and Continental Stock-Based Awards outstanding as of
the Measurement Date and in accordance with their respective terms in effect at
such time or upon the conversion of the Continental Convertible Notes,
Continental Convertible Debentures, Continental 2015 Convertible Notes,
Continental’s 6% Convertible Preferred Securities Term Income Deferrable Equity
Securities (the “TIDES”) issued
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of
November 10, 2000 of Continental Airlines Finance Trust II, as amended
to the date of this Agreement (the “Continental TIDES
Declaration of Trust”) or the 6% Convertible Common Securities of
Continental Airlines Finance Trust II, issued pursuant to the Continental TIDES
Declaration of Trust (the “Continental Convertible
Common Securities”), in each case outstanding as of the Measurement Date
and in accordance with their terms in effect at such time.
(ii) As
of the date of this Agreement, except for Continental Stock Options, rights
under the Continental Stock-Based Awards, the Continental Convertible Notes, the
Continental Convertible Notes Indenture, the Continental 2015 Convertible Notes,
the Continental 2015 Convertible Notes Indenture, the TIDES, the Continental
Convertible Common Securities, the Continental TIDES Declaration of Trust, the
Continental Convertible Debentures, the Continental Convertible Debentures
Indenture and this Agreement, there are not issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding, and there are not any outstanding obligations of Continental or any
Continental Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
delivered or sold, any Equity Equivalents of Continental or any Continental
Subsidiary. Except for Forfeitures and Cashless Settlements in
connection with the Continental Stock-Based Awards, the Continental Stock
Options and rights under the Continental SPP, there are not any outstanding
obligations of Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries to directly or
indirectly redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock
or voting securities of, other equity interests in or Equity Equivalents of
Continental or any Continental Subsidiary. Neither Continental nor
any of the Continental Subsidiaries is party to any voting agreement with
respect to the voting of any capital stock or voting securities of, or other
equity interests in, Continental. Continental has delivered or made
available to United true and complete copies of (A) the Continental
Convertible Notes Indenture, (B) the Continental 2015 Convertible Notes
Indenture, (C) the Continental TIDES Declaration of Trust and (D) the
Continental Convertible Debentures Indenture.
(b) As
of the date of this Agreement, no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
of Continental having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders may
vote (“Continental
Voting Debt”) are issued or outstanding.
(c) All
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined under
Regulation S-X of the SEC) of Continental are owned by Continental,
directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens and free of any restriction
on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other
equity ownership interest (other than restrictions under applicable securities
Laws), and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. Except for the capital stock or other equity ownership
interests of the Continental Subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement,
Continental does not beneficially own directly or indirectly any capital stock,
membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or other
equity interest in any Person that constitutes a Substantial
Investment.
4.3 Authority; No
Violation.
(a) Continental
has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly approved by the Board of Directors of Continental (the “Continental
Board”). The Continental Board has determined that this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of
Continental and its stockholders, has approved and declared advisable this
Agreement and recommended that its stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of
this Agreement and has directed that this Agreement be submitted to
Continental’s stockholders for adoption at a duly held meeting of such
stockholders for such purpose (the “Continental Stockholders
Meeting”). Except, solely in the case of the Merger, for the
adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Continental Common Stock at the Continental
Stockholders Meeting (the “Continental Stockholder
Approval”), no other corporate proceedings on the part of Continental or
any other vote by the holders of any class or series of Continental Capital
Stock are necessary to approve or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby (except for the filing of the appropriate
merger documents as required by the Delaware Law). This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by Continental and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of Continental, enforceable against Continental
in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of
creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies).
(b) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Continental nor the consummation
by Continental of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by
Continental with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i)
assuming (solely in the case of the Merger) that the Continental Stockholder
Approval is obtained, violate any provision of the Continental Charter or the
Continental Bylaws or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and
filings referred to in Section 4.4 are duly
obtained and/or made, (A) violate any Injunction or, assuming (solely in
the case of the Merger) that the Continental Stockholder Approval is obtained,
any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree
applicable to Continental, any of the Continental Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a
breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a
default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of
termination or cancelation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or
assets of Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries under, any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, Continental License, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or
obligation to which Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries is a
party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be
bound or affected, except, in the case of clause (ii), for such
violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, rights of termination
or cancelation, accelerations or Liens that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as of
the date of this Agreement, Continental is not a party to, or subject to, any
standstill agreement or similar agreement that restricts any Person from
engaging in negotiations or discussions with Continental or from acquiring, or
making any tender offer or exchange offer for, any equity securities issued by
Continental or any Continental Voting Debt.
4.4 Consents and
Approvals. Except for (a) any application, filing or
submission required to be made and any consent, approval, authorization or
authority required to be made or obtained under Title 49 of the United States
Code or under any regulation, rule, order, notice or policy of the FAA, the DOT,
the FCC and the DHS, including the TSA, (b) the filing with the SEC of the Joint
Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be
included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4,
and the filing with the SEC of such reports under, and such other compliance
with, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (c) the filing of the Merger Certificate with the Delaware Secretary
of State pursuant to Delaware Law and with the relevant authorities in other
jurisdictions in which Continental is qualified to do business, (d) any notices
or filings under the HSR Act, or any notices, filings or approvals under any
other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar Law or
regulation, (e) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or
obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection
with the Share Issuance, (f) any consent, approval, order, authorization,
authority, transfer, waiver, disclaimer, registration, declaration or filing
required to be made or obtained from any other Governmental Entity that
regulates any aspect of airline operations or business, including environmental
(e.g., noise, air
emissions and water quality), aircraft, air traffic control and airport
communications, agricultural, export/import, immigration and customs, (g) any
filings required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange
(the “NYSE”),
and (h) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations, transfers, waivers, disclaimers, and filings the failure of which
to be obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental, no consents,
approvals of, filings or registrations with, or orders, authorizations or
authority of any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with
(i) the execution and delivery by Continental of this Agreement and
(ii) the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
4.5 Reports. Continental
and each of the Continental Subsidiaries have timely filed all submissions,
reports, registrations, schedules, forms, statements and other documents,
together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they
were required to file since January 1, 2009 with the Regulatory Agencies, and
have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith,
except in each case where the failure to file such report, registration,
schedule, form, statement or other document, or to pay such fees and
assessments, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental. No publicly
available final registration statement, prospectus, report, form, schedule or
definitive proxy statement filed since January 1, 2009 by Continental with the
SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Continental SEC
Reports”), as of the date of such Continental SEC Report, contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading,
except that information as of a later date (but before the date of this
Agreement) will be deemed to modify information as of an earlier
date. Since January 1, 2009, as of their respective dates, all
Continental SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder with respect thereto.
4.6 Financial
Statements. (a) Continental has previously made
available to United copies of (i) the consolidated balance sheet of Continental
and the Continental Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash
flows and stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2009, as reported in Continental’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, including any
amendments thereto filed with the SEC prior to the Measurement Date, filed with
the SEC under the Exchange Act, accompanied by the audit report of Ernst &
Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to
Continental for such periods (such balance sheets and statements, the “Audited Continental
Financial Statements”), and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet
of Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2010 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, and condensed cash flows for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, as reported in Continental’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010,
including any amendments thereto filed with the SEC prior to the Measurement
Date (such balance sheets and statements, the “Unaudited Continental
Financial Statements” and, together with the Audited Continental
Financial Statements, the “Continental Financial
Statements”). The consolidated balance sheets of Continental
(including the related notes, where applicable) included in the Continental
Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position of Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof, and the other financial statements included in the Continental
Financial Statements (including the related notes, where applicable) fairly
present in all material respects the results of the consolidated operations and
changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Continental and the
Continental Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods therein set forth,
subject, in the case of the Unaudited Continental Financial Statements, to
normal year-end audit adjustments that are immaterial in nature and in amounts
consistent with past experience; each of such statements (including the related
notes, where applicable) complies in all material respects with the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto; and each of the
Continental Financial Statements (including the related notes, where applicable)
has been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such
statements or in the notes thereto. To Continental’s knowledge, there
is no applicable accounting rule, consensus or pronouncement that has been
adopted by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Emerging
Issues Task Force or any similar body as of, but is not in effect as of, the
date of this Agreement that, if implemented, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental (it being agreed that for purposes
of this Section 4.6(a),
effects resulting from or arising in connection with the matters set forth in
clause (vi) of
the definition of the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be excluded in
determining whether a Material Adverse Effect on Continental would reasonably be
expected to occur).
(b) Except
for those liabilities that are reflected or reserved against on the Continental
Financial Statements, and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since March 31, 2010, since such date,
neither Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has incurred any
liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise and whether due or to become due and including any off-balance sheet
loans, financings, indebtedness, make-whole or similar liabilities or
obligations) that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
4.7 Brokers’
Fees. None of Continental, any Continental Subsidiary or any
of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in
connection with the Merger or related transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, other than Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, each of which firms Continental retained pursuant to an engagement
letter. Continental has delivered to United true and complete copies
of such engagement letters under which any fees or expenses are payable and all
indemnification and other agreements related to the engagement of the Persons to
whom such fees are payable.
4.8 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. (a) Since March 31, 2010, no event or
events or development or developments have occurred that have had or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental.
(b) Except
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, from March 31, 2010 through the
date of this Agreement, Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries have
carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary
course.
4.9 Legal
Proceedings. (a) None of Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to
Continental’s knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other
proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations or
reviews of any nature against Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(b) There
is no Injunction, judgment or regulatory restriction imposed upon Continental,
any of the Continental Subsidiaries or the assets of Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental.
4.10 Taxes and Tax
Returns. (a) Except as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental: (i) Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries
have timely filed, taking into account any extensions, all Tax Returns required
to be filed by them (all such returns being accurate and complete) and have paid
all Taxes required to be paid by them other than Taxes that are not yet due or
that are being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings; (ii) there
are no Liens for Taxes on any assets of Continental or the Continental
Subsidiaries; (iii) no deficiency for any Tax has been asserted or assessed by a
Tax authority against Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries which
deficiency has not been paid or is not being contested in good faith in
appropriate proceedings; (iv) Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries
have provided adequate reserves in their financial statements for any Taxes that
have not been paid; and (v) neither Continental nor any of the Continental
Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or
indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or
arrangement exclusively between or among Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries).
(b) Within
the past five years, neither Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries
has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a
distribution intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the
Code.
(c) Continental
is not aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to
prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(d) Neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has been a party to a
transaction that, as of the date of this Agreement, constitutes a “listed
transaction” for purposes of Section 6011 of the Code and applicable U.S.
Treasury Regulations thereunder (or a similar provision of state
law).
(e) No
disallowance of a deduction under Section 162(m) or Section 280G of the Code, or
imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, for any amount paid
or payable by Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries as employee
compensation, whether under any contract, plan, program or arrangement,
understanding or otherwise, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental, either as a result
of the Merger or otherwise.
(f) Section 4.10(f) of
the Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the amount on December 31,
2009 (and determined based on information available as of the date of this
Agreement) of net operating losses, capital losses and alternative minimum tax
credits and other credits of the consolidated group of which Continental is the
common parent for Federal income Tax purposes, (ii) dates of expiration of such
items and (iii) any limitations on such items. As of the date of this
Agreement, neither Continental nor any Continental Subsidiary has undergone an
ownership change (within the meaning of Section 382(g)(1) of the Code) since
April 27, 1993.
4.11 Employee Benefit
Plans. (a) As used herein, “Continental Benefit
Plan” shall mean each material benefit or compensation plan, program,
fund, contract, arrangement or agreement, including any material bonus,
incentive, deferred compensation, vacation, stock purchase, stock option,
severance, employment, golden parachute, retention, salary continuation, change
of control, retirement, pension, profit sharing or fringe benefit plan, program,
fund, contract, arrangement or agreement of any kind (whether written or oral,
tax-qualified or non-tax qualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic,
active, frozen or terminated) and any related trust, insurance contract, escrow
account or similar funding arrangement, that is maintained or contributed to by
Continental or any Continental Subsidiary (or required to be maintained or
contributed to by Continental or any Continental Subsidiary) for the benefit of
current or former directors, officers or employees of, or consultants to,
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries or with respect to which
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly,
have any liability, as of the date of this Agreement.
(b) As
of the date of this Agreement, Continental has heretofore made available to
United true and complete copies of (i) each written Continental Benefit Plan,
(ii) the most recent actuarial report for each Continental Benefit Plan (if
applicable), (iii) the most recent determination letter from the IRS (if
applicable) for each Continental Benefit Plan, (iv) the current summary plan
description of each Continental Benefit Plan that is subject to ERISA, together
with each summary of material modifications, (v) a copy of the description
of each Continental Benefit Plan not subject to ERISA that is currently provided
to participants in such plan, (vi) the most recent annual report for each
Continental Benefit Plan (if applicable) (excluding the Schedule SSA), (vii)
each trust agreement, group annuity contract and insurance contract relating to
any Continental Benefit Plan and (viii) a summary of the material terms of
each unwritten Continental Benefit Plan.
(c) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental, (i) each of the Continental Benefit
Plans has been operated and administered in compliance with its terms and
applicable Law, including ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of the Continental
Benefit Plans intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of
the Code is so qualified, and there are no existing circumstances or any events
that have occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the
qualified status of any such Continental Benefit Plan, and each such plan has a
favorable determination letter from the IRS to the effect that it is so
qualified or the applicable remedial amendment period has not expired and, if
the letter for such plan is not current, such plan is the subject of a timely
request for a current favorable determination letter or the applicable remedial
amendment period has not expired, (iii) with respect to each Continental
Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and that is not a
multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, the present
value (as defined under Section 3(27) of ERISA) of accumulated benefit
obligations under such Continental Benefit Plan, based upon the actuarial
assumptions used for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial report
prepared by such Continental Benefit Plan’s actuary with respect to such
Continental Benefit Plan, did not, as of such valuation date, exceed the then
current value (as defined under Section 3(26) of ERISA) of the assets of such
Continental Benefit Plan allocable to such accrued benefits, no liability to the
PBGC has been incurred (other than with respect to required premium payments),
no notice of intent to terminate has been given under Section 4041 of ERISA, no
termination proceeding has been instituted by the PBGC under Section 4042 of
ERISA, there has been no event or condition that presents a significant risk of
termination, funding requirements under Section 302 of ERISA have been met and,
within the six-year period preceding the date of this Agreement, no reportable
event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (for which notice or
disclosure requirements have not been waived), has been incurred, (iv) no
Continental Benefit Plan that is a Welfare Plan provides benefits coverage,
including death or medical benefits coverage (whether or not insured), with
respect to current or former employees or directors of Continental or the
Continental Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other termination of
service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable Law,
(B) benefits the full cost of which is borne by such current or former
employee or director (or his or her beneficiary), (C) coverage through the
last day of the calendar month in which retirement or other termination of
service occurs, (D) medical expense reimbursement accounts, (E) death
benefit or retirement benefits under any “employee pension benefit plan,” as
that term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, or (F) deferred compensation
benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of Continental, (v) no
liability under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred by Continental, the
Continental Subsidiaries or any trade or business, whether or not incorporated,
all of which together with Continental would be deemed a “single employer”
within the meaning of Section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414 (o) of the Code
or Section 4001(b) of ERISA (a “Continental ERISA
Affiliate”), that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists
that presents a material risk to Continental, the Continental Subsidiaries or
any Continental ERISA Affiliate of incurring a liability thereunder,
(vi) no Continental Benefit Plan is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (vii) none of Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries nor, to Continental’s knowledge, any other Person,
including any fiduciary, has engaged in a transaction in connection with which
Continental, the Continental Subsidiaries or any Continental Benefit Plan would
reasonably be expected to be subject to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant
to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a Tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or
4976 of the Code, (viii) to Continental’s knowledge, there are no pending,
threatened or anticipated claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on
behalf of or against any of the Continental Benefit Plans or any trusts,
insurance contracts, escrow accounts or similar funding arrangements related
thereto, (ix) all contributions or other amounts required to be paid by
Continental or the Continental Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with
respect to each Continental Benefit Plan in respect of the current and previous
five plan years have been paid in accordance with Section 412 or Section
430 of the Code, as applicable, and for the same period any material expense
incurred with respect to a Continental Benefit Plan has been accrued in
accordance with GAAP, (x) since December 31, 2009, no Continental Benefit
Plan has been amended or modified in any material respect or adopted or
terminated, (xi) there is no judgment, Injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against or in favor of any
Continental Benefit Plan or any fiduciary thereof (other than rules of general
applicability), (xii) there are no pending or, to Continental’s knowledge,
threatened audits or investigations by any Governmental Entity or any other
matter pending before any Governmental Entity (other than routine filings and
ruling requests) involving any Continental Benefit Plan, (xiii) no event has
occurred, and to Continental’s knowledge, there exists no circumstances with
respect to a Continental Benefit Plan that would reasonably be expected to
subject Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries to liability under
ERISA, the Code or other applicable Law, (xiv) with respect to any Continental
Benefit Plan or any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of
ERISA, maintained by or participated in by Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries within the six-year period preceding the date of this Agreement, no
withdrawal liability, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been
incurred, which liability has not been satisfied and (xv) each Continental
Benefit Plan that is an employee welfare benefit plan (including any such
Continental Benefit Plan covering retirees or other former employees) may be
amended or terminated without material liability to Continental and the
Continental Subsidiaries on or at any time after the Effective
Time.
(d) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental, neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event)
(i) result in any payment or benefit (including severance, retention,
stay-put, change in control, unemployment compensation, “excess parachute
payment” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), tax gross-up,
forgiveness of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer
or employee of, or any consultant to, Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries from Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries under any
Continental Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii) increase any amounts or
benefits otherwise payable or due to any such Person under any Continental
Benefit Plan or otherwise, or (iii) result in any acceleration of the time
of payment or vesting of, or any requirement to fund or secure, any such amounts
or benefits (including any Continental Stock Option or Continental Stock-Based
Award) or result in any breach of or default under any Continental Benefit
Plan.
(e) Neither
Continental nor any Continental Subsidiary has liability or obligations,
including under or on account of a Continental Benefit Plan, arising out of
Continental’s or one of the Continental Subsidiaries’ hiring of persons to
provide services to Continental or one of the Continental Subsidiaries and
treating such persons as consultants or independent contractors and not as
employees, except where such liability or obligation would not, individually or
in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental.
(f) Neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has unfunded liabilities
with respect to any Continental Benefit Plan that is a “pension plan” (within
the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that covers current or former non-U.S.
employees of Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries that, if
required to be immediately funded, would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental.
(g) Neither
Continental, nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries, nor any Continental ERISA
Affiliate, nor any of the Continental Benefit Plans, nor any trust created
thereunder, nor, to Continental’s knowledge, any trustee or administrator
thereof, has engaged in a prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section
406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code) in connection with which Continental,
any of the Continental Subsidiaries or any of the Continental Benefit Plans that
would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(h) With
respect to any employee pension benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA, that is not a Continental Benefit Plan, but that is sponsored,
maintained or contributed to, or has been sponsored, maintained or contributed
to within the six-year period preceding the Effective Time by any Continental
ERISA Affiliate, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental, (i) no
withdrawal liability, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been
incurred, which withdrawal liability has not been satisfied, (ii) no liability
to the PBGC has been incurred by a Continental ERISA Affiliate, which liability
has not been satisfied, (iii) no violation of funding requirements under Section
302 of ERISA has been incurred, and (iv) all contributions (including
installments) required by Section 302 of ERISA have been timely
made.
(i) None
of Continental, any of the Continental Subsidiaries or any Continental ERISA
Affiliate is a party to any agreement with the PBGC respecting any Continental
Benefit Plan or respecting any employee pension benefit plan, within the meaning
of Section 3(2) of ERISA, that is not a Continental Benefit Plan, which
agreement contains obligations or covenants respecting Continental, any of the
Continental Subsidiaries or any Continental ERISA Affiliate that continue beyond
the date of this Agreement.
4.12 Labor and Employment
Matters. As of the date of this Agreement, Section 4.12 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of
collective bargaining or other labor union contracts applicable to any domestic
employees of Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof,
there is no strike, work stoppage or lockout by or with respect to any employee
of Continental, except where such strike, work stoppage or lockout, individually
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Continental. As of the date hereof, (i) neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has breached or otherwise
failed to comply with any provision of any collective bargaining or other labor
union contract applicable to any employees of Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries and (ii) there are no written grievances or written
complaints outstanding or, to Continental’s knowledge, threatened against
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries under any such contract
except for any breaches, failures to comply, grievances or complaints that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental. Continental has made available to
United and its representatives true and complete copies of all contracts set
forth in Section
4.12 of the Continental Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments
applicable to such contracts.
4.13 Internal
Control. Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries have
designed and maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient to
provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial
reporting. Continental (i) has designed and maintains disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the
Exchange Act) to ensure that all information required to be disclosed by
Continental in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to
Continental’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure and (ii) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation
of its disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial
reporting prior to the date of this Agreement, to Continental’s auditors and the
audit committee of the Continental Board (A) any significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over
financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any
material respect Continental’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in Continental’s
internal control over financial reporting. Since December 31, 2009,
none of Continental, Continental’s independent accountants, the Continental
Board or the audit committee of the Continental Board has received any oral or
written notification of any matter set forth in the preceding clause (A) or (B).
4.14 Compliance with Laws;
Licenses. (a) The businesses of each of Continental
and the Continental Subsidiaries have been conducted in compliance with all
Laws, all applicable ADs, FARs and any other rules, regulations, directives,
orders and policies of the FAA, DOT, DHS, FCC, TSA and any other Governmental
Entity, except where the failure to so comply would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity
with respect to Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries is pending
or, to Continental’s knowledge, threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity
indicated an intention to conduct the same, except for any such investigations
or reviews that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental. Continental and each of the Continental Subsidiaries has
all Continental Licenses necessary to conduct its business as presently
conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(b) Continental
and each of the Continental Subsidiaries are in compliance with (i) their
respective obligations under each of the Continental Licenses and (ii) the rules
and regulations of the Governmental Entity issuing such Continental Licenses,
except, in either case, for such failures to be in compliance as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental. There is not pending or, to
Continental’s knowledge, threatened by or before the FAA, DOT or any other
Governmental Entity any material proceeding, notice of violation, order of
forfeiture or complaint or investigation against Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries relating to any of the Continental Licenses, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental. The actions of the applicable
Governmental Entities granting all Continental Licenses have not been reversed,
stayed, enjoined, annulled or suspended, and there is not pending or, to
Continental’s knowledge, threatened, any material application, petition,
objection or other pleading with the FAA, DOT or any other Governmental Entity
that challenges or questions the validity of or any rights of the holder under
any Continental License, in each case, except as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental.
4.15 Certain
Contracts. (a) As of the date of this Agreement,
neither Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries is a party to or
bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written
or oral) (i) that is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item
601(b)(10) of SEC Regulation S-K) to be performed after the date of this
Agreement that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the
Continental SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, (ii) other
than the collective bargaining agreements and other contracts set forth in Section 4.12 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule, that materially
restricts the conduct of any material line of business by Continental or upon
consummation of the Merger will materially restrict the ability of Continental
and any of the Continental Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business
material to Continental, or to Continental’s knowledge, United, (iii)
that is a joint venture, partnership, business alliance (excluding information
technology contracts), code sharing, capacity purchase, pro-rate or frequent
flyer agreement (including all material amendments to each of the foregoing
agreements) the termination, cancellation or breach of which would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United or a Material Adverse
Effect on Continental or (iv) pursuant to which any Indebtedness of
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries is outstanding or may be
incurred (except for such Indebtedness the aggregate principal amount of which
does not exceed $25 million) that has not been filed or incorporated by
reference in the Continental SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement.
(b) Each
contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (i) of the type
described in clauses
(i) – (iii) of Section 4.15(a),
whether or not set forth in the Continental Disclosure Schedule, or
(ii) filed as an exhibit to the Continental SEC Reports, is referred to as
a “Continental
Contract,” and neither Continental nor any of the Continental
Subsidiaries knows of, or has received notice of, any violation of any
Continental Contract by any of the other parties thereto that would,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental.
(c) With
such exceptions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental, (i) each
Continental Contract is valid and binding on Continental or the applicable
Continental Subsidiary, as applicable, and is in full force and effect, except
to the extent it has previously expired in accordance with its terms,
(ii) Continental and each of the Continental Subsidiaries have performed
all obligations required to be performed by it to date under each Continental
Contract, and (iii) no event or condition exists that constitutes or, after
notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a default on the part of
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries under any such Continental
Contract or give any other party to any Continental Contract the right to
terminate or cancel such contract.
4.16 Environmental
Liability.
(a) Permits and
Authorizations. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental, each of Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries possesses all
material Environmental Permits necessary to conduct its businesses and
operations as currently conducted.
(b) Compliance. Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental, each of Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and all
Environmental Permits, and neither Continental nor any Continental Subsidiary
has received any (A) communication from any Governmental Entity or other person
that alleges that Continental or any Continental Subsidiary has violated or is
liable under any Environmental Law or (B) written request for material
information pursuant to Section 104(e) of the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar state statute concerning the
disposal of Hazardous Materials.
(c) Environmental
Claims. There are no Environmental Claims (A) pending or, to
Continental’s knowledge, threatened against Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries or (B) to Continental’s knowledge, pending or
threatened against any person whose liability for any Environmental Claim
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries has retained or assumed,
either contractually or by operation of law, in each case other than
Environmental Claims that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental. Neither Continental nor any of the Continental
Subsidiaries has contractually retained or assumed any liabilities or
obligations that would reasonably be expected to provide the basis for any
Environmental Claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(d) Releases. To
Continental’s knowledge, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Materials
that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim
that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
4.17 State Takeover
Laws. The Continental Charter contains a provision expressly
electing not to be governed by Section 203 of Delaware Law, and, to
Continental’s knowledge, there are no other Takeover Statutes.
4.18 Continental
Information. The information relating to Continental and the
Continental Subsidiaries that is provided by Continental or its representatives
for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4, or in any
other document filed with any other Regulatory Agency in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not (i) in the case of the
Form S-4, at the time the Form S-4 is filed with the SEC, at any time it is
amended or supplemented or at the time it is declared effective under the
Securities Act, and (ii) in the case of the Joint Proxy Statement, at the date
it is first mailed to each of United’s and Continental’s stockholders or at the
time of each of the United Stockholders Meeting and the Continental Stockholders
Meeting, 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 in which they are made, not
misleading. The Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement (except for
such portions thereof that relate only to United or any of the United
Subsidiaries) will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
4.19 Affiliate
Transactions. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no
transactions, contracts, arrangements, commitments or understandings between
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of
Continental’s affiliates (other than wholly-owned Continental Subsidiaries), on
the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed by Continental under Item
404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act (the “Continental S-K 404
Arrangements”).
4.20 Aircraft. (a) Section 4.20(a)(i) of
the Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of (i)
all aircraft operated under the operating certificate of Continental or any of
the Continental Subsidiaries and (ii) all aircraft owned or leased by
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries, in each case as of March 31,
2010 (collectively, the “Continental
Aircraft”), including a description of the type and manufacturer serial
number of each such aircraft. Section 4.20(a)(ii)
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as
of the date of this Agreement, containing all Continental Contracts (other than
(x) existing aircraft leases or (y) contracts that may be terminated or canceled
by Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries without incurring any
penalty or other material liability except for the forfeiture of any previously
made prepayment or deposit) pursuant to which Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries has a binding obligation to purchase or lease aircraft,
including the manufacturer and model of all aircraft subject to such Continental
Contract, the nature of the purchase or lease obligation (i.e., firm commitment,
subject to reconfirmation or otherwise), the anticipated year of delivery of
each aircraft of such Continental Contract. Except as identified in
writing by Continental to United prior to the date of this Agreement,
Continental has delivered or made available to United redacted (as to pricing
and other commercially sensitive terms) copies of all Continental Contracts
listed on Section 4.20(a)(ii)
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments, modifications
and supplements thereto.
(b)
Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental:
(i)
each Continental Aircraft has a validly issued, current individual
aircraft FAA Certificate of Airworthiness with respect to such Continental
Aircraft and all requirements for the effectiveness of such FAA Certificate of
Airworthiness have been satisfied;
(ii) other
than any grounded Continental Aircraft, each Continental Aircraft’s structure,
systems and components are functioning in accordance with their respective
intended uses as set forth in any applicable FAA-approved maintenance program
(or are in the process of repair or maintenance), including any applicable
manuals, technical standard orders or parts manufacturing approval certificates,
and all grounded Continental Aircraft are being stored in accordance with any
applicable FAA-approved maintenance program;
(iii)
all deferred maintenance items and temporary repairs with respect to each such
Continental Aircraft have been or will be made materially in accordance with any
applicable FAA-approved maintenance programs;
(iv)
each Continental Aircraft is properly registered on the FAA aircraft
registry;
(v) neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries is a party to any
interchange or pooling agreements with respect to its Continental Aircraft,
other than parts pooling agreements in the ordinary course of business;
and
(vi) neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has retained any maintenance
obligations with respect to any Continental Aircraft that has been leased by
Continental or any Continental Subsidiary to a third party lessee.
(c) Section 4.20(c)(i) of
the Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as of
March 31, 2010, of all aircraft operated on behalf of Continental pursuant to a
capacity purchase or pro-rate agreement (a “Continental Contract Flight
Agreement”), including a description of the operator, type and number of
each such aircraft and any minimum utilization requirements applicable to such
aircraft. Section 4.20(c)(ii)
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list, as
of the date of this Agreement, containing all Continental Contract Flight
Agreements. Except as identified in writing by Continental to United
prior to the date of this Agreement, Continental has delivered or made available
to United redacted (as to pricing and other commercially sensitive terms) copies
of all Continental Contract Flight Agreements listed on Section 4.20(c)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments
thereto.
(d) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental, to Continental’s knowledge, as of the
date of this Agreement, there is no ongoing strike, work stoppage or lockout by
or with respect to any employee of any counterparty to a Continental Contract
Flight Agreement.
4.21 Continental Slots and
Operating Rights. Section 4.21 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of
all takeoff and landing slots, operating authorizations from the FAA or any
other Governmental Entity and other similar designated takeoff and landing
rights used or held by Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries (the “Continental Slots”
and together with the United Slots, the “Slots”) on the date
of this Agreement at any domestic or international airport and such list shall
indicate any Continental Slots that have been permanently allocated to another
air carrier and in which Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries hold only
temporary use rights. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental, (i) Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries have complied in
all material respects with the requirements of the regulations issued under the
FAA and any other Laws with respect to the Continental Slots, (ii) neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has received any notice of
any proposed withdrawal of the Continental Slots by the FAA or any other
Governmental Entity, (iii)(A) the Continental Slots have not been
designated for the provision of essential air service under the regulations of
the FAA, were not acquired pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Section 93.219 and have not
been designated for international operations, as more fully detailed in 14
C.F.R. Section 93.217 and (B) to the extent covered by 14 C.F.R. Section
93.227 or any order, notice or requirement of the FAA or any other Governmental
Entity, Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries have used the Continental
Slots (or the Continental Slots have been used by other operators) either at
least 80% of the maximum amount that each Continental Slot could have been used
during each full reporting period (as described in 14 C.F.R. Section 93.227(i)
or any such order, notice or requirement) or such greater or lesser amount of
minimum usage as may have been required to protect such Continental Slot’s
authorization from termination or withdrawal under regulations or waivers
established by any Governmental Entity or airport authority, (iv) all
reports required by the FAA or any other Governmental Entity relating to the
Continental Slots have been filed in a timely manner and (v) neither Continental
nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has agreed to any future Continental
Slot slide, Continental Slot trade (except for seasonal swaps), Continental Slot
purchase, Continental Slot sale, Continental Slot exchange, Continental Slot
lease or Continental Slot transfer of any of the Continental Slots that has not
been consummated or otherwise reflected on Section 4.21 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule.
4.22 Intellectual
Property.
(a) To
Continental’s knowledge, the conduct of the business as currently conducted by
Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries does not infringe, misappropriate
or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property Rights of any third Person, and
in the three-year period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement there
has been no such claim, action or proceeding asserted or, to Continental’s
knowledge, threatened against Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries
or any indemnitee thereof, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental. There is no claim, action or proceeding asserted or, to
Continental’s knowledge, threatened against Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries or any indemnitee thereof concerning the ownership,
validity, registerability, enforceability, infringement, use or licensed right
to use any Intellectual Property Rights claimed to be owned or held by
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries or used or alleged to be used
in the business of Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
(b) The
IT Assets of Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries (i) operate and
perform in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications and
otherwise as required by Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries for the
operation of their respective businesses and (ii) have not malfunctioned or
failed within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of this
Agreement, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Continental. Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained for the three-year period
immediately preceding the date of this Agreement reasonable and sufficient
backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry practices
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental.
4.23 Major Continental
Airports. As of the date of this Agreement, no airport
authority at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Hopkins International Airport
or Newark Liberty International Airport (each such airport, a “Major Continental
Airport”) has taken or, to Continental’s knowledge, threatened to take
any action that would reasonably be expected to materially interfere with the
ability of Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries to conduct their
respective operations at any Major Continental Airport in the same manner as
currently conducted in all material respects.
4.24 Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act. Except for such matters as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Continental, as of the date of this Agreement:
(a) Continental
and the Continental Subsidiaries have developed and implemented a compliance
program that includes corporate policies and procedures designed to ensure
compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
(b) In
connection with Continental’s and the Continental Subsidiaries’ compliance with
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, there have been no voluntary disclosures
under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
(c) No
Governmental Entity has notified Continental or any of the Continental
Subsidiaries in writing of any actual or alleged violation or breach of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
(d) Neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has undergone or is
undergoing any audit, review, inspection, investigation, survey or examination
of records, in each case conducted by a Governmental Entity and relating to
Continental’s or the Continental Subsidiaries’ compliance with the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act, and to Continental’s knowledge, there is no basis for any
such audit, review, inspection, investigation, survey or examination of records
by a Governmental Entity.
(e) Neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has been or is now under any
administrative, civil or criminal charge or indictment or, to Continental’s
knowledge, investigation, alleging noncompliance with the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, nor, to Continental’s knowledge, is there any basis for any such
charge, indictment or investigation.
(f) Neither
Continental nor any of the Continental Subsidiaries has been or is now a party
to any administrative or civil litigation alleging noncompliance with the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, nor to Continental’s knowledge, is there any
basis for any such proceeding
4.25 U.S. Citizen; Air
Carrier. Continental is a “citizen of the United States” as
defined in the Federal Aviation Act and is an “air carrier” within the meaning
of such Act operating under certificates issued pursuant to such Act (49 U.S.C.
Sections 41101-41112).
4.26 Fairness
Opinions. Prior to the execution of this Agreement,
Continental has received the oral opinion (to be confirmed in writing) of each
of Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated to the
effect that, as of the date thereof and based upon and subject to the matters
and limitations set forth in such written opinions, the Exchange Ratio is fair
from a financial point of view to the holders of Continental Common
Stock. Such opinions have not been amended or rescinded as of the
date of this Agreement. Copies of the written opinions of each of
Lazard Frères & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated will be
delivered to United for informational purposes only promptly following receipt
thereof by Continental.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1 Conduct of Businesses Prior
to the Effective Time. During the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted
by this Agreement (including by Section 5.2 or Section 5.3 below, as
applicable), except as specifically set forth in Section 5.1 of the
United Disclosure Schedule and the Continental Disclosure Schedule and except
with the prior written consent of the other party (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), as applicable (in each case
subject to Section
6.8), each of United and Continental will, and will cause each of its
respective Subsidiaries to (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course in
all material respects, (ii) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve
intact its business organization and advantageous business relationships and
retain the services of its officers and key employees, and (iii) take no action
that would prohibit or materially impair or delay the ability of either United
or Continental to obtain any necessary approvals of any Regulatory Agency or
other Governmental Entity (other than approvals relating to Taxes, which are
governed by Section
6.8) required for the transactions contemplated hereby or to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 5.1, (i)
neither party will take any action prohibited by Section 5.2 or Section 5.3, as
applicable, in order to satisfy such party’s obligations under this Section 5.1 and (ii)
each party shall be deemed not to have failed to satisfy its obligations under
this Section
5.1 to the extent such failure resulted, directly or indirectly, from
such party’s failure to take any action prohibited by Section 5.2 or Section 5.3, as
applicable.
5.2 United
Forbearances. During the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as set forth in the United Disclosure
Schedule (subject to Section 6.8) and
except as required by Law or the rules and regulations of the SEC or the NASDAQ
or as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, United will not,
and will not permit any of the United Subsidiaries to, without the prior written
consent of Continental (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed):
(a) incur
any Indebtedness, or make any loan or advance other than any of the
following:
(i)
Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, it being acknowledged that any financing (including any
sale-leaseback transaction) of aircraft or equipment used in the operations of
United or the United Subsidiaries, including engines, spare parts, simulators,
technology, gates, routes, slots, tangible property and ground equipment (and
any renewal or refinancing thereof) shall be deemed to be in the ordinary
course;
(ii) Indebtedness
that does not exceed $300 million in the aggregate;
(iii) refinancings,
prepayments, repurchases and redemptions in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice of any Indebtedness outstanding as of the date
this Agreement or permitted to be incurred under this Agreement;
(iv) employee
loans or advances made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; or
(v) loans
or advances made between United and any of the wholly-owned United Subsidiaries
or between wholly-owned United Subsidiaries;
(b)
adjust, split, combine or reclassify any of United’s capital
stock;
(c) make,
declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on, or directly or
indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital
stock or other voting securities or equity interests or any securities or
obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after
the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exchangeable
for any shares of its capital stock or other voting securities or equity
interests, except (i) dividends paid by any of the wholly-owned United
Subsidiaries to United or to any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (ii)
dividends paid on, or conversion of, United Preferred Stock outstanding on the
date of this Agreement in accordance with the certificate of designation for
such United Preferred Stock, and (iii) Forfeitures and Cashless Settlements in
connection with United Reserve Shares, United Restricted Shares, United
Stock-Based Awards and United Stock Options; provided, however, for the
avoidance of doubt, Section 5.2(c) of the
Agreement shall not be construed as prohibiting United from repaying, prepaying,
redeeming, purchasing or acquiring Indebtedness that is issued by either United
or any of the United Subsidiaries and that is not convertible into or
exchangeable for any shares of capital stock or other voting securities or
equity interests;
(d) grant
any stock appreciation right or any right to acquire any shares of its capital
stock, voting securities or equity interests or any long-term cash incentive
award, other than (i)(A) in connection with regular grants of stock options,
restricted stock, other stock-based awards or long-term incentive awards under
United Stock Plans by United to its or the United Subsidiaries’ directors or
employees, (B) grants to newly-hired employees of United and the United
Subsidiaries, (C) to respond to offers of employment by third parties or (D)
grants in connection with promotions of employees of United and the United
Subsidiaries and (ii) as required by the terms of employment agreements with
United or any of the United Subsidiaries as in effect on the date of this
Agreement; provided, however, that any
grants made pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 5.2(d) shall
be made in accordance with Section 5.2(d) of the United Disclosure
Schedule;
(e) issue,
deliver, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien (i)
any additional shares of capital stock or other voting securities or equity
interests of United or any United Subsidiary or any United Voting Debt, (ii) any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any warrants or options or
other rights to acquire, any such shares of capital stock, voting securities or
other equity interests or United Voting Debt, or (iii) any rights that are
linked in any way to the price of any capital stock of, or to the value of or of
any part of, or to any dividends or distributions paid on any capital stock of,
United or any United Subsidiary, except (A) pursuant to the exercise of United
Stock Options or the satisfaction of any United Stock-Based Awards, in each
case, outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or issued thereafter in
compliance with this Agreement, (B) grants of United Stock Options or United
Stock-Based Awards in accordance with Section 5.2(d), (C)
upon the conversion of convertible securities outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement, (D) for issuances by a wholly-owned United Subsidiary of such
Subsidiary’s capital stock to United or another wholly-owned United Subsidiary,
(E) for issuances from the New United Stock Reserve (as defined in the United
Plan of Reorganization) as required under the United Plan of Reorganization, (F)
any issuances, deliveries, sales, grants, pledges or other encumbrances or Liens
described on Section
5.2(e) of the United Disclosure Schedule and (G) any other issuances or
sales of interests of the type described in clauses (i) through
(iii), the
gross proceeds of which do not exceed $200 million in the aggregate, provided
that such issuances or sales under this clause (G) shall
be subject to clauses (x) and (y) (and the second sentence of) Item 1 in Section 5.2(e) of the
United Disclosure Schedule; provided, however, that no such
issuance and sale (or any marketing with respect to an anticipated sale)
otherwise permitted by clause (G) may occur
prior to the United Stockholders Meeting;
(f) except
as otherwise provided by any other provision of this Agreement, increase,
decrease, change or exchange any United Preferred Stock for a different number
or kind of shares or securities as a result of a reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split or other similar change in capitalization, in each case other than as
required by the terms thereof as in effect on the date of this
Agreement;
(g) other
than as required to comply with applicable Law or a United Benefit Plan as in
effect on the date of this Agreement or collective bargaining or similar labor
union or other agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement, the
existence of which does not breach this Agreement, and except as expressly
permitted under Section 5.2(d), (i)
increase the wages, salaries, compensation, bonus, pension, or other benefits or
perquisites payable to any officer or employee, other than such increases in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) grant or
increase any severance, change in control, termination or similar compensation
or benefits payable to any officer or employee, except with respect to new hires
and to employees in connection with promotions or to respond to offers of
employment by third parties, (iii) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend in any
material respect any United Benefit Plan, other than the entry into of
employment agreements with newly hired or promoted employees in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) make any change to the
policies or work rules applicable to any group of employees or labor union, (v)
except for the provision of indemnification pursuant to indemnification
agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement, enter into any United S-K
404 Arrangement, other than in connection with the appointment or election of
new directors or the hiring or promotion of new officers in the ordinary course
of business, (vi) accelerate the time of payment or vesting of, or the lapsing
of restrictions with respect to, or fund or otherwise secure the payment of, any
compensation or benefits under any United Benefit Plan or (vii) adopt, enter
into, terminate or amend in any material respect any collective bargaining or
similar labor union agreement; provided, however, that the
taking of actions that are contrary to the provisions set forth in clauses (i) through
(vi) will not
be deemed a violation of this Section 5.2(g) unless
(A) the aggregate dollar amount of United’s obligations resulting from all such
actions taken specifically to retain employees after the date hereof is
reasonably expected to exceed after the date hereof the applicable amount set
forth in Section
5.2(g) of the United Disclosure Schedule or (B) the aggregate dollar
amount of United’s obligations resulting from any other actions not of the type
described in subclause
(A) is reasonably expected to exceed annually the applicable amount set
forth in Section
5.2(g) of the United Disclosure Schedule, determined net of any cost
savings (1) resulting from changes to compensation or benefits following the
date of this Agreement and (2) that would reasonably be expected to be realized
within 12 months after the Effective Date;
(h) sell,
transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets that are material to United and the United Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, in any transaction or series of transactions, to any Person other than
United or a United Subsidiary, or cancel, release or assign to any such Person
any indebtedness or any claims held by United or any United Subsidiary, in each
case that is material to United and the United Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (it
being acknowledged that encumbrances securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to
this Agreement, dispositions of surplus aircraft, engines, flight simulators and
spare parts and the termination of leases relating to surplus aircraft and
engines (including mainline and regional aircraft) shall each be deemed to be in
the ordinary course) and other than such sales, transfers, mortgages,
encumbrances, other dispositions, cancelations, releases, or assignments, the
proceeds of which are not used in violation of Section
5.2(c);
(i)
enter into any new line of business that is material to United and
the United Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(j)
settle any material claim, action or proceeding, except
settlements (i) in the ordinary course of business or (ii) to the extent subject
to and not materially in excess of reserves set forth on the consolidated
balance sheet of United and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2010 that relate to
matters being settled existing as of such date in accordance with
GAAP;
(k) other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, directly
or indirectly make, or agree to directly or indirectly make any acquisition or
investment either by merger, consolidation, purchase of stock or securities,
contributions to capital, property transfers, or by purchase of any property or
assets of any other Person, or make any capital expenditures, in each case other
than (i) investments in wholly-owned United Subsidiaries, (ii) acquisitions
of or improvements to assets used in the operations of United and the United
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (iii) short-term investments of
cash in marketable securities in the ordinary course of business, (iv) capital
expenditures disclosed in the capital plans for 2010 and 2011 provided to
Continental prior to the date of this Agreement (provided that United shall be
permitted to re allocate all or any portion of any capital expenditures set
forth in its 2010 capital plan to its 2011 capital plan and, without
duplication, all or any portion of any capital expenditures set forth in its
2011 capital plan to its 2010 capital plan) plus capital expenditures
(other than with respect to the purchase or lease of aircraft or engines) in any
year that do not in the aggregate exceed 10% of the aggregate amount set forth
in the capital budget set forth in Section 5.2(k) of the
United Disclosure Schedule in respect of such year plus capital expenditures
relating to in-flight internet access, and (v) acquisitions of properties or
assets that are not material to United and the United Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole;
(l)
except as otherwise provided by any other provision of this
Agreement, (i) amend the United Charter or the United Bylaws, (ii) amend the
similar organizational documents of any United Subsidiary in a manner that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United, or (iii)
otherwise take any action to exempt any Person (other than Continental or the
Continental Subsidiaries), or any action taken by any such Person, from any
Takeover Statute or similarly restrictive provisions of its organizational
documents;
(m) take
any action that is intended or would reasonably be expected to result in any of
the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being
satisfied, except as may be required by applicable Law;
(n) enter
into or amend any contract or take any other action if such contract, amendment
or action (A) would reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the
ability of United, the United Subsidiaries, Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses after the Effective Time in
the same manner as currently conducted, (B) would limit in any material respect
the ability of the Combined Company to enter into joint ventures, partnerships,
business alliances or code sharing agreements with any other Person following
the Effective Time or (C) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially
impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or adversely affect in a
material respect the expected benefits (taken as a whole) of the Merger, in each
case except as required by applicable Law; provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, United
shall be permitted to enter into joint ventures, partnerships, business
alliances, revenue sharing agreements or code sharing agreements (including
adding new code share partners), in each case only with one or more other
airlines, and to take any actions reasonably necessary in connection therewith,
in each case in a manner consistent with the collective bargaining agreements
listed on Section
3.12 of the United Disclosure Schedule;
(o) implement
or adopt any material change in its tax accounting or financial accounting
policies, practices or methods, other than as may be required by applicable Law,
GAAP or regulatory guidelines;
(p) enter
into or amend any material contract to the extent the consummation of the Merger
or compliance by United with the provisions of this Agreement would reasonably
be expected to violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or
the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in
the termination or cancelation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or
assets of United or any of the United Subsidiaries under, any provision of such
contract or amendment;
(q) agree
or commit or resolve to take any of, or participate in any negotiations or
discussions with any other Person regarding any of, the actions prohibited by
this Section
5.2; provided, however, that this
Section 5.2(q)
shall not prohibit United or any United Subsidiary from participating in any
discussions or negotiations with any labor union to the extent United or any
United Subsidiary is required to do so under applicable Law;
(r) cancel,
terminate or amend any binding financing commitment to fund the acquisition by
United or any of the United Subsidiaries of the aircraft covered under each of
the United Contracts set forth on Section 3.20(a)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule unless, in the case of any cancellation or
termination of such financing commitment, (i) it is replaced by another
financing with substantially equivalent (or more favorable) terms and in an
amount not less than the amount of such commitment or (ii) in return therefor,
United receives equivalent value from the manufacturer of the applicable
aircraft;
(s) enter
into (i) any aircraft purchase agreement or (ii) any amendment to an existing
aircraft purchase agreement, in either case, for the placement of an order for
any aircraft that, as of the date hereof, is not either a firm order aircraft or
an option or purchase right aircraft shown in the table at the end of Section 3.20(a)(ii)
of the United Disclosure Schedule; or
(t) enter
into or amend any capacity purchase or similar agreement, as a result of which
the aggregate number of aircraft subject to all of United’s capacity purchase or
similar agreements would exceed the number of aircraft listed in Section 3.20(c)(i) of
the United Disclosure Schedule (excluding the number of such aircraft that are
subject to pro-rate agreements) by more than 25 aircraft, to the extent such
agreement or amendment would be following the Effective Time (it being
acknowledged that entering into, amending or terminating any capacity purchase
or similar agreement in any respect, so long as the numerical limits set forth
in this Section
5.2(t) are not thereby exceeded, shall be deemed to be in the ordinary
course).
5.3 Continental
Forbearances. During the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as set forth in the Continental
Disclosure Schedule (subject to Section 6.8) and
except as required by Law or the rules and regulations of the SEC or the NYSE or
as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, Continental will not,
and will not permit any of the Continental Subsidiaries to, without the prior
written consent of United (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned
or delayed):
(a) incur
any Indebtedness, or make any loan or advance other than any of the
following:
(i) Indebtedness
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, it
being acknowledged that any financing (including any sale-leaseback transaction)
of aircraft or equipment used in the operations of Continental or the
Continental Subsidiaries, including engines, spare parts, simulators,
technology, gates, routes, slots, tangible property and ground equipment (and
any renewal or refinancing thereof) shall be deemed to be in the ordinary
course;
(ii) Indebtedness
that does not exceed $300 million in the aggregate;
(iii) refinancings,
prepayments, repurchases and redemptions in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice of any Indebtedness outstanding as of the date
this Agreement or permitted to be incurred under this Agreement;
(iv) employee
loans or advances made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; or
(v) loans
or advances made between Continental and any of the wholly-owned Continental
Subsidiaries or between wholly-owned Continental Subsidiaries;
(b) adjust,
split, combine or reclassify any of Continental’s capital stock;
(c) make,
declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on, or directly or
indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital
stock or other voting securities or equity interests or any securities or
obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after
the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exchangeable
for any shares of its capital stock or other voting securities or equity
interests, except (i) dividends paid by any of the wholly-owned Continental
Subsidiaries to Continental or to any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries and (ii)
Forfeitures and Cashless Settlements in connection with Continental Stock-Based
Awards and Continental Stock Options; provided, however, for the
avoidance of doubt, Section 5.3(c) of the
Agreement shall not be construed as prohibiting Continental from repaying,
prepaying, redeeming, purchasing or acquiring Indebtedness that is issued by
either Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries and that is not
convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock or other voting
securities or equity interests;
(d) grant
any stock appreciation right or any right to acquire any shares of its capital
stock, voting securities or equity interests or any long-term cash incentive
award, other than (i)(A) in connection with regular grants of stock options,
restricted stock, other stock-based awards or long-term incentive awards under
Continental Stock Plans by Continental to its or the Continental Subsidiaries’
directors or employees, (B) grants to newly-hired employees of Continental and
the Continental Subsidiaries, (C) to respond to offers of employment by third
parties or (D) grants in connection with promotions of employees of Continental
and the Continental Subsidiaries, (ii) as required by the terms of the 2004
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Continental SPP”), as
in effect on the date of this Agreement, and (iii) pursuant to employment
agreements with Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries as in effect
on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that any
grants made pursuant to clause (i) or (iii) of this Section 5.3(d) shall be made
in accordance with Section 5.3(d) of the Continental Disclosure
Schedule;
(e) issue,
deliver, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien (i)
any additional shares of capital stock or other voting securities or equity
interests of Continental or any Continental Subsidiary or any Continental Voting
Debt, (ii) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any warrants
or options or other rights to acquire, any such shares of capital stock, voting
securities or other equity interests or Continental Voting Debt, or (iii) any
rights that are linked in any way to the price of any capital stock of, or to
the value of or of any part of, or to any dividends or distributions paid on any
capital stock of, Continental or any Continental Subsidiary, except (A) pursuant
to the exercise of Continental Stock Options or the satisfaction of any
Continental Stock-Based Awards, in each case, outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement or issued thereafter in compliance with this Agreement, (B) grants of
Continental Stock Options or Continental Stock-Based Awards in accordance with
Section 5.3(d),
(C) pursuant to the Continental SPP, as in effect on the date of this Agreement,
(D) upon the conversion of convertible securities outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement, (E) for issuances by a wholly-owned Continental Subsidiary of
such Subsidiary’s capital stock to Continental or another wholly-owned
Continental Subsidiary; (F) any issuances, deliveries, sales, grants,
pledges or other encumbrances or Liens described on Section 5.3(e) of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule and (G) any other issuances or sales of
interests of the type described in clauses (i) through
(iii), the
gross proceeds of which do not exceed $200 million in the aggregate so long as
no such other issuance or sale results, provided that such issuances or sales
under this clause
(G) shall be subject to clauses (x) and (y) (and clauses (i) and (ii)) of
Item 1 in Section
5.3(e) of the Continental Disclosure Schedule; provided, however, that no such
issuance and sale (or any marketing with respect to an anticipated sale)
otherwise permitted by clause (G) may occur
prior to the Continental Stockholders Meeting;
(f) except
as otherwise provided by any other provision of this Agreement, increase,
decrease, change or exchange any Continental Preferred Stock for a different
number or kind of shares or securities as a result of a reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split or other similar change in capitalization, in each case other than as
required by the terms thereof as in effect on the date of this
Agreement;
(g) other
than as required to comply with applicable Law or a Continental Benefit Plan as
in effect on the date of this Agreement or collective bargaining or similar
labor union or other agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement, the
existence of which does not breach this Agreement, and except as expressly
permitted under Section 5.3(d), (i)
increase the wages, salaries, compensation, bonus, pension, or other benefits or
perquisites payable to any officer or employee, other than such increases in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) grant or
increase any severance, change in control, termination or similar compensation
or benefits payable to any officer or employee, except with respect to new hires
and to employees in connection with promotions or to respond to offers of
employment by third parties, (iii) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend in any
material respect any Continental Benefit Plan, other than the entry into of
employment agreements with newly hired or promoted employees in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) make any change to the
policies or work rules applicable to any group of employees or labor union, (v)
except for the provision of indemnification pursuant to indemnification
agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement, enter into any Continental
S-K 404 Arrangement, other than in connection with the appointment or election
of new directors or the hiring or promotion of new officers in the ordinary
course of business, (vi) accelerate the time of payment or vesting of, or the
lapsing of restrictions with respect to, or fund or otherwise secure the payment
of, any compensation or benefits under any Continental Benefit Plan or (vii)
adopt, enter into, terminate or amend in any material respect any collective
bargaining or similar labor union agreement; provided, however, that the
taking of actions that are contrary to the provisions set forth in clauses (i) through
(vi) will not
be deemed a violation of this Section 5.3(g) unless
(A) the aggregate dollar amount of Continental’s obligations resulting from all
such actions taken specifically to retain employees after the date hereof is
reasonably expected to exceed after the date hereof the applicable amount set
forth in Section
5.3(g) of the Continental Disclosure Schedule or (B) the aggregate dollar
amount of Continental’s obligations resulting from any other actions not of the
type described in subclause (A) is
reasonably expected to exceed annually the applicable amount set forth in Section 5.3(g) of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule, determined net of any cost savings
(1) resulting from changes to compensation or benefits following the date
of this Agreement and (2) that would reasonably be expected to be realized
within 12 months after the Effective Date;
(h) sell,
transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets that are material to Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, in any transaction or series of transactions, to any Person other
than Continental or a Continental Subsidiary, or cancel, release or assign to
any such Person any indebtedness or any claims held by Continental or any
Continental Subsidiary, in each case that is material to Continental and the
Continental Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice (it being acknowledged that encumbrances
securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to this Agreement, dispositions of
surplus aircraft, engines, flight simulators and spare parts and the termination
of leases relating to surplus aircraft and engines (including mainline and
regional aircraft) shall each be deemed to be in the ordinary course) and other
than such sales, transfers, mortgages, encumbrances, other dispositions,
cancelations, releases, or assignments, the proceeds of which are not used in
violation of Section 5.3(c);
(i) enter
into any new line of business that is material to Continental and the
Continental Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(j) settle
any material claim, action or proceeding, except settlements (i) in the ordinary
course of business or (ii) to the extent subject to and not materially in excess
of reserves set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of Continental and its
Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2010 that relate to matters being settled existing
as of such date in accordance with GAAP;
(k) other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, directly
or indirectly make, or agree to directly or indirectly make any acquisition or
investment either by merger, consolidation, purchase of stock or securities,
contributions to capital, property transfers, or by purchase of any property or
assets of any other Person, or make any capital expenditures, in each case other
than (i) investments in wholly-owned Continental Subsidiaries,
(ii) acquisitions of or improvements to assets used in the operations of
Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business,
(iii) short-term investments of cash in marketable securities in the ordinary
course of business, (iv) capital expenditures disclosed in the capital plans for
2010 and 2011 provided to United prior to the date of this Agreement (provided
that Continental shall be permitted to re allocate all or any portion of any
capital expenditures set forth in its 2010 capital plan to its 2011 capital plan
and, without duplication, all or any portion of any capital expenditures set
forth in its 2011 capital plan to its 2010 capital plan) plus capital expenditures
(other than with respect to the purchase or lease of aircraft or engines) in any
year that do not in the aggregate exceed 10% of the aggregate amount set forth
in the capital budget set forth in Section 5.3(k) of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule in respect of such year plus capital expenditures
relating to in-flight internet access, and (v) acquisitions of properties or
assets that are not material to Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
(l)
except as otherwise provided by any other provision of this Agreement, (i)
amend the Continental Charter or the Continental Bylaws, (ii) amend the similar
organizational documents of any Continental Subsidiary in a manner that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Continental or (iii)
otherwise take any action to exempt any Person (other than United or the United
Subsidiaries), or any action taken by any such Person, from any Takeover Statute
or similarly restrictive provisions of its organizational
documents;
(m) take
any action that is intended or would reasonably be expected to result in any of
the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being
satisfied, except as may be required by applicable Law;
(n) enter
into or amend any contract or take any other action if such contract, amendment
or action (A) would reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the
ability of United, the United Subsidiaries, Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses after the Effective Time in
the same manner as currently conducted, (B) would limit in any material respect
the ability of the Combined Company to enter into joint ventures, partnerships,
business alliances or code sharing agreements with any other Person following
the Effective Time or (C) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially
impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or adversely affect in a
material respect the expected benefits (taken as a whole) of the Merger, in each
case except as required by applicable Law; provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
Continental shall be permitted to enter into joint ventures, partnerships,
business alliances, revenue sharing agreements or code sharing agreements
(including adding new code share partners), in each case only with one or more
other airlines, and to take any actions reasonably necessary in connection
therewith, in each case in a manner consistent with the collective bargaining
agreements listed on Section 4.12 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule;
(o) implement
or adopt any material change in its tax accounting or financial accounting
policies, practices or methods, other than as may be required by applicable Law,
GAAP or regulatory guidelines;
(p) enter
into or amend any material contract to the extent the consummation of the Merger
or compliance by Continental with the provisions of this Agreement would
reasonably be expected to violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any
provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under,
result in the termination or cancelation under, accelerate the performance
required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective
properties or assets of Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries
under, any provision of such contract or amendment;
(q) agree
or commit or resolve to take any of, or participate in any negotiations or
discussions with any other Person regarding any of, the actions prohibited by
this Section
5.3; provided, however, that this
Section 5.3(q)
shall not prohibit Continental or any Continental Subsidiary from participating
in any discussions or negotiations with any labor union to the extent
Continental or any Continental Subsidiary is required to do so under applicable
Law;
(r) cancel,
terminate or amend any binding financing commitment to fund the acquisition by
Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries of the aircraft covered under
each of the Continental Contracts set forth on Section 4.20(a)(ii)
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule unless, in the case of any cancellation
or termination of such financing commitment, (i) it is replaced by another
financing with substantially equivalent (or more favorable) terms and in an
amount not less than the amount of such commitment or (ii) in return therefor,
Continental receives equivalent value from the manufacturer of the applicable
aircraft;
(s) enter
into (i) any aircraft purchase agreement or (ii) any amendment to an existing
aircraft purchase agreement, in either case, for the placement of an order for
any aircraft that, as of the date hereof, is not either a firm order aircraft or
an option or purchase right aircraft shown in the table at the end of Section 4.20(a)(ii)
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule; or
(t) enter
into or amend any capacity purchase or similar agreement, as a result of which
the aggregate number of aircraft subject to all of Continental’s capacity
purchase or similar agreements would exceed the number of aircraft listed in
Section
4.20(c)(i) of the Continental Disclosure Schedule (excluding the number
of such aircraft that are subject to pro-rate agreements) by more than 25
aircraft, to the extent such agreement or amendment would be following the
Effective Time (it being acknowledged that entering into, amending or
terminating any capacity purchase or similar agreement in any respect, so long
as the numerical limits set forth in this Section 5.3(t) are
not thereby exceeded, shall be deemed to be in the ordinary
course).
5.4 Control of Other Party’s
Business. Nothing contained in this Agreement will give
United, directly or indirectly, the right to control Continental or any of the
Continental Subsidiaries or direct the business or operations of Continental or
any of the Continental Subsidiaries prior to the Effective
Time. Nothing contained in this Agreement will give Continental,
directly or indirectly, the right to control United or any of the United
Subsidiaries or direct the business or operations of United or any of the United
Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective
Time, each of United and Continental will exercise, consistent with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its
respective operations and the operations of its respective
Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, including any of the
actions, rights or restrictions set forth herein, will be interpreted in such a
way as to place Continental or United in violation of any rule, regulation or
policy of any Regulatory Agency or applicable Law.
5.5 No
Solicitation. (a) United will not, and will cause
the United Subsidiaries and each officer or director of United or any United
Subsidiary not to, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause each
controlled Affiliate and any employee, agent, consultant or representative
(including any financial or legal advisor or other representative) of United,
any of the United Subsidiaries or any such controlled Affiliate not to, and on
becoming aware of it will use its best efforts to stop any such Person from
continuing to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly
encourage or facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) or take any
other action designed to facilitate any inquiries or proposals regarding, or
that would reasonably be expected to lead to, any merger, share exchange,
consolidation, sale of assets, sale of shares of capital stock (including by way
of a tender offer or exchange offer) or similar transactions involving United or
any of the United Subsidiaries that, if consummated, would constitute a
Competing Transaction (any of the foregoing inquiries or proposals being
referred to herein as a “United Acquisition
Proposal”), (ii) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
Person any information in connection with, or otherwise cooperate in any way
with, or knowingly facilitate in any way any effort by, any Person in connection
with, any United Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) enter into any letter of
intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition
agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement,
partnership agreement or other agreement regarding, or that is intended to
result in, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any United Acquisition
Proposal (a “United
Acquisition Agreement”).
(b) Continental
will not, and will cause the Continental Subsidiaries and each officer or
director of Continental or any Continental Subsidiary not to, and will use its
reasonable best efforts to cause each controlled Affiliate and any employee,
agent, consultant or representative (including any financial or legal advisor or
other representative) of Continental, any of the Continental Subsidiaries or any
such controlled Affiliate not to, and on becoming aware of it will use its best
efforts to stop any such Person from continuing to, directly or indirectly, (i)
solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage or facilitate (including by way of
furnishing information) or take any other action designed to facilitate any
inquiries or proposals regarding, or that would reasonably be expected to lead
to, any merger, share exchange, consolidation, sale of assets, sale of shares of
capital stock (including by way of a tender offer or exchange offer) or similar
transactions involving Continental or any of the Continental Subsidiaries that,
if consummated, would constitute a Competing Transaction (any of the foregoing
inquiries or proposals being referred to herein as a “Continental Acquisition
Proposal” and, together with any United Acquisition Proposal, each an
“Acquisition
Proposal”), (ii) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
Person any information in connection with, or otherwise cooperate in any way
with, or knowingly facilitate in any way any effort by, any Person in connection
with, any Continental Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) enter into any letter
of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition
agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement,
partnership agreement or other agreement regarding, or that is intended to
result in, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Continental
Acquisition Proposal (a “Continental Acquisition
Agreement”).
(c) As
used in this Agreement, “Competing
Transaction” means, with respect to United or Continental, as the case
may be (for this purpose, the “Target Party”), any
of (i) a transaction, including any tender offer, exchange offer or share
exchange, pursuant to which any third Person (or group) other than the other
party to this Agreement (the “Non-Target Party”) or
such third Person’s Affiliates, or the stockholders of such third Person,
directly or indirectly, acquires or would acquire beneficial ownership (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 10% or more of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Target Party or of the outstanding
voting power of the Target Party (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such common stock or other
securities representing such voting power), whether from the Target Party or
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer or otherwise, (ii) a merger,
share exchange, consolidation or business combination pursuant to which any
third Person or group of Persons (other than the Non-Target Party or its
Affiliates) party thereto, or the stockholders of such third Person or Persons,
beneficially owns or would beneficially own 10% or more of the outstanding
shares of common stock or the outstanding voting power of the Target Party, or,
if applicable, any surviving entity or the parent entity resulting from any such
transaction, immediately upon consummation thereof, (iii) a recapitalization of
Target Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any transaction similar to a
transaction referred to in clause (ii) above
involving the Target Party or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which any
third Person or group of Persons (other than the Non-Target Party or its
Affiliates) party thereto, or its stockholders, beneficially owns or would
beneficially own 10% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock or the
outstanding voting power of the Target Party or such Subsidiary or, if
applicable, the parent entity resulting from any such transaction immediately
upon consummation thereof or (iv) any transaction pursuant to which any
third Person or group of Persons (other than the Non-Target Party or its
Affiliates) directly or indirectly (including by way of merger, consolidation,
share exchange, other business combination, partnership, joint venture or
otherwise) acquires or would acquire control of assets (including for this
purpose the equity securities of, or other ownership interest in, Subsidiaries
of the Target Party and securities of the entity surviving any merger or
business combination involving any of the Subsidiaries of the Target Party) of
the Target Party or any of its Subsidiaries representing 10% or more of
consolidated revenues, net income, EBITDAR for the last 12 full calendar months
or the fair market value of all the assets of the Target Party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately prior to such transaction; provided, however, that no
transaction involving solely the acquisition of capital stock or assets of any
United Subsidiary by United, or of any Continental Subsidiary by Continental,
will be deemed to be a Competing Transaction. Wherever the term
“group” is used in this Agreement, it used as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act.
(d) The
Target Party will notify the Non-Target Party promptly (but in no event later
than 24 hours) after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal, or any material
modification of or material amendment to any Acquisition Proposal, or any
inquiry or request for non-public information relating to the Target Party or
any of its Subsidiaries or for access to the properties, books or records of the
Target Party or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person that is reasonably likely
to lead to or contemplate an Acquisition Proposal. Such notice to the
Non-Target Party will be made orally and in writing and will indicate the
identity of the Person or Persons making the Acquisition Proposal or inquiry or
requesting non-public information or access to the properties, books or records
of the Target Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and a copy of the Acquisition
Proposal or, if not in writing, a written summary in reasonable detail of the
material terms of any such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or request or
modification or amendment to an Acquisition Proposal. The Target
Party will (i) keep the Non-Target Party fully informed, on a current
basis, of any material changes in the status of, and any material changes or
modifications in the terms of, any such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry or request
and, if requested by the Non-Target Party, counsel for the Target Party will
consult with counsel for the Non-Target Party once per day, at mutually
agreeable times, regarding such status and any such changes or modifications,
and (ii) provide to the Non-Target Party as soon as practicable after
receipt or delivery thereof with copies of all correspondence and other written
material sent or provided to the Target Party from any third party in connection
with any Acquisition Proposal or sent or provided by the Target Party to any
third party in connection with any Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that any
material written material or material correspondence will be sent or provided
pursuant to clause
(ii) within 24 hours after receipt or delivery
thereof. Neither United nor Continental will enter into any agreement
on or after the date hereof that would prevent such party from providing any
information required by this Section 5.5 to
the other party.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 5.5, at
any time prior to obtaining the United Stockholder Approvals or the Continental
Stockholder Approval, as applicable, the Target Party may furnish or cause to be
furnished information to, and enter or cause to be entered into discussions
with, and only with, a Person (and its representatives) who has made a bona fide
written Acquisition Proposal that was not solicited on or after the date of this
Agreement and that did not otherwise result from a breach of Section 5.5(a)
or Section 5.5(b),
as applicable, if the Target Party’s Board of Directors (the “Target Board”) has
(i) determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel
and financial advisor or advisors) that (A) such Acquisition Proposal
constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and (B) the
failure to enter into discussions regarding the Acquisition Proposal would be a
breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (ii) provided at least
five Business Days’ notice to the Non-Target Party of its intent to furnish
information to or enter into discussions with such Person in accordance with
this Section 5.5(e),
and (iii) obtained from such Person an executed confidentiality agreement
containing terms that are determined in good faith by the Target Party to be
substantially similar to and not less favorable to the Target Party in the
aggregate than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (it being
understood that such confidentiality agreement and any related agreements will
not include any provision calling for any exclusive right to negotiate with such
Person or having the effect of prohibiting the Target Party from satisfying its
obligations under this Agreement. Unless such information has been
previously provided to the Non-Target Party, all information that is provided by
the Target Party to the Person making such Acquisition Proposal will be provided
to the Non-Target Party. During the five Business Day period set
forth in clause
(ii) above, the Non-Target Party will have the right to make a
presentation to the Target Board.
(f) As
used in this Agreement, “Superior Proposal”
means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal made by a third Person (or group
of Persons) to consummate a merger, consolidation, business combination or other
similar transaction involving the Target Party pursuant to which the
stockholders of the Target Party immediately preceding such transaction would
hold less than 65% of the outstanding shares of common stock of, or less than
65% of the outstanding voting power of, the Target Party, any surviving entity
or the parent entity resulting from any such transaction immediately upon
consummation thereof that the Target Board (after consultation with its outside
legal counsel and its financial advisor or advisors) determines in good faith to
be more favorable to the Target Party’s stockholders than the Merger, taking
into account all relevant factors, including value and other financial
considerations, legal and regulatory considerations and any conditions to, and
expected timing and risks of, completion, as well as any changes to the terms of
the Merger proposed by the Non-Target Party in response to such Superior
Proposal.
(g) Except
as permitted by this Section 5.5(g),
neither the Target Board nor any committee thereof will (i) withdraw or modify
in a manner adverse to the Non-Target Party the recommendation, approval or
declaration of advisability by the Target Board, or any such committee, of this
Agreement, the Restated Charter and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, (ii) recommend, approve or declare
advisable the approval or adoption of any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii)
resolve, agree or propose publicly to take any such actions (each such action
set forth in this sentence of this Section 5.5(g) being
referred to herein as an “Adverse Recommendation
Change”) or approve, adopt or recommend, or cause or permit the Target
Party to enter into, or resolve, agree or propose publicly to do so with respect
to, any United Acquisition Agreement (in the case of United) or Continental
Acquisition Agreement (in the case of Continental) (other than a confidentiality
agreement as referred to in Section
5.5(e)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 5.5, if,
at any time prior to obtaining the United Stockholder Approvals or the
Continental Stockholder Approval, as applicable, the Target Board, in the
exercise of its fiduciary duties, determines in good faith, after consultation
with outside legal counsel and financial advisor or advisors, that to do
otherwise would be a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, then
the Target Board may make an Adverse Recommendation Change; provided, however, that the
Target Board may only make an Adverse Recommendation Change if (A) the
Target Party has provided written notice to the Non-Target Party (a “Notice of Adverse
Recommendation Change”) advising the Non-Target Party that the Target
Board intends to take such action, (B) if any Acquisition Proposal has been made
prior to the date of the Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change (regardless of
whether such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal), the Notice of Adverse
Recommendation Change specifies the material terms and conditions of such
Acquisition Proposal, identifying the Person or Persons making such Acquisition
Proposal and including a copy of the most current version of the agreement or
proposal (if in writing) relating to such Acquisition Proposal, (C) at
least five Business Days have elapsed following the Non-Target Party’s receipt
of such Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change (it being understood that any
amendment or modification to any Acquisition Proposal that is the basis for such
proposed action shall require a new Notice of Adverse Recommendation Change and
a new five Business Day period) and (D) if requested by the Non-Target
Party, the Target Party has negotiated in good faith with the Non-Target Party
during such five Business Day period (as extended pursuant to clause (C)) with
respect to any changes to this Agreement proposed by the Non-Target Party during
such period. In determining whether to give a Notice of Adverse
Recommendation Change or make an Adverse Recommendation Change, the Target Board
shall take into account any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by
the Non-Target Party. The Target Party will not submit to the vote of
its stockholders any Acquisition Proposal, or, except as permitted herein,
propose to do so.
(h) (i)
Nothing contained in this Section 5.5 will
prohibit the Target Party or its Subsidiaries from taking and disclosing to its
stockholders a position required by Rule 14e-2(a) or Rule 14d-9 promulgated
under the Exchange Act and (ii) no disclosure that the United Board or the
Continental Board may determine (after consultation with counsel) that it or
United or Continental, as applicable, is required to make under applicable Law
will constitute a violation of this Agreement; provided, however, that in any
event neither the United Board nor the Continental Board shall make an Adverse
Recommendation Change except in accordance with Section
5.5(g). Any disclosure by the Target Party relating to an
Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change by
the Target Party unless the Target Board reaffirms its recommendation and
declaration of advisability with respect to this Agreement in such
disclosure.
(i)
Each of United and Continental and their respective Subsidiaries will
immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or
negotiations with any Persons (other than the other party to this Agreement)
conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, and will use
reasonable best efforts to cause all Persons, other than the other party hereto,
who have been furnished confidential information regarding such party in
connection with the solicitation of or discussions regarding an Acquisition
Proposal within the 12 months prior to the date of this Agreement promptly to
return or destroy such information.
(j)
It is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this
Section 5.5 by
any director, officer, employee, controlled Affiliate, agent or representative
(including financial or legal advisor or other retained representative) of
either party or any of its Subsidiaries or controlled Affiliates will be deemed
to be a breach of this Section 5.5 by
such party.
ARTICLE
VI
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
6.1 Preparation of the
Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholders
Meetings. (a) As promptly as practicable following
the date of this Agreement, Continental and United shall jointly prepare and
cause to be filed with the SEC the Joint Proxy Statement, and Continental and
United shall jointly prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC the
Form S-4, in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a
prospectus, and each of Continental and United shall use its reasonable best
efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as practicable after such filing. Each of United and
Continental shall furnish all information concerning such Person and its
Affiliates to the other, and provide such other assistance, as may be reasonably
requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the
Form S-4 and Joint Proxy Statement. The Form S-4 and Joint Proxy
Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by such other party
to be included therein. Each of United and Continental shall promptly
notify the other upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request
from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or Joint Proxy
Statement and shall provide the other with copies of all correspondence between
it and its Representatives, on one hand, and the SEC, on the other
hand. Each of United and Continental shall use its reasonable best
efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with
respect to the Form S-4 or Joint Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, prior to filing the Form S-4 (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
or mailing the Joint Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or
responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, each of United and
Continental (i) shall provide the other an opportunity to review and
comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of
such document or response) and (ii) shall include in such document or response
all comments reasonably proposed by the other. Each of United and
Continental shall advise the other, promptly after receipt of notice thereof, of
the time of effectiveness of the Form S-4, the issuance of any stop order
relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification of United Common Stock
constituting Merger Consideration for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and
each of United and Continental shall use its reasonable best efforts to have any
such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise
terminated. United shall also take any other action (other than
qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so
qualified) required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any
applicable foreign or state securities or “Blue Sky” laws and the rules and
regulations thereunder in connection with the Merger, the issuance of the Merger
Consideration and the issuance of United Common Stock under the Continental
Stock Plans. Continental shall furnish all information concerning
Continental and the holders of the Continental Common Stock and rights to
acquire Continental Common Stock pursuant to the Continental Stock Plans as may
be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.
(b) If,
prior to the Effective Time, any event occurs with respect to Continental or any
Continental Subsidiary, or any change occurs with respect to other information
supplied by Continental for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement or the
Form S-4, which is required to be described in an amendment of, or a
supplement to, the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4, Continental shall
promptly notify United of such event, and Continental and United shall cooperate
in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment or supplement to
the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 and, as required by Law, in
disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to
Continental’s stockholders and United’s stockholders. Nothing in this
Section 6.1(b)
shall limit the obligations of any party under Section 6.1(a).
(c) If
prior to the Effective Time, any event occurs with respect to United or any
United Subsidiary, or any change occurs with respect to other information
supplied by United for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement or the
Form S-4, which is required to be described in an amendment of, or a
supplement to, the Joint Proxy Statement or the Form S-4, United shall
promptly notify Continental of such event, and United and Continental shall
cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment or
supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement and the Form S-4 and, as required
by Law, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or
supplement to Continental’s stockholders and United’s
stockholders. Nothing in this Section 6.1(c)
shall limit the obligations of any party under Section 6.1(a).
(d) Continental
shall, as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, duly call,
give notice of, convene and hold the Continental Stockholders
Meeting. Continental shall use its reasonable best efforts to
(i) cause the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to Continental’s
stockholders and to hold the Continental Stockholders Meeting as soon as
practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities
Act and (ii) solicit the Continental Stockholder
Approval. Continental shall, through the Continental Board, recommend
to its stockholders that they give the Continental Stockholder Approval and
shall include such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement, except to the
extent that the Continental Board shall have made a Continental Adverse
Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 5.5(g). Continental
agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall not
be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to Continental of any Continental Acquisition Proposal or by the
making of any Continental Adverse Recommendation Change by the Continental Board
except to the extent (and only to the extent) expressly stated herein to the
contrary.
(e) United
shall, as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, duly call,
give notice of, convene and hold the United Stockholders
Meeting. United shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause
the Joint Proxy Statement to be mailed to United’s stockholders as promptly as
practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act
and to hold the United Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable after the
Form S-4 becomes effective and (ii) solicit the United Stockholder
Approvals. United shall, through the United Board, recommend to its
stockholders that they give the United Stockholder Approvals and shall include
such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement, except to the extent that the
United Board shall have made a United Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted
by Section 5.5(g). United
agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall not
be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to United of any United Acquisition Proposal or by the making of
any United Adverse Recommendation Change by the United Board except to the
extent (and only to the extent) expressly stated herein to the
contrary.
6.2 Access to Information;
Confidentiality. Upon reasonable notice and subject to
applicable Law, each of Continental and United shall, and shall cause each of
its respective Subsidiaries to, afford to the other party and to the
Representatives of such other party reasonable access during the period prior to
the Effective Time to all their respective properties, books, contracts,
commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, each of Continental
and United shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to,
furnish promptly to the other party (a) a copy of each report, schedule,
registration statement and other document filed by it during such period
pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws or federal or
state Laws applicable to certificated air carriers (other than such documents
that such party is not permitted to disclose under applicable Law) and
(b) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel
as such other party may reasonably request; provided, however, that either
party may withhold any document or information (i) that is subject to the terms
of a confidentiality agreement with a third party entered into prior to the date
of this Agreement or entered into after the date of this Agreement in the
ordinary course of business (provided that the withholding party shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the required consent of such third party to
such access or disclosure), (ii) the disclosure of which would violate any Law
or fiduciary duty (provided that the withholding party shall use its reasonable
best efforts to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable
disclosure not in violation of any Law or fiduciary duty) or (iii) that is
subject to any attorney-client privilege (provided that the withholding party
shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow for such access or disclosure to
the maximum extent that does not result in a loss of attorney-client
privilege). Furthermore, the parties acknowledge that with respect to
the “Highly Sensitive Information” (as defined in the Confidentiality
Agreement), the Confidentiality Agreement imposes additional restrictions as to
the manner in which such information will be exchanged by the
parties. If any material is withheld by such party pursuant to the
proviso to the preceding sentence, such party shall inform the other party as to
the general nature of what is being withheld. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, each of United and Continental shall, within two
Business Days of request by the other party therefor, provide to such other
party the information described in Rule 14a-7(a)(2)(ii) under the Exchange
Act and any information to which a holder of United Common Stock or Continental
Common Stock, as applicable, would be entitled under Section 220 of the
Delaware Law (assuming such holder met the requirements of such
section). All information exchanged pursuant to this Section 6.2
shall be subject to the confidentiality agreement dated April 12, 2010 between
Continental and United (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”). The parties agree that the Confidentiality
Agreement supersedes that certain confidentiality agreement dated April 15, 2008
between Continental and United (the “Prior Confidentiality
Agreement”) and that any information constituting “Evaluation Material”
under and as defined in the Prior Confidentiality Agreement shall, from and
after the date of this Agreement, be deemed “Evaluation Material” under and as
defined in, and subject to the terms of, the Confidentiality
Agreement.
6.3 Required
Actions. (a) Each of the parties shall take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and
cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary to consummate
and make effective, as soon as reasonably possible, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof;
provided, however, that nothing
in this Section 6.3
shall prohibit either party from taking any action expressly contemplated by
Section 5.5.
(b) In
connection with and without limiting Section 6.3(a),
United and the United Board and Continental and the Continental Board shall
(x) take all action necessary to ensure that no Takeover Statute or similar
statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated by this Agreement and (y) if any Takeover Statute
or similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, take all action necessary to ensure
that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be
consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this
Agreement.
(c) In
connection with and without limiting Section 6.3(a),
promptly following the execution and delivery by the parties of this Agreement
United and Continental shall provide all necessary notices, applications and
requests to, and enter into discussions with, the Governmental Entities from
whom Consents or nonactions are required to be obtained in connection with the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in order to obtain all such required Consents or nonactions from such
Governmental Entities and eliminate each and every other impediment that may be
asserted by such Governmental Entities, in each case with respect to the Merger,
so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably
practicable. To the extent necessary in order to accomplish the
foregoing, United and Continental shall jointly propose, negotiate, commit to
and effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale,
divestiture or disposition of, or prohibition or limitation on, (A) the
ownership or operation by United, Continental or any of their respective
Subsidiaries of any portion of the business, properties or assets of United,
Continental or any of their respective Subsidiaries, (B) the ability of United
to acquire or hold, or exercise full right of ownership of, any shares of the
capital stock of the United Subsidiaries or Continental or the Continental
Subsidiaries, including the right to vote, or (C) United or any of its
Subsidiaries effectively controlling the business or operations of United and
the United Subsidiaries or Continental and the Continental Subsidiaries; provided, however, that neither Continental
nor United shall be required pursuant to this Section 6.3(c) to
propose, commit to or effect any action that is not conditioned upon the
consummation of the Merger. If the actions taken by Continental and
United pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence do not result in the
conditions set forth in Section 7.1(d) and
(f) being
satisfied, then each of Continental and United shall jointly (to the extent
practicable) initiate and/or participate in any proceedings, whether judicial or
administrative, in order to (i) oppose or defend against any action by any
Governmental Entity to prevent or enjoin the consummation of the Merger or any
of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) take such
action as necessary to overturn any regulatory action by any Governmental Entity
to block consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including by defending any suit, action or other
legal proceeding brought by any Governmental Entity in order to avoid the entry
of, or to have vacated, overturned or terminated, including by appeal if
necessary, any Injunction resulting from any suit, action or other legal
proceeding that would cause any condition set forth in Section 7.1(d) or
(f) not to be
satisfied, provided that Continental and United shall cooperate with one another
in connection with, and shall jointly control, all proceedings related to the
foregoing.
(d) In
connection with and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of
Continental and United shall:
(i)
make or cause to be made, in consultation and cooperation with the other and as
promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement (but in any event, with
respect to clause
(A) below, within five Business Days following the date of this
Agreement, and with respect to clause (B) below, at
a time necessary to ensure that the EU Extension Date occurs prior to the Latest
Possible End Date), (A) an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form
pursuant to the HSR Act relating to the Merger, (B) all appropriate filings
required pursuant to European Community Council Regulation No. 139/2004
(the “EU Merger
Regulation”), and (C) all other necessary registrations, declarations,
notices and filings relating to the Merger with other Governmental Entities
under any other antitrust, competition, trade regulation or similar
Laws;
(ii) use
its reasonable best efforts to furnish to the other all assistance, cooperation
and information required for any such registration, declaration, notice or
filing and in order to achieve the effects set forth in Section
6.3(c);
(iii) give
the other reasonable prior notice of any such registration, declaration, notice
or filing and, to the extent reasonably practicable, of any communication with
any Governmental Entity regarding the Merger (including with respect to any of
the actions referred to in Section 6.3(c)), and
permit the other to review and discuss in advance, and consider in good faith
the views of, and secure the participation of, the other in
connection with, any such registration, declaration, notice, filing or
communication;
(iv) respond
as promptly as practicable under the circumstances to any inquiries received
from any Governmental Entity or any other authority enforcing applicable
antitrust, competition, trade regulation or similar Laws for additional
information or documentation in connection with antitrust, competition, trade
regulation or similar matters;
(v) without
limiting the generality of Section 6.3(d)(iv),
(A) use its reasonable best efforts to achieve Substantial Compliance as
promptly as practicable with any request for additional information or
documentary material issued by a Governmental Entity under 15 U.S.C. Sect.
18a(e) and in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(a “Second
Request”), (B) certify Substantial Compliance with any Second
Request as promptly as practicable after the date of such Second Request, but in
no event later than September 30, 2010, (C) take all actions necessary to
assert, defend and support its certification of Substantial Compliance with such
Second Request and (D) not extend any waiting period under the HSR Act or
enter into any agreement with such Governmental Entities or other authorities to
delay, or otherwise not to consummate as soon as practicable, any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement except with the prior written
consent of the other parties hereto, which consent may be withheld in the sole
discretion of the non-requesting party; and
(vi) unless
prohibited by applicable Law or by the applicable Governmental Entity, (A) to
the extent reasonably practicable, not participate in or attend any meeting, or
engage in any substantive conversation with any Governmental Entity in respect
of the Merger (including with respect to any of the actions referred to in Section 6.3(c))
without the other, (B) to the extent reasonably practicable, give the other
reasonable prior notice of any such meeting or conversation, (C) in the event
one party is prohibited by applicable Law or by the applicable Governmental
Entity from participating or attending any such meeting or engaging in any such
conversation, keep such party reasonably apprised with respect thereto, (D)
cooperate in the filing of any substantive memoranda, white papers, filings,
correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending this
Agreement and the Merger, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument,
and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Entity, and
(E) furnish the other party with copies of all correspondence, filings and
communications (and memoranda setting forth the substance thereof) between it
and its Affiliates and their respective Representatives on the one hand, and any
Governmental Entity or members of any Governmental Entity’s staff, on the other
hand, with respect to this Agreement and the Merger.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything else contained herein, the provisions of this Section 6.3
shall not be construed to require United or any United Subsidiary or Continental
or any Continental Subsidiary to undertake any efforts or to take any action if
the taking of such efforts or action is or would reasonably be expected to
result (after giving effect to any reasonably expected proceeds of any
divestiture or sale of assets) in a Material Adverse Effect on either United or
Continental, as applicable.
(f) Continental
shall give prompt notice to United, and United shall give prompt notice to
Continental, of (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in
this Agreement that is qualified as to materiality becoming untrue or inaccurate
in any respect or any such representation or warranty that is not so qualified
becoming untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or (ii) the failure
by it to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition
or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification
shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the
parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this
Agreement; provided further, that a
failure to comply with this Section 6.3(f) will
not constitute the failure of any condition set forth in Article VII to be
satisfied unless the underlying inaccuracy or breach would independently result
in the failure of a condition set forth in Article VII to be
satisfied.
(g) Immediately
following the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the parties
hereto, United, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, will adopt this
Agreement.
(h) Each
of Continental and United shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
United Common Stock to be listed on either the NASDAQ or the NYSE, as reasonably
agreed upon by Continental and United, after the Effective Time and to cause the
trading symbol for the United Common Stock on such exchange after the Effective
Time to be the trading symbol reasonably agreed upon by Continental and
United.
6.4 Stock
Plans. (a) Prior to the Effective Time, the
Continental Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the
Continental Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions
as may be required to effect the following:
(i)
except as provided in Section 6.4(a)(iii),
adjust the terms of all outstanding Continental Stock Options to provide that,
at the Effective Time, each Continental Stock Option outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be deemed to
constitute an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were
applicable under such Continental Stock Option, a number of shares of United
Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the product of
(x) the number of shares of Continental Common Stock subject to such Continental
Stock Option multiplied by (y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per
share of United Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to
quotient of (x) the exercise price per share of Continental Common Stock under
such Continental Stock Option divided by (y) the Exchange Ratio (each, a “Continental Rollover
Option”); provided, however, that in the
case of any option to which Section 421 of the Code applies by reason of
its qualification under either Section 422 or 424 of the Code, the option
price, the number of shares purchasable pursuant to such option and the terms
and conditions of exercise of such option shall be determined in order to comply
with Section 424(a) of the Code;
(ii) adjust
the terms of all outstanding Continental Stock-Based Awards (other than
Continental Stock Options and Cash-Settled Profit-Based RSU Awards), if any, to
provide that, at the Effective Time, such Continental Stock-Based Awards
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
shares of United Common Stock or other compensatory awards denominated in shares
of United Common Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture to, or right of
repurchase by, United (each, a “Converted Continental
Stock-Based Award”), with the same terms and conditions as were
applicable under such Continental Stock-Based Awards, except to the extent
otherwise required by the terms of such Continental Stock-Based Awards or
pursuant to any Continental Benefit Plan or employment agreement as in effect as
of the date of this Agreement, and each holder of Continental Stock-Based Awards
shall be entitled to receive a number of Converted Continental Stock-Based
Awards equal to the product of (x) the number of Continental Stock-Based Awards
held by such holder immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange
Ratio;
(iii) (1) no
less than 5 days prior to the Effective Time, (A) cause the then-current
purchase period under the Continental SPP to end and use the accumulated funds
thereunder to acquire shares of Continental Common Stock in accordance with the
terms of the Continental SPP, (B) ensure that the shares of Continental Common
Stock so purchased are treated in accordance with Article II in the
same manner as other outstanding shares of Continental Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and (C) ensure that no
new options to acquire shares of Continental Common Stock are granted under the
Continental SPP thereafter and (2) terminate the Continental SPP as of the
Effective Time;
(iv) make
such other changes to the Continental Stock Plans as it deems appropriate to
give effect to the Merger (subject to the approval of United, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and
(v) ensure
that, after the Effective Time, no Continental Stock Options or Continental
Stock-Based Awards may be granted under any Continental Stock Plans and that
from and after the Effective Time awards under the Continental Stock Plans shall
be granted with respect to United Common Stock.
(b) At
the Effective Time, and subject to compliance by Continental with Section 6.4(a),
United shall assume all the obligations of Continental under the Continental
Stock Plans, each outstanding Continental Stock Option, each outstanding
Continental Stock-Based Award and the agreements evidencing the grants
thereof. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, United
shall deliver to the holders of Continental Stock Options and Continental
Stock-Based Awards appropriate notices setting forth such holders’ rights
pursuant to the respective Continental Stock Plans, and the agreements
evidencing the grants of such Continental Stock Options and Continental
Stock-Based Awards shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions
(subject to the adjustments required by this Section 6.4
after giving effect to the Merger).
(c) United
shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient
number of shares of United Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of the
Continental Rollover Options and Converted Continental Stock-Based Awards
assumed in accordance with this Section 6.4. As
soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, United shall file a
registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form)
with respect to the shares of United Common Stock subject to such Continental
Rollover Options and Converted Continental Stock-Based Awards and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration
statement or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the
prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such Continental
Rollover Options and Converted Continental Stock-Based Awards remain
outstanding.
6.5 Actions with Respect to
Certain Continental Debt. (a) United and Continental shall
enter into a supplemental indenture in respect of the 5% Convertible Notes due
2023 (the “Continental
Convertible Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of June 10,
2003, between Continental and Bank One, N.A., as trustee, as amended to the date
of this Agreement (the “Continental Convertible
Notes Indenture”) containing the provisions required by the Continental
Convertible Notes Indenture, including a provision that, at the Effective Time,
(i) each outstanding Continental Convertible Note shall no longer be
convertible into shares of Continental Common Stock and shall be convertible
solely into the number of shares of United Common Stock that the holder of such
Continental Convertible Note would have received pursuant to the Merger if such
holder had converted such Continental Convertible Note immediately before the
Effective Time and (ii) United assumes all the obligations of Continental
under the Continental Convertible Notes, any coupons appertaining thereto and
the Continental Convertible Notes Indenture.
(b) United
and Continental shall enter into a supplemental indenture in respect of the 6%
Convertible Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2030 (the “Continental Convertible
Debentures”) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of November 10,
2000, between Continental and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, as amended
to the date of this Agreement (the “Continental Convertible
Debentures Indenture”) containing the provisions required by the
Continental Convertible Debentures Indenture, including a provision that, at the
Effective Time, (i) each outstanding Continental Convertible Debenture
shall no longer be convertible into shares of Continental Common Stock and shall
be convertible solely into a number of shares of United Common Stock that the
holder of such Continental Convertible Debenture would have received pursuant to
the Merger if such holder had converted such Continental Convertible Debenture
immediately before the Effective Time and (ii) United assumes the due and
punctual payment of principal and interest on the Continental Convertible
Debentures and the performance or observance of every covenant of the
Continental Convertible Debentures Indenture to be performed or observed on the
part of Continental.
(c) United
and Continental shall enter into a supplemental indenture in respect of the 4.5%
Convertible Notes due 2015 (the “Continental 2015 Convertible
Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of December 11, 2009,
between Continental and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as
trustee, as amended to the date of this Agreement (the “Continental 2015 Convertible
Notes Indenture”) containing the provisions required by the Continental
2015 Convertible Notes Indenture, including a provision that, at the Effective
Time, (i) each outstanding Continental 2015 Convertible Note shall no
longer be convertible into shares of Continental Common Stock and shall be
convertible solely into the number of shares of United Common Stock that the
holder of such Continental 2015 Convertible Note would have received pursuant to
the Merger if such holder had converted such Continental 2015 Convertible Note
immediately before the Effective Time and (ii) United assumes all the
obligations of Continental under the Continental 2015 Convertible Notes, any
coupons appertaining thereto and the Continental 2015 Convertible Notes
Indenture.
6.6 Indemnification and
Directors and Officers Insurance. (a) United agrees
that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from
liabilities for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time now
existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers of Continental
and its respective Subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnified Party”)
shall be assumed by United and shall survive the Merger and continue in full
force and effect in accordance with their terms.
(b) At
or prior to the Effective Time, United shall purchase a “tail” directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policy for Continental and its current and former
directors and officers who are currently covered by the directors’ and officers’
liability insurance coverage currently maintained by Continental in a form
reasonably acceptable to Continental that shall provide Continental and such
directors and officers with coverage for six years following the Effective Time
of not less than the existing coverage and have other terms not less favorable
to the insured persons than the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
coverage currently maintained by Continental; provided, however, that in no
event will United be required to expend for any year of such six-year period an
amount in excess of 250% of the annual aggregate premiums currently paid by
United for such insurance (the “Maximum
Premium”). United shall maintain such policy in full force and
effect, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder. If such
insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an
annual premium in excess of the Maximum Premium, United will cause to be
maintained the most advantageous policies of directors’ and officers’ insurance
obtainable for an annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium.
(c) The
provisions of this Section 6.6 will
survive the Effective Time and are intended to be for the benefit of, and will
be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and
representatives. United will pay or cause to be paid (as incurred)
all expenses, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, that an
Indemnified Party may incur in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations
provided for in this Section 6.6 (subject
to reimbursement if the Indemnified Party is subsequently determined not to be
entitled to indemnification under Section
6.6(a)).
(d) If
United or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into
any other Person and is not 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, to
the extent necessary, proper provision will be made so that the successors and
assigns of United, as the case may be, will assume the obligations set forth in
this Section
6.6.
6.7 Fees and
Expenses. (a) Except as provided in this Section 6.7, all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be paid by the party incurring
such expense; provided, however, that United and Continental
shall share equally (i) all fees and expenses in relation to the printing and
filing of the Form S-4 and the printing, filing and distribution of the Joint
Proxy Statement and (ii) any filing fees required in connection with the Merger
pursuant to the HSR Act or any other competition Law, other than, in the case of
clause (i) or
clause (ii),
attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and expenses.
(b) In
the event that this Agreement is terminated:
(i)
by United pursuant to Section
8.1(h);
(ii) by
Continental or United pursuant to Section 8.1(d) and
(x) a proposal for a Competing Transaction has been made to Continental or
its stockholders or such a proposal (whether or not conditional) or an intention
to make such a proposal has been publicly announced or has otherwise become
publicly known after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Continental
Stockholders Meeting, and (y) (1) within 12 months after such termination,
Continental or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any definitive agreement
providing for a Competing Transaction or (2) (A) within 12 months after such
termination, any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer with respect
to Continental (or any successor to Continental or any parent of Continental)
and (B) within 24 months after such termination a Competing Transaction is
consummated; provided, however, for purposes
of this clause
(ii), unless a Competing Transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) is made and
consummated by the same Person (or any Affiliate thereof), any reference in the
definition of Competing Transaction to 10% shall be deemed to be a reference to
35%; or
(iii) by
Continental or United pursuant to Section 8.1(e) and
(x) a proposal for a Competing Transaction has been made to Continental or
its stockholders or such a proposal (whether or not conditional) or an intention
to make such a proposal has been publicly announced or has otherwise become
publicly known after the date of this Agreement and prior to the End Date, (y)
the Continental Stockholders Meeting did not occur at least 5 Business Days
prior to the End Date and (z) (1) within 12 months after such termination,
Continental or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any definitive agreement
providing for a Competing Transaction or (2) (A) within 12 months after such
termination, any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer with respect
to Continental (or any successor to Continental or any parent of Continental)
and (B) within 24 months after such termination a Competing Transaction is
consummated; provided, however, for purposes
of this clause
(iii), unless a Competing Transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) is made and
consummated by the same Person (or any controlled Affiliate thereof), any
reference in the definition of Competing Transaction to 10% shall be deemed to
be a reference to 35%;
then, Continental will pay United a fee
equal to $175,000,000 (the “Termination Fee”), by
wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by United, in the case
of a termination referred to in Section 6.7(b)(ii) or
Section 6.7(b)(iii),
upon the earliest to occur of the events referred to in Section 6.7(b)(ii)(y)
or Section
6.7(b)(iii)(z), as applicable, and in the
case of a termination by United referred to in Section
6.7(b)(i), within two Business Days after
such termination.
(c) In
the event that this Agreement is terminated:
(i) by
Continental pursuant to Section
8.1(i);
(ii) by
United or Continental pursuant to Section 8.1(c) and
(x) a proposal for a Competing Transaction has been made to United or its
stockholders or such a proposal (whether or not conditional) or an intention to
make such a proposal has been publicly announced or has otherwise become
publicly known after the date of this Agreement and prior to the United
Stockholders Meeting, and (y) (1) within 12 months after such termination,
United or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any definitive agreement providing
for a Competing Transaction or (2) (A) within 12 months after such termination,
any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer with respect to United (or
any successor to United or any parent of United) and (B) within 24 months after
such termination a Competing Transaction is consummated; provided, however, for purposes
of this clause
(ii), unless a Competing Transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) is made and
consummated by the same Person (or any controlled Affiliate thereof), any
reference in the definition of Competing Transaction to 10% shall be deemed to
be a reference to 35%; or
(iii) by
United or Continental pursuant to Section 8.1(e) and
(x) a proposal for a Competing Transaction has been made to United or its
stockholders or such a proposal (whether or not conditional) or an intention to
make such a proposal has been publicly announced or has otherwise become
publicly known after the date of this Agreement and prior to the End Date,
(y) the United Stockholders Meeting did not occur at least 5 Business Days
prior to the End Date and (z) (1) within 12 months after such termination,
United or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any definitive agreement providing
for a Competing Transaction or (2) (A) within 12 months after such termination,
any Person commences a tender offer or exchange offer with respect to United (or
any successor to United or any parent of United) and (B) within 24 months after
such termination a Competing Transaction is consummated; provided, however, for purposes
of this clause
(iii), unless a Competing Transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) is made and
consummated by the same Person (or any controlled Affiliate thereof), any
reference in the definition of Competing Transaction to 10% shall be deemed to
be a reference to 35%;
then, United will pay Continental the
Termination Fee, by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated by
Continental, in the case of termination referred to in Section 6.7(c)(ii) or
(iii), upon the
earliest to occur of the events referred to in Section 6.7(c)(ii)(y)
or Section 6.7(c)(iii)(z),
as applicable, and in the case of termination by
Continental referred to in Section
6.7(c)(i), within two Business Days after
such termination.
(d) Each
party acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 6.7 are an
integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that,
without these agreements, the other party would not enter into this
Agreement. Accordingly, if a party fails promptly to pay the amounts
due pursuant to this Section 6.7 and,
in order to obtain such payment, the other party commences a suit that results
in a judgment against the non-paying party for the amounts set forth in this
Section 6.7,
the non-paying party will pay to the other party interest, from the date such
payment was required to be made, on the amounts set forth in this Section 6.7 at a rate
per annum equal to the three-month LIBOR (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal (Northeast edition) or, if not reported
therein, in another authoritative source selected by the party entitled to such
amounts) on the date such payment was required to be made (or if no quotation
for three-month LIBOR is available for such date, on the next preceding date for
which such a quotation is available) plus 250 basis points. The
parties acknowledge and agree that the Termination Fee shall not constitute
either a penalty or liquidated damages, and the right of a party to receive, or
the receipt of, the Termination Fee shall not limit or otherwise affect such
party’s right to specific performance as provided in Section 9.10,
such party’s rights as set forth in Section 8.2 or Section 9.7 or any
other remedies that may be available for breaches of this Agreement, including
breaches of Section 5.5 of
this Agreement.
6.8 Certain Tax
Matters. (a) United and Continental shall each use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify for the Intended Tax
Treatment, including (i) not taking any action that such party knows would
reasonably be expected to prevent such qualification and (ii) executing such
amendments to this Agreement as may be reasonably required in order to obtain
such qualification (it being understood that no party will be required to agree
to any such amendment). For Federal income Tax purposes, each of
United, Continental and Merger Sub will report the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with such
qualification.
(b) United
and Continental shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Tax
opinions described in Sections 7.2(c)
and 7.3(c),
including by causing its officers to execute and deliver to the law firms
delivering such Tax opinions certificates substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibits
C-2 and D-2 at such time or
times as may reasonably be requested by such law firms, including at the time
the Form S-4 is filed and at the Closing Date. Each of United,
Continental and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts not to take or
cause to be taken any action that would cause to be untrue (or fail to take or
cause not to be taken any action which inaction would cause to be untrue) any of
the representations included in the certificates described in this Section
6.8. It is understood and agreed that the parties’ right to
take any action disclosed in Sections 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 of the United
Disclosure Schedule or the Continental Disclosure Schedule, as applicable, will
be subject to and subordinate to the parties’ respective obligations under this
Section
6.8.
6.9 Transaction
Litigation. Continental shall give United the opportunity to
participate in the defense or settlement of any stockholder litigation against
Continental and/or its directors relating to the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be
agreed to without the prior written consent of United, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. United shall give
Continental the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any
stockholder litigation against United and/or its directors relating to the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such
settlement shall be agreed to without the prior written consent of Continental,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed. For purposes of this paragraph, “participate” means that the
non-litigating party will be kept apprised of proposed strategy and other
significant decisions with respect to the litigation by the litigating party (to
the extent the attorney-client privilege between the litigating party and its
counsel is not undermined or otherwise affected), and the non-litigating party
may offer comments or suggestions with respect to the litigation but will not be
afforded any decision making power or other authority over the litigation except
for the settlement consent set forth above.
6.10 Section 16
Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, United, Continental and
Merger Sub each shall take all such steps as may be required to cause (a) any
dispositions of Continental Common Stock (including derivative securities with
respect to Continental Common Stock) resulting from the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each individual who will be
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
with respect to Continental immediately prior to the Effective Time to be exempt
under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (b) any
acquisitions of United Common Stock (including derivative securities with
respect to United Common Stock) resulting from the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each individual who may become
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
with respect to United to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act.
6.11 Governance
Matters.
(a) Non-Executive
Chairman. United shall take all necessary action to cause,
effective at the Effective Time, Glenn F. Tilton to be elected as non-executive
Chairman of the United Board unless he is not the Chief Executive Officer of
United immediately prior to the Effective Time. If Mr. Tilton is not
the Chief Executive Officer of United immediately prior to the Effective Time,
then United shall select his replacement, subject to the concurrence of
Continental acting in good faith, after receiving the recommendation of the
Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee of the Continental
Board, which will consider such replacement in good faith, and each of United
and Continental shall take all action necessary to cause such replacement to be
elected non-executive Chairman of the United Board effective at the Effective
Time. Furthermore, if such a replacement occurs, then, where
applicable, any references in this Agreement or the United-Continental Bylaws to
Mr. Tilton shall instead be to such replacement. On December 31,
2012, or the date that is two years after the Effective Time, whichever is
later, Mr. Tilton shall cease to serve as the non-executive
Chairman.
(b) Chief Executive
Officer. United shall take all action necessary to cause,
effective at the Effective Time, Jeffery A. Smisek to be elected the Chief
Executive Officer of United unless he is not the Chief Executive Officer of
Continental immediately prior to the Effective Time. If Mr. Smisek is
not the Chief Executive Officer of Continental immediately prior to the
Effective Time, then Continental shall select his replacement, subject to the
concurrence of United acting in good faith, after receiving the recommendation
of the Nominating/Governance Committee of the United Board, which will consider
such replacement in good faith, and each of United and Continental shall take
all action necessary to cause such replacement to be elected Chief Executive
Officer of United effective at the Effective Time. Furthermore, if
such a replacement occurs, then, where applicable, any references in this
Agreement or the United-Continental Bylaws to Mr. Smisek shall instead be to
such replacement. On December 31, 2012, or the date that is two years
after the Effective Time, whichever is later, Mr. Smisek will also become
Chairman of the United Board; provided, however, if Mr.
Tilton ceases to serve as non-executive Chairman prior to such date, then Mr.
Smisek will become Chairman of the United Board on such earlier
date.
(c) Board of
Directors. United shall take all necessary action to cause,
effective at the Effective Time, (i) the size of the United Board to be
increased so as to consist of 16 members and (ii) the United Board to be
comprised of (A) six Independent United Directors selected by United, (B) Mr.
Tilton, (C) six Independent Continental Directors selected by Continental, (D)
Mr. Smisek and (E) the two Union Directors.
(d) Committees. United
shall take all necessary action to cause, effective at the Effective
Time:
(i)
the United Board to have six board committees: the Executive Committee,
the Nominating/Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Finance
Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Public Responsibility
Committee;
(ii) the
Executive Committee to be comprised of Mr. Tilton, Mr. Smisek and the then chair
of each of the Nominating/Governance Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance
Committee and the Audit Committee and to be chaired by Mr. Tilton;
(iii) the
Finance Committee to be comprised of Mr. Tilton, Mr. Smisek and equal numbers of
Independent United Directors selected by United and Independent Continental
Directors selected by Continental;
(iv) each
of the Nominating/Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and the Audit
Committee to be comprised of equal numbers of Independent United Directors
selected by United and Independent Continental Directors selected by
Continental;
(v) an
Independent United Director selected by United to chair the
Nominating/Governance Committee;
(vi) an
Independent Continental Director selected by Continental to chair the
Compensation Committee;
(vii) either
an Independent United Director selected by United or an Independent Continental
Director selected by Continental to chair the Finance Committee;
(viii) (A)
an Independent Continental Director selected by Continental to chair the Audit
Committee, if an Independent United Director is selected to chair the Finance
Committee, and (B) an Independent United Director selected by United to chair
the Audit Committee, if an Independent Continental Director is selected to chair
the Finance Committee;
(ix) the
Public Responsibility Committee to be comprised of two Independent United
Directors selected by United, two Independent Continental Directors selected by
Continental and the two Union Directors; and
(x) one
Independent United Director selected by United and one Independent Continental
Director selected by Continental to co-chair the Public Responsibility
Committee.
(e) Integration.
(i) Subject
to applicable Law, prior to the Effective Time, United and Continental shall
cause Mr. Tilton and Mr. Smisek, respectively, to engage in planning for an
integration process with respect to the businesses of United and Continental,
including selecting from the management ranks of United and Continental in an
equitable and balanced manner those managers who will hold the key management
positions in United following the Effective Time. The announcement of
such key management positions shall be made shortly before the Effective
Time.
(ii) In
order to facilitate the integration of the operations of United and Continental
and their respective Subsidiaries and to permit the coordination of their
related operations on a timely basis, and in an effort to accelerate to the
earliest time practicable following the Effective Time the realization of
synergies, operating efficiencies and other benefits expected to be realized by
the parties as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
prior to the Effective Time, United and Continental shall establish a committee
to be co-chaired by the chief executive officers of each of United and
Continental and with such other members as they shall mutually agree, which
committee shall have responsibility for coordinating and directing the efforts
of the parties with respect to (A) the integration of operations and fleet plan
of United and Continental and their respective Subsidiaries, (B) obtaining the
required consents and approvals from Governmental Entities as contemplated by
Section 6.3,
(C) communications, public relations and investor relations strategy and
approach of the parties regarding the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby (other than any party’s actions in respect of a United
Acquisition Proposal or a Continental Acquisition Proposal, respectively, a
Competing Transaction in respect of either United or Continental or an Adverse
Recommendation Change by either the United Board or the Continental Board,
respectively) and (D) other business and operational matters, including the
financing needs of United and Continental and their Subsidiaries following the
Effective Time, to the extent not in violation of Applicable Laws, including
laws regarding the exchange of information and other laws regarding
competition.
(f) Headquarters. Following
the Effective Time, the corporate headquarters and related corporate functions
for United (which will be located in the United Building), as well as airline
operations (which will be located in the Willis Tower), will be in Chicago,
Illinois. In addition, United will maintain a significant presence in
Houston, Texas. United and Continental shall cause Mr. Tilton and Mr.
Smisek, respectively, to determine, prior to the Effective Time, the specific
business functions to be located in Houston, Texas following the Effective
Time. The non-executive Chairman will have his office at the
corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and the Chief Executive Officer
will maintain an office in each of Chicago, Illinois and Houston,
Texas. It is intended that a majority of the in-person meetings of
the United Board in each calendar year shall be held in the Greater Chicago
Metropolitan Area.
6.12 Employee
Matters.
(a) During
the period from the Closing Date until the six-month anniversary thereof, United
shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to each Person who is
employed by Continental or United or any of their respective Subsidiaries
immediately prior to the Effective Time, except with respect to any such
employees who are represented for purposes of collective bargaining pursuant to
the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended (the “Continuing
Employees”), compensation (including base salary and incentive and bonus
opportunities, but excluding equity-based compensation) and benefits (including
vacation, paid time-off and severance) that are not materially less favorable
(taken as a whole) than those provided to the Continuing Employees immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
(b) The
service of each Continuing Employee with Continental or United or any of their
respective Subsidiaries (or any predecessor employer) prior to the Effective
Time shall be treated as service with United and its Subsidiaries for purposes
of each United Benefit Plan (including vacation, paid time-off and severance
plans) in which such Continuing Employee participates after the Effective Time,
including for purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit levels and accruals
(other than defined benefit pension plan accruals).
(c) Following
the Effective Time, for purposes of each United Benefit Plan in which any
Continuing Employee or his or her eligible dependents is eligible to participate
after the Effective Time, United shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i)
waive any pre-existing condition, exclusion, actively-at-work requirement or
waiting period to the extent such condition, exclusion, requirement or waiting
period was satisfied or waived under the comparable Continental Benefit Plan as
of the Effective Time (or, if later, any applicable plan transaction date) and
(ii) provide full credit for any co-payments, deductibles or similar payments
made or incurred prior to the Effective Time for the plan year in which the
Effective Time (or such transition date) occurs.
(d) United
shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, honor, in accordance with its terms,
each Continental Benefit Plan and all obligations thereunder, including any
rights or benefits arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (either alone or in combination with any other event), and United
hereby acknowledges that the consummation of the Merger constitutes a change of
control or change in control, as the case may be, for all purposes under such
Continental Benefit Plans.
(e) Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring United or any of its
Subsidiaries to employ any Continuing Employee for any length of time following
the Closing Date. Except as provided in Section 6.13, nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, shall be construed to prevent United or
any of its Subsidiaries from (i) terminating, or modifying the terms of
employment of, any Continuing Employee following the Closing Date or (ii)
terminating or modifying to any extent any Continental Benefit Plan, United
Benefit Plan or any other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or
arrangement that United or any of its Subsidiaries may establish or maintain;
provided, however, that to the
extent that, and for so long as, a Continuing Employee remains employed by
United or any of its Subsidiaries during the six-month period following the
Closing, the compensation and benefits payable to such employee during such
period shall be subject to Section
6.12(a). Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an
amendment to any United Benefit Plan or Continental Benefit Plan or any other
compensation and benefit plans maintained for or provided to directors, officers
or employees of United or Continental prior to or following the Effective
Time.
6.13 Collective Bargaining
Agreement Commitments.
United hereby acknowledges that it has
received copies of all of Continental’s collective bargaining agreements listed
in Section 4.12
of the Continental Disclosure Schedule, and all amendments thereto (the “Continental CBAs”),
as well as copies of letters or employee materials relating to business
combination consequences that Continental has sent or provided to certain groups
of its employees that are not covered by collective bargaining agreements (the
“Continental Non-Union
Employee Letters”). Annex B sets forth
certain sections of the Continental CBAs and the Non-Union Employee Letters
regarding successor transactions, including those sections listed under the
heading “Commitments” (the “Continental Employee
Commitments”) and under the heading “Irrevocable Commitments” (the “Irrevocable Continental
Employee Commitments”). Each of United and Continental hereby
agrees, and will cause its Subsidiaries to agree, to abide by the terms of the
Continental Employee Commitments, as applicable, and each of United and
Continental hereby irrevocably agrees, and will cause its Subsidiaries to agree,
irrevocably to abide by the terms of the Irrevocable Continental Employee
Commitments with respect to the operations and employees of Continental, Merger
Sub and the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of
the parties to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver
by each of the parties, at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:
(a) United Stockholder
Approvals. The United Stockholder Approvals shall have been
obtained.
(b) Continental Stockholder
Approval. The Continental Stockholder Approval shall have been
obtained.
(c) Listing. The
shares of United Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall have been
authorized for listing on the NYSE or NASDAQ, as reasonably agreed upon by
United and Continental, subject to official notice of issuance.
(d) Regulatory Approvals.
(i) The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the
HSR Act shall have expired or been earlier terminated, (ii) any approval or
authorization required to be obtained from the FAA, DOT and any other
Governmental Entity for the consummation of the Merger shall have been obtained,
and (iii) any approval required to be obtained under any foreign antitrust,
competition or similar Laws, in each case in connection with the consummation of
the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been
obtained, except for those, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), the failure of
which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on United or a Material Adverse
Effect on Continental.
(e) Form S-4. The
Form S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act, and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or be threatened
by the SEC.
(f) No Injunctions or
Restraints; Illegality. No material Injunction preventing the
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in effect. No material statute, rule, regulation
or Injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any
Governmental Entity that prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the
Merger.
7.2 Conditions to Obligations of
United. The obligation of United to effect the Merger is also
subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by United, at or prior to the Effective
Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) Each of the representations and warranties
(other than as set forth in Sections 4.2(a) and
(b) and 4.8(a)) of
Continental set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the date of
this Agreement, and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date
(except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of
such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to
be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to
“materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” set forth therein), individually or
in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect on Continental, (ii) the representations and warranties
of Continental set forth in Sections 4.2(a)
and (b) shall
be true and correct in all material respects on the date of this Agreement, and
as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent
expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and
(iii) the representations and warranties of Continental set forth in Section 4.8(a)
shall be true and correct on the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing
Date, as if made at and as of such date, and United shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Continental by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Chief Financial Officer of Continental to the foregoing
effects.
(b) Performance of Obligations
of Continental. Continental shall have performed in all
material respects all material obligations required to be performed by it under
this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and United shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of Continental by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Chief Financial Officer of Continental to such effect.
(c) United Tax
Opinion. United shall have received an opinion of Cravath,
Swaine & Moore LLP, or such other reputable Tax counsel reasonably
satisfactory to United, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1, on
the basis of certain facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such
opinion, dated as of the date on which the Form S-4 is filed and as of the
Closing Date, to the effect that (i) the Merger will be treated for Federal
income Tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code and (ii) United, Continental and Merger Sub will each be a “party to
the reorganization” with respect to the Merger. In rendering such
opinion, such advisor shall be entitled to rely upon representations of officers
of Continental, Merger Sub and United made in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
C-2.
7.3 Conditions to Obligations of
Continental. The obligation of Continental to effect the
Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Continental, at or
prior to the Effective Time, of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) Each of the representations and warranties
(other than as set forth in Sections 3.2(a) and
(b) and 3.8(a)) of United set
forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the date of this Agreement,
and as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the
extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date),
except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true
and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or
“Material Adverse Effect” set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate,
has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on United, (ii) the representations and warranties of United set forth in
Sections 3.2(a)
and (b) shall
be true and correct in all material respects on the date of this Agreement, and
as of the Closing Date, as if made at and as of such date (except to the extent
expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and
(iii) the representations and warranties of United set forth in Section 3.8(a)
shall be true and correct on the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing
Date, as if made at and as of such date, and Continental shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of United by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of United to the foregoing effects.
(b) Performance of Obligations
of United. United shall have performed in all material
respects all material obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and Continental shall have received a
certificate signed on behalf of United by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chief Financial Officer of United to such effect.
(c) Continental Tax
Opinion. Continental shall have received an opinion of Jones
Day, or such other reputable Tax counsel reasonably satisfactory to Continental,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-1, on
the basis of certain facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such
opinion, dated as of the date on which the Form S-4 is filed and as of the
Closing Date, to the effect that (i) the Merger will be treated for Federal
income Tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Code and (ii) United, Continental and Merger Sub will each be a “party to
the reorganization” with respect to the Merger. In rendering such
opinion, such advisor shall be entitled to rely upon representations of officers
of Continental, Merger Sub and United made substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit D-2.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
AND AMENDMENT
8.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after receipt of the United Stockholder Approvals or the Continental
Stockholder Approval, by action taken or authorized by the Board of Directors of
the terminating party or parties:
(a) by
mutual consent of United and Continental in a written instrument, if the Board
of Directors of each so determines;
(b) by
either the United Board or the Continental Board if any Governmental Entity of
competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final and nonappealable order
permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that no party may terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b) if
such party’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement proximately
contributed to the occurrence of such order;
(c) by
either the United Board or the Continental Board if the United Stockholder
Approvals shall not have been obtained at a United Stockholders Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof at which the vote was taken;
(d) by
either the United Board or the Continental Board if the Continental Stockholder
Approval shall not have been obtained at a Continental Stockholders Meeting or
any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the vote was
taken;
(e) by
either the United Board or the Continental Board if the Merger shall not have
been consummated on or before December 31, 2010, subject to extension by
the mutual agreement of United and Continental (the “End Date”); provided, however, that
(i) the End Date (A) shall be automatically extended until the later
to occur of the EU Extension Date and the Domestic Regulatory Extension Date and
(B) shall be extended to the Substantial Compliance Extension Date (if
later than the latest of the dates set forth in clause (A)
above) at the election of a party that has previously certified its Substantial
Compliance at or prior to the time of such election and
(ii) notwithstanding any extension provided for in Section 8.1(e)(i),
the End Date shall not be extended to any date that is later than September 30,
2011 (the “Latest
Possible End Date”); provided further,
however, that
no party may terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e)
if such party’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement proximately
contributed to the failure of the Closing to occur by the End Date;
(f) by
the United Board if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or
agreements or any inaccuracy of any of the representations or warranties set
forth in this Agreement on the part of Continental, which breach or inaccuracy,
either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or
continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2(a)
or (b), unless
such failure is reasonably capable of being cured, and Continental is continuing
to use its reasonable best efforts to cure such failure, by the End
Date;
(g) by
the Continental Board if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants
or agreements or any inaccuracy of any of the representations or warranties set
forth in this Agreement on the part of United, which breach or inaccuracy,
either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or
continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.3(a)
or (b), unless
such failure is reasonably capable of being cured, and United is continuing to
use its reasonable best efforts to cure such failure, by the End
Date;
(h) by
the United Board in the event of an Adverse Recommendation Change by
Continental; or
(i) by
the Continental Board in the event of an Adverse Recommendation Change by
United.
8.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by
either United or Continental in accordance with Section 8.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and none of United,
Continental, any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any of the
officers or directors of any of the foregoing shall have any liability of any
nature whatsoever under this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except that (i) Sections 3.7, 4.7 and 6.7, Article IX (other
than Section 9.13)
and the last sentence of Section 6.2 as well
as the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement
and (ii) notwithstanding any termination or any contrary provision contained in
this Agreement, neither United nor Continental shall be relieved or released
from liability for damages of any kind, including consequential damages and any
other damages (whether or not communicated or contemplated at the time of
execution of this Agreement) and including as damages the value lost by
stockholders based on the consideration that would otherwise have been paid and
the benefits that would have accrued arising out of, any (a) knowing material
breach of any of its representations and warranties in this Agreement or (b)
deliberate material breach of any covenant of this Agreement. No
party claiming that such breach occurred will have any duty or otherwise be
obligated to mitigate any such damages. For purposes of this Section 8.2, (i) a
“knowing” breach of a representation and warranty shall be deemed to have
occurred only if an executive officer of the other party had actual knowledge of
such breach as of the date hereof (without any independent duty of investigation
or verification other than an actual reading of the representations and
warranties as they appear in this Agreement by the other party’s chief executive
officer and chief legal officer and an actual reading by other executive
officers of such party of the representations and warranties included in this
Agreement on subjects relevant to the areas as to which they have direct
managerial oversight responsibility) and (ii) a “deliberate” breach of any
covenant shall be deemed to have occurred only if the other party took or failed
to take action with actual knowledge that the action so taken or omitted to be
taken constituted a breach of such covenant. For purposes of this
Section 8.2, an
“executive officer” shall have the meaning given to the term “officer” in Rule
16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act.
8.3 Amendment. Subject
to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended by United,
Merger Sub and Continental, by action taken or authorized by their respective
Boards of Directors, at any time before or after the Continental Stockholder
Approval, the approval of United as stockholder of Merger Sub (the “Merger Sub Stockholder
Approval”) or the United Stockholder Approvals; provided, however, that after
the Continental Stockholder Approval or either of the United Stockholder
Approvals, there may not be, without further approval of the stockholders of
Continental or United, any amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount
or the form of the consideration to be delivered under this Agreement to the
holders of Continental Common Stock, or which by applicable Law otherwise
requires the further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement
may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each
of the parties.
8.4 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, United (on
behalf of itself and Merger Sub) and Continental may, to the extent legally
allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and (c) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this
Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension
or waiver will be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed by an
authorized officer on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or
failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement
or condition will not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other failure.
ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
9.1 Nonsurvival of
Representations and Warranties. None of the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time; provided, however, that this
Section 9.1
shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by its terms
contemplates performance after the Effective Time.
9.2 Notices. Except
as otherwise expressly provided for in Section 5.5(d) of
this Agreement, all notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt
by the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party
as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if
to United or Merger Sub, to
United
77 W.
Wacker Dr.
Chicago,
Illinois 60601
Phone: (312)
997-8000
Facsimile: (312)
997-8180
Attention: General
Counsel
with a copy to:
Cravath,
Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide
Plaza
825
Eighth Avenue
New York,
New York 10019
Phone: (212)
474-1000
Facsimile: (212)
474-3700
Attention: Scott A. Barshay,
Esq.
George E. Zobitz, Esq.
(b) if
to Continental, to
Continental,
Inc.
1600
Smith Street, HQSEO
Houston,
Texas 77002
Phone: (713)
324-5207
Facsimile: (713)
324-1230
Attention: General
Counsel
with a
copy to:
Jones
Day
717 Texas
Ave., Suite 3300
Houston,
Texas 77002
Phone: (832)
239-3939
Facsimile: (832)
239-3600
Attention: J.
Mark Metts, Esq.
Robert A. Profusek, Esq.
Vinson
& Elkins L.L.P.
1001
Fannin, Suite 2500
Houston,
Texas 77002
Phone: (713)
758-2222
Facsimile: (713)
615-5967
Attention: Kevin P.
Lewis, Esq.
9.3 Definitions. Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto
in the sections of the Agreement set forth next to such terms on Annex A
hereto. For purposes of this Agreement:
An “Affiliate” of any
Person means another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person.
A “Business Day” means
any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday or (ii) a day on which banking and
savings and loan institutions are authorized or required by Law to be closed in
New York City.
“Cash-Settled Profit-Based
RSU Award” means a Continental Stock-Based Award that is a profit-based
restricted stock unit award granted under Continental’s Long-Term Incentive and
RSU Program the payment amount of which is based on the average of the closing
sales price of Continental Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
Tape (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal, New York City edition) over the 20 most recent consecutive
trading days ending on the last trading day preceding the Effective Time, as
required by the terms of such restricted stock unit award as in effect on the
date of this Agreement.
A “Continental Director”
means a director of the Surviving Corporation who, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, is either (i) an Independent Continental Director or (ii) the
Chief Executive Officer of Continental or an individual designated as his
replacement pursuant to Section
6.11.
A “Continental Material Adverse
Effect” means a Material Adverse Effect with respect to
Continental.
“Continental Restricted
Shares” means any award of Continental Common Stock that is subject to
restrictions based on performance or continuing service and granted under any
Continental Stock Plan.
“Continental Stock-Based
Award” means shares of Continental Common Stock and other compensatory
awards denominated in shares of Continental Common Stock subject to a risk of
forfeiture to, or right of repurchase by, Continental.
“Continental Stock
Option” means any option to purchase Continental Common Stock granted
under any Continental Stock Plan.
“Continental Stock
Plans” means the equity-based compensation plans identified in Section 9.3 of the
Continental Disclosure Schedule.
The “Combined Company”
means United, the United Subsidiaries, Continental and the Continental
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, combined in the manner currently intended by the
parties.
“Domestic Regulatory
Extension Date” means the later to occur of (i) the Litigation Extension
Date and (ii) the date that is five days after the date on which the condition
set forth in Section
7.1(d) has been satisfied, to the extent such condition relates to the
approval by the DOT of the de facto transfer of
route authority and/or any other regulatory approval that is required to be
obtained from DOT to allow the lawful consummation of the Merger.
“EBITDAR” means
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and aircraft rental,
in each case as such items are determined in accordance with GAAP, as shown on
the applicable publicly-filed financial statements.
“Equity Equivalents”
of any Person means (x) any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or
any warrants or options or other rights to acquire, any capital stock, voting
securities or equity interests of such Person, (y) any warrants or options
or other rights to acquire from such Person, or any other obligation of such
Person to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any
capital stock, voting securities or other equity interests in such Person or (z)
any rights that are linked in any way to the price of any capital stock of, or
to the value of or of any part of, or to any dividends or distributions paid on
any capital stock of, such Person.
The “EU Extension Date”
shall mean the date that is five days after the date on which the condition set
forth in Section
7.1(d) has been satisfied, to the extent such condition relates to
requirements under the EU Merger Regulation.
“Forfeitures and Cashless
Settlements” by any Person means (w) the forfeiture or satisfaction of
Stock-Based Awards of such Person, (x) the acceptance by such Person of
shares of common stock of such Person as payment for the exercise price of Stock
Options of such Person, (y) the acceptance by such Person of shares of common
stock of such Person for withholding taxes incurred in connection with the
exercise of Stock Options of such Person or the vesting or satisfaction of
Stock-Based Awards of such Person, in the case of each of clauses (w), (x) and (y), in accordance
with past practice of such Person and the terms of the applicable award
agreements, and (z) the withholding of United Common Stock to satisfy tax
obligations in connection with the United Common Stock issued under the United
Plan of Reorganization.
“Global Settlement
Agreement” means the Settlement Agreement by and among United, its direct
and indirect subsidiaries, and all members of its “controlled group” as defined
under ERISA, and all of its successors and assigns, and the PBGC, as
amended.
“Indebtedness” means,
with respect to any Person, without duplication, (A) all obligations of such
Person for borrowed money, or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind
to such Person, (B) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (C) all aircraft operating leases of
such Person, (D) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person, (E) all
guarantees and arrangements having the economic effect of a guarantee of such
Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person, or (F) all obligations or
undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial
position or covenants of others or to purchase the obligations or property of
others.
An “Independent Continental
Director” means each of the six Independent Directors of Continental
serving as a director of Continental immediately prior to the Effective Time who
is selected by Continental to serve as a director of United immediately
following the Effective Time.
An “Independent Director”
of any corporation means a director of such corporation who qualifies as an
independent director under the listing standards of the principal market on
which the common stock of such corporation is listed or quoted for trading;
provided, however, that for
purposes of Section
6.11, Mr. Smisek, Mr. Tilton and the Union Directors shall not in any
event constitute Independent Directors of United.
An “Independent United
Director” means each of the six Independent Directors of United serving
as a director of United immediately prior to the Effective Time who is selected
by United to serve as a director of United immediately following the Effective
Time.
“Intellectual Property
Rights” means, collectively, all United States and foreign (i)
trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, collective marks,
d/b/as, Internet domain names, logos, symbols, trade dress, assumed names,
fictitious names, trade names and other indicia of origin, all applications and
registrations for the foregoing, and all goodwill associated therewith and
symbolized thereby, including all renewals of same; (ii) inventions and
discoveries, whether patentable or not, and all patents, registrations,
invention disclosures and applications therefor, including divisionals,
continuations, continuations-in-part and renewal applications, and including
renewals, extensions and reissues; (iii) trade secrets and confidential
information and know-how, including confidential processes, schematics, business
methods, formulae, drawings, prototypes, models, designs, customer lists and
supplier lists; (iv) all rights in published and unpublished works of
authorship, whether copyrightable or not (including computer software and
databases (including source code, object code and all related documentation)),
and other compilations of information, copyrights therein and thereto, and
registrations and applications therefor, and all renewals, extensions,
restorations and reversions thereof; (v) moral rights, rights of publicity and
rights of privacy; and (vi) all other intellectual property or proprietary
rights.
The “Litigation Extension
Date” shall mean, in the event that the condition set forth in the first
sentence of Section 7.1(f)
is not satisfied as of any date, 10 days following the first subsequent day on
which such condition is satisfied.
A “Material Adverse
Effect” with respect to any Person means any events or developments that,
individually or taken together, materially adversely affect the business,
properties, financial condition or results of operations of such Person and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, excluding any effect that results from or arises
in connection with (i) changes or conditions generally affecting the
industries in which such Person and any of its Subsidiaries operate, including
increases in the price of fuel, (ii) general economic or regulatory,
legislative or political conditions or securities, credit, financial or other
capital markets conditions (including prevailing interest rates, access to
capital and commodity prices), in each case in the United States or any foreign
jurisdiction, (iii) any failure, in and of itself, by such Person to meet
any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in
respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics for any
period (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or
contributing to such failure may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into
account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse
Effect), (iv) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the public
announcement or pendency of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the impact thereof on the
relationships, contractual or otherwise, of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries with employees, labor unions, customers, suppliers or partners, and
including any lawsuit, action or other proceeding with respect to the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (provided, however, that the
exceptions in this clause (iv) shall not
apply to that portion of any representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement to the extent that the purpose of such portion of such representation
or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the public announcement or pendency of the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the performance
of obligations or satisfaction of conditions under this Agreement), (v) any
change, in and of itself, in the market price, credit rating or trading volume
of such Person’s securities (it being understood that the facts or
occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such change may be deemed to
constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or
will be, a Material Adverse Effect), (vi) any change in applicable Law,
regulation or GAAP (or authoritative interpretation thereof),
(vii) geopolitical conditions, the outbreak of a pandemic or other
widespread health crisis, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, any acts of
war, sabotage or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of
war, sabotage or terrorism threatened or underway as of the date of this
Agreement or (viii) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, volcano
eruption or natural disaster, except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (vi), (vii) and (viii) only to the
extent such events or developments affect such Person to a disproportionate
degree relative to other network carriers operating in the airline
industry.
A “Person” means any
natural person, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, Governmental Entity or other
entity.
“Stock-Based Awards”
means the Continental Stock-Based Awards and the United Stock-Based
Awards.
“Stock Options” means
the Continental Stock Options and the United Stock Options.
“Substantial
Compliance” means “substantial compliance” as such term is used in the
HSR Act.
The “Substantial Compliance
Extension Date” shall mean the date that is 45 days after Substantial
Compliance by both United and Continental has occurred if Substantial Compliance
by both United and Continental has not occurred by September 30,
2010.
A “United Director”
means a director of the Surviving Corporation who, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, is either (i) an Independent United Director or (ii) the Chief
Executive Officer of United or an individual designated as his replacement
pursuant to Section
6.11.
A “United Material Adverse
Effect” means a Material Adverse Effect with respect to
United.
“United Plan of
Reorganization” means the Second Amended and Restated Plan of
Reorganization of United.
“United Reserve
Shares” means shares of United Common Stock issued and held in the New
United Stock Reserve (as defined in the United Plan of
Reorganization).
“United Restricted
Shares” means any award of United Common Stock that is subject to
restrictions based on performance or continuing service and granted under any
United Stock Plan.
“United Stock-Based
Award” means shares of United Common Stock and other compensatory awards
denominated in shares of United Common Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture to,
or right of repurchase by, United.
“United Stock Option”
means any option to purchase United Common Stock granted under any United Stock
Plan.
“United Stock Plans”
means the equity-based compensation plans identified in Section 9.3 of the
United Disclosure Schedule.
A “Union Director” means
each member of the United Board serving as a director pursuant to the voting
rights of (i) the holder of the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock or (ii) the
holder of the Class IAM Preferred Stock.
9.4 Interpretation. When
a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference
shall be to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents, index of defined terms and headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Any
capitalized term used in any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in this Agreement. Whenever
the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The
words “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term
“or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the
extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and
such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” The definitions contained in
this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of
such terms. Any agreement, instrument or Law defined or referred to
herein means such agreement, instrument or Law as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented, unless otherwise specifically
indicated. References to a person are also to its permitted
successors and assigns. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, all
references to “dollars” and “$” will be deemed references to the lawful money of
the United States of America. The term “made available” and words of
similar import means that the relevant documents, instruments or materials were
(A) posted and made available to the other party on the Intralinks due
diligence data site, with respect to United, or on the Bowne due diligence data
site, with respect to Continental, as applicable, maintained by either company
for the purpose of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, prior to the
date hereof, or (B) publicly available by virtue of the relevant party’s filing
of a publicly available final registration statement, prospectus, report, form,
schedule or definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, prior to the date of this
Agreement. No provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in
favor of, or against, any of the parties to this Agreement by reason of the
extent to which any such party or its counsel participated in the drafting
thereof or by reason of the extent to which any such provision is inconsistent
with any prior draft of this Agreement, and no rule of strict construction will
be applied against any party hereto. The United Disclosure Schedule
and the Continental Disclosure Schedule, as well as all other schedules and all
exhibits hereto, will be deemed part of this Agreement and included in any
reference to this Agreement. The United Disclosure Schedule and the
Continental Disclosure Schedule set forth items of disclosure with specific
reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement to which the
information in the United Disclosure Schedule or Continental Disclosure
Schedule, as the case may be, relates; provided, however, that any
fact or item that is disclosed in any section of the United Disclosure Schedule
or the Continental Disclosure Schedule so as to make its relevance (i) to other
representations made elsewhere in the Agreement, (ii) to the information called
for by other sections of the United Disclosure Schedule or the Continental
Disclosure Schedule or (iii) to the annexes or exhibits to this Agreement
reasonably apparent shall be deemed to qualify such representations or to be
disclosed in such other sections of the United Disclosure Schedule, the
Continental Disclosure Schedule or the annexes or exhibits to this Agreement, as
the case may be, notwithstanding the omission of any appropriate cross-reference
thereto; provided
further that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
the inclusion of an item in either such disclosure schedule as an exception to a
representation or warranty will not be deemed an admission that such item
represents a material exception or material fact, event or circumstance or that
such item has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on United or Continental, as the case may be. This Agreement
will not be interpreted or construed to require any Person to take any action,
or fail to take any action, if to do so would violate any applicable
Law. References to the “other party” or “either party” will be deemed
to refer to United and Merger Sub, collectively, on the one hand, and
Continental, on the other hand. All electronic communications from a
Person shall be deemed to be “written” for purposes of this
Agreement.
9.5 Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced by any rule or Law, or public policy, all other conditions and
provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect
so long as either the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any
party or such party waives its rights under this Section 9.5 with
respect thereto. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances shall
the rights of holders of shares of Continental Common Stock as third-party
beneficiaries pursuant to Section 9.7 be
exercisable, waivable or enforceable by such stockholders or any other Person
acting for or on their behalf other than Continental and its successors in
interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances shall
the rights of holders of shares of United Common Stock as third-party
beneficiaries pursuant to Section 9.7 be
exercisable, waivable or enforceable by such stockholders or any other Person
acting for or on their behalf other than United and its successors in
interest.
9.6 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the
other parties.
9.7 Entire Agreement; No Third
Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, taken together with the
Continental Disclosure Letter and the United Disclosure Letter, and the
Confidentiality Agreement, (a) constitute the entire agreement, and
supersedes all prior agreements (other than the Confidentiality Agreement) and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (b) is
not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties any rights or
remedies other than (i) as specifically provided in Section 6.6,
(ii) the right of Continental, on behalf of its stockholders, to pursue damages
and other relief, including equitable relief, in the event of United’s or Merger
Sub’s knowing material breach of any of its representations and warranties in
this Agreement or deliberate material breach of any covenant in this Agreement
(as the terms “knowing” and “deliberate” are defined in Section 8.2), which
right is hereby acknowledged and agreed by United and Merger Sub and (iii) the
right of United, on behalf of its stockholders, to pursue damages and other
relief, including equitable relief, in the event of Continental’s knowing
material breach of any of its representations and warranties in this Agreement
or deliberate material breach of any covenant in this Agreement (as the terms
“knowing” and “deliberate” are defined in Section 8.2), which
right is hereby acknowledged and agreed by Continental; provided, however, that the
rights granted pursuant to clauses (ii) and
(iii) shall be
enforceable on behalf of holders of Continental Common Stock only by Continental
in its sole and absolute discretion or on behalf of holders of United Common
Stock only by United in its sole and absolute discretion, it being understood
and agreed that any and all interests in such claims shall attach to such shares
of Continental Common Stock or United Common Stock, as applicable, and
subsequently trade and transfer therewith and, consequently, any damages,
settlements or other amounts recovered or received by Continental or United, as
applicable, with respect to such claims (net of expenses incurred by Continental
or United, as applicable, in connection therewith) may, in Continental’s or
United’s, as applicable, sole and absolute discretion, be (x) as applicable,
distributed, in whole or in part, by Continental to the holders of shares of
Continental Common Stock of record as of any date determined by Continental or
by United to the holders of shares of United Common Stock of record as of any
date determined by United or (y) as applicable, retained by Continental for the
use and benefit of Continental on behalf of its stockholders in any manner
Continental deems fit or retained by United for the use and benefit of United on
behalf of its stockholders in any manner United deems fit.
9.8 GOVERNING
LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT
MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER ANY APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS OF
THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
9.9 Assignment. Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or
otherwise by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be
void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and
their respective successors and assigns.
9.10 Specific
Enforcement. The parties acknowledge and agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be
an adequate remedy therefor and therefore fully intend for specific performance
to be the principal remedy for breaches of this Agreement. It is
accordingly agreed that, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Article VIII,
the parties (on behalf of themselves and the third-party beneficiaries of this
Agreement) shall be entitled to an Injunction or Injunctions to prevent breaches
of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the performance of terms and
provisions of this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 9.11(a),
without proof of actual damages this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity. The parties further
agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable,
invalid, contrary to Law or inequitable for any reason, nor to object to a
remedy of specific performance on the basis that a remedy of monetary damages
would provide an adequate remedy for any such breach. Each party
further acknowledges and agrees that the agreements contained in this Section 9.10 are
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that,
without these agreements, the other party would not enter into this
Agreement. Each party further agrees that no other party hereto or
any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or
similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy
referred to in this Section 9.10, and
each party hereto irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the
obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar
instrument.
9.11 Jurisdiction. Each
of the parties hereto hereby (a) agrees that any claim, suit, action or other
proceeding, directly or indirectly, arising out of, under or relating to this
Agreement, its negotiation or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
will be heard and determined in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (and
each agrees that no such claim, action, suit or other proceeding relating to
this Agreement will be brought by it or any of its affiliates except in such
court), subject to any appeal, provided that if jurisdiction is not then
available in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware, then any such claim,
suit, action or other proceeding may be brought in any Delaware state court or
any federal court located in the State of Delaware and (b) irrevocably and
unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any
such claim, suit, action or other proceeding and irrevocably and unconditionally
waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such
claim, suit, action or other proceeding. Each of the parties hereto
further agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, service
of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such
Person’s respective address set forth in Section 9.2 will be
effective service of process for any claim, action, suit or other proceeding in
Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction
as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. The parties
hereto hereby agree that a final judgment in any such claim, suit, action or
other proceeding will be conclusive, subject to any appeal, and may be enforced
in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided
by applicable Law. In connection with any such proceeding that
results in a judgment, the non-prevailing party will pay the prevailing party
its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses)
incurred in connection with such proceeding.
9.12 Waiver of Jury
Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT
OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ITS NEGOTIATION OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT
NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,
EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION,
SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS
SECTION
9.12.
9.13 Publicity. Except
(a) with respect to any Adverse Recommendation Change made in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and (b) with respect to disclosures that are
consistent with prior disclosures made in compliance with this Section 9.13 or any
communications plan or strategy previously agreed on by the parties, United and
Continental shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other
the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public
statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement prior to such consultation, except as such party may
reasonably conclude may be required by applicable Law, court process or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities
exchange or national securities quotation system. The parties agree
that all formal employee communication programs or announcements with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in forms mutually
agreed to by the parties (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that no
further mutual agreement shall be required with respect to any such programs or
announcements that are consistent with prior programs or announcements made in
compliance with this Section
9.13. The parties agree that the initial press release to be
issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
in the form heretofore agreed to by the parties.
[Remainder
of page left intentionally blank]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, United, Continental and Merger Sub have caused this Agreement
to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the
date first above written.
UAL
CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/
Glenn F. Tilton |
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Name:
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Glenn
F. Tilton
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Title:
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Chairman,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
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CONTINENTAL
AIRLINES, INC.
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By:
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/s/
Jeffery A. Smisek |
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Name:
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Jeffery
A. Smisek
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Title:
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Chairman,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
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[Signature
Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
JT MERGER SUB INC. |
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By:
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/s/
Kathryn A. Mikells |
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Name:
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Kathryn
A. Mikells
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Title:
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President
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[Signature Page to
Agreement and Plan of Merger]
EXHIBIT
B-1
Restated Charter of
United
RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE
FIRST. The name of the Corporation is UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS,
INC.
ARTICLE
SECOND. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is
located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County
of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name and address of its registered agent at
such address is The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc., 2711 Centerville
Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of Newcastle, Delaware
19808.
ARTICLE
THIRD. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “GCL”).
ARTICLE
FOURTH. The total number of shares of capital stock of all classes of which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,250,000,002, divided into four
classes, as follows: 250,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value
(hereinafter referred to as “Serial Preferred Stock”), one (1) share of Class
Pilot MEC Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock”), one (1) share of Class IAM Junior Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the “Class IAM Preferred Stock” and, together with the
Serial Preferred Stock and the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock, the “Preferred
Stock”), and 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the “Common Stock”).
PART
I
Serial
Preferred Stock
The board of directors of the
Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is expressly authorized, without any vote
or other action by the stockholders and subject to limitations prescribed by
law, to adopt, from time to time, a resolution or resolutions providing for the
issue of Serial Preferred Stock in one or more series, to fix the number of
shares in each such series and to fix the designations and the powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and
the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of each such series.
The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each such series shall
include a determination of the following (which may vary as between the
different series of Serial Preferred Stock):
(a) The
number of shares constituting the series and the distinctive designation of the
series;
(b) The
dividend rate on the shares of the series, the conditions and dates upon which
dividends thereon shall be payable, the extent, if any, to which dividends
thereon shall be cumulative, and the relative rights of preference, if any, of
payment of dividends thereon;
(c) Whether
or not the shares of the series are redeemable and, if redeemable, the time or
times during which they shall be redeemable and the amount per share payable on
redemption thereof, which amount may, but need not, vary according to the time
and circumstances of such redemption;
(d) The
amount payable in respect of the shares of the series, in the event of any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, which amount may, but
need not, vary according to the time or circumstances of such action, and the
relative rights of preference, if any, of payment of such amount;
(e) Any
requirement as to a sinking fund for the shares of the series, or any
requirement as to the redemption, purchase or other retirement by the
Corporation of the shares of the series;
(f) The
right, if any, to exchange or convert shares of the series into other securities
or property, and the rate or basis, time, manner and condition of exchange or
conversion;
(g) The
voting rights, if any, to which the holders of shares of the series shall be
entitled in addition to the voting rights provided by law; and
(h) Any
other term, condition or provision with respect to the series not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Article Fourth, Part I or any resolution adopted by
the Board of Directors pursuant thereto.
PART
II
Class
Pilot MEC Junior Preferred Stock
Unless otherwise indicated, any
reference in this Article Fourth, Part II to “Section,” “subsection,”
“paragraph,” “subparagraph,” or “clause” shall refer to a Section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph or clause in this Article Fourth,
Part II.
Section
1. Issuance;
Restrictions on Transfer. The share of
Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be issued only to, and shall be held only
by, (i) the United Airlines Pilots Master Executive Council (the “MEC”) of the
Air Line Pilots Association, International (“ALPA”) pursuant to ALPA’s authority
as the collective bargaining representative for the crafts or class of pilots
employed by United Air Lines, Inc. (“United OpCo”) or (ii) a duly authorized
agent acting for the benefit of the MEC. Any purported sale, transfer, pledge or
other disposition (a “transfer”) of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock
to any person, other than a successor to the MEC by merger or reorganization of
ALPA (in any such case, an “ALPA Successor”), or a duly authorized agent acting
for the benefit of ALPA or an ALPA Successor, shall be null and void and of no
force and effect. Upon any purported transfer of the share of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock by the holder thereof other than as expressly permitted above,
and without any further action by the Corporation, such holder or any other
person or entity, such share shall, to the extent of funds legally available
therefor and subject to the other provisions of this Restated Certificate, be
automatically redeemed by the Corporation in accordance with Subsection 9.2
hereof, and thereupon such share shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and
neither such holder nor any purported transferee thereof shall have in respect
thereof any of the voting powers, preferences or relative, participating,
optional or special rights ascribed to the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred
Stock hereunder, but rather such holder thereafter shall only be entitled to
receive the amount payable upon redemption in accordance with Section 9. The
certificate representing the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be
legended to reflect the restrictions on transfer and automatic redemption
provided for herein.
Section
2. Definitions. For purposes of this Article Fourth,
Part II, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
2.1 “Affiliate” shall have the
meaning defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
2.2 “Board of Directors” shall
mean the board of directors of the Corporation or any committee thereof
authorized by such board of directors to perform any of its responsibilities
with respect to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock.
2.3 “Business Day” shall mean any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which state or federally chartered
banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be
open.
2.4 “Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor act
thereto.
2.5 “set apart for payment” shall
be deemed to include, without any action other than the following, the recording
by the Corporation in its accounting ledgers of any accounting or bookkeeping
entry which indicates, pursuant to a declaration of dividends or other
distribution by the Board of Directors, the allocation of funds to be so paid on
any series or class of capital stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that
if any funds for any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking on a
parity with or junior to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to distributions
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation are placed in a
separate account of the Corporation or delivered to a disbursing, paying or
other similar agent, then “set apart for payment” with respect to the Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall mean, with respect to such distributions,
placing such funds in a separate account or delivering such funds to a
disbursing, paying or other similar agent.
2.6 “Transfer Agent” means the
Corporation or such agent or agents of the Corporation as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors as the transfer agent for the Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock.
Section
3. Dividends. The holder of the share of Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as such shall not be entitled to receive any dividends
or other distributions (except as provided in Section 4).
Section
4. Payments upon Liquidation.
4.1 In
the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the
Corporation (whether capital or surplus) shall be made to or set apart for
payment to the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation that
ranks junior to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holder of
the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive $0.01
for the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock (the “MEC Liquidation
Preference”), but such holder shall not be entitled to any further payment. If,
upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets
of the Corporation, or proceeds thereof, distributable to the holder of the
share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full
the MEC Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preference on all other
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a parity
with the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, then such assets, or
the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holder of the share of
Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock and any such other parity stock ratably in
accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such share of
Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock and any such other parity stock if all amounts
payable thereon were paid in full. For the purposes of this Section 4, (i) a
consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into one or more
corporations, or (ii) a sale, lease, exchange or transfer of all or
substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, shall not be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, of the
Corporation.
4.2 Subject
to the rights of the holders of shares of any series or class of stock ranking
prior to or on a parity with the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts
distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
after payment shall have been made to the holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock, as and to the fullest extent provided in this Section 4, any
series or class of stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, shall, subject to the respective terms and
provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets
remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holder of the share of Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
Section
5. Shares to be Retired. The share of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock which shall have been issued and reacquired in any manner (other
than redemption pursuant to Section 9.1) by the Corporation shall be retired and
restored to the status of an authorized but unissued share of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock and, in the event of the redemption of such share pursuant to
Section 9.1 hereof, shall not be reissued.
Section
6. Ranking.
6.1 Any
class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to
rank:
(a)
prior to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such class or
series shall be entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holder
of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock;
(b) on a
parity with the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the liquidation
prices per share thereof be different from those of the Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock, if the holders of such class or series and the Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences, without preference or priority one over the other;
and
(c) junior
to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock, as to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holder of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders
of shares of such class or series.
6.2 The
Class IAM Preferred Stock shall be deemed to rank on a parity with the Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. The Common Stock shall each be deemed to rank junior
to the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Section
7. Consolidation,
Merger, etc.
7.1
In case the Corporation enters into any consolidation, merger, share exchange or
similar transaction, however named, involving the Corporation or its subsidiary,
United OpCo (or any successor to all or substantially all the assets or business
of United OpCo), pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are to
be exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into securities of any
successor or resulting or other company (including the Corporation), or cash or
other property (each of the foregoing transactions is referred to herein as a
“Merger Transaction”), proper provision shall be made so that, upon consummation
of such transaction, the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be
converted, reclassified or changed into or exchanged for preferred stock of such
successor or resulting or other company having, in respect of such company, the
same powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights (including the rights provided by this Section 7), and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, that the Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock had, in respect of the Corporation, immediately prior to such
transaction; specifically including, without limitation, the right, until the
ALPA Termination Date (as defined in Section 8.1 below), to elect one member of
the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such company.
7.2 In
case the Corporation shall enter into any agreement providing for any Merger
Transaction, then the Corporation shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and
in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such
transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to the
holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall
not consummate any such Merger Transaction unless all of the terms of this
Section 7 and Section 8 have been complied with.
Section 8. Voting. The holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
8.1 Until
such time (the “ALPA Termination Date”) as (i) there are no longer any persons
represented by ALPA (or any ALPA Successor) employed by the Corporation or any
of its Affiliates or (ii) the collective bargaining agreement between the
Corporation or any of its Affiliates and ALPA has been amended by the parties
thereto so that such agreement no longer provides that ALPA has the right to
appoint a director of the Corporation, the holder of the share of Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock shall have the right (a) voting as a separate class, to (1)
elect one director to the Board of Directors at each annual meeting of
stockholders for a term of office to expire at the succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, (2) remove such director with or without cause and (3) fill any
vacancies in such directorship resulting from death, resignation,
disqualification, removal or other cause, and (b) voting together as a single
class with the holders of Common Stock and the holders of such other classes or
series of stock that vote together with the Common Stock as a single class, to
vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock of the
Corporation (other than the election of Directors), except as otherwise required
by law.
8.2 The
affirmative vote of the holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock,
voting as a separate class, shall be necessary for authorizing, effecting or
validating the amendment, alteration or repeal (including any amendment,
alteration or repeal by operation of merger or consolidation) of any of the
provisions of this Restated Certificate or of any certificate amendatory thereof
or supplemental thereto (including any Certificate of Designation, Preferences
and Rights or any similar document relating to any series of Serial Preferred
Stock) which would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of
the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock.
8.3 For
purposes of the foregoing provisions of Sections 8.1 and 8.2, the share of Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall have one (1) vote.
Section
9. Redemption.
9.1 The
share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall, to the extent of funds legally
available therefor and subject to the other provisions of this Restated
Certificate, be automatically redeemed on the ALPA Termination Date, at a price
of $0.01 per share, as provided herein below. As promptly as reasonably possible
following the occurrence of the ALPA Termination Date, the Corporation shall
give notice thereof and of the redemption under this Section 9 to the record
holder of the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock. From and after the redemption
provided for in this Section 9.1, all rights of the holder of the Class Pilot
MEC Preferred Stock as such, except the right to receive the redemption price of
such share upon the surrender of the certificate formerly representing the same,
shall cease and terminate and such share shall not thereafter be deemed to be
outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.
9.2 The
share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall, to the extent of funds legally
available therefor and subject to the other provisions of this Restated
Certificate, be automatically redeemed upon any purported transfer thereof other
than as expressly permitted under Section 1.2. The redemption price to be paid
in connection with any redemption shall be $0.01 per share of Class Pilot MEC
Preferred Stock. Upon any such redemption, all rights of the holder of Class
Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as such, except the right to receive the redemption
price of such share upon the surrender of the certificate formerly representing
the same, shall cease and terminate and such share shall not thereafter be
deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.
9.3 The
holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock so redeemed pursuant to
Section 9.1 or 9.2 shall present and surrender the certificate formerly
representing such share to the Corporation and thereupon the redemption price of
such share shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on
such certificate as the owner thereof and the surrendered certificate shall be
cancelled.
Section
10. Record
Holders.The
Corporation and the Transfer Agent (if other than the Corporation) may deem and
treat the record holder of the share of Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock as the
true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and, except as otherwise
provided by law, neither the Corporation nor the Transfer Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
PART
III
Class IAM
Junior Preferred Stock
Unless otherwise indicated, any
reference in this Article Fourth, Part III to “Section,” “subsection,”
“paragraph,” “subparagraph,” or “clause” shall refer to a Section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph or clause in this Article Fourth,
Part III.
Section
1. Issuance; Restrictions on
Transfer. The share of Class IAM Preferred
Stock shall be issued only to, and shall be held only by, (i) the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (the “IAM”) pursuant to the
IAM’s authority as the collective bargaining representative for certain crafts
or classes of public contact employees, ramp and stores employees, food service
and security officer employees, Mileage Plus public contact employees, fleet
technical instructors and related and maintenance instructor employees employed
by United OpCo or (ii) a duly authorized agent acting for the benefit of the
IAM. Any purported sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition (hereinafter a
“transfer”) of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock to any person, other than
a successor to the IAM by merger or reorganization of the IAM (in any such case,
an “IAM Successor”), or a duly authorized agent acting for the benefit of the
IAM or an IAM Successor, shall be null and void and of no force and effect. Upon
any purported transfer of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock by the holder
thereof other than as expressly permitted above, and without any further action
by the Corporation, such holder or any other person or entity, such share shall,
to the extent of funds legally available therefor and subject to the other
provisions of this Restated Certificate, be automatically redeemed by the
Corporation in accordance with Subsection 9.2 hereof, and thereupon such share
shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and neither such holder nor any purported
transferee thereof shall have in respect thereof any of the voting powers,
preferences or relative, participating, optional or special rights ascribed to
the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock hereunder, but rather such holder
thereafter shall only be entitled to receive the amount payable upon redemption
in accordance with Section 9. The certificate representing the share of Class
IAM Preferred Stock shall be legended to reflect the restrictions on transfer
and automatic redemption provided for herein.
Section
2. Definitions. For purposes of this Article Fourth, Part III,
the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
2.1 “Affiliate” shall have the
meaning defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
2.2 “Board of Directors” shall
mean the board of directors of the Corporation or any committee thereof
authorized by such board of directors to perform any of its responsibilities
with respect to the Class IAM Preferred Stock.
2.3 “Business Day” shall mean any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which state or federally chartered
banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be
open.
2.4 “Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor act
thereto.
2.5 “set apart for payment” shall
be deemed to include, without any action other than the following, the recording
by the Corporation in its accounting ledgers of any accounting or bookkeeping
entry which indicates, pursuant to a declaration of dividends or other
distribution by the Board of Directors, the allocation of funds to be so paid on
any series or class of capital stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that
if any funds for any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking on a
parity with or junior to the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to distributions upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation are placed in a
separate account of the Corporation or delivered to a disbursing, paying or
other similar agent, then “set apart for payment” with respect to the Class IAM
Preferred Stock shall mean, with respect to such distributions, placing such
funds in a separate account or delivering such funds to a disbursing, paying or
other similar agent.
2.6 “Transfer Agent” means the
Corporation or such agent or agents of the Corporation as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors as the transfer agent for the Class IAM
Preferred Stock.
Section
3. Dividends. The holder of the share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock as such shall not be entitled to receive any dividends or other
distributions (except as provided in Section 4).
Section
4. Payments upon
Liquidation.
4.1 In
the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the
Corporation (whether capital or surplus) shall be made to or set apart for
payment to the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation that
ranks junior to the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holder of the
share of Class IAM Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive $0.01 for the
share of Class IAM Preferred Stock (the “IAM Liquidation Preference”), but such
holder shall not be entitled to any further payment. If, upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation, or
proceeds thereof, distributable to the holder of the share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to pay in full the IAM Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preference on all other shares of any class or
series of stock of the Corporation that ranks on a parity with the Class IAM
Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall
be distributed among the holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock and
any such other parity stock ratably in accordance with the respective amounts
that would be payable on such share of Class IAM Preferred Stock and any such
other parity stock if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. For the
purposes of this Section 4, (i) a consolidation or merger of the Corporation
with or into one or more corporations, or (ii) a sale, lease, exchange or
transfer of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, shall not be
deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary,
of the Corporation.
4.2 Subject
to the rights of the holders of shares of any series or class of stock ranking
prior to or on a parity with the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to amounts
distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
after payment shall have been made to the holder of the share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock, as and to the fullest extent provided in this Section 4, any
series or class of stock of the Corporation that ranks junior to the Class IAM
Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, shall, subject to the respective terms and
provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets
remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holder of the share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
Section
5. Shares to be Retired. The
share of Class IAM Preferred Stock which shall have been issued and reacquired
in any manner (other than redemption pursuant to Section 9.1) by the Corporation
shall be retired and restored to the status of an authorized but unissued share
of Class IAM Preferred Stock and, in the event of the redemption of such share
pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof, shall not be
reissued.
Section
6. Ranking.
6.1 Any
class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to
rank:
(a) prior
to the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such class or series
shall be entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holder of Class IAM
Preferred Stock;
(b) on a
parity with the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether or not the liquidation prices
per share thereof be different from those of the Class IAM Preferred Stock, if
the holders of such class or series and the Class IAM Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences, without
preference or priority one over the other; and
(c) junior
to the Class IAM Preferred Stock, as to the distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holder of Class IAM Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to the receipt of amounts distributable upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders
of shares of such class or series.
6.2 The
Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock shall be deemed to rank on a parity with the
Class IAM Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. The Common Stock shall be deemed to rank junior to
the Class IAM Preferred Stock as to amounts distributable upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.
Section
7. Consolidation, Merger, etc.
7.1 In
case the Corporation enters into any consolidation, merger, share exchange or
similar transaction, however named, involving the Corporation or its subsidiary,
United OpCo (or any successor to all or substantially all the assets or business
of United OpCo), pursuant to which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are to
be exchanged for or changed, reclassified or converted into securities of any
successor or resulting or other company (including the Corporation), or cash or
other property (each of the foregoing transactions is referred to herein as a
“Merger Transaction”), proper provision shall be made so that, upon consummation
of such transaction, the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock shall be converted,
reclassified or changed into or exchanged for preferred stock of such successor
or resulting or other company having, in respect of such company, the same
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights (including the rights provided by this Section 7), and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, that the Class IAM
Preferred Stock had, in respect of the Corporation, immediately prior to such
transaction; specifically including, without limitation, the right, until the
IAM Termination Date (as defined in Section 8.1 below), to elect one member of
the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such company.
7.2 In
case the Corporation shall enter into any agreement providing for any Merger
Transaction, then the Corporation shall as soon as practicable thereafter (and
in any event at least fifteen (15) Business Days before consummation of such
transaction) give notice of such agreement and the material terms thereof to the
holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall not
consummate any such Merger Transaction unless all of the terms of this Section 7
and Section 8 have been complied with.
Section
8. Voting. The holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
8.1 Until
such time (the “IAM Termination Date”) as (i) there are no longer any persons
represented by the IAM (or any IAM Successor) employed by the Corporation or any
of its Affiliates or (ii) the letter agreement between the Corporation and the
IAM, dated as of May 1, 2003, no longer provides that the IAM has the right to
appoint a director of the Corporation, the holder of the share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock shall have the right (a) voting as a separate class, to (1)
elect one director to the Board of Directors at each annual meeting of
stockholders for a term of office to expire at the succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, (2) remove such director with or without cause and (3) fill any
vacancies in such directorship resulting from death, resignation,
disqualification, removal or other cause, and (b) voting together as a single
class with the holders of Common Stock and the holders of such other classes or
series of stock that vote together with the Common Stock as a single class, to
vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock of the
Corporation (other than the election of Directors), except as otherwise required
by law.
8.2 The
affirmative vote of the holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock, voting
as a separate class, shall be necessary for authorizing, effecting or validating
the amendment, alteration or repeal (including any amendment, alteration or
repeal by operation of merger or consolidation) of any of the provisions of this
Restated Certificate or of any certificate amendatory thereof or supplemental
thereto (including any Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights or any
similar document relating to any series of Serial Preferred Stock) which would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Class IAM
Preferred Stock.
8.3 For
purposes of the foregoing provisions of Sections 8.1 and 8.2, the share of Class
IAM Preferred Stock shall have one (1) vote.
Section
9. Redemption.
9.1 The
share of Class IAM Preferred Stock shall, to the extent of funds legally
available therefor and subject to the other provisions of this Restated
Certificate, be automatically redeemed on the IAM Termination Date, at a price
of $0.01 per share, as provided herein below. As promptly as reasonably possible
following the occurrence of the IAM Termination Date, the Corporation shall give
notice thereof and of the redemption under this Section 9 to the record holder
of the Class IAM Preferred Stock. From and after the redemption provided for in
this Section 9.1, all rights of the holder of the Class IAM Preferred Stock as
such, except the right to receive the redemption price of such share upon the
surrender of the certificate formerly representing the same, shall cease and
terminate and such share shall not thereafter be deemed to be outstanding for
any purpose whatsoever.
9.2 The
share of Class IAM Preferred Stock shall, to the extent of funds legally
available therefor and subject to the other provisions of this Restated
Certificate, be automatically redeemed upon any purported transfer thereof other
than as expressly permitted under Section 1.2. The redemption price to be paid
in connection with any redemption shall be $0.01 per share of Class IAM
Preferred Stock. Upon any such redemption, all rights of the holder of Class IAM
Preferred Stock as such, except the right to receive the redemption price of
such share upon the surrender of the certificate formerly representing the same,
shall cease and terminate and such share shall not thereafter be deemed to be
outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.
9.3 The
holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock so redeemed pursuant to
Sections 9.1 or 9.2 shall present and surrender the certificate formerly
representing such share to the Corporation and thereupon the redemption price of
such share shall be paid to or on the order of the person whose name appears on
such certificate as the owner thereof and the surrendered certificate shall be
cancelled.
Section
10. Record Holders. The
Corporation and the Transfer Agent (if other than the Corporation) may deem and
treat the record holder of the share of Class IAM Preferred Stock as the true
and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and, except as otherwise provided by
law, neither the Corporation nor the Transfer Agent shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary.
PART
IV
Common
Stock
Unless otherwise indicated, any
reference in this Article Fourth, Part IV to “Section,” “subsection,”
“paragraph,” “subparagraph,” or “clause” shall refer to a Section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph or clause in this Article Fourth,
Part IV.
Section
1. Dividends. Subject to any rights to receive
dividends to which the holders of the shares of any other class or series of
stock may be entitled, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled
to receive dividends, if and when declared payable from time to time by the
Board of Directors, from any funds legally available
therefor.
Section
2. Liquidation. In the event of any dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
after there shall have been paid to the holders of shares of any other class or
series of stock ranking prior to the Common Stock in respect thereof the full
amounts to which they shall be entitled, and subject to any rights of the
holders of any other class or series of stock to participate therein, the
holders of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to
receive, pro rata, any remaining assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to its stockholders. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of
Directors may distribute in kind to the holders of the shares of Common Stock
such remaining assets of the Corporation, or may sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any part of such remaining assets to any other corporation,
trust or other entity and receive payment therefor in cash, stock or obligations
of such other corporation, trust or entity or any combination thereof, and may
sell all or any part of the consideration so received, and may distribute the
consideration so received or any balance thereof in kind to holders of the
shares of Common Stock. The voluntary sale, conveyance, lease, exchange or
transfer of all or substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation
(unless in connection therewith the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
the Corporation is specifically approved), or the merger or consolidation of the
Corporation into or with any other corporation, or the merger of any other
corporation into it, or any purchase or redemption of shares of stock of the
Corporation of any class, shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation
or winding up of the corporation for the purpose of this Section
2.
Section
3. Voting. Except as provided by law or this
Restated Certificate, each outstanding share of Common Stock of the Corporation
shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote
at a meeting of stockholders.
PART
V
Section
1. No Preemptive Rights. Except as otherwise
provided herein, no holder of stock of the Corporation of any class shall have
any preemptive, preferential or other right to purchase or subscribe for any
shares of stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, of the Corporation of any
class, or any obligations convertible into, or any options or warrants to
purchase, any shares of stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, of the
Corporation of any class, other than such, if any, as the Board of Directors may
from time to time determine, and at such price as the Board of Directors may
from time to time fix; and any shares of stock or any obligations, options or
warrants which the Board of Directors may determine to offer for subscription to
holders of any shares of stock of the Corporation may, as the Board of Directors
shall determine, be offered to holders of shares of stock of the Corporation of
any class or classes or series, and if offered to holders of shares of stock of
more than one class or series, in such proportions as between such classes and
series as the Board of Directors may
determine.
Section
2. Non-Citizen Voting Limitation. All (x) capital stock of, or
other equity interests in, the Corporation, (y) securities convertible into
or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, voting securities or other equity
interests in the Corporation, and (z) options, warrants or other rights to
acquire the securities described in clauses (x) and (y), whether fixed or
contingent, matured or unmatured, contractual, legal, equitable or otherwise
(collectively, “Equity Securities”) shall be subject to the following
limitations:
(a) Non-Citizen
Voting Limitation. In no event shall the total number of shares of Equity
Securities held by all persons who fail to qualify as a “citizen of the United
States,” as the term is used in Section 40102(a)(15) of Title 49 of the
United States Code, in any similar legislation of the United States enacted in
substitution or replacement therefor, and as interpreted by the Department of
Transportation, be entitled to be more than 24.9% (or such other maximum
percentage as such Section or substitute or replacement legislation shall
hereafter provide) of the aggregate votes of all outstanding Equity Securities
of the Corporation (the “Cap Amount”).
(b) Allocation
of Cap Amounts. The restrictions imposed by the Cap Amount shall be applied pro
rata among the holders of Equity Securities who fail to qualify as “citizens of
the United States” based on the number of votes the underlying securities are
entitled to.
(c) Each
certificate or other representative document for Equity Securities (including
each such certificate or representative document for Equity Securities issued
upon any permitted transfer of Equity Securities) shall contain a legend in
substantially the following form:
“The [type of Equity Securities]
represented by this [certificate/representative
document] are subject to voting restrictions with respect to [shares/warrants, etc.] held
by persons or entities that fail to qualify as “citizens of the United States”
as the term is defined used in Section 40102(a)(15) of Title 49 of the United
States Code. Such voting restrictions are contained in the Restated Certificate
of United Continental Holdings, Inc., as the same may be amended or restated
from time to time. A complete and correct copy of the Restated Certificate shall
be furnished free of charge to the holder of such shares of [type of Equity Securities]
upon written request to the Secretary of United Continental Holdings,
Inc.”
Section
3. Restrictions on Issuance of Securities. (a) The Corporation shall
not issue nonvoting equity securities to the extent prohibited by
Section 1123(a)(6) of the United States Bankruptcy Code for so long as
such Section is in effect and applicable to the
Corporation.
(b) Except
as required by law or as approved by the stockholders, the Corporation shall not
issue Serial Preferred Stock pursuant to Article Fourth, Part I with voting
rights (unless such Serial Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock, in
which case such Serial Preferred Stock may vote with the Common Stock on an
as-converted basis).
Section
4. Stockholder Action. Any action required or permitted
to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly
called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by
any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section 5. 5% Ownership
Limit.
5.1 For
purposes of Sections 5, 6 and 7, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated (and any references to any portions of Treasury
Regulation § 1.382-2T shall include any successor
provisions):
“5% Transaction” means any
Transfer of Corporation Securities described in clause (y) or (z) of
paragraph 5.2, subject to the provision of such
paragraph 5.2.
An “Affiliate” of any Person
means any other Person, that, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such Person; and, for the purposes of this definition only, “control” (including
the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means
the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management, policies or activities of a Person whether through
the ownership of securities, by contract or agency or otherwise.
“Associate” has the meaning
ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
A Person will be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and
will be deemed to “Beneficially Own,” and will
be deemed to have “Beneficial
Ownership” of:
(a) any
securities that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates is
deemed to “Beneficially Own” within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act, and any securities deposited into a trust established by or on
behalf of the Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates, the sole
beneficiaries of which are the shareholders of the Person;
(b) any
securities (the “Underlying Securities”) that such Person or any of such
Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right
is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or oral), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise
(it being understood that such Person will also be deemed to be the Beneficial
Owner of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for the Underlying
Securities); and
(c) any
securities Beneficially Owned by persons that are part of a “group” (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-5(b) under the Exchange Act) with such
Person. For purposes of calculating the percentage of Voting
Securities that are Beneficially Owned by any Person, such calculation will be
made based on the aggregate number of issued and outstanding securities at the
time of such calculation, but will not include in the denominator any such
securities issuable upon any options, warrants or other securities that are
exercisable for such securities.
“Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Corporation Securities” means
(i) shares of Common Stock, (ii) shares of Preferred Stock (other than
preferred stock described in Section 1504(a)(4) of the Code),
(iii) warrants, rights, or options (including options within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v)) to purchase stock of the
Corporation, and (iv) any other interest that would be treated as “stock”
of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury
Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).
“Effective Date” means
February 1, 2006.
“Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor act
thereto.
“Five-Percent Shareholder”
means a Person or group of Persons that is identified as a “5-percent
shareholder” of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury
Regulation § 1.382-2T(g).
“Percentage Stock Ownership”
means the percentage Stock Ownership interest as determined in accordance with
Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k).
“Person” means any individual,
firm, corporation or other legal entity, and includes any successor (by merger
or otherwise) of such entity.
“Prohibited Transfer” means
any purported Transfer of Corporation Securities to the extent that such
Transfer is prohibited and/or void under this Section 5.
“Tax Benefit” means the net
operating loss carryovers, capital loss carryovers, general business credit
carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers and foreign tax credit
carryovers, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized
built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382, of the Corporation or any
direct or indirect subsidiary thereof.
“Transfer” means, with respect
to any person other than the Corporation, any direct or indirect sale, transfer,
assignment, conveyance, pledge or other disposition, other than a sale,
transfer, assignment, conveyance, pledge or other disposition to a wholly owned
subsidiary of the transferor, or, if the transferor is wholly owned by a Person,
to a wholly owned subsidiary of such Person. A Transfer also shall
include the creation or grant of an option (including an option within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v)).
“Voting Securities” means all
securities that by their terms are entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors of the Corporation (without giving effect to any contractual
limitations on voting).
5.2 Any
attempted Transfer of Corporation Securities prior to the earliest of
(A) February 1, 2014, or such later date as may be approved by the
Board of Directors, (B) the repeal, amendment or modification of
Section 382 of the Code (and any comparable successor provision)
(“Section 382”) in such a way as to render the restrictions imposed by
Section 382 no longer applicable to the Corporation, (C) the beginning
of a taxable year of the Corporation (or any successor thereof) in which no Tax
Benefits are available, and (D) the date on which the limitation amount
imposed by Section 382 in the event of an ownership change of the
Corporation, as defined in Section 382, would not be materially less than
the net operating loss carryforward or net unrealized built-in loss of the
Corporation (the “Restriction Release Date”), or any attempted Transfer of
Corporation Securities pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to the
Restriction Release Date, shall be prohibited and void ab initio so far as it
purports to transfer ownership or rights in respect of such stock to the
Purported Transferee (y) if the transferor is a Five-Percent Shareholder or
(z) to the extent that, as a result of such Transfer (or any series of
Transfers of which such Transfer is a part), either (1) any Person or group
of Persons shall become a Five-Percent Shareholder other than by reason of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-2T(j)(3) or any successor to such
regulation or (2) the Percentage Stock Ownership interest in the
Corporation of any Five-Percent Shareholder shall be increased; provided, that
this paragraph 5.2 shall not apply to, nor shall any other provision in
this Restated Certificate prohibit, restrict or limit in any way, (i) the
issuance of Corporation Securities by the Corporation in accordance with the
Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of the Corporation dated
January 20, 2006 (the “Chapter 11 Plan”) or (ii) the issuance of
Corporation Securities by the Corporation pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger among UAL Corporation, Continental Airlines, Inc. and JT Merger Sub Inc.
dated as of May 2, 2010, but not any subsequent transfer of such Corporation
Securities.
5.3 The
restrictions set forth in paragraph 5.2 shall not apply to an attempted
Transfer that is a 5% Transaction if the transferor or the transferee obtains
the prior written approval of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof.
As a condition to granting its
approval pursuant to this paragraph 5.3, the Board of Directors may, in its
discretion, require (at the expense of the transferor and/or transferee) an
opinion of counsel selected by the Board of Directors that the Transfer shall
not result in the application of any Section 382 limitation on the use of
the Tax Benefits. The Board of Directors may exercise the authority
granted by this Section 5 through duly authorized officers or agents of the
Corporation.
5.4 Each
certificate representing shares of Corporation Securities issued prior to the
Restriction Release Date shall contain the legend set forth on Exhibit A
hereto, evidencing the restrictions set forth in this Section 5 and
Sections 6 and 7.
Section
6. Treatment of Excess Securities.
6.1 No
employee or agent of the Corporation shall record any Prohibited Transfer, and
the purported transferee of such a Prohibited Transfer (the “Purported
Transferee”) shall not be recognized as a stockholder of the Corporation for any
purpose whatsoever in respect of the Corporation Securities which are the
subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the “Excess Securities”). Until
the Excess Securities are acquired by another Person in a Transfer that is not a
Prohibited Transfer, the Purported Transferee shall not be entitled with respect
to such Excess Securities to any rights of stockholders of the Corporation,
including, without limitation, the right to vote such Excess Securities and to
receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in respect
thereof, if any; provided, however, that the Transferor of such Excess
Securities shall not be required to disgorge, and shall be permitted to retain
for its own account, any proceeds of such Transfer, and shall have no further
rights, responsibilities, obligations or liabilities with respect to such Excess
Securities, if such Transfer was a Prohibited Transfer pursuant to
Section 5.2(z). Once the Excess Securities have been acquired in
a Transfer that is not a Prohibited Transfer, the Corporation Securities shall
cease to be Excess Securities. For this purpose, any transfer of
Excess Securities not in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6
shall also be a Prohibited Transfer.
6.2 If
the Board of Directors determines that a Transfer of Corporation Securities
constitutes a Prohibited Transfer then, upon written demand by the Corporation,
the Purported Transferee shall transfer or cause to be transferred any
certificate or other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities within the
Purported Transferee’s possession or control, together with any dividends or
other distributions that were received by the Purported Transferee from the
Corporation with respect to the Excess Securities (“Prohibited Distributions”),
to an agent designated by the Board of Directors (the “Agent”). The
Agent shall thereupon sell to a buyer or buyers, which may include the
Corporation, the Excess Securities transferred to it in one or more arm’s-length
transactions (over the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities
exchange on which the Corporation Securities may be traded, if possible, or
otherwise privately); provided, however, that the Agent shall effect such sale
or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not be required to effect any such sale
within any specific time frame if, in the Agent’s discretion, such sale or sales
would disrupt the market for the Corporation Securities or otherwise would
adversely affect the value of the Corporation Securities. If the
Purported Transferee has resold the Excess Securities before receiving the
Corporation’s demand to surrender Excess Securities to the Agent, the Purported
Transferee shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for the Agent, and
shall be required to transfer to the Agent any Prohibited Distributions and
proceeds of such sale, except to the extent that the Corporation grants written
permission to the Purported Transferee to retain a portion of such sales
proceeds not exceeding the amount that the Purported Transferee would have
received from the Agent pursuant to Section 6.3 if the Agent rather than
the Purported Transferee had resold the Excess Securities.
6.3 The
Agent shall apply any proceeds of a sale by it of Excess Securities and, if the
Purported Transferee had previously resold the Excess Securities, any amounts
received by it from a Purported Transferee as
follows: (x) first, such amounts shall be paid to the Agent to
the extent necessary to cover its costs and expenses incurred in connection with
its duties hereunder; (y) second, any remaining amounts shall be paid to
the Purported Transferee, up to the amount paid by the Purported Transferee for
the Excess Securities (or the fair market value, (1) calculated on the
basis of the closing market price for the Corporation Securities on the day
before the Prohibited Transfer, (2) if the Corporation Securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on any stock exchange but are traded in the
over-the-counter market, calculated based upon the difference between the
highest bid and lowest asked prices, as such prices are reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers through its NASDAQ system or any successor
system on the day before the Prohibited Transfer or, if none, on the last
preceding day for which such quotations exist, or (3) if the Corporation
Securities are neither listed nor admitted to trading on any stock exchange nor
traded in the over-the-counter market, then as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors, of the Excess Securities at the time of the Prohibited
Transfer to the Purported Transferee by gift, inheritance, or similar Transfer),
which amount (or fair market value) shall be determined at the discretion of the
Board of Directors; and (z) third, any remaining amounts, subject to the
limitations imposed by the following proviso, shall be paid to one or more
organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any
comparable successor provision) (“Section 501(c)(3)”) selected by the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that if the Excess Securities (including any
Excess Securities arising from a previous Prohibited Transfer not sold by the
Agent in a prior sale or sales), represent a 5% or greater Percentage Stock
Ownership in any class of Corporation Securities, then any such remaining
amounts to the extent attributable to the disposition of the portion of such
Excess Securities exceeding a 4.99% Percentage Stock Ownership interest in such
class shall be paid to two or more organizations qualifying under
Section 501(c)(3) selected by the Board of Directors. The
recourse of any Purported Transferee in respect of any Prohibited Transfer shall
be limited to the amount payable to the Purported Transferee pursuant to
clause (y) of the preceding sentence. In no event shall the
proceeds of any sale of Excess Securities pursuant to this Section 6 inure
to the benefit of the Corporation.
6.4 If
the Purported Transferee fails to surrender the Excess Securities or the
proceeds of a sale thereof to the Agent within thirty days from the date on
which the Corporation makes a written demand pursuant to Section 6.2, then
the Corporation shall use its best efforts to enforce the provisions hereof,
including the institution of legal proceedings to compel the
surrender.
6.5 The
Corporation shall make the written demand described in Section 6.2 within
thirty days of the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the
attempted Transfer would result in Excess Securities; provided, however, that if
the Corporation makes such demand at a later date, the provisions of Sections 5
and 6 shall apply nonetheless.
Section
7. Board Authority.
The Board of Directors shall have the
power to determine all matters necessary for assessing compliance with Sections
5 and 6, including, without limitation, (A) the identification of
Five-Percent Shareholders, (B) whether a Transfer is a 5% Transaction or a
Prohibited Transfer, (C) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Corporation
of any Five-Percent Shareholder, (D) whether an instrument constitutes a
Corporation Security, (E) the amount (or fair market value) due to a
Purported Transferee pursuant to clause (y) of Section 6.3, and
(F) any other matters which the Board of Directors determines to be
relevant; and the good faith determination of the Board of Directors on such
matters shall be conclusive and binding for all the purposes of Sections 5 and
6.
ARTICLE FIFTH.
Unless otherwise indicated, any
reference in this Article Fifth to “Section,” “subsection,” “paragraph,”
“subparagraph,” or “clause” shall refer to a Section, subsection, paragraph,
subparagraph or clause in this Article Fifth.
Section
1. Definitions. As used in this Restated Certificate, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1 “Chief Executive Officer”
means the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
1.2 “Director” means a director of
the Corporation.
1.3 “Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor act
thereto.
1.4 “GCL” means the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to
time.
1.5 “Person” means any individual,
corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership, joint venture,
trust or unincorporated organization, or a governmental entity or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
1.6 “Restated Bylaws” means the
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended from time to
time.
1.7 “Stockholders” means the
stockholders of the Corporation.
Section
2. Directors.
2.1 General
Powers. Except as otherwise provided in this Restated Certificate, the business
and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations,
not inconsistent with this Restated Certificate, the Restated Bylaws or
applicable law, as it may deem proper for the conduct of its meetings and the
management of the Corporation. In addition to the powers conferred expressly by
this Restated Certificate and the Restated Bylaws, the Board of Directors may
exercise all powers and perform all acts that are not required, by this Restated
Certificate, the Restated Bylaws or applicable law, to be exercised or performed
by the Stockholders.
2.2 Number.
Except as otherwise provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of
Article Fourth hereof relating to the rights of the holders of any class or
series of stock to elect Directors and take certain actions with respect to such
elected Directors, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time
exclusively pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors (but shall not be
fewer than five).
2.3 Term
of Office. Except as otherwise provided in this Restated Certificate, each
Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and
until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject to such Director’s
earlier death, resignation or removal.
2.4 Resignation
of Directors. Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to
the Corporation.
2.5 Voting
by Directors. Subject to any greater or additional vote of the Board or of
any class of Directors required by law, by this Restated Certificate or the
Restated Bylaws, an act of the Board shall require the affirmative vote of at
least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Directors present at a
meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present. Each Director shall have one
vote.
Section
3. Special Voting Provisions.
3.1 Election
of Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated
Certificate, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of
one or more series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as
a class, to elect one or more Directors, the term of office, the filling of
vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships
shall be governed by the terms of this Restated Certificate or the resolution or
resolutions of the Board of Directors establishing such series of Preferred
Stock. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock
(other than the Class Pilot MEC Preferred Stock and the Class IAM Preferred
Stock) have the
right to elect additional Directors as provided for or fixed by or pursuant to
the provisions of Article Fourth hereof, then upon commencement and for the
duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise
total authorized number of Directors of the Corporation shall automatically be
increased by such specified number of Directors, and the holders of such
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional Directors so provided
for or fixed by or pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional
Director shall serve until such office terminates pursuant to said provisions,
whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification,
resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors
in the resolution or resolutions establishing a series of Preferred Stock,
whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having a right to elect
additional Directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of
such series of Preferred Stock, the terms of office of all such additional
Directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or selected
to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or
removal of such additional Directors, shall forthwith terminate and the total
authorized number of Directors of the Corporation shall be reduced
accordingly.
3.2 Amendment
to the Restated Bylaws. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to
make, alter, amend or repeal the Restated Bylaws, and to adopt new bylaws;
provided, however, that (i) prior to the Chairman Succession Date (as
defined in the Restated Bylaws), the Board of Directors shall not be permitted
to alter, amend or repeal Section 5.5(c), Section 5.14, the last sentence of
Section 5.6 or the proviso to Section 8.1 and (ii) no bylaws hereafter
adopted shall invalidate any prior act of the Board of Directors that would have
been valid if such bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE SIXTH.
(a) A
director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) under Section 174 of the GCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper personal benefit.
(b) Each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party or is
involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
“proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or
she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer or employee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an
official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while
serving as a director, officer or employee shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the GCL, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide
broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to
provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss
(including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred
or suffered by such person in connection therewith. Such indemnification shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall
inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators;
provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof, the
Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if
such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation shall not be
obligated to indemnify a director or officer for costs and expenses relating to
proceedings (or any part thereof) instituted against the Corporation by such
director or officer (other than proceedings pursuant to which such director or
officer is seeking to enforce such director’s or officer’s indemnification
rights hereunder). The right to indemnification conferred in this
Article Sixth with respect to directors and officers shall be a contract
right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses
incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition;
provided, however, that, if the GCL requires, the payment of such expense
incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or
officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by
such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service
to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a
proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an
undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts
so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer
is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article Sixth or
otherwise. The Corporation may provide indemnification to employees
(other than officers) and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and
effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers to the extent
(i) permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as from time to time in
effect, and (ii) authorized in the sole discretion any of the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel of
the Corporation; provided, however, that any such indemnification shall not
constitute a contract right for any such employee or agent.
(c) If
a claim under paragraph (b) of this Article Sixth is not paid in full by the
Corporation within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the
Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the
Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an
action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has
not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the GCL for the
Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of
proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the
GCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
(d) The
right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a
proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article Sixth
shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter
acquire under any statute, provision of this Restated Certificate, by-law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
(e) The
Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense,
liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the
GCL.
ARTICLE SEVENTH.
Except as expressly provided in this
Restated Certificate, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change
or repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate, in the manner
now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of Delaware and this Restated
Certificate, and all rights and powers conferred herein upon stockholders and
directors are granted subject to this reservation.
Exhibit A
to
EXHIBIT
B-1
Form of Stock
Legend
The transfer of the shares of [•] Common Stock represented by
this Certificate is subject to restrictions pursuant to Article Fourth, Part V,
Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of [•]. [•] will furnish a copy of its
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the holder of record of this
Certificate without charge upon written request addressed to [•] at its principal place of
business.
EXHIBIT
B-2
Restated Bylaws of
United
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
UNITED CONTINENTAL HOLDINGS, INC.
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
As used
in these Restated Bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
1.1 “Assistant Secretary” means
an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.
1.2 “Assistant Treasurer” means
an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation.
1.3 “Board” means the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.
1.4 “Chairman” means the Chairman
of the Board of Directors.
1.5 “Change in Ownership” means
any sale, disposition, transfer or issuance or series of sales, dispositions,
transfers and/or issuances of shares of the capital stock by the Corporation or
any holders thereof which results in any person or group of persons (as the term
“group” is used under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other
than the holders of Common Stock, owning capital stock of the Corporation
possessing the voting power (under ordinary circumstances and without regard to
cumulative voting rights) to elect a majority of the Board.
1.6 “Chief Executive Officer”
means the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
1.7 “Common Stock” means the
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.
1.8 “Corporation” means United
Continental Holdings, Inc.
1.9 “DGCL” means the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to
time.
1.10 “Director” means a member of
the Board.
1.11 “Effective Time” means the
date and time of the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
of the Certificate of Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) consummating
the Merger (or such later time as may be agreed by the parties to the Merger
Agreement and specified in the Certificate of Merger).
1.12 “Entire Board” means all
Directors who would be in office if there were no vacancies.
1.13 “Entire Committee” means,
with respect to any committee, all members of such committee who would serve on
such committee if there were no vacancies.
1.14 “Fundamental Change” means
the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any sale, transfer or
disposition of more than 50% of the property or assets of the Corporation and
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (measured either by book value in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied or
by fair market value determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of the
Board) in any transaction or series of transactions (other than sales in the
ordinary course of business) and (b) any merger or consolidation to which the
Corporation is a party, except for (x) a merger which is effected solely to
change the state of incorporation of the Corporation or (y) a merger in which
the Corporation is the surviving person and, after giving effect to such merger,
the holders of the capital stock of the Corporation as of the date immediately
prior to the merger or consolidation shall continue to own the outstanding
capital stock of the Corporation possessing the voting power (under ordinary
circumstances) to elect a majority of the Board.
1.15 “General Counsel” means the
General Counsel of the Corporation.
1.16 “Merger” means the merger of
JT Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Corporation, with and into Continental Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
1.17 “Merger Agreement” means that
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 2, 2010, by and among the
Corporation, Continental Airlines, Inc. and JT Merger Sub Inc., as amended from
time to time.
1.18 “Preferred Stock” means the
Preferred Stock, without par value, of the Corporation.
1.19 “President” means the
President of the Corporation.
1.20 “Restated Certificate” means
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from
time to time.
1.21 “Restated Bylaws” means the
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended from time to
time.
1.22 “Secretary” means the
Secretary of the Corporation.
1.23 “Stockholders” means the
stockholders of the Corporation.
1.24 “Treasurer” means the
Treasurer of the Corporation.
1.25 “Union Directors” means those
directors of the Corporation elected by the holders of Class Pilot MEC Junior
Preferred Stock and the Class IAM Junior Preferred Stock pursuant to
Article Fourth, Parts II and III of the Restated Certificate.
1.26 “Vice President” means a Vice
President of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
2
Stockholders’
Meetings
2.1 Annual Meeting. A
meeting of Stockholders shall be held annually for the election of Directors and
the transaction of other business at an hour and date as shall be determined by
the Board and designated in the notice of meeting.
2.2 Special
Meetings. Subject to the Restated Certificate, a special
meeting of the Stockholders may be called only by (a) both the Chief Executive
Officer and the Chairman or (b) the Board, and at an hour and date as shall be
determined by them. At any special meeting of Stockholders, no
business other than that set forth in the notice thereof given pursuant to Section 2.4 may
be transacted.
2.3 Place of
Meetings. All meetings of Stockholders shall be held at such
places, within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be
fixed by the Board or as specified or fixed in the respective
notices. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a
meeting of the Stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be
held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2)
of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto). Any
previously-scheduled meeting of the Stockholders may be postponed by action of
the Board taken prior to the time previously scheduled for such annual meeting
of Stockholders.
2.4 Notices of Stockholders’
Meetings. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.5 or
otherwise required by the Restated Certificate or applicable law, written notice
of each meeting of Stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given to
each Stockholder required or permitted to take any action at, or entitled to
notice of, such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days
before the date on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering such notice to
him or her, personally, by mail or by electronic transmission in the manner
provided by law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given
when deposited in the United States mail, with postage prepaid, directed to the
Stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the stock ledger of the
Corporation. Every notice of a meeting of Stockholders shall state
the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting is called.
2.5 Waivers of
Notice. Notwithstanding any other provision in these Restated
Bylaws, notice of any meeting of Stockholders shall not be required as to any
Stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or be represented by proxy,
except when such Stockholder attends such meeting for the express purpose of
objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business at
such meeting because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. If any Stockholder shall, in person or represented by
proxy, waive notice of any meeting, whether before or after such meeting, notice
thereof shall not be required as to such Stockholder.
2.6 Quorum Requirements and Required
Vote at Stockholder Meetings.
(a) Except
as otherwise required by applicable law, the Restated Certificate or these
Restated Bylaws, at all meetings of Stockholders the presence, in person or
represented by proxy, of the holders of outstanding shares representing at least
a majority of the total voting power entitled to vote at a meeting of
Stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where
a separate vote of a class or classes or series of stock is required, the
presence in person or represented by proxy of the holders of outstanding shares
representing at least a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding
shares of such class or classes or series shall constitute a quorum thereof
entitled to take action with respect to such separate vote.
(b) Except
as otherwise required by applicable law, the Restated Certificate or these
Restated Bylaws, each holder of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on any
matter at any meeting of the Stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each
share of such stock standing in the name of such holder on the stock ledger of
the Corporation on the record date for the determination of the Stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting. Except as otherwise required by
applicable law, the Restated Certificate or these Restated Bylaws, including,
without limitation, Section 3.3 hereof,
the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the shares present in
person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter at a
meeting of Stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Stockholders. Except as required by applicable law, the method of
voting and the manner in which votes are counted shall be discretionary with the
presiding officer at the meeting.
(c) The
holders of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote and present
in person or represented by proxy at any meeting of Stockholders, whether or not
a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting to another time and
place. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the
meeting as originally called. Unless otherwise required by applicable
law, the Restated Certificate or these Restated Bylaws, no notice of an
adjourned meeting need be given.
2.7 Proxies. Each
Stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders may authorize another
person or persons to act for him or her by proxy executed in writing by the
Stockholder or as otherwise permitted by law, or by his or her duly authorized
attorney-in-fact, but such proxy shall no longer be valid eleven months after
the date of such proxy. Such proxy must be filed with the Secretary
of the Corporation or his or her representative at or before the time of the
meeting.
2.8 Inspectors. The
Board by resolution shall appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or
inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other
capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or
representatives of the Corporation, to act at the meeting and make a written
report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate
inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector
or alternate has been appointed to act, or if all inspectors or alternates who
have been appointed are unable to act, at the meeting of Stockholders, the
chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall
take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The
inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by the DGCL. The chairman
of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the time of the opening and
the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the Stockholders will vote
at a meeting.
2.9 Conduct of Stockholders’
Meetings. The Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the
Board, as designated by the Board, or, in their absence or the absence of any
such designation, the appointee of the presiding officer of the meeting, shall
preside at all meetings of Stockholders and may establish such rules of
procedure for conducting the meetings as he or she deems fair and reasonable.
The Secretary, or in his or her absence an Assistant Secretary, or if none be
present, the appointee of the presiding officer of the meeting, shall act as
secretary of the meeting.
2.10 Notice of Stockholder Business and
Nominations.
(a) Annual Meetings of
Stockholders.
(1)
Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other
business to be considered by the Stockholders may be made at an annual meeting
of Stockholders only (A) if brought before the meeting by the Corporation and
specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Section 2.4, (B) if
brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (C) if brought
before the meeting by a Stockholder who (i) was a Stockholder of record (and,
with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf any
nomination or proposal is made, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial
owner of shares of capital stock of the Corporation) both at the time of giving
of notice provided for in this Section 2.10, and at
the time of the meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) has
complied with this Section 2.10 as to
such nominations or other business. Except for proposals properly
made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive
of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), and included
in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, the
foregoing clause (C) shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to propose
business to be considered or to propose any nominations of persons for election
to the Board at an annual meeting of the Stockholders.
(2)
Without qualification, for any nominations of persons for election to the Board
or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
Stockholder, in each case, pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(1) of this
Section 2.10,
the Stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing and in
proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (y) provide any updates or
supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section
2.10. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered
to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days prior to the
one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in
the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days,
or delayed by more than 60 days, from such anniversary date, notice by the
Stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later
than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the
Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment of an annual meeting
or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time
period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice. For purposes of
this Section
2.10, the term “Proposing Person” means (i) the Stockholder providing the
notice of a proposed nomination or other business proposed to be brought before
a meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on
whose behalf the proposed nomination or other business proposed to be brought
before a meeting is made, and (iii) any affiliate or associate (for purposes of
these Bylaws, each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of
such Stockholder or beneficial owner.
(3) To
be in proper form, a Stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to paragraph
(a)(2) or paragraph (b) of this Section 2.10) shall
set forth:
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(A)
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As
to each Proposing Person:
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(i)
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the
name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the
name and address that appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger);
and
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(ii)
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the
class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation
that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing
Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to
beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the capital stock of
the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire
beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made
pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) are referred to as “Stockholder
Information”);
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(B)
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As
to each Proposing Person:
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(i)
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any
derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions engaged
in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or
effect of which is to give such Proposing Person economic risk similar to
ownership of shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the
Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such derivative,
swap or other transaction is determined by reference to the price, value
or volatility of any shares of any class or series of the capital stock of
the Corporation, or which derivative, swap or other transactions provide,
directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any increase in the
price or value of shares of any class or series of the capital stock of
the Corporation (“Synthetic Equity
Interests”), which such Synthetic Equity Interests shall be
disclosed without regard to whether (x) such derivative, swap or other
transactions convey any voting rights in such shares to such Proposing
Person, (y) the derivative, swap or other transactions are required to be,
or are capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares or (z)
such Proposing Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge
or mitigate the economic effect of such derivative, swap or other
transaction;
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(ii)
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any
proxy (other than a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of
the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule
14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to
which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to vote any shares of
any class or series of the capital stock of the
Corporation;
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(iii)
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any
agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship, including any
repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or
arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person,
the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic
risk (of ownership or otherwise) of shares of any class or series of the
capital stock of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price
changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing
Person with respect to the shares of any class or series of the capital
stock of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the
opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the
shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation
(“Short
Interests”);
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(iv)
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any
rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of the capital
stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that
are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the
Corporation;
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(v)
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any
performance related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such
Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the
price or value of shares of any class or series of the capital stock of
the Corporation, or any Synthetic Equity Interests or Short Interests, if
any; and
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(vi)
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any
other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required
to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made
in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing
Person in support of the nomination for election of Directors or the other
business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section
14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the
foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) are referred to as “Disclosable
Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall
not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course
business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company
or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the
Stockholder of record directed to prepare and submit the information
required by this Section 2.10 on
behalf of a beneficial owner.
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(C)
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As
to each person, if any, whom a Proposing Person proposes to nominate for
election or reelection as a
Director:
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(i)
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all
information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required
to be set forth in a Stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 if
such proposed nominee were a Proposing
Person;
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(ii)
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all
information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be
disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in
connection with solicitations of proxies for election of Directors in a
contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act
(including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the
proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected);
and
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(iii)
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a
description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material
monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three
years, and any other material relationships, between or among any
Proposing Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or
her respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including,
without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed
pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Proposing Person were
the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a
Director or executive officer of such registrant;
and
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(D)
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As
to any business other than nominations for election of Directors that a
Proposing Person proposes to bring before an annual
meeting:
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(i)
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a
reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before
the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting and any material interest in such business of any Proposing
Person;
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(ii)
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the
text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions
proposed for consideration); and
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(iii)
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a
reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and
understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons and (y)
between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial
owner of capital stock of the Corporation (including their names) in
connection with the proposal of such business by such
Stockholder.
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(4) A
Stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board
or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given
pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) or paragraph (b) of this Section 2.10) shall
further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information
provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as
of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten business days
prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update
and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary
at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five
business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update
and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than
eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any
adjournment of postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first
practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or
postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of
ten business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement
thereof). The Corporation may also require any proposed nominee for
election to the Board to furnish such other information (i) as may be reasonably
required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed
nominee to serve as an independent Director of the Corporation in accordance
with the Corporation’s corporate governance guidelines as then in effect or (ii)
that could be material to a reasonable Stockholder’s understanding of the
independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee.
(5) Notwithstanding
anything in paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 2.10 to the
contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board
at the annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the
Corporation naming all of the nominees for Director or specifying the size of
the increased Board made by the Corporation at least ten days before the last
day a Stockholder could otherwise deliver a notice of nomination in accordance
with such paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 2.10, a
Stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall
also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new
positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to, or mailed and
received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation
not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which
such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meeting of
Stockholders.
Only such business shall be conducted
at a special meeting of Stockholders as shall have been properly brought before
the meeting in accordance with Section
2.2. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be
made at a special meeting of Stockholders at which Directors are properly to be
elected only (1) by or at the direction of the Board or (2) by any Stockholder
who (A) was a Stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner,
if different, on whose behalf any nomination is made, only if such beneficial
owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of
giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.10 and at
the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complied
with this paragraph (b) and paragraph (a)(3) of this Section 2.10 as to
such nominations. Without qualification, in order for a Stockholder
to present any nominations of persons for election to the Board at such a
special meeting, pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph (b), the Stockholder
must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the
Secretary of the Corporation (which notice shall include disclosure of the
information that is required by the applicable provisions of paragraph (a)(3) of
this Section
2.10) and (y) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the
times and in the forms required by paragraph (a)(4) of this Section
2.10. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered
to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices
of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth day prior to the
date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of (x) the ninetieth day prior to the date of such special meeting and (y)
the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of
the date of such special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be
elected at such special meeting. In no event shall any adjournment of
a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or
extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described
above.
(c) General.
(1) Subject
to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect
additional Directors as may be provided in a designation of rights relating to
such series of Preferred Stock, including the holders of the Class Pilot MEC
Junior Preferred Stock and the Class IAM Junior Preferred Stock pursuant to
Article Fourth, Parts II and III of the Restated Certificate, only persons who
are nominated in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be
eligible to serve as Directors and only such business as shall have been brought
before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be
conducted at a meeting of Stockholders. Nominations for Union
Directors shall be made only by the holders of the Class Pilot MEC Junior
Preferred Stock and the Class IAM Junior Preferred Stock, and then only in
accordance with the procedures and qualification requirements of the Restated
Certificate and any stockholder agreements applicable to such nomination
process. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Restated
Certificate or these Restated Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the
power and duty to determine whether such nomination or business was made in
compliance with this Section 2.10 and, if
such proposed nomination or business is deemed not to have been properly made,
to declare that such nomination or proposal has not been properly brought before
the meeting and shall be disregarded and declared to be out of
order.
(2) For
purposes of this Section 2.10, “public
announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones
News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a
document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, a
Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section
2.10. This Section 2.10 is
expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before a
meeting of Stockholders other than any proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8
under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall be
deemed to affect any rights of Stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in
the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange
Act.
2.11 List of
Stockholders. It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other
officer who has charge of the stock ledger to prepare and make, at least ten
(10) days before each annual or special meeting of the Stockholders, a complete
list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Stockholder and the number
of shares registered in such Stockholder’s name. Such list shall be
produced and kept available at the times and places required by law. The stock
ledger shall be the only evidence as to which Stockholders are the Stockholders
entitled to examine the stock ledger or the list required by this Section 2.11, or to
vote in person or by proxy at such meeting of the Stockholders.
2.12 Remote
Communication. For the purposes of these Restated Bylaws, if
authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines
and procedures as the Board may adopt, Stockholders and proxyholders may, by
means of remote communication:
(a) participate
in a meeting of Stockholders; and
(b) be
deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of Stockholders whether such
meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote
communication, provided that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable
measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the
meeting by means of remote communication is a Stockholder or proxyholder, (ii)
the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such Stockholders
and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to
vote on matters submitted to the Stockholders, including an opportunity to read
or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such
proceedings, and (iii) if any Stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other
action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or
other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE
3
Board
Of Directors
3.1 Number and Term of
Office. The number and term of office of Directors on the
Board shall be determined as provided in the Restated Certificate.
3.2 Powers. The Board
may, except as otherwise provided in the Restated Certificate or the DGCL,
exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or
done by the Corporation.
3.3 Election. Except
as otherwise required by applicable law or the Restated Certificate, and
notwithstanding Section 2.6(b)
hereof, Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting
of Stockholders by the holders of shares entitled to vote on their
election.
3.4 Place of
Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held either within or
without the State of Delaware at such place as is indicated in the notice or
waiver of notice thereof. It is intended that a majority of the
in-person Board meetings in each calendar year shall be held in the Greater
Chicago Metropolitan Area.
3.5 Organization
Meeting. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after
each annual meeting of Stockholders at the place of such annual meeting for the
purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. No
notice of such meeting of the Board shall be required. Such
organization meeting may be held at any other time or place specified in a
notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board, or in a
consent and waiver of notice thereof, signed by all of the
Directors.
3.6 Stated
Meetings. The Board shall from time to time, by resolution
adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to
be cast by the Entire Board, appoint the time and place for holding stated
meetings of the Board; and such meetings shall thereupon be held at the time and
place so appointed, without the giving of any special notice with regard
thereto. Any and all business may be transacted at any stated
meeting.
3.7 Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever
called by the Secretary of the Board, at the direction of any three Directors,
or by the Chairman, or, in the event that the office of the Chairman is vacant,
by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the event that the office of the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer are vacant, by the President. Notice of a
special meeting shall set forth a description of such meeting and be sent to the
Directors as provided in Section
3.8.
3.8 Notices of Board
Meetings. Notice of any meeting shall be sent to each Director
at his or her residence or usual place of business either (a) by reputable
overnight delivery service in circumstances to which such service guarantees
next day delivery, not later than on the day that is the second business day
immediately preceding the day of such meeting, or (b) by facsimile, telex,
telegram or electronic mail, not later than twenty-four (24) hours before the
time of such meeting. If sent by overnight delivery service, such
notice shall be deemed to be given when delivered to such service; if sent by
facsimile, telex, telegram or electronic mail, such notice shall be deemed to be
given when transmitted. Notice of any meeting of the Board need not
however be given to any Director, if waived by him or her in writing or if,
subject to applicable law, he or she shall be present at the
meeting. Any meeting of the Board shall be a legal meeting without
any notice thereof having been given if all of the Directors shall be present
thereat, except when a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
3.9 Quorum and Manner of
Acting. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the
Restated Certificate or these Restated Bylaws, the presence at any organization,
stated or special meeting of Directors having at least a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast by the Entire Board shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business; and, except as otherwise required by applicable law,
the Restated Certificate or these Restated Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Directors present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Board. In the absence of a quorum, the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes entitled to be cast by the Directors present may adjourn any
meeting, from time to time, until a quorum is present.
3.10 Telephone
Meetings. Directors or members of any committee of the Board
may participate in a meeting of the Board or of such committee by means of
conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a
meeting pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.
3.11 Chairman of the Board Pro
Tempore. In the absence of both the Chairman and the Chief
Executive Officer at any meeting of the Board, the Board may appoint from among
its members a Chairman of the Board pro tempore, who shall preside at such
meeting, except where otherwise provided by law.
3.12 Resignation. Any
Director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic
transmission to the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take
effect at the time received by the Corporation, unless the resignation specifies
a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of one
or more events.
3.13 Removal of
Directors. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed
with or without cause as provided under the DGCL.
3.14 Vacancies and Newly Created
Directorships. Except as otherwise provided in the Restated
Certificate, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of Directors may be filled by a majority of
the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
Director, and the Directors so chosen shall hold office until the next election
of Directors and until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until
earlier resignation or removal. If there are no Directors in office,
then an election of Directors may be held in the manner provided by
statute.
3.15 Directors’
Fees. The Board shall have authority to determine, from time
to time, the amount of compensation that shall be paid to its members for
attendance at meetings of the Board or of any committee of the Board, which
compensation may be payable currently or deferred.
3.16 Action Without
Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board may be taken without a
meeting if all of the members of the Board or of any such committee, as the case
may be, consent thereto in writing, by electronic transmission or transmissions,
or as otherwise permitted by law and, if required by law, the writing or
writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes
of proceedings of the Board or of such committee. Such filing shall
be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in
electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
ARTICLE
4
Board
Committees
4.1 Designation.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in
the Restated Certificate, the Board may, by resolution adopted by the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the
Entire Board, designate one or more committees of the Board, each such committee
to consist of one or more Directors, and at the Effective Time there shall be
the following six committees: an Audit Committee, an Executive Committee, a
Finance Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating/Governance Committee
and a Public Responsibility Committee. Except as otherwise provided
in the Restated Certificate, unless sooner discharged by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Entire Board, members of each
committee of the Board shall hold office until the organization meeting of the
Board in the next subsequent year and until their respective successors are
appointed.
(b) So
far as practicable, members of each committee of the Board shall be appointed
annually at the organization meeting of the Board. The Board may
designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee of the
Board, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such
committee. The Nominating/Governance Committee of the Board shall
have the power to recommend to the Board a chairman of each committee of the
Board by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by
all of the members of the Nominating/Governance Committee. The Board
shall have the power to appoint one of its members to act as chairman of each
committee of the Board.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, except as required by law or otherwise provided in these Restated
Bylaws, no committee of the Board will have the authority to (i) issue
dividends, distributions or securities, except for issuances of cash or
securities pursuant to employee benefit plans; (ii) to approve a Fundamental
Change or Change in Ownership, except as may be required in the exercise of
fiduciary duties; (iii) to take any action that would require the approval of
the Stockholders pursuant to the DGCL; (iv) elect any officer designated as such
in Section 5.1
or to fill any vacancy in any such office; (v) designate the Chief Executive
Officer or the Chairman of the Board; (vi) fill any vacancy in the Board or any
newly created Directorship; (vii) amend these Restated Bylaws; (viii) take any
action that under these Restated Bylaws is required to be taken by vote of a
specified proportion of the Entire Board or of the Directors at the time in
office; or (ix) take any action, the power or authority for which is reserved
for the Entire Board pursuant to Section 141(c)(2) of the DGCL, except as
otherwise set forth in such Section 141(c)(2).
4.2 Meetings.
(a) Stated
meetings of any committee of the Board shall be held at such times and at such
places as shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolution adopted by the Board
or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the
members of such committee of the Board and upon notification pursuant to Section 4.3 to all
the members of such committee. Any and all business may be transacted
at any stated meeting of any committee of the Board.
(b) Special
meetings of any committee of the Board may be called at any time by the chairman
of such committee or by any two members of such committee. Notice of
a special meeting of any committee of the Board shall set forth a description of
the business to be transacted at such meeting and be sent to the members of such
committee of the Board as provided in Section 4.3.
4.3 Notice of Board Committee
Meetings. Notice of any meeting of any committee of the Board
shall be sent to each member of such committee at his or her residence or usual
place of business either (a) by reputable overnight delivery service in
circumstances to which such service guarantees next day delivery, not later than
on the day that is the second business day immediately preceding the day of such
meeting, or (b) by facsimile, telex, telegram or electronic mail, not later than
twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting. If sent by
overnight delivery service, such notice shall be deemed to be given when
delivered to such service; if sent by facsimile, telex, telegram or electronic
mail, such notice shall be deemed to be given when
transmitted. Notice of any meeting of a committee of the Board need
not however be given to any member of such committee, if waived by him or her in
writing or if, subject to applicable law, he or she shall be present at the
meeting. Any meeting of a committee of the Board shall be a legal
meeting without any notice thereof having been given if all of the members shall
be present thereat except when a Director attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any
business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
4.4 Place of
Meetings. Meetings of any committee of the Board may be held
either within or without the State of Delaware.
4.5 Quorum and Voting Requirements of
Board Committees.
(a) The
presence of Directors entitled to cast at least a majority of the aggregate
number of votes entitled to be cast by all Directors on a committee of the Board
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and any act of a
committee of the Board shall require the affirmative vote of at least a majority
of the votes entitled to be cast by the Directors present at a meeting of such
committee at which a quorum is present.
(b) The
members of any committee of the Board shall act only as a committee of the
Board, and the individual members of the Board shall have no power as
such.
4.6 Records. Each
committee of the Board shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings and shall
report the same, from time to time, to the Board. The Secretary, or,
in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary to each
committee of the Board, or a committee of the Board may, in its discretion,
appoint its own secretary.
4.7 Vacancies. Except
as otherwise provided in the Restated Certificate, any vacancy in any committee
of the Board shall be filled by a majority of the Directors then in
office.
4.8 Committee
Procedure. The Board by resolution or resolutions shall
establish the rules of procedure to be followed by each committee, which shall
include a requirement that such committee keep regular minutes of its
proceedings and deliver to the Secretary the same.
4.9 Executive
Committee.
(a) In
addition to any requirements set forth in the Restated Certificate or these
Restated Bylaws, an Executive Committee shall be appointed, to consist of the
Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and three or more other Directors; provided, however, that at
least a majority of the Executive Committee shall consist of Directors who are
neither officers nor employees of the Corporation or of any of its affiliated
corporations.
(b) Subject
to the provisions of the DGCL and these Restated Bylaws, the Executive Committee
shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Board in the management of the
business and affairs of the Corporation, including, without limitation, the
power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that
may require it, but excluding any powers granted by the Board to any other
committee of the Board.
(c) Subject
to any provision in the Restated Certificate or the DGCL, any action herein
authorized to be taken by the Executive Committee and which is duly taken by it
in accordance herewith shall have the same effect as if such action were taken
by the Board.
ARTICLE
5
Officers,
Employees and Agents:
Powers
And Duties
5.1 Officers. The officers
of the Corporation, who shall be elected by the Board, may be a Chairman of the
Board (who shall be a Director), a Treasurer and one or more Assistant
Treasurers, and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more
Vice Presidents (who may be further classified by such descriptions as
“executive,” “senior,” “assistant,” “staff” or otherwise, as the Board shall
determine), a General Counsel, a Secretary and one or more Assistant
Secretaries. The Board may also elect, and may delegate power to
appoint, such other officers and select such other employees or agents as, from
time to time, may appear to be necessary or advisable in the conduct of the
affairs of the Corporation. Any officer may also be elected to
another office or offices.
5.2 Term of
Office. Subject to the provisions of the Restated Certificate
or these Restated Bylaws, so far as practicable, each officer shall be elected
at the organization meeting of the Board in each year, and shall hold office
until the organization meeting of the Board in the next subsequent year and
until his or her successor is chosen or until his or her earlier death,
resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.
5.3 Resignation and Removal of
Officers. Any officer may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.14, any
officer may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the
Entire Board, at any meeting called for that purpose. The Board may
delegate such power of removal as to officers, agents and employees not
appointed by the Board. Such removal shall be without prejudice to a
person’s contract rights, if any, but the appointment of any person as an
officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall not of itself create
contract rights.
5.4 Vacancies. If any
vacancy occurs in any office, the Board may elect a successor to fill such
vacancy for the remainder of the term.
5.5 Chairman of the
Board.
(a) The
Board may elect a Director as Chairman of the Board.
(b) The
Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he or she may be
present. The Chairman shall have such other powers and duties as he
or she may be called upon by the Board to perform.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Glenn F. Tilton shall serve as the Chairman of the Board until
the earlier of (i) December 31, 2012, or the date that is two years after the
Effective Time, whichever is later, and (ii) that date on which Mr. Tilton
resigns, is removed pursuant to these Restated Bylaws or dies (the earlier of
(i) and (ii), the “Chairman
Succession Date”), at which time the Board shall take all actions
necessary to cause Jeffery A. Smisek to become, and Mr. Smisek shall become, the
Chairman of the Board, unless (x) the Nominating/Governance Committee, acting by
a vote of a majority of the Entire Committee, recommends to the Board that such
actions not be taken by the Board and (y) the Board, acting by a vote of a
majority of the Entire Board, accepts such recommendation.
5.6 Chief Executive
Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and
active control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and, in the
absence of the Chairman (or if there be none), he or she shall preside at all
meetings of the Board. He or she shall have general power (a) to
execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name of the Corporation, (b) to affix
the corporate seal, (c) to sign stock certificates, (d) subject to the
provisions of the Restated Certificate, these Restated Bylaws and the approval
of the Board, to select all employees and agents of the Corporation whose
selection is not otherwise provided for and to fix the compensation thereof, (e)
to remove or suspend any employee or agent who shall not have been selected by
the Board, (f) to suspend for cause, pending final action by the Board any
employee or agent who shall have been selected by the Board and (g) to exercise
all the powers usually and customarily performed by the chief executive officer
of a corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Smisek shall be
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation as of the Effective
Time.
5.7 President. The
President, if not designated as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation,
shall perform such duties as are delegated by the Board, the Chairman or the
Chief Executive Officer. In the event of an absence, disability or
vacancy in the office of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall act in
the place of the Chief Executive Officer with authority to exercise all his or
her powers and perform his or her duties.
5.8 Vice Presidents and Other
Officers. The several Vice Presidents and other elected
officers, including, without limitation, the General Counsel, shall perform all
such duties and services as shall be assigned to or required of them, from time
to time, by the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer,
respectively. In the event of the absence or disability of both the
Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, the President may designate one of the
several Vice Presidents to act in his or her place with authority to exercise
all of his or her powers and perform his or her duties, provided that the Board
may change such designation, or if the President fails or is unable to make such
designation, the Board may make such designation at a regular or special meeting
called for that purpose.
5.9 Secretary. The
Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of all meetings of Stockholders
and the Board and shall keep and attest true records of all proceedings
thereat. He or she shall have charge of the corporate seal and have
authority to attest any and all instruments or writings to which the same may be
affixed. He or she shall keep and account for all books, documents,
papers and records of the Corporation, except those which are directed to be in
charge of the Treasurer, and he or she may delegate responsibility for
maintaining the stock ledger to any transfer agent or registrar appointed by the
Board. He or she shall have authority to sign stock certificates and
shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the office of
secretary of a corporation. In the absence of the Secretary, an
Assistant Secretary or Secretary pro tempore shall perform his or her
duties.
5.10 Treasurer. The
Treasurer, if any, shall be responsible for the collection, receipt, care,
custody and disbursement of the funds of the Corporation and shall deposit or
cause to be deposited all funds of the Corporation in and with such depositories
as the Board shall, from time to time, direct. He or she shall have
the care and custody of all securities owned by the Corporation, and shall
deposit such securities with such banks or in such safe deposit vaults, and
under such controls, as the Board shall, from time to time,
direct. He or she shall disburse funds of the Corporation on the
basis of vouchers properly approved for payment by the controller of the
Corporation or his or her duly authorized representative. He or she
shall be responsible for the maintenance of detailed records of cash and
security transactions and shall prepare such reports thereof as may be
required. He or she shall have the power to sign stock certificates
and to endorse for deposit or collection or otherwise all checks, drafts, notes,
bills of exchange or other commercial paper payable to the Corporation and to
give proper receipts or discharges therefor. He or she shall have
such other duties as are commonly incidental to the office of treasurer of a
corporation. In the absence of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer
shall perform his or her duties.
5.11 Additional Powers and
Duties. In addition to the foregoing especially enumerated
duties and powers, the officers of the Corporation shall perform such other
duties and exercise such further powers as may be provided in these Restated
Bylaws or as the Board may, from time to time, determine or as may be assigned
to them by any competent superior officer.
5.12 Compensation. Except
as otherwise provided in the Restated Certificate, the compensation of all
officers of the Corporation shall be fixed, from time to time, by the Board or
the Compensation Committee, but this power may be delegated to any officer by
the Board or the Compensation Committee in accordance with applicable
law.
5.13 Prohibition on Loans to Directors
and Executive Officers. The Corporation shall not directly or
indirectly extend or maintain credit, arrange for the extension of credit, or
renew an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any
member of the Board or executive officer of the Corporation, as such terms are
used in Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
5.14 Required Board Vote for Removal or
Diminution of Duties of Chairman or Chief Executive
Officer. Notwithstanding any provision in these Restated
Bylaws to the contrary, at any time prior to the Chairman Succession Date, the
Board may not take any of the following actions, unless (x) the
Nominating/Governance Committee, acting by a vote of a majority of the Entire
Committee, recommends to the Board that such actions be taken by the Board and
(y) the Board, acting by a vote of a majority of the Entire Board, accepts such
recommendation: (a) the removal of Mr. Tilton from the position
of Chairman, (b) the removal of Mr. Smisek from the position of Chief
Executive Officer or (c) any material modification of the powers, duties or
responsibilities of the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer under these
Restated Bylaws as of the Effective Time.
5.15 Headquarters. The
Corporation shall maintain its corporate headquarters and related corporate
functions in the United Building Chicago, Illinois and maintain its airline
operations headquarters in the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. In
addition, the Corporation shall maintain a significant presence in Houston,
Texas.
ARTICLE
6
Stock
And Transfers Of Stock
6.1 Stock
Certificates. The Common Stock shall be
uncertificated. The shares of the Corporation other than the Common
Stock shall be represented by certificates or shall be
uncertificated. The Board shall have the power and authority to make
such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue,
transfer and registration of uncertificated shares or certificates for shares of
stock of the Corporation. Each certificate shall be signed by the
Chairman or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the
number of certificated shares owned by such Stockholder in the
Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a
facsimile. In case any officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar who has
signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall
cease to be such officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she
were such officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar at the date of
issuance.
6.2 Transfer Agents and
Registrars. The Board may, in its discretion, appoint
responsible banks or trust companies as the Board may deem advisable, from time
to time, to act as Transfer Agents and Registrars of the stock of the
Corporation; and, when such appointments shall have been made, no stock
certificate shall be valid until countersigned by one of such Transfer Agents
and registered by one of such Registrars.
6.3 Transfers of
Stock. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall
be made on the stock ledger of the Corporation only upon authorization by the
record holder thereof or by such holder’s attorney, successor or assignee
thereunto authorized by power of attorney (or other proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer) duly executed and filed with
the Corporation’s Transfer Agent or Registrar. Except as otherwise
provided in the Restated Certificate, and subject to any other transfer
restriction applicable thereto, shares of certificated stock may be transferred
by delivery of the certificates therefor, accompanied either by an assignment in
writing on the back of the certificates or by written power of attorney to sell,
assign and transfer the same with reasonable assurances given that such
endorsement is genuine and that all applicable taxes thereon have been paid,
signed by the record holder thereof; but no transfer shall affect the right of
the Corporation to pay any dividend upon the stock to the holder of record
thereof, or to treat the holder of record as the holder in fact thereof for all
purposes, and no transfer shall be valid, except between the parties thereto,
until such transfer shall have been made upon the books of the
Corporation. No transfer of stock in violation of the provisions of
Article Fourth, Part III, Section 1 or Article Fourth, Part IV, Section 1 of the
Restated Certificate shall be valid as against the Corporation for any
purpose.
6.4 Lost
Certificates. In case any certificate of stock shall be lost,
stolen or destroyed, the Board, in its discretion, may authorize the issuance of
a substitute certificate in place of the certificate lost, stolen or destroyed
and may cause such substitute certificate to be countersigned by the appropriate
Transfer Agent (if any) and registered by the appropriate Registrar (if any),
provided that, in each
such case, the applicant for a substitute certificate shall furnish to the
Corporation and to such of its Transfer Agents and Registrars as may require the
same, evidence to their satisfaction, in their discretion, of the loss, theft or
destruction of such certificate and of the ownership thereof, and also such
security or indemnity as may be required by them.
6.5 Record Date.
(a) In
order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or,
subject to applicable law, to express consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any
other lawful action, the Board is authorized, from time to time, to fix, in
advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such Stockholder meeting, nor more than sixty
(60) days prior to any other action.
(b) A
determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the
Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
(c) Only
Stockholders that are Stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Stockholders and any
adjournment thereof or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, as applicable,
notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the stock ledger of the Corporation
after any record date so fixed.
ARTICLE
7
Miscellaneous
7.1 Fiscal Year. The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.
7.2 Surety Bonds. The
Treasurer, each Assistant Treasurer and such other officers or agents of the
Corporation as the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the
faithful performance of their duties in such amounts and by such surety
companies as the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds
shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the
custody of the Chief Executive Officer or the chief financial
officer.
7.3 Signature of Negotiable
Instruments. All bills, notes, checks or other instruments for
the payment of money shall be signed or countersigned by such officer or
officers and in such manner as, from time to time, may be prescribed by
resolution (whether general or special) of the Board.
7.4 Subject to Law and Restated
Certificate. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided
for in these Restated Bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are
qualified by the provisions of the Restated Certificate and all applicable
laws.
7.5 Voting of
Stocks. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board, President and General Counsel shall each have full
power and authority, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, to attend,
act and vote at any meeting of stockholders of a corporation in which the
Corporation may hold stock, and, in connection with any such meeting, shall
possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership
of such stock which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might possess and
exercise. The Board of Directors from time to time may confer like
powers upon any other person or persons.
7.6 Dividends. Dividends
upon the capital stock may be declared by the Board at any regular or special
meeting and may be paid in cash or in property or in shares of the capital
stock. Before paying any dividend or making any distribution of
profits, the Directors may set apart out of any funds of the Corporation
available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may
later or abolish any such reserve or reserves.
7.7 Corporate
Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form
and shall bear, in addition to any other emblem or device approved by the Board,
the name of the Corporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and
“Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof
to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
ARTICLE
8
Amendments
8.1 Amendment of these Restated
Bylaws. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, these
Restated Bylaws may be altered or repealed and new bylaws, not inconsistent with
any provision of the Restated Certificate or applicable law, may be adopted,
either (a) by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Directors
voting at a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present or (b) by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the
stock entitled to vote thereon, at an annual meeting of Stockholders, or at a
special meeting thereof, the notice of which meeting shall include the form of
the proposed amendment or supplement to or modification of these Restated Bylaws
or of the proposed new bylaws, or a summary thereof; provided, however, that the
Board may not take any of the following actions, unless (x) the
Nominating/Governance Committee, acting by a vote of a majority of the Entire
Committee, recommends to the Board that such actions be taken by the Board and
(y) the Board, acting by a vote of a majority of the Entire Board, accepts
such recommendation: any repeal of, amendment to, or adoption of any provision
inconsistent with Section 5.5(c), Section 5.14, the
last sentence of Section 5.6 or this
proviso.
ARTICLE
9
Restated
Certificate to Govern
9.1 Restated Certificate to
Govern. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if
any provision contained herein is inconsistent with or conflicts with a
provision of the Restated Certificate, such provision herein shall be superseded
by the inconsistent provision in the Restated Certificate, to the extent
necessary to give effect to such provision in the Restated
Certificate.
Exhibit
B-2 - 22